Chapter 28 "This humble commoner, Zhan Xiao, has come to be selected..."
Jiang Fushi's previously languid gaze suddenly sharpened. The newcomer had a straight back, and his broad shoulders and narrow waist made his black outfit look exceptionally neat. Although he was enveloped in a cold aura, his features were strikingly handsome.
Liu Zi stepped forward and asked in a deep voice, "Who goes there?"
Zhan Xiao clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice calm and even: "This humble citizen, Zhan Xiao, has come to be selected."
"Oh?" Liu Zi looked him up and down. "Where's your weapon? Did you present your calling card as required?"
“The calling card has been delivered. As for weapons…” Zhan Xiao paused slightly, then turned his gaze to the dark-faced, burly man, “Fists and kicks will suffice.”
"Arrogant! I can take you down in three moves without even using a weapon!" The burly man with the dark face was completely enraged by his arrogant attitude. He immediately threw down his twin swords and, without waiting for Liu Zi's order, let out a low roar as his large, fan-like hand, accompanied by the sound of wind, grabbed straight at Zhan Xiao's face!
The change happened so suddenly that Liu Zi couldn't stop it in time, and gasps of surprise erupted from the audience.
Zhan Xiao seemed to have anticipated this. Just as the other man's fingertips were about to touch him, he slightly turned his body, precisely grabbed the dark-faced, burly man's wrist with his left hand, and pulled him along.
The burly man felt an irresistible force surge through him, his forward momentum vanished instantly, and he was pulled forward and staggered.
Before he could regain his footing, Zhan Xiao's right palm had already silently struck his ribs.
With a powerful thrust, the burly man's nearly 200-pound body flew backward like tattered cotton, crashing heavily onto the edge of the ring, struggling to get up for a moment.
"Wow!"
"One move... he only used one move!"
"What... what kind of approach is this?"
Rongrong excitedly tugged at Qingdai's sleeve, "This person looks so cold, I didn't expect him to be so skilled!"
Qingdai nodded in agreement: "Moreover, this man has handsome features; he truly possesses both excellent martial arts skills and striking appearance..."
"..."
Listening to the chattering of the maids around her, Jiang Fushi remained calm, carefully observing the composed figure and unwavering gaze of the man in black on the stage.
Zhan Xiao's displayed strength clearly provoked more people to disagree.
Soon, another man wielding a long spear jumped onto the stage. Seeing that Zhan Xiao was young, he said disdainfully, "Kid, you're lucky. Let me have a go at you!"
Before the spear tip could even be extended, everyone saw a blur, and Zhan Xiao had snatched the spear from the man with the same swiftness, then used the shaft to tap the man's knee, causing him to kneel on one knee and be defeated.
"good!"
"Truly superb martial arts skills!"
"It seems that the winner today is already decided."
"Your Highness, please choose him!"
Seeing the crowd below the stage making a commotion due to the winning streak, Liu Zi stepped forward, raised his arms, and shouted to the crowd, "Is there anyone else who wants to challenge? If no one accepts the challenge, the final winner will be announced!"
Silence fell over the audience; everyone was awestruck by Zhan Xiao's strength.
Just as Liu Zi was about to announce the results, a jet-black bone-piercing nail flew out from nowhere and shot straight into Zhan Xiao's back.
Zhan Xiao didn't even turn his head. He just turned his body slightly, and the moment the hidden weapon grazed the hem of his clothes, he caught it firmly between his fingers in mid-air!
Immediately afterwards, he leaped into the air, touched the railing with his toes, and pulled a gaunt man who was trying to escape down from the shadow of the courtyard wall.
The gaunt man was thrown to the ground by Zhan Xiao, and immediately cried out in pain.
Realizing what had happened, the audience below the stage angrily shouted, "Shameless! How dare they launch a sneak attack!"
Liu Zi's face turned ashen, and he shouted sternly, "Martial arts competitions in the arena are all about fair competition. How dare you despicable people resort to such underhanded tactics! Guards, drag him away and give him twenty lashes as a warning to others!"
The gaunt man immediately kowtowed repeatedly in Jiang Fushi's direction, pleading, "Your Highness, spare my life! Your Highness, I was bewitched for a moment! Please forgive me!"
This person's underhanded tactics and despicable methods deserve punishment. Upon hearing the pleas for mercy, Jiang Fushi merely waved her hand indifferently, signaling the guards to take the person away.
Her gaze lingered on Zhan Xiao. His movements in intercepting the hidden weapon and capturing the thugs were so graceful and swift, like flowing water, that they had quite impressed her, and she couldn't help but take another look at him.
Two pairs of eyes suddenly met in mid-air.
His eyes were like a bottomless, cold pool, calm and still, yet seemingly able to penetrate that thin veil and reach straight to the heart.
Jiang Fushi's heart skipped a beat for no reason, but she did not look away.
When Zhan Xiao met that clear yet scrutinizing gaze, he immediately lowered his eyes, concealing all emotions within them, as if the brief encounter had been unintentional.
After finishing his business, Liu Zi walked over, his eyes full of admiration, and said, "Brother Zhan, excellent skills and quick reflexes. His Highness has ordered that you come inside with me."
Zhan Xiao remained neither humble nor arrogant, and nodded slightly.
Liu Zi stared at him for a long time, secretly thinking: The princess has good taste. This person's martial arts are unfathomable, and he is also calm and composed. He is a good prospect.
He led Zhan Xiao to a side hall inside the mansion, where two eunuchs were already waiting.
A basin of clear water was placed on a rosewood shelf in the corner of the hall.
An older eunuch stepped forward, bowed his head respectfully, and said, "Before seeing Your Highness, you must wash your hands with clean water to show respect to the royal family, and please tidy your appearance."
Another young eunuch stared intently at the sword at his waist, his tone polite but unquestionable: "Princess, you are of noble birth. Although you were selected through martial arts, you must hand over your sword to us for safekeeping before meeting the Empress."
Zhan Xiao silently unfastened the jade sword from his waist.
Seeing his cooperation, the senior eunuch softened his tone and whispered instructions on etiquette: "When you see the princess later, you must lower your head and lower your eyes, address her as 'this humble subject,' and do not look directly at her face. You must wait for Her Highness to ask you a question before you can answer."
Zhan Xiao washed his hands as instructed and responded with a faint "Mm".
After leaving the side hall, the princess's residence was magnificent and spacious, with pavilions and towers everywhere, and winding paths leading to secluded spots. After walking for a long time and passing through several moon gates, we finally arrived at a more secluded and tranquil flower hall.
Zhan Xiao walked steadily in, the fragrance of flowers floating around him was light and refreshing.
Before long, the princess, dressed in a sky-blue palace gown, gracefully arrived, and with her arrival, a delicate fragrance of orchids and musk quietly filled the air. Zhan Xiao bowed his head respectfully, his posture upright.
Jiang Fushi took her seat at the head of the table and flipped through the resume booklet that had just been delivered to her.
Zhan Xiao, 22 years old, has been a镖师 (bodyguard/escort) for seven years, is unmarried, is originally from Qingzhou, his parents died early, and he currently lives in Anpingfang.
Judging from this document alone, this person has a clean background and there is nothing suspicious about him. Jiang Fushi put down the booklet and looked directly at the man who was two steps away from her.
Over the years in the capital, she had seen her share of the world, from noble sons she met at royal banquets to famous actors she encountered while accompanying the emperor on garden tours. She had seen many handsome men, but the man before her was completely different from them.
He lacked the aristocratic air of a nobleman and the delicate charm of a famous actor, possessing only a cold and hard aura. Even his posture exuded a masculine sharpness, and his eyes held a composure honed over many years.
He stood there, even just standing there quietly, without saying a word, and an invisible sense of oppression spread out, as if he could hold off ten thousand men.
The first two rounds tested strength and resourcefulness; this third round tests loyalty and character.
Jiang Fushi sat upright at the head of the table, her gaze fixed on him.
"Your name is Zhan Xiao?"
"yes."
Jiang Fushi stared intently at him: "Why did you choose to leave the escort agency and join the princess's residence?"
Zhan Xiao's expression remained unchanged, and his voice was steady: "After seven years of escorting goods, I have seen many storms and only wish to find a place of peace. Your Highness is of noble status and guards the Princess's residence, which not only fulfills my desire for peace but also does not waste my knowledge."
What a fine phrase, "seeking stability." Jiang Fushi chuckled inwardly; his battle-hardened demeanor was utterly incompatible with the word "stability."
She then asked, "The duty of a guard is to obey. If my orders contradict your own principles, for example, if I order you to kill an innocent person, what will you do?"
“Your Highness, the duty of a guard is to protect, not to kill indiscriminately. If Your Highness were to order the killing of innocent people, I would believe that Your Highness is in danger, being coerced or misled. My primary responsibility is to ensure Your Highness’s safety and to find out the truth, not to blindly carry out an order that would tarnish Your Highness’s reputation.”
Jiang Fushi blinked. She was surprised and delighted by his answer.
This person was not only exceptionally skilled in martial arts, but also far more astute than she had anticipated. He transcended the bounds of blind loyalty and placed her long-term safety and reputation above all else—truly remarkable.
"One last question," Jiang Fushi said, "If one day, my enemy offers you something far greater than I can give you, and asks you to betray me, what would you do?"
Zhan Xiao raised his eyes, meeting her gaze for the first time without any hesitation: "Your Highness is the sovereign, and I am but a guard. If the back of a guard can be bent by gold and silver, then I am not worthy to stand before you."
Jiang Fushi smiled gently.
This person's martial arts skills and eloquence far exceeded her expectations. Regardless of whether he was speaking from the heart or just saying nice things, his insight and courage had already made her decide on him as the only choice in her mind.
"Alright. I hope you will always remember what you said today."
Zhan Xiao lowered his head: "Yes."
Jiang Fushi then turned to Liu Zi and instructed, "His salary shall be paid according to the highest standard for a first-class guard in the mansion."
She then looked at Zhan Xiao: "You have two days off each month, which you can arrange as you see fit. Your duties are different from others; you do not need to participate in patrols within the palace, but only need to act as my bodyguard when I come and go."
Zhan Xiao stood there indifferently, "Yes, Your Highness."
After Jiang Fushi got up and left, Liu Zi stepped forward, patted Zhan Xiao on the shoulder, and then gestured with his chin to the eunuch standing by, indicating that he should follow.
Zhan Xiao was led by a palace attendant to a secluded courtyard next to the moon gate of the inner courtyard. There was an old plum tree in the courtyard, its branches bare, making it seem even more desolate.
"You will live here from now on." The eunuch pointed to the princess's bedroom with its upturned eaves not far away. "That is His Highness's bedroom. You are not allowed to approach it without permission, nor are you allowed to make any noise."
Upon entering the room, one finds a private room with extremely simple furnishings: a bed, a table, a cabinet, and a shelf in the corner holding a boxwood washbasin. There is nothing else.
Before long, someone brought two sets of crisp, starched black guard uniforms and a waist tag from the princess's residence engraved with the character "卫" and a serial number.
"This is your sword, I'm returning it to you." Liu Zi personally handed "Zheyu" back, her tone solemn. "From now on, you will be His Highness's last line of defense. I hope you will live up to your words today."
"Thank you for your trouble, Commander Liu."
Now, most of the core guard duties within the mansion have been taken over by a team of men transferred from the Imperial Guards by the Emperor. Liu Zi, who was originally the commander of the guards, has now had most of his duties taken away and has become a leisurely figure. After settling Zhan Xiao, he went straight to the study to report to Jiang Fushi.
Jiang Fushi was practicing calligraphy when she saw Liu Zi come in and asked, "Is everything arranged?"
Liu Zi bowed and said, "Your Highness, everything has been arranged as you instructed."
Putting down her pen, Jiang Fushi pondered for a moment: "Commander Liu, send someone to investigate him thoroughly according to the information on his resume. I need to know whether Zhan Xiao has concealed anything or done anything improper."
Upon hearing this, Liu Zi's expression hardened, and she accepted the order and withdrew.
Qingdai, who was grinding ink nearby, asked softly, "Is Your Highness worried that he has an unknown background?"
"One should always be wary of others." Perhaps because she had spent a lot of time in the mansion, Rongrong had become bolder and dared to speak frankly: "What if he really is someone else's spy?"
Zisu cupped her face in her hands, looking longingly at him: "But he's so handsome, his eyebrows and eyes are like those of a young swordsman who stepped out of a painting."
"You've never even met the young hero, how do you know he looks like this?" Rongrong asked.
"You can imagine it even if you haven't seen it!"
The two argued in hushed tones, until finally they both turned to Jiang Fushi and asked, "Your Highness, what do you think of him?"
Jiang Fushi paused when asked the question, then put down her last stroke of the brush, leaving the final ink mark on the rice paper as the character "想" (xiǎng, meaning "to think").
The young heroes in storybooks are always spirited and quick to avenge wrongs, but that person...
“Hmm…imposing and dignified, with superb martial arts skills,” she put down her pen, her gaze slightly narrowed, “but rather than a young hero, he is more like a knife hidden in its sheath, its sharpness concealed, yet making it all the more unfathomable.”
Zisu winked and leaned closer, "Your Highness, Your Highness, don't you also think he's exceptionally special?"
Although the customs of the Dasheng people are not as restrained as those of the previous dynasty, they are more tolerant of noble ladies. For example, Princess Jiang Yu, who was divorced, kept two male concubines in her household who were proficient in music and painting, which was not a secret in the capital.
Jiang Fushi took a sip of tea, glanced at them out of the corner of her eye, and said to them, "What's wrong with you today? Are you all bewitched? You're all talking nonsense."
“It’s novel,” Zisu said quickly. “With his high level of skill, we servants will no longer have to worry about His Highness when he goes out in the future.”
Jiang Fushi lowered her brows, somewhat amazed by the simple-mindedness of the maids. She thought to herself: This is nothing. The Empress has only suffered a temporary setback. Next time, she will surely be even more ruthless, and will probably not stop until she has her dead.
However, she was outnumbered and outmatched, and might not be able to withstand the Empress's relentless pressure.
Perhaps next time, she won't be so lucky.
Perhaps he will die a violent death in this palace...
Before we knew it, the sun was setting, and as dusk fell, the sky suddenly turned gloomy, and a chilly autumn rain began to fall.
Jiang Fushi faced the window, the swirling rain splashing onto her nose. She turned to the side, intending to return to the inner room, but saw a tall figure standing at the end of the path.
The man changed into a black bodyguard uniform, his hair tied up high, and his deep eyes gazed calmly over in the twilight and rain.
Zhan Xiao walked towards her and stopped three steps away.
“Your subordinate Zhanxiao,” he said in a steady voice, piercing through the fine rain, “has come to protect Your Highness’s well-being this night.”
Jiang Fushi glanced at his shoulder, which was damp with raindrops.
"Um."
The master and servant walked silently to the dining hall, one after the other.
The cook was setting out the dishes, while Zhan Xiao stood respectfully outside the door on the porch, his posture as sturdy as a pine tree, blending into the shadows of the rainy night.
The dining hall was brightly lit, but Jiang Fushi felt a little uncomfortable because of the silent figure outside the door. She absentmindedly picked up her chopsticks, lost in thought.
"Guard Zhan," Jiang Fushi called to him, "I suddenly have a craving for plum blossom cakes from Wang's Shop in the West Market. Would you like to go buy some?"
Zhan Xiao replied, "Your subordinate is willing."
“Alright, then you can set off immediately.” Jiang Fushi rested one hand on the table and looked at him. “By the way, I want the kind that’s freshly baked at their place, wrapped in oil paper, so that not a single bit of heat can escape. You absolutely must buy it.”
"Yes, Your Highness."
Watching the man's tall figure disappear into the rain, Jiang Fushi withdrew her gaze, while Qingdai, who was standing beside her, looked on with confusion.
Wang's shop is located on the busiest street corner in the western part of the capital, while the princess's residence is located in the eastern part of the city, where powerful and wealthy people gather. It would take at least half an hour to go back and forth, and it's raining now, making the roads muddy and difficult to travel. Even if we bought the goods, they wouldn't be hot by then.
This is clearly deliberate harassment and harsh criticism.
She couldn't understand why the usually kind princess would suddenly become so cold and inhumane.
So, full of doubt, Qingdai asked, "Your Highness, is the food tonight not to your liking? Why don't you have the kitchen make a few more of your favorite dishes?"
Jiang Fushi shook her head without explaining.
The meal was finished in a short while.
After taking a bath, Jiang Fushi found a medical book to read on the couch by the window in the inner room. Outside the window, the rain was pattering, occasionally accompanied by a few muffled claps of thunder.
Inside the room, the candlelight crackled softly, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere that contrasted sharply with the chill of the autumn rain outside the window.
She recognized every word in the book, but she couldn't absorb it and couldn't help but look out the window.
In the distance, a thunderclap flashed, tearing through the sky and illuminating the courtyard for a moment, while the sound of rain pounding against the windowpanes grew more urgent.
She was somewhat uneasy and asked Qingdai, "What time is it now?"
"Your Highness, it is already 7:45 PM."
Is it three-quarters past Xu hour?
Half an hour has passed...
She didn't mean to make things difficult; she just wanted to test the man's patience and absolute obedience.
The future is fraught with danger, and she cannot afford to keep anyone by her side who is outwardly compliant but inwardly defiant. The slightest mistake could lead to utter ruin. In such a life-or-death situation, even the slightest disobedience could result in a fatal disaster.
After thinking it over, Jiang Fushi hardened her heart once again.
She closed her eyes briefly, refocusing her gaze on the pages of the book. When she looked up again, a tall, dark figure was walking through the courtyard in the rainy night, slowly approaching her window.
Who else could it be but Zhan Xiao?
Jiang Fushi sat up straight without thinking.
He took out a tightly wrapped oil paper package from his pocket, opened the still-dry outer layer, and the plum blossom cake inside was indeed still emitting wisps of warm white steam.
Jiang Fushi was shocked and blurted out, "How did you do that? Even if you were riding at full speed, you couldn't possibly get back from here to the West Market this quickly."
Zhan Xiao remained calm, as if he had only done a trivial matter: "I have some knowledge of light-body skills, so there's no need to take the detour via the official road. I can return faster."
The people standing by, including Qingdai, gasped softly, their eyes filled with admiration and respect.
For them, the concept of "lightness skill" was something they had only heard about in storytellers' tales; it was a secret technique known only to martial arts masters. Although the imperial guards in the mansion were elites personally selected by His Majesty, they only knew how to fight on the battlefield and how to protect others, and they did not know such martial arts skills.
Jiang Fushi was taken aback. Her gaze fell on his soaked clothes and muddy boots, and she couldn't help but feel moved. Her heart softened, and she said, "Go down and change into some dry clothes. Don't catch a cold."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness," he nodded slightly, "It is my duty."
"Go."
After waving him away, Jiang Fushi took a bite of the plum blossom cake, which was still slightly warm. The sweet and soft texture melted on her tongue. It should have been a familiar warmth, but it didn't taste the same as before, leaving her with mixed feelings.
Recalling how disheveled he had been without uttering a single complaint, and remembering her own deliberate attempt to test him, a sense of guilt suddenly welled up within her.
However, people's hearts are unpredictable, and loyalty is the easiest thing to fake. What they look like now may not be genuine. We can't let our guard down just because of this one instance. We still need to observe for a while longer.
...
A few days later, in the herb garden in the backyard of the princess's residence.
Jiang Fushi was busy in the medicinal herb field. After the first frost, it was harvest season. She was wearing a simple dress and carefully picking black lotus in the field.
Eclipta prostrata is an excellent hemostatic medicine. Ordinary doctors would use it directly as medicine, but she would use it to make a muscle-regenerating powder after nine rounds of steaming and drying. Applying it externally for a short time would stop the bleeding.
At dawn, the rising sun painted the sky with a warm golden hue.
Jiang Fushi wiped the thin layer of sweat from her forehead and caught a glimpse of the man standing quietly on the edge of the field. His figure was bathed in the morning light, calm and cold.
After observing him for several days, I found that this man was extremely steady in his actions, had a detached personality, and was like an iceberg, always alone. No one else in the mansion could be ordered around, except for her.
Rongrong, who was helping out with a bamboo basket, asked, "Your Highness, what should we do with these?"
"Wash them clean first, then lay them out on bamboo trays to dry. Go and prepare nine large steamers."
"Okay, I'll go right away." Rongrong ran off.
Just when she thought she was about to fall awkwardly into the mud, she felt a gust of wind hit her face, and the man who was just a few feet away instantly appeared in front of her.
The next second, a strong arm was already in front of her.
Jiang Fushi used the momentum to steady herself. Before she could speak, Zhan Xiao swiftly withdrew his arm, took a step back, and stood with his head bowed.
"In my haste, I offended Your Highness. Please punish me." His voice was low and unreadable.
How could Jiang Fushi punish him? If it weren't for him, he would already be in a sorry state.
"What crime have you committed? Get up."
Qingdai realized what was happening and quickly came over to support her, still shaken.
"Your Highness, the ground is slippery. It has been raining these past few days, so please be careful."
These past few days have been filled with continuous autumn rain, making the soil slippery and sticky, and the weather has been bone-chillingly cold.
Looking at her mud-covered embroidered shoes, Jiang Fushi immediately lost the will to continue working and only wanted to go back to the fire pit to warm herself.
Having just dispelled the chill from his body in the hot spring and changed into clean everyday clothes, he was about to recline on the couch for a moment when someone announced that Lou Bingling had arrived.
Jiang Fushi smiled and pulled her to sit down on the warm couch by the window.
"Why are you here?"
Lou Bingling proudly presented a brocade box: "Your Highness, look! This is a new Luozi Dai (a type of eyebrow pencil) from Baocui Pavilion. It's excellent for drawing eyebrows. I got two boxes and brought them to you."
"It's so beautiful, so thoughtful." Jiang Fushi accepted it, her eyes filled with warmth.
The two ate fresh tea and snacks on the tatami mat, joking and laughing softly.
Lou Bingling caught sight of the dark-clad figure standing silently like a pine tree on the veranda outside the window, and asked in confusion for a second: "Is this the new guard His Highness has recruited?"
"Um."
"Your Highness is unaware," Lou Bingling said with a low voice, "your selection of a bodyguard in the arena has become a popular topic of conversation in the capital. Everyone says that the Princess's residence has gained a bodyguard who is as handsome as Pan An and has superb martial arts skills, making it the talk of the town."
"It's just idle gossip," Jiang Fushi said with a shake of her head and a slight smile.
Just then, a palace maid outside the door announced that Liu Zi had something to ask of him.
Guessing what he was going to say, Jiang Fushi gestured for Qingdai to close the lattice window, shutting out Zhan Xiao's figure and voice from the outside room.
"Is there any result regarding the matter I was asked to investigate?"
"Yes, I have carefully verified it," Liu Zi replied with a bow. "Zhan Xiao's resume is consistent with what is recorded in the documents. To be on the safe side, I personally went to Anping Ward."
"Zhan Xiao's residence was simple, surrounded by law-abiding commoners and merchants. According to his neighbor, a carpenter, he was indeed a long-time镖师 (bodyguard/escort) and had only returned to the capital to live permanently in the last month or two."
"...Okay, got it."
After Liu Zi withdrew, Lou Bingling tilted her head and asked, "Your Highness, what's wrong?"
"One must always be wary of others. If he is a spy planted by the Empress next to me, then I will not even know why I am about to die."
“That makes sense.” Lou Bingling nodded thoughtfully. “Then… what does Your Highness think of him?”
"I am worried that his obedience and loyalty are just an act."
Seeing that her brows were furrowed, Lou Bingling moved closer and lowered her voice: "Your Highness, I have an idea that can help us find out a person's character, whether he is pure and kind, and whether he is lustful or not."
"oh?"
"..."
...
Lou Bingling left in the evening, but Jiang Fushi invited her to stay at the mansion for dinner.
During this time, Jiang Fushi's gaze would involuntarily drift to Zhan Xiao, and then she would guiltily meet Lou Bingling's eyes.
“I don’t need any servants here,” she said to Zhan Xiao, deliberately avoiding his gaze. “You can go and rest now. You don’t need to keep watch tonight.”
Zhan Xiao didn't say much, only politely agreed, and then turned and left decisively, returning to his quiet duty room in the outer courtyard.
Just as he was about to push the door open, he paused, then used the scabbard of his Jade Folding Sword to block the door, and slowly pushed it open.
A sweet, cloying fragrance wafted over.
A woman dressed in a light gauze dress, with a graceful figure, had been waiting in his room at some point, and was now leaning against the couch.
"This servant is Xueyi," she said, her eyes sparkling and her voice sweet, "I've come to bring you some calming tea and snacks, Your Excellency."
"This servant was sent into the palace by Her Majesty the Empress. I admire you greatly because of your heroic spirit. If you could serve Her Majesty in the future and enjoy wealth and glory, wouldn't that be much better than being a mere guard now?"
Seeing that Zhan Xiao remained unmoved, the woman leaned closer, her soft hands seemingly reaching for his chest, her voice becoming even sweeter and more alluring: "Why be so reserved, my lord? A moment of passion is worth a thousand pieces of gold; let us two share the joys of love..."
Author's Note: [Gold ingots][Gold ingots][Gold ingots]
I'll be putting on a clip tomorrow, so the update time will be changed to after 11 PM.
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