Chapter 68: The Saint Envoy Arrives, the Capital is About to be Shaken (Seeking Monthly Votes)

It is another day of rest.

At breakfast time, Pei Shaoqing stroked Zhao Zhilan's leg while eating; it had become a habit, and now, without beautiful legs as an appetizer, he could not even finish his meal.

This kind of good lifestyle habit is very important.

After eating his fill, he went to feed the Saintess Yaoguang.

"I need to relieve myself!"

Saintess Yaoguang said this the moment she saw him.

Her small face was already flushed red.

Pei Shaoqing first set the breakfast aside, then stepped forward to untie the ropes on Saintess Yaoguang's body.

Her Highness the Saintess was eager to use the latrine, but upon discovering Pei Shaoqing was still there, she hurriedly said, "You go out first!"

"You can continue holding it." This time, Pei Shaoqing did not leave her a private space to use the latrine; instead, he sat down on a chair with a calm expression.

Although Saintess Yaoguang had already lost all face and suffered every humiliation before Pei Shaoqing, and her sense of shame was constantly diminishing, she still could not help but burn with rage at this moment.

Her face was crimson, the intense urge to urinate already making her body tremble slightly, and she said with a look of pleading in her beautiful eyes, "Young Master, I beg you, please just go out first."

Pei Shaoqing's lips curled into a smile, unmoved.

Saintess Yaoguang truly had no other choice; she closed her eyes, filled with humiliation. As the sound of water began, clear tears slid from the corners of her eyes, and her bitten lips appeared even more vivid red.

"I will definitely kill you!" A moment later, she pulled up her underpants and stared at Pei Shaoqing with red-rimmed eyes.

This bastard had seen every one of her most wretched sides; if she were to live, he had to die.

Pei Shaoqing acted as if he did not see the hatred in her eyes and said calmly, "Eat. After you finish, I will have someone prepare hot water for you to bathe and change your clothes; one can even smell a sour stench on you."

Hearing this, Saintess Yaoguang felt unbearable shame, anger, and grievance, and bean-sized tears rolled down.

Yet, despite this, she still had to eat.

While glaring at Pei Shaoqing, she cried and chewed large mouthfuls, fantasizing that she was eating that bastard's flesh and blood.

"It's a bit salty," she said with disdain as she ate.

"That is because your tears fell into the rice."

Upon hearing this, Saintess Yaoguang suddenly no longer felt it was salty.

Now, she felt it was bitter.

She now regretted immensely that she hadn't contacted the branch first after arriving in Tongzhou, but had gone directly to find Pei Shaoqing instead.

Now, perhaps no one even knew she had been captured.

Naturally, it was impossible for anyone to come and save her.

But she was overthinking that point.

The Xuanhuang Sect had already discovered she was missing.

Because her nature was aloof, she had no friends in the pugilistic world, had always rarely ventured out, and handled all matters with swift resolution, never lingering outside.

Yet this time, she had set out many days ago, but no news had been sent back. Such an anomaly forced the Xuanhuang Sect headquarters to become suspicious, so they sent someone to Tongzhou to search.

And this person had just arrived today.

"The Helmsman of the Saint Sect's Tongzhou Branch pays respects to the Saint Envoy."

After receiving the message from his subordinate, Wang Xianling immediately changed into casual clothes and came to Juyuan Inn to meet the envoy.

The envoy sent by the Xuanhuang Sect was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his thirties, slightly plump, resembling a merchant. "Helmsman Wang, no need for such formalities. Please, rise."

"Thank you, Saint Envoy." Wang Xianling stood straight and then asked, "I wonder what instructions the Saint Envoy brings with your arrival?"

"The Saint Palace has issued no decree." The Saint Envoy shook his head, meeting Wang Xianling's puzzled gaze, and explained in a deep voice, "I am under orders to search for Saintess Yaoguang."

"Search for Her Highness the Saintess?" Wang Xianling was startled.

The Saint Envoy asked, "Has she appeared in Tongzhou?"

"No." Wang Xianling shook his head, a bad premonition in his heart, and said, "Ever since I learned Her Highness the Saintess was coming, I have been waiting to obey her commands, but I have yet to receive a summons from Her Highness."

"It is highly likely something has happened." The Saint Envoy's expression grew grave, and he pursed his lips, saying, "The Saint Palace cannot contact her either. I came along the way, asking every main and branch helm, and Her Highness's last appearance was in Bazhou City; she lost all traces after entering Tongzhou."

"The Saintess is missing?" Wang Xianling was shocked and anxious upon hearing this. "How could this be? If Her Highness the Saintess had come to Tongzhou, there is no reason I would not know."

"First, mobilize all your forces in Tongzhou to search," the Saint Envoy sighed with melancholy.

What kind of dragon's den and tiger's lair is this Tongzhou!

Saint Son Kaiyang fell here.

Saintess Yaoguang went missing here.

…………………………

In the afternoon, Pei Shaoqing had Zhao Zhilan bathe Saintess Yaoguang, wash her hair, and change her into a new set of clothes.

"Young Master, everything is done." After finishing everything, Zhao Zhilan found Pei Shaoqing to report; serving others was clearly physical labor, and her forehead was dripping with fragrant sweat.

Inside the study, Pei Shaoqing looked at her flushed face across the table and beckoned, "Come here."

"Young Master." Zhao Zhilan walked over obediently.

"You've worked hard." Pei Shaoqing gently wiped the sweat from her, "Tonight I will come to your room, and we shall spar in martial arts. Lan'er, remember to leave the door unlocked for me."

Since today is a day of rest.

Then it must be spent completely.

One cannot have a day of rest without the 'day' (intercourse).

Zhao Zhilan's delicate body trembled abruptly; knowing what would happen tonight, she said with a bright red face and a flustered heart, "Young Master, Lan'er is not yet prepared."

"Is that so? Then this Young Master will give you enough time to prepare. How about ten years?" Pei Shaoqing's expression turned cold, and he looked at her expressionlessly as he spoke.

Zhao Zhilan's small face turned pale; she bit her red lips, lowered her head, and said in a voice as thin as a mosquito's, "Lan'er will wait for Young Master."

"That's a good girl." The frost on Pei Shaoqing's face suddenly melted, and he put his smile back on, stroking her face as he said, "If you want to be my concubine, you must first let me test how you are to use, don't you think?"

"Young Master, Lan'er... doesn't know anything." Zhao Zhilan's face was redder than blood, and she said with a trembling voice.

Pei Shaoqing smiled slightly, "I know you are completely clueless, but it's fine, this Young Master will teach you."

"Mm." Zhao Zhilan was sparing with her words at this moment.

Pei Shaoqing waved his hand, "Go and rest."

Zhao Zhilan bowed and turned to leave; once out the door, she hurried to find her master's wife, for she still remembered that her master's wife had said she must not let Pei Shaoqing have his way before they were married.

Therefore, she had to go and ask her master's wife what she should do.

No sooner had Zhao Zhilan left than a servant arrived, "Master, Small Flag Song requests an audience to report a matter."

"Invite him to the study," Pei Shaoqing instructed.

Song Youcai arrived quickly, "My Lord."

"What is it?" Pei Shaoqing asked.

"My Lord, it has been verified; in all of Tongzhou, only those three women were born in the Yin year, Yin month, and Yin day."

Pei Shaoqing narrowed his eyes, "Keep a close watch on them."

"Yes!" Song Youcai replied with his head bowed.

Meanwhile, the travel-worn Eunuch Liu had already returned to Tianjing Cheng to report back to his foster father, Liu Hai.

Eunuch Liu did not even have time to bathe; he stumbled inside, slid to his knees, and shouted, "Your child pays respects to foster father, wishing you fortune as vast as the Eastern Sea and a lifespan as long as the Southern Mountains."

"You certainly took a long time with this errand; you must have lined your pockets quite a bit along the way," Liu Hai said with cold, pointed words.

Eunuch Liu gave a fawning smile, "Your child was only acting out of filial piety; since it was so hard to get out of the palace, I naturally had to bring back some good things to honor you, foster father."

"Smooth-tongued, as long as you didn't delay the Emperor's affairs, it is fine; speak quickly," Liu Hai huffed.

"Yes," Eunuch Liu drew out his voice, climbed up from the floor, and eagerly stepped forward to massage Liu Hai's back, saying, "Foster father, one should truly look at a scholar with new eyes after three days apart; that good-for-nothing Pei Shaoqing seems like a different person after leaving the Capital, truly letting your child see that there really is such a thing as a prodigal returning to the right path in this world."

"Oh?" Liu Hai's interest was immediately piqued.

Eunuch Liu hurriedly continued, "Once Pei Shaoqing arrived in Tongzhou, he was like a different person compared to when he was in the Capital; although he is still arrogant, domineering, greedy for wealth, and lustful, he is far from the scoundrel he once was, and he even took the initiative to apologize to your son."

"That is truly strange." Liu Hai narrowed his eyes; rather than a prodigal returning to the right path, he felt more that Pei Shaoqing had merely been playing the pig to eat the tiger while in the Capital.

This brat had deceived everyone.

Eunuch Liu reported everything he saw and heard in Tongzhou in minute detail, "That is how it is; that Saint Son of Opening Yang indeed died at Pei Shaoqing's hands, it is absolutely certain."

After listening, Liu Hai frowned and pondered in silence.

After a long while, he slowly said:

"Liu, follow me to see the Emperor."

"Yes, your child obeys."

(End of this chapter)