Immediately after planting the seed of doubt in Dai Weisi, Ye Yin's mental force fluctuated again. This time, his target was the team of personal guards stationed within the mansion, especially their Spirit King-level squad leaders. Another silent Mental Curse spread out, designed to make them feel an extremely strong sense of discomfort and rejection whenever they handled new equipment. Subconsciously, they would believe the new crossbows were flashy but impractical, more likely to harm their own side than the enemy, and they would feel an intense desire to dismantle, modify, or even abandon them. Just as the invisible curse settled over the guards' quarters, footsteps approached the side hall.
Butler Qian had returned. His face was sour, clearly having borne the brunt of the bad mood emanating from Dai Weisi's cultivation room. Behind him followed an elder dressed in the official artisan attire of the Star Luo Imperial Family.
"His Highness is at a critical point in his cultivation and has no time to see you," Butler Qian said with a cold expression. "This is Master Liu from the Imperial Artisan Bureau. He will inspect the goods. Hand over the items and blueprints to him, and then you may leave."
Master Liu, his expression haughty, stepped forward to take the items. The plan had hit a small snag. Dai Weisi was either more cautious than they'd imagined or simply unwilling to meet with anyone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. Nevertheless, their main objectives had been achieved.
Ye Yin and Tang San obediently handed the small crate and blueprints to Master Liu. At the moment of the transfer, Ye Yin's finger brushed against the artisan's hand. A final, subtle Mental Curse shot out, targeting Master Liu. The curse would cause him to fall into an extremely pedantic state while studying new designs, developing an incomprehensible obsession with an irrelevant detail. He would then attempt to "optimize" it, with a high probability of unbalancing the entire structure and rendering the weapon useless.
Master Liu's body stiffened for a second, a hint of confusion in his eyes, but he quickly regained his arrogant demeanor. Clutching the crate and blueprints as if they were priceless treasures, he hurried away, already eager to begin his "improvements."
"We will inventory the goods later," Butler Qian said impatiently. "Payment will be settled with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. You may go."
Ye Yin and Tang San bowed respectfully and, under the watchful eyes of the guards, left the mansion. Outside, the middle-aged steward and the others breathed a collective sigh of relief when they saw them emerge safely. Escorted by the two city guards, the caravan slowly drove away, heading towards the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's branch in the city.
Inside the carriage, Dai Mubai asked eagerly, "How did it go?"
Ye Yin smiled slightly. "Don't worry, everything is under control. The seeds have been sown. From now on, whenever Dai Weisi is cultivating, he'll often reminisce about your deep brotherly bond and his fiancée's… gentleness."
Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's mouths twitched, but their eyes shone with delight.
"His personal guards will develop a strong dislike for the gifts we sent," Ye Yin continued. "They might even try to take them apart for fun. As for that Imperial artisan, he will very seriously help Dai Weisi 'improve' the hidden weapons. What they'll turn out like in the end is anyone's guess."
Everyone imagined the chaotic results and couldn't help but laugh.
"Yin Ge, you're truly amazing," Ning Rongrong said admiringly. "You can make them run in circles without shedding a single drop of blood."
Xiao Wu blinked her big eyes. "So, what do we do now?"
Ye Yin looked out at the bustling, tense city streets. "First, we'll settle in at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's branch and use it as our cover. Then, we wait for Dai Weisi to create his own chaos. Second, we'll start contacting the people Kui Shan mentioned—those who might be unhappy with Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun." His gaze fell on Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing. "That includes the sick Old Prince and General Lei Meng. Third, and this is very important, we need to find a chance to visit the Zhu family."
Dai Mubai's eyes narrowed. The image of his sister-in-law, Zhu Zhuyun, immediately came to mind. "Yin Ge is right."
Ye Yin then turned to Zhu Zhuqing. "Zhuqing, I remember you have a second sister, Zhu Zhuyu, correct? She was the one who helped you escape the empire."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded. "That's right. If it wasn't for her, I would have died here long ago."
"My second brother was killed by my eldest brother," Dai Mubai added. "That's why I was so afraid and fled, leaving Zhuqing behind. But thankfully, Yin Ge is here now."
"Yin Ge, do you mean…" Zhu Zhuqing began, but she couldn't figure out why he was bringing up her second sister.
Ye Yin smiled. "Your second sister helped you a great deal. Naturally, she must be rescued from her misery so she can live a happy life, just like you."
Zhu Zhuqing gave him a resentful look, while Ning Rongrong, Xiao Wu, and Dugu Yan glared at him.
"Yin Ge, I wonder which 'happy life' you're referring to?" Ning Rongrong asked sweetly. "Should we bring along your eldest sister, Zhu Zhuyun, as well? Then it would be all three of them."
"Actually, that's exactly what I had in mind," Ye Yin nodded seriously.
The four girls stared at him, utterly speechless, and a fresh wave of resentment flowed his way.
Ye Yin patted Dai Mubai's shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry, your sister-in-law will still be your sister-in-law."
Dai Mubai nearly choked. "Are you just talking about one of them?"
"The Star Luo Crown Prince has always been allied with the Zhu family through marriage," Dai Mubai said, trying to follow the logic. "Without a marriage alliance, what happens?"
Ye Yin rolled his eyes. "What's the big deal? If the eldest, second, and third sisters are all mine, then there's no one left to marry. No marriage alliances for anyone. See? Moreover," he continued, "if I successfully win over your sister-in-law, then you and your brother will both be on the same starting line. Neither of you will have the Zhu family's support. But if I fail… then your eldest brother will have the marriage alliance, and you won't. Tsk, tsk."
A chill ran down Dai Mubai's spine. He suddenly realized that if Ye Yin didn't succeed, he stood no chance against Dai Weisi. His ambition, his future, everything depended on this absurd plan.
"Yin Ge," Dai Mubai said, his voice filled with a desperate urgency. "You absolutely must win over my sister-in-law!"
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