Chapter 25 – Rescue Mission (2)

She briskly walked towards the other end of the yard and ran towards where Ye Li stood. When she came out to the open, she deliberately changed her steps from light to heavy as if she had been running from a distance. And when she saw Ye Li, she donned an expressive shocked face.

“Father? Why are you here?”

When Mo Linyuan saw Ye Mu come out into the open, he felt his heart sank. This silly girl, why wouldn’t she protect her herself?

Ye Li was even more astonished to see her, but his forehead immediately creased into a frown.

Especially when he saw that Ye Mu’s clothes were stained with earth like Mo Linyuan’s, his eyes instantly looked at her in suspicion.

“Mu’er? Why are you still running around late at night when you are supposed to be sleeping? Besides, you are dirty all over…”

When he said this, a murderous aura threatened to leak out from Ye Li. His hand unconsciously found its way back on the hilt of his recently sheathed knife.

Ye Mu pretended to act surprised when she saw him and afterwards replaced her expression with a giddy look.

“Father! You’ve actually been here all this time! I have been looking for you—I have very good news to tell you!”

But this ‘good news’ was the least of Ye Li’s concern.

He beckoned the counsellor to halt although he had ordered for him to take Mo Linyuan away to Official Liu’s residence at the soonest. He decided to watch and listen as to what kind of news Ye Mu had brought this time.

Ye Mu feigned a confused countenance the moment her eyes landed on Mo Linyuan being held back by the counsellor.

“What’s the matter, father? Why did you seize one of my people? Where are you taking him?”

Ye Li merely sneered and arrogantly strode towards Ye Mu, towering over her small frame domineeringly.

“He has committed a crime and was about to be rightly executed by your father. Why, do you refuse to give him up?”

Upon hearing this, Ye Mu showed a grieving look, before firmly speaking, “Father, I know you have to meet out punishment, but first, please go with me somewhere first. When you see what I have been meaning to tell you, will you change your mind?”

When Mo Linyuan heard this, he wouldn’t have thought his heart would feel heavier. Impossible—did she want to reveal the hidden treasures to Ye Li?

All because of him?

He remembered how overjoyed Ye Mu had been when they had discovered the treasure and thought that there was no way she would tell Ye Li this secret. Her face had been full of excitement, making him feel that she had wanted to do a lot of things with it. And now, that mountain of gold was about to be snatched away from her hands all because of a slave.

All because of him.

Mo Linyuan could only feel shell-shocked. She couldn’t be possibly this naïve, right?

It’s impossible for anyone to trade treasure for a slave’s life!

Is she so silly? She should have known by now, that even if she didn’t come out for him, he wouldn’t hold it against her. But regardless of this fact, she still stubbornly showed herself, placing herself in danger together with him.

Ye Li hesitated, thinking it was some sort of trap, however, he soon chided himself for being anxious. These were just two little children. Whatever tricks they have up their sleeve, it would hold nothing against two full grown adults.

Therefore, in the end, he agreed to come with Ye Mu.

Ordering his counsellor to follow him in the meantime, Ye Mu led the way towards the hole they had hidden before in the abandoned courtyard

While on the way, Ye Li had been staring at her back several times in wariness, his murderous spirit not dwindling the least. Soon after, he remembered the man in black who had tipped Ye Mu about the emperor’s condition, and he held back his suspicion.

Seeing Ye Mu’s exuberant steps as she led the way, entirely defenseless and unaware of his killing intent, Ye Li realized that she was clearly just a child—one that didn’t have the appearance of a conniving person.

But it is to be expected. She’s just six years old…

“We’re here! It’s here father!” Ye Mu turned to look back at Ye Li, eyes shining in the dark. Her visage was like a child expectantly waiting to be praised for a job well done as she pointed to a spot in the yard.

“Father, I swear you will be so glad when you see it! You are the only one who deserves it!”

At this overexcited tone, Ye Li’s suspicion was slowly being replaced by gnawing curiosity and confusion. Frowning, he asked, “What the hell is it?”

But Ye Mu only ambiguously said, “Father, last night I dreamt of grandfather. Although I haven’t seen him in person, I knew right away he was one of our esteemed ancestors.”

As soon as Ye Li heard that it was all because of a dream, he soon grew impatient.

He still had a lot of important things to do than listen to Ye Mu talk about dreams. How can he be in the mood to waste time on stupid, insignificant things? And dreams, of all things?!

But Ye Mu wasn’t crestfallen with Ye Li’s lackluster reaction, instead, she spoke the next words in a hushed tone…