Not only did she not flee, but she rushed forwards to beat Shangguan LingRan. âYou big lecher! Dandy, pervert! Rogue!â
At this time, Shangguan Lingkan was still confused and dazed. He was still immersed in the feeling of when Zi You grabbed onto him earlier. That wonderful sensation hammered him hard, like Zi Youâs beating of her fists.
Actually, Zi You was so angry right now that she forgot to use her internal strength and spiritual power. Her punches caused no damage to Shangguan LingRan. They were pretty much tickling him.
And Shangguan Lingkan was beaten silly by her. He didnât defend himself and only retreated. He didnât see a small chair behind him and tripped over it. Thus, he fell down.
Zi You was focused on attacking, kicking, and punching, so she didnât expect him to suddenly fall down. Shangguan Lingkan fell and she too fell due to inertia. And coincidentally, she fell on top of Shangguan LingRan. In an unguarded moment, the two peopleâs lips pressed together.
What! Zi You was also rendered silly. Her mind too went blank.
And the culprit below her body was rendered dazed by this unexpected good fortune. He didnât know where he was.
He just felt that the small body on top of him was fragrant, soft, and supple. The taste of those petallike lips was indescribably pleasant. They were soft and sweet, something he had never tasted or experienced before.
Shangguan LingRan was sixteen and a half years old. Even in modern times, he was considered an adult, not to mention in ancient times. [TL Note: The age of consent in China is fourteen.]
Therefore, this rascal, while Zi You was spacing out, sneakily wrapped his arm around Zi Youâs waist and stuck his tongue out to lick her lips.
When his tongue touched the little yatouâs lips, she finally reacted. She suddenly jumped up from his arms and started scolding him with a red face. âVulgar pervert! Scoundrel! Dandy!......â
Shangguan Lingkan was actually a bit shy at this time. Although he disguised himself as a dandy, he was really a virgin.
That brothel he frequented and couldnât bear to leave was the prime ministerâs and Xuanyuan Sectâs base. It was equivalent to his intelligence station.
Most of the prostitutes there were trained spies. Their martial arts werenât weak. Shangguan LingRan was their young master.
The real Shangguan Lingkan was demonic and ruthless. He didnât trust people and rarely formed good impressions of people. He treated human lives as grass. His name in Jianghu was âHeartless Gongzi.â
His weapon was a curved blade that was as thin as cicada wings: Silver Moon Hook. When he killed people, he had one move: waist-cutting. He chopped a person in half at the waist.
He also had an exceptional skill: Fire Cloud Palm. One palm strike and you would feel as you were burned alive from the inside.
That day in the mountain, he was afraid that Zi You would be afraid of his cruel methods and of his identity being exposed, so he didnât use that move.
He had never reacted to any female spies who tried to seduce him. So it was strange. He reacted to a little yatou like Zi You? Wasnât this strange?
Since he had feelings for her, then he wouldnât easily give her up. Although he couldnât marry early, that didnât mean that he couldnât get engaged early. He too wanted to marry a sweet little wife and have seven or eight children.
Of course, he wouldnât be like his father and marry so many concubines and make his wife sad. He wouldnât want his wife to be like his mother and spend her days in tears.
Shangguan LingRan belonged to the active category. He would absolutely take the initiative once he found his target. Also, he had a double personality. He was ruthless to others, but extremely gentle when it came to people he liked. He would also take the initiative to confess.
He wouldnât originally, but he spent all day with those other three dandies and inevitably learned picked up some tricks.
He quickly walked over seeing Zi You ferociously wiping her lips. He took out his bamboo-scented handkerchief and wiped Zi Youâs rosy and plump, petal-like lips. âYouâer, donât rub so hard. Iâll be distressed if you start bleeding. Rest assured. My lips are very clean. Other than you, I havenât touched anyone else.â
Zi You might have been deceived by Zhao HongXiang in her previous life and no longer believed in men. However, she didnât know why, but a trace of indescribable warmth still rushed up in her heart when she looked into his crystal-clear and glistening phoenix eyes that reflected her image like a clear spring.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Thus, she stomped her feet and said resentfully, âSweet-talking lecher. I donât know how many women you have said those words to. Now youâre deceiving me with them?â
Shangguan LingRan heard her doubting him and reacted differently than Zhao HongXiang, who swore a vicious oath in her previous life. He retrieved his gentle smile and said sharply and fiercely, âIt doesnât matter if you suspect me of lying to you, but can you not insult me? I, Heartless Gongzi, wouldnât say such nauseating words to a woman. If I donât like you, would I pay attention to that cheap wench Shangguan Lingluo? If I donât like you, would I risk my life to save you? If I donât like you, would I let you scold and beat me without responding? Go ask around Jianghu [wuxia/ martial arts milieu) if there is a left person alive under Heartless Gongziâs hands. I said that you are stupid, but you wonât admit it. Mu Zi You, youâre the worldâs biggest idiot!â
âYouâre Heartless Gongzi?â Zi You was shocked. She shook her head in disbelief. âHow is that possible? Heartless Gongziâs move is waist cutting. Why didnât I see you chop people in half that day?â
Shangguan LingRan got angry and glared fiercely at Zi You. He hated that he couldnât pick her up and spank her little butt. He endured for a long time and finally said lowly, âI finally know how stupid you are today. If I wasnât afraid of scaring you, would I get injured? If I wasnât afraid that the Emperor would find out that your family was colluding with Jianghu members, wouldnât I use my move? Instead, I had to waste time with those crazy killers. I did so much for you, but you canât see any of it. What are you using your big eyes for?â?
He roared his last words and stepped forwards. Zi You lowered her head and guilty took a step back. When she couldnât retreat anymore, she asked in a low voice, âWho made you the capitalâs famous dandy? Your bad name is infamous. How can I trust you?â
Shangguan Lingkan smiled a cold, demonic smile capable of confusing all living beings. âI didnât hide it from you that I knew martial arts by the second time we met. You know exactly what kind of person I am. Why are you pretending to be innocent now?â
Shangguan LingRan without his disguise had a demonic and evil charm. His aura pressured you, but you couldnât help but be charmed by him.
Zi You felt that Shangguan LingRan was like a poppy flower. She knew it was poisonous, but there was a mysterious force tempting her to not fear death.
Zi You clearly knew that she couldnât get close to him, but she didnât know why she wanted to vent out all her grievances to Shangguan LingRan.
Crystal-like beads of tears fell down her porcelainwhite face. Her choked voice contained countless sorrow and grievances. âItâs not that I donât believe you. When the people closest to you plot to murder you and use you, you tell me who I can trust? Even when you didnât do anything, someone still wants to kill you. Tell me if I should trust a dandy who makes fun of me as soon as he sees me? You saw what happened at Duke Yongang fu, Duke Yingguo fu, and Duke Anguo fu. My grandfather holds military power in his hand, but canât even guarantee my safety. Do you think Iâm willing to walk carefully on thin ice? Wuu......â
Although Shangguan Lingkan was causing trouble and mischief all day, that was just an act. He had never used his real emotions. When it came to relationships, he was a blank piece of paper.
He had never experienced this heavy and gloomy feeling in his heart before. He started walked towards Zi You.
He took out a delicately embroidered handkerchief and clumsily helped Zi You wipe her tears. He didnât know how to control his strength and rubbed Zi Youâs fine skin red.
Zi You thought that since he spent all day in brothels, even if he was disguising as a dandy, he would certainly be skilled at coaxing women.
But seeing him so clumsy, she couldnât help but snatch the handkerchief and mock him. âAnd youâre disguising as a dandy. You donât even know how to wipe tears for a female. Youâre not afraid that you will be exposed?â
Shangguan Lingkan snorted disdainfully. âAre they worthy of having this Shizi Ye wipe their tears? You underestimate Ye. The only person who Ye will personally wait on is you.â
The previous lifeâs Zi You was deceived by Zhao HongXiangâs sweet words. So, she not only couldnât stand this sort of words, but was even disgusted by them.
Thus, she immediately threw the handkerchief back at him and denounced, âDonât say such disgusting words. Hurry and put makeup on so you can scram out of our Generalâs Manor.â
Shangguan LingRan was confused by her sudden about-face. He felt that he took a step forwards to close their distance, but he look a big step back in the blink of an eye.
Now he finally understood his friendsâ words. A womanâs heart was like a needle in the ocean. That was so true. He had no idea what to make of it.
Shangguan LingRan was anxious. It was hard for him to like someone. Actually, it could be said that it was very difficult. If he didnât hurry and capture this little yatouâs heart and she was stolen by other gongzis, wouldnât he be single his whole life?
Shangguan LingRan shook his head. He sat down in front of Zi You and said, âI can promise you to disguise... disguise as a woman and sneak out of the Generalâs Manor. But you have to promise me something.â
Zi You originally did not want to promise anything. However, once she thought about this plague staying at the Generalâs Manor, not only was he not safe, but the Generalâs Manor would be under watch. There were strangers wandering around the Generalâs Manor these past two days.
It was more important to send him out of here first. Thus, Zi You coldly asked, âWhat is it?â
Shangguan Lingkan gritted his teeth and steeled his heart. âI want you to promise me that you wonât marry another person. You can only marry this Ye.â
âBah!â Zi You scolded, âLecher! Scoundrel! Who wants to marry you? Go die!â
Then she picked up the makeup brush and doodled messily on his face. She laughed like flowers blooming. âHaha...... You dare to speak nonsense? Iâll have you become a rat that everyone beats up.â
He stared foolishly at her smile that was more delicate than flowers. He didnât care whether he would turn into a rat or not.
Only until Zi You handed a mirror for him to take a look did he grabbed the brush and started drawing on Zi Youâs face.
Zi You quickly stopped him. âDonât fool around. Go wash your face. You donât want to leave the Generalâs Manor now?â
Shangguan Lingkan stretched out his muscular arms and suddenly wrapped them around Zi You.
Zi Youâs eyes were anxious and she started to struggle desperately again.
Shangguan Lingkan caught her hands and said, full of reluctance to part, âDonât move. Let me hug you a bit. Just a bit. I really donât want to leave here. Because after I leave, you will once again be far away from me. After I leave, it will be difficult to see you again. Youâer, I beg you. Before I can convince imperial grandmother to marry you to me, donât get engaged to anyone else, okay?â
âWhat nonsense are you speaking again?â Zi You was bashful and irritated. She fiercely pushed him. âYouâre a lecher and a scoundrel! Who wants to marry you?â
âWe......... weâve kissed.â Shangguan LingRan looked at Zi Youâs face turning red and as fierce as if she wanted to eat him. He was scared into lowering his voice. As he slowly retreated, he muttered, âMen and women should maintain distance. Weâve already had intimate relations. You canât renege.â
As he was moving backwards, he almost tripped over a chair again. Perhaps due to him being shy, he didnât use martial arts and stumbled around before stabilizing himself.
Zi You looked at his sorry figure and thought about his âHeartless Gongziâ moniker and his arrogance in the capital. Her heart couldnât help but soften.
But once she thought about her previous lifeâs miserable and humiliating death, she said with a straight face, âAre you leaving or not? Iâm telling you, if you donât leave soon, youâll die. It has nothing to do with me.â
She turned away to leave, but was pulled by Shangguan LingRan.
He was obviously a bit scared of her and said, anxiously and in panic, âIâm leaving, Iâm leaving. Iâm leaving now, okay?â
Zi You sat him down, opened her makeup box, and started putting rouge on him.
Shangguan Lingkan felt Zi Youâs hand touch him periodically. His heartbeats were like drums and his mouth went dry. He stared at her deep and beautiful eyes and hated that he couldnât pause time at this moment.
Zi You didnât know what he was fantasizing about, because, under her magical hand putting makeup on Shangguan LingRanâs face, a beautiful woman appeared before her.
Shangguan LingRan had bright eyes and white teeth. He was as delicate as a flower and refined as jade, with vermilion lips. Many beautiful women could not compare to him.
Zi You thought: âEvildoer!â She couldnât believe that this fellow disguised as a woman could be capable of causing the downfall of a country.
Shangguan LingRan looked at Zi You staring at him amazed and couldnât help but reveal a devilishly charming smile. âLove-struck fool!â
Zi You looked him smiling like he could confuse all living beings and couldnât help wanting to tease him. She pinched his white and tender face and smiled enchantingly and charmingly, âBeauty, come this Yeâs fu. Let this Ye dote on you.â