Chapter 10 Not Stupid
The man he longed for was not as bad as he had imagined; he simply had a somber expression and pushed away the girl who was practically clinging to him.
Ling Wei's clothes were still half-wet, and a few strands of wet hair clung to her flushed cheeks, but her eyes had regained their clarity. She leaned against Xie Zhuo, trying to calm her breathing.
Her voice was hoarse: "Ling Wei offended many people today after drinking, but fortunately my cousin is kind and will not pursue the matter. I will repay his kindness in the future."
The mention of repaying a debt of gratitude flashed a hint of disgust in Xie Zhuo's eyes: "Not pursue it? When did I say I wouldn't pursue it?"
His brocade robe was wrinkled in the front, and the collar was slightly open, revealing his smooth collarbone, which had a few faint teeth marks on it.
Ling Wei asked with perfectly timed questioning, "Then what does my cousin want to do...?"
The system also let out a surprised "Oh," somewhat excitedly asking, "Does this mean you're going to have to take responsibility?"
So easy to win over? Surprisingly innocent.
Xie Zhuo stepped forward, and a hand with distinct knuckles grabbed Ling Wei's chin, forcing her to raise her head.
The girl obediently tilted her head back, offering no resistance whatsoever.
"Drunk? Although I didn't listen carefully, I know that someone was drugged during the commotion. Don't you know your own reaction?"
Xie Zhuo sneered inwardly. He had been rubbing and biting her, doing everything he could to provoke her, and now he was trying to excuse himself by saying he was drunk?
System: "Huh???"
The reaction is off; it's not the shy, awkward kind, but rather carries a hint of... mockery?
Xie Zhuoping hated nothing more than scheming women who pretended to be innocent on the surface but were actually treacherous on the inside.
This is also related to his childhood experiences. His father was once bewitched by a concubine who was extremely good at disguising herself, to the point of almost "favoring the concubine and neglecting the wife".
This concubine appeared weak and pitiful, like a white lotus in the wind. She was adept at using tears and an innocent demeanor to gain sympathy, turning the inner quarters upside down.
What Xie Zhuo found most unforgettable was that this concubine had taken advantage of him when he was young.
She pretended to be extremely kind to Xie Zhuo, gained his trust, and then orchestrated an "accident" that almost cost him his life.
If he hadn't been lucky enough to survive or been discovered in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
The old Duke of Dingguo, who was Xie Zhuo's grandfather, was very perceptive and saw through the concubine's vicious heart.
After Xie Zhuo was in danger, he was furious and dealt with the concubine with an iron fist. As a result, Xie Zhuo's father also hated the old Duke of Dingguo.
Seeing that his love-struck son was ruined, the old Duke of Dingguo bypassed his son and used his connections and influence to grant Xie Zhuo, who was still young at the time, the title of heir apparent, and then took him under his wing and carefully taught him.
To prevent Xie Zhuo from repeating his father's mistakes, the old Duke of Dingguo gave Xie Zhuo special instruction in this area, constantly reminding him not to underestimate women and make a fool of himself.
Xie Zhuo looked at the girl's reddened eyes, smiled wickedly, and said with extreme sarcasm, "Did you think my way of pursuing this was to carry you back to the Duke's mansion in a grand sedan chair carried by eighteen men??"
Xie Zhuo wasn't a fool who would be easily swayed by a little teasing. As the heir carefully raised by the Duke's mansion, he was very clear about certain things.
This naive and inexperienced flirting technique, though clumsy, is still...
Upon realizing this, his hand gripping her chin suddenly stiffened, and he quickly released it as if he had been burned.
Xie Zhuo turned his head away, no longer looking at her, his tone cold and hard: "This matter, barring any unforeseen circumstances, will be handled by the Imperial Guards. If it is confirmed that you are indeed an innocent victim caught up in this, then so be it..."
He paused, then his voice suddenly turned stern: "If we're discovered, it means someone has ulterior motives..."
Even if it weren't for my cousin, or even my own brother, it wouldn't matter.
"You agree, right, cousin?"
He emphasized the last two words very heavily.
Ling Wei met Xie Zhuo's scrutinizing gaze and raised an eyebrow slightly: "So, cousin, are you going to get involved in this mess?"
Xie Zhuo: "Don't worry, you and I were just catching up by the lake from beginning to end."
This is a promise that, regardless of the outcome, Ling Wei's name will not be involved in that farce.
Xie Zhuo would never allow himself to get caught up in such a scandalous affair; he just wanted the truth.
Ling Wei seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and said in a leisurely tone, "Cousin is indeed... wise and decisive, and has a strong sense of righteousness."
Most people would be terrified by the iron-blooded chill unique to the Imperial Guards, but this cousin, who seemed as delicate as a flower in water when they first met, met his gaze without fear, even with a half-smile.
Xie Zhuo felt that his intuition was right: "You were indeed faking it."
Ling Wei blinked, feigning distress: "What did I pretend to be?"
Then, as if suddenly realizing something, he said, "Cousin, did you think I was pretending not to understand when I said I was drunk and out of control?"
Xie Zhuo coldly observed her reaction.
Ling Wei suddenly laughed: "I never knew that giving someone face was just putting on an act? Could it be that my cousin wants me to say—"
She grabbed Xie Zhuo's collar, forcing him to bend over. The smell of alcohol mixed with her own sweet and warm fragrance invaded his nostrils.
Xie Zhuo only heard the other party say, word by word: "...Do you want me to say, thank you, cousin, for letting me release my pent-up desire?"
………
After leading Xiao Yao around in a circle, Mo Feng returned to the rockery, where Ling Wei had already tidied herself up.
Xiao Yao exclaimed and rushed over, "Miss!" and wrapped the cloak she had brought tightly around her.
The master and servant left quickly.
After she left, Mo Feng awkwardly sidled up to the artificial rockery and softly called out, "My lord..."
Xie Zhuo, his face as black as the bottom of a pot and radiating a low-pressure aura, finally emerged from the shadows.
Xie Zhuo's blush had not completely faded, a few strands of hair fell unruly, and she exuded an inexplicable restlessness.
He bent down to pick up the token, and growled at Mo Feng impatiently, "Aren't you leaving? Are you waiting for us to laugh at you?"
After saying that, without waiting for Mo Feng's reaction, she strode off in the opposite direction from Ling Wei, her back view clearly showing a sense of fleeing in panic.
As Xiao Yao walked, she was filled with lingering fear: "Miss, this princess's residence is too dangerous. You must not leave alone next time."
She couldn't find Ling Wei anywhere and was frantic. But because there was a lot of talk at the banquet about Du Qianqian having an affair, she didn't dare to make a sound, for fear of implicating Ling Wei.
"Fortunately, that young master Xie's guard found me. Although I know that you are a good swimmer, what if..." Xiao Yao was oblivious and still thought that Ling Wei had fallen into the lake due to being drunk, and was still feeling scared.
Ling Wei sneezed loudly at just the right moment, interrupting Xiao Yao's nagging.
Xiao Yao then realized that the girl was still wet, and hurriedly pulled Ling Wei to find Lin Shi to meet up.
When Madam Lin saw Ling Wei return in such a disheveled state, soaking wet and wrapped in a cloak, her heart skipped a beat, but she remained outwardly calm.
She quickly stepped forward, avoiding the crowd, and silently led her to the pre-arranged rest room.
Ling Wei only said that she was fine and had accidentally fallen into the lake.
Lin was soaking wet, which didn't seem like she was alright. She immediately sent someone to fetch a doctor, but all the doctors in the manor were occupied by Tang Wen's side, so only a medical attendant came hastily.
The effects of the medicine in Ling Wei's body had almost subsided, but she was still afraid that taking her pulse would reveal something.
Fortunately, the physician's skills did not seem to be very proficient. He only glanced at Ling Wei's symptoms briefly before prescribing a cold-dispelling decoction and instructing her to rest well.
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