"But don't be too happy too soon." Fu Chengfeng went on to say, "Even though I'm not poisoned, more than a dozen people are holding the Terrifying Dragon's Leaf outside. It's almost impossible to escape."
Rong Yi kissed him happily on the cheek as she heard him admit he wasn't poisoned, not caring for the deflating words that followed.
Fu Chengfeng was so stunned by the beauty's sudden kiss that he completely forgot that he still had the ability to resist. Only when Rong Yi stepped out of the carriage did he return to his senses. He quickly followed up and asked, "What are you doing?" As soon as the words came out of his mouth, Fu Chengfeng realised that his question was too redundant, as Rong Yi had clearly told him what she was doing with her actions. Looking at the scene before him, Fu Chengfeng was utterly helpless. This girl actually wanted to use a beauty trap on Qin Mu'an.
"You've just gone out of your way to distance yourself from him, and now you're using a beauty trap against him? Don't you think that's despicable?" Fu Chengfeng expressed disapprovingly.
Rong Yi tilted her head back at that time, letting the wind blow around her, looking very comfortable. She exuded an indefinable, extreme beauty that people could not take their eyes off after just one glance. Hearing Fu Chengfeng's words, Rong Yi smiled faintly back at him, then turned around, looked at Qin Mu'an's back in front of her, and said lightly, "I don't like to play tricks behind someone's back. This action is called one's willingness to take the bait."
That smile almost made Fu Chengqian lose his soul. If he hadn't been on high alert since discovering her true nature, he would have been so fascinated by her smile that he would have forgotten about the actual business. Fortunately, he had already seen her ability very deeply and thoroughly, which was a great blessing, a truly great blessing. Fu Chengfeng sighed 'great blessing' a few times in his heart, and then, following what she had just said, he pointed out: "Since you don't like to play tricks behind someone's back, you should make it clear to him first and let him know that you have no other intention with him. That way, when you seduce him, he will know you are just using your beauty trick on him."
Rong Yi smiled and nodded slightly in appreciation. Her eyes still rested on Qin Mu'an as she responded: ''The pit is right before him. Nothing is covering or blocking the pit, and he can plainly see it. To jump or not to jump is his choice. It is his own willingness that will make him take the bait."
"When he chose to jump into the trap you set for him voluntarily, he also chose to bear all the consequences, including his peace of mind. So no matter how much or how badly hurt he will get, you don't have to be responsible or guilty because you have made it very clear from the beginning." Fu Chengfeng said these words with great calmness as if he was merely analysing something, not what people were thinking in their hearts.
Fu Chengfeng's behaviour took Rong Yi by surprise. She thought that he would not understand or be offended to the point of anger. But she did not expect him to be so calm, so calm as if he did not care what she thought at all. Rong Yi had a moment of anticipation, hoping Fu Chengfeng could see through her thoughts and understand them. She did not need his approval, just his understanding. But when he said those words so calmly, without a trace of emotion on his face, she knew that he didn't genuinely understand. Not only that, he didn't even show the intention of wanting to understand. His reaction made Rong Yi feel very lost.
Was he not the man she wanted after all?
She thought she knew him well enough. She thought he was like her, despised the vulgar world of wallowing in the mire1 and was proud of it. But she was wrong.
Whatever.
She would still do it whether he could understand it or not. Because that was who she was, and she wouldn't change herself for anyone. And if one day she did, it would be to change herself for the better, not to please anyone.
"If you don't want to see it, you should sleep in the carriage." Rong Yi said with a smile, completely unconcerned about anyone's criticism.
Fu Chengfeng hesitated for a moment after hearing her words. Finally, he sighed lightly and retreated into the carriage. Fu Chengfeng was no fool. He knew very well why Rong Yi was trying to use the beauty trick on Qin Mu'an. She wanted to attract the attention of the cavalry and buy him some time. As long as he could escape the siege of the Terrifying Dragon's Leaf, he would be free to follow the cavalry into Jinling and inquire about the whereabouts of the maker of the Terrifying Dragon's Leaf.
But as soon as many things involved feelings, one would deliberately break the rule. For example, at that time, Fu Chengfeng knew that he should concentrate on what was going on outside to find a way out of the siege and not indulge himself in flights of fancy2, but he couldn't untie the knots in his heart. Another example is Qin Mu'an, who undoubtedly heard the conversation between Rong Yi and Fu Chengfeng without missing a word. He knew there was a bottomless abyss, and if he were not careful, he would be doomed, but he still turned his horse around.
When Rong Yi saw Qin Mu'an turn his horse around and trot towards the carriage, her beautiful fox eyes immediately flashed with a dazzling and warm light. She looked straight at Qin Mu'an as if she wanted to etch this blatant seduction into the bottom of his heart, forming a beautiful mark inside him.
In the face of Rong Yi's seduction, Qin Mu'an never said a word or showed any sign of fluctuating expression. He slowly rode his horse to her side, grabbed her outstretched hand, and pulled her forcefully into his arms.
Qin Mu'an was not the only one who listened to the dialogue between Rong Yi and Fu Zhanfeng; the entire cavalry obviously did so, too. Therefore, everyone's eyes were fixed on their leader, from when Qin Mu'an turned his horse around to when Rong Yi was dragged onto his horse and rode off with him. Their faces were filled with disbelief, unable to believe that the dignified, calm, wise, and cool General Qin could still jump without hesitation, even after knowing a pit was in front of him.
Even a brave hero will find it difficult to get past an outpost occupied by a beautiful woman3! This was the unanimous sentiment of everyone in the cavalry team.
And just as everyone was filled with endless ruefulness, a long double sword suddenly burst out of the carriage door and pierced Qin Mu'an's right arm. Its precision took everyone by surprise, and then, a figure flew in from the left, catching Rong Yi as she fell from Qin Mu'an's arms and flew away with the wind.
By the time everyone tried to catch up with them, they had long since lost sight of the duo. They did not even know which direction the pair had gone.
Knowing that they had lost the opportunity to overtake them and that it would only be useless to send some people out again, they all sighed with regret and turned to ask Qin Mu'an, "General Qin, are you all right?"
"I'm fine." Ignoring the injury to his right arm, Qin Mu'an turned to look at the dilapidated carriage with the missing roof. He was surprised that Fu Chengfeng had not left and was sitting quietly in the carriage. Since Fu Chengfeng was still here, who was the person who had just rescued Rong Yi? Qin Mu'an's dark eyes, as deep as a dry well, revealed a hint of confusion. Suddenly, he remembered the qinggong4 used by the man who had rescued Rong Yi seemed very familiar. Not long ago, a person had used the same skill to escape from the encirclement of the Terrifying Dragon's Leaf without leaving a trace.
"It's him." Qin Mu'an coldly uttered these two words without mentioning his name, as he did not know that person's name. He knew only that person was with Rong Yi and Fu Chengfeng.
"That's right. It is him." Fu Chengfeng did not mention Chu Murong by name either, but he knew that the 'him' Qin Mu'an was talking about was inevitably Chu Murong.
"Why didn't you leave?" Qin Mu'an asked.
Fu Chengfeng laughed. "I want to leave as well, but unfortunately, I lost all my martial arts after being poisoned by your Shixiang Ruanjing Powder, and I won't be able to go far. Since I can't evade your pursuit, why should I waste my energy?" Speaking of which, he looked around and said, "Although this carriage is a bit broken, it is much better than travelling on foot, so I would rather take the carriage."
Qin Mu'an didn't believe him and asked, "Wasn’t you who fired that sword just now?"
"Wasn't my sword in your hand?" Fu Chengfeng asked instead of answering.
A cavalryman touched the bundle on the horse's back at that moment and reported, "General Qin, his sword is still here."
Qin Mu'an still didn't believe Fu Chengfeng. He looked at him a few more times before instructing his cavalry, "As long as Fu Chengfeng is still around, Rong Yi will throw herself into the net5. Tie him up, and let's hit the road."
Cavalrymen: "Yes, sir!"
Fu Chengfeng was dumbfounded. When Rong Yi was still around, he had a carriage to sit in. When she was gone, he was tied up and thrown on the back of a horse, just like cargo.
That's how men are!
Fu Chengfeng couldn't help but sigh in his heart. He despised Qin Mu'an for being so easily fooled by a woman that he had given preferential treatment to Rong Yi. Having despised Qin Mu'an, he was now doing the same to himself.
A noob translator, きつね, translated this noob translation. Please read this chapter at xin-shou.site. If you read this in another location other than site stated, it has been taken without the translator's permission. Please don't support this kind of act.
Fu Chengfeng, ah, Fu Chengfeng. That girl's martial arts skills are higher than yours. She's smart, and her belly is black6 enough. After escaping the encirclement of the Terrifying Dragon's Leaf and detoxifying herself from the poison of the Shixiang Ruanjing Powder, it will definitely be no problem for her to escape Qin Mu'an's pursuit. Why would you make such a heroic move, sacrificing yourself by staying behind to calm Qin Mu'an down?
After a round of self-loathing, Fu Chengfeng calmed down and began to analyse the situation, trying to improve his current circumstances. The reason he stayed was to convince Qin Mu'an that as long as he was there, Rong Yi would throw herself into the net. This sacrifice would give her and Chu Murong a head start so he couldn't just run away.
There were two ways to improve his current situation: strength and advantage. Having strength was impossible—he had to continue pretending to have lost all his martial arts skills. As for advantage, there were two types: wealth and appearance. Qin Mu'an was apparently fond of women; thus, it was impossible to seduce him with male sensuality. As for wealth…… this path was even more impassable. He was not a wealthy and imposing person, and he had no money to bribe Qin Mu'an. Qin Mu'an also did not live for wealth and would not accept bribes.
Ah. Fu Chengfeng sighed and realised that being a woman was great, but being a beautiful and rich woman was even better.
At the same time, after being rescued by Chu Murong, Rong Yi quickly removed Shixiang Ruanjing poison from her body and found out that Fu Chengfeng had not followed her. "Where is Fu Chengfeng?" She asked.
Chu Murong: "He didn't follow. I think he wanted to stay and reassure Qin Mu'an."
"Oh." Rong Yi gave a faint 'oh' and was about to leave.
"You're going to save him?" Chu Murong asked.
Rong Yi raised her eyebrows. "Am I the kind of person who doesn't give others a chance to perform?"
"...... no. But he stayed as bait for you after all." Chu Murong found that his meizi7 was not only cold to her brother but also to her beau.
"That's why giving him the chance to perform is all the more important. He's been so good to me; how can I bear to deprive him of the right to sacrifice himself?" Rong Yi said with a leisurely smile.
"...... are you really not going to save him?"
"Not going."
"Then where are you going?"
"Find a bathhouse and take a bath. You're responsible for getting me some clothes."
"...... Imperial Sister, your older brother has just saved you. Can you do something else? For example, go with me to Jinling to find out what Kaoshan Wang8 is planning."
Rong Yi completely ignored Chu Murong's words and mindlessly said, "I'm a neat freak."
Chu Murong was stunned for a long time before he came to his senses. What Rong Yi meant was that since Qin Muan had hugged her, she wanted to bathe! Chu Murong sweated profusely as he pointed out: "Imperial Sister, I have to cry out a grievance on behalf of that fellow surnamed Qin. It was you who took the initiative to throw yourself into his arms."
Rong Yi looked at him coolly and said, "The one who wants to take a bath is also me, so there is no conflict."
"......"
Speechless for a while, Chu Murong followed Rong Yi all the way to the town until he realised a serious problem—his meizi7 was angry!
To make matters worse, the person who had pissed her off was him.
Chu Murong felt a chill run down his spine and quietly slowed his pace to fall behind her, then asked, "Yi-er, has your elder brother done something wrong to upset you?"
"Yes."
"......" That was so straightforward. Chu Murong wiped his cold sweat and asked again, "Can you give me some hints?"
"I've given you so many hints already. What more hints do you want?"
"Erm, have you?" Why didn't he hear it?
"Firstly, I'm not happy. Secondly, you're the one who upset me. How low is your IQ if you still can't recognise your mistake after all these hints!"🤣
Chu Murong spat blood like crazy10. He kept reminding himself to stay calm, and in accordance with the principle of respecting the old and the young, he continued to ask in a kindly manner: "Your hints are too abstract. Can you be more specific?"
"No."
"......"
It was at this moment that Chu Murong silently made a decision: he would dismiss the harem as soon as he returned to the palace.
Having one sister was already enough of a headache, but if so many women were in the harem playing this game of 'you guess, you guess again' game with him, he would surely become a tyrant for all eternity.
After watching Rong Yi enter the bathhouse, Chu Murong went to the cloth shop to pick out the two most luxurious clothes and then returned to the bathhouse to wait for Rong Yi while reflecting upon himself.
Chu Murong kept thinking about it and finally realised his mistake when Rong Yi had finished bathing and changed her clothes.
"I shouldn't have used Qinglong." Chu Murong first admitted his mistake and then explained: "It was an emergency; I had no choice."
"Hmm. Continue."
"Er, there's a continuation?" When Chu Murong saw a vague look of resentment between Rong Yi's eyebrows, he suddenly was inspired and asked, "Could it be that you blame me for meddling and causing you to be separated from your beau?"
Footnotes Full List
- Chinese idiom: associating with an evil person; partner in crime
- Chinese idiom: to let one's imagination run wild
- Chinese idiom: Even the strongest warrior can be seduced by a beautiful woman.
- 'the art of lightness'. The body is trained to be 'light as a feather' so that a person can run at great speed, leap high, and land softly on the tip of their toes.
- Chinese idiom: walk right into the trap; bite the hook; leap at the bait
- (slang) kind on the outside, evil on the inside
- (slang) younger sister
- king
- Those were her hints? We are really hard to understand, aren't we, Fu Chengfeng?
- fig. becomes extremely angry
きつね's Musing
I wonder if Fu Chengfeng is like Chu Changge, unable to be poisoned. 🤔
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Black Belly Wife