Chapter 42: Zhao Zhilan, with No Way to Retreat, Announces Seclusion (Seeking Monthly Votes)

The next day, just as the sky began to pale, Liu Yuheng knocked on Zhao Zhilan's door, "Lan'er, are you awake?"

"Mistress, what is it?" Zhao Zhilan opened the door, bleary-eyed and wearing only her underpants and a bellyband; as a martial artist, she never slept in, but this was far too early.

Liu Yuheng gave a gentle smile, "Let's go inside to talk."

"Please come in, Mistress." Zhao Zhilan turned sideways, closing the door only after she had entered, then walked to the table to pour a cup of cold tea for Liu Yuheng, "Please have some tea, Mistress."

Liu Yuheng did not touch the teacup.

Instead, she quietly looked Zhao Zhilan over.

Her hair was slightly disheveled from just waking up, her face, devoid of powder or paint, was flawless and fair, her pale green bellyband was stretched taut and bulging, and her form-fitting underpants clung to her waist, which lacked an ounce of fat, outlining the rounded contours of her small, perky buttocks.

Her entire being radiated the aura of youth.

"Mistress, why are you looking at me like that?" The scantily clad Zhao Zhilan felt a bit embarrassed and fidgeted.

Liu Yuheng chuckled, "I even saw you running around bare-bottomed when you were little; why be shy with me now?"

"Mistress, I've grown up now, haven't I?" Zhao Zhilan threw herself into Liu Yuheng's arms, wrapping her arms around her neck and acting like a spoiled child.

"Yes, you've grown up." Liu Yuheng reached out to hug her, patting her smooth jade-like back, which was accented by the straps of her bellyband, and sighed, "In the blink of an eye, you've become a young woman."

"Mistress, is there something you wanted to say?" Zhao Zhilan shifted into a position where she sat straddling Liu Yuheng, face-to-face.

Liu Yuheng spoke in a soft, gentle voice: "The Young Master has already promised not to harbor designs on you anymore. Stay away from him in the future. Your master and I are still here; it is not yet the turn of a little girl like you to worry about the development of the Iron Sword Sect."

The expression on Zhao Zhilan's face suddenly stiffened.

Liu Yuheng urged her earnestly: "I used to have prejudices against the Young Master, but after these few days of interaction, I've discovered that while he has a heart that appreciates beauty, he understands the way of restraint and can be called a gentleman. However, he is by no means a good match for you. You and Yebai are childhood sweethearts; you are a match made in heaven..."

"It's too late," Zhao Zhilan murmured to herself.

Liu Yuheng did not hear clearly, "What?"

"I said it's too late." Zhao Zhilan's small face turned pale as she forced a smile, "Mistress, over these past few days, I have been conquered by the Young Master's grace; in this life, I will marry no one but him."

Her body had already been seen by Pei Shaoqing, and the two had even engaged in illicit intimacy and shared a deep, secret bond.

Having reached this point, there was no turning back.

Even if outsiders were unaware of these matters, she knew herself to be impure and fundamentally unworthy of her Senior Brother; marrying Pei Shaoqing was the only path left to take.

It was for the good of the Iron Sword Sect, and it was for her own good as well.

"What? What did you say?" After hearing this, Liu Yuheng felt it was absurd, becoming both angry and anxious, "You've only been with him for a few days! What talk of love is this? Did you not take my words to heart, and instead act so self-righteously!"

"Mistress!" Zhao Zhilan interrupted her, her eyes reddening as she spoke with a sobbing tone: "It's true, Disciple is just fickle and inconstant. Although we haven't been together long, Young Master Pei's position in my heart has already surpassed that of Senior Brother. I beg you, Mistress, grant me your blessing."

Looking at her beloved disciple weeping bitterly, Liu Yuheng felt somewhat bewildered and unable to understand, "But why?"

"Young Master Pei comes from a prestigious family, his appearance and bearing are both excellent, and he holds great power. Disciple is also at the age where a young girl admires a man; staying in the manor and experiencing all the ways in which he far surpasses Senior Brother, how could I not be moved?"

Zhao Zhilan racked her brains to invent a reason for her change of heart, saying it so convincingly that she almost believed it herself.

Liu Yuheng was stunned, only realizing belatedly that she had underestimated the attraction a young nobleman held for a girl from a humble background. Although Jiang Yebai was outstanding, when compared to Pei Shaoqing, he seemed to be nothing at all.

She felt immense self-reproach in her heart, and with a helpless, bitter smile, she sighed, "I shouldn't have let you stay in the first place."

"Mistress! Sob, sob, sob, I am a bad woman who is unfaithful in love. I have failed Senior Brother, I have failed him!" Zhao Zhilan hugged her and wailed.

"You and Yebai weren't betrothed anyway." Liu Yuheng sighed repeatedly, comforting her as she said, "Although I have always treated you and Yebai as my own children, one cannot force a match in matters of love and affection. Just follow your heart."

It was just a pity for her eldest disciple; she did not know how much pain he would suffer when he eventually learned of this.

She secretly decided to write a letter to inform her Senior Brother.

She would let him see if there were any suitable young women to match with Yebai, preferably someone who could also have a change of heart.

So as to avoid him being heartbroken in the future.

At breakfast, Liu Yuheng felt strange whenever she faced Pei Shaoqing; just last night she had begged him to let her disciple go, never expecting that it was the disciple who refused to let him go.

Now, looking at him again.

She already had the feeling of a mother-in-law looking at a son-in-law.

"Madam, is there something dirty on my face?" Pei Shaoqing asked with a smile, seeing her staring at him.

"No, nothing." Liu Yuheng shook her head and hurriedly lowered her head to eat, but she failed to notice that under the long tablecloth, Pei Shaoqing's hand was caressing Zhao Zhilan's leg.

Zhao Zhilan was incredibly shy, but she was also terrified of revealing any strange emotions and being discovered, so she silently lowered her head to pick at her food, though the hand holding her chopsticks trembled slightly.

Being secretly molested by Pei Shaoqing in front of Mistress and Xie Qingwu, she felt a sense of shame, yet deep down there was also an indescribable thrill, which only made her feel even more ashamed and resentful.

Liu Yuheng and Xie Qingwu finished eating first and left.

Pei Shaoqing finally put down his bowl and chopsticks as well.

As Zhao Zhilan breathed a sigh of relief, she also felt a sense of emptiness, inwardly cursing herself for being truly base.

Just then, Pei Shaoqing leaned into her ear and said faintly, "Don't wear long trousers under your skirt anymore; it's uncomfortable for this Young Master to touch."

Zhao Zhilan's entire body stiffened, and it was a long while before she bit her red lips and replied in a voice as soft as a mosquito's, "Yes."

"Young Master, Wang Xianling requests an audience." Just then, a servant walked in and said respectfully.

"Invite him to the side garden." Pei Shaoqing gave a casual order, patted Zhao Zhilan on the shoulder, and left.

…………………………

"It seems Wang Xianling didn't sleep well last night."

As soon as Pei Shaoqing entered the side garden, he saw Wang Xianling pacing back and forth in the pavilion with his hands behind his back, looking agitated.

"I didn't sleep at all; I spent the whole night writing a letter to the main headquarters." Wang Xianling sighed, his complexion looking somewhat sickly pale as his injuries had yet to heal.

"What a coincidence, this official also sent a letter to the Thousand-Household Office yesterday." Pei Shaoqing smiled slightly, walked over, and sat down in a leisurely manner, "Speak, what is the reason for seeking me out so early in the morning? Surely you aren't here to ask me for the Soul-Returning Pill?"

"I don't think I have the ability to make you spit out the fat meat you've already got in your mouth." Wang Xianling shook his head, then changed the subject, "Besides, you saved my life."

Speaking of this matter, his feelings were also complex.

His own Holy Son wanted to kill him.

Yet it was the imperial court's lackey who saved him.

"Then what did you come here for?" Pei Shaoqing picked up the tea on the table and poured a cup in a slow, measured manner.

"The first is to thank you, and the second is to warn you that the spirit pill cannot be taken recklessly; you must go into seclusion for at least ten days to digest it after taking it." Wang Xianling also walked over and sat down.

"I know this." Pei Shaoqing nodded dismissively and said with a smile, "I suspect there is a third."

"The third is that I am very curious how you knew; don't tell me that you bringing so many people prepared was just a coincidence?" Wang Xianling said in a deep voice.

This was the one point that puzzled him the most.

Pei Shaoqing laughed, put down his teacup, and spread his hands, "If I said I calculated it with my fingers, would you believe me?"

"Hmph! Forget it if you won't say." Wang Xianling naturally did not believe him and slowly exhaled, "I have already reported yesterday's events truthfully. Young Master Pei, you used the name of the Kaiyang Holy Son to become famous throughout the world, which has also forged a deadly feud with our Holy Sect. The Holy Sect will not let this rest; be careful from now on."

"But I eliminated a piece of scum for your Xuanhuang Sect!" Pei Shaoqing cried out in grievance, then suddenly realized, "I understand, family scandals should not be made public, right?"

Regarding this, Wang Xianling felt he had lost face.

Yet he could only sigh helplessly.

"Farewell."

After Wang Xianling left, Pei Shaoqing announced his seclusion, had Ye Hanshuang guard the door day and night, and left the Hundred-Household Office in the charge of Chen Zhongyi and Song Youcai.

Once he refined and absorbed the power of the spirit pill, his cultivation would be "washed clean," and he could claim it was the effect of the spirit pill to others, allowing him to use his martial arts openly.

From now on, he would no longer need to worry about being suspected because of it.

Of course, he would use it as little as possible; if no one knew he could use martial arts, it would be equivalent to a trump card.

(End of this chapter)