Zhao Shuning was still in a daze.
Not long after, Ji Qinglin also came down.
He didn't even look at Zhao Shuning. He just said, "Go back early. There are a lot of mosquitoes at night. You'll get bitten and have bumps on your body."
Judging from Ji Qinglin's steps, he was obviously in a hurry.
His face also looked very grim.
"Ji Qinglin."
Zhao Shuning softly uttered these three words.
The man walking in front stopped in his tracks, as if in disbelief.
He turned around, looked around, and then fixed his gaze on the young girl opposite him.
"Are you calling me?"
Ji Qinglin pointed at himself, seemingly in disbelief.
"Yes."
Zhao Shuning slowly stepped forward until she stood in front of him.
"Little girl, are you a new disciple who came today?"
"Yes."
"Do you know who I am?"
"I know. Your name is Ji Qinglin, and you're an elder of this sect."
Ji Qinglin was even more confused. Since she knew who he was, why would she be so rude to him?
"I'm busy today, so I won't argue with you. Go back first."
Ji Qinglin turned around and was about to leave.
"Advancing smoothly in one's career, graceful and elegant like a jade tree."
These eight short words seemed to be engraved on Ji Qinglin's heart word by word.
He turned around, his face showing shock.
"How do you know these eight words?"
"Back then, when I saved you kids, I gave each of you your names, and each name corresponds to eight words."
Ji Qinglin's head felt like it was about to explode in that instant.
He walked towards Zhao Shuning step by step.
He squatted down.
"Do you know who gave me my name?"
"Empress Ye Ling."
"Then why did you say that?"
"I am Ye Ling."
The shock in Ji Qinglin's eyes hadn't dissipated yet, but he forced himself to remain calm and said, "Little girl, you're quite good at bluffing, but you shouldn't talk nonsense. Ye Ling is not a name you should mention."
Zhao Shuning added, "Why? Is it because I always call you a brat, so you're unhappy?"
"I—"
"Ji Qinglin, you used to call me Sister Ling. When I saved you, you kept hugging me and calling me mother. Have you forgotten?"
Ji Qinglin was instantly stunned on the spot, and his body involuntarily staggered backward.
How did she know about this?
"You?"
"Take me to the secret chamber to talk, okay?"
Ji Qinglin suppressed the uneasiness, shock, and great joy in his heart. With a flash, he took Zhao Shuning to the secret chamber where Ye Ling used to hold meetings with them.
When they got there, Zhao Shuning familiarly sat in her own seat.
"Are you really Sister Ling?"
"Really? Do you want me to tell everyone about the time you peed your pants when you were nervous?"
Ji Qinglin's eyes welled up with tears.
It was really her!
But why? Why did Sister Ling become like this?
"Then what about you now?"
"You don't need to worry about how I am now. I want to ask you a few things. After I'm done asking, just act like you didn't see me tonight. I still have a lot of things to investigate. If I expose my identity too early, it will attract the pursuit and killing of the Four Great Families. Do you understand?"
Ji Qinglin nodded.
"Did you quarrel with Wan Ning?"
A hint of bitterness appeared on Ji Qinglin's face.
"Sister Ling, Wan Ning is different from before."
"I know. I can sense it. I can also tell that you like her, right?"
"Sister Ling."
"This is a well - known thing among you five kids. There's no need for you to deny it."
Ji Qinglin's face turned a bit red, with a hint of bitterness.
"But Wan Ning's heart isn't with me."
"Try to tell me about it."
The reason why Zhao Shuning wanted Ji Qinglin to tell her what happened to Xia Wanning was to see if she had misunderstood Xia Wanning just now or if she was really like this.
"Actually, Wan Ning's temper changed a long time ago. Since the Emperor came to the Empress's Mansion and publicly instructed her on her spells, I've noticed that the way she looks at the Emperor every day always hides affection."
"But when Wan Ning was facing you and the Emperor, she was still the same as before. I thought maybe I was overthinking. Everyone could tell that you like the Emperor, and she should be able to tell too."
Was it that obvious that she liked the Master?
"Later, you had an accident, and the Emperor rarely came here. Some time ago, both she and I were dispatched to different parts of the Kyushu Continent to collect information about the anomalies of alchemists from different continents. But later—"
Zhao Shuning calculated the time and said directly, "Later, she didn't go, right?"
Because during that time, the Master said that something had happened in the capital, Chang'an, and he needed to go back to deal with it. He should have been staying in the sect during that time.
"Yes. Later I found out that during that time, she refused to go out with me because the Emperor had come here."
"What were you arguing about tonight?"
Ji Qinglin lowered his eyes and said, "I told Wan Ning that the Emperor is the person Sister Ling likes. Both she and I were brought up by you. She really shouldn't have other thoughts about the Emperor."
So that's why Xia Wanning had such a strong reaction?
When she said those words, she really hated Ye Ling.
"She was never like this in front of me. Actually, I've seen Wan Ning tonight. Her eyes are no longer as gentle as before. I don't know when she became like this?"
Ji Qinglin said, "Actually, she's been like this for a long time."
"What?"
"She just becomes much more docile in front of you and the Emperor. Sister Ling, maybe Wan Ning just likes the Emperor too much and has no malice towards you. Can you not blame her?"
Zhao Shuning said in a solemn voice, "Is the reason why the kids from the east haven't interacted with you in recent years also because of her?"
Ji Qinglin nodded.
Actually, Xia Wanning really couldn't be called a gentle woman.
Sometimes the way she looked at Ye Ling would even make Ji Qinglin's hair stand on end. He thought that Xia Wanning was just jealous of Ye Ling.
Because Ye Ling had excellent talent, was the direct disciple of the Emperor, and was also an eight - phase spiritual alchemist, deeply loved by the Emperor.
As long as Ye Ling was around, the Emperor wouldn't even look at Xia Wanning.
"I see."
"Sister Ling, Wan Ning—"
"Don't worry. I'll investigate it clearly and won't wrong her."
Xia Wanning was one of the kids Zhao Shuning had brought up with her own hands. Of course, Zhao Shuning would give her a chance. If she was also involved in the rebellion of the Four Great Families back then, that would really break Zhao Shuning's heart.
"Brat, you can't lie. I'm afraid they'll notice something. Let the Master erase your memory of tonight about me and you."
"Okay."
Ji Qinglin closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he and Zhao Shuning were already in Yan Ruyu's room.
"Master."
"I know. You can go first."