Exchanging Information 1

"Exactly." Ling Wenfu patted her daughter's back carefully. "Do you honestly never thought of that? I'm sure the person around you has, at least Wang Ze or Ren Yupei should have thought of that."

Suddenly, a series of knocks on the door was heard. Ling Wenfu got up to opened the door. It was a man carrying a tray with teapot and a plate of sweets.

Ouyang Xueqing's fists were tight in a ball. She twisted the corner of her dress unconsciously as she suddenly felt agitated. Is that true? Imperial Father and Brother Ren had thought of that?

Yet, why had no one ever told her? She was always the one kept in the dark, protected and sheltered thoroughly.

She vaguely heard a question. "Do you all need some snacks, boss?"

"Ah, perfect! We just need this at the moment. Thank you."

The door was closed again and now there was an additional cup of tea and some sweets in front of Ouyang Xueqing.

Looking at her unwell expression, Ling Xiaochen suddenly pitied her. Even though her life wasn't very well-off, at least she was taught to live independently and not to rely on anyone.

If you leaned on a tree, it would break. If you leaned on a person, they could leave you anytime. Relying on ourselves was the best way to live.

Yet the girl in front of her was the exact opposite.

She was pampered, indulged and spoiled rotten. Everything she wanted would be presented to her. She never had to rely on herself because there were many people ready to do anything for her.

But would that last forever?

If there ever came the day when no one was around her, could she survive?

Ouyang Xueqing abruptly felt like something sweet was forced into her mouth. She jolted back to her senses and almost died of choking.

She glared at Ling Xiaochen whose in turn was grinning innocently. She gulped the tea that was in front of her and let out a huge sighed of relief. The rims of her eyes reddened and her forehead was covered in sweat.

She spatted out angrily. "What was that for?!"

Ling Xiaochen coughed sheepishly. "Sweets are the best eaten when you're sad. Do you know that you look like it's the end of the world? Cheer up!"

Ouyang Xueqing harrumphed, but inside the last bit of her anger dissipated. Well, at least she had good intention okay? It was unreasonable for her to stay angry.

Furthermore, the sweets tasted good. She munched another and her mood improved greatly.

Both father and daughter exchanged glances and decided not to comment on anything even when the princess had swept half of the sweets in less than five minutes.

Ling Wenfu hurriedly snatched one and stuffed it in his mouth before he spoke: "I'm sure they crossed out that possibility. After all, they all thought that no one could ever get through the protective array."

Ouyang Xueqing frowned at the meaning of his words. "They thought? It means…the protective array could be broken?"

"No." He chuckled. "The array was working just fine. Do you know the nature of arrays? If you could find the eye of an array, you could get out of it successfully."

Ouyang Xueqing grew excited at that new fact. "Does it mean that Mo Yujian is a human that had passed through the protective array?!"

He shrugged and a grin slowly formed across his lips. "We don't know for sure yet. But I can help you makes sure of it."

"Really?!" Ouyang Xueqing stood up abruptly and leaned forward in the mixture of anxiety and excitement. "You really can help me?" She then gasped. "That means…you too know the way through the array?"

She was shocked at her own revelation. She opened her eyes wide unblinkingly as she stared at Ling Wenfu.

Unexpectedly, instead of answering, he just laughed like he was amused. "Why should I tell you?"

"You…!" Her face reddened, irritated. "You said you could help me!"

"Yes." He leaned back and crossed his fingers above his knees. At the moment, he looked exactly like how the boss of the underground black market should behave. "And I am a merchant, remember? I never do transactions unless there are profits."

Ouyang Xueqing took a deep breath and assumed her composure. She gulped her tea slowly even if her heart was beating like a drum. "You want me to pay you first? How much?"

Ling Wenfu shook his head regretfully. "I don't lack money, princess. What else can you offer?"

Ouyang Xueqing was stunned for a while. What else did she had other than money?

She patted her dress thoroughly and frowned. She only had a pouch with a few gold coins with her…

Suddenly, her eyes brightened. She pulled out a stack of talismans from her sleeve and spread it on the table and spoke excitedly: "These are talismans made personally by grandpa. They can give you some time to escape if you were stuck in a peril."

Still, Ling Wenfu shook his head wistfully, yet she could see the hidden contempt in his eyes. "I don't lack talisman experts under my wing, princess."

Ouyang Xueqing blinked in daze. She really thought that Ling Wenfu would be interested in her talisman, yet her precious talisman was treated in disdain like they were pieces of paper.

She really didn't know how to react for a moment.

"Furthermore, are those really useful?"

"…"

"It's not right? You couldn't even save yourself when you were attacked by the deranged beast."

Ouyang Xueqing's mouth twitched.

She wanted to rebuke, but found that she had nothing to say.

It was so frustrating ah!

Her eyes dimmed as she lowered her head pitifully: "Then I really don't have anything else to offer."

"No, you do."

She frowned. "What?"

When she raised her head, all she could see was Ling Wenfu's cunning grin.

Suddenly, she had an ominous premonition.

"Your identity as the princess of the Beast Mainland is the best thing that you can offer."

"What?!" She screamed in shock. "You want me to give up my identity?"