Chapter 100

Glossary

儿 | er | (lit. child) diminutive marker used as a form of endearment

时辰 | sichen | time system comprising of 12 two-hour periods of the day; one sichen is the equivalent of two modern hours

“No matter what, aren’t we are still considered old friends? Why are you ignoring me?” Without regard for anyone else, Liu Fei Xu walked inside Mei Yan Ying Ying Chu and looked everything over, admiration in his eyes: “This is such an interesting store. I have been here a few times before, but what a pity that there are limits to what could be bought.”

“You may purchase a few more pieces, but after you’ve done so, leave at once. I don’t wish to see you here.”

Peacock Liu knew his reputation hadn’t been that good these past two years but he had shamelessly become used to it: “Cough cough……You shouldn’t listen to the gossip outside. Actually, I am very innocent; I’m a good man.”

“What is the meaning of this, Mister Liu? Whether you are a good man or not–what does that have to do with me? When one is doing business, one must be amiable and understand the thoughts of each customer. You are obstructing my business. Don’t tell me I am not even allowed to speak out?”

“Presently, it seems I am the only customer in the store so your desire to please your patrons should have nothing to do with me. The majestic Princess of Qi should be restrained in this matter.”

“How did you know?” She didn’t seem to have revealed her identity in front of him before.

“You caused havoc in You Xiang Pavilion and sent Madam Huang to prison. How could I not know?”

“My apologies to have offended your close friend.”

“No matter!” Liu Fei Xu shrugged his shoulders and unconsciously added: “Wouldn’t it be fine if you became my companion?”

Ruan Zhu’s expression became chilly: “If you are here as a joke, the door is over there; kindly leave.” While saying this, she also instructed a salesperson to properly store away the clothes she had just brought in before directing an assistant: “Xiao Lu Zi, attend to this customer. I am going to rest for a bit.”

Ruan Zhu didn’t even glance at Peacock Liu as she strode to the back of the store. Pushing aside the door revealed a wide courtyard……Like other shops, the rear courtyard of Mei Yan Ying Ying Chu provided lodgings for the staff and a place to rest for the owner.

The helper sweeping the floor saw that their master had arrived and carried over freshly brewed aromatic tea with prominent humbleness.

Ruan Zhu waved her hand to let him withdraw and sat on the sofa, taking a sip of the tea and also pulling over some account ledgers for a look. One couldn’t tell just from looking that Yu’er, that lass, was actually quite earnest in her work for the handwriting in the ledgers were careful and neat. After all, she was a merchant’s child and had been exposed to these things since small so maintaining an accounts book was extremely familiar and easy.

The room echoed with the sound of the door opening. Ruan Zhu thought the person who had entered was Ruan Yu and spoke without looking: “You finished watching everything so fast?” Not hearing a reply, she lifted her eyes yet actually saw Peacock Liu. Her expression immediately changed: “Who allowed you to enter?”

Liu Fei Xu replied naturally: “The door wasn’t locked so I walked in.”

Ruan Zhu coldly stared at the uninvited guest. The rear courtyard was considered her home, okay? Could it be that leaving a door unlocked meant anyone could just let themselves in? If so, why hadn’t she seen him barging inside the imperial palace? “What about the guard?” She didn’t believe the guard would randomly allow people to enter without first obtaining her permission.

“Your family’s servant is not suitable for fights. He fainted after I lightly tapped him.”

“Kindly leave!” So there were still this kind of shameless man in Tian Chu! Loathing couldn’t help but to rise in Ruan Zhu’s heart and she moved her eyes away from him as she raised her cup for a sip.

“This tea leaf of yours is pretty good. Let me see what kind it is?” Peacock Liu sat down across from her and reached out to lift up the teapot.

“I’ve already told you to leave so why are you still here?” Ruan Zhu snatched the teapot back. She felt disgusted at coming into contact with something that he had touched.

One must not only look at the appearance of this peacock for she had heard quite a bit about the things he had done on the sly. Though the matter of him being the flower thief wasn’t yet confirmed, she had heard from Zong Zhi of his identity as Wan Zi Yu and a throbbing headache formed at the very thought of him possibly being covered with germs which could then infect her and her entire household.

“I never said I was going to leave. How could you treat an old friend like this?”

Ruan Zhu felt this peacock was extremely hard to deal with and her two graceful eyebrows slightly gathered as she gave him a glance: “If you do not wish to walk out by yourself, I will request the yamen to send men over to force you to leave. What do you think?”

Yet he still remained motionless. He had even fixed the Crown Princess a while ago, and while the Princess of Qi was honorable, she wasn’t like a naive commoner who had never seen the world. Seeing that she was still sipping from the teacup in her hand, a secret smirk couldn’t help but reveal itself on the corner of his mouth.

Ruan Zhu saw that his expression was unusual and elegantly knit her brows a bit, putting down the cup in her hands. But her body became strange–a fiery heat burst forth from within her just like a trembling electric current. Having had so much experience in bed, she naturally knew what it meant and her face changed in bewilderedness: “What did you put in the tea?!”

An aphrodisiac–it must be that! But when had he put in in and why hadn’t she noticed?

“I added something to the tea earlier when I sat down.” A smile flashed in Liu Fei Xu’s eyes: “Don’t tell me you don’t like it. All of you women are like this–mouths saying ‘no’ but so enthusiastic once we’re in bed.”

Ruan Zhu was furious and snatched the teacup to smash it in his face.

Liu Fei Xu’s eyes were filled with ridicule as he easily caught the cup and set it back on top of the table: “I’ve met women like you several times before. One shouldn’t look at how proper your appearance is as you’ll turn into liquid as soon as you’re teased for just a bit. Relax, ah, I guarantee you’ll like it.”

“You shameless bastard, you aren’t afraid I’ll kill you?!”

“Haha, not at all. Once you have a taste, you’ll like it. Numerous women have said that they would kill me but after the deed, they then always beg me for more.”

Ruan Zhu saw that this man was incorrigible and hastily called out for someone to come.

“It’s useless, no one will come. I’ve knocked out all of the workers in the rear courtyard and stuffed them in the firewood shed. No one will come disturb our fun.” He advanced a few steps and sat her properly on his lap. His large hand extended inside her lapel to fondle one of her soft breasts and excitement surged within him: “This feels pretty good. No wonder there are so many men that have been charmed half to death by you.”

Ruan Zhu’s mind was full of murderous thoughts, but the man truly knew how to tease a woman. With just one touch from him, the aphrodisiac that was tormenting her body overflowed at once, circulating unrestrained inside her. She wanted to curse him but what spilled from her lips were sounds similar to delicate moans.

“Now you’re being obedient!” Liu Fei Xu tugged a few times and completely removed all of her clothes. The skin of the woman on his lap was like snow–so sparkling and white–while the two mounds on her chest were plump and shook up and down with each of her breaths. What a most beautiful sight.

“Just by looking, I couldn’t tell that your figure is actually this exceptional.” Liu Fei Xu’s eyes immediately misted and he lowered his head to take in a red plum.

No, she definitely didn’t want to do this with such a flashy and lecherous guy who was covered head to toe in diseases! Doing her best to endure the restlessness within her body, she stretched out her hand and removed a dagger from within a secret compartment on the side of the table. Using all of her strength, she viciously stabbed it into Liu Fei Xu’s back……

All of Liu Fei Xu’s rationality had been seized by desire and he simply didn’t realize danger was at hand, causing him to pay the price for his romantic investment. The cold blade slid into his body and he miserably screamed as he dumped Ruan Zhu onto the ground, jumping up and staggering as he ran outside the room.

What a pity the stab was slanted!

Vexed, Ruan Zhu stared at the fleeing figure, not feeling any fright or dread at the thought of potentially killing someone with a knife.

She was currently being tormented by the aphrodisiac as currents zipped and quivered throughout her body, one by one, rushing along her blood vessels to her brain. Now, she desperately wanted a man to help her get rid of this physical torture.

Wang Jing Yan had received a message from his father this morning, asking him to return to the residence for a visit.

He had previously studied in the mountains and was accustomed to hardships so he didn’t even take a carriage and instead walked into the city on foot. After walking for over half a sichen, he arrived at Yu Street and passed by Mei Yan Ying Ying Chu’s entrance. Gazing at the striking thin-gold calligraphy, his footsteps stopped as he continued to stare at it as if he had become foolish.

Suddenly, a man charged out of Mei Yan Ying Ying Chu and all of the pedestrians immediately stepped aside upon seeing him. The man actually had a knife stuck to his back and blood continued to spill from the wound.

Wang Jing Yan felt something was amiss. Certain that something had happened, he rushed inside Mei Yan Ying Ying Chu.

When all of the shop assistants saw a man covered with blood run out of the rear courtyard, they became worried something had happened to their mistress and all headed towards the backyard……Wang Jing Yan pushed them aside and took the lead at the very front.