Chapter 20, Twentieth Face Revealed
Under the dangerous pressure, Jiang Linzhi suddenly changed his previous fear and tilted his head, asking, "Are you sure?"
Taking advantage of Lu Huantang's momentary daze, Jiang Lin reached down and grabbed Lu Huantang.
That's a man's most vulnerable spot. She didn't use any force, just gently kneaded and squeezed it, and Lu Huantang couldn't do anything. He could only submit to being forced to sit on the bed by Jiang Linzhi.
Jiang Linzhi knelt between his legs, changing his attack strategy.
Even though her eyes were still wet, the pitiful and helpless look from just moments before had vanished, replaced by a charming smile. "Not pretending anymore?"
"..." Damn it, Jiang Linzhi saw through me again.
Seeing Lu Huantang grit his teeth and remain silent, Jiang Linzhi knew that her intuition was right. She pressed herself against Lu Huantang and pretended to be weak, saying, "Of all the men in the world, I like you the most. As long as you play with me properly and stop pretending to be a blockhead, I'll give you my life."
A significant threat.
Just as Lu Huantang was about to resist, Jiang Linzhi kissed Lu Huantang's unyielding eyes, then kissed the corner of his lips, and released his grip. She was too good at knowing how to handle things, and she understood too well the beastly nature in men that could never be tamed. She lay on the bed as if showing weakness and smiled, "Thank you for helping me apply the medicine, my husband."
Pretending to be a respectable person is useless; it's better to just be yourself. Lu Huantang let out a heavy sigh and angrily applied the medicine to her wound. Huang Banxian's medicine was remarkably effective; pink flesh had indeed grown back on the wound, without even a scab.
Lu Huantang poked her, and seeing that Jiang Linzhi didn't react, he roughly bandaged her up.
Jiang Linzhi suddenly laughed, and Lu Huantang said irritably, "Is it funny?"
Jiang Linzhi smiled and opened her palm, the heat from the previous scorching still lingering in her hand. She said meaningfully, "I really underestimated you. You have quite the assets."
Even the most charming and philandering Lu Huantang had never been teased like this before. He was momentarily embarrassed and angry, and stormed out. But a moment later, he returned with a hot cloth and began wiping Jiang Linzhi's hands, which were covered in dirt.
Jiang Linzhi stared intently at Lu Huantang. Even though Lu Huantang's attention was entirely focused on his hands, he couldn't ignore the gaze. He said helplessly, "What, are you attracted by my handsome looks?"
Jiang Linzhi tilted his head, laughing so hard he was shaking, and nodded perfunctorily in acknowledgment.
The smile didn't reach his eyes. Lu Huantang teased, "Or did someone wipe your hands before?"
“Several,” Jiang Linzhi replied with a smile.
Completely abandoning his pretense, Lu Huantang sighed sadly and said, "Alas, I knew long ago that Miss was popular, but it's still quite sad to hear Miss admit it like this."
Under Lu Huantang's care, Jiang Linzhi's injuries healed remarkably quickly, and she was able to move around normally again after just a few days. With the mess from the New Year holidays still unresolved, Lu Huantang needed to quickly send this pampered young lady back home.
Before leaving, Huang Banxian called Lu Huantang aside and said, "Although I cannot see through the secrets of heaven, I still want to remind you that if you let her go, you will live a peaceful and happy life for the rest of your days."
This old man's medicine is good, but he talks crazy. There's no reason for him to not let Jiang Linzhi go; it's Jiang Linzhi who's not letting him go! Could it be that he figured out that he wanted to use Jiang Linzhi as a stepping stone to success?
Lu Huantang glanced at the clumsy figure jumping up to pick persimmons; it was definitely the latter. No matter how shrewd she was, she wouldn't have guessed what he was up to. He thanked her and left Guanshan Village with Jiang Linzhi.
It must be said that after the two of them laid bare their true selves and set aside their mutual scheming, it was very comfortable to be around Jiang Linzhi. She didn't have the affectation of some girls, nor did she know how to act coy; if she did, it would be obvious that she was faking it. But she was particularly good at navigating that ambiguous distance, and if it were anyone else, they would have already fallen for her at the slightest beckoning of her finger.
Gradually, Lu Huantang got used to her lack of seriousness. He realized that she was constantly looking for fun simply because she was too bored with her life.
Lu Huantang couldn't help but ask, "Who altered your meridians?"
Jiang Linzhi didn't mince words. She sat behind him, rested her chin on his shoulder, and said, "What, are you going to help me kill her?"
"It's not impossible, all I need is a deep kiss from you, Miss."
Jiang Linzhi scoffed and pushed away Lu Huantang's face that was leaning closer: "Jiang Jinyi's mother."
That's the female general from the Sui Kingdom decades ago! The heroine who wanted to burn her youthful beauty for the greater good of the world! She's the one who severed Jiang Linzhi's meridians! The Jiang family had a distinguished military record, the emperor bestowed upon them the imperial surname Jiang, and they were executed over a decade ago. They were a revered female general of the Sui Kingdom. But thinking about it, it's understandable. After all, Jiang Linzhi betrayed them; having her meridians severed was a relatively mild punishment. So Lu Huantang said, "You dislike her that much?"
Jiang Linzhi wrapped his arms around Lu Huantang's waist from behind and said in a muffled voice, "My sister can still live without her."
The girl behind him clung to him like a sloth, seemingly seeking comfort. Just as he was about to comfort her, he heard a muffled voice from behind, "But she's already dead, she got off easy. My sister was also fooled by her into favoring outsiders, and her son, besides fighting and conquering, he has no brains at all."
The words of comfort stuck in his throat, the cold wind whistling in his ears, freezing the warmth that had just been there. Reminded by her words, Lu Huantang recalled the humiliation he had suffered a few days ago and asked, "Would Miss like to go out and have some fun?"
Jiang Linzhi's eyes lit up: "What game?"
The gate to the inner courtyard of the Commandant's mansion suddenly shattered, pressing down on Huo Zhuo, who had tricked Lu Huantang a few days earlier.
Lu Huantang, dressed in magnificent robes, stood atop the massive gate. Though he no longer possessed the coldness of a few days prior, he exuded an invisible pressure that transcended any established system. Lu Huantang glanced down at Huo Zhuo, whose face was now purplish-blue from the pressure, and still felt unsatisfied. He laughed coldly, his anger turning into a mocking laugh: "Commander Huo, are you trying to use someone else to do your dirty work?"
The Regent was now completely unforgiving of Huo Zhuo's slightest mistake, so he set a trap, solidifying Lu Huantang's bribery charges, hoping to redeem himself with the Regent. However, he hadn't expected Lu Huantang to pass the test of the ever-upright Prefect Chen. Remember, last time, an envoy was impeached by Prefect Chen simply for using an inn of higher rank. At this moment, Lu Huantang was a living devil in Huo Zhuo's eyes; he was so terrified he almost lost control of his bladder, yet he still stubbornly insisted, "You can't blame me! Who knows if you're lying to me and then going back to report!"
It seems this idiot hasn't bothered to check whether he's actually on the Regent's side.
Seeing that Huo Zhuo was about to be crushed to death, Lu Huantang jumped down and used the scabbard to hit Huo Zhuo's swollen face, saying, "Use your pig brain to think about it. If I really want to report you, you're going to die anyway, so why don't I just kill you and claim credit?"
That makes sense. It seems this person really doesn't want to kill him. Huo Zhuo pondered how to get rid of this big shot, Lu Huantang.
Unexpectedly, Lu Huantang shattered the door panel with a palm strike from a distance. Then, through a splinter of wood, he stepped on Huo Zhuo's abdomen, slowly pushing the splinter into his stomach with his toe. He then stuffed a splintered plank into Huo Zhuo's mouth, saying menacingly, "Too bad you're too stupid to see I'm protecting you. To protect myself, I have no choice but to kill you. Even if Prefect Chen wants to investigate, there will be no evidence against you, right?"
The pain in his lower abdomen shot straight to the top of his head, and the splinter in his mouth stung him. Huo Zhuo couldn't cry out; his vision blurred and then white, his nose stung and burned. In that instant, he understood what it meant to be trapped between life and death. Even if he survived now, how could he endure the rest? The double blow to his body and mind terrified Huo Zhuo. Money and beauty became utterly unimportant in that moment. Ignoring the pain, he pulled the splinter from his mouth, grasping at the only straw before him. "I was wrong, I was wrong! Please, sir, save me! Give me one more chance, just one more!"
After all, his identity was fake. In order not to cause trouble for Jiang Linzhi by getting involved with the Regent, he kicked Huo Zhuo in the chin, knocking out a few of his teeth, and said, "Don't worry, I will take good care of your family."
As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Linzhi came out of the Commandant's Mansion, eating and taking things. Of course, she wasn't afraid of such a bloody scene. She stepped over the mess and stuffed a hot steamed cake into Lu Huantang's mouth, saying, "That sister was so nice. She gave me so much food."
Chi Ti stood at the second gate, looking in this direction from afar. But no matter how far away she was, she could not hide the vengeful light in her eyes. Her gaze was so real, as if she were chewing on the dying Huo Zhuo, which was terrifying.
Lu Huantang held up the candlestick, shook it at Chi Ti, gesturing for her to take it, and said, "It's best to take revenge yourself." This could be considered repayment for her reminder to Lu Huantang that day.
Lu Huantang no longer cared about the grudges in the mansion. He led Jiang Linzhi out and locked the outer gate with an iron chain. He asked softly, "Is the back door locked?"
"Locked it!" Jiang Linzhi grinned slyly, like a thug who had done something wrong. "I drugged the gatekeeper, and when I left the kitchen, I kicked over the oil can and spilled flour all over the house. But..." Jiang Linzhi's expression suddenly turned puzzled. "You took such good care of that woman, why didn't you take her with you?"
Lu Huantang helped Jiang Linzhi put on her veil and threw a tinderbox over the high wall, saying, "Naturally, it's because Miss is good at making friends. Anyone who has a disloyal heart will be treated as someone who definitely has a disloyal heart." Like Liu Xiao yesterday, and Chi Ti today.
Amidst the flames that claimed dozens of lives, Jiang Linzhi stood on tiptoe and put his arm around Lu Huantang's shoulder, saying, "Not bad, you've truly inherited my teachings."
Lu Huantang laughed and dodged her: "No."
"Why?" Jiang Linzhi thought Lu Huantang was disgusted by her lack of skills, so she quickly tried to make up for it, saying, "I'm good with words, aren't I? I handle interpersonal relationships well, aren't I..."
Even in the dead of night, we should leave this place sooner rather than later. Lu Huantang reached under Jiang Linzhi's armpits and lifted her onto the carriage, interrupting her words. He smiled meaningfully, like a newly grown little fox, boldly and curiously exploring the world: "It's not because of these things."
Jiang Linzhi racked her brains for a long time but still couldn't figure it out. She was really curious, so she lifted the carriage curtain and asked against the wind, "Then why?"
The boy's voice soared freely in the cold wind, "I have no incestuous tendencies that would lead me to betray my master and ancestors."
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