Heiraten

Kapitel 38

Perhaps not yet accustomed to the title "Madam," Gu Yan's small face showed a hint of surprise, but she quickly concealed it, smiled faintly, and closed the door.

Unlike Xu Ziqing, who was fully armed, she sat down in the chair with an air of nonchalance, her voice becoming even more delicate: "Young Master Shen, your eyes have been tested in oil. My little tricks are absolutely no match for you. We are all people of the martial world, so let's not beat around the bush. I've come here specifically to ask for your help."

This was quite unexpected. Shen Yun raised an eyebrow, neither answering whether it was good or bad, but simply said politely, "Miss Gu is too kind."

However, this address of "Miss Gu" clearly indicated that she was regarded as a person from the martial arts world, rather than Madam Xu Ziqing.

Gu Yan slightly raised her eyes, her bright and captivating gaze sweeping over him. Shen Yuntan felt a soft, tingling sensation on his face, as if a gentle, boneless hand had caressed him.

"I would like to ask you, young master, not to concern yourself with this matter any further."

Shen Yuntan shook his folding fan and said to himself, "Unless you tell me the real reason why you stayed at Xiaoyao Manor, married Xu Ziqing, and drove away Tang Shijiu, whatever I do is naturally none of Miss Gu's business."

Gu Yan smiled faintly: "Gu Yan's stay at Xiaoyao Manor was purely accidental. Thanks to Elder Master Xie's intervention, Gu Yan was spared from death by her injuries. As for Brother Ziqing, he and Gu Yan are mutually in love, hence their marriage. Sending away Senior Sister was merely a matter of girlish sentiment. Young Master Shen, you are overthinking it."

A blush fell on her cheek, revealing her girlish charm without a trace of falsehood.

Shen Yun put away his folding fan and said coldly, "Since that's the case, Madam Xu has no reason to interfere with my whereabouts."

Gu Yan's eyes were alluring, and she smiled shyly. With a "rip," she tore open one side of her dress, revealing a glimpse of her bodice. The pink bodice clung to her jade-like skin, rising and falling slightly with her breath, arousing endless fantasies.

"Oh? Madam Xu, who just claimed to be mutually in love, is now so eager to throw herself into my arms?" Her eyes were seductive, watching Shen Yun's every move. He spoke lightly, but in reality, he was already using his inner strength to resist her alluring charms.

“It’s not a temptation. My skills are certainly not enough to catch your eye, young master.” Gu Yan’s large eyes were filled with tears. “However, if I were to shout like this… what would others think? What would Senior Sister think?”

Shen Yuntan looked terrified: "Ah, you're threatening me!"

“It’s not a threat.” Gu Yan lowered her eyes. “It’s a request for you to step aside, young master.”

Shen Yun moved with lightning speed, casually tearing off the other side of her collar as well. He smiled and said, "This is my room. May I ask how this Miss Gu, whom I have taken liberties with, came to my room? Does this liberty come with a door-to-door delivery? I can't control what others do, but as for Nineteen, you can try and see if she believes me or you."

His confidence made Gu Yan hesitate for a moment.

"If you don't believe me, then keep shouting. I guarantee I can leave some marks on you that Xu Ziqing doesn't want to see before you shout. As far as I know, your husband cares a lot about your purity and chastity. I'd also like to see whether Xu Ziqing believes these marks or you."

Gu Yan suddenly smiled, and the tears that were about to fall disappeared. She turned around and straightened her disheveled clothes: "Young Master Shen is indeed an extraordinary person. I have offended you."

Shen Yun chuckled nonchalantly: "You are indeed much smarter than your husband. Let me guess, your entry into Xiaoyao Manor was probably accidental, and you weren't lying about that. However, your marriage to Xu Ziqing and your expulsion of Tang Shijiu—don't tell me you weren't after the future position of manor lord. But I just don't understand, what use would you have for a third-rate sect in the mountains?"

Gu Yan said softly, "Young Master Shen is indeed a man of great wisdom, but please forgive me for not being able to tell you the truth about the reasons behind this. Young Master Shen is naturally aware of the rules of Jinhu Manor... If Young Master Shen does not press me any further, I have something to offer you."

Her slender, fair hand reached into her bosom and pulled out a red pill.

"Young Master Shen is deeply in love with Senior Sister, which truly moves me. However, Senior Sister is a person who doesn't understand romance at all, so it must have taken up quite a bit of your time, right?"

Shen Yun nodded: "Indeed, this girl is very difficult to deal with."

Gu Yanmei smiled and said, "This is the Joyful Pill. It dissolves in water, is colorless and odorless, and can help you, young master."

Shen Yun took it and examined it carefully: "A love pill?"

Gu Yan covered her face, as if even hearing it made her feel ashamed: "Young Master, really..."

Shen Yun chuckled, "Very well, anyway, I'm not exactly a saint..."

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard Nineteen and Xu Ziqing talking downstairs. His hearing was excellent, much better than Gu Yan's, so Gu Yan didn't hear it.

Shen Yuntan's eyes darted around, and he suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Yan'er Mei!"

Gu Yan had assumed he had seen through her true identity as a delicate young woman, but she never expected him to suddenly call out his martial arts title, which caused her to exclaim in surprise.

Her lips had barely parted when, before she could utter an "ah," Shen Yuntan flicked his long finger, sending the red pill flying straight into her mouth. Shen Yuntan's touch was forceful; the pill went straight down her throat and dissolved instantly in water. Fearing she might spit it out, he rose and circled behind her, covering her lips with one hand and gently pushing the pill further in with his breath.

Gu Yan was dumbfounded, never expecting him to pull such a trick.

“I’ve already said I’m not a gentleman. Miss Gu, your husband is downstairs, but he probably won’t have time to spend with you these days. If you don’t go back to your room soon, I’ll have to call for help when the drug takes effect.”

He smiled gently, but Gu Yan wished she could tear that smile off his face!

Tang Shijiu and Xu Ziqing, who had come all the way with their faces covered, entered the inn side by side. Shijiu had sharp eyes and immediately caught sight of the white robe flashing out of Shen Yuntan's room. The smile that had been on her face just moments before, before it could even fade, froze at the corners of her mouth. Her mind went blank, as if someone had taken a huge hammer and struck her hard on the back.

Xu Ziqing was so busy covering his forehead that he didn't see the familiar white figure. He noticed that Nineteen's expression had changed drastically. Just as he was about to ask something, Shen Yuntan leisurely came out of the room. He leaned against the railing, smiling as he looked at the "turtle" on Xu Ziqing's forehead, and said, "Young Master Xu, Madam has been waiting for you in the room. Why don't you go and see her?"

Xu Ziqing was furious at the sight of Shen Yuntan, but his martial arts skills were simply inferior, so his anger was futile. He could only glare at him hatefully, snort coldly, and stride confidently into Gu Yan's room.

With a look of anticipation, Shen Yuntan smiled and waved to Nineteen with a satisfied expression: "Nineteen, Nineteen, come up here, let's have a drink."

This expression was one of schadenfreude on his part.

However, for Shi Jiu, it was a different kind of satisfaction—much like the satisfaction Xu Ziqing felt after his date with Gu Yan ended.

She stared at the man in disbelief, her limbs numb as she carried the wine jar up the stairs step by step. She should have drawn her sword like she had with Xu Ziqing, or smashed the wine jar in his face, but she didn't. Tang Shijiu herself didn't know why she didn't have that impulse.

However, the helplessness and despondency she felt were a hundred times heavier than when she saw Xu Ziqing and Gu Yan being affectionate that day. It weighed on her so much that she didn't want to speak, didn't want to ask, afraid that the ending she would learn was one she couldn't bear.

Tang Shijiu was not good at hiding her true feelings.

As soon as she went upstairs, Shen Yuntan noticed something was wrong with her.

"Nineteen, what's wrong? Did that junior brother upset you again?" He seriously considered whether he should just find a secluded place next time and cripple him.

Tang Shijiu shook his head, trying to calm himself down, telling himself over and over that he wasn't Xu Ziqing, he didn't know martial arts, and his small body couldn't withstand his anger. Slowly but heavily, he placed the wine jar down, took a deep breath, and forced a smile:

"My junior sister Gu is indeed a beauty that comes along only once in a thousand years."

She thought her smile was perfect, but it was actually uglier than crying.

Shen Yun was completely bewildered: "She is indeed quite pretty."