Chapter 30: I Took Bribes for Your Sake! Rebellious Phase (Seeking Monthly Votes)

The wealthy gentry who were not worthy of having names left.

They left as gently as they had come, waving their sleeves and leaving behind only chests of silver.

Liu Yuheng watched from the sidelines the entire time; though she despised the gentry for offering bribes and Pei Shaoqing for soliciting them, she could not help but feel her heart flutter at the sight of those chests of shining silver.

The Iron Sword Sect operated many industries, and what remained after expenses at the end of the year was no more than this, yet this was merely a greeting gift from the city's gentry to Pei Shaoqing.

Furthermore, he would have long-term dividends every month from now on.

"Madam, Madam? Madam Gongsun!"

"I am here, what are the Young Master's instructions?" Liu Yuheng finally snapped out of her daze, withdrew her gaze, and looked at him to ask.

Pei Shaoqing waved his hand, "Have people move these away and store them; I am most annoyed by these things reeking of copper—so vulgar!"

Liu Yuheng felt that he was really putting on an act.

If you are annoyed, why accept them?

If they are vulgar, why did you just haggle to get more?

"Does Madam feel that my words are insincere?" Pei Shaoqing took in her expression and asked with a slight smile.

Liu Yuheng hurriedly lowered her head, "This concubine would not dare."

"I am not short of money, but that does not mean Sect Leader Gongsun is not," Pei Shaoqing said nonchalantly.

Liu Yuheng looked up in astonishment, staring at him in surprise.

"With the foundation of the Weiyuan Marquis Mansion, I am not short of the pittance it costs for this Young Master to seek pleasure, eat, drink, gamble, and visit brothels all day, but to do something as costly as supporting the Iron Sword Sect, I have to find ways to get money myself," Pei Shaoqing shook his head with a helpless expression.

I am embezzling and taking bribes all to help the Iron Sword Sect!

Is... is that so? So that was it.

Liu Yuheng was suddenly enlightened and felt ashamed for her dark thoughts and disdain just a moment ago.

She bit her red lip lightly and bowed slightly, "This concubine thanks the Young Master on behalf of my senior brother and the disciples of the Iron Sword Sect."

Although this money was obtained through graft, it was taken to help her Iron Sword Sect; anyone else had the right to despise Pei Shaoqing, but she, the Sect Leader's wife, did not, and on the contrary, she had to feel grateful for it.

As she bowed, her full bosom visibly sagged, and it bounced back when she stood up.

"Madam is too polite; hurry and have people put the silver away." Pei Shaoqing waved his hand and walked outside.

Liu Yuheng replied, "Yes, Young Master."

"Senior Martial Aunt." Before long, Zhao Zhilan came looking for her; seeing Liu Yuheng directing the servants to move the chests outside, she asked curiously, "What is packed inside these?"

"Silver." Liu Yuheng's expression was complex.

"Silver?" Zhao Zhilan was startled, "Whose?"

"Whose else could it be." Liu Yuheng sighed gloomily, "It is a tribute from the local gentry to Young Master Pei."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Zhilan's expression also became complex.

If the Iron Sword Sect could easily obtain so much wealth, Master would not have to work so hard, right?

She must complete Master's instructions as soon as possible.

She bit her lip and secretly made up her mind.

Early the next morning, when Pei Shaoqing woke up, neither Xie Qingwu nor Li Jiangjun were there, so he called for someone to serve him while he washed.

But the person who brought the basin in was not a maid.

It was Zhao Zhilan.

"Why is it you?" Pei Shaoqing asked, taken aback.

Zhao Zhilan, who had specially dressed up, looked exceptionally bright today; she pursed her red lips and said softly, "The Young Master's kindness to our Iron Sword Sect is as deep as the sea. Since my Senior Martial Aunt can manage the household for the Young Master, Lan'er also wishes to do her humble part to repay the Young Master. From now on, please allow me to serve you."

"Why is Miss Zhao's attitude toward me so different from before?" Pei Shaoqing stepped back unobtrusively.

"Before, I was ignorant; I hope the Young Master will not blame me." Zhao Zhilan suppressed her inner disgust and shame, feigning a docile appearance, and said coquettishly, "Before Master returned to the mountain, he spoke heart-to-heart with me; I now deeply understand the significance of the Young Master to the Iron Sword Sect."

As a fellow hypocrite, Pei Shaoqing instantly analyzed the reason for her rapid change in attitude from this sentence: she had been morally kidnapped and brainwashed by Gongsun Yi.

Offering herself up for the sake of the Iron Sword Sect.

Interesting.

"Then I will trouble Miss Zhao." Pei Shaoqing spread his hands where he stood, waiting for her to serve him with his washing and dressing.

Zhao Zhilan placed the basin aside, rinsed the cloth, and stepped forward to wipe his face; she was full of grievances during this process, for after all, when had she ever served anyone else?

And to serve such a corrupt official and lecherous thief at that.

Smelling the refreshing fragrance, Pei Shaoqing could see her cute face and the grievances and unwillingness in her eyes, as well as her budding breasts, the moment he lowered his head.

She was wearing a purple dress today, tight-fitting, especially at the waist which was cinched so thin it looked like it could be gripped with two hands, which, along with her not-so-plump but round and perky buttocks, gave one a strong visual impact.

Pei Shaoqing wrapped his arms around the slender waist before him.

Zhao Zhilan's delicate body shuddered; she subconsciously wanted to break free and slap him, but she forcibly held back, continuing to wipe Pei Shaoqing's face as if nothing had happened, until she felt that large hand slide onto her round buttocks, at which point she stopped him with a trembling voice, "Young Master, please have some self-respect and take your hand away."

"Have you ever washed your senior brother's face?" Pei Shaoqing did not stop, but asked with great interest.

Zhao Zhilan's face was already as red as a sunset glow; thinking of her senior brother made her inner torment even worse, and she shook her head with a bitter face, answering, "Never."

"Then I am happier than him." Pei Shaoqing said.

Tears flickered in Zhao Zhilan's eyes; feeling his hand lifting her skirt and reaching inside, she finally could not help but break free, straightened her dress, took a deep breath, and said, "Young Master, you have crossed the line. I actually do not loathe you, and I know you have designs on me, but if you want to win my heart, you should not be so frivolous."

"What use is your heart to me? This Young Master is not a dealer in human organs; I only want your body." Pei Shaoqing pinched her chin and said.

So naive, yet you want to play me? Keep dreaming.

He only wanted to get inside.

Zhao Zhilan stared at him stubbornly, gritting her teeth as she asked, "But Young Master, you know clearly that I have someone else in my heart; would you not mind when being intimate with me?"

"You don't understand me." Pei Shaoqing shook his head and revealed a brilliant smile, "I will only be more excited."

"You... shameless." Zhao Zhilan was so angry that she could not suppress her true thoughts and blurted it out.

Pei Shaoqing looked innocent, spread his hands, and asked in confusion, "Where is it shameless? I don't even care that you have another man in your heart, as long as your body contains me. Shouldn't a person as magnanimous as me deserve to be called a gentleman? Yet you call me shameless!"

"Lan'er spoke out of turn; I beg Young Master to forgive my offense." Zhao Zhilan struggled to calm the emotions in her heart, bowing her head to apologize.

For the sake of the sect, everything was for the sake of the sect.

"I am very fired up right now!" Pei Shaoqing pressed down on her head, forcing her to squat, and said from his high vantage point: "An apology isn't just something you say with your mouth."

Squatting, Zhao Zhilan tilted her head up, her wide, watery almond eyes looking at Pei Shaoqing in bewilderment and helplessness.

She did not understand what he meant by this.

Pei Shaoqing sighed; the popularization of sex education in this world was too poor. As a transmigrator, he had the duty and the consciousness to shoulder the responsibility of imparting knowledge and fluids.

"Lan'er!" Hearing that Zhao Zhilan had come of her own accord to serve Pei Shaoqing with his washing, Liu Yuheng had come looking for her. Seeing this scene, her face turned pale with shock, and she hurriedly stepped into the room and bowed, "Has Lan'er served you poorly? I beg Young Master to show mercy and forgive her; this concubine is willing to take her punishment."

Looking at the plump and fair Liu Yuheng, Pei Shaoqing released Zhao Zhilan and said with a smile: "Madam Gongsun, please rise quickly. Miss Zhao has served me very well, and I find her quite handy; she shall stay by my side from now on."

"This is afraid..." Liu Yuheng hurriedly tried to refuse.

Zhao Zhilan, however, spoke first, "Yes."

Liu Yuheng looked at her beloved disciple in astonishment and confusion.

Zhao Zhilan kept her head low, not daring to look at her mistress.

It was not until they left Pei Shaoqing's courtyard that Liu Yuheng asked: "Lan'er, why did you just now..."

"Mistress, after these few days, I feel that Young Master Pei is quite good." Zhao Zhilan interrupted her.

"Do you know what you are saying?" Liu Yuheng's face was full of disbelief; no one knew a girl better than her mother. She then suddenly realized and said: "Do you think you are helping your master? Helping our Iron Sword Sect?"

Zhao Zhilan kept her head low, tightly pursing her red lips in silence.

"Foolish! How is it your place as a child to worry about these things? How heartbroken would your master be if he knew?" Liu Yuheng was so angry that she trembled.

It is precisely because I do not want Master to be heartbroken that I am doing this.

"I am not a child anymore! Daughters of ordinary families my age are already married." Zhao Zhilan raised her head and said: "Mistress, I know what I am doing."

As soon as she finished speaking, she turned and ran off without looking back.

"Lan'er! Lan'er!" Liu Yuheng called out repeatedly from behind, sighing helplessly, "This child."

No, she could not watch her beloved disciple go down the wrong path.

If she did not take good care of Lan'er, how could she face her senior brother?

……………………………

At the same time, Sun Youliang had changed horses all the way, galloping for three days and two nights, finally arriving at the prefecture capital a thousand miles away.

He rode his horse into the city, charging through recklessly.

"Urgent report from the Jing'an Guard, move aside! Move aside!"

Seeking monthly votes, seeking follow-up reads; don't let the new book sit in your library, I will definitely post ten thousand words a day once it goes live!

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(End of this chapter)