Chapter 426: Chapter 426: Ambition
Zhan Xuerou looked at Wu Qing, her voice soft and pleading, “Wu Qing, can you help kill those beggars?”
Wu Qing kept walking without stopping. A carriage appeared in front of them.
Wu Qing urged, “Quickly get in the carriage. I killed King Wei’s n. It’s possible there are others nearby. He will definitely co for revenge!”
Zhan Xuerou had no choice but to get in the carriage. Among those beggars, two had insulted her, and so had touched her body with their filthy hands.
Her body was sullied, and she didn’t want anyone to know this secret.
“Wu Qing, I beg you, don’t tell anyone about this!” Zhan Xuerou’s face was pale as death, and scalding tears streaked down her cheeks.
Wu Qing nodded and asked, “Do you have any family left?”
“Family?” Zhan Xuerou sneered, “They have all abandoned . I am completely alone now, with no one to rely on.”
Suppressing the pain from her wounds, Zhan Xuerou grabbed Wu Qing’s hand and said, “Wu Qing, can you take to wander the world together?”
Wu Qing pulled his hand away. “Miss Xuerou, I admire your literary talent, but I prefer wandering alone. I refuse to assist King Wei in perpetuating evil, my apologies… I just want to roam the martial world by myself.”
Zhan Xuerou looked at Wu Qing dejectedly. Tears streaming, she asked in sha, “Do you… do you think I’m filthy?”
She had always held herself above others and looked down on most n, while guarding her chastity as her most prized possession. Now, she had been sullied by the world’s dirtiest, most wretched beggars.
Her eyes stung, and her throat felt tight. She thought her fate was too cruel. It wasn’t just Wu Qing; even she felt disgusted with herself!
Wu Qing shook his head. “Miss Xuerou, you’re overthinking it.”
With sweaty palms and labored breath, Zhan Xuerou gazed deeply at Wu Qing. “Wu Qing, ever since the first ti I saw you, I felt sothing I’ve never felt before.”
Wu Qing looked at her silently. “Miss Xuerou, I have no intention of marrying.”
Zhan Xuerou frowned and asked, “Then why did you save ?”
Wu Qing looked at her and said, “Martial world loyalty. I simply drew my sword when I saw injustice.”
“Then when you killed ng Ling for , was that also martial world loyalty?” Zhan Xuerou pressed on.
Wu Qing didn’t answer.
Zhan Xuerou laughed; she knew she had won the gamble. If she wanted to seduce n with her beauty, few could resist.
Take Wu Qing for example. Ever since Si Jun had her accompany the martial world guests, she had secretly noticed that Wu Qing kept his head down, drinking quietly, but would occasionally glance at her.
After dealing with a hypocrite like Si Jun, Zhan Xuerou learned a lesson: no matter what sweet words a man says, it’s his actions that truly matter.
The more Wu Qing refused her, the more she believed him. Even if his words rejected her, his heart must already like her.
Wu Qing lowered his gaze. “Today, King Wei had soone falsely rescue you, centing your guilt. The things people are saying will be harsh, but you don’t need to care…”
He coughed and changed the topic. “Anyway, you can’t leave Ding’an City now. If you try to escape, King Wei’s n will catch up, and both of us will undoubtedly die.”
“Then what should we do?” Zhan Xuerou urgently asked.
Wu Qing replied, “The most dangerous place is usually the safest. For now, let’s hide in an old manor in the outer city. I’ve stayed there before. Once the situation calms down, I’ll escort you out of Ding’an City.”
Zhan Xuerou looked at Wu Qing with pitiful eyes. “Qing, you’ll stay with at the manor, won’t you?”
Wu Qing nodded.
Seeing a faint blush on Wu Qing’s face, Zhan Xuerou felt reassured. Wu Qing was now the only person she could rely on and manipulate.
“Focus on recovering at the manor first. Once everything blows over, I’ll find a way to send you away.” Wu Qing consoled her.
“Thank you, Qing.” Zhan Xuerou looked at him with shining gratitude.
In her heart, she resolved to use the ti at the manor to make Wu Qing fall completely in love with her, to bend him to her will.
…
An hour later, Si Jun’s n realized that the Death Guard assigned to watch Zhan Xuerou hadn’t returned, so they sent others to investigate.
The Death Guard’s deputy commander, Jiangliu, hurriedly reported, “Master, sothing bad has happened. The Death Guard was killed, and Zhan Xuerou has been rescued. According to the beggars, it was a martial artist!”
Si Jun’s gaze turned cold and sinister. “I’ve looked into it. It was that martial artist Wu Qing who rescued her.”
All that silver wasted on keeping Wu Qing under his employ, only for him to betray him over a woman!
Si Jun’s eyes glinted with growing malice. “Bring back Wu Qing and Zhan Xuerou. If they resist, dead or alive, I want to see them!”
“Yes, Master!”
Si Jun turned to Jiangliu. “Tomorrow is the Double Ninth Festival. How are Prince Xian’s preparations?”
“His Highness said everything is in order.”
“Good!” Wild ambition surged in Si Jun’s eyes. The matter with Zhan Xuerou had been exposed, and Zhan Beicang might grow suspicious of him. So things could no longer wait.
…
Zhan Lan had just returned to the mansion when Dugu Yan climbed over the wall and entered.
The hidden guards were long accustod to Dugu Yan scaling the wall and turned a blind eye to it.
Dugu Yan quickly knocked and entered the main hall.
“Sister Zhan Lan, I’ve already spread the word that Si Jun is hunting Zhan Xuerou.”
“Well done!” Zhan Lan poured a cup of tea for Dugu Yan.
Dugu Yan drank in large gulps, then sat down. “Sister Zhan Lan, wouldn’t it be easier to just kill Zhan Xuerou? Why go to all this trouble?”
Zhan Lan’s gaze was inscrutable. “There’s a purpose to this.”
Dugu Yan nodded and glanced at Zhan Lan’s dicine bowl. “Sister Zhan Lan, are you feeling unwell?”
Zhan Lan smiled faintly. “Nothing serious, just the old ailnts left from the battlefield. This is rely a restorative tonic.”
Dugu Yan grabbed Zhan Lan’s hand. “Sister Zhan Lan, let handle so things for you. You should rest at ho. Speaking of which, you’ve been married to the Prince for a while. Isn’t it ti for a child?”
“The Prince doesn’t want children for now.” Zhan Lan smiled indifferently.
Dugu Yan pursed her lips. “Ah, I don’t even want kids myself. Why am I urging you?”
Zhan Lan chuckled. “What about you and Xiao Chen? He’s an excellent match for you.”
Dugu Yan’s lips twitched. “That night I was drunk and just talking nonsense. Mr. Xiao is exceptional, but would he even look at ?”
Zhan Lan shook her head. “Don’t speak carelessly. I’ve told you before, as a woman, you must watch your words to avoid ruining your reputation!”
Dugu Yan suddenly felt guilty as she recalled the drunken night with Xue Yifeng. She nodded. “Alright, I’ll behave, I understand now.”
Then, Dugu Yan suddenly looked at Zhan Lan. “But Sister Zhan Lan, before you were with the Prince, I thought you and Xiao Chen might end up together!”
Zhan Lan stared at Dugu Yan in surprise. “Stop spouting nonsense!”
Dugu Yan pouted. “Sister Zhan Lan, haven’t you noticed that Xiao Chen treats you differently than others?”
Zhan Lan thought to herself that she and Xiao Chen shared a bond spanning lifetis. Naturally, it was different.
There was an understanding between them that no one else could fathom.
Zhan Lan placed the lid on her dicine bowl. “Xiao Chen is my subordinate, and the son of my father’s dear friend. He’s like an elder brother to , so of course his treatnt is distinct.”
Dugu Yan nodded. “Fine, Sister Zhan Lan. One more thing though, Xue Lingling wants to adopt her as my little sister. I can’t stop laughing!”
“If I rember correctly, you’re a year younger than Xue Lingling, right?” Zhan Lan raised an eyebrow, though Dugu Yan certainly looked older than Xue Lingling.
Dugu Yan frowned. “My age was altered due to circumstances. When my father was killed, my master lied about my age to keep hidden. Back when you first t , I couldn’t even get enough to eat and was skinny as a monkey—that’s why I seed younger!”
“Why do you care so much about who’s older or younger in this sisterhood?”
Dugu Yan straightened her posture. “Of course, it matters!”
“Alright. Next ti I see her, I’ll tell her you’re twenty this year.”
“That’s unnecessary!” Dugu Yan laughed awkwardly.
What a ss. After that one thoughtless night with Xue Yifeng, she never imagined it could lead to so many complications.
The two chatted for a while longer before Dugu Yan left the main hall. Shortly after, Xiao Tao hurriedly reported, “Princess, the Old Madam from the General Mansion has arrived with an exceptionally beautiful young woman requesting an audience.”
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