Chapter 150

Don't kneel, stand up, and speak properly.

The 45-degree hot spring water—only those who have soaked in it know that it simply cannot extinguish a 100-degree passion, especially in a situation of solitary men and women.

Xiao Yunce gazed at Liu Hong by the poolside, feeling that the red wine in his cup had lost its flavor.

I estimate that even Cao Cao's comrade from the Three Kingdoms, upon seeing this exquisite married woman, would have a dazed look and sincerely utter an invitation from the depths of his heart: "Madam, would you be willing to share a seat and a bed with me tonight?"

It's a pity that Chancellor Cao lacks fortune, having died eighteen hundred years ago, unable to see this flourishing beauty of the age.

Xiao Yunce watched the timidly rising Liu Hong, who dared not lift her head to look at people, and warmly asked: "Just now, did you say that someone comes to your door every day to collect debts, driving you to the point where you can't go on living?"

Hmm.

Liu Hong lowered her head, wiping her tears, thinking she had found the right person.

Xiao Yunce doubted: "This isn't right. In the case of the fire at Qingzhu Ridge, although your family was supposed to bear all compensation responsibility, the city, considering your special circumstances and indeed your hardship, had already fully advanced the funds and implemented a subrogation compensation policy. The victims' families have all received their compensation, so how could they be coming after you for debt?"

The compensation advanced by the city is to be paid in four installments; previously only 10% had been received. Now that Director Dai has been arrested, they worry they won't get the remaining money, so they've come to me to collect the debt.

Liu Hong dried her tears and struggled to stop her sobbing.

Xiao Yunce, standing there as upright and imposing as a heavenly magistrate, loudly criticized: "Those people are really over the top; they arrested Director Dai, but is it not just to bring in Director Gou? They're panicking for nothing."

I didn't come today to talk about this matter.

Then what do you want to say?

My husband has been missing for several months; I don't know who seized him, but I know he must have been taken by someone, so I beg you to release him.

Your logic is flawed: if you don't know who seized him, how can you beg me to release him?

Sorry, I misspoke; please have mercy and help me." The humble, ant-like Liu Hong, tears in her eyes, raised her hand and swore: "I promise you that I will never enter Jing again, even in death I will not cry injustice."

Look at you crying like a tearful mess, your face all smudged—I feel pity for you." Xiao Yunce, like the gazing-eyed Chancellor Cao, stared unblinkingly at Liu Hong on the shore: "Come down and take a bath; let me comfort you properly."

Liu Hong's heart jolted, and she blushed red to the ears from shame.

I never would have imagined, even the lofty Xiao Yunce would actually lust after the body of this village woman.

She stammered in reply: "I... I have already taken a bath..."

You ate lunch too; surely you can't have another meal at night?" Xiao Yunce righteously gave Liu Hong a bewitching soup: "Come down, for the goddess of fortune generally favors women who are cleaner.

Yes... sorry, I'm disturbing you...

Liu Hong's face flushed red with nervousness as she thought of going inside to take her child away.

She had just turned and taken two steps.

A shout of "Stop!" from Xiao Yunce rang in her ears; frightened, her heart shuddered, as if immobilized by a spell, she stood rooted, daring not to move.

Xiao Yunce rose from the bath.

He stepped forward, lifted Liu Hong's chin, and solemnly asked: "I help based on reason, not kinship; although I sympathize with you, if you want my help, shouldn't you first let me understand you?"

You... what do you want to understand?

Liu Hong instinctively stepped back two paces to avoid Xiao Yunce's teasing gesture.

Without a doubt.

Such a clueless response left Lord Xiao deeply disappointed.

For Old Xiao to take a liking to you among a sea of flowers is a blessing you cultivated over eight lifetimes.

We're already mothers in the 21st century; what chastity arch are you setting up for me? Old Xiao is no Liu Xiaohui who sits unmoved in the face of temptation!

If Chancellor Cao can win a woman, Old Xiao can win her too!

Even if Chancellor Cao cannot win a woman, Old Xiao can still win her!

If I were to recite a poem, even Chancellor Cao would have to bow and submit!

Does Old Cao know who wrote the line "My sash grows looser, yet I do not regret, for her I grow thin and weary"?

Does Old Cao know that Du Fu also wrote "The flowered path has never been swept for guests, thatched gate now opens for you"?

Old Cao knows nothing.

Old Cao only knows "Like morning dew, the days are hard to pass," and then he consoles his stagnant, lonely life with "What can relieve sorrow? Only Du Kang."

……

Xiao Yunce suppressed the battle fire burning in his chest.

His eyes fixed on the nervous Liu Hong: "You ask what I want to understand—this is a good question. I think: since you're asking me to handle things, you should be frank and engage in deep conversation with me. Now you've pulled away so far, how can we have deep conversation? Without deep conversation, how can I understand you?"

Now I'm not asking you anymore; I don't need your understanding!

Liu Hong tried to go around the arrogant, power-relying Xiao Yunce, enter the house, and look for her son.

Xiao Yunce suddenly reached out and pulled her forcefully into his embrace: "What do you think this place is, that you can come and go as you please?"

Let go of me! Let go... help! Beast...

Liu Hong burst into a desperate scream, struggling until tears streamed down, but it was utterly useless.

All around was deathly silent.

It seemed as if everyone in the world had died, leaving only her and this beast Xiao Yunce; no one around responded to her, nor did anyone come to her rescue.

Before she could struggle twice, Xiao Yunce shoved her into the steaming bath.

She couldn't swim.

Although the water in the bath was not deep, if she stood upright it would at most reach her chest. Yet she flailed like a drowned duck, choking on several mouthfuls of water in her panic.

Before she could learn to save herself.

Xiao Yunce had already gone into the water, choking her neck and lifting her face above the surface: "Madam, would you be willing to share a seat and a bed with me tonight?!"

Uh... let... let me go...

Liu Hong, choked, could barely breathe; in just a few seconds her face turned purple from lack of air.

If she were prey.

Then Xiao Yunce now is no different from a triumphant hunter.

Xiao Yunce pushed her to the edge of the shallower pool, commanding her in the manner of a god: "Take a bath, you should take off your clothes first, the procedure cannot be skipped. Be conscious, don't make me angry like a three‑year‑old child."

Liu Hong clutched her collar with both hands.

Her whole body was like a desperate lamb, curled up beside the pool, trembling.

Desperate tears.

This was her outcry and accusation against the world.

From the day the fire broke out on Qingzhu Ridge, her world completely collapsed, and she lived each day in a state where she was neither human nor ghost.

She sobbed intermittently: "No… don't do this to me… my son is still young, I can't die, you… you mustn't force me to die…"

"I'm thinking of a way to save your whole family—take off your clothes."

Xiao Yunce's indifferent tone made Liu Hong break down completely; understood the other way, his words meant that if she didn't undress today, her whole family would be killed.

"I… I'll take them off…"

As she reached to undo the buttons, Liu Hong's tears fell like broken beads.

When she had undressed halfway.

A smug smile appeared on Xiao Yunce's face, as if his achievements were enough to crush history's wife‑hunter Cao Chengxiang, and every cell in his body radiated pride.

In his eyes, these lowly people, as insignificant as ants, were merely toys in his hand—if he wanted you dead, you could not survive!

But he did not know:

Lin Dongfan had already arrived at the manor gate of Wenquan Valley with the anti‑corruption squad; a deadly tiger‑head axe was only one swing away from his neck!

Don't ask how far that one swing is—there's basically just one side left.