Chapter 14, Chapter 14, happened to meet a pair of smiling eyes...

Xie Linyuan and Su Muying alighted from their carriages and entered the princess's residence one after the other.

The moment the two stepped into the mansion, before their feet even touched the ground, they attracted everyone's attention.

The weather wasn't great today; it was gloomy and gray, devoid of any spring colors. But the arrival of these two people brightened up the gloomy sky.

The man wore a long, rust-gold robe, with a sword hanging at his waist. He stood tall and straight, exuding an oppressive and chilling aura. His handsome features were so striking that they were almost blinding.

The woman's gorgeous clothes were dazzling and radiant, but they couldn't compare to even a fraction of the beauty of her face. Although her appearance was stunningly beautiful, almost otherworldly, her complexion was gentle and calm, like a still lake, which gave rise to a unique kind of beauty.

The man and woman were both so beautiful that they were breathtaking and awe-inspiring; it was likely that no one in the entire Liang Dynasty could compare to them.

The banquet suddenly fell silent, but after a moment, low murmurs of discussion immediately arose again.

"Hey, this is the first time I've seen General Xie with a woman. Does anyone know which family that woman comes from?"

"She's definitely not from a prestigious family. Look at her appearance, she's so frivolous, you can tell at a glance she's not a lady from a respectable family."

Immediately, someone chimed in, "I know, I know! You're absolutely right. She's definitely not from a prominent family. I heard that this woman was originally General Xie's elder brother's fiancée, with a marriage contract from who knows how many years ago. Later, after General Xie passed away unexpectedly, I don't know how she ended up with General Xie..."

"It is said that Lord Xie died for her. Those bandits were extremely brutal. Lord Xie was slashed more than twenty times while protecting his fiancée, but the woman was unharmed..."

Sighs rippled through the room: "This woman is truly ungrateful. Lord Xie's body is barely cold, and she's already hooked up with his younger brother."

"However, this woman is truly beautiful, with the face of a vixen. No wonder General Xie was tempted and took her with him..."

Before he could finish speaking, the woman lowered her head tremblingly, not daring to utter another word.

Xie Linyuan glanced around indifferently, and the surroundings suddenly fell silent again.

Princess Anle, watching from the pavilion, had reddened her phoenix eyes. Enraged, she slapped Eunuch Li across the face and ordered, "Bring Wu Zizhuo here to me!"

Wu Zizhuo naturally attended the banquet and soon arrived in front of Princess Anle.

Wu Zizhuo still looked like a spoiled brat, with his fox-like eyes slanted upwards, and a charming smile emanating from the corners of his eyes.

As soon as he entered the room, he caught a glimpse of Eunuch Li covering his reddened face and the mess on the floor, and knew what had happened.

He bowed to Princess Anle and asked, feigning ignorance, "Your Highness, you are of noble birth, why are you so angry?"

Everyone said that Wu Zizhuo was a playful scion of a noble family who obtained a minor official position through family connections. Later, his sister entered the palace and became the emperor's favorite concubine, and he became the commander of the Imperial Guard, in charge of the palace's defenses.

He was favored by the emperor, and has held this position ever since.

If he were truly a playboy who only knew how to enjoy life, he wouldn't have reached this position.

Before Princess Anle could speak, Wu Zizhuo glanced out the window and said leisurely, "Oh, General Xie actually brought this woman along. No wonder His Highness was so furious."

"Do you know where this woman comes from?" Princess Anle asked.

Wu Zizhuo replied, "I saw her once when I went to the Xie residence to offer condolences that day, and her beauty was truly..."

Wu Zizhuo narrowed his eyes slightly, making them look more like fox eyes.

"It's unforgettable; it haunts my dreams."

"Shut up!" Princess Anle snapped, letting out a cold laugh filled with utter contempt. "She's nothing but a shameless woman who uses her beauty to seduce others. How is she any different from my male favorites?"

Wu Zizhuo smiled again, staring at the two people downstairs, and said, "Your Highness, please don't be angry, I have a solution."

Princess Anle adjusted the hair ornament in her hair, straightened her back, and glanced sideways at Wu Zizhuo: "What is it?"

"General Xie is stubborn and impervious to both soft and hard approaches, and now that he has a beautiful woman by his side, it's probably useless no matter how much Your Highness admires him. If Your Highness is determined to have General Xie, perhaps... you could devise a clever plan."

"What brilliant plan?" Princess Anle asked, her tone more urgent.

"Your Highness has many male favorites in your household, some of whom I believe are capable of inducing one to become hopelessly addicted to lust. Your Highness's deep obsession with General Xie is simply because you cannot have him. If Your Highness were to taste General Xie, you would find him no different from your other male favorites," Wu Zizhuo said, his fox-like eyes narrowing, concealing his emotions and making them difficult to discern.

As soon as Wu Zizhuo finished speaking, the eunuch who had just been slapped by Princess Anle quickly spoke up: "Oh dear, Your Highness, this is absolutely unacceptable! Who is General Xie? He is not comparable to your male favorites. If you offend him, who will quell the wars and border troubles? Now is the time when we need capable people. Please bear with it or find someone else. Otherwise, His Majesty may be furious."

This eunuch Li, who had served the emperor for many years, was naturally good at guessing the emperor's intentions. He understood that the emperor had not yet decided to get rid of Xie Linyuan and the Xie family. If the princess acted recklessly and harmed the overall situation, and the emperor found out that he was there and did not stop her, he would probably have ten heads to chop off.

He had to say it, but whether the princess listened or not was none of his concern as a servant.

As soon as Eunuch Li finished speaking, while the Princess was still pondering, Wu Zizhuo spoke up.

He abandoned his usual frivolous and dissolute demeanor, his fox-like eyes losing their smile, and glared sharply at Eunuch Li: "What are you saying, Eunuch Li? Does the Great Liang have no one else of use besides Xie Linyuan? Not to mention Xie Linyuan's arrogance, never taking the Princess seriously, he has been in the army for many years and has accumulated considerable influence. If this continues, he may develop rebellious intentions! Does the Great Liang really have no other generals besides Xie Linyuan? I, Wu Zizhuo, can also lead troops! If the Great Liang needs me, Wu Zizhuo, I am willing to don armor and go into battle at any time, and die for the Great Liang!"

After speaking, Wu Zizhu knelt down on one knee before the princess to show his loyalty.

His words were passionate and resounding, yet they inadvertently touched a raw nerve with the eldest princess. The eldest princess was a proud and arrogant person; there was no reason why she couldn't get what she set her sights on.

The same applies to people.

She wouldn't let Xie Linyuan become that accident; it would be tantamount to slapping her, the incomparably noble princess, in the face.

No matter what, she was determined to get him, by any means necessary.

Perhaps, once he's experienced what it's like to be her male concubine, he'll be kneeling at her feet, begging for her attention...

She was no different from her male lovers who licked her feet and tried to please her.

Soon, Princess Anle smiled, her red lips curving upwards, her neck held high:

"Lord Wu is right. The Liang family is not surnamed Xie but Xiao. Does the Liang family have no one else who can be used besides Xie Linyuan? Lord Wu is also a veteran who has led troops into battle. I will definitely put in a good word for you with my brother."

After saying that, she smiled cryptically again: "I believe that Lord Wu will not disappoint this princess."

Wu Zizhuo smiled, his fox-like eyes narrowing, and replied, "Your subject will do his utmost to fulfill Her Highness's wish."

"We have the medicine, but how can we get him to drink it?" Princess Anle added, her beautifully made-up face contorting as if she had thought of something.

“In the past, when I asked him to drink wine with me, he always refused, showing no respect for me whatsoever.”

“That’s easy,” Wu Zizhuo said dismissively. “Xie Linyuan’s elder brother, Xie Lin’an, was murdered. It is said that the two were brothers and had a very good relationship. Your Highness can use this to summon him and then put the drug in his wine and food. In this way, Your Highness will surely get what you want.”

——

This was Su Muying's first time attending such a grand banquet.

Various rare and precious flowers adorned the entire mansion, and the air was filled with their rich fragrance.

The palace was filled with music and revelry, fine wine and extravagant feasts. Everywhere were noble ladies and gentlemen of noble families dressed in their finest attire, adorned with jewels and precious stones. Any one of their garments could provide a life of comfort and abundance for ordinary people.

It seems Xie Linyuan was right. If she were to attend this banquet wearing her own clothes, she would truly embarrass the Xie family and become a laughingstock.

This will become another source of ridicule for others to talk about.

Su Muying simply sat quietly at the banquet, her expression and posture flawless, looking more like a lady from a prominent family than the other ladies.

She stayed quietly at the banquet, not wanting to participate in the games of those noble ladies and give others the opportunity to humiliate her, nor did she want to cause trouble for the Xie family. In the end, she would be the only one to suffer.

She knew it very well.

However, despite this, she was still the center of attention, followed by hushed whispers that she could just barely hear.

Su Muying initially wanted to pretend she hadn't heard, but she could sense that when those people's gazes fell on Xie Linyuan, they would withdraw them in fear, as if bitten by a snake.

They... were all afraid of him.

So Su Muying thought, since everyone says she's a vixen who climbed up to the Xie family for power and shamelessly climbed up to Xie Lin'an's younger brother, then she might as well be a vixen for now and use her position to her advantage.

As long as the tiger doesn't find it, it's fine.

So, Su Muying mustered her courage and moved a little closer to Xie Linyuan.

She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she suddenly felt Xie Linyuan's shoulder twitch very slightly.

But looking at his profile, he was indifferent and sharp, showing no emotion whatsoever.

Perhaps she misread it.

The malicious gazes that came from all directions at the banquet were almost unbearable for Su Muying, so she could only use Xie Linyuan to shield herself from them.

She slowly, gently, moved closer to him, her hand under the table carefully and unconsciously tugging at the corner of Xie Linyuan's robe sleeve. Perhaps the force was very slight, for the fierce god did not notice and let her tug at him. Occasionally, when he moved, Su Muying was startled, thinking that he had noticed, and hurriedly tried to pull her hand back, but then she saw that he did not say anything, but just lowered his head, clenched his fist, and coughed.

She seemed to see a slow smile creeping onto his lips, though she couldn't quite place what it was.

Su Muying was stunned for a moment.

But the smile vanished completely the next moment. Xie Linyuan suddenly stood up, and Su Muying felt her vision completely blocked as a large shadow fell, enveloping her entirely.

Feeling puzzled, she peeked out from behind Xie Linyuan and met a pair of smiling, fox-like eyes.

She had seen him before.

A note from the author:

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Male protagonist: My wife is getting close to me, I'm excited!

A rival appears, and one becomes alert and prepares for battle.