[Fantasy] The Harem is in Chaos (Complete) - 3

page views:1 Publication date:2023-08-20

The waiter, whose

backside had been bruised and battered from the fall, quickly limped over and brought over the fruit and snacks.

Li Yue looked at him apologetically, thinking: Poor thing, if Qu Liushang hadn't run away without saying goodbye, I wouldn't have been so tasteless as to take it out on you. So, go ahead and curse his ancestors, don't curse me.

Yan Huang looked at her apologetic yet slightly upturned eyes, her adorable expression, and couldn't help but laugh. He cleared his throat and said, "Miss Liyue, the tea and fruit are here, please enjoy."

Liyue glanced down at the table full of fruit and pastries, about to reach for them, but then looked up at the three people standing behind the young man staring at her, and withdrew her hand. She said to the young man, "Could you ask those two experts behind you to leave? They're staring at me so 'kindly,' I'll choke."

Yan Huang smiled and turned his head to the two guards behind him, saying, "Murong, Ziqing, you can go and admire the flowers, you don't need to serve here."

The young guard named Ziqing looked at Liyue warily, leaned down and whispered something to Yan Huang. Yan Huang shook his head and smiled, "It's alright, go ahead."

Seeing that their master's mind was made up, the two guards had no choice but to turn and leave. They stopped ten steps away by the pavilion railing, keeping a close watch on the situation.

Yan Huang turned to look at Li Yue, pointed to the servant in blue beside him, and asked, "Should he also leave?"

Li Yue smiled, her eyes narrowing, and said, "No, I always like having Tan Lang around when I'm eating."

Yan Huang's thick, dark eyebrows furrowed slightly in confusion: "Tan Lang? His name is Long Nu, not Tan Lang."

Li Yue chewed on a honey peanut and said, "I didn't say his name was Tan Lang, I just said he looks a lot like Tan Lang."

Yan Huang gave an understanding "Oh," and then asked, "Who is Tan Lang?"

Li Yue picked through the fruit in the plate without looking up and said, "My younger brother."

Long Nu rolled her eyes disdainfully, thinking: I've seen plenty of women who try every means to get close to our master, but this is the first time I've seen someone use me as an example. Me, like your younger brother? I'm older than you, you should say your younger brother is extremely honored to look like me, okay?

"You came to Peach Blossom Town alone?" Yan Huang took a sip of tea and asked.

Li Yue, holding a greenish-red apple, approached the lakeside railing, munching on it as she said, "I came with a friend."

Yan Huang looked her over, asking, "Where's your friend?"

Li Yue replied, "He ran away..." Then, realizing her mistake, she turned back to Yan Huang, who looked at her with a mixture of curiosity and confusion, and explained, "Uh... well, he suddenly had diarrhea, so he went back to the inn."

Yan Huang stood up, gracefully approaching Li Yue. Standing there in the breeze, he gazed at the green lotus leaves covering the water, and the vibrant red hibiscus blossoms...

Looking at the Jade Pool, she softly recited, "Truly, the Xiu River is deep and clear, the new branches are pale green, and the emerald light reflects off the pavilion—what a beautiful early summer scene!" Li Yue turned to look at him and asked, "Out sightseeing?"

Yan Huang turned around, a gentle smile on his lips, and said, "No, I'm going to Rongcheng. I'm just passing through and thought I'd stop by."

Li Yue's eyes lit up: "You're going to Rongcheng?"

Yan Huang said, "Could it be that we're traveling the same way?"

Li Yue really wanted to grin mischievously. Although they weren't traveling the same way, Rongcheng was a necessary stop on their way to Zhuwu Gate. She had been worrying about how to get that lazy dog in the inn who got dizzy at the sight of a horse to Zhuwu Gate, but unexpectedly, she had met a distinguished person today.

Yes, that's right. Judging from her judgment, the person in front of her was unusually "noble," and must travel in a fine carriage with a large retinue of servants. If only… she could hitch a ride with him… mooch some food and drinks along the way… and maybe even touch his rosy cheeks for amusement…

Ah, she was holding it in so hard, she really wanted to grin mischievously!

“Um, Young Master Yan, if I may be so bold as to ask, are you traveling to Rongcheng by car?” She quickly tossed the mangled apple she was holding downstairs, ignoring the scream and curses that followed. Li Yue clasped her hands together, asking with perfect ladylike shyness.

Yan Huang looked at Li Yue, who had transformed so drastically in the blink of an eye, both surprised and amused, and nodded, “Yes.”

“Then… would you mind if I accompanied you, Young Master?” Li Yue blinked her big eyes, looking at him expectantly.

With her stunning beauty and pitiful expression, anyone who could refuse would be a beast.

Yan Huang hesitated, somewhat troubled, saying, "My carriage isn't very big. It can carry one person, but two people might be a bit cramped."

Li Yue immediately smiled broadly, waving her hands hastily, "No problem, no problem. Tan Lang is quite small; he won't take up too much space."

Yan Huang stared at her crescent-shaped eyes, slightly taken aback. After a moment, he regained his senses, a suspicious blush rising on his fair cheeks. He shifted his gaze and said, "If Miss Li Yue doesn't mind, I... I would naturally be willing to travel with you."

Upon hearing this, Long Nu hurriedly said, "Young Master, how can that be? Didn't Madam instruct us before we left..."

"Don't say anything more," Yan Huang's expression darkened slightly as he gently reprimanded him.

Long Nu quickly stopped talking, looking at Li Yue with resentment.

Li Yue sniffed, suddenly taking a few steps forward and grabbing Yan Huang's sleeve.

The two guards, seeing this, were startled and flashed behind Li Yue, their hands already on their sword hilts.

Yan Huang looked at the two of them, silently shaking his head. He then looked down at the girl, who was half a head shorter than him, wondering what she intended to do.

Li Yue pretended not to notice, lowered her head slightly, brought her nose close to his smooth, soft silver satin sleeve, took a few breaths, then suddenly raised her head, squinted, wrinkled her nose a few times, turned her face, and let out a loud sneeze that hit Long Nu's face, startling him.

Li Yue seemed not to have seen it, rubbed her nose, and said to Yan Huang, "Your family owns a spice shop, right? It smells so good!" As she spoke, she turned and walked away nonchalantly.

Yan Huang stared blankly at her back, then looked at Long Nu, who was angrily wiping the spittle off his face, and laughed heartily. When

Li

Yue returned to the inn, Qu Liushang was sprawled on the bed, fast asleep. Li Yue tossed the snacks she had brought back to Tan Lang, kicked Qu Liushang, and said gruffly, "Hey, wake up!"

Qu Liushang was awakened by her kick, looked at her sleepily, and said, "Oh, you're back." He turned over and went back to sleep.

Li Yue sighed, squatted down, and patted Tan Lang's head, saying, "Go, wake him up."

Tan Lang understood and jumped onto the bed, lay down next to Qu Liushang's pillow, and started licking his handsome face enthusiastically. He was licking with such relish that even Li Yue blushed and her heart raced.

"Huh? Ah! Tan Lang! What are you doing?" Qu Liushang quickly woke up and exclaimed.

"Just being affectionate with you," Li Yue replied coolly, leaning against the bed frame.

Qu Liushang jumped off the bed, frowned, and touched his sticky cheek where he'd been licked. Looking at his lover on the bed, who still seemed unsatisfied, he let out a wail and rushed out.

"Tell me, why did you run away today?" Li Yue demanded as soon as Qu Liushang returned after washing his face. Qu

Liushang hesitated, then evasively said, "I was sleepy."

Seeing his reluctance to tell the truth, Li Yue didn't press him, but instead said with great grievance, "You were sleepy, so you could just leave me alone and run back? Didn't you think about how dangerous it was for a weak woman like me to be fighting alone? And you slept like a log! Aren't you worried at all about me being bullied and suffering? What kind of friend are you? Waaah..."

Qu Liushang sat down at the table, watching with amusement as Li Yue desperately tried to squeeze out tears but couldn't. He chuckled, "Come on, worried you'll suffer? I'm more worried about others suffering from you."

Li Yue's expression turned serious, and she sighed, saying, "I've come back to say goodbye."

Qu Liushang was taken aback, asking, "You're leaving? Where to?"

Li Yue looked up at the cobweb-covered ceiling, saying sadly, "Who knows? The world is vast, I'll just go wherever it leads."

Hearing that she was leaving, Qu Liushang felt a pang of reluctance. Overwhelmed with intense sadness, she wanted to ask him to stay, but couldn't find the right words. After a long pause, she finally said, "Aren't you going to Nanfo?"

Li Yue nodded, gently stroking her lover's head, and sighed, "The mountains and rivers remain unchanged, but we'll go when we have the time and money."

She stood up, looking at Qu Liushang with a sorrowful yet forced composure, and said, "Liushang, my little darling, when I'm rich, I'll come back and take care of you."

Qu Liushang stared at her blankly, his mind racing, but he couldn't think of an excuse to keep her. Just as he was about to offer to see her off, she said, "Don't bother. I can't bear the thought of parting at the ten-mile pavilion. See you again someday." With that, she turned and said, "Lord, let's go."

The big yellow dog glanced at Qu Liushang, then quickly disappeared out the door with Li Yue.

Qu Liushang sat there for a long while, lost in thought. Realizing that she was gone, he saw no need to stay any longer and got up to go to the stables.

But when he arrived, his horses were gone. Suspicious, he went to the inn's counter to inquire.

The innkeeper told him that the two horses had been sold by the young girl who had come with him.

Qu Liushang was still bewildered when the innkeeper produced another piece of paper, saying it was a letter the young girl had left for him before she left.

Qu Liushang quickly opened it, and the first thing he saw was an exaggeratedly large "Hahaha!" A bad feeling crept into his heart. He continued reading; below were several lines of smaller print: "

My dear Liushang, this afternoon I met a very wealthy and handsome man. My love and I rode off in his luxurious carriage. Don't miss me too much; a little longing and worry is enough."

Furthermore, after witnessing your daring escape this afternoon, I realized that horses are completely unnecessary for you. To rid you of this burden, I reluctantly sold both horses.

Now, you can finally unleash your full potential without any worries. Alas! It's only a few tens of thousands of miles from here to Nanfo, so you definitely won't be able to run to your heart's content. What a pity.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I'll be waiting for you at Zhuwu Gate.

(A simple yet vivid smiley face is drawn at the end.)

Qu Liushang lightly tapped his forehead and sighed deeply.

Good heavens, today I finally understand what it means to be utterly infuriating!

Remembering how he had just been secretly grieving over her departure, he couldn't help but slap himself hard.

Qu Liushang, you are truly hopelessly stupid! Three days after

the incident

, as dawn broke, a slight jolt in the carriage woke Yan Huang, who was dozing against the cushions.

He opened his eyes, feeling a bit stiff, and was about to stretch his limbs when an unusual weight on his legs stopped him.

Looking down, he saw the girl he had just met three days ago, her head resting on his lap, her small body curled up in the seat, fast asleep.

He reached out and rolled up the curtain, letting the clear morning light stream into the carriage. The cool morning breeze, carrying the fragrance of grass and earth, brushed against his hair, making him feel refreshed.

The girl's face was turned to the side; in the morning light, he could only see her long, thick eyelashes fluttering slightly like small fans with the rhythm of her breath, and her slightly pink lips contrasting with her jade-like, translucent, and silky smooth skin, making her exceptionally beautiful.

Recalling the scene of them leaving the inn together yesterday, chatting and laughing until late into the night, and her yawning, saying "Can I borrow your thigh?" before falling asleep without waiting for his reply, a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips.

Since he was old enough to understand, countless women had surrounded him, and he considered himself a connoisseur of people, but a girl like her was truly a first for him.

You could say she was roguish, yet at times she was remarkably refined, even somewhat melancholic. You could say she was elegant and graceful, yet the vulgarities and slang that flowed from her small mouth were enough to leave even a man of his upbringing bewildered. You could say she was deliberately approaching him, yet her eyes were undeniably innocent. You could say she was intentionally distancing herself, yet her actions were bold and ambiguous…

But in short, she was a beautiful, mischievous, mysterious, cute girl with a touch of domineering—that much was undeniable.

Seeing the slightly messy strands of hair on her forehead, he instinctively reached out to smooth them, his tender heart softening. But just as he raised his hand, a yellow shadow flashed before his eyes. He turned to see Tanlang glaring at him, his icy eyes clearly threatening: "You dare touch her?! You came in upright yesterday, you'll leave horizontal!"

Yan Huang quickly withdrew his hand and shrugged: "Don't get excited, I didn't do anything."

Tanlang snorted and lay down again, though his dog eyes still lingered on him.

Yan Huang smiled helplessly; like master, like dog.

He looked out the window; they seemed to have entered Rongcheng's territory. A journey of over three hundred li, at a leisurely pace, would take about two days and one night.

Half an hour later, Liyue suddenly rolled over, a soft thud as her elbow struck the carriage wall. "Ouch!" she cried, waking up in pain.

Li Yue sat up, rubbing her eyes sleepily. She looked at Yan Huang beside her, whose eyes were bright and clear. After a moment of stunned silence, she sat up and fumbled to loosen her hair, saying, "Yan Yan, when did you wake up? Why didn't you wake me?"

Yan Huang's good mood plummeted. He helplessly rubbed his forehead and said, "Li Yue, you promised last night you wouldn't call me that anymore."

Li Yue, while running her fingers through her long black hair, asked curiously, "Oh? When? I don't remember."

Yan Huang said, "Before I went to sleep, you promised yourself."

Li Yue deftly tied her hair into a bun, saying without hesitation, "That must have been nonsense I said while I was dozing off. Don't take it seriously."

Yan Huang suppressed the urge to vomit blood, mustered his spirits, and adopted a negotiating stance, saying, "Li Yue, Yan Yan is a woman's name. I really don't like you calling me that. How about this? You can name any condition, and I'll definitely agree to it if I can, as long as you don't call me that anymore."

“No, Yan Yan sounds so nice, I like calling you that,” Li Yue said without hesitation.

Yan Huang was about to lose his temper, but after holding back for a while, he said in a low voice, “I’m begging you.” Li Yue

finished tying her hair up and looked at Yan Huang with some difficulty, saying, “Oh dear, we’re all friends now, what you’re doing is putting me in a difficult position. Whether I call you Yan Yan or not is secondary, the key is, I’ve looked you up and down, and I haven’t found anything about you that interests me…” As Li Yue spoke, she looked Yan Huang up and down, her expression practically roguish.

Unable to bear her overly direct gaze, Yan Huang sighed and took out a translucent white jade pendant with a dragon design from his pocket, handing it to Li Yue, “What do you think of this?”

Li Yue took it, held it up to the sunlight streaming through the window, and immediately knew that this jade pendant was priceless. Secretly pleased, she reluctantly said, "Well, I can't tell if it's good or bad, but for the sake of our friendship, I'll reluctantly accept it. Huanghuang, are you happy now?"

Looking at Li Yue's innocent face, Yan Huang slumped into his seat, lamenting inwardly, "What was I thinking last night? I actually told her my full name! Who can save me now?"

Around 7 AM, the roadside gradually became lively. Li Yue, curious, peered out the window.

Brothels, gambling dens, restaurants! Everywhere she looked, there were such places.

Like a thunderbolt igniting a fire, the passion hidden in Li Yue's blood surged instantly.

"Stop the car! Stop the car!" Li Yue shouted, pounding on Yan Huang.

Seeing her anxious expression, Yan Huang wondered what was wrong and called for Long Nu out the window.

Soon, Long Nu, his face extremely pale, scurried over from behind the car. In fact, ever since he saw Tan Lang three days ago, his dark complexion had never returned to normal.

The carriage quickly came to a stop. Li Yue jumped down with Tan Lang, waving and calling out to Yan Huang with a smile, "Huang Huang, thank you for the carriage, and for your legs. Goodbye."

Yan Huang, hearing this, shrank back into the carriage, pulled down the curtain, and sighed, his head starting to ache again.

After the carriage left, Li Yue looked around at the endless rows of brothels, gambling dens, and restaurants lining both sides of the street, and took a deep breath:

Ah, it truly felt like returning home.

Starting with the line, "The brothel is my home, the courtesan is my mother," Li Yue was quickly persuaded to stay by the madam of a brothel called "Jiao Hong Ge."

After exchanging afternoon's experiences running a brothel with the madam, in the evening, Li Yue used the same tactic again, parading through the streets of Rongcheng with a gong, advertising her services, and seeing immediate results.

That evening, the madam was overjoyed to see the throng of patrons. She busied herself arranging songs and dances and attending to the guests.

Li Yue leaned against a pillar on the second-floor balcony, munching on melon seeds and coldly observing the lewd scene below.

A short while later, a man entered. He was tall and slender, with an ordinary appearance, but his eyes shone like lightning from beneath a cliff, radiating a clear and natural aura of authority.

A person with such eyes couldn't possibly be so ordinary-looking.

Li Yue squinted, carefully examining these eyes—eyes she couldn't place—and a thought flashed through her mind: "Return my jade pendant?"!

No way…?

She focused her gaze, ready to take a closer look, but the man seemed to sense her staring. He slightly raised his face, his gaze flashing like lightning across a dark cloud, instantly striking her eyes.

Good heavens! It really was him!

Li Yue inwardly cried out in alarm, wondering if the old man had followed her.

She forced a calm expression and met his gaze, her left hand hanging at her side. She waved lightly at Tanlang twice, who understood and slipped into a corner to hide.

Liyue gave the boy, who was staring intently at her, a captivating smile, then turned and ran.

The boy didn't hesitate; he leaped into the air, stepping over the lanterns above the hall, clearing the railing, and jumping into the stairwell. He chased after Liyue in the direction she was running, his movements clean, swift, and fluid. Before the people in the hall could react, a dark shadow flashed in mid-air and disappeared into the stairwell on the left.

Many girls thought they had seen a ghost and screamed in terror. The madam kept reassuring them, "It's just a crow, don't be afraid, keep going..."

*

"Help! Murder! Robbery! Sexual assault..." Liyue screamed as she ran across the street like the wind, but unfortunately, she was too fast. By the time many people heard the screams and came out to see what was happening, she had already vanished without a trace.

Huangfu Jue (the boy in black) frowned, relentlessly pursuing them, deeply disgusted by the vile words he overheard.

Qu Liushang had just arrived in Rongcheng and found a place to stay at an inn on the street. He was feeling drowsy after a hearty meal when he was suddenly awakened by Li Yue's shout. He got up, opened the window, and looked down to see two figures disappearing like a whirlwind on the east side of the street. Without hesitation, he jumped out of the window and gave chase.

Li Yue ran for most of the hour, but finding that the guy was still following like a tail, she couldn't help but feel annoyed. She gradually stopped and turned to face him.

Huangfu Jue stopped abruptly, his long black hair whipping forward wildly from the momentum. Li Yue, quick as a flash, grabbed a strand, laughing, "Hey, are you ever going to stop? If you've come specifically to apologize for what happened last time, I'll consider buying you a drink."

Huangfu Jue was suspicious, wondering how she recognized him, but remembering his purpose for coming, he said coldly, "Give me back my jade pendant."

Li Yue seemed not to hear him, her fingers twirling his hair, sniffing it, then raising her eyes with a suggestive smile, saying sweetly, "Oh, it smells quite nice—" Her voice trailed off softly, and Huangfu Jue instantly felt his face flush.

It felt like he'd been teased! Luckily, he was wearing a mask.

He snatched the long hair she was holding, his bright eyes fixed on her with a hint of anger.

Li Yue slumped her shoulders, her face fell, and she clasped her hands together in a gesture of prayer, her brow furrowed as she said, "Big brother, I beg you, please stop bothering me, okay? Because of that damn jade pendant of yours, I've lost all the territory I worked so hard to seize. Isn't that much more valuable than your jade pendant? I'm being magnanimous, I won't ask you to compensate me for my loss, let's just call it even, okay?"

Huangfu Jue was stunned. What kind of logic was this? From what she was saying, it seemed like he was the one who owed her?

"Hey, show some expression!" Li Yue said, reaching out to remove his mask.

Huangfu Jue grabbed her wrist, "You have to give it back to me!"

"Ah! It hurts so much! Is that a hand or a pair of pliers?! Let go!" Li Yue cried out in pain as she tried to shake him off.

"Give it back to me now!" Huangfu Jue held on tightly.

Li Yue looked up, a cold glint flashing in her eyes, and said menacingly, "Don't think I won't kill you just because you're handsome! I'll ask you one last time, will you let go or not?"

Huangfu Jue stared at her, stubbornly saying, "Give me back the jade pendant, and I'll release you naturally."

"You really won't let go?" Li Yue raised her eyebrows and asked loudly, looking fierce as if she was about to explode.

Huangfu Jue looked at her without speaking, but the meaning conveyed in his eyes was clear: He would rather die than let go!

Li Yue bit her lip, suddenly closed her eyes, swayed her body, and softly fell into his arms, constantly complaining, "Oh, my stomach hurts so much, my head is so dizzy, my legs are so sore, I'm so hungry, I'm going to die..."

Huangfu Jue was dumbfounded. After realizing what had happened, he hurriedly pushed away the soft body that was clinging to him and whose hand was still wandering on his chest, jumped back like a cat, and looked at her in astonishment.

Suddenly losing her support, Li Yue staggered a couple of steps, quickly regaining her balance. She looked up at Huangfu Jue, grinning smugly, and clicked her tongue in admiration, "Not bad, not bad, big and hard pectoral muscles, I like it."

Good heavens, what kind of woman is this? Huangfu Jue suddenly felt a headache coming on, unsure what to do with her.

Li Yue had originally wanted to tease this cold, aloof man a little longer, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw a figure rapidly approaching in the distance, and judging from the shape, it seemed somewhat like Liu Shang…

A wicked smile crept across her lips. Before Huangfu Jue could react, she screamed, "Ah—Liu Shang, help! Someone's robbing me!" She jumped back a few steps, making room for the two to fight.

Qu Liu Shang truly lived up to his reputation as a good friend. Hearing Li Yue's "scream," he drew a silver ribbon-like weapon—neither whip nor sword—without a word, and swung it towards Huangfu Jue's neck. Like a flash of lightning, it reached Huangfu Jue's chin in the blink of an eye.

It was too late for Huangfu Jue to turn and dodge. He leaned back, and Yuehen almost brushed past his nose. Enraged, Huangfu Jue flicked his right hand, and a gleaming waist knife slashed upwards towards Qu Liushang's chest.

Qu Liushang leaped into the air and flipped over. Just as Yuehen was about to pierce Huangfu Jue's brow, Huangfu Jue's waist knife flashed like a crescent moon to his face. Both of them flipped backward to avoid the attack, exchanging blows.

The uninvited guest,

Qu Liushang, and Huangfu Jue were evenly matched, their battle so fierce that sand and stones flew and the sun and moon were obscured. In the darkness, their figures and moves were completely invisible. Only Yuehen's silver light flowed like water and mist, its halo expanding like ripples, enveloping the two completely.

Huangfu Jue's waist knife flashed with cold, sharp light, surrounded by the silver light of Yuehen, like a sturdy bamboo in the wind, beautiful and elegant yet with an intimidating sharpness.

Li Yue watched the battle with great interest, jumping and shouting:

"Oh, Liu Shang, that was a beautiful move, too bad it missed!"

"Ah, you debt collector, are you kidding me? He just stabbed your eye, and you went to chop off his toes!"

"Ouch, that was close, Liu Shang, it's good that you're alive, it's okay if you lose your ear!" "

Haha, you debt collector, your posture just now looked like self-castration! Hahaha... cough cough... it's all your fault, you made me laugh so hard I couldn't breathe..."

"Okay, okay, kick his leg and let him chase me again next time... Hey, don't stab his chest, do you know how hard it was for me to train like this? Scars won't look good..."

"Watch out! Liu Shang, you've got an opening under your right rib! Oh dear, your lower body is undefended. You're fighting right now, can't you concentrate? You're so careless and distracted, you might lose your life!"...

Qu Liu Shang's sword-like eyebrows furrowed again and again, finally losing his temper. He jumped out of the battle circle, waved his hand at Huangfu Jue who was about to chase after him, and said, "Wait!"

Turning back to look at Li Yue, who was covering her mouth tightly with both hands and looking at him innocently, he said resentfully, "Let me sew her mouth shut first before I fight you." With that, he strode towards Li Yue.

Li Yue blinked her big eyes at him and whimpered softly, "Don't be so cruel! I haven't eaten dinner yet, can you sew it shut after I finish eating?"

Huangfu Jue frowned as he watched Qu Liu Shang's back, feeling a strange feeling in his heart.

As expected, Qu Liushang strode aggressively towards Li Yue, then suddenly grabbed her hand without a word and leaped into the air, disappearing like a swallow.

"Hahaha, gotta go—the debt collector, goodbye forever!" Li Yue laughed arrogantly.

Qu Liushang chided from the side, "Stop yelling, save your energy for escaping."

Huangfu Jue gathered his qi and leaped, following closely behind the two.

All three possessed excellent lightness skills; after a frantic run, the distance between them neither increased nor decreased. Qu Liushang frowned: When will this end?

Li Yue seemed to have just come to her senses, asking as she ran, "Hey, that old man isn't here again, why are we running?"

Qu Liushang said irritably, "If you want to fight, go back and fight. I'm not interested."

Li Yue said, "With such beauty before me, I can't bring myself to do it."

Qu Liushang nearly fainted with anger, saying, "Then let's go our separate ways." Anyway, he's chasing you, not me.

Li Yue hurriedly grabbed him, saying, "I'm hungry and I didn't bring any money."

Qu Liushang slapped her away, saying, "Just ask the handsome man behind you to pay."

"Are you jealous?" Li Yue grabbed him again.

"Stop being so conceited!" Qu Liushang slapped her away again.

"Alright, alright, I'll send him away." Li Yue compromised, reaching into her bosom to pull out a jade pendant, using her inner energy to throw it three zhang to her left, shouting, "Here you go! You stingy thing!"

Seeing this, Huangfu Jue leaped into the air and pounced, grabbing the jade pendant in his hand, only to find it wasn't his!

He looked up, wanting to chase after them, but the two had already disappeared. Huangfu Jue was so angry that he put his hands on his hips, looked up, and sighed. All his efforts in the middle of the night had been for nothing!

That wretched woman!

***

At the inn, Li Yue, having eaten and drunk her fill, rubbed her stomach and slowly paced back and forth in her room to digest.

Qu Liushang sat lazily by the window, legs crossed, and said, "Hey, can you tone it down a bit?"

Li Yue turned around, looking at Qu Liushang's exceptionally handsome face under the lamplight, her smile as bright as the moon, and asked, "What's wrong? Tone down what?"

Qu Liushang helplessly turned his head away, then turned back after a while, and said, "Are you really stupid or just pretending not to understand? We're not far from the capital of Xiwu, where heroes and chivalrous figures gather. You just castrated a prince, and the court has probably already issued a warrant for his arrest. These people will do anything for the bounty."

"Haha, Liushang, you're really funny." Li Yue laughed heartily, "Heroes and chivalrous figures? More like gambling heroes and whoring masters! In short, I didn't see a single one."

Qu Liushang frowned and said, "Li Yue, I'm being serious."

"Alright, since you're so worried about me, for the sake of friendship, quickly introduce me to a handsome man who's rich and powerful. That way you won't have to worry about me anymore." Li Yue came to Qu Liushang's side, squatting down beside him like a devoted lover, placing her hands on his legs, and looking at him with utmost sincerity through her large, blinking eyes.

Qu Liushang chuckled, brushing her hands away, and asked, "Really want one?"

Li Yue nodded hastily, adding, "Don't even mention someone who isn't top-tier."

"I do have one, but I'm afraid you can't handle him." Qu Liushang looked at her provocatively.

Li Yue simply sat down on the ground, saying, "You don't need to goad me. There's nothing I, Li Yue, can't get, only things you can't imagine."

Qu Liushang's smile turned indifferent, saying, "I was just goading you, actually, that's not true." After thinking it over, he still didn't want to introduce that devilish Su Yingge to her. If those two teamed up to bully him, would he even want to live?

Li Yue was taken aback, then her beautiful eyes widened, and she pinched Qu Liushang hard with two fingers, saying, "You dare to play me! I'll tear a piece of your flesh off!"

Qu Liushang immediately jumped up in pain, shouting, "Hey, are you kidding me? I just saved you!"

Li Yue had already stood up and walked towards the door, saying as she went, "Saved you my foot! You ruined my romantic moment. I'm tired today, I'll settle the score with you tomorrow."

Qu Liushang rubbed his arm, which was already turning blue, and called out to her back, "Where are you going so late?"

“Back to Jiao Hong Pavilion.” Li Yue turned around and saw Qu Liushang standing by the window. Her eyes darted around, and she leaned against the doorframe, her slender fingers alluringly touching her lips. She said in a coquettish voice, “Could it be that Young Master Qu is reluctant to let me go, thinking, ‘Tonight I'll keep the silver lamp burning, still fearing our meeting is but a dream’?”

Qu Liushang felt a chill and waved his hand, saying, “Go, go! Forget I asked.”

Li Yue chuckled lightly, turned, and vanished into the hazy moonlight.

*

Back in the room arranged for her in Jiao Hong Pavilion, she entered, lit the lamp, and turned around, startled.

An old man in black robes was sitting by her window, and she hadn't noticed him at all from the moment she entered until she saw him. The old man's martial arts skills were clearly exceptional.

Seeing Li Yue's sudden gasp and wide-eyed surprise, the old man knew she was frightened, but there was no remorse in his eyes, as if this was exactly the outcome he wanted.

He slowly stood up, expressionless, and bowed to Li Yue, saying, "Young Master has offended me greatly today. I am here on his behalf to apologize to you, Miss." As he spoke, he handed over the dragon-patterned jade pendant that Li Yue had tossed to Huangfu Jue.

Li Yue looked at him with flickering eyes. After a long while, she finally sighed and lowered her guard.

Qin Li Yue's success and rise to fame in the martial world were based on three reasons: First, her martial arts skills were considerable, and her youthful and beautiful appearance easily lulled her opponents into a false sense of security. Second, she was ruthless; she would stop at nothing to achieve her goals. Third, she was self-aware; knowing she was no match for him, she deliberately avoided provoking him.

Since her encounter with this old man in front of Jin Yu Pavilion, where he so easily dismissed her with a flick of his sleeve, she immediately understood the difference in their abilities. If he wanted to kill her, she would have no chance of escape. Therefore, being wary of him was completely unnecessary.

Besides, he didn't seem to want to kill her.

Thinking of this, Li Yue took the jade pendant from his hand and smiled, "Thank you for your trouble. However, if you can stop him from bothering me next time, I will be extremely grateful."

The old man raised his eyes and said, "My name is Guan Du. My young master is Huangfu Jue, the thirteenth prince of Xiwu, the current Prince Xi, whose fief is Zhuwu Gate."

Li Yue said "Oh," and went to the side to pour herself a cup of tea.

"The jade pendant that you took back then was a gift from the prince's mother, and therefore it is of great significance to the prince. If possible, please return it to him," Guan Du said.

Li Yue sighed. She had carried that jade pendant for five years without anyone coming to claim it. She had just given it away, and now the debt collectors were coming to her door. It was truly frustrating.

What was worse, she had no idea who the boy she had forced herself on was. Even if she wanted to return it to its rightful owner, she had nowhere to ask him for it.

Helpless, she had no choice but to tell the truth, saying, "I gave that jade pendant away, and I don't know where he is now. If I meet him in the future, I must come and deliver it to Zhu Wumen, what do you think?" (Advertisement break: Still relying on your hands? How can that be enjoyable? Forum reputation guaranteed! Healthy anti-premature ejaculation masturbation exerciser, real oral sex pleasure experience, hot recommendation! Maintain the feeling of ejaculation for 30 minutes, so pleasurable you'll faint. Fully automated masturbation with 12 different sex positions and vibration frequencies. Click to enter. ) Guan Du nodded

, but still didn't leave.

"Um... is there anything else?" Li Yue asked awkwardly.

"Dongyi Liuqu County, that magistrate who accepted bribes and sentenced your mother to death by a thousand cuts, you haven't found him yet, have you?" Guan Du said calmly.

Her playful expression vanished, and Li Yue's gaze instantly turned icy.

Guan Du stared at her without moving, their gazes clashing in the air, their sharpness almost imagining the clanging of swords clashing.

Li Yue was deeply shocked. It wasn't so much that he could find out her past, but that in less than a month since their first meeting in front of Jin Yu Pavilion, they had discovered Liu Qu County in Dong Yi, her mother, and her enemy. Such speed and efficiency were truly terrifying.

It seemed that the waters of Xi Wang Huangfu Jue ran deep.

Since they could find Liu Qu County and the magistrate who had escaped from her command, they must also know everything about what happened ten years ago.

Originally, she wanted to kill everyone who knew about this except herself, but because of a momentary lapse in attention, one person escaped, and now several more people knew. And the person standing before her now was someone she absolutely couldn't kill with her current martial arts skills.

Her clenched fist tightened, then silently relaxed. "Name your terms." If he weren't interested in her, he wouldn't have taken this action.

"Miss Qin, would you consider joining us?" Guan Du's expression softened slightly.

Li Yue glanced sideways at him, paused, and asked, "Why are you so optimistic about me?"

Guan Du remained expressionless, only saying, "Just a gut feeling."

Li Yue laughed and said, "What if I don't agree?"

"If you don't want to kill your last enemy, you can choose to refuse," Guan Du said.

He was certain she would agree.

Being seen through was a terrible feeling, but she had to endure it. She couldn't let that magistrate go, just as he hadn't let her mother go. If he hadn't sentenced her mother to be executed by slow slicing in the street, why would she have done such a horrific thing?

Her desire to torture him was so strong, so strong, that she was even willing to trade her own life for it, let alone just joining them.

She wanted to cut his flesh piece by piece, to let him know what slow slicing truly felt like!

After a brief silence, Li Yue laughed, stretching her arms wide and saying casually, "Even if it's risking your life, there should be a time limit, right?"

Guan Du looked up and asked, "Why are you willing to risk your life for Yu Wuchen for five years?"

"What? Want to do the same?" Li Yue glanced at him sideways. Guan Du remained silent

, tacitly agreeing.

Li Yue stood up, slowly strolling to him, and said with a low, alluring laugh, "Then let me tell you, it's his outstanding looks that attracted me. When we're together, he lets me do whatever I want."

Guan Du nodded, indicating understanding.

"You should name a time limit. If I can accept it, I'll agree." Li Yue turned around and took a sip of tea.

"What Yu Wuchen has, our Prince also has." Guan Du said quietly.

"Pfft—"

Upon hearing this, Li Yue spat out her entire mouthful of tea in a very unladylike manner. Looking up, she stared at Guan Du in astonishment, finding it hard to believe that such words would come from his mouth.

What did he mean by that? To invite her to join him, he was actually willing to have Huangfu Jue sacrifice his looks? "

No way? ...

Ahem, this is too unbelievable!"

After a long while, she came to her senses, wiped the water stains from her lips with her sleeve, and said, "While everyone's appearance is unique, your ice block...ahem, Your Highness, seems quite difficult to handle."

Guan Du remained unfazed and said, "With a personality like yours, challenges are more rewarding."

This old man is not simple. First, he throws out a handsome man to tempt you, then issues a challenge to provoke you. Damn it, this provocation...it really hit the nail on the head.

Li Yue puffed out her cheeks and suddenly turned around, saying, "I'll think about it."

Behind her, Guan Du said, "This old man awaits Miss Qin's arrival at Zhu Wu Gate."

Heh, this old man really has her cornered!

Li Yue turned back, intending to argue with him again, but found that he was already gone from the room. She chased to the window and looked around. The moonlight outside was dazzling, and the shadows of the trees swayed.

Tsk, when will she be able to master such superb skills?

The main text is about Zhu Wu's journey and

his dream.

In the early morning of the dead of winter in Changhuai County, northern Dongyi, a biting north wind howled, and water froze instantly.

Xiangchun Tower was the largest brothel in Changhuai County. At this moment, before dawn, in the fragrant backyard of the brothel, a petite and thin young woman sat by the well, diligently washing clothes. Her hands, already chapped from the cold, quickly bled, the blood seeping into the icy water.

Oblivious to her surroundings, sweat beaded on her forehead as she mechanically repeated the washing motions. Then, a soft voice called out, "Mother."

The woman turned sharply, revealing a beautiful, pitiful face hidden beneath her disheveled hair, though etched with weariness.

She looked at her four-year-old daughter, who was shivering in the cold wind, and hurriedly stood up. She quickly wiped the blood and water droplets from her hands with the hem of her clothes, picked up her daughter and walked into the house, saying, "Liyue, why did you get up? It's cold outside, hurry up and hide under the covers."

The little girl's lips were a little blue, and she quietly said, "No need, it's cold under the covers too."

Hearing this, the woman stopped, stunned, looking at the girl in her arms. She wanted to warm her, but she herself was colder. She unbuttoned her clothes and placed the girl's icy little hands into her still slightly warm embrace, speechless.

"Mother, those ugly women are all doing better than you, is it just because you have me?" the girl asked, her eyes devoid of any childlike clarity or innocence, only as cold and dark as the deep winter night.

"No, no, Li Yue. It's because, because Mother is waiting for your father, waiting for your father to come back and take us," the woman said hastily, her expression somewhat dazed.

"Mother, just strangle me," the girl suddenly said. The woman

was startled, stammering, "What, what did you say? Li Yue, what did you say?"

"Being hungry and cold during the day, and cold and hungry at night, living like this is worse than death," the four-year-old girl said, each word distinct.

The woman was completely stunned, staring wearily and exhausted at the girl in her arms. A moment later, her lips twitched slightly, and she finally embraced the girl tightly, bursting into tears. Between sobs, she cried, "Liyue, Mother is so sorry, Mother is so sorry..."

That afternoon, the woman dressed herself up and went to the front yard. When she returned the next morning, there were hickeys on her neck and tear stains in her eyes...

A few days later, the woman took the girl to the front yard with her. From then on, they never went hungry again, never suffered from the cold again. But the woman could no longer hold the girl as she slept, because every night there was a different man in her bed...

***

Liyue quietly opened her eyes. The sky was just beginning to lighten, and everything in the room was hazy and indistinct. The air was thick with the faint scent of perfume and a seductive fragrance. The faint laughter of a madam seeing off a customer drifted from downstairs…

everything was just like twelve years ago…

She sat up, stretched, moved to the edge of the bed, and let her snow-white, delicate feet dangle off the bed. She gave Tanlang a good rub, laughing, “Tanlang, get up, I need to put on my shoes!”

Tanlang, unable to bear her torment, reluctantly rolled over and went back to sleep. The embroidered shoes he’d slept on all night were now flattened beyond recognition.

Liyue didn’t mind at all, slipped them on, and, still half-asleep, swayed to the bronze mirror. Looking at her somewhat cold gaze in the mirror, she paused for a moment, then grinned, revealing her teeth. She reached out and touched her smooth, silky face, muttering to herself, “Does sleeping with a man prevent me from having dreams?”

Hearing this, Tanlang suddenly raised his head, his dog-like eyes gleaming.

"Get lost! Don't even think about it! You lecherous beast!" Li Yue cursed as she saw herself in the mirror.

*

When they arrived at the inn where Qu Liushang was staying, he was having breakfast in the lobby downstairs. Li Yue sidled up to him and ate with him without any hesitation.

Qu Liushang stared at the half-eaten steamed bun she had snatched away and said, "Hey, I already took a bite."

"You can kiss, what's wrong with taking a bite? Waiter, bring me a bowl of porridge, put the bill on his tab." Li Yue mumbled, her cheeks puffed out.

Qu Liushang was defeated and had to order another plate of steamed buns. His gaze fell on the dragon-patterned jade pendant hanging at her waist, and he asked, "Where did you get this?"

"The handsome man gave it to me." Li Yue shared a piece of steamed bun with her lover.

"Given it to you? You two just met, why would he give you this?" Qu Liushang wasn't the type to pry, but today he seemed a little unusual.

Li Yue looked at him curiously, then said helplessly, "Brother, I spent three days and three nights with him, and he gave me a jade pendant as a reward. Is that surprising?"

Qu Liushang choked, then asked, "Do you know who he is?"

"Yes, Yan Huang," Li Yue said while eating.

"He's the emperor of Dongyi."

"Pfft—"

Li Yue realized that lately, there seemed to be some situations that made her lose her composure.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Qu Liushang, who had been sprayed with her spray, complained while shaking his sleeve.

"He's the emperor of Dongyi? How did you know? You damn well knew and didn't tell me sooner! I've never seen an emperor in my life. Heavens, what a missed opportunity!" Li Yue grabbed Qu Liushang's sleeve and wailed, pounding her chest and stamping her feet, attracting the attention of the patrons on both sides.

"Hey, can you tone it down a bit?" Qu Liushang, unable to bear the "glory" of being the center of attention, frowned and whispered.

Li Yue blinked, then suddenly sat back down at the table, continuing to eat her breakfast as if nothing had happened.

Qu Liushang, seeing her sudden change in expression, asked, "What's wrong? Are you angry?"

"No. He's just a young emperor who hasn't yet taken power. Let's just let it go. It'll be more useful when he's older," Li Yue said.

After expressing his admiration for her confidence and determination in seducing someone, Qu Liushang sat down and continued drinking his porridge.

Li Yue took a bite of her steamed bun, her eyes darting around, and said, "But, that guy next to him named Murong Ting looks a lot like you. Since you don't have any family, if I see him again next time, I'll ask him to become sworn brothers with you, okay..."

"Pfft—cough cough..." Before Li Yue could finish speaking, Qu Liushang spat it out.

Li Yue stared blankly at her front, which he had sprayed with saliva, and asked in a daze, "Are you... too excited or too thrilled?"

Qu Liushang finally managed to stop coughing, his expression very strange, and said, "No need, thank you for your concern."

Li Yue looked at him, her intuition telling her that Qu Liushang was hiding something. But what on earth is going on?

*

After breakfast, the two used the money the madam had given Liyue the night before to buy a carriage and continued their journey towards Zhuwu Gate.

When they ran out of money, they'd gamble it out at a casino; when they had money, they'd eat, drink, play, ride horses, and sing. The journey was long, but following Liyue's carefree and unrestrained lifestyle, they didn't feel tired.

The further southwest they went, the more caravans and merchant guilds appeared on the road. These were merchants traveling between Xiwu and Nanfo, shuttling between the two countries year-round.

Among these merchants, eight out of ten were members of the Yu Clan merchant guild. They habitually carried a flag with the character "Yu" on it at the front of their caravans. This had two advantages: first, the Yu Clan was a powerful force in the martial arts world, and ordinary bandits dared not rob their caravans; second, the imperial checkpoints, seeing that it was a Yu Clan caravan, would not subject them to strict checks or deliberate harassment, saving them a lot of time along the way.

Yu Wuchen began traveling the world at the age of ten to learn business. By thirteen, his trade network covered both the Western Wu and Southern Fo kingdoms. At fifteen, he successfully extended his reach into the extremely xenophobic Eastern Yi kingdom, becoming the youngest trade tycoon among the three kingdoms. If it weren't for the Blood Shadow Palace's interference, Eastern Yi would surely be covered by his trade network by now, just like Southern Fo.

This man is so intelligent, yet so unpredictable, to the point that…

Li Yue shook her head, clearing her mind of the jumbled thoughts, and turned to look at the surrounding scenery. They

were getting closer to Zhu Wu Gate. The rolling mountains on both sides of the road gradually turned into an endless green plain. Nameless wildflowers bloomed, scattered across the grassland, patches of yellow, patches of red, patches of purple… The sky was high and clear, a pure and transparent blue.

A gentle evening breeze blew, and Li Yue squinted contentedly, calling out, "It's been so many years since I've been here. It seems quite a change."

Qu Liushang leaned against the window, his gaze distant and hazy as he looked towards the sky ablaze with the brilliant colors of the sunset, remaining silent.

Around 7 PM, they finally arrived at Zhuwu Gate. In the darkness, all they could see was a massive, dark city wall, with a few faint lights visible on the city walls.

"It's so late, the gates should be closed, right?" Qu Liushang asked.

"These walls are so low, I can easily step over them. What about you?" Li Yue asked.

Qu Liushang considered it seriously for a moment, then said, "I might need to jump." Upon hearing this, both of them burst into laughter.

"Liushang, it's such a shame we didn't meet sooner!" Li Yue put her hand on his shoulder and said with a smile.

Qu Liushang wanted to say "Likewise," but before he could speak, his face turned red, and Li Yue teased him relentlessly.

Arriving outside the city gate, the two of them got out of the carriage with their lover. Qu Liushang looked at the tightly closed city gate and said to Li Yue, "So, shall we jump?"

Li Yue nodded.

Just as the two were about to find a slightly secluded spot to climb over the city wall, they heard several loud rumbles as the city gate opened. A guard-looking man, surrounded by several soldiers, emerged from the city and approached Li Yue. He bowed respectfully and said, "This subordinate, Zhang Liao, is here to welcome Miss Qin on the orders of my father-in-law."

Li Yue and Qu Liushang exchanged glances. Li Yue, intrigued, asked, "How did you know it was me?"

Zhang Liao replied, "My father-in-law instructed that if you see a beautiful woman of fifteen or sixteen, accompanied by a large yellow dog, that is Miss Qin."

Li Yue laughed and turned to Qu Liushang, saying, "This old man, Guan Du, is quite interesting."

A bead of cold sweat appeared on Zhang Liao's forehead. The dignified father-in-law of a prince was being called an "old man" by this woman, and a "quite interesting old man at that." What was this woman's background?

"Besides instructing you to welcome me here, did he give any other instructions?" Li Yue asked.

Zhang Liao bowed and reported, "The accommodations have been prepared for Miss Qin. My father instructed that regardless of whether Miss Qin goes to see him or not, the house is given to her, and the land deed is in her room. If Miss Qin wishes to see him, he will remain in the palace for the next month, ready to await your arrival."

Li Yue smiled again and said, "Hmm, it seems that although this old man is a bit old, he is still quite likable in other ways."

A bead of cold sweat appeared on Zhang Liao's forehead.

The two followed Zhang Liao to a mansion in the city called "Yiqingju," where servants were already waiting with lanterns at the gate.

The night was dark, and within the ancient courtyard walls lay a hidden splendor.

As the two stepped into the courtyard, a fragrance of flowers mixed with the unique freshness of the bamboo garden wafted towards them, instantly uplifting their spirits.

Every ten steps along the bamboo groves on both sides of the path hung a small palace lantern, about the size of a palm, swaying gently in the night breeze, its light soft and bright.

Passing through the bamboo-lined path, a bright and clear pond suddenly appeared before them, its banks lined with delicate pink roses. A crescent-shaped jade arch bridge spanned the pond, beyond which lay an open-plan hall, and further on, a room with moon-shaped windows.

Li Yue looked around, then turned to Zhang Liao with a smile, saying, "Go and report back. Tell him I'm very satisfied with this place. If you could bring a few more handsome male servants, it would be even more perfect."

Zhang Liao, hearing such a request for the first time, reluctantly agreed and went off.

"It seems you plan to stay here for a long time," Qu Liushang said, hands behind his back, gazing at the beautiful courtyard.

Li Yue smiled and turned back, saying, "Isn't it good? Anyway, someone's taking care of me for free. You don't need to wander around anymore; I'll support you." The next

morning

, Li Yue got up, washed, and opened her wardrobe, only to be immediately stunned.

Pink, pale yellow, aquamarine, sky blue… cough, the dresses that old man Guandu prepared for her were indeed incredibly delicate and pretty.

Having grown up in poverty, Li Yue had always been easygoing, but in the past five years, having grown accustomed to the luxurious life of the aristocracy with Yu Wuchen, her clothing and appearance were no longer as casual as those of an ordinary young girl.

She curled her lip slightly, casually picking out a pale yellow gauze dress and putting it on. Looking in the mirror, her skin was as white as snow, her eyes bright and sparkling; she was undeniably delicate, beautiful, and charming.

Dressed properly, she looked out the window. It was July, the sun scorching and the heat oppressive. Just as she was about to go out to ask a maid if she had an umbrella, she saw Qu Liushang standing by the pond in the courtyard, holding his blue oil-paper umbrella, watching the fish. He

was still wearing a pale blue-white long robe, his figure from behind so graceful it was a picture-perfect scene.

Li Yue tilted her head slightly, thinking, "This man is clearly very handsome, so why don't I want to pounce on him? It's really strange."

She paused, then suddenly realized, "It must be because I was hurt too badly by that black-clad youth in the cave the first time, so now I'm hesitant to pounce on people so easily. Sigh, I must sneak a peek when he takes a bath sometime. If his 'ass' isn't as 'robust' as that black-clad youth's, then I'll pounce on him. It'll be a good opportunity to verify which of those three—Ru Hua, Ru Yue, and Ru Meng—was right."

*

The sun shone brightly. Qu Liushang held an umbrella, and Li Yue, arm in arm with him, sheltered under it as they strolled through the city.

After winding through several alleys, they soon arrived at the legendary, bustling Sifang Street.

Standing at the street corner, looking at the throngs of people, she was truly a little overwhelmed.

The streets were lined with stalls selling all sorts of goods: leather, jewelry, fabrics, fruit, timber, lacquerware, ceramics… a dazzling array, all transported from Nanfo.

In the distance, caravans laden with goods left the inn for the interior of Xiwu, while others with empty camel caravans hurried south to Nanfo to purchase goods.

This border trading city on the southern edge of Xiwu was bustling with activity.

“Tsk, so many caravans, the taxes alone would be enough for Huangfu Jue to live off for the rest of his life,” Li Yue said enviously.

“About 250 li south of here is Tongxuan Pass, under the jurisdiction of the imperial court. All merchants entering and leaving Xiwu and Nanfo pay their taxes there. As a vassal king, Huangfu Jue has no right to collect taxes from these merchants,” Qu Liushang said.

Li Yue carefully avoided the horse manure scattered along the street, saying, "I remember there aren't any large towns between Tongxuan Pass and Zhuwu Gate."

Qu Liushang agreed, "Indeed, there are only a few small mountain villages along the way." "

There aren't any decent towns within four hundred li north of Zhuwu Gate either. That means even if these caravans laden with goods travel fifty li a day, they won't receive any supplies for half a month if they don't enter Zhuwu Gate," Li Yue said.

Qu Liushang smiled and looked over, asking, "What do you want to do?"

Li Yue smiled charmingly, reaching out to pinch his cheek, saying, "I want to earn more money to support you."

Upon hearing this, the passersby immediately gave Qu Liushang stares at his good fortune.

Qu Liushang blushed, coughed lightly, and said, "Let's go see what fun things there are."

*

In the evening, bathed in the golden sunset, Li Yue, holding a bunch of grapes, casually strolled to the Xi King's Mansion, eating them as she went.

At that moment, Guan Du was playing chess with a staff member named Yan Ji in the corridor. Upon receiving the announcement, they went together to the central courtyard.

Li Yue entered the mansion. The courtyard before her consisted only of two rows of pine trees lining the main road, with large patches of low-lying flowerbeds and grass, appearing empty and rather dull.

"Tsk tsk, old man, besides being unable to hide people, I really can't find any other redeeming qualities in the landscaping of this Prince Xi's mansion." Unconcerned that she was being scrutinized by the long-bearded, seemingly otherworldly middle-aged man beside Guan Du, Li Yue popped the last grape into her mouth, puffed out her cheeks, and loudly proclaimed to Guan Du.

The mansion was arranged this way precisely to prevent the court from sending eavesdroppers. Seeing her enter and immediately discern her true intentions, Guan Du was even more confident that he hadn't misjudged her, and thus said naturally, "That's what I thought too."

Li Yue spit out the grape skins from her mouth and chuckled, "Hey, I'm really growing to like you more and more. If your ice block had half your humor, I'd definitely fall in love with him."

Guan Du remained expressionless, saying only, "I didn't expect you to come so quickly. The person you wanted is still on his way. It's easier to take the dead than the living."

Li Yue waved her hand and said, "I didn't come to ask you for the person. Since he's on his way, you might as well give the order to let them travel slowly, not to mistreat him, to serve him good wine and meat every day, and to find some pretty young girls to keep him company at night. Make sure he's fat and strong; that's what I'll like."

Guan Du's eyes darkened slightly, and he said, "No problem." He then turned to Li Yue and introduced the banquet table beside him.

Li Yue greeted him, glanced around, and asked, "Ice Cube isn't here?"

Guan Du replied, "The Prince has gone out. If Miss Qin wishes to see him, you might as well come inside for tea."

"No need," Li Yue said. "It's hot. I only want to see him to cool down. Right now, I have a lucrative business to discuss with you."

"In that case, please come to the study, Miss Qin, for a detailed discussion." Guan Du gestured for her to enter. Li Yue nodded, and the three were about to leave when a voice called out,

"The Prince has returned to the mansion—"

Li Yue turned to look at the gate.

This was a peerless prodigy, impeccable in both appearance and temperament.

In the setting sun, his fair skin shone brightly, making his sharp yet refined features particularly striking. Though young, and though he deliberately concealed his true nature, when his lightning-bright, blade-like gaze swept over them, his invisible kingly aura was undeniable, sending chills down one's spine.

Like a finely carved and peerlessly sharp sword, you can be captivated by its brilliance, but if you wish to get any closer, you'd better consider whether you can avoid its intimidating blade.

On this face that inspires both longing and boundless awe, the only thing that evokes warmth and approachability is his lips—soft curves and vibrant color—as if this is the only tenderness he can display to the world.

She wondered if kissing him would be as beautiful as his appearance. Li Yue stared at his lips, lost in thought.

Huangfu Jue looked up and saw her, slowing his pace before striding up to her. Amidst the bows of Guan Du and Yan Ji, he stared at Li Yue and asked, "Did you bring the jade pendant?"

Li Yue instantly became annoyed, jumping up and down, "In front of such a vibrant and beautiful woman like me, all you can think of is a jade pendant? Have you even fully developed yet?"

"You—!" Huangfu Jue realized that whenever this woman spoke, his anger would skyrocket.

Li Yue leaped back like a cat, raising her head to glare at him, saying, "What? Trying to pretend to hit me again like last time, but actually taking advantage of me?"

Upon hearing this, Guan Du and Yan Ji turned their backs in perfect unison, looking up at the sky, seemingly suddenly captivated by the clouds.

Huangfu Jue's face flushed red, then paled, then flushed again, and he said coldly, "When have I ever taken advantage of you?"

Li Yue swayed closer to him, grinning, "So what if you did? I didn't say you couldn't. Why are you so quick to deny it? Come on, give me a kiss, and I'll tell you where the jade pendant is." Li Yue tilted her head back, offering her delicate right cheek, her long eyelashes fluttering as she begged for a kiss.

"You woman!" Huangfu Jue couldn't take it anymore, reaching out to grab her wrist as he had done last time.

Li Yue was extremely alert. Before he could make a move, she darted into his arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. She took the opportunity to rub her face against his chest, crying out in a coquettish voice, "Oh dear! What are you doing in broad daylight with everyone watching? How embarrassing!"

Huangfu Jue was dumbfounded, both angry and annoyed. He grabbed her shoulders and tried to push her away forcefully.

She twisted her body like a snake, shouting even louder, "Oh dear, so impatient! Ouch, don't try to take my clothes off!"

Seeing the woman clinging to him like a leech, writhing and yelling, Huangfu Jue was utterly defeated. He cried out in exasperation, "Father!"

Unable to continue feigning deafness, Guan Du turned around, cleared his throat, and said, "Miss Qin, didn't you say you had something to discuss? As for your private matters with the Prince, I think it's more appropriate to resolve them tonight."

"Father?" Hearing Guan Du's words, Huangfu Jue was utterly shocked and stunned. He stood there, staring at Guan Du in disbelief.

Feeling his sudden stiffness, Li Yue chuckled inwardly, but outwardly pretended to reluctantly release him, saying, "For your sake… alright."

Huangfu Jue's study.

Guan Du and Huangfu Jue huddled around the desk, staring at a list. Yan Ji sat nearby, sipping tea. Li Yue leisurely searched the study, finding nothing of interest, then casually found a stool and sat down, idly counting on her fingers.

"Ancient city maintenance fee, street cleaning fee, security protection fee, farmland abandonment fee..." Upon reading this, Guan Du looked up and asked, "What does the arrival of caravans have to do with farmland abandonment?" "

They're constantly coming and going, flaunting their wealth. How can the farmers in the city not be tempted? Since they're so eager for business, they certainly won't care about farming, so the fields will inevitably become abandoned," Li Yue explained.

Guan Du was speechless, and continued reading, "Adultery and incest fees? Disturbing the neighbors fees? Market disruption fees? Water pollution fees?..." The more Guan Du read, the more he couldn't bear to look anymore. Finally, Huangfu Jue rubbed his forehead, looked up, and asked a crucial question: "Are you sure this isn't robbery?"

Li Yue walked over with a charming smile, put her arm around his shoulder, and leaned against him, saying, "What do you know about robbery? If I really wanted to rob someone, would I need to waste time writing this? I could just slit their throat, take the horses and goods, and that would be it.

If you don't understand something, you should humbly ask for guidance. I'll definitely tell you because you're quite handsome.

I have a clear basis for collecting these adultery and incest fees. Think about it, so many strong and healthy men travel such a long distance. As long as their lower bodies aren't damaged, do you think they won't touch women? Brothels aren't everywhere. How do they satisfy their desires in places without brothels? Naturally, they seduce older women." "Mother-in-law. This is adultery.

And those women they seduce might run off with them for money, have a bunch of children with them, and these half-siblings who don't know each other could easily end up together, which is incest.

As for disturbing the neighbors, that's even simpler. If those women who run off with other men have infants crying for food at home, and their mothers aren't home, they'll wake up hungry at night, and the children will cry. If the children cry all night, how can the neighbors not be disturbed? If the neighbors

are disturbed, they won't sleep well at night and won't have the energy during the day. They won't have the strength to do business or farm, which will disrupt the market.

Polluting the water source is even simpler. Their herds of horses come and go all day long, making the streets dusty. People's clothes get dirty and they have to wash them. If they wash them every day, won't the water source get dirty?"

Li Yue spoke eloquently and confidently, leaving Huangfu Jue stunned.

Finally, Li Yue reached out her wolf paw and touched his face, adding, "Anyway, I'm the one actually carrying out the work. You just need to pretend you're deaf and dumb and wait at home to collect the money. So many projects, and only ten taels of silver per horse—that's quite humane, isn't it?"

Guan Du nodded and asked, "How will the profits be split?"

"How about 50/50?" Li Yue asked without hesitation.

Guan Du indicated no objection and then asked, "You should need a group of subordinates. How do you plan to solve that?"

Li Yue straightened up and asked, "How many people are in the prison? If they're not serious enough to warrant execution, give them all to me. They're just sitting around doing nothing anyway, might as well let them put some use to them."

"How can that be?" Huangfu Jue immediately objected.

Li Yue ignored him and only looked at Guan Du.

Guan Du thought for a moment and said, "I think it's feasible."

"Father!" Huangfu Jue frowned at him.

Li Yue looked at Guan Du appreciatively and said, "You're a good colleague. It's really pleasant working with you."

Guan Du said, "Likewise."

Li Yue stretched and turned to look at Yan Ji, saying leisurely, "Uncle, you've been staring at me with lustful eyes for almost half an hour. Aren't your eyes tired?"

Yan Ji's expression changed slightly, then he said, "I was looking at you. You have a very auspicious face for your husband!"

"Auspicious face for your husband?" Li Yue blinked, then "whoosh," she darted in front of Yan Ji and said ingratiatingly, "Great Immortal, are you really good at fortune telling?"

"So-so." Yan Ji said modestly, but his expression was quite smug.

"Then, Great Immortal, could you tell me when I'll meet my husband?" Li Yue pressed her advantage. Yan Ji

looked at her carefully, stroking his long beard. After a long while, he frowned and said, "It's hard to say. Judging from your appearance, it seems you'll have more than one husband in the future."

"Uh..." Li Yue stammered. Although she was lustful, she hadn't really thought about having several husbands.

"Then which one do you mean by 'lucky husband'?" Li Yue asked.

"Since it's 'lucky husband,' any husband you have will bring you good fortune," Yan Ji said.

Li Yue was stunned, realizing that after asking so many questions, she hadn't gotten any useful information.

She turned around somewhat boredly and said, "Sigh, it's so boring being with you guys. I'd better go back and keep my little Liushang company."

Reaching the door, she turned back and said to Guandu, "Find me someone sometime. Her name is Fu Hongsha, she's twenty years old, and she's a member of the Zhuwu Sect."

Guandu nodded, watching her disappear through the door. He turned to Yanji and asked, "Is she really a lucky charm for her husband?"

Yanji solemnly replied, "Indeed, and not just any ordinary lucky charm."

"Oh?" Guandu became interested and asked, "Is there some secret to it?"

Yanji sat up straight and said seriously, "Of course, she's incredibly lucky."

"Pfft—"

Upon hearing this, Huangfu Jue spat out the mouthful of tea he had just drunk.

Looking up, he stared in surprise at Yan Ji, whose face was devoid of any playful expression. He couldn't understand why Yan Ji, who was always so concise and to the point, had become such a different person today, uttering such meaningless phrases as "as prosperous as can be" with such seriousness.

And Guan Du, he thought, treated that woman differently from everyone else too. Okay, he admitted that the woman was somewhat different, but that shouldn't have made them both so strange.

Thinking about it this way, he felt a surge of curiosity about the woman.

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