Chapter 9: On Cooperation
“Young Lord, this is the new one….”
“Her name was Xiuniang.”
The two women said with smiles.
Shen Yanzhou, who had earlier been leaning against the soft couch, slowly sat up and looked over with interest.
He said, “Lift your head so this Young Lord could have a good look.”
The hemp-clothed woman clenched her sleeve and seemed a little nervous; her whole bearing grew even more restrained.
She cautiously raised the face that was covered by a dark bluish birthmark.
Her brows and features were clean, and her eyes were like spots of lacquer.
If one ignored the birthmark, one could see fairly delicate features.
“What a pity — such a fine face, but ruined by a birthmark that covered her original beauty.”
“Still, the figure was not bad: long legs, slim waist, ample chest and perky hips. Once the lamp was blown out, there was no difference.”
Shen Yanzhou scrutinized her for a few moments, then nodded and smiled, “Tonight it would be you. Stay.”
When his words fell, the room suddenly fell silent.
It was not only the hemp-clothed woman called Xiuniang who froze.
Even the two women who had been smiling stood rooted to the spot, almost doubting their own ears.
Chunchao looked at Shen Yanzhou with an incredulous expression — she looked so ugly, and he did not mind?
Negative emotion from Chu Xiuer: +1 +1 +1 +1.
Negative emotion from Chunchao: +3 +3 +3 +3.
Negative emotion from Qiutang and Ruanyu: +0.01 +0.01 +0.01 +0.01……
Shen Yanzhou had long expected the reaction before him and did not care in the slightest.
He inclined his head slightly and said, “I had never before seen such an ugly face that was nevertheless exquisitely refined.”
“Young Lord, Xiuniang was merely a teacup maid at Yuxian Pavilion; she did not serve bedsides for guests…” Qiutang hurriedly interjected.
Xiuniang seemed to have been frightened into stupefaction; she trembled slightly, clutching her sleeve more tightly.
Shen Yanzhou’s face darkened.
“What? It would be her honor if I favored her. A teacup maid — so what? Even if I favored the person behind your Yuxian Pavilion, she would still have to come obediently and lie upon the couch.”
Qiutang and Ruanyu had never seen Shen Yanzhou lose his temper like this; they were frightened white-faced, their lips whispering, and could only exchange a glance before retreating cautiously.
Only Xiuniang remained, dazed and standing in place.
After that night, Yuxian Pavilion would probably once again be the source of rumors that Young Lord Shen ate both meat and vegetables without discrimination.
Chunchao gave Shen Yanzhou a disdainful glance, thinking he was about to take action, and prepared to leave.
Shen Yanzhou, however, had already returned to his previous languid expression and leaned back on the soft couch covered with a bamboo mat.
He casually ordered, “Chunchao, bolt the door and lock it. No one was to leave.”
Chunchao snorted disdainfully.
As if anyone would dare resist?
Shen Yanzhou understood what Chunchao thought and paid it no mind.
He looked at the anxious hemp-clothed woman before him, raised his cup of warm wine, and said in a leisurely tone, “Miss Xiuniang, there was no need to be so nervous. The night was long; the two of them had plenty of time to converse. This Young Lord was not some flood beast — you need not fear me so. Why not lift your head?”
Xiuniang kept her head lowered and gripped her sleeve tightly, her voice hoarse: “This girl’s face was ugly; she feared she would shame the Young Lord’s eyes.”
Shen Yanzhou smiled lightly.
“You were joking, Miss. This Young Lord was not one of those vulgar people who cared only for outward flesh and bones.”
“Lately you had often watched this Young Lord from the shadows. Now that I stood in front of you, why did you not dare lift your head?”
At these words Xiuniang froze for a moment, then a coldness she did not know where it had come from suddenly ran down her spine, and her expression changed instantly.
Originally thinking Shen Yanzhou wanted to bully her, Chunchao also suddenly realized the truth.
She scarcely hesitated.
The long sword she had been holding in her arms slid out with a hiss; a clear, cold blade of light like water swept across and landed at Xiuniang’s throat.
“Not bad — your movement was nimble, and you did not hesitate.”
“No wonder your mother had valued you so highly.”
Seeing Chunchao’s almost instinctive action, Shen Yanzhou could not help but praise.
“How did you perceive it?” Xiuniang froze and looked somewhat incredulous; she had not expected Shen Yanzhou to be so perceptive.
She knew that within Yuxian Pavilion she had never exposed the slightest flaw.
Could there be a master behind this prodigal second young master?
Shen Yanzhou put down his cup and stood up without haste.
“You need not worry about how I sensed it. Before that, I wanted to ask: where was Fu Yuying now?”
“You…” Xiuniang felt the cold at her back grow stronger, like a bitter wind in midwinter sweeping down.
Her hands and feet went cold in an instant.
How could this second young master know everything about the person behind her?
Chunchao, seeing Xiuniang’s violent reaction, also looked at Shen Yanzhou in surprise.
Had she misjudged him?
How did he know that this hemp-clothed woman had other schemes?
She felt more and more unable to read Shen Yanzhou: on the surface he was a detested prodigal, yet he gave people the impression of a composed confidence as if he had everything under control.
“It seemed we had all been deceived by your appearance.”
“You, this idle prodigal second young master, were hiding so deeply beneath the Emperor’s very nose.” Xiuniang said softly.
She prided herself on impeccable plans and flawless disguises.
The only possible leak, she thought, could be on the southern border — the sect might have had an insider who revealed the plan to the Demon Suppression King early, giving Shen Yanzhou a head start.
This second young master was not as useless as he appeared.
“Miss Xiu’er, don’t say that. I did it out of necessity — to stay alive. In truth, we were all grasshoppers on the same rope.” Shen Yanzhou shook his head slightly and stepped forward to take away the long sword that Chunchao had held to Xiuniang’s throat.
Surprise showed on Xiuniang’s face; her brows drew together in confusion.
Chunchao also looked at Shen Yanzhou puzzled — he had no cultivation at all; why would he step forward like that and not fear Xiuniang suddenly rising up to harm him?
“What do you mean by ‘grasshoppers on the same rope’?” Xiuniang asked coldly, surprised that he even knew her name.
Shen Yanzhou wore a faint smile.
“Literally. I could cooperate with you to take on the Demon Suppression King.”
Xiuniang’s brow furrowed tighter.
She thought Shen Yanzhou had gone mad.
The Demon Suppression King was his father — this was the most filial thing she had ever heard in her life.
“If you meant to toy with me, there was no need. Since I was in your hands, you could kill or dismember me as you pleased.” Xiuniang said coldly.
Shen Yanzhou rubbed his brow as if he had a headache.
“Why be so stubborn? If you had thought I intended to kill you, Chunchao would have already sliced your head off just now. Why would I speak so kindly to you? If you thought I wanted to learn Fu Yuying’s whereabouts from your mouth, it would not be that difficult.”