The night breeze carried a hint of sultriness, fluttering the woman’s thin skirt. In the courtyard, the crape myrtle flowers and oleanders bloomed in vibrant purples and brilliant reds, incredibly alluring.
Occasionally, young servant girls carrying lanterns passed through, all dressed in comfortable, cool hemp-cloth bamboo outfits. This made the slender, graceful woman who had wrapped herself tightly in a cloak seem all the more peculiar.
Yet Xin Yi did not feel particularly hot. Though her outer cloak was thick, the skirt beneath was thin.
Moreover, it hung loosely and disheveled, to the point of indecency. Without the cloak to cover it, everyone in the general’s mansion would soon know she was off to seduce Xiao Cheng Ce.
Her dowry maid, Xiang Lan, followed behind her with small, quick steps, carrying a food box containing the soup she had prepared for Xiao Cheng Ce.
After a moment, Xiang Lan noticed that the servants they encountered along the way all cast disdainful glances at them, no different from looking at two bedraggled drowned rats.
She could not bear it any longer and advised Xin Yi in a dismal, sorrowful voice, “Miss, please don’t do this. If you anger General Xiao, we really will be thrown out of the general’s mansion!”
They had already lost so much face. Just days ago, many maids had seen her miss kneeling in the courtyard, clutching the general’s robe as she tearfully repented and begged. Since then, no matter where Xiang Lan went, she heard snide remarks and pointing fingers behind her back.
Now one wave had barely subsided, and her miss was stirring up trouble again.
Dressing like that on purpose to seduce the general in his study— she might truly provoke his ire and get them completely expelled from the general’s mansion.
If word got back to Bai Mansion, the master would beat this disgraceful thing to death! For the Bai family not to kick them when they were down would already be fortunate, let alone take her miss back in.
And as her miss’s dowry maid, Xiang Lan’s fate would be no better; she would be dragged down with her.
Xin Yi furrowed her brows, seemingly displeased by her words. “Are you deliberately cursing me? Why do you always say such discouraging things?”
“I and Shi Bi are husband and wife to begin with. That divorce letter was only because he was blinded by anger at the time and does not count! Once I coax him a bit more, Shi Bi will surely forgive me!”
After putting on a stern face, Xin Yi could not help but sigh in admiration. Xiao Cheng Ce’s nickname was truly well-chosen; she liked calling him that.
Every time she called this little name, it felt like she was righteously cursing him.
Shi Bi, Shi Bi— tsk tsk, how cute it sounded.
Xiang Lan was on the verge of despair. How could her miss be all beauty and no brains? Did she really think jealousy and malice were trivial matters? Especially since Miss Chu Chu was the one the marquis cherished above all— how could she possibly forgive her miss so easily?
Thus, she continued to trail behind while persuading her, “The general seems like an extremely devoted man. He treats Miss Chu Chu so well; clearly, she is the only one in his eyes and heart. Miss… let’s not humiliate ourselves, alright?”
Devoted?
Xin Yi nearly laughed. What devotion did Xiao Cheng Ce have? If he were truly that devoted, he would not have been moved by the original host’s beauty upon just returning to the mansion, harboring a bit of pitying affection for her.
Had it not been for the incident with Chu Chu, he would likely have briefly agonized in his heart before settling back to enjoy both wife and concubine.
Xiao Cheng Ce had never met Bai Xinyi before this. He had married her only for good fortune.
Moreover, military officials through the ages had more taboos when taking wives. Choosing the daughter of a minor official as madam was less likely to arouse the emperor’s suspicion and jealousy.
Unfortunately, on their wedding night, Xiao Cheng Ce had led troops to war and had no chance to see what Bai Xinyi looked like.
He had been gone for over two years. Even if he had heard many praises of the original host’s beauty, they had long faded from his mind.
So he knew she was beautiful but had no real sense of it. After meeting Chu Chu, he quickly cast aside his unseen wife and fell into the ecstasy of finding true love.
Until, two years later, Xiao Cheng Ce returned triumphant. Bringing his beloved concubine, he saw Bai Xinyi standing at the general’s mansion gates awaiting him.
A hasty glance, and he was stunned by her beauty.
Even his steadfast love for his concubine nearly wavered.
It was precisely because of this that Xin Yi found him quite hypocritical.
Clearly susceptible to beauty like any other man, yet he pretended to be pure and transcendent.
In the end, it was all pretense. Otherwise, after Bai Xinyi’s grave mistake, a little crying would not have softened his heart.
It was just that in the later stages, the original host had courted death out of jealousy in all sorts of foolish ways. Not only wicked, but especially stupid, exhausting the last shred of goodwill Xiao Cheng Ce had for her.
Thinking of this, Xin Yi arched her brows slightly and gave Xiang Lan a smile as clear and piercing as frost. “Rest assured. Shi Bi absolutely will not be so heartless as to drive us out of the general’s mansion.”
Moreover, for a man as inconsistent in word and deed as this, her current status was not necessarily a bad thing.
Before the divorce, Bai Xinyi was still his woman, and winning her offered no challenge. After the divorce, if he still harbored thoughts for Bai Xinyi, it would seem improper and unjustified— all the more stimulating.
Xin Yi simply wanted to see him torn between conflict and surrender.
Saying he would never betray his beloved concubine, yet his body utterly honest, burning with desire for her.
She had always despised men who professed deep affection. True depth was one thing, but this pretense was the most contemptible.
Xiao Cheng Ce should see clearly that he was no different from ordinary men.
General’s mansion, study.
A single lamp burned before the desk, illuminating a corner of azure robe beside the scrolls, as well as the man’s weary, handsome brows.
Xiao Cheng Ce rubbed his brow, showing a trace of fatigue.
His build was tall and sturdy, lacking scholarly elegance. His brows were calm yet sharp, and the shoulders and back hidden beneath his robe were solidly muscled, marking him unmistakably as a general.
Yet Xiao Cheng Ce was indeed tired today.
He had stayed by Chu Chu’s sickbed for days, tending to her. Seeing her pale face in delirium pained him, and he had barely rested or eaten.
Finally, today the physician said Chu Chu’s condition had improved somewhat. Only then did he leave with relief, intending to handle the accumulated official duties tonight.
But before he could finish the scrolls on the desk, thoughts of that Bai Xinyi made his mood even heavier.
Harsh and jealous, she had poisoned Chu Chu like that.
Not expelling her was already mercy. Yet last night, Bai Xinyi had the audacity to come crying that her new courtyard was too dilapidated to live in, demanding a different one and two more maids.
This resolved Xiao Cheng Ce’s determination: he would send her away in the next couple of days, lest she remain unrepentant and cause greater trouble later.
The dim lamp flickered like a bean. The man at the desk slowly lowered the hand rubbing his brow.
The young attendant who had served him for years saw this and naturally guessed some of his master’s thoughts, sighing inwardly: Bai Xinyi was foolish beyond knowing it, rushing headlong to her doom.
Why touch the master’s most cherished beloved? She had kicked an iron plate; regret was too late now.
After another quiet moment, the attendant asked softly, “My lord, shall we fetch those warming, tonic millennium jade spirit mushrooms from the storehouse and send them to Goose Water Courtyard for Miss Chu Chu to brew into medicine?”
Xiao Cheng Ce paused slightly, then recalled that such items did exist.
Those millennium jade spirit mushrooms had been part of Bai Xinyi’s dowry.
But since she was the one who had harmed Chu Chu so, using them now was only right. He nodded to the attendant, telling him to retrieve them later and deliver to Goose Water Courtyard.
Just as he was about to resume the scrolls, he heard a maid announce from outside.
Bai Xinyi had heard he had been laboring hard lately and specially stewed a bowl of soup to send over for him to taste.
Seeing his silence, the attendant asked, “My lord, will you see Miss Bai?”
“No.” Xiao Cheng Ce frowned.
The attendant showed an expected expression and respectfully assented, about to go to the door himself to send her away.
But the man behind him called him back. Xiao Cheng Ce sighed. “Forget it, let her in. If I avoid her today, who knows if she will come again tomorrow.”
He then gave a slight cold snort. “I want to hear what outrageous demand she has this time.”
If Bai Xinyi continued to push her luck, he would not blame him for hardening his heart and immediately throwing her out of the general’s mansion!
With a “creak,” the door was pushed open.
The graceful woman in a blue cloak stepped in from outside. Her black hair was like clouds, her neck slender, her temples adorned with nearly overflowing pearl hairpins and flowers, accentuating brows like new moons and a face like hibiscus. When her eyes curved slightly, it was as if they could hook away one’s soul.
Too alluring.
Alluring enough to scratch at one’s heart and liver.
After she entered, whether Xiao Cheng Ce or his attendant, both involuntarily showed dazed expressions.
They soon noticed her difference: Bai Xinyi looked much better than the past couple of days, her emotions calmer too. At least, her face showed no trace of reluctance or resentment.
Especially the attendant.
He thought Bai Xinyi like this, with just a touch of makeup, was far more beautiful than before. He had assumed that after being divorced, she would be haggard and wan, dull and withered.
Unexpectedly, she still shone brilliantly, like a radiant pearl.
To be fair, he felt Bai Xinyi was even more beautiful than Madam Chu Chu. Unfortunately, with her venomous heart and wicked deeds, she was beyond redemption in the general’s eyes.
Gazed upon by them, Xin Yi approached with the food box, brows and eyes carrying a smile: of course she was not resentful. Tonight, she was not here to lose her temper.
She was here to seduce Xiao Cheng Ce.
“Shi Bi, I specially stewed this soup for you. Try it later and see if it tastes good?”
Xin Yi naturally drew close to him and opened the food box in front of him, bringing out the golden soup inside.
This bowl was pure essence.
Not only did it contain yellow essence and goji berries, but also several deer whips, plus many spices, simmered all afternoon.
As she leaned in, she noticed Xiao Cheng Ce’s displeased frown.
Yet despite that, the man’s body honestly permitted her approach. After a slight hesitation when she offered the soup, he took it and slowly drank.
Xin Yi watched him, revealing a touch of clear, piercing smile.
But that smile was superficial, not reaching her eyes.
Xiao Cheng Ce looked at the woman’s compliant demeanor and could not help recalling his feelings upon first seeing her after returning to the mansion.
To say he felt no amazement or stirring would be false. He had even felt a bit of undue guilt toward her. He had wanted to let her understand and accept Chu Chu’s presence without hurting her as much as possible, offering material compensations in the process.
And even with Chu Chu, she could still remain his general’s wife.
Unfortunately, she was insatiable, so jealous she could not tolerate Chu Chu at all, committing such a vicious act.
Xin Yi did not care about his current thoughts. Seeing him finish the soup, she figured it was time to begin.
Thus, she said to have the attendant leave first; she wanted to speak alone with Xiao Cheng Ce.
Xiao Cheng Ce frowned.
Even the attendant thought he would refuse, but after furrowing his brows in silence for a moment, the man actually dismissed him to wait outside.
The moment the door closed, Xin Yi undid her cloak and embraced the sturdy man seated at the desk.
Suppressing her disgust, she buried her face in his shoulder and spoke in a warm, gentle voice, “Shi Bi, I know I was wrong. Can you not drive me away?”
Her hand, tipped with dan kou, caressed his cheek.
It then slowly stroked his solid arm and chest, the coquetry and seduction self-evident.
Xiao Cheng Ce’s body suddenly stiffened.
Especially feeling her sweet, fragrant breath drawing near, the woman’s thin, loose skirt under the candlelight, and the full, beautiful curves outlined by her undergarment.
Xin Yi was a bit stiff too.
She did not know why. In the past, seducing villains had been effortless; on the bed, she could let them ravage her as they pleased. Yet now, merely hugging Xiao Cheng Ce filled her with revulsion.
Just then, the night wind grew stronger.
Blowing the window lattices fully open. In her ear, she suddenly heard the system go “ding-dong.” “Reminder to host: Your strategy target— Xie Shuo has appeared.”
“Ding-dong!”
“Detected Xie Shuo’s current favorability: -250%!”
“Ding-dong!!”
“Detected Xie Shuo’s current favorability: -270%!!”
“Ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong…”
“Please have the Host promptly make changes to prevent the task target Xie Shuo’s favorability from continuing to drop!!”