New targets for breaking up marriages
"Really? It's not just his side of the story?"
It seems Zhou Xuanyan has been exposed to this for a long time and has learned some of her father's interrogation tricks. Wen Ruo kept her lips tightly closed, avoiding her interrogation. Her eyes flickered, then she lowered her head and looked down. Her slender profile was upright and stubborn, just like an innocent victim.
“It’s just a misunderstanding,” Qi Guanlan glared at someone with murderous intent. Zhao Heng, carrying Miss Zhou on his back, suddenly made a face, shrugged his shoulders, coughed lightly, and said innocently, “I was just relaying the victim’s words.”
Zhou Xuanyan suddenly fell silent, then forced a smile, "So Young Master Qi is still thinking about Sister Cao."
"Don't talk nonsense!" Qi Guanlan glared at Wen Ruo with a dangerous and intimidating look in his eyes. The dozing tiger had revealed its claws and was now so fierce that it was about to pounce and scratch her.
Wen Ruo braced herself, her tone carrying a hint of grievance, "I had to leave, which disturbed Young Master Qi's elegant game of pitch-pot, and Young Master Qi stopped me."
"She's not as pretty as Sister Cao, so why would Young Master Qi lower himself to take a fancy to a fake?" Zhou Xuanyan frowned, puzzled, and her eyes dimmed.
This woman is truly fearless.
The young master secretly regretted his actions. He had been stirring up trouble for no reason. What difference did it make if his back was seen? If this got back to his mother's ears...
The atmosphere turned icy for a moment. Wen Ruo narrowed her eyes and glanced at the three of them. Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, a meaningful smile appeared on her rosy lips. "If Young Master Qi says it's a misunderstanding, then so be it."
"Hold your ground for now, then add fuel to the fire at the crucial moment—brilliant, absolutely brilliant!" Zhao Heng gave Wen Ruo a thumbs up. Qi Guanlan was so angry he almost vomited blood; his face was a kaleidoscope of colors, quite a sight to behold.
Today's trip was truly worthwhile.
“Sister, you are so elegant. I am not good enough to know which family you are. I will send someone to inform you so that Uncle will not worry. I will also accompany you to the Princess’s residence to file a complaint. The Princess is upright and will certainly not wrong you!”
Princess Rongjing would certainly not give her a good look because of her resemblance to Cao Xi. However, she could put in a good word for Young Master Qi. Zhou Xuanyan took the opportunity to observe the two of them and shook her head with some regret.
No matter how well she planned, it was all in one ear and out the other. He just stared coldly at the unruly arm, his eyes flickering, as if there were little devils fighting in his mind. He completely ignored her, and his pretentious and profound appearance was quite pleasing to the eye.
"Just call me Xi You. It's such a trivial matter that I wouldn't embarrass myself in front of the princess." Wen Ruo replied softly. Especially when she mentioned the princess, her eyelashes trembled slightly, and her pupils twitched involuntarily a few times under her thin eyelids, as if she was frightened.
Aside from the young master who had flown away, the other two people's expressions changed simultaneously. Zhao Heng's lips twitched uncontrollably. "Which one is Xi? The Xi of Cao Xi?"
What a tragic fate!
Wen Ruo shook her head and looked at Qi Guanlan. Perhaps it was her arrogance, or perhaps she thought the man in front of her was a paper tiger, but she said with a resentful expression, "It's just a coincidence that the pronunciation is the same. The 'xi' in 'xishui wuqing' means 'heartless stream.' As a mere merchant's daughter, I dare not compare myself to him. Meeting you all, I am actually doing you a disservice."
The princess was someone who couldn't tolerate any dissent. Zhou Xuanyan spoke sweetly, but in reality, she was using her as a stepping stone to win favor with the mother and son, killing two birds with one stone. She really overestimated herself, not even listening to her mention of being a merchant, and treating her as a rival in love after only one meeting.
It seems that not all young ladies from respectable families are as virtuous and upright as Cao Xi. Miss Zhou is somewhat stubborn and prone to getting stuck on trivial matters, which could very well lead her into a dead end and cause her to be shattered to pieces.
Zhao Heng was captivated by Wen Ruo's masterful use of the tactic of feigning retreat. He felt the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms in the garden growing stronger and more intoxicating. Following the scent, he strode nimbly to Wen Ruo's side and said with a loud laugh, "Beauty, don't underestimate yourself."
Up close, his coldness was tinged with mischief, and even his pretense was so alluring. He thought to himself for a moment, and then spoke in a louder and more enthusiastic voice, "Everyone saw the pitch-pot game just now. He was just as good as Young Master Qi. Although I don't think much of him, Young Master Qi is still quite capable."
"Who cares about you?" The young master sulked, his face contorted with anger. He wasn't as carefree as Zhao Heng, who could still act all high and mighty even when someone was riding on his head.
"Sister Xiyou is really amazing."
Zhou Xuanyan's smile was somewhat forced. Even their names were similar. Where did they come from?
"Qi Guanlan!"
Before seeing her, Qi Guanlan heard her voice. He rolled up his sleeves and went to settle accounts with the culprit. Zhao Heng was about to go up and say something when he smelled an unpleasant fragrance mixed with the scent of cosmetics. Damn it, someone beat him to it. Miss Zhou had somehow stood next to Wen Ruo.
"I'd like to invite you for tea, sister. Could you please help me assess your products?"
A figure approached from afar, dressed in a moon-white robe over a lake-green satin vest, exuding wealth and elegance. Behind him followed a simply dressed but serious-looking man. Yang Cong, who was always unable to control his gaze, could be completely captivated by a beautiful woman's smile and forget his way home. His current composed demeanor was clearly abnormal.
Wen Ruo sensed something was amiss and was about to politely decline Miss Zhou's offer when Miss Zhou, with her sharp eyes, grabbed her sleeve and wouldn't let go, even when she pulled it straight. She then said with a smile, "I'll escort you back, sister."
Without even asking any questions, she made a decision without even speaking. Wen Ruo's gaze immediately turned cold. When she got angry, she didn't even bother to put on a nice face. She secretly tried to pull her hand away and escape, even maliciously thinking of making a fool of herself.
Only after pulling did she realize she had become a clown, secretly marveling at the strange strength of a pampered young lady who never lifted a finger. It was also because the two were too close, and she had used a clever trick to deceive her during the contest. In just a moment, Miss Zhou's breathing became disordered, and her exposed skin turned pinkish-white.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a faint red mark on Zhou Er's neck. Compared to the lustrous and gentle pearl necklace, the barely visible mark hidden under the powder was particularly striking. Wen Ruo's breath hitched, and she released her hand, whispering, "You win. I agree."
The guests have already been brought to us; there's no reason to turn them away. Her eyes darted around, and her mind started working again. "Miss, you understand the principle of 'no reward without merit,' right?"
Zhou Xuanyan clearly understood her meaning. Her pretty face was full of surprise, but she couldn't say anything. She secretly moved behind her, turned her face away and breathed softly. After resting for a moment, her sarcastic voice came: "This doesn't sound like something a sister would say."
"Is money the easiest thing to settle, or does Miss Zhou want to owe me a favor?"
"I understand."
The two reached an agreement, and Wen Ruo breathed a sigh of relief. Although the process was circuitous and dangerous, it had at least gotten back on track, and the customer had been saved. She narrowed her eyes, her calculating gaze returning, and said gently:
"Most couples who marry through arranged marriages treat each other with respect, or seek a good match and live in harmony and mutual affection. These are all too unrealistic. My mother said that when looking for a husband, one should look at his character and appearance. What do you think?"
Zhao Heng clicked his tongue, completely unaware of what the two were whispering about. He only thought that women were fickle, and that they could shake hands and become close sisters in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.
When the beauty opened her mouth, it was truly astonishing.
"Your description must be excellent!" Miss Zhou finished speaking and secretly glanced into the distance, shy but not coy, "You only have eyes for me."
Wen Ruo nodded, her gaze falling into the distance. "Young Master Yang's appearance is average. I only know about the rest from hearsay. Do you know anything about him?"
Instead of answering, Zhou Xuanyan asked, "Don't you think I'm being unrealistic and asking for too much?"
"It's human nature to love beauty. Men want to be handsome, gentle, and have multiple wives and concubines, and women can do the same. Miss Zhou is upright and honest, which is rare, isn't it, Young Master Zhao?" The last sentence was asked with a straight gaze, seemingly inquiring. In fact, who in the capital didn't know that Zhao Heng was this kind of person?
Zhao Heng nodded vigorously. A true friend indeed! He sighed deeply: "Well said, it's just a matter of mutual consent." Everyone who isn't lustful says he's reckless, but in fact, he didn't force or rob anyone, nor did he mistreat anyone in the manor, yet he's received a lot of scolding for no reason.
"Father said that Young Master Yang and Young Master Qi get along well. They are both good-looking but not fickle, and they still maintain proper etiquette. Sister, could you help me test them out?"
This time, the way she called her "sister" was much more sincere. Just now, when Young Master Qi left, she didn't even give him a glance and dared to flirt with him directly, which showed that she didn't like Qi Guanlan getting close. Zhou Xuanyan's hostility decreased by five points. Seeing that she and Zhao Heng were neither humble nor arrogant in their conversation and interaction, and that she didn't ask for anything in return for the favor, she naturally felt closer to her.
Wen Ruo picked up an arrow. "Sister, you think too highly of me. I am not proficient in the six arts. If it is pitch-pot, I may be able to help a little."
Zhou Xuanyan nodded, then shook her head, "Yang Cong might not be willing."
"Young Master Zhao, would you be willing to play the villain for Xi You?" Wen Ruo smiled, looking forward to what would happen next.
Zhao Heng stared intently into her expressive eyes, his tenderness growing until they were almost overflowing. They were more dazzling than the stars in the night sky, making all the flowers in the mansion pale in comparison. Only this hazy spring blossom was truly captivating, its cool exterior softening her gentle allure. She was showing me her affection.
"Young Master Zhao, is this your new favorite?" Yang Cong asked habitually, only to remember someone behind him after speaking. He subconsciously looked at Qi Guanlan, giving him a "help me" look. "Is that right, Guanlan?"
"What does your foul mouth have to do with me?" Qi Guanlan had a tumultuous day and was exhausted. Even his golden attire looked dull and haggard. With a complicated expression, he advised, "Today is your day, so use your brain."
After saying that, he immediately moved a few steps away from Yang Cong. Having spent a long time with him, he knew Yang Cong quite well. Before the two armies clashed, there was always a vanguard to scout the way so that the young master could take the opportunity to cause trouble. Whenever he encountered Zhao Heng, as his right-hand man, he always had to take the lead.
"What a good lackey!"
Just moments ago, Zhao Heng's demeanor was as gentle as a spring breeze, but now, with a downpour looming, he was just as sharp-tongued. Sure enough, the next moment, Wen Ruo witnessed Zhao Heng's power once again, his words hitting her sore spots perfectly:
"What, you're getting married like a lackey, needing the young master's help? Are you going to need Young Master Qi to help you in the bridal chamber too?"
Zhou Xuanyan glanced at Qi Guanlan so quickly she could barely see him. Wen Ru shook her head, thinking to herself, "Miss, at least consider the occasion. Why do you lose your mind when it comes to Qi Guanlan? Yang Cong will be furious if he sees this. He's a complete idiot."
At first, I thought he could keep up the act for a while, but human nature is hard to change. He probably had already secretly looked Zhou Xuanyan up and down with his eyes, and now that he saw this scene, he understood everything and confirmed the rumors.
"You're asking for it!"
Yang Cong's eyes instantly turned red, his anger flared like a bull, his nostrils flared wide, his breath overflowing, and he raised his heavy iron hooves, bellowing as he was about to ram into Zhao Heng.
"What a man!" Qi Guanlan looked at him with admiration.
He dares!
Zhao Heng scoffed, coldly looking behind him, arms crossed, unmoved.
The next moment, the servant grabbed Yang Cong's wrist with lightning speed. Yang Cong's face turned pale, and he cried out in surprise. Then, he became even more furious and embarrassed. Perhaps because there were people in front of him, he kicked the servant hard.
The servant remained calm and composed, saying, "With the young lady present, please be careful with your words, Young Master Zhao!"
"The Yang family has raised him very well; this servant has become quite capable and can even stand up for his master." Zhao Heng clapped his hands, and several guards stood a few meters behind him. "Yang Shen, this young master invites you for tea!"
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