Chapter 223: My Affairs with Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi

Since ancient times, the traces of boudoir intrigues have been omitted by historians; the secrets behind pearl curtains have eluded even the most skilled poets.

For the inner chambers are deep and still, their deeds often hidden; heavy gates shut tight, their voices and forms rarely seen.

Thus, the hearts of fair maidens are locked deep within their chambers; their graceful traces vanish, leaving only lingering echoes. Alas!

Scholars speculate, often fabricating; poets invent, frequently twisting truth.

Hence, the Luo Goddess's empty ode leaves only the shadow of her floating steps; the Xiang Goddess's false legend yields only the myth of the spotted bamboo!

Mao Qiang and Lü Zhu have become mere paper figures; the goddesses and Magu have all fallen into the illusions of the pen!

This is truly the great injustice done to beautiful women—and the vile habit of literati recording history.

Moved by how rarely the secret tales of women's chambers are truthfully recorded, I write this biography of my friend Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi, to show that all her deeds are verifiable, all words grounded in fact. Can a heart as delicate as orchid and a mind as refined as sweet flag be merely skilled in reciting willow fluff? Her grand ambitions truly harbor the talent to govern and strategize......

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi trembled with rage, her fingers turning white from clenching!

This villain, to prevent others from doubting the book's authenticity, went to great lengths to preface it, insisting he would never speculate or fabricate! He deliberately misled and stirred curiosity, even claiming, "The hearts of fair maidens are locked deep within their chambers!"

Worse still, he waved the banner of "moved by how rarely the secret tales of women's chambers are truthfully recorded," posing as if he alone would right wrongs and purge corruption—setting up a perfect spectacle, whetting appetites to the extreme!

He's resolved to shock and stir up scandal—or he won't rest!

And he opens by claiming she has "the talent to govern and strategize"!

How sinister his intent!

How vile his heart!

And yet, despite being furious enough to explode, why can't she stop reading?!

Wang Yang sipped his wine, speaking casually:

"I never accept favors without repaying them. 'A beauty gave me a gold-inlaid knife—what shall I return but jade of rare beauty?' Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi gifted me the Comprehensive Survey of the Southern Barbarians; how could I offer nothing in return? So I wrote this scroll, My Affairs with Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi. But then I thought: Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi acts in secrecy, her traces obscure; her ambitions are vast, her schemes grand—she likely does not wish the world to know of your machinations in Jingzhou or your clever plots against the Prince. So I decided to hide this book and choose another repayment."

Wang Yang paused slightly, then changed tone: "But what if I die before I can repay you?"

Wang Yang waved his hand, speaking boldly:

"No matter! I've already made arrangements: the moment anything happens to me, this book will be published! It will sweep through Jingzhou and endure through generations—thus honoring Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi's name!"

Despicable!

Shameless!!

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi's delicate nostrils flared; the manuscript was crumpled beyond recognition in her grip—she longed to smash it straight into his face!!!

In her fury and panic, her mind flashed with sudden insight. She instantly stilled her rage and confusion, lifted her slender wrist, and casually laid the manuscript on the table, speaking lightly:

"Fictional tales? What have I to do with them? I've been in Jiankang all along—who can prove I came to Jingzhou?"

Wang Yang replied just as casually:

"In Jingzhou, do you think my words need proof?"

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi remained calm:

"Given your current reputation, naturally your word is law. But if your claim of being from the Langye clan is exposed—"

She looked at Wang Yang, smiling sweetly:

"I can make you, the prodigy nobleman, become the greatest fraud in our dynasty's history. Do you believe me?"

Wang Yang did not hesitate, replying at once:

"I believe you! I already said—you're all-powerful. What can't you do? I have absolute faith in your abilities. But—"

Wang Yang gave a sly smile: "The people I trust aren't just you, Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi..."

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi's gaze turned icy: "Are you going to drag Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Xing into this?"

Wang Yang shook his head: "Let's not involve her in these sordid affairs."

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi felt slightly relieved: "Then what do you mean?"

Wang Yang toyed with his folding fan, speaking slowly:

"I mean, if someone were to present this scroll—or your testimony—to Prince Prince Prince Jingling..."

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi's face paled: "You dare incite princely infighting?!!"

Wang Yang smirked:

"You're the master of infighting! You came to Jingzhou on behalf of the Crown Prince to undermine his own brother—your courage dwarfs mine! Wait, your father is the Emperor's cousin, so aren't you also a distant relative of Prince Badong? So you—"

"Prince Badong's collusion with the barbarians is real! I came to Jingzhou to investigate a case for the court!!"

Wang Yang exaggerated his surprise:

"Oh—so that's it!

My apologies, my apologies!

Are you acting on the Emperor's secret edict to investigate his own son?

Or are you specifically assigned to monitor the princes?"

Wang Yang sneered:

"Don't flatter yourself!

You hold no official rank—why would you be investigating?

You're meddling in matters of the heir, overstepping your bounds! Spying on princes, hoping for chaos!

Don't you know whether this violates law or taboo?

Prince Badong's collusion with the barbarians is real!

Your factional scheming is real too!

If I were Prince Prince Prince Jingling, I'd strike like Bian Duke Duke Zhuang—kill two tigers with one arrow..."

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi's rage surged into her stomach, clenching pain seized her, her cheeks turned deathly pale, her body slowly curling up.

Wang Yang watched as Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi suddenly slumped over the desk, trembling faintly, and asked tentatively:

"What's wrong? Are you playing the Western Beauty clutching her chest?"

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi lifted her head slightly, her voice weak: "You... continue..."

Wang Yang studied her face; her once-rosy lips had lost all color. He judged she wasn't faking—after all, when he wanted to cool his hand to deceive Wang Tai, he had to soak it in cold water. Even if she were a superb actress, could she truly make her blood vanish?

"Why keep going? Rest first. Recover, then we'll continue."

"No... need!" Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi bit her lower lip, her gaze stubborn.

Wang Yang called out loudly: "Someone, check on your young mistress!"

Several maids rushed in.

"Young mistress!"

"Her old illness has flared up—quick, fetch the medicine!"

"Help the young mistress inside!"

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi, drenched in cold sweat, struggled to utter two words:

"Leave."

"Young mistress!"

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi forced herself upright, lips tightly pressed, strands of hair clinging to her face, making her jade-like complexion appear even more frail:

"I said—leave!"

The maids dared not disobey and withdrew.

Wang Yang:...

"Why not take your medicine first?"

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi shook her head weakly, the motion slight yet filled with stubborn resolve.

She was naturally a beauty of breathtaking charm, her allure innate. Now, though her radiance was dimmed, her grace still far surpassed that of Daiyu. Her frail body, though weakened, still carried more elegance than Xizi. Her sickly frame held three parts defiance; her icy lips clenched, refusing to yield an ounce of pride. Truly, every inch of her was pitiable!

A tender-hearted soul, seeing her thus, would tremble at the heart, desperate to find every healing herb in the world just to grant her a moment's peace. But Wang Yang, as if made of iron and stone, remained unmoved:

"Even if you're ill, I won't yield."

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi lowered her long eyes, her voice gloomy:

"I know... even if I die, it won't matter to you..."

Well, it's not entirely irrelevant—if you die, you can't threaten me anymore, and I can't retaliate to gain advantage...

Though Wang Yang thought this, he said:

"We're partners, how can you say it doesn't matter? Take your medicine first. Who knows? You might still be stubborn, and we'll be in a long standoff—plenty to discuss still..."

"A long standoff? Another new phrase... But don't worry, my lord, no long standoff is needed—I'm so gravely ill, how could I last?"

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi spoke as if utterly defeated, her voice weak and laced with bitter self-mockery, as if her illness were incurable, and death might come at any moment.

Wang Yang remained impassive:

"Cao Cao said: 'Heaven and earth endure long; human life is brief.' Longevity belongs to heaven and earth—mortals cannot speak of 'long' at all."

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi cursed Wang Yang inwardly, pressing her hand to her stomach, yet her face still wore an expression of pain and frailty:

"I cannot match your cunning—I yield. I accept your two conditions. But I hope you keep your word, and no longer harass me."

"Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi, you speak as if I demand more than a safe exit—how could I possibly harass you?"

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi's brow knotted tightly, her waist curling again like a wounded fawn, gasping:

"Please... my lord... tell me... the details of the barbarian route."

Wang Yang asked: "My two conditions..."

"I... have... agreed... my lord... rest assured..."

Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Lady Xie Lady Lady Xie Lady Xie Niangzi swayed precariously, as if suppressing surging pain—each word seemed to drain her willpower.

Wang Yang pretended not to notice:

"Agreement isn't made with empty words!"

Xiao Baoyue's eyes, like autumn water veiled in mist, grew hazy.

"As for my identity… it can't be rushed… as for writing… I'm temporarily unable to hold a brush…"

"No rush—rest first. We'll talk once you're well."

Xiao Baoyue's voice, pained, whispered: "No… it can't wait. Baron of Badong is about to ship out—I must make arrangements soon… I can't delay any longer."

Wang Yang said seriously: "Exactly. So you must recover quickly—no more delays."

"My old illness… once it flares up… takes ten days or more to heal. Young Master, first take the barbarian route…"

Xiao Baoyue's voice, thin as a thread, suddenly heard Wang Yang say:

"No problem—I've already written it for you. Just sign your name and seal it."

Then a document titled "Acting on the Orders of Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie" flew before Xiao Baoyue's eyes.

Xiao Baoyue flew into a rage, her seven orifices smoking! She dropped the act, sat up, snatched the paper, and tore it to shreds!

"Wang Yang! Do you take me for a three-year-old child to be manipulated at will?! Though I am ill, I am not yet at the mercy of others!!!"

Wang Yang smiled: "You're well then? We can continue our discussion."

"Dream on! I will never accept your two conditions—not even if I die!!"

Xiao Baoyue was furious and resolute!

"It's not a fatal illness—don't talk about dying. Fine, since you're ill, I'll yield a little: I'll drop the second condition. Just agree to the first."

"Even the first is impossible! Who can verify the identity of the Langya Wang clan?! Do you truly think I can alter the Wang family genealogy?!"

Wang Yang paused, then said reluctantly:

"Then I'll yield one more step: you don't need to verify my identity. Just add my name to the household registers in the left Household Office's A and B archives, matching my registration in Jingzhou. I've already retreated twice—this is my final condition. No further concessions. If you refuse, I walk out now—no more talks."

Xiao Baoyue's eyebrows lifted slightly:

"Walk? Do you think you can leave without my approval?"

Wang Yang laughed boldly, flicking open his folding fan—pear blossoms scattered like snow, frosty clouds fluttered away—and his voice rang clear, edged with coldness:

"Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie, Liu Yin's fate is a warning—do you wish to test it yourself?"