Chapter 1713

"How was I to know that Young Master rewards his slave like this? I've never learned how to handle this either."

Lin Xian'er felt angry inside as she said this.

In order to conquer the men she set her sights on, she had learned a whole arsenal of "dragon-slaying techniques."

Although she had yet to put them into practice, she could still be called a master of theory.

As it turned out, Gu Hanyuan simply didn't play by the rules.

It forced her to helplessly swallow the bitter fruit of this unexpected turn of events.

Gu Hanyuan teased her:

"Does Xian'er not like it?"

This question actually stumped Lin Xian'er.

Although she felt ashamed and annoyed at her own lowly state, she had also tasted the pleasures of a woman.

At the very least, she was no longer just a maid being used.

Moreover, she felt an instinctive sense of growing closer to Gu Hanyuan.

The heat spreading in her belly gave her a sense of pleasure that felt as if her very heart was being scorched.

This made her look forward even more to the moment she would receive the complete reward.

Lin Xian'er said, shy and timid:

"It's not that I don't like it, it's just that I hope even more to give my whole body to Young Master."

Gu Hanyuan chuckled:

"Then Xian'er must work hard to handle the matters I've entrusted to you."

Lin Xian'er's breath hitched.

How could she possibly get anything done in her current physical state?

But she still gave her assurance:

"Young Master, rest assured, Long Xiaoyun's death is not far off."

She paused, then asked with confusion:

"Does Li Xunhuan really not need to die as well? As long as the planning is sound, Li Xunhuan will surely die."

"No need. Just leave Li Xunhuan to the people of the imperial court; he still has his uses for me."

Gu Hanyuan said softly.

He did not agree with Lin Shiyin's assertion that "Li Xunhuan will surely die."

A protagonist is not so easily killed off.

Methods that are too simple and crude will only invite accidents.

It is more in line with his interests—and more practical—to treat him like a leek, harvesting him slowly and plotting his death gradually.

Lin Xian'er did not understand Gu Hanyuan's deeper schemes.

But she had already been trained to be much more sensible.

Gu Hanyuan would naturally tell her the things she ought to know.

As for the things she shouldn't know, she shouldn't harbor too much curiosity.

As long as she did the tasks entrusted to her well, she could secure a place in Gu Hanyuan's heart.

Seeing that Gu Hanyuan seemed prepared to dress and leave,

she instinctively wanted to get up to serve him, but felt a pain behind her and had to give up helplessly.

She said, looking pitiful:

"I am inconvenienced and cannot serve Young Master."

Gu Hanyuan chuckled and said:

"No need to force yourself, just rest well."

Lin Xian'er's beautiful eyes suddenly turned, and she called out loudly with a coquettish laugh:

"Lingling, come in."

Gu Hanyuan looked on in surprise as a young girl in red walked in, her pretty face flushed bright red.

Although the girl had not yet fully blossomed and her feminine charm was slightly lacking compared to Lin Xian'er, one could already see the makings of a beauty.

The girl's eyes, clear as autumn water, were shy and timid, her waist slender enough to be held in one hand, looking utterly charming.

She came gracefully before the two, lowered her head, and said softly:

"Miss."

Gu Hanyuan felt somewhat surprised.

Ever since Lin Xian'er had been conquered by him,

in order to facilitate serving him and to avoid leaks, the maids who originally served in the Cold Fragrance Cottage had been dismissed.

Only the girl before him had been left to keep watch in the outer room on a daily basis.

Gu Hanyuan naturally could not have failed to notice the girl's existence, but he had merely guessed she was Lin Xian'er's trusted maid.

Plus, having a beauty like Lin Xian'er serving him wholeheartedly by his side, he hadn't paid the girl much attention.

He was surprised now to find the girl much more delicate and beautiful than he had expected.

Lin Xian'er introduced her to Gu Hanyuan with a coquettish laugh:

"Young Master, this is my personal maid, Lin Lingling."

She turned and instructed Lin Lingling:

"Lingling, I've taught you how to serve Young Master, haven't I?"

As the mistress, how could Lin Xianer not know of her personal maid's beauty?

Not to say she was a top-tier beauty, but she was pretty and charming, and had a promising future.

Previously, Lin Xian'er had been busy currying favor with Gu Hanyuan, and felt insecure due to her situation, which was like that of a maid.

Being beaten to the punch by Sun Xiaohong and Lin Shiyin had already left her very unwilling.

If she were to be beaten to the punch by her own maid, she would surely explode.

Therefore, she had deliberately kept Lin Lingling from having contact with Gu Hanyuan.

Now that she and Gu Hanyuan had barely made progress, there was no need to be so strictly defensive.

Seeing Gu Hanyuan about to dress and leave without even cleaning up,

Lin Xian'er, who had been trained very thoroughly, couldn't help but feel a sense of dereliction of duty.

And since she was unable to move at the moment, she naturally needed someone to help.

Thus, she called Lin Lingling in.

As for how to serve him, just as Lin Xian'er said, she had already taught her.

It could be considered her taking precautions.

Lin Lingling quietly raised her eyes to look at Gu Hanyuan's handsome face, and her heart immediately began to pound.

She said timidly:

"This servant knows."

With that, she walked gracefully before Gu Hanyuan.

As Lin Xian'er's personal maid, Lin Lingling knew more or less about Lin Xian'er's affairs.

Coupled with Lin Xian'er's prior instruction,

she had long been mentally prepared to serve Gu Hanyuan.

Although due to Lin Xian'er's deliberate arrangements, she had never been able to see Gu Hanyuan's true face,

she had heard that Gu Hanyuan was young and handsome, a rarity in the world.

Seeing him now, he was even more heart-stirring than the rumors suggested.

The little resistance she had felt immediately vanished into thin air.

The slightly bitter taste made her knit her delicate brows.

But she quickly adapted and began to clean and serve Gu Hanyuan wholeheartedly.

Gu Hanyuan was somewhat surprised that Lin Xian'er had trained Lin Lingling so well.

He stroked the hair on her head to show encouragement and asked:

"The name Lingling is pleasant to the ear, and the person is pretty and charming."

Encouraged, Lin Lingling worked even harder, and with a smile like a flower, she giggled:

"This servant is like a handbell; when others shake me, I go 'ling-ling-ling,' and when others don't shake me, I cannot make a sound."