Chapter 40: with translation of title

You... you will pay the price for tonight's arrogance!

Zhao Lingyi saw Chen Yan not only beat him, but also dare to humiliate his father; instantly his anger flared, veins bulging.

He made a move to get up and attack Chen Yan.

"The loser's roar is as pleasing as a stray dog's howl by the roadside!"

Chen Yan's movements were faster; he stepped on Zhao Lingyi's head with one foot, rendering him immobile, and mocked.

"Cao Kun, I will absolutely not let you off!"

The struggling Zhao Lingyi, unable to do anything, could only threaten in helpless fury.

"Noisy!"

Chen Yan slowly spat out two words, then kicked Zhao Lingyi unconscious, turned to look at Zhu Yi, and ordered: "Throw them out together, don't dirty the place of Luanchao Xiaozhu...."

Saying that, he slightly bowed, pulled from Zhao Lingyi's pocket the silver note he carried.

"Yes."

Zhu Yi nodded, dragging the master and his three servants out.

Chen Yan raised the silver note in his hand, waved it lightly toward the upper floor where his flower courtesan had been watching, and smiled: "Miss Jiang Li, all tonight's losses have been settled by that Zhao!"

It's not easy for seafood merchants to make money either; Chen Yan has always been kind-hearted—how could he let them suffer a loss for nothing?

"Everything will be arranged as Young Master Cao says!"

Jiang Li smiled faintly, threw a flirtatious glance, and softly said: "Please, Gongzi, come upstairs for a chat!"

"Then I'd rather obey than be respectful!"

Chen Yan smiled lightly, turned his head to look at Li Tan who was watching the show, and instructed: "I leave my younger brother to you...."

"Don't worry, have fun!"

Li Tan was gnawing on a pear, smiling knowingly.

He paused, then continued: "Ah Jin, let's go, let's find another courtyard to relax!"

Having said that, he slung an arm around Yuwen Ze's shoulder and pulled him outward.

On the upper floor.

Inside the boudoir.

"I didn't expect you, Young Master Cao, to look so refined and cultured...."

Jiang Li moved her lotus steps lightly, sat directly on Chen Yan's lap, arms hooked around his neck, and said meaningfully: "But when you strike, you are so sharp, utterly unlike a scholar!"

At first, Jiang Li thought this man, dressed as a literati, handsome-faced, capable of writing lines like "clouds think of robes, flowers think of beauty," would be a well-read, frail scholar.

But everything that had happened before told her she was not only wrong, but wildly wrong!

Not only was he not weak, his martial prowess was extremely high.

Especially at such close contact, Jiang Li clearly felt the distinct muscle lines beneath the scholar's robe.

"Not like a scholar—then what is he like?"

Chen Yan lightly sniffed, raised his hand to pinch Jiang Li's chin, and teased: "Like your beloved, Miss Jiang Li?"

At this moment, Chen Yan finally understood why Miss Jiang Li was the top flower courtesan of Chunman Lou, drawing countless men like moths to a flame....

Her face was like finely carved mutton-fat jade, delicate and smooth, radiating a warm luster.

Beneath her curved willow brows, her eyes were like limpid autumn waters, glancing back and forth as if thousands of feelings flowed.

When she held a faint smile, the slight upward tilt of her eye corners was captivating.

Her jade nose was elegant and straight, like the beautiful curve of a mountain ridge, perfectly set in the center of her face.

Her lips were like cherries, naturally red; when they opened and closed slightly, they could utter a melodious sound like an oriole emerging from a valley.

Every frown and smile was full of myriad charms.

"Haha!"

Jiang Li pursed her red lips and lightly laughed, "Young Master Cao, you are truly an interesting and wonderful person!"

"So talented in literature, and yet so eloquent...."

The man before her was worlds apart from the stereotypical scholar.

Even though she was well-traveled and knowledgeable, she too felt a stir of spring in her heart....

"There's no way around it—I rely on this mouth to make a living...."

Chen Yan leaned close to Jiang Li's ear, exhaled warm breath, and said meaningfully: "Later, Miss Jiang Li, would you like to properly experience it?"

"Hmm?"

Jiang Li first froze, then suddenly realized what this man truly wanted her to experience, and coquettishly said: "Annoying!"

"I certainly don't want it!"

Saying that, she pushed Chen Yan away with a bashful face.

She certainly didn't want this man to be her "licking dog."

"Whether you want it or not is not up to you...."

Chen Yan hooked one arm around Jiang Li's legs, supported her waist with the other, lifted her horizontally, and placed her on the bed.

Jiang Li's breathing grew a bit rapid, she wrapped her arms around the man's neck, and asked: "Young Master Cao, you dealt such a heavy blow to Master Zhao—aren't you afraid his family will come seeking revenge?"

"I just heard his father seems to be the newly appointed Military Minister of War, a high-ranking and powerful position...."

"Making a living in Chang'an, Jiang Li naturally knows the authority of the Military Minister of War."

"His main duties involve military affairs, with considerable authority—he participates in army management, training, deployment, and decisions concerning soldiers."

"Miss Jiang Li, are you worried about me?" Chen Yan smiled lightly and turned the question back.

"That's only natural...."

Jiang Li nodded, speaking sincerely: "These matters ultimately arose because of me; if anything happens to you, Young Master Cao, I will feel uneasy!"

Speaking, she lightly placed her delicate hand on her chest.

Though she is a woman of the red‑light district, she is also a person of loyalty and righteousness.

With Cao Kun's talent, he is destined to leave his name in history; if he were to fall due to offending the powerful, that would truly be a pity....

"How uneasy are you?"

"Let me touch...."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yan licked his lips and straightaway reached out.

"You're wicked!"

Jiang Li seized the man's salty pig hand, placed it where it belonged, and coquettishly said, "I'm speaking seriously with you!"

Chen Yan raised an eyebrow, curled the corner of his mouth into an arc, and retorted: "A moment of spring night is worth a thousand gold; could there be anything more proper than this?"

"You really aren't afraid?" Jiang Li looked at the eager man, blinking her lovely eyes.

"To die beneath peonies, even as a ghost, is still flamboyant!" Chen Yan didn't mind, saying firmly.

Cao Kun is probably an alias; he's too confident! What exactly is this man's identity?..... Jiang Li came to a conclusion in her heart and responded with an "uh!"

Although talented men are often flirtatious, a man with such poetic talent has an extremely slim chance of being lust‑driven.

That can only mean he has concealed his identity and possesses a force behind him that fears not even the Zhao family.

Especially his three companions; two of them, in every gesture, exude nobility....

Chen Yan didn't want to dwell on trivial matters; his Adam's apple moved slightly as he gave a wicked smile: "I've long awaited this; I wonder if Miss Jiang Li has been yearning like a river?"

"If you hold me and go bathe and change clothes, wouldn't you know?"

Jiang Li's eyes were silkily seductive as she sweetly called out: "Cao Lang!"

Chen Yan directly embraced the beautiful woman in his arms and strode swiftly toward the inner chambers.

Mandarin duck bath, nice!

This is still the first time I've come to this world....

After an hour.

"Cao Lang, I can't...."

"Please let me go!"

Jiang Li's pretty face flushed, her delicate mouth panted heavily, fine sweat beaded on her skin, and she spoke pitifully.

This man has too many tricks.

More than the sum of all she has ever encountered....

The key is that he also lasts long!

He's practically a monster.

"Is that all you're begging for?"

Chen Yan raised his hand, gently brushed aside Jiang Li's hanging black hair, and smiled: "I thought our battle‑hardened flower courtesan would keep a stiff upper lip to the end."

Chen Yan remembered that before the battle, this woman was not like this.

That was sheer arrogance.

She even threatened harshly, saying tonight she would make him leave leaning on the wall....

"A man who shows no pity for fragrance and jade!"

"Hmph!"

Jiang Li, feeling wronged, bit her red lips, let out a soft hum, and spoke petulantly.

"Is that so?"

"Then let's do it again!"

"Cao here specializes in curing all disobedience!"

Chen Yan showed no indulgence, sprang up, and was again gathering strength for the next move.

"I was wrong!"

"Cao Lang is the best!"

Seeing this, Jiang Li's eyes flickered with panic; she took Chen Yan's hand and coquettishly said: "Let me rest properly for a moment...."

"Now that's obedient!" Chen Yan laughed, satisfiedly pinching Jiang Li's chin.

Just as he was about to kiss her, outside the door—more precisely, downstairs—a commotion sounded.

It shattered the moment's romantic atmosphere.

"What's that sound outside?" Jiang Li wondered.

"The young lady is in trouble!"

Maid Doukou knocked on the door, shouting anxiously.

"Doukou, what's happened?" Jiang Li felt an ominous premonition and asked.

"The Zhao Gongzi that Young Master Cao knocked out—his father has brought people to surround our Chunman Lou!"