Ex-Wife is a Big Villainess
Chapter 466 - 240: The Empress Dares Not Provoke

Chapter 466: Chapter 240: The Empress Dares Not Provoke

Once a person becomes famous, they suddenly find themselves surrounded by friendly friends.

Just now, Jiang Shouzhong had stepped down from the Crown Princess’s carriage, when another exquisitely decorated carriage gradually came to a halt before him.

It was none other than the Oiran from the Jinse Pavilion, Liu Wuxu.

"Jiang, might I trouble you to join me in my carriage for a chat?"

Liu Wuxu’s delicate fingers parted the beaded curtains of the carriage window, her radiant eyes looking at Jiang Shouzhong with a soft and mellifluous voice.

Jiang Shouzhong thought for a moment, then got into the carriage.

Compared to the Crown Princess’s refinement and Jiang Yi’s extravagance, this Oiran’s carriage was simple and monotonous.

"Miss Liu, as a lady, you invite a man into your carriage, aren’t you afraid of sparking rumors?"

Jiang Shouzhong asked with a smile.

Liu Wuxu chuckled, "Wuxu is but a courtesan, always dealing with men day after day, why should I care about such gossip? As for Jiang, being a disciple of Master Dugu and having been invited into my carriage, I fear I might tarnish your reputation. I apologize beforehand."

The woman leaned forward gracefully, bowing her head in an elegant apology, her eyes filled with a warm guilt.

Jiang Shouzhong twisted his mouth into a smirk, a trace of mockery flickering in his eyes.

He lifted the carriage curtain and saw the corpulent merchant Zhang Fuwang apparently waiting for him. He then asked, "May I know why Miss Liu has invited me here?"

Liu Wuxu’s eyes shone as she looked at him, a different kind of spirit in her gaze, and she spoke softly, "Master Jiang was quite the sight to behold just now, and I couldn’t help but admire you. I was hoping to make your acquaintance."

"Miss Liu’s high regard truly flatters me," sighed Jiang Shouzhong with a smile.

After a moment of silence, Liu Wuxu said softly, "Earlier, I heard Master Jiang’s debate on human nature being innately evil, and I found it profoundly insightful. It makes me feel that all this so-called goodness is nothing but hypocrisy..."

"Miss Liu," interrupted Jiang Shouzhong in a light tone, "whether human nature is innately bad or good, it depends on one’s perception.

I was merely debating earlier. If I had advocated the innate goodness of human nature, I could have silenced him just the same.

With different positions, these so-called arguments are but sophistry.

You need not let my sophistry change your perception and heart. All you need to do is attend to your own matters and live a little more comfortably. That’s enough."

After hearing what Jiang Shouzhong had to say, Liu Wuxu fell into deep thought.

A moment later, she came to herself and smiled, "I took it too seriously, after all."

"It’s all right. Everyone takes things too seriously at times," Jiang Shouzhong consoled.

Liu Wuxu gazed at him steadily and let out a soft sigh, "Master Jiang is the most interesting man I have ever met; it’s a pity..."

"A pity what?" asked Jiang Shouzhong.

There was a touch of sadness in Liu Wuxu’s expression, "It’s a pity that in a few days, I must choose someone I don’t like, do things I don’t like, and live a life I dislike... So, I can never live comfortably in this life."

As she spoke, a mist seemed to rise in her eyes, stirring a sense of compassion.

Jiang Shouzhong frowned involuntarily, "Are you being coerced, Miss Liu?"

With a bitter and discreet tone, Liu Wuxu responded, "The path was of my own choosing; it can hardly be called coercion. Some debts must be paid, after all. Who made me able to live only in such a place?"

Before Jiang Shouzhong could inquire further, Liu Wuxu dabbed the corners of her eyes and forced a smile:

"I’ve made Master Jiang see a joke. I’ve just remembered there’s something I must do, and if I’m late..."

With a bitten lip, she left her sentence unfinished and apologized, "If Master Jiang finds the time, please visit Jinse Pavilion, and I will make sure you are well received."

"Of course," Jiang Shouzhong said, not wishing to pursue the matter further as he alighted from the carriage.

As the carriage slowly drove away, Jiang Shouzhong’s face grew colder, and his lips curled into a sneer, "Actors without morals, courtesans without love, each one of them possessed by drama... It’s a good thing I’m an actor too."

Jiang Shouzhong approached Zhang Fuwang, who had been waiting for some time.

The portly merchant, reminiscent of a mini mountain of flesh, seemed to take up space merely by standing there.

"Jiang, you said earlier that you were in business, and I actually believed you," Zhang Fuwang grinned, "I didn’t realize you were a disciple of Master Dugu. Good thing I never spoke ill of him, else I wouldn’t be able to walk away from this."

Jiang Shouzhong smiled, deliberately avoiding the man’s attempt to pat his shoulder, as he said:

"Actually, I am involved in a bit of business. They say there is gold in books, but holding gold in your hands feels more joyful, doesn’t it?"

Zhang Fuwang was taken aback, then burst into a hearty laugh as his fleshy body trembled.

He gave a thumbs-up, "You’re straightforward, Jiang. Much more so than those hypocritical scholars.

For that remark alone, come to me with any difficulties in business, and I guarantee I’ll make you ten times what you’d earn otherwise."

"I’ll be sure to thank Mr. Zhang in advance," Jiang Shouzhong said, bowing with a smile.

Zhang Fuwang waved a dismissive hand, "No need for formalities, Jiang. Making more friends is simply paving more paths, heh, that’s as clever as a businessman gets. Perhaps I’ll need your help someday."

"Certainly," Jiang Shouzhong said with a smile.

After chatting for a while, they parted ways.

Zhang Fuwang climbed into his spacious, custom-built carriage and left. As he passed by an alley, he maneuvered his hefty body, turning left and right until he arrived at an ordinary residence.

Inside the courtyard, a young man was lying on a chair, resting with his eyes closed.

It was the youngster known as Wan Yan Wu Hai.

"Is that guy worth bribing?" Wan Yan Wu Hai asked indifferently.

Zhang Fuwang sat on the small stool beside him, his broad and chubby face squeezed into folds of a smile, "Of course, it’s worth it. After all, he is a disciple of Master Dugu, with no low status. When the time comes, if we can make a little use of him, it will play a big role."

"Fine, you handle it yourself, just don’t delay the master’s mission."

Wan Yan Wu Hai’s gaze was icy cold.

Zhang Fuwang nodded with a smile, "Rest assured, the plan is going very smoothly for now. The only pity is that a problem arose with Shan Dongchuan’s end; he didn’t go kill that guy named Jiang Mo directly, but instead opted for framing.

Now Jiang Mo has vanished, whereabouts unknown. But don’t worry, this Jiang Mo cannot pose a threat to us."

Wan Yan Wu Hai snorted, "Whether he can pose a threat, we will see the results. We can’t rely on those incompetent officials, so why don’t you hire an assassin? With all the money you have, can’t you spend tens of thousands of gold to hire a top killer?"

Zhang Fuwang’s face still wore a smile, but his eyes were no longer smiling.

His thumb gently twirled the thick, emerald-green jade thumb ring in his hand.

Wan Yan Wu Hai couldn’t care less about this money-grubber, his arms crossed behind his head as he gazed up at the sky, murmuring, "This weather, it’s about to change. I wonder if the crown prince from Dazhou can die here."

——

Jiang Shouzhong had intended to return to his little courtyard, but Luo Wanqing intercepted him and took him back.

What irritated Jiang Shouzhong was that this woman tied him up once again on that Jade Platform in Bitter Fire Hell.

Fortunately, this time there were no fire whips or ice spikes piercing bones.

"Now that you are here, couldn’t you visit me? How heartless."

The stone chamber was dim, shadows flickering.

Luo Wanqing, in her long golden dress, was like a ghostly fairy in the solemn forbidden area, her dignified demeanor hiding a hint of the indescribable enchantment.

Jiang Shouzhong helplessly said, "Xie, couldn’t we have a proper talk? Even if you want Dual Cultivation, does it have to be this way? If I cooperate, won’t that be sufficient? With my measly strength, could I possibly escape?"

"Hmph, do I need your advice on how to handle my affairs?"

Luo Wanqing’s pearly teeth slightly parted, a cold smirk frozen on her lips. Her expression was indifferent, with three parts pride and seven parts detachment.

As an Empress, she did as she pleased.

The heavens and earth are vast, but I am the greatest. You, Jiang Mo, aren’t qualified to bargain with me.

"Okay, you’re strong, you’re impressive," Jiang Shouzhong sighed, not bothering to struggle needlessly.

Luo Wanqing stepped onto the Jade Platform, standing with her hands behind her back, as she looked down at Jiang Shouzhong with a mocking smile, "Dugu Luoxue said she wanted to watch us practice Dual Cultivation. I have temporarily declined, after all, I do have a reputation to maintain."

"What?"

Jiang Shouzhong thought he had heard wrong.

Luo Wanqing talked to herself, "So the next time she comes to watch, I hope you can be a little smarter? Be weak when you need to act weak, submit when you need to be submissive..."

At first, Jiang Shouzhong didn’t understand, but he quickly grasped her meaning.

In other words, Xie was afraid of appearing inferior during the process, of becoming a laughingstock in front of Dugu Luoxue, so she hoped he wouldn’t be too aggressive.

To make himself seem weaker.

To make her appear stronger.

Not to lose face, but to maintain dignity.

After all, in the end last time, Jiang Shouzhong had broken free from his restraints and ended up putting her in quite a disheveled state.

Jiang Shouzhong, looking at the woman standing on the Jade Bed, rolled his eyes, "How can I control that?"

"You can’t control it?"

Luo Wanqing lifted her golden embroidered shoe and lightly stepped on his chest, her face bearing a cold smile.

Jiang Shouzhong gritted his teeth, "How about you become more capable yourself."

"Jiang Mo, don’t make me angry..."

Luo Wanqing’s beautiful eyes were frosty. As she pressed her foot down slightly, she looked like a thorny rose under the moonlight, with a cold elegance that carried a trace of grace and allure.

Jiang Shouzhong grimaced in pain, his inner thoughts in utter disbelief.

Why did it seem like the higher a woman’s cultivation, the crazier she becomes?

He simply shut his mouth and stayed silent.

He didn’t believe she would dare to crush him to death.

Silence surrounded them, the only sound was the woman’s skirt lightly brushing against the man’s body.

Seeing Jiang Shouzhong acting like a pig not afraid of scalding water, Luo Wanqing was provoked into laughter. She was about to increase her force but hesitated for a moment, and ultimately, she didn’t dare to put too much strength into it.

After all, as someone one step away from the Heavenly Human Realm, a supreme master, if she accidentally burst the lad, it would be a loss not worth the cost.

However, she had no intention of letting him off.

In this world, no one was allowed to defy her.

Luo Wanqing decided to take off her shoes and step directly onto his abdomen and below, as a form of punishment.

Hiss...

Jiang Shouzhong’s forehead veins bulged, he was starting to panic now, and said quickly, "Xie, let’s talk nicely, don’t mess around. I think... I can act weak, really I can..."

"Isn’t that better?"

Luo Wanqing’s arrogantly beautiful face showed a hint of sarcasm, and she said indifferently, "Let’s put it to a test first, see how you do. For one hour, you need to achieve what you did last time."

What does that mean?

Jiang Shouzhong was a bit confused again.

Luo Wanqing narrowed her phoenix eyes, "Don’t you understand?"

Just like last time, fill it up.