This dignified, noble middle-aged woman was none other than the sect master of the Heavenly Melody Sect, Snow Yue's master, Grace Gao.
Facing her master's rebuke, Snow Yue sincerely said, "Disciple knows her mistake. Please punish me, Master."
Grace Gao waved her hand: "Since that's the case, go to Hundred Blades Peak and reflect for three months."
Three months of reflection wasn't a harsh punishment, but Snow Yue's face turned pale. Three months from now would be the day she was supposed to marry William Nangong. For a moment, she remembered her experience in the illusion trial—she was certain that if she really married William Nangong, her fate would be miserable.
So, she bit her lip and said, "Master, I have one more request."
Instantly, Grace Gao's eyes turned cold. She stared at Snow Yue for a long moment before slowly spitting out a word: "Speak!"
Her master's look said it all, but Snow Yue didn't want to give up. Bracing herself, she said, "Master, I don't want to marry William Nangong."
"Outrageous!"
Grace Gao's face instantly turned frosty as she coldly stared at Snow Yue. "This is not for you to decide. Someone, escort Snow Yue to Hundred Blades Peak and keep her under strict guard."
Immediately, two elders walked to Snow Yue's side and grabbed her arms, one on each side.
"Senior-Sister, wait!"
Faye Mei suddenly called out.
Emily Fu, nearly in tears, felt terribly unlucky. "Aunt Mei, I really was just passing by."
Faye Mei snorted, "Hmph, your little schemes can't fool me. You came here to see Snow Yue!"
"Yes!" Emily Fu nodded instinctively, then realized she had exposed herself and quickly shook her head, waving her hands. "No, no, I really was just passing by!"
Faye Mei waved her hand impatiently. "Alright, since you two are close as sisters, I'll let you go up and see Snow Yue, but only for one hour."
Hearing that Faye Mei was actually allowing her to see Senior-Sister Snow, Emily Fu was both surprised and delighted. "Thank you, Aunt Mei!"
"Wait!" Faye Mei suddenly said.
Emily Fu turned to look at her, waiting for instructions.
Faye Mei's eyes narrowed. "Once you're up there, you're not allowed to tell Snow Yue that I'm the one who let you go. Otherwise, I definitely won't forgive you!" Emily Fu shivered and quickly said, "Don't worry, Aunt Mei, I absolutely won't mention you."
"Aunt Mei, I really was just passing by," Emily Fu nearly burst into tears, cursing her luck for running into Faye Mei.
Faye Mei snorted, "Hmph, your little tricks can't fool me. You came here to see Snow Yue!"
"Yes!" Emily Fu nodded instinctively, then realized she had revealed her true purpose and quickly shook her head, waving her hands. "No, no, I really was just passing by!"
"Alright!" Faye Mei said impatiently. "Do you really think you can fool me? Since you two are close as sisters, I'll let you go up and see Snow Yue, but not for long—just one hour."
"Ah!"
Hearing that Faye Mei was actually allowing her to see Senior-Sister Snow, Emily Fu was both surprised and delighted. "Thank you, Aunt Mei."
"Wait!" Faye Mei suddenly said.
Emily Fu turned to look at her, waiting for instructions.
"Once you're up there, you're not allowed to tell Snow Yue that I'm the one who let you go. Otherwise, I definitely won't forgive you!"
Emily Fu shivered and quickly said, "Don't worry, Aunt Mei, I absolutely won't mention you."
Seeing this, Snow Yue couldn't help but smile and hugged Emily Fu. Of all her junior-sisters, she was closest to Emily, mostly because the girl was pure-hearted and never schemed.
Seeing Snow Yue so thin and haggard, Emily Fu's eyes grew wet. "Senior-Sister Snow, you're so pitiful. You look like you've lost weight. When I go back, I'll plead with Master for you."
"Don't!"
Snow Yue quickly stopped her. She knew her master was determined to marry her off to William Nangong, so Emily Fu pleading would only get her involved.
"Why?" Emily Fu asked, confused.
"Just listen to me. Remember, never go to Master to plead for me."
"Okay, I understand!" Although she didn't get it, Emily Fu nodded and agreed.
Suddenly, Snow Yue was struck by a thought: "How did you get up here?"
"Of course it was...!" At this point, Emily Fu paused, remembering Faye Mei's warning, and quickly changed her story: "Of course I begged the guards, and they let me up, but only for one hour."
Snow Yue knew Emily was pure-hearted, so she didn't suspect her of lying. At the same time, she realized this might be her only chance. But she hesitated, worried that if the matter was discovered, Emily Fu would be implicated, so she struggled over whether to ask Emily to deliver the token to Leon Huang.