Три мандариновые утки и полторы пары

Глава 49

“Life has eight sufferings.” He finally spoke slowly, his voice somewhat deep and cool. “You, Yan Shanshan, are truly the representative of the suffering of the five aggregates.”

He lifted the sealing paper off the jar, picked up the wine jar, tilted his head back, and chugged it down, as if to display his masculinity.

"All this time, your opinion of me has been as unchanging as your character!" Hearing the familiar dialogue again, Yan Shanshan smiled brightly. "I'll still respond the same way: when have I ever been able to control your Meteor Swordsman's five aggregates of form, feeling, perception, volition, and consciousness?"

"I used to think you only poisoned Lu Mingchao, but now I believe you've poisoned everyone around you. Just seeing you throws you into a state of imbalance, and it's hard not to suffer!"

"Then you should not offend me. I actually have the ability to torment martial arts masters. It seems that killing you, Meteor Swordsman, will be a piece of cake."

The provocative words immediately made Li Shufang's eyebrows furrow. He pulled on the purple rope around his body, and his long sword soared into the air before landing in the center of the square table.

“I have never been soft on eradicating the scourge of suffering.” The veins on his temples finally bulged, and his deeply furrowed brows showed a twisted rage. “Make it clear why we’re here today!”

"Hey Xiao Shufang, did that gamble back then extinguish the chivalrous spirit you should have had?"

"For whom have you come?"

“You know very well that there is only one person who can make me, Yan Shanshan, personally speak up for you.”

"This one and only isn't your husband." Poor Lu Mingchao, the dignified young prince Lu, in his beloved wife's heart, his position can always be relegated to the back.

"If he is Yan Shanshan's husband, he should be capable. With Mingchao's abilities and status, I don't need to worry too much about him."

Li Shufang's raised eyebrows clearly showed his doubt. "But the one you mentioned is not only exceptionally capable, but even your Yan Shanshan's extraordinary intelligence may not match hers when she's serious. Why would she need someone to save her?"

"The fact that they've come after you should tell you that this opponent is not someone to be trifled with."

"With the Su family's influence in the royal family and the martial arts world, are you afraid we can't rescue them?"

"If the other party is a member of the royal family, then it is not something that the four great families can do recklessly."

The royal family? "Could it be the rumored Third Prince Zhu Yu?" He had heard Fu Yaofeng and Yan Shanshan mention the reasons why Su Shaochu had to leave the Su family before. "I also heard Mingchao mention the matter between Shaochu and this Third Prince last year."

"You've heard Mingchao mention it?" Yan Shanshan's beautiful eyes widened, a murderous glint flashing in her smile. "When did you two meet? Why didn't Mingchao tell his dearest wife?"

"It was just a chance encounter." Although he knew he'd let something slip, Li Shufang remained unfazed and downplayed the situation. "Is this matter not over yet?"

"Good riddance! Zhu Yu?" As if he had said something absurd, Yan Shanshan laughed without restraint, "You should have heard Mingchao talk about this Third Prince. Good riddance has never been in Zhu Yu's mind."

She couldn't help but think that when she got back, she would re-educate her husband and show him what the consequences would be for not being honest with his wife.

"It can only be said that Zhu Yu's Heavenly Demon is a person whose intelligence is no less than Shao Chu's, but his terrifyingness and methods are definitely above Shao Chu's."

"Heavenly demons?"

"What Shao Chu called Zhu Yu".

"It sounds like the wolf is laughing at the tiger's cruelty, and the tiger is laughing at the wolf's cold-bloodedness!"

In Li Shufang's opinion, Shao Chu was also a demon. The demons of the Heavenly Realm and the ghosts and demons of the human world were two completely different kinds of beings from ordinary people.

"Zhu Yu is a combination of tiger and wolf. You can imagine a handsome and powerful nobleman dressed in fine clothes enjoying the flesh and blood that has just been cut from a human body. Fresh blood is his best decoration, and warm human flesh is his most delicious enjoyment. Especially when he laughs, there is only one feeling. A demon who makes people shudder should be extinct in the world."

"My sword only kills those who suffer in this mortal world; it cannot subdue demons and monsters."

"How do you know your sword can't slay demons if you haven't even tried?"

"I can tell just by looking at you still alive." Yan Shanshan is a different kind of demon altogether.

“That’s right.” Yan Shanshan immediately clapped her hands, completely agreeing with him. “I look like a demon, but I’m actually human, so I’m still alive; but the Third Prince looks like a human, but he’s actually a demon, so your sword will definitely not show mercy.”

"You and she have one thing in common: once you've gained the upper hand in the argument, the person who is reasonable will call you stupid."

"You mean you were just trying to reason with me?" she asked with a smile.

If Li Shufang answered "yes," it would be tantamount to admitting that he was stupid.

“I don’t need to answer such a stupid question.” The purple rope binding the sword moved again, and the longsword on the table returned to his back. “I will tell Changqing that I will not come to Hongguan Wine Garden again for the time being, until the interference disappears.” The meaning was clear: don’t even think about finding him again.

"You unfilial son!"

"Uh!" Yan Shanshan's words stopped him from getting up and clearly stunned him.

"Don't forget, you lost that bet back then, and Shao Chu, as you wished, established a permanent relationship with you."

"You, you, you—shut up!" Li Shufang practically jumped three steps away from her. "Don't mention that matter again—"

“How can we not mention such a meaningful past!” Yan Shanshan stood up and walked gracefully toward him. “Back then, you, Meteor Swordsman Li Shufang, confessed your feelings to Shao Chu, completely disregarding the age gap between you and her, and even stated that you would agree to any condition as long as you could win her heart.”

"If you dare say another word, I—I—" With another tug of the purple rope, the long sword on her back fell into her hand, which she pointed defiantly at the approaching person. "Don't say I don't care about our old friendship; I'll draw my sword and kill you!"

Chapter Four

"It's too late to silence them now. The more people who know about this, the more likely they are to be alive and well. They can also pass it down as a martial arts secret to future generations."

With a whoosh, the longsword pointed at her was finally drawn, its cold tip radiating murderous intent. He gritted his teeth and said, "I'll use you as an example to scare the monkeys; let's see who dares to pass this story down through generations—"

"Which matter?" Yan Shanshan immediately stepped forward, generously bringing her neck closer to the sword tip. "Are you referring to the swordsmanship challenge that Shao Chu made with you, with the stake being your relationship and status?"

"You, you, you—don't think that the Broken Blade doesn't kill women!" Wei Lin's declaration was met with a step back amidst her domineering intimidation.

"This is a swordsmanship challenge. If you win, Shao Chu will grant you your wish and we'll be husband and wife forever; if you lose, Shao Chu will grant you the title instead!" Yan Shanshan spread her hands. "In the end—you lost!"

"That was a trap she set for me. She clearly said she would accept the challenge herself, but it turned out that someone else came to challenge her!" He never dreamed that Su Shaochu would be a twin. After exchanging three moves, he was shocked and realized that this person was definitely not Shaochu. This momentary lapse in concentration sealed his defeat.

"Ha, you yourself said how deep your feelings were, but you didn't even recognize the person you liked at first glance. When you actually attacked the other person, it meant that you recognized Shao Chu as the one challenging you. How can you say that you used a trick!"

"You can shut up now!" he said angrily, enunciating each word.

“Zheng Jincai, how can you shut up? Don’t forget, you lost that bet. When we meet again, you will be Shao Chu’s son and have to acknowledge Shao Chu as your mother. Once this relationship is established, it will remain unchanged for life.”

Before he could finish speaking, Li Shufang's sword shot out and embedded itself in the center of the square table. The gleaming blade reflected in Li Shufang's narrowed, murderous eyes. His brows furrowed even more, and his melancholy deepened. In his uniquely chilling tone, he spoke, "When you beg for mercy, the history of the Broken Blade will end for you. There is only one way to live, and that is—"

"Enough!" Yan Shanshan snapped, cutting him off. "Meteor Swordsman Li Shufang, known as the Twin Swordsman, is unparalleled in two ways: his swordsmanship and your personality, which is the prelude to your killing spree. Now you're giving me this opening line, are you trying to kill your elder? You brat, I'm your mother's good friend, come sit down!"

A sudden, sharp gasp came through, and Li Shufang's face was filled with frustration. He was very frustrated and annoyed, and he wanted to let the Broken Blade finish off this woman in front of him, who was a completely different kind of demon!

"I say, melancholy youth, young scholar, if you don't sit down, starting tomorrow from Xiying City, every day there will be slips of paper scattered throughout the city, containing the details of your bet with Shao Chu from back then. They will be scattered all the way from the towns you pass through back to the capital. At that point, it won't be called a secret anymore, but a laughing stock in the martial arts world!"

His breathing spasmed and spasmed again, his jaw clenched and clenched, and finally he took a deep, long breath before slowly sitting back down at the square table.

"Yan Shanshan, what exactly are you..."

Her beautiful eyes immediately swept over him with that hum. "Although I'm young and don't like having a grown man call me 'Auntie' at all, seniority is seniority. Your mother and I are good friends, so I'll reluctantly, tolerantly, and even if it's unfair, let you call me Auntie Shanshan!"

Yan Shanshan is the perfect example of someone who gets a good deal but then acts innocent; she never falls short in this regard.

"If getting straight to the point will save me from your verbal torture, then let's get straight to the point!" Li Shufang tossed out the purple rope, wrapped it around the blade of the sword on the table, and with a flick of his wrist, the longsword was sheathed and returned to his back.

"Why didn't we start like this from the beginning? We've wasted so much time." Yan Shanshan flicked her water sleeves, snorted proudly, and gestured for him to pour the wine.

"You don't really want me to kill the Third Prince Zhu Yu, do you?" Li Shufang suppressed his composure and poured her wine.

“There’s no need to kill him now. Besides, if Zhu Yu were so easy to kill, things wouldn’t have turned out this way.”

"Then what do you need me to do?"

"At present, all we know is that after Shao Chu was taken away from the Su family by Zhu Yu, the group left the capital and headed south."

"Why are you so sure that Shao Chu was taken away by Zhu Yu?"

"The rumors circulating among the people of the capital, and the jade pendant that Zhu Yu always carried in Shao Chu's room, should be clues left by Shao Chu."

In the courtyard of the Su family, Shao Chu found her torn clothes in the bathroom, the bathtub filled with fragrance, and Zhu Yu's spotted jade pendant in the water. Considering Shao Chu's abilities, the fact that she could take her away from the Su family without a sound must mean that she was someone she was wary of. Therefore, it seems there is no need to guess who the shameless person is.

"That hateful traitor Zhu Yu!" she slammed her hand on the table and cursed. "He doesn't care about the contributions the four great families have made to his imperial family over the generations. He doesn't realize that the four great families are forbidden from military incursions by His Majesty, no matter what mistakes they make. All the mistakes of the four great families are to be decided by His Majesty. Even the Crown Prince doesn't dare to act recklessly. Now Zhu Yu is resorting to any means to get people. He uses his princely status to enter the Su family and bully them. He's gone too far!"

Yan Shanshan's unusually stern and indignant expression made it easy to imagine what had happened in Shao Chu's room.

It's not hard to imagine what Zhu Yu would do to Shao Chu, but no matter how she is treated, Shao Chu will first stabilize her situation. She would never let herself not know what it feels like to have her feet on the ground for half a month.

"You've been so arrogant and domineering! It took you half a month to realize you should stand on the ground?!" Li Shufang's brows furrowed even more as he watched Yan Shanshan's endless rant.

"You may not have actually met the Third Prince Zhu Yu, but you must have heard about his personality. Do you think the title 'Devil Prince' is a Buddhist monk's name?"

Yan Shanshan rolled her eyes, only to see his terrifying expression.

“Oh, melancholy young man, your expression conveys anger very… vividly. Do you know her situation that angered you?” She tilted her head to examine him, her beautiful eyes probing as she asked with a smile, “Aren’t you extremely angry that she tricked you, making you afraid to even see her, because if you meet again, you’ll be mother and son, and the stakes will be set.”

It's clear that Shao Chu did this to completely sever his feelings for him.

"You mean they left the capital and headed south, their destination Jiangnan?"

"On the surface, that seems to be the case, but after Zhu Yu left the capital, the group split into two. Feng Yan formed another group. We only know that Feng Yan did head south, but his exact whereabouts are unknown," Yan Shanshan pondered. "Taking Shao Chu away from the capital means that he is determined to get Shao Chu and will not allow anyone to interfere. He should be hiding his whereabouts. If he didn't have another purpose, Zhu Yu wouldn't have released such information."

The news of the Third Prince leaving the capital for Jiangnan spread almost throughout the capital.

"Do you think the news of the Third Prince's entourage heading to Jiangnan might be a ruse?"

"It's all a ruse. After Zhu Yu left the capital and headed south, he changed direction midway."

"Is this Third Prince using a feint to confuse any attempt to rescue Shao Chu?"

“I think Zhu Yu must have another purpose for doing this.” Yan Shanshan felt that there was more to it than that, and frowned as she pondered. “I can’t be sure right now. For the time being, it’s more important to see Shao Chu first.”

"You already know their whereabouts?"

"They've already come to you, do you still need to answer this question?" Yan Shanshan's only concern was one thing. "This time, Shao Chu will definitely pay a heavy price. After all, facing Zhu Yu again is not like the first time when he had the plan in hand."

What do you think the Junior High Association should do?

With her red lips pursed, Yan Shanshan pondered the person with whom she had shared the deepest connection since childhood.

"Shao Chu will definitely strip away his last remaining abilities and become a true prisoner of confinement."

Li Shufang's brows furrowed even more deeply. "This Third Prince is no simple man; he doesn't try to lower the other party's guard by offering to give up everything."

"Everyone says it's at the Heavenly Demon level."

"If we use this method and the result is not as expected, wouldn't the danger be doubled for her, given that she has already lost her abilities?"

"What do you think Shao Chu's abilities are? Martial arts?" Yan Shanshan laughed without any mercy. "Little brother Shu Fang, after suffering such a huge setback back then, do you still need to think about what your terrifying 'mother's' abilities are?"

Knowing that he had asked a stupid question, Li Shufang could only grit his teeth and swallow his anger in the face of such ridicule. Su Shaochu's most terrifying quality was his wisdom.

"If Zhu Yu likes to manipulate human nature, he was good at stirring people's hearts from a young age. The difference is that those who are moved are easily calmed down."

"Would someone who could make Shao Chu pay such a high price easily lose their composure?"