62. Seduction
I won't pretend to like it.
"No, I can't let that demon possess my mother! I have to tell her!"
Zhao Zhonggan was agitated and stood up to leave. Ying Jianhua advised him, "No. The enemy is in the dark while we are in the light. How do you know when Lady Hou will be possessed? If you run over and it happens to have taken over Lady Hou's body, wouldn't that be alerting the enemy?"
He turned around abruptly, his eyes red-rimmed, and said in a trembling voice, "What should I do? That's my mother. Am I supposed to just stand by and watch her be killed by a monster without doing anything?"
“You don’t have a mother, so of course you can’t understand this kind of pain.”
Upon hearing this, Du Zhijin frowned in disapproval.
She could understand Zhao Zhonggan's pain, but that was not a reason for him to slander Ying Jianhua without cause.
She tossed Xingyue onto the table. The scabbard struck the wooden table with a heavy thud. Zhao Zhonggan snapped out of his daze, realizing his slip of the tongue, and lowered his head in shame: "I apologize, Young Master Mo, I spoke without thinking in the heat of the moment."
Du Zhijin glanced at him: "Good that you understand. If you still can't control your mouth, I don't mind letting you sleep all day like Wu Ti."
After speaking, she looked at Ying Jianhua with a hint of expectation, the corners of her lips slightly upturned.
Look, Amo! Wasn't she so domineering yet considerate just now? Doesn't that make you like her a little more?
However, her Amo did not receive her hints, and their tacit understanding broke down again.
The upturned corners of his mouth began to droop.
Ying Jianhua waved his hand, indicating that he didn't mind what had just happened. After listening to Du Zhijin's words, he unexpectedly thought of a solution.
"Does the monthly supply of elixirs mean that a demon can only possess someone once a month? If so, Wu Ti's share for this month has already been used up, and she will not be possessed again for a while."
"You mean... we can start with Wu Ti?" Du Zhijin asked.
He nodded. Their gazes drifted towards Zhao Zhonggan, making him uneasy. He swallowed hard and asked cautiously, "Is...is there anything I can do?"
Ying Jianhua smiled gently. To Du Zhijin, this smile was like a spring breeze and the light shining in his eyes, but to Zhao Zhonggan, it was not so.
He rubbed his arms, a bad feeling welling up inside him.
I have a feeling that Young Master Mo is going to sell him out.
That was indeed the case. Ying Jianhua said, "Since Miss Biao admires the young marquis, why don't you let the young marquis test the waters?"
Although he had resolved not to expect a response from Du Zhijin, it didn't mean he could tolerate any other scoundrels hanging around her.
What if Du Zhijin develops worldly desires towards them and his cultivation is ruined?
He thought.
This is all for the greater good. As for jealousy and rivalry? He's not that petty.
————
Ostensibly a "test," it was actually a "seduction."
Zhao Zhonggan initially refused.
"We can reason with her and appeal to her emotions! Otherwise, Senior Sister can resort to force! There are countless ways to spy on the enemy, but selling one's appearance is the worst possible strategy!"
By the end, he was almost in tears, clutching his belt tightly. Du Zhijin held a thin, almost transparent garment beside him, as if he were torturing an innocent young man.
Ying Jianhua first tried to persuade her with kind words: "Throughout history, countless heroes have fallen at the feet of beauties. You are handsome, and if Miss Biao is happy, she may tell you everything, saving us from racking our brains to think of a solution."
After he finished speaking, he gave Du Zhijin a look, signaling her to also say a few words of praise.
Du Zhijin hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.
Zhao Zhonggan's expression softened slightly, but he still didn't agree. Ying Jianhua had no choice but to add fuel to the fire: "Didn't you just say you wanted to avenge your mother? I thought your determination was so firm, but it turns out it's nothing special. Never mind, let's think of another way..." "I'll go!"
Zhao Zhonggan was most susceptible to provocation. He gritted his teeth and took the thin, cicada-wing-like garment from Du Zhijin's hand. Without daring to look at it, he blushed and declared, "For my mother, I'm willing!"
So what if he's barely clothed? He'll wear it!
The three headed to the "Jiaolan Pavilion" where Wu Ti was located. Zhao Zhonggan, because he was under house arrest and could not appear openly, was carried by Du Zhijin and sneaked in through the roof. Ying Jianhua, on the other hand, carried a medical kit and swaggered in through the main entrance.
The two maids guarding the gate rushed to greet him, fearing that if they were a step too late, their young mistress would never wake up again. Inside, Wu Ti was indeed still unconscious. Ying Jianhua laid out a row of needles and dismissed everyone: "You may all leave."
"This..." The head maid looked troubled, feeling that he was, after all, a man from outside the family, and it was inappropriate for him to be in the same room as her young mistress.
Ying Jianhua glanced over, her tone cold and hard: "I am an 'ally' personally acknowledged by your young lady. Are you staying here to sabotage our cooperation? Or do you want to steal my acupuncture techniques?"
Knowing that these doctors kept their expertise secret, the maid, not wanting to get involved, had no choice but to leave. However, she didn't go far, waiting outside the door in case anything unexpected happened inside.
She asked the maid in a low voice, "The doctor said he and Miss have a partnership, is that really true?"
The young maid, the one who accompanied Wu Ti to find Ying Jianhua that day, replied, "Yes."
The maid was somewhat relieved and stopped worrying about it.
Inside the room, Ying Jianhua finished inserting two needles, and Wu Ti slowly woke up.
Her first glance fell upon the pristine white bed curtains, then upon the Yingjian painting on the table. Seeing who it was, she froze, then demanded, "Young Master Mo, we agreed to cooperate and each get what we need. Why have you gone back on your word and framed me?"
Ying Jianhua put down his teacup and clicked his tongue.
He doesn't like green tea.
He poured himself a pot of water to wash away the bitterness in his mouth before replying, "Framed? Miss Wu, are you out of your mind? I clearly saved you."
Wu Ti sneered: "The pond water was no more than knee-deep, I was perfectly fine, yet you used acupuncture to make me unconscious for several hours."
Her eyes weren't truly almond-shaped; they were simply made up to appear rounder. Now, without makeup, her eyes revealed a hidden sharpness.
This is her true self; she is not gentle, but she is more like a real person.
After confirming that she wasn't possessed, Ying Jianhua breathed a sigh of relief without showing any emotion. He explained, "You deliberately planned to fall into the water so that Zhao Zhonggan would have to marry you after having sex with you, right? But you failed, so I had to find a way to make you unconscious. That way, out of guilt, Lady Hou will definitely let Zhao Zhonggan visit you, and then you can use some other methods. This is the best method I can think of. Does Miss Wu have any other brilliant ideas?"
His words were impeccable, as if he truly considered her an ally. Wu Ti's wariness lessened slightly, but he wasn't so easily persuaded: "Why should I trust you? You could have discussed it with me before taking action, but you didn't."
The painting should be slightly paused.
It's a pity that Lady Hou and Wu Ti are both intelligent people, but Zhao Zhonggan is a fool. But being a fool is good, at least he won't seduce Du Zhijin.
He gathered his thoughts and ended the conversation with a single sentence: "Zhao Zhonggan will arrive in about an incense stick's time. Miss Wu, you should make your preparations."
"Are you telling the truth?" she asked doubtfully, her eyes darting around before finally settling on the bronze mirror.
Ying Jianhua noticed this and picked out a tube of sunflower-shaped ink, a box of rouge, and a bronze mirror from his dressing case, handing them over together. Wu Ti was surprised and said meaningfully, "Does Young Master Mo often do his makeup for his beloved? The selection is just what I wanted. But Miss Mu seems to be without makeup."
He smiled slightly and readily admitted, "She has thick eyebrows and dark lips, so she doesn't need these things. I'm the one using them."
Wu Ti: "...You're done here, get out."
She didn't eat anything this morning, so why does she feel full for no reason?
A beam of sunlight swayed slightly on the roof, and Ying Jianhua looked up, exchanging a glance with Du Zhijin, who was hiding above.
Du Zhijin made a gesture to indicate that she understood and would take action immediately.
He nodded, and as he left the Pepper Orchid Pavilion, he wondered if she had heard what he had just said.
Then he thought again that even if she heard it, she wouldn't think that way, and that he was overthinking it.
How could she have imagined that someone had sketched her features a thousand times and recited them so vividly because of admiration?
————
Wu Ti waited in the house for a while. Just when she thought Ying Jianhua had tricked her again and decided to settle accounts with him, she heard a suspicious noise above her head.
She looked up warily and saw a familiar figure, exclaiming in surprise, "Cousin?"
"...Wu Ti is not someone who lets her guard down easily. She has something to ask of Zhao Zhonggan, but it may not be love. It will be difficult for Zhao Zhonggan to get information out of her."
On the roof beam, Ying Jianhua and Du Zhijin, both wearing pure black robes, stood on a horizontal beam less than a palm's width wide, observing and analyzing the situation of the two people below.
Du Zhijin: "Then why did you let Xiao Zhao seduce and entice Wu Ti? Wasn't that a waste of effort?"
Ying Jianhua shook her head: "But this will make her trust me a little more. Besides, I guessed that Wu Ti didn't like Zhao Zhonggan; maybe she really does like stupid people."
Upon hearing this, Du Zhijin scratched her face awkwardly. After a while, she asked in a low voice, "Can you fake liking someone?"
He stared at Zhao Zhonggan's movements, then spared a moment to reply, "Yes. Compared to ethereal love, Wu Ti yearns for power."
Wu Ti repeatedly emphasized her status as "the future wife of the Marquis of Jianchang" rather than "Zhao Wujiu's sweetheart," and she not only became close to the Marquis's wife but also gained the Marquis's trust. This effort and skill were definitely not just for the sake of winning a man's favor.
This is also why Yingjian Hua is nervous.
If she discovers Zhao Zhonggan's intentions...
“Amo, I won’t pretend.”
Interrupted from her train of thought, Ying Jianhua was momentarily stunned and looked at her with a puzzled expression.
She stared at him and repeated, her eyes clear and bright: "I won't pretend to like you."
“…Yes. I know.” He lowered his eyes, trying to hide the loneliness in them.
He knew, of course, that she wouldn't bother with pretense. If she didn't like it, she simply didn't like it.
Seeing that he didn't react, Du Zhijin felt a slight sense of disappointment, but quickly recovered.
It seems that Amo isn't planning on dating at this stage? He said something like "compared to vague and ethereal love."
But that's alright. Just like cultivation, even if she lacks talent, as long as she's diligent enough, she'll definitely achieve her goals!
As they spoke, Zhao Zhonggan and Wu Ti moved on to the next step. Looking at his cousin, who was gazing at him with affection but remained tight-lipped, he steeled himself and took off his outer garment.
"Ah! My cousin!"
As the clothes fell to the ground, Ying Jianhua instinctively covered Du Zhijin's eyes.
Her vision suddenly went black, but she didn't resist; her eyelashes remained quietly closed in his palm.
After a long while, he heard her say, "In my heart, you are the most beautiful."
Ying Jianhua was taken aback, not understanding why she said that. Suddenly, he remembered that not long ago he had asked Du Zhijin to praise Zhao Zhonggan's handsome appearance—
It turns out that she didn't speak up back then because, in her heart, Yingjian's painting was the most beautiful.
I won't pretend to like it.
You are the most beautiful.
[Author's Note]
Will I be able to reach 500 nutrient solution today? [Pity]
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