189 The Manipulator and The Thief (1/2)

Li Xueyue stumbled over a book, grabbing onto one of the shelves out of pure horror. What did he just say?

Suddenly she swiveled around, her eyes glued to the door. Unconscious guards, missing decrees. Someone had broken into the library. And only one person came to mind—the man who was present when she requested to meet Li Chenyang in the library—Yu Zhen.

Li Xueyue's gaze spontaneously shifted to the window where the sun was low and dusk was soon approaching, but there was still light out.

”The decrees can't be replaced. It was difficult as it was to have them stamped.” Li Chenyang groaned, grabbing his hair out of frustration. ”It will take awhile for me to slip the proposal onto the Emperor's desk again.”

”How long until the sun sets?”

”What?”

”How long until it's night time?”

Li Chenyang peered out the window. ”I'd say we have no more than an hour.”

”That's all I need.” Li Xueyue didn't wait for his response before sprinting out of the room, her blood boiled at the audacity of Yu Zhen. Was he truly that petty? Was this his way of throwing a tantrum? Knocking out all of the guards and stealing the most crucial part of her plan?

Li Xueyue refused to give in to him like this. If he would be this cruel, then she would not spare him any kindness, no matter what she felt for him. This plan to ruin the Bai Family was all that she ever wanted to do.

To avenge the little girl who was locked in her room, starved and dehydrated.

To take vengeance for the young maiden who was assaulted on the night she wanted food.

For the sake of relieving herself from the past, she would bring destruction to the person who ruined it for her in the first place.

”Xueyue, where are you going?!” Li Chenyang cried out, jumping out of the door only to see her disappear down the hallways.

Li Xueyue started this mess, so she would end it. She would get the decrees back, no matter the cost. Lost in thought, she wasn't aware of where she was running until she roughly collided with someone.

”Ow!” Li Wenmin grumbled in pain, rubbing his chest. Did a bull ram against him? He looked down to see it was none other than his Xiao Yue. Of course her head would hurt his chest, she was too hard-headed!

”Why are you running, Xiao Yue? What's so urgent for you to bolt like this?” Li Wenmin looked around. In the vast distance, he heard loud footsteps quickly approaching them.

”Oh my, are you running from Chenyang? He's scary when he's mad.” Li Wenmin nodded in agreement. ”It's okay Xiao Yue, I'll help you run and hide from him! I know the perfect spot—”

”Stop right there!” Li Chenyang barked, turning the corner. He was slightly out of breath, for exercising was never his speciality.

”Where do you think you're going?” he asked.

”Well, uh, I was actually going to take her to a hiding place.” Li Wenmin scratched the back of his head in confusion. ”I-if you're mad at her, Chenyang, don't scold too harshly. Our Xiao Yue is sensitive and—”

”I wasn't asking you,” Li Chenyang groaned in frustration. He pointed at Xueyue and repeated, ”Where do you think you're going?”

”To the Palace.”

”For what?” Li Wenmin asked while Li Chenyang yelled, ”Are you stupid?!”

Li Wenmin tilted his head, completely bewildered by what's happening.

”Ugh, it's all your fault Wenmin!” Li Chenyang huffed.

”Me?!” Li Wenmin cried out, ”What the hell did I do?!”

”Your stupidity is rubbing off on our Xueyue!”

”Well, how do you know she wasn't stupid from the start?!” Li Wenmin scoffed, rolling his eyes. ”She always loses to us in Go which shows her strategies suck. Also, she's only book smart, so she doesn't know how to apply things to reality.”

”Yeah well, if you taught her some strategies, maybe she wouldn't be this dimwitted right now.”

”Uhm, you know I'm standing right here. Right?” Li Xueyue scowled, crossing her arms. She impatiently tapped her foot on the floor.

”Aw would you look at this little kid,” Li Wenmin teased, pinching one side of her cheek. ”Xiao Yue is so cute when she's mad like a little kitty.”

Li Xueyue's fingertips twitched. She wanted to punch him.