Chapter 338: Seduction

He had never told Xiao Bao Yue about Wang Tai threatening him. Xiao Bao Yue's judgment that he was a member of the Wang clan might also be related to his interactions with Wang Tai. Now, although Bao Yue was willing to help, Wang Yang still didn't intend to tell her about this.

Firstly, he had previously used the matter of Wu Qian to test Wang Tai, saying Wang Tai was "colluding with imperial princes," and Wang Tai had reacted violently. (See Chapter 166, "Countermeasure") If Bao Yue was backed by the Crown Prince, then who was behind Wang Tai? Therefore, whether he revealed Bao Yue to Wang Tai or Wang Tai to Bao Yue, it was highly unwise and could lead to being inexplicably drawn into the struggle between the imperial princes.

Secondly, he couldn't let others see clearly how many cards he held. As long as Bao Yue didn't know the situation between Wang Tai and him, Wang Tai could potentially be used as a bluff. Holding this old man as a card to keep Bao Yue in the dark was not necessarily a bad thing.

Wang Yang said without any guilt: "Given our friendship, he should help."

Bao Yue turned back to look at Wang Yang, her brows raised with a hint of playfulness:

"Are you bluffing?"

Wang Yang's heart skipped a beat, but he asked with a blank expression:

"What is bluffing?"

"Bluffing is feigning strength to confuse people's hearts. In military terms, it's beating drums and raising dust to show form and create doubt, but the battle formation is not yet solid, and the reality has not yet arrived. I am doing my best to help you, and you are bluffing me?"

Bao Yue's eyes narrowed, her gaze dangerous.

Wang Yang said without changing his expression:

"I am building momentum, not bluffing. Building momentum is borrowing strength to form a shape to seize the opportunity. In military terms, it's an ambush on all sides, responding from all directions, a great army surrounding, the hearts of the people pointing toward it, so without firing a single arrow, the enemy's heart is already conquered."

Bao Yue said coldly: "Is there any difference?"

Wang Yang looked into Bao Yue's eyes and said seriously:

"Bluffing is for you to see; building momentum is for others to see. Since you and I are on the same side, of course I don't need to bluff, only build momentum."

Bao Yue's face flushed, and she hurriedly avoided Wang Yang's gaze, saying in a low voice:

"Who is on the same side as you..."

Wang Yang breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he had passed the test, when Bao Yue suddenly looked at him again, her expression suspicious:

"So you seduced Xie Xinghan, also to build momentum?"

Wang Yang nearly spat out a mouthful of blood:

"Who seduced who??? Don't use words so carelessly!!!"

Bao Yue said anxiously: "The Xie family's affairs are not as simple as you think. Don't drag her into these things!!!"

Wang Yang was also anxious:

"I didn't drag her in!!!"

Bao Yue asked angrily: "Then why did she help you testify, saying she saw you in Yixing Commandery?!"

"This, this is just..."

"Don't use her!!!"

"I didn't use her!!!"

"Do you dare say you didn't want to borrow her influence? Not even a little bit?!"

"I—"

Wang Yang felt wronged. He had asked Xie Xinghan for help, but it was all small favors that didn't put her at risk; he absolutely had no intention of using her! However, when it came to borrowing influence, it seemed he couldn't honestly say he hadn't, because at the beginning, he had indeed thought that the interaction between the Wang and Xie families could make his identity more solid. And when he bluffed Jiao Zheng, he had also used Xie Xinghan's name on the side...

Wang Yang was thinking of the past, but Bao Yue was thinking of the future. She believed that Wang Yang approaching Xie Xinghan was with the intention of becoming the Xie family's son-in-law, borrowing the Xie family's influence to protect himself or even take revenge.

Bao Yue stared at Wang Yang, the urgency and annoyance in her eyes gradually replaced by a more complex, more chaotic emotion. She lowered her eyelashes, silent, not knowing what she was thinking, only a crimson flush quietly spreading across her face, her voice much lower and softer:

"If you must... borrow influence... then you might as well find me."

Wang Yang was not on the same frequency as Bao Yue regarding the topic of "borrowing influence" and was stunned when he heard her words.

Find you? How? Aren't you here hiding your identity?

Bao Yue's shyness faded, and she raised her eyes to meet Wang Yang's gaze. The previous crimson flush had not dissipated, making her skin look even whiter than snow, brighter than the morning clouds. Her eye corners lifted slightly, rippling with three parts charm; her lips lifted slightly, holding a strand of amorousness:

"Instead of seducing her, you might as well seduce me. My appearance is not inferior to Xinghan's, and the influence of my Xichang Marquis Mansion is not smaller than the Xie family's. If you can't bear to part with Xiao Ning, I have the heart to—"

Bao Yue's gaze was soft and charming, as if containing honey and a bit of cunning. That face that could topple kingdoms, combined with the soul-stealing charm, was just a sweet smile, and it was a flow of light and color, a moment of beauty—

She turned slightly, leaning closer to Wang Yang, her warm, soft breath brushing against his ear, whispering, bewitching:

"How about it? Consider it, my heart is not inferior to Xiao Ning's..."

Wang Yang felt as if he had been electrocuted, his body tensing up instantly!

This is a reincarnated fox spirit!!!

He had seen all kinds of storms and waves, but at this moment, he couldn't hold on. He immediately retreated a step:

"You, you don't talk nonsense! What seduction, what can't bear to part with, pfft, can't bear to part with Xiao Ning, you are purely using a villain's heart to measure my gentleman's belly!"

Bao Yue seemed to have discovered something interesting, her playfulness soaring, her eyes bright, continuing to press forward, smiling like a flower, teasing like a little devil:

"So Young Master Wang can't bear to part with me, that's simple, I'll give myself to you, and I have many beautiful maids, I'll send them all to accompany you, how about that?"

Wang Yang had been caught off guard before, but now he had regained his senses. He didn't retreat anymore, the corner of his mouth lifting to reveal a malicious smile, chanting leisurely:

"Once a flower is in hand, the courtyard naturally produces fragrance."

Bao Yue's smile froze on her face. The ease she had just now leaked away in an instant, the cunning in her eyes turning into a bit of panic, subconsciously shrinking back:

"You, what do you mean?"

The smile on Wang Yang's lips deepened, and he pressed forward, smiling:

"Since there is a famous flower in front, it should be plucked first. As for the remaining fragrance, wait for later appreciation."

Once Wang Yang put on the posture of a great demon king, Bao Yue, this little devil, could only retreat in defeat.

Although she felt Wang Yang was probably scaring her, she couldn't resist the fear in her heart, retreating repeatedly until the edge of the bed blocked her way, and she could only huddle at the edge of the bed. Wang Yang's figure loomed over her, deliberately making an evil laugh. Bao Yue's snow-white cheeks flew red, her breathing hurried, and she closed her eyes tightly, her eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings:

"Don't... don't do it here!"

Wang Yang:???

Bao Yue:???

Just as the two were stunned, a loud shout came from outside the house from the Sacred Guard: "The Divine Envoy is immortal!"

Wang Yang had previously arranged for the Sacred Guards to surround the wooden house in a circular formation. The guard circle was arranged to be quite large, which meant they stood slightly further away from the wooden house. (Chapter 329: "Stood in a tight circular formation, carving out a not-so-small restricted area outside the house." The circumference of a circle is proportional to its radius; the larger the restricted area, the further away people stand.)

All Sacred Guards were not allowed to approach the wooden house without reason. If there was something to report, for every ten steps they took, they had to shout "The Divine Envoy is immortal!" This was firstly to prevent spies planted by others among the Sacred Guards, and secondly to avoid their conversation being overheard. However, to avoid the situation of Jing Ke assassinating the King of Qin, where one could not approach without an edict, Wang Yang specifically stipulated that if a change occurred, there was no need to be constrained.

Hearing the report at this time, Wang Yang immediately got on the bed and pointed at the door. Bao Yue also quickly entered the state, walking quickly to the door and standing still. The Sacred Guard stood five steps outside the door, carefully lowering his volume, reporting respectfully:

"Sacred Guard Twenty-Three, I have something to report."

Bao Yue's eyes were clear and cold, her voice calm, answering with great style:

"Report."

Outside the door: "Patriarch Tian wants to seek an audience with the Divine Envoy."

Bao Yue was overjoyed! She hurriedly turned to look at Wang Yang.

Wang Yang was also beaming with joy, gesturing repeatedly, making a hand-waving gesture. Fearing Bao Yue wouldn't understand, he wanted to whisper instructions, but Bao Yue waved her hand and said directly to the door:

"The Divine Envoy is asleep; tell him to come tomorrow."

Wang Yang smiled and gave a thumbs up to Bao Yue's back.

Soon, the Sacred Guard returned as the two had expected, saying Patriarch Tian had an urgent matter and begged to see the Divine Envoy. Bao Yue pretended to "seek instructions," and Wang Yang pretended to "get out of bed," deliberately delaying for a while before letting Patriarch Tian in.

As soon as Patriarch Tian saw Wang Yang, he immediately knelt and bowed: "My God is above! I pay my respects to the Divine Envoy, may you be safe!"

Wang Yang didn't put on airs like he did during the day, nor did he act in a holy, god-like manner, but went to help him up personally, enthusiastically: "Patriarch Tian, please rise quickly!"

Patriarch Tian was stunned for a moment, then panicked and declined:

"I dare not, I dare not, the Divine Envoy is shaming little Tian!"

Wang Yang added a bit of strength to his hands, helping Patriarch Tian up without allowing refusal, his tone earnest:

"Patriarch Tian, there is no need to be so distant. Although I am a Divine Envoy, I am also a person of the dust. When there are many people, it is inevitable to put on airs to stabilize people's hearts and deter the wicked. In private, why be so constrained? Besides, I am only staying temporarily; when things are done, I will return to the Han lands. In the future, the affairs of the stronghold will still depend on the Patriarch's hard work."

Patriarch Tian knew that these words were to win people's hearts, but he still felt very comfortable hearing them!

Especially since Wang Yang pointed out that he would leave, and also said "still depend on the Patriarch's hard work," there was much to consider in between. It wasn't a question of whether to return power or not, but that power wasn't in Patriarch Tian's hands alone to begin with. But if Wang Yang added his blessing and delivery in the name of the Divine Envoy, then...

Then there was another round of apologies for waking Wang Yang, plus a few more refusals and tugs, before Wang Yang successfully "forced" Patriarch Tian to sit on his bed. Then Bao Yue witnessed the two of them becoming warm in the shortest possible time, chatting more and more happily, but they only talked about idle things, and neither talked about the main topic.

Bao Yue thought to herself that Patriarch Tian was one thing, but Wang Yang was a graceful young master (Eh? Seems something is strange), with unparalleled talent, yet he could chat with a barbarian patriarch and chat so beautifully; it was truly bizarre. No, this guy seems to be able to chat with anyone...

Seeing that Wang Yang was so composed, Patriarch Tian had to probe:

"Actually, I wanted to pay a visit to the Divine Envoy long ago, but there was a bit of chaos in the stronghold, and I really couldn't get away, so I came late."

Wang Yang followed Patriarch Tian and asked:

"What chaos?"

"Two assassins mixed into the stronghold, trying to assassinate the Divine Envoy. Fortunately, with divine protection, these two were captured and killed just as they touched the vicinity of the Divine Envoy's residence." ===== CHAPTER 339 =====