My Evil Imperial Wife is Too Arrogant

Lou Mu Yan had a wealth of experience, and she was very accurate in her analysis of a person. She knew that Ruan Yang wasn’t a scheming person, and was instead upright, so she didn’t want to speak in circles.

“Elder Yang, it’s not that I don’t like this Magic Treasure, but I did nothing to deserve this reward. Why don’t you speak directly of the purpose of finding me today.” She could tell that the main person that looked for her today was Ruan Yang.

“HAHA! Straightforward!” Ruan Li liked to deal with straightforward people. He stroked his red beard with a look as if he was thirsting for water, “Lou girl, you’re born to be an Alchemist with such skilful use of Fire Elemental Energy. Are you interested in becoming a disciple of mine?

“As long as you become my disciple, I’ll definitely do my best to teach you, and you can use the resources of the Academy as you wish.” In order to be able to keep the good seedling, Ruan Yang added.

The resources of the Academy could be used by her as she wishes? The corners of Ruan Li’s mouth twitched. He knew just how ruthless this girl was in terms of cheating people of their things.

Lou Mu Yan didn’t expect that Ruan Yang actually wanted to take her in as a disciple. She put away the surprise in her heart, then politely refused: “Apologies, Elder Yang. I have already accepted a senior as my Master in the Blazing Mountain Range, and without his permission, I dare not become a disciple of another person.”

Her Alchemy attainments were probably pretty well matched with even the best Alchemists on Tian’ling Continent. She also owned countless peerless pill formulas, so Ruan Yang couldn’t teach her anything. Not to mention, her aspirations didn’t end at Yan’zhou Kingdom, so it was even more impossible for her to recognise Ruan Yang as her Master.

“In that case, I won’t force it.” Ruan Yang revealed some disappointment. But after thinking about it, he smiled and said: “You like this Spirit Treasure, but you don’t want to take it for no reason. Then how about we make a deal.”

“What deal?” Lou Mu Yan asked.

“How about you give me two of your Energy Nourishing Pills?” Last time, the Energy Nourishing Pills that Lou Mu Yan gave Yun Tian Chen were given to the enshrined Alchemist of the Imperial Family to research. But Ruan Yang was itching with interest, so even though he couldn’t gain a disciple, he thought to exchange two pills to research.

Of course, it wasn’t that he didn’t want the Marrow Cleansing Pill, but a Middle-Grade Spirit Treasure’s value simply couldn’t be compared to the Marrow Cleansing Pill’s value, and he didn’t want to be forceful even more. When Lou Mu Yan’s Master appeared, then he would pay him a personal visit to discuss the matter.

Lou Mu Yan nodded and directly took out a bottle of Energy Nourishing Pills to hand over. When Ruan Li took the Energy Nourishing Pills, she unceremoniously put away the scarlet-gold whip.

Before she could refine her own Natal Magic Treasure, this long whip was the only Spirit Treasure that caught her eyes. In this deal, she profited.

After extracting some more information about the Continental Tournament for Hegemony from Ruan Li, and then chatting a little more with the two, Lou Mu Yan left the hall with a bright smile.

After she left completely, Ruan Li played with the teacup in his hand and said, “What do you think of this girl?”

“Not bad. She’s a wonderful mould that could be sculpted¹. But with her talent, I’m afraid that she wouldn’t be limited within Yan’zhou Kingdom’s skies and land. The outside world was more suitable for her.” Ruan Yang said after pausing for a moment. While his temper was straightforward, he wasn’t stupid. The little girl of the Lou Clan wasn’t simple at all.

“Mm. I have a feeling that she’d be able to stand out in the Selection Trial this time.” Ruan Li stared at the door not far away with a look of expectation in his eyes.

“Let’s wait and see.” Ruan Yang nodded. He was also slightly anticipating Lou Mu Yan’s performance in the Selection Trial.

The moment Lou Mu Yan and Lou Mu Bai arrived back home, they were welcomed by a beautiful married woman.

“Yan’er.” The beautiful married woman walked quickly towards Lou Mu Yan and pulled her into an embrace, her eyes layered with a thin mist.

“Mother!” Lou Mu Yan felt the other party’s body temperature and her heart trembled, a warmth rising in her smile.

Ling Yue Xin quickly wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and checked her daughter all around. This time, as an issue had popped up, she returned to her natal home, but who would’ve thought that she missed her daughter’s growth. She truly felt regretful.

“Yan’er truly has grown up!”

Lou Mu Yan felt that her mother was very strong on the outside, but the moment she was in front of her, it was as if she had turned into water². She couldn’t bear the teary eyes and cast a look at Lou Mu Bai beside her for help.

Lou Mu Bai chuckled gently, looked at Ling Yue Xin softly and said, “Mother, what’s going on at Maternal Grandfather’s house?”

Speaking of her natal home, Ling Yue Xin’s arched eyebrows furrowed and sighed: “Your maternal grandfather was injured, but now he’s recovered a lot. It’s just that the Xue Clan is truly pushing it too far. They actually cooperated with the Mu’rong Clan to suppress the Ling Clan.”

A layer of ice formed in her eyes, “The Xue Clan’s youngest daughter’s very talented. I heard that she’ll be admitted to a Sect after participating in the Tournament for Hegemony, and also used that to personally come and annul the engagement with Fei Yang.”

“Maternal grandpa was injured? Fei Yang’s engagement was also annulled?” A killing intent flashed past Lou Mu Bai’s eyes.

“Yeah! Your maternal grandfather was injured by a high-level Sword Monarch some time ago. He hid it before because he’s afraid that you’d all be worried.

“Fei Yang hadn’t left his house ever since that incident. If Xue Ling wanted to sincerely annul the engagement before, the Ling Clan wouldn’t force the engagement either, but this she was slapping the Ling Clan’s face on purpose, in public, by coming with so many people to do so. Fei Yang, that child, has always been sensitive, and even if he always has a smile, I’m afraid that he’s feeling extremely unhappy inside.” When Ling Yue Xin thought of her nephew, she felt extremely sad.

In Lou Mu Yan’s memory, her maternal grandpa was a very loving and kind elder. Even if she was trash, he didn’t dislike her and loved her very much. Ling Fei Yang was her elder cousin, and different to Lou Mu Bai’s indifference and serenity, his temperament was gentle from the inside to the outside, and also treated her extremely well.

As far as she knew, the Ling Clan was one of the Ten Distinguished Spirit Sword Clans, and, previously, their Clan’s strength could rank in the top five.

But ten years ago, her genius maternal uncle that once shocked and amazed the entire Tian’ling Continent disappeared when exploring a Secret Realm and hadn’t returned since. His life or death was unknown. The Sword Sovereign Ancestor of the Ling Clan was in Life-or-Death Seclusion and hadn’t appeared in more than twenty years. No one knew if he had advanced or not.

Six years ago, her cousin, Ling Fei Yang, was seriously injured because he offended a Devil Cultivator for Xue Ling. What’s more, his legs were poisoned and became immovable due to that incident.

The Ling Clan that was already experiencing frost being added to snow³

, was then jointly suppressed by the Mu’rong Clan and the Xin Clan who had risen to power after the Ling Clan. Now they were backstabbed by the Xue Clan that always had a good relationship with the Ling Clan. The Clan’s strength had greatly decreased and was now barely at the end of the ranking of the Ten Distinguished Clans.

“Annulling the engagement with such an ungrateful woman is good.” Lou Mu Bai sneered.

When his younger cousin acted to protect Xue Ling that time, it was because she was his betrothed. Who knew that that woman would be this snobbish. It didn’t matter that she didn’t remember the kindness, yet now she dropped stones onto someone who had fallen into a well⁴—it was truly despicable.

Lou Mu Yan pursed her lips, and a layer of cold light overflowed from the depths of her eyes. Mu’rong Clan, Xin Clan and the Xue Clan—she noted them down.

“Mother, elder cousin still can’t move his legs now?” Lou Mu Yan remembered that Ling Fei Yang was also a proud child favoured by the Heavens. However, now that he couldn’t walk, they didn’t know whether her eldest maternal uncle was alive or not, and with the Ling Clan in such danger, he must be feeling extreme pressure.

“Yeah! The poison in his body couldn’t be cured even after inviting numerous Alchemists and Physicians. That Devil Cultivator’s also dead. Who knows how much more torture Fei Yang that child must endure.” Ling Yue Xin’s eyes were full of worry.

Since her eldest brother disappeared, her nephew appeared to have changed into a completely different person. When she met him this time, his temperament was especially indifferent. The flamboyant brilliance that he used to carry had long disappeared.

Lou Mu Yan took Ling Yue Xin’s hand and comforted her: “Mother, don’t worry, everything will all get better.”

It seemed that after the Selection Trial was over, she was bound to pay a visit to the Ling Clan.

As for that Xue Ling who personally came to annul the engagement, hence slapping their faces, she believed that they would definitely meet in the Glacial Mountain Range this time.

Xue Ling wanted to participate in the Continental Tournament for Hegemony and obtain the qualifications to enter a Sect? Humph—as long as she was there, she’d surely let that woman lose more than her gains, pound her into the dust, and make her life worse than death.

Translated product by May Our 梦 Come True

¹like diamond in the rough.

²weak, fragile, gentle, pure etc.

³idiom meaning to make things even worse, equivalent to add insult to injury.

⁴idiom meaning to hit a person when they’re already down. Make matters worse for them.