Although Yan Ziye’s body was restrained by Qu Yao, her eyes remained free and darting. Hearing his words, she carefully observed him before breaking into a smile: “That’s good.”
The two greeted each other as if no one else was present. Qu Yao bowed: “Mistress, Master.” She was determined not to let Yan Ziye interfere further.
Qu Xiaojue said: “Qu Yao, immediately handle the matter I instructed yesterday.”
“Yes.” Qu Yao bowed and nodded, immediately restraining Yan Ziyan, who could not break free, and decisively took her away from the place, speaking in a persuasive yet cold tone: “You have always wanted to stroll in the city, and today it happens to be convenient to travel together.”
“Let me go, I’m not going today.”
Yan Ziyan tried to struggle and stabilize herself to prevent being pulled away. However, as a delicate young lady, her martial arts and strength were no match for Qu Yao. Qu Yao frowned impatiently, applying force to her shoulder and placing a sword scabbard across her shoulder, forcing her to be pulled in another direction.
Qu Xiaojue stood motionless in front of Xu Wanzhi, blocking his line of sight and turning him around in a timely manner: “Husband, let’s go. If we miss the time, we won’t be able to see the beauty of the Blood Sea.”
Xu Wanzhi showed no reaction to what had just happened, subtly withdrawing his hand and walking side by side with her. When they exited the door, there were no subordinates following nor any carriages waiting, which made him ask curiously: “Not far?”
“Doesn’t my husband know that the Blood Sea is just east of the Qu Courtyard, and walking is less than a mile away?”
Xu Wanzhi looked up at her, feeling slightly like he had been played, and responded coldly: “What if I didn’t know?”
Qu Xiaojue took the opportunity to wrap her arm around his waist but was immediately pushed away with a cold face. She led the way, laughing: “No need for you to worry, I know.”
Xu Wanzhi snorted: “Much obliged.”
“As it should be.” They exchanged responses, slowly walking along a one-meter-wide path outside the Qu Courtyard.
Perhaps due to the soft sunlight, their silhouettes finally seemed somewhat harmonious.
Yan Ziyan was forcibly led out of the side gate by Qu Xiaojue, feeling extremely dissatisfied yet unable to fight back. She angrily said: “You only know how to bully me. If you have the ability, show the same attitude in front of your master!”
Hearing her criticism of the family head Qu Yao, she responded coldly: “That is my business.”
This indifferent attitude made her furious, her face turning red as she glared. Qu Yao had already released her, only casting a warning glance and walking straight ahead, not caring whether she would follow.
Yan Ziyan bit her lip in anger and frustration, watching Qu Yao’s tall, rigid back gradually move away with a sword hilt slanted across her shoulder and steps never hesitating. She wanted to turn back but returning would be beneath her dignity as the sixth young lady of the Yan family. She gritted her teeth, exhaled, and turned to walk in another direction.
Walking down a small street filled with handicrafts, she discovered many novel items not seen in Guangnan, stopping to observe and asking about this and that. Her starry eyes and red lips slightly parted drew the lingering gaze of passersby.
Here is the edited article:
She was long accustomed to this, feeling no sense of humiliation and enjoying herself. But the author’s mind sometimes goes wild, having an inexplicable relationship with melodrama, so they must add another layer to Miss Yan’s story.
Actually, Miss Yan was more suited to being a heroine rescuing beauty rather than being rescued. Given her status and talents, encountering a fallen nobleman from the Central Plains would be a wonderful combination, so the author made her meet one.
The white-robed youth was being pulled around by several burly women, his small face crying like a pear blossom. He desperately clung to the ground, struggling as if his life depended on it. He never called for help or uttered a plea, only biting his lip with tears silently sliding, his bloodied fingers and eyes full of determination.
Yan Ziyan arrived at the alley entrance and saw this scene, instantly stunned. Several women around had noticed but only quickened their pace and walked away, not daring to interfere.
Though delicate, she had been raised with the education that “men should be cherished and protected,” and had never seen women bullying a weak male. She immediately stepped forward, angrily demanding: “Why are you grabbing him?”
Those women completely ignored her, roughly shouting: “Where did this little girl come from? This is our business. Advise you to scram quickly!”
At this moment, the white-robed youth, hearing someone speak up to help, finally broke into audible sobs.
Yan Ziyan, having bottled up anger from Qu Yao, and now facing these vulgar women, was determined to intervene.
She stomped her foot and suddenly leaped, coldly laughing: “Even if you had ten heads, you wouldn’t dare challenge my background!” With excellent lightness kung fu, she quickly reached the women, extending her hand to attack the one hitting the youth. Unexpectedly, the women didn’t counterattack but gave a sinister smile, simultaneously opening a sack full of white knockout drug that completely enveloped her!
She was shocked and enraged, her body going limp as she collapsed, her consciousness and vision becoming hazy. At this moment, a dark figure slowly emerged from behind the women, black boots with gold trim approaching. The women immediately knelt in fear and retreated. The youth, who had been crying bitterly, now rose with an extremely cold demeanor, paying respectful obeisance before leaving with them.
Yan Ziyan bit her teeth, realizing she had fallen into a trap. Before she could question, she fell, and a woman stepped forward, steadily holding her body, her gaze sweeping over Yan Ziyan’s unwilling face, speaking in a voice cold and clear: “Such beauty, rare indeed.”
When she finally awoke from the drug’s effect on a soft bed, the sky was a dusky yellow, approaching evening. A woman sat abruptly at the table, turning her face only when Yan Ziyan stirred.
Yan Ziyan was startled.
The woman was entirely dressed in black, her hair bound by a black satin ribbon. Her style was somewhat similar to Qu Master Xu Wanzhi, but their temperaments were vastly different. Xu Wanzhi was coldly detached, while this woman radiated an inherent coldness.
Observing Yan Ziyan’s gaze, the woman’s eyelashes didn’t flutter. She walked directly toward her, the powerful oppressive aura crushing the immobilized sixth young lady of the Yan family. She opened her lips and spoke coldly: “Since you’re awake, you will serve me in bed.”
“How dare you!” Yan Ziyan was furious as the woman gripped her chin, fingertips delicately caressing it. “Let me go, or else I—”
The woman suddenly pinched her chin, forcing back her fierce words. Yan Ziyan’s face turned red and white, trembling with anger yet unable to muster any strength.
The woman seemed satisfied, a cold and cruel smile flickering in her eyes as she pushed Yan Ziyan onto the bed. Her oppressive body pressed down, her cold lips biting into Yan Ziyan’s neck.
Yan Ziyan bit her tongue until blood pearled, raising a hand to attack but easily restrained, as the woman maliciously slid her tongue across her palm, driving her to shame and despair. Born noble and pampered, she had never encountered such humiliation. Even Xu Wanzhi would not passively endure such an insult, let alone a proud woman like herself.
