The improved female villains regained their memories.

"Sister is amazing!"

"I'll teach you in the consciousness space at night from now on. Go and eavesdrop on that old man's lectures first."

"Does my sister care about the Grand Tutor?"

care?

Xu Anyin sneered.

How can I not care?

A man of unknown origin, whose two disciples both exude an aura of immortality, and who also has connections with his aunt and mother. While the Great Yan Dynasty is currently embroiled in internal strife, his place remains peaceful.

Who is he, and what is his background?

What is his relationship with immortals, and what are the backgrounds of his two disciples?

These are all places that Xu Anyin needs to learn about.

Xu Anlu didn't care. After all, her aunt had already entrusted her to the Grand Tutor, which meant that the Grand Tutor would never harm her. Otherwise, why would her aunt and mother leave her here?

Xu Anlu thought so, but Xu Anyin didn't.

How could she explain to her foolish younger sister that the original Great Yan Dynasty did not have the official position of Grand Tutor, or even a person named Yang Pingsheng?

Chapter 57 Light and Shadow

"In the process of confronting the enemy, the key is to fully mobilize the enemy, rather than being mobilized by the enemy. We cannot let the enemy become complacent; we must constantly create difficulties and troubles for them. Therefore, the art of war says: 'Therefore, the skillful warrior brings the enemy to his own feet, rather than being brought to his own feet. He can make the enemy come of his own accord by benefiting him; he can prevent the enemy from coming by harming him. Thus, when the enemy is at ease, he can exhaust him; when he is well-fed, he can starve him; when he is at peace, he can provoke him. He attacks where the enemy does not go, and attacks where the enemy does not expect him.'"

As Yang Pingsheng spoke, Xiaozhu and Xiaohua listened attentively below, while outside the window, a cowlick and a red figure stood tall.

Yang Pingsheng glanced at it but didn't expose him, and continued talking.

After finishing his lecture in the morning, the splash of red disappeared by the window. Yang Pingsheng packed his things, and Xiaozhu came over to him and said, "Sir, today is the day we go into the city."

Every so often, they would go into town to buy some necessities.

Yang Pingsheng thought for a moment, then put the silver in Xiaozhu's hand: "You go with Xiaohua."

"Aren't you coming with us, sir?"

"I'm not going. Also, have Xiaohua buy two more outfits for Xiaolu."

Xiao Zhu agreed and left.

Xiao Hua and Xiao Zhu will be going into town at noon, so Yang Pingsheng and Xu Anlu will have to take care of their own lunch and dinner.

Xiaohua was worried about letting Yang Pingsheng cook by himself, so she prepared it in advance and put it on the stove so that Yang Pingsheng could heat it up when he wanted to eat it.

"Sister Hua, do you think the gentleman has been acting a little strange lately?"

"Don't speak ill of your master behind his back."

Xiao Hua stared at her, trying to remind her, but she was also having doubts.

It's really a bit strange. My husband doesn't talk much anymore, and he has a cold face when he's not doing anything. He's also lost his childlike nature.

Unaware that his two apprentices had become suspicious of him, Yang Pingsheng continued as before, returning home to sit in a rocking chair in the courtyard and bask in the sun.

Xu Anlu rushed over: "Grand Tutor!"

"what happened?"

"I found some food for Xiaojiu."

"what?"

"insect!"

"Hmm..." Yang Pingsheng looked at the handful of insects in the girl's hand without saying anything.

"There were so few bugs, I had to search so many places to find them." She picked up the bugs one by one and put them on the ground.

"Little ponytail!"

At a call, the shadows of the trees swayed, and sparrows flew out from among them.

It flew to the ground and tilted its head to look at it.

"Does it eat?" Yang Pingsheng asked curiously as he leaned over to look.

"Of course, little one, hurry up and eat it for the Grand Tutor."

"Chirp chirp!!"

The sparrow fluttered its wings, trying to fly away, but Xu Anlu pressed it down.

"Eat up, I finally managed to catch it."

"Chirp chirp!!!!"

The sparrow got angry, flapped its wings, struggled to fly away from Xu Anlu's hand, and landed on Yang Pingsheng's shoulder.

He subconsciously reached out to touch it, and the sparrow lowered its head and rubbed against his palm.

Everything has a spirit.

"Grand Tutor, Xiaojiu really likes you!" Xu Anlu leaned closer, blinking her eyes. "Grand Tutor, don't you like Xiaojiu?"

"like."

"You're lying, there's no smile on your face."

Xu Anlu said, "My mother said that if you like someone, you will have a genuine smile on your face."

In fact, it was not the mother who said those words, but Xu Anyin.

At that time, the Empress Dowager would often sigh alone in the deep palace. Young Xu Anlu would sit on her lap and ask her, "Mother, are you unhappy?"

"Mother is not unhappy."

"Then why isn't Mother smiling?"

Whenever Xu Anlu asked this question, her mother would always smile.

“Mother is smiling.”

It was just a forced smile.

That was a laugh devoid of hope for the future and for the present.

In the space of consciousness, Xu Anyin told her, "Don't ask your mother those kinds of questions anymore."

"why?"

"Why so many questions? She's all alone, and Father doesn't like her, so it would be strange if she could smile."

"Huh!?" Her eyes widened. "So Father Emperor doesn't like Mother Consort?"

"of course."

"Does Mother not like Father?"

"nonsense."

Xu Anyin sneered and told her:

"If you like someone, you'll have a genuine smile on your face."

Now, Xu Anlu asked Yang Pingsheng that question.

"Grand Tutor, don't you like Xiaojiu?"

Yang Pingsheng did not answer directly: "Xiao Jiu isn't a person."

It's just a sparrow; I can't say whether I like it or not.

"Doesn't the Grand Tutor like me either?" Xu Anlu asked, looking at him. "The Grand Tutor never smiles at me either."

A gust of wind blew by, swaying the shadows of the trees.

Yang Pingsheng looked up, and after a long while, said:

"Xiao Lu, it's not that I don't like you."

But I can't make you like me.

The closer you get, the deeper you sink.

Since the system didn't instruct him to win Xu Anlu's favor, he naturally wouldn't think about having any interaction with her.

Besides, what kind of connection could a young girl and an old man possibly have?

That's fine.

"You don't need to worry about me."

Yang Pingsheng patted Xu Anlu's head: "Just be yourself, there's no need to try to please others."

If Xu Anlu could continue to be happy and carefree like this, that would be the best.

Unlike his previous two lives, in this life, the system never told Yang Pingsheng how evil the two female villains would be in the future, so he had no way of knowing.

"One day, you too will have a genuine smile."

------

Now, in the capital city.

Yang Pingsheng waded through the puddles and strolled in the rain toward the gate.

The systematically created black cat seemed to sense something, rolled its eyes in fright, and was thrown into the bushes.

Since it's not a real cat, it probably won't catch a cold, so I'll just stay there for now.

Thinking this, he walked to the door, took a deep breath, and opened it.

Outside the door were streets and alleys leading to both sides, which were deserted at the moment.

Only shadows.

A dense array of shadows rose up, standing respectfully behind, like the most loyal soldiers.

In the drizzle, the girl lowered her hand.

She wore armor, her eyes were lifeless, her face expressionless, yet her delicate features still betrayed the innocence of her youth.