Chapter 897: My Ex-Fiancé Who Didn't Have a Wedding Ceremony (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
Shen Tang feigned conversation with Lin Feng, avoiding the young man's gaze, while multitasking. She chatted and laughed with Lin Feng while inwardly urging Gu Chi to be bolder: "...Although the young man in the lead is wearing a human skin mask, just based on Gong Cheng being next to him and his reaction to your face, I'm certain this guy is your former boss. What was your former boss's name again? Wu Yun?"
Gu Chi took a deep breath.
He suppressed the urge to kill his master.
"My lord is too unreliable!" she thought, finally losing her temper. "He's not some Wuyun, Wuyuan, or Wuwengzhi! His name in the Northern Desert is Tudege! My lord, don't forget that you were the one who forcibly took Chi from him!"
This [Sound Transmission Secret] technique is extremely fast.
Shen Tang raised an eyebrow: [SO?]
Gu Chi chuckled coldly: "As the saying goes—to catch a thief red-handed, to catch an adulterer in the act! Now both of us have been caught red-handed by Wu Yuan. My lord, shouldn't you stand up and protect my frail and helpless confidant, me?"
Shen Tang replied obediently, "But your lord isn't here; all that's here is Tan Shao, who is just as weak and helpless as you."
Gu Chi: [...]
His desire to kill his master grew even stronger!
He was now extremely regretful for not having Choi Sun-hyo come along.
If Cui Xiao were also there, he could have made him pretend not to see him, and Wu Yuan and his group wouldn't have noticed him at all.
However, Wu Yuan had already seen it, so there was no way for him to hide.
Not only could Shen Tang not protect him from the storm, she was also preparing to push him out as bait: [Gong Cheng isn't acting right.]
Gu Chi also asked, mimicking her: 【SO?】
Shen Tang said: 【Go, try to get some information out of them.】
Gu Chi: [...]
Shen Tang, being the lord, didn't forget to exploit his subordinates even on New Year's Eve: [Gong Cheng's alchemy palace was destroyed by Zheng Qiao's order back then. Logically, he should be an ordinary person, but in just one exchange, I couldn't discern his true strength or depth. However, one thing is certain—he is still a Martial Warrior, and his strength and realm are either on par with mine or even slightly superior...]
Gu Chi took a deep breath.
Whether you stick your neck out or not, you'll get stabbed anyway.
Pretending to be sophisticated is a fundamental skill for literary figures; even if their hearts are churning with turmoil, they can remain outwardly unmoved. While elegantly raising his glass to the host in a distant toast, he simultaneously [transmits a secret message]: [Does my lord feel that his behavior is inappropriate?]
Shen Tang thought to himself with a sly grin: [It is indeed a bit inappropriate, just like the scumbag husband in the story who sells his wife for personal gain. He only needs Zhong Wuyan when he needs her, and Xia Yingchun when he doesn't. But doesn't Wang Chao always mock himself as his "wife of humble origins"? Tsk tsk, with a wife like that, what more could a husband ask for?]
Gu Chi almost lost his temper and was about to have a full-blown fight with his lord.
What kind of lord could be so lacking in character?
Gu Chi's [Sound Transmission] was extremely well-concealed, and the young man, who appeared to be the former employer, didn't notice. Seeing the former toasting him, the young man seemed to lose control and strode forward. Gong Cheng crossed his arms, and although he had some reservations about this behavior, he still followed.
"Wangchao? Is it Wangchao?"
The young man in plain clothes was almost overflowing with intense emotions from his eyes—the overwhelming joy of a long-awaited reunion and the excitement of something lost and then regained.
Shen Tang added the narration: [Although the young man was dressed in simple clothes, he could not hide his radiant beauty and graceful bearing. When he saw Gu Chi sitting alone in a corner of the tavern, drinking, his heart was instantly stirred, and his eyes were filled with fine red veins without him even realizing it...]
Looking at the tide, looking at the tide...
He lost a pearl in the vast ocean...
Shen Tang was internally babbling in a high-pitched voice, which Gu Chi couldn't ignore even if he wanted to, and he crushed the wine bowl in his hand. The young man in plain clothes stopped in his tracks, and Gu Chi lowered his eyes to suppress the thousand words in his heart, not even caring that his clothes were wet, and brewed them all into one sentence.
"My lord, may you have a peaceful and healthy new year."
The young man in plain clothes then understood why Gu Chi had lost control.
He also sighed with emotion: "Sir, may you have a peaceful and healthy new year."
Shen Tang sat quietly to the side, eating melon seeds, and continued to add narration: [After six years apart, this meeting suddenly brought back the shocking events of Xiaocheng. Gu Baoxiruo Chi and Wu Yang Tiexin Yuan looked at each other from a few steps away, as if from another world.]
Gu Chi: [...]
There's a reason why Shen Youli was targeted by Qi Yuanliang. Qi Yuanliang is outwardly sarcastic, while his lord is secretly sarcastic. These two are in cahoots, an unprecedentedly harmonious master-servant duo! If it weren't for his exceptional self-control, he would have already lost his composure.
“If you don’t mind, sir, why don’t we sit down and reminisce?” The young man in plain clothes hesitated, but Gu Chi took the initiative to invite him. He then looked at Gong Cheng and said, “Gong Lang’s changes have surprised me even more.”
Gong Cheng said calmly, "It was just luck."
The young man in plain clothes also wanted to catch up with Gu Chi, but after glancing at Shen Tang and the others, he hesitated and said, "Wouldn't that be inconvenient?"
“These three are all my colleagues. Since the fighting has finally stopped, we decided to go out and have some fun together. You can rest assured, my lord.”
Gu Chi introduced the identities of the three people one by one.
"My surname is Wu, my given name is Yuan, and my courtesy name is Wengzhi."
The young man in plain clothes greeted Shen Tang and the other two with gentle politeness, and exchanged a few pleasantries with Qi Shan. Of the three, he only remembered Qi Shan, having met him before. Lin Feng and "Tan Shao" were strangers, but he was most interested in Lin Feng.
"I had heard rumors that the famous Shen Jun in the Northwest was a woman, and that many talented women assisted him. I thought it was just a rumor, but now that I've seen it with my own eyes, I know the rumors are true." Wu Yuan looked at Lin Feng with undisguised amazement and admiration. "This morning, I had a good omen when I went out. I didn't know what the good omen was, but now I know."
After saying that, he remembered that he had put on a disguise.
"My apologies, my apologies. I've been wearing this mask to conceal my identity while traveling. But since everyone here is an upright gentleman, I should also show my true face." With that, he found an opening at his neck and removed the human skin mask.
Beneath the mask was a face so beautiful it was almost cruel.
Her skin was even fairer than before, her features more defined than average, and her eyes, with their deep sockets, resembled a deep pool that drew people in. The slight naiveté of her youth had been smoothed away and polished by time, giving her a radiant glow.
Gong Cheng strongly disapproved of his actions.
"My lord, you are—"
Wu Yuan raised his hand to stop him from advising, saying, "There's no need for further words."
Gong Cheng beckoned to the waiter to bring over two more tables to make a larger table. Gong Cheng and the others sat at the next table, while Wu Yuan sat down and began to reminisce: "Back when Xiaocheng was in chaos, I was always worried about you, sir, and sent people to look for you several times. Unfortunately, we couldn't find you anywhere, so we had no choice but to go home... I heard that you are now serving under Lord Shen. How have you been these past years?"
Gu Chi sighed, "That year, when the rebel soldiers entered the city, I was weak and fell ill. I was lucky to survive, but on my way back, I was kidnapped by bandits. It was several months later before I was able to escape. I couldn't contact my husband, but I was rescued by my current lord... These years have been alright. Although there have been constant battles, things have finally settled down. Your family situation is complicated. Have you encountered any difficulties after returning home?"
He couldn't reveal Wu Yuan's identity to his colleagues.
However, Wu Yuan understands.
"Having lost your planning and protection, sir, my return home was fraught with peril. Fortunately, Yun Chi helped me out, allowing me to evade countless troubles from my brothers... Now, it seems the clouds have parted and the moon is shining through..." He couldn't contain his emotions, grasping Gu Chi's hand, his shimmering eyes filled with longing and affection for Gu Chi. His outward expression remained calm, but his hand trembled slightly as he held Gu Chi's. "Sir, you and I... Alas, in the end, I am unfortunate, not the one you ordained for..."
Even if you possess it briefly, you will eventually lose it.
Shen Tang looked at Wu Yuan's hand with a longing expression, wanting to chop it off.
Gu Chi continued to inquire about the matter, following the conversation.
"Yun Chi, he..."
Wu Yuan remained wary, knowing that Gu Chi was proficient in mind-reading techniques. He verbally used Gong Cheng's words to appease him, but inwardly refrained from revealing anything. Wu Yuan had brought a group of skilled individuals, some of whom were also adept at this, so he wasn't worried about his thoughts being intercepted.
only--
He didn't know that Gu Chi didn't need the power of mind reading.
Mind reading was his way of being a scholar.
The activation of a Word of Power leaves traces of literary energy, but for a scholar like him, the path is unpredictable, making it useless for Wu Yuan to be vigilant. Unless he learns from the second mistress of the Feng family and maintains a state of mental emptiness at all times, or anticipates Gu Chi's abilities, otherwise—
You can't keep any secrets!
Wu Yuan seemed to have mentioned Shen Tang unintentionally.
Back then, Shen Tang deceived Wu Yuan and Gong Cheng, misleading Gong Cheng into believing that Shen Tang was the illegitimate son of the Shen family who had been separated from his family. It was because of this identity that Shen Tang was able to avoid the massacre of his entire family. Gong Cheng called Shen Tang "brother-in-law" repeatedly. After Xiaocheng was captured by Gong Xichou's army, the city was in chaos, and Gong Cheng even tried to find people.
As for the result—
Wu Yuan failed to find Gu Chi, and Gong Cheng failed to catch Shen Tang.
It was thought that the two had died in the battle of Xiaocheng, but many years later, news of them came again. The wife's brother, Shen Langjun, had become Shen Nujun, and Gu Chi had become the other's subordinate.
Leaving the northern desert, I revisited this familiar place.
Wu Yuanting wanted to know if the current Lady Shen was the same person who had bowed three times to Gong Cheng back then.
It wasn't that the answer was that important; he was just curious.
It would be even better if we could make something out of this.
Compared to Wu Yuan's curiosity, Gong Cheng, the person involved, seemed uninterested, even casting an unfriendly glance at Wu Yuan when he inquired. The more Gong Cheng acted this way, the more enthusiastic Wu Yuan became, all of whom were easily evaded by Gu Chi. When that failed, Gu Chi would feign ignorance. Wu Yuan couldn't be too direct in front of his three colleagues.
After all, a subject dies when his lord is disgraced.
If Wu Yuan were to utter any disrespectful words towards Shen Tang, not only would Qi Shan and the other two be threatened, but even Mr. Gu, who seemed to still have feelings for him, might draw his sword against him.
Thinking of this, Wu Yuan felt very sorry.
Gu Chi had personally helped him plan his return to the Northern Desert, and even analyzed each of his brothers and the forces behind them. Although he did not carry out the plan himself, Wu Yuan followed this strategy and managed to gain a foothold in the early stages.
Gong Cheng also stepped up his efforts after that, becoming his right-hand man. Over the years, he has achieved his current great success.
Although Gu Chi was no longer one of his men, he wasn't ungrateful; he wouldn't forget Gu Chi's contributions. If fate allowed, the two might be able to rekindle their relationship as master and subject. If the opportunity arose, he could also give Gu Chi a dignified end.
A dignified passing!
Gu Chi remained calm and composed.
Wu Yuan was extremely reluctant to part with him.
Gong Cheng remained detached, sipping his wine and occasionally glancing at Shen Tang out of the corner of his eye—he couldn't see Shen Tang clearly, of all the others. When Shen Tang caught him spying, he didn't panic, but raised his glass to offer his congratulations: "Happy New Year."
Shen Tang smiled and said, "Wishing you a peaceful and healthy new year."
Being naturally friendly, I shuffled over and sat down next to him at the same table.
Tan asked curiously, "I have heard Wang Chao talk about the old family, and he also said that their hometown is very, very far away. It's already New Year's Eve, aren't you going back to celebrate the New Year?"
Gong Cheng seemed surprised by the young scholar's overly familiar manner, but he couldn't alert him; the man gave him a sense of being both unfathomable and dangerous. Shen Youli's ability to quell the chaos in just a few years showed that the talent under her command was indeed not to be underestimated.
He said, "The customs there are different from other places. I heard that Lord Shen is recruiting talented people from all over the world here, so I came to join in the fun."
Upon hearing this, Shen Tang could hardly hide her delight.
"You wish to serve my lord? I, Tan, am willing to offer my assistance."
One sentence left Gong Cheng speechless, almost forgetting how to respond.
He said, "No, I am still young and lack experience, qualifications and abilities. There is still much for me to learn. Lord Shen has many talented people under her command, and I am afraid I will not be able to catch her eye. I came here to see and learn from the heroes of the world."
Shen Tang's surprise turned into regret.
"Young Master Gong, please do not underestimate yourself."
Gong Cheng smiled dismissively, neither confirming nor denying. Shen Tang not only spoke to Gong Cheng, but also warmly invited the others in their group to eat and drink to their hearts' content, arguing that since they were guests from afar, the host should pay for the meal. Wu Yuan and Gu Chi also chatted amiably.
People who don't know the situation might think these people have a very good relationship.
Wu Yuan even went out of his way to chat with Lin Feng.
He had clearly investigated Lin Feng; nine out of ten of the topics he brought up were things Lin Feng was interested in or had some knowledge of. The only person who ignored him was Qi Shan. Wu Yuan also knew of Qi Shan's reputation for scheming and didn't want to make a fool of himself.
Wu Yuan's eyes were piercing: "When I came here, I passed through Sibao County. There is a peculiar plant there. The branches are not adorned with flowers, but rather with patches of white snow, and it feels soft to the touch. Local commoners use this stuff as stuffing in the lining of their clothing!"
Lin Feng said, "That's cotton."
Wu Yuan exclaimed, "That's truly a wonderful thing! I've heard that the seeds of this cotton came from Lady Lin?"
Lin Feng remained neither humble nor arrogant, and was unmoved by either soft or hard tactics: "This is the credit of everyone in the Ministry of Revenue. How could I, Lin, dare to claim it all by myself? What the common people are saying is just hearsay and an overestimation of me by outsiders."
Wu Yuan then probed Yu Mai.
Both of these are crops grown on a large scale, and both are related to Lin Feng, so how could Wu Yuan not care? However, what Lin Feng said was all that was known to the outside world, and no useful information could be gleaned. Wu Yuan sighed and said, "Lady Lin, you may not know, but my family has been in business for generations. However, in recent years, due to the war, we have encountered difficulties in our business. I have come here this time to seek new business opportunities."
Lin Feng said, "The grain seeds are not for sale."
She had heard that there was little integrity in the Northern Desert, with many delivering goods without paying, even worse than the Ten Crows, a fact acknowledged even by General Wei Yuanyuan of the Northern Desert. Seeing that General Wu Yuanyuan was only interested in grain seeds, Lin Feng decisively dissuaded him from pursuing the idea.
|ω`)
Today I went to a relatively large private gym in the area and bought a four-month personal training course. I hope I can lose ten or twenty pounds in weight. (I originally just wanted to get a gym membership, but I have poor self-discipline, so I decided to hire a personal trainer. Sigh, everything is good except it costs money.)
I'm really being forced to buy men's clothing now!
P.S.: I went back and checked the settings, and it seems that Gong Cheng and Gong Shuwu haven't had a chance to recognize each other yet.
(End of this chapter)
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