Volume 7 Chapter 8 (2/2)
Xiang Shaolong deliberately refused to look at her, “Is there cause for celebration after being rejected by a woman? If Miss Zhi still refuses to leave, maybe I will forcefully cart you off to the bedroom, by then you will have no choice even if you’re unwilling.”
Zhao Zhi stood up in fright as she pouted, “You! How can you be so unreasonable, I came here meekly to apologize and discuss things with you yet this is how you treat others.”
Xiang Shaolong’s brush stopped moving as he lifted his head to look at this beauty who is prettier than a flower and eyed her up and down with narrowed eyes, saying “I am a normal man, you’re a lass so sweet that juice is oozing out, this is a quiet room where there’s no one else, so tell me how should I be treating you?”
Zhao Zhi could not tolerate the look in his eyes and fumed, “If you continue like this, I’m really going to leave!”
Xiang Shaolong put his brush down and smiled, “I understand Miss’s intentions now, no wonder people say that no matter how willing a woman is in her heart, her mouth will always say no.”
Zhao Zhi left her seat in shock and moved next to the door before saying with a sigh of relief, “If you continue treating me like this, Zhao Zhi will hate you to the core.”
Xiang Shaolong turned around and said suavely, “Hate is love, hmm! Who was the one who taught me this famous saying. I did not expect that I, Dong Kuang, would finally succeed. Hai! I couldn’t even find a woman to hate me in the past.”
Zhao Zhi pouted, “Other than horses, what else do you know?”
Xiang Shaolong collected his thoughts and mulled over it before answering, “Actually I have no interest in anything else other than horses, but after hugging Miss that night, I realized that a woman’s body is so soft and alluring, heh!”
Zhao Zhi finally could take it no longer and stamped her feet angrily before saying furiously, “I hate you to the core!” before pushing the door and escaping.
Xiang Shaolong looked at the closing door and sighed.
He deliberately made Zhao Zhi angry and leave, otherwise she may find out his secret. Especially when Jing Jun comes back, this lad will surely let the cat out of the bag when he sees her.
Even if there’s nothing wrong with Jing Jun’s expression, but Zhao Zhi has seen him many times and it’ll be easy for her to tell that he is just wearing a mask as his build and movements will reveal the loopholes.
She is not like Tian Zhen, whose only wish is to be with him. If her sister ask her to make use of feelings to threaten him in order to accomplish their dream, that would be terrible.
But if the 2 sisters were to risk assassinating Tian Dan, it would also be a cause for headache. However, for the time being, he can’t think of any plans that can fulfill both ends.
Once he thought about this, he stood up to look for Teng Yi to find out the relationship between Shan Lan and them.
When Xiang Shaolong woke up the next day, he’s still very free. He was secretly finding this ironic. From being a popular person who was all the rage, he has now become an idle man and disregarded. He did not expect Li Yuan to have such influence. If he is the real Dong Kuang, it’ll be strange if he is not harboring thoughts of leaving by now.
After he spoke to Teng Yi, he has indeed confirmed that Shan Lan is Zhao Zhi’s 2nd sister. The Qis saw that she was pretty so she was kept in the official brothel and given training there so that she can be given away as a gift.
After lunch, Zhao Mu was on the way to the Palace to see King Xiaocheng and came into the guesthouse to see them.
In the quiet inner hall, Xiang Shaolong told him about the ambush. Zhao Mu was silent for a moment before saying, “It must be Li Yuan who ordered this, there’s no reason for anyone else to deal with you.”
Xiang Shaolong had already guessed this is the case, but he just wants Zhao Mu to say it out himself.
Zhao Mu continued, “Li Yuan is head over heels over Ji Yanran and it was even worse when Learned Lady Ji was seated at the same table with you the other day and both of you were conversing pleasantly. That stirred up his jealousy and he deliberately pressured King Xiaocheng to cast you aside. This matter concerns the relations between the 2 states, and it had to happen at such a critical time so it’s difficult for me to put in my views. Hai! Learned Lady Ji came to look for you again yesterday. Don’t talk about Li Yuan being overly jealous, but all the men in Handan who thinks that they are qualified to pursue her are all green-eyed as well.”
He sighed again and said, “This beauty is really an excellent treasure. Her song last night, everyone at the feast was bowled over and that Li Yuan even wept. If one can keep her for himself, tell me what more can a man want?”
Xiang Shaolong remained quiet. Zhao Mu can’t help but ask, “Why did she come and look for you yesterday?”
Xiang Shaolong pretended to smile wryly and asked, “If I say that she has taken a liking to me, would you believe me?” Zhao Mu chuckled, “Of course not.”
Xiang Shaolong continued dejectedly, “I wish that she came to look for me because she could not control her feelings, but a pity she only came to seek my advice because her horse fell sick.”
Zhao Mu was secretly thinking that this sounds more logical and said with relief, “I have to go. Bring more men with you when you go out these few days, don’t let Li Yuan have another chance again. Our plan can only proceed after the collaboration between the 6 states have settled down so don’t do anything for now.”
Xiang Shaolong accompanied him to the main door.
Zhao Mu appeared to be in a good mood as he said with a laugh, “I wonder if Learned Lady Ji’s heart has stirred, she seems especially alluring recently. What I did not expect was that she’d even be willing to attend Lady Ya’s feast tonight. Her behavior is extremely different from when she was in Daliang, where she hid herself at home and refused to come out. Now everyone in Handan is rubbing his hands, hoping to win a beauty back. This is even more appealing than winning a great war.”
Xiang Shaolong furrowed his brows, “Then won’t the house be filled to the brim tonight?”
Zhao Mu chuckled, “Filled to the brim? This description is really interesting. The phrases you used may be better than Su Qin and Zhang Yi, these 2 famed debaters. Those words you said the other day forced Li Yuan to become speechless and everyone changed their opinion of you. Even that s.lutty Zhao Ya’s heart was stirred. Just put in a little more effort and you may even be able to go straight to her bedroom tonight? Hei! The allure of this s.lut on the bed is something you will know only after you try it.”
Xiang Shaolong felt like covering his ears so that he did not have to listen. Luckily by now they have reached the square outside the main building, only to see more than a hundred of the Marquis Residence’s house warriors, and it was the first time Pu Bu and the rest appeared there as well.
Zhao Mu gave a cold snort, “One day I will capture that female assassin and when the time comes, I’ll make sure that living will be worse than death for her. This group of people are the personal guards I recently transferred over and are absolutely loyal but if they fail in their jobs, I will sentence all of them to death like the last batch of idiots.”
Xiang Shaolong was secretly startled, for this person’s cruel nature makes one turn cold. Everyone, including himself, is just a tool that he can discard at will. If he becomes the ruler, the officials and the people will be in for a lot of suffering.
But this time, this is to his advantage. At least it allows Pu Bu and his men to be closer to him.
Shortly after Zhao Mu left, the horse carriage Mady Ya sent to pick him up arrived, and the person who drove it is Zhao Da.
He trust Zhao Da even more than he trusts Pu Bu and his men so he invited him into the hall and asked with a smile, “Zhao Da, don’t you recognize me anymore?”
Zhao Da was astounded and looked towards him, exclaiming hoarsely, “Master Xiang!” before hurriedly kneeling down.
The two of them felt like they’ve been parted for a long time Zhao Da was so overcome by emotions that he was weeping as he said, “We have been waiting for Master Xiang to return and actually wanted to slip away to Xianyang to look for you but we can’t bear to leave Lady behind.”
After Xiang Shaolong made him sit down, he said, “This time, my identity must not be revealed, otherwise it will bring everyone down, therefore you must hide this even from your brothers.”
Zhao Da replied, “Master Xiang, do not worry. Even if I am to be chopped to pieces, I will never reveal anything about you. Master Xiang trusts me so much…” When he said this, his eyes turned red and he could not continue his words.
Xiang Shaolong replied, “Once this matter is accomplished, all of you will come back with me to Xianyang! Handan is not a place for you to stay too long in.”
Zhao Da was initially overjoyed but his expression immediately dimmed a little as he suddenly knelt down as if he has made up his mind on something and choked, “Master Xiang please forgive Lady! You’re the only one who has a place in her heart even now, she…”
Xiang Shaolong helped him up and was visibly moved as he said, “I understand your loyalty, but many things cannot be forced, let’s just see how things progress! That’s right! Did Han Chuang spend the night at Lady’s place these few days?”
Zhao Da’s expression started to look a little unnatural as he replied, “Lady did not see Marquis Han recently, but Mister Li Yuan from Chu did came once and Lady invited him to her building for a talk and he stayed there for more than 2 hours. Master Xiang! Lady is doing this only because she’s trying to make use of others to forget about you, all this time we’ve never seen her smile truly.”
Xiang Shaolong was secretly livid. Li Yuan is not interested in Zhao Ya at all but just making use of her to take revenge on Ji Yanran for treating him differently from others and this Zhao Ya has no self-respect for herself as well.
Zhao Ya exclaimed in panic, “Master Xiang! I am telling the truth.”
Xiang Shaolong replied with a straight face, “It’s very dangerous to try and stand on 2 boats at the same time. Zhao Da, from today onwards, you better put your whole heart and mind into following me. Zhao Ya is fickle and I cannot put everyone’s lives in her hands. If she betrays us again, this time there’s no chance of us turning things around again.”
Zhao Da was so startled that he knelt down and begged for forgiveness.
Xiang Shaolong pulled him up again and after talking and advising him, he went over to Teng Yi’s room to apply the medicinal sap from the ‘Love Plant’ before following Zhao Da back to Lady Ya’s residence.
Along the way, he felt more hatred the more he thought things over. Now, besides Zhao Mu, the person he hates most is that despicable and venomous Li Yuan.
He can’t help but blame Zhao Ya for being a born s.lut again and for having weak willpower. Since she has expressed her interest in this horse fanatic, how can she continuously flirt with other men and he can’t help but put his guard up against her.
The best way to deal with those 2 people, is naturally through his goddess Ji Yanran. Once he thought of this, his whole being was filled with energy.