Chapter 196: with translation of chapter title

Meiniang, what do you need from me?

Dai Zhishang dismounted from the black horse, hurried over to Hu Meiniang, facing this ex-husband, he felt no awkwardness, instead he acted like he was showing off, putting his arm around Hu Meiniang's slender waist.

Seeing this, Shu Mu's expression changed; although his affair with Hu Meiniang was long ago, every time he recalled it, he found it endlessly memorable.

He couldn't help but anticipate there would be a next time!

Even though he had just been beaten by Hu Meiniang, he bore no grudge against her.

Besides Hu Meiniang's terror that prevented him from bearing any grudge, there was also that unknown agitation.

Seeing Hu Meiniang's alluring appearance, how could he bear to blame her?

His abdomen felt like it was overturning rivers and seas, his face beaten into a pig's head, he didn't know how many teeth had been knocked out, he only blamed himself for not being able to speak.

During that time.

More than that, he felt heartache; Hu Meiniang had slapped him for so long, did it hurt her jade hand?

He never expected…

Actually, there was a clueless man who dared, right in front of him, to put his arm around Hu Meiniang's slender waist and even show off in his presence.

Shu Mu's anger flared up like a flame; he coldly stared at Dai Zhishang, his face grim, his tone unfriendly: "Who are you, what is your background, what are your accomplishments?"

Dai Zhishang of Qingyang County, a xiucai!

Dai Zhishang said coldly.

A xiucai? You, a mere xiucai, dare to show off before me?

Shu Mu's face was ferocious, as if he wanted to swallow Dai Zhishang alive.

Don't look at the fact that a xiucai and a juren differ only by one rank; the gap between them is said to be harder than climbing to heaven, possibly exaggerated, but not that far off.

Out of hundreds or thousands of xiucai, not necessarily one will pass the juren exam.

Xiucai.

Unless from a great family or backed by a powerful patron, he had never taken a xiucai seriously; he never imagined that a mere xiucai would dare to be so arrogant before him.

Truly, a tiger fallen to the plains is bullied by dogs!

My Dai Lang may be only a mere xiucai, but his painting skill is unmatched!

Hu Meiniang snorted coldly; how could she not hear the anger in Shu Mu's words? With a thought, a painting appeared in her hand, which she handed over, saying proudly:

Can you paint such a portrait?

I…

Shu Mu instinctively wanted to make a few sarcastic remarks, but upon taking the painting Hu Meiniang handed him and opening it, just at first glance he was drawn to the exquisite person in the painting.

It was no one else, it was Hu Meiniang herself, only the painting was even more beautiful than she.

It was as if Hu Meiniang had been painted to life!

The sarcastic remark on the tip of his tongue was swallowed back.

Although Shu Mu looked down on scholars with xiucai titles, even those talented scholars, even if they only had a xiucai title, he might not admire them, but he still owed them respect.

Respecting the talented is respecting oneself, respecting one's own talent.

No wonder Meiniang is with this little xiucai, even riding the same horse—turns out she favors his painting talent!

Shu Mu secretly snorted coldly; deep in his eyes was an envy he could hardly conceal.

He and Hu Meiniang had once had a fleeting romance; after all, they were both from the prefectural city, where he was somewhat known as a scholar. Hu Meiniang's favorite were talented youths and peerlessly strong experts.

But.

Their romance didn't last long, because after Hu Meiniang got what she wanted, she no longer felt any novelty from him.

She just kicked him away!

During the Taiping era, there was no shortage of talented youths; they were everywhere. Hu Meiniang couldn't find novelty here, so she would naturally seek other talented youths, whereas those strongmen in the prefectural city would give her a sense of security.

Their feelings were very long-lasting!

This is also why Hu Meiniang, with just a demonic form, could establish herself in the prefectural city, not only because of certain strongmen there and the talented youths who had ambiguous relations with her.

Aside from being open in her sexual relations, Hu Meiniang had never done anything harmful.

The people of the prefectural city naturally wished Hu Meiniang would stay; how could they possibly drive her away?

Since Hu Meiniang settled in the prefectural city, her scandalous stories would from time to time spread, featuring either the city's strongmen or the talented youths, satisfying the curiosity of the whole populace.

During that time.

Moreover, some underground gambling houses would start a bet: for any newly emerged talented youth in the prefectural city, they'd wager whether Hu Meiniang would seduce him, and how long until she would pluck him.

In this novel you have arrived.

Someone like Dai Zhishang, whose painting skill is unmatched, not young but still a xiucai by birth, counts as a talented youth; it's no wonder Hu Meiniang favors him.

He looked down on scholars with xiucai titles, but he also knew that not everyone could pass the xiucai exam; xiucai in their forties or fifties, even child xiucai, were common.

Dai Zhishang is probably in his twenties and managed to pass the xiucai exam.

And how could he not be considered outstanding?

Hu Meiniang looked at the silent Shu Mu, gave a cold snort, knowing he was stubbornly obstinate, inwardly convinced but unable to say so, and not saying much more, she asked:

Dai Lang, do you know this Daoist Xuanqing?

Dai Zhishang nodded and said, "Meiniang, I know Daoist Xuanqing!"

Dai Lang, tell me, what kind of person is this Daoist Xuanqing?

Hu Meiniang pressed further.

Meiniang…

Dai Zhishang told everything he knew about Daoist Xuanqing in detail, then added:

Daoist Xuanqing is a proper cultivator, once a disciple of Ziyang Gong Disciple; under no circumstances would he study heterodox ways!

Before Hu Meiniang could speak, Shu Mu angrily said, "You mean what I just said is all false? I swear on the ancestors of the Shu family to the heavens that I'm not lying!"

Having said this, Shu Mu glared with a ferocious expression, angrily staring at Dai Zhi Shang; his righteous qi surged forth, faintly about to condense behind him into a warrior general.

He intended to nock an arrow, draw the bow, and shoot Dai Zhi Shang to death!

"Alright!"

Hu Meiniang gave a cold shout, scattering the Confucian warrior general that had coalesced behind Shu Mu, and said:

"Scholar Shu, look at your wounds all over; you should go back and get treated soon. Dai Lang, accompany me to visit this Xuanqing Daozhang. I'm quite curious why this former disciple of Ziyang Palace would hide away in these poor mountains and remote wilderness!"

"I want to go too!"

Shu Mu hurriedly spoke first.

Hu Meiniang glanced lightly at Shu Mu, saying nothing.

"Mei—Madame Hu, I want to go see that wild Daoist and ask him why he repeatedly toyed with me—what's his intention, really thinking I, Shu Mu, am easy to bully?"

Shu Mu said indignantly.

"Before the words 'Mei Niang' could even leave his lips, Shu Mu caught a glance from Hu Meiniang, his whole body trembling as he recalled that unless one was close to Hu Meiniang, it was forbidden to call her 'Mei Niang,' or else there would be no good outcome."

(End of chapter)