Chapter 80 Yan Xiuluo is just Ge Yun, stop lying to me.
Inside the pavilion in the middle of the lake, a bright pearl hangs high, shining as brightly as day.
The man who had previously tried to curry favor with the others shifted his gaze and looked at the rest of the people at the table.
There was little hierarchy at this meeting. Several ministers and vice ministers sat casually, some even in secondary seats. There might even be higher-ranking officials they didn't know among them.
Given his official rank, being able to participate in this banquet was already an honor, thanks to the fact that it was held in Jingzhou. But he was not satisfied with that. Since he had such an opportunity, he was determined to use it to climb the social ladder.
Of course, the best branch is the right person.
From the moment he stepped into the pavilion, he felt a chill run down his spine, and he dared not even linger his gaze on the other half of the attendees at the banquet.
The Great Zhou Dynasty does indeed have tales of supernatural powers and mystical phenomena, but these things have always belonged to another world and have never been so openly displayed to ordinary people. In recent years, strange events have occurred frequently, and now this banquet...
I wonder what the person above is thinking.
Amidst the clinking of glasses and cheerful conversation, the atmosphere remained subtly divided into two factions: one between humans, and the other between non-humans, clearly separated and completely unrelated.
If we're talking about similarities, then there are some.
All the humans and non-humans seemed to be enjoying themselves, but in reality, their attention was focused on the person at the very top.
The person at the head of the table was dressed in light gold casual clothes, with an ebony hairpin loosely holding his hair up. It was as if he had just woken up from an afternoon nap, or was taking an evening stroll to digest his food. He appeared as gentle as a breeze, carefree and leisurely.
But everyone knows that if he were truly a leisurely young master, he wouldn't be able to sit in that position.
Closest to the person at the head of the table was a close attendant in black robes, who was constantly taking out documents from the mountain of jade slips and scrolls piled up on a low table to the side, reporting in a low voice, his face as calm as still water, unmoved by the contents of the document being read.
"The Grand Canal in the capital is running smoothly this summer, and all granaries are full... Lianzhou reports that the silkworms and silk fabrics have been stored, and this year's output is 30% higher than in previous years... The mining supervisor of Jingzhou reports that a new mine has been opened, but the torrential rains in July destroyed the official road for transporting ore, and silver needs to be allocated for repairs... A village on the edge of the Black Pine Forest in Lanzhou reports that wild boars have destroyed farmland and injured three people; the prefectural government has sent hunters to hunt them down... The prefect of Xuzhou reports that the area around Shijian Mountain is unusually hot this year, and there is a risk of wildfires; he requests that more patrolmen be dispatched..."
The mountain of files quickly shrank.
The man below, who had failed to curry favor, stared in disbelief, wondering if the other non-human being beside His Highness had also displayed exceptional efficiency, which had provoked the attendant's reaction.
The attendant thought to himself: "Yingzhou..."
When the previous contents were read, the person at the head of the table did not react, but stared at the letter in his hand. The noise of the banquet was like a faint background and did not matter to him—until he heard the word "Yingzhou".
His Highness the Crown Prince suddenly smiled, his fingers gently caressing the letter, lingering over the signature, his expression unreadable.
He stopped his attendants, his voice low but instantly silencing all other sounds: "Yingzhou? Minister Ao."
A robust, indigo-skinned figure stepped forward upon hearing the call. She moved with considerable slowness, and it took her a while to reach the Crown Prince, where she bowed deeply and said, "Your subject is here!"
"How is Yingzhou doing lately? Is the sea route still calm? Did the hurricane this summer cause any damage? Are the people suffering from the heat?" His Highness the Crown Prince asked.
His tone remained calm, but upon closer examination, there seemed to be an elusive, subtle concern, especially in the last sentence, which was asked in a rather different way.
The burly figure known as "Ao Qing" trembled slightly with excitement. He quickly reported the situation in Yingzhou. Although his words were not particularly elegant, they conveyed a deep sense of awe and the glory that came from this special attention.
Below, the official who had failed to curry favor with the official suddenly brightened up.
Oh! How could he have forgotten that!
The Crown Princess is from Yingzhou!
When has His Highness the Crown Prince ever inquired so specifically about the ordinary people's lives in such remote prefectures, especially about such trivial matters as "the suffering from the summer heat"?
But this guy surnamed Ao, judging from his appearance and physique, could he be some kind of large sea monster from Yingzhou...?
Although he instinctively resisted dealing with people of his own kind, what did this discomfort matter if it could help him get on the Crown Princess's good side? His thinking was really too rigid when he went to see Minister Zhang just now!
When he looked at the monster surnamed Ao again, his eyes had changed from fear and avoidance to a kind of eagerness mixed with calculation.
After the spirit surnamed Ao finished reporting, the person at the head of the table nodded slightly without saying a word, as if it really was just a casual question.
Seeing this, the attendant was about to continue reading the mountain of documents.
However, the person at the head of the table slightly raised his hand, stopping his movement.
“Now that the local customs and products of various states have been presented before me, and I have heard all that you have said,” he paused briefly, tucked the letter into his bosom, pressed it against his heart, and then said slowly, “Next, I will trouble you all to listen carefully—there are some things that need to be clarified.”
The subtle sounds of conversation, the clinking of wine glasses, and even the rustling of fans inside the pavilion vanished instantly.
*
[The system detected the question "Check the mission progress." The host wants to know the latest developments in the mission, meaning she wants to know the target's favorability rating. I should truthfully answer "0," which is far from optimistic. Therefore, out of humanitarian considerations, I should offer the host some words of comfort while answering.]
[Host, we've found that the target Su Heng's favorability rating is 0. The system is very understanding...]
Jiang Geyun had barely heard the beginning of the system's message when she was already distracted; she couldn't hear or remember a single word that followed.
According to the two servants she had just met, the Crown Prince was clearly a guest of the Hua family tonight, and the people at the banquet were obviously not insignificant figures, not to mention Zhang Jing, who was keeping it from her...
In short, in any case.
It can be summed up in one sentence.
The person sitting at the head of the table shouldn't be her husband at all...
Is there anything she hasn't thought of? Surely not?
No, won't you?
While forcibly blocking herself with questions, Jiang Geyun connected all the dots.
The Cheng family's unreasonable scale, the extravagance of the wedding, Pei Xueyi's strange attitude, Zhang Jing's hesitant words...
“Mirror Lake... Mirror Lake in Lianzhou”.
"If I have no choice but to conceal some things from you, will you blame me for it?"
"It's really not easy to see you, after all, you are now..."
"Let's not set off another day, A-Yun, come with me now."
"I need to show you what he really is."
...
Is this what her husband really looks like?
She looked up. The moonlight was hazy. Although it was a full moon, its edges were not clear, as if it were immersed in water, making it difficult to discern the exact moment.
It is unknown whether the Su Guang case has truly come to an end.
The system continues to ramble on about some so-called humanitarian concerns.
Jiang Geyun took a deep breath and suddenly said, "Stop, no, not stop. I mean... you, you give a detailed report on the strategy. Don't just return one result; elaborate on everything you found and tell me everything."
The system has stopped.
I don't know how much time passed.
The system spoke again: [Current favorability details are: 蕠惝恍德歊毳歅朠焝猰獳畟瘬盄砆磈祱稦箂糘縡缛膭... Unrecognizable, temporarily output as "0". Goal not achieved. We hope the host will continue their efforts; otherwise, the program to eliminate the host will be activated in 7 days.]
The system in her mind was reciting meaningless words in a mechanical voice, bizarre and utterly grotesque.
Jiang Geyun closed her eyes tightly.
For a moment, she didn't know whether to be thankful that she hadn't been completely deceived, or to be relieved that the heartbeat she heard resonating with her wasn't a fake...
Or should we be alarmed by the answer that is about to be revealed?
Everyone, and even more than just people, knew her husband's true identity.
And to this day, she still sees someone else.
She thought of how he always blindfolded her during their intimate moments, and of those few clearly eerie appearances. What was she thinking when she repeatedly ignored the warnings from her subconscious?
Looking back now, it all seems like a dream, and I can't remember anything.
Only the emotions we feel right now are truly real.
—She said this lousy system needed to be dismantled long ago!!!
If this thing hadn't been bugged and couldn't even recognize a positive feeling, she would have noticed something was wrong long ago! It's definitely not a good thing!!!
Jiang Geyun tried her best to maintain a simple sense of resentment and not think too deeply about anything else. If she wanted to leave this place, she should at least return to the inn first.
As for Pei Xueyi...
Let her compose herself before picking up Pei Xueyi.
If she were to see Su Heng now, she doesn't know what she would do.
Jiang Geyun randomly chose a corridor and headed towards the shore.
Just then, a voice she knew all too well came from behind her.
"My wife."
His gentle tone instantly reminded her of his smiling eyes.
She stopped.
The footsteps behind her were calm and steady, approaching her step by step.
Then she smelled the scent of blood.
The smell of blood?!
She couldn't help but turn around and look at him, not knowing what she wanted to confirm.
Behind him was a brightly lit pavilion in the water, filled with the color of blood. Only he, standing closest to him, was spotless and looked perfectly normal.
His face was as fair as jade, his expression as deep and imposing as a mountain; his demeanor was as smooth as jade and as clear as gold, and his every move was elegant and graceful.
All the shadows in the pavilion dispersed, leaving only the color of blood.
It makes sense, considering that these extraordinary characters from all over the world could not have come or left in an ordinary way.
Is it the underworld borrowing a passage?
Like that wedding that went in the opposite direction.
Jiang Geyun was unaware of her current complexion, only knowing that the person in front of her did not notice anything amiss and was speaking gently to her, "Even though it's summer, it's always cold at night. Why are you only wearing this?"
Jiang Geyun lowered her head; she was still wearing the same night clothes.
She paused for a few seconds, then looked up again.
Too many questions weighed on her mind.
Was everything that has happened deliberately orchestrated by him?
Given the abilities of a major villain like her husband, he couldn't possibly be unaware that what she said in her letter was a lie, though not insignificant. Besides, even though she was deliberately disguised, did he really not know the timing of her entry into the city and the arrangements that followed?
How much does he actually know, and how long is he going to keep lying to her?
Jiang Geyun's eyes were complicated, but she still couldn't find anything to say.
Su Heng said, "Are you thinking about the seven-day time limit? Don't worry, just Ge Yun, stop lying to me."
Well, he even knew the system existed.
Jiang Geyun was numb.
He held out his hand to her and said, "Now, come home with me."
A deathly silence.
Even the wind dared not approach and disturb it.
He thought, she'll find out eventually.
Rather than telling her directly, she would definitely prefer to discover it herself, so giving her some time to think is more appropriate.
That's how it should be.
How did he just walk right up to her?
I don't think I'm as calm as I appear.
If she refuses, how can he keep her trapped?
Whether it's the formation here, his blood within her, or the dagger at her waist that has developed a sliver of sentience...
See, there are clearly so many methods.
Why the unease?
Su Heng stared intently at the person in front of him, his smile frozen on his lips, unmoving.
...She moved.
What should she choose?
Jiang Geyun walked slowly to Su Heng and stared intently into his eyes, as if trying to find a glimpse of the truth within them.
The next second, she stood on tiptoe.
She kissed his lips.
Su Heng instinctively returned the kiss, instantly capturing her lips in his mouth. In that instant, he realized that the person she saw was someone who didn't exist, an identity he had casually fabricated.
Not him.
He raised his hand, intending to close her eyes.
Before he could make a move, Jiang Geyun had already pinned his hands down, leaving no room for hesitation.
She didn't use much force.
But when he saw her eyes, Su Heng felt as if he were nailed to the spot.
It blazed like fire, burning him as if he were being scorched, like the moment he leaped from the sky towards him, like the moment he looked down at those people in the temple, igniting a wildfire in his heart.
Jiang Geyun knew what he wanted to do.
She knew his actions at that moment better than he knew himself.
He subconsciously responded, letting her test him until there was no turning back, relentlessly seizing her breath, saliva, and even her breath, turning her initial probing into helplessness as if she had fallen into a trap.
But tonight is different.
It was no longer a gentle caress, but turned violent and intense.
It's unclear who bit whose lip first, but the stench of blood spread from where their lips met. The two already had very similar scents, and now they were intertwined even more deeply, inseparable.
Their lips moved slowly and intertwined, and for the first time, she kept her eyes open the whole time, meeting his gaze, but the atmosphere was not as romantic as she had imagined.
This rapid heartbeat wasn't for the burgeoning love, but for everything the two of them knew was about to happen.
This was her initial response.
The "war" between her and him was sealed with a kiss.
Jiang Geyun stared intently at Cheng Xi's appearance, noticing his slightly narrowed eyes—a reaction to being provoked, a side of him she had never seen before, a side he was used to being composed and in a superior position.
A surge of joy welled up in her chest.
Her eyes crinkled with laughter as she silently called out in her heart, "My beloved Cheng."
The hand that she had pressed down on suddenly clenched back!
Su Heng looked down at her from his high vantage point.
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Author's Note: Finally got to this point…! Hope the adults enjoy reading it [pleading face]
Furthermore: Provocation is inherently irrational, but Yun clearly doesn't have much rationality left, yet she still provokes him like this! It's easy to imagine how difficult her escape will be. Let's wish Yun good luck.
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