Chapter 7: Malicious Individuals Engaging in Mutual Destruction

Dong Caiqi brought the plate of twisted silk to the outer hall of her chamber. The plate of twisted silk looked around and said: "Only in this place, where the wind and snow linger, can there be such a clever beauty like you. Alas, the moment I laid eyes on you, I lost my heart and my resolve, unable to strike, which is why I was defeated by you in half a move. Otherwise, had I won the duel, I would have already become your fiancé, and how could I have ended up in this predicament, bound and unable to move."

Dong Caiqi suppressed a smile and retorted, "With your mere skills, you dare to boast as if my victory over you was achieved through cunning schemes. Very well, if you refrain from spreading rumors, I shall let you go"

Dong Caiqi leaped up with joy and said, "Alright, what do you want me to do?"

Upon hearing his sinister plot, Dong Caiqi felt a chill rise within him and angrily declared, "I will have you killed at once."

In her heart, she still harbored a glimmer of hope, expecting Yu Lang to have a change of heart and plead for her mercy

Dong Cai was furious upon hearing the strange news, and immediately thought of Yu Lang, unable to contain her heartbreak. She said sternly: "You, your heart is truly malicious; it turns out you were also deceiving me with sweet words. You and that Yu Lang are in cahoots." But she quickly realized that this person had already revealed their intentions, and she would never be fooled. So why was this person speaking in such a manner? Could it be that their mind was not clear?

Winding Path: "Miss, do you have a way to sneak into that jade gentleman's house without being discovered? After tomorrow evening at dusk, there will be a good show for you to watch"

Dong Caiqi argued forcefully: "How do you know that I didn't kill Yulang? I would have already chopped off his head."

I will treat you twice as well, when you become my precious darling, I will worship you as a celestial being. As the saying goes, sincerity can move even gold and stone, there will come a day when the girl will be touched by me

Once again, Yu Lang cried out in anguish, clutching his throat with both hands, emitting a crow-like wail. In an instant, blood flowed from all seven orifices, and he vomited filth all over the bed. With his head buried, he had already been killed by the poison in Xiao Mei's food.

Dong Caiqi exclaimed with great joy: "Do you really have such a good method"

The girl is the first love of the man; in a moment of haste, how could she bear to act against you? Your earlier tears were indeed genuine, filled with sorrow but devoid of anger, which serves as further undeniable evidence.

Dong Caiqi asked: "Did you not expect that I am even more hideous than you anticipated?"

Dong Caiqi smiled, her face flushed, and thought to herself: "Having lost the jade gentleman, I have gained the noble gentleman. In terms of tenderness and thoughtfulness, how can he be any worse than that wicked man?" Thus, she loosened the ropes and iron chains binding Pan Yan.

She waited until evening, stealthily coming to the outside of Yulang's house. Seeing that there was no one inside, she secretly felt lucky and hid again in the wardrobe. The wardrobe was extremely large and quite spacious, so she did not feel uncomfortable. Suddenly, she felt a numbness in her waist, as someone had struck her Dazhui acupoint, rendering her hands and feet powerless. She was taken aback, and that person covered her mouth, whispering: "Miss Dong, you have indeed come."

As Pan Yan noticed the guards in the distance looking this way, their gazes sharp and their blades glinting, she felt a slight panic and hurriedly advised, "Miss, you are the daughter of a feudal lord, of extraordinary status. How can you cry and make a scene like an ordinary commoner for others to see? It will only invite inquiries and become a greater joke."

Pan Yan quickly waved his hand and said: "What I speak of is not my own thoughts, but rather the thoughts of others. The young lady's mind is simple and pure, easily enchanted by my few words, and if someone were to deceive you in this manner, how could you not fall for it"

Dong Cai's whimsical thought: "When have I ever forced him?" Remembering Pan Yan's words, I realized it was he who was up to mischief. I thought to myself: "Is this how Yu Lang changes his mind? This person is truly ruthless, even to his own beloved, and there were no signs of it before." The thought of having to face this person again truly sent chills down my spine

Dong Caiqi was astonished to realize that this person was actually Pan Yan. He was filled with dread: "Could it be that he has indeed allied with Yu Lang to harm me? How cunning he is! But why did I trust him so easily, putting myself in danger while the others, Wen Chao and the rest, are not here!"

Dong Caiqi's heart was pounding, secretly delighted, thinking: "Back then, Yulang said the same to me." She recalled her past love, which was hard to forget, and said: "You speak like this, have you eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard? Bring this foolish thief here, I will personally interrogate him." Thus, she ordered the lock to be opened and the person brought in, and the guards dared not disobey in the slightest.

The winding path: "If a young lady wishes to observe a person's true heart, she must bring that person to the brink of despair; only then can he reveal his true nature. I have a plan that can disturb that jade gentleman's mind, causing him to reconsider and become utterly devoted to the young lady. In this way, will the young lady be satisfied?"

Suddenly, Yulang drew a dagger and thrust it directly into Xiaomei's chest. Xiaomei let out a muffled groan and died on the spot. Dong Caiqi, taken aback by the scene, would have cried out immediately if not for being restrained by the mute acupoint.

Pan Yan laughed heartily and said, "This is truly outrageous. I am a loyal minister who speaks the truth, yet I must suffer for it, while the truly shameless deceiver is spared by the young lady. I say the young lady is foolish, and how can that be wrong?"

As for the plan, once we have established a marital relationship, I will have you bear children, thus legitimizing our union and making me the son-in-law of Shebo City. Even if the city lord is unwilling, he will find it hard to part with his daughter and grandchildren. Then, I will cleverly devise strategies, skillfully navigate the situation, and gradually occupy a high position, cultivating my influence, determined to seize the real power of Shebo City. The girl's grandfather and brother will all become my prisoners, mere pawns under my control, and I will transform myself, easily rising to prominence.

Pan Yan smiled and said, "Why don't you just kill him with a single stroke?"

Xiao Mei smiled and said, "You are saying these words to me again. Only your sweet tongue can make me unable to resist. The moment I see you, my heart stirs with affection."

Then it will be very simple. You call me your husband, and I will take off your clothes, share a bed with you, and take your body.

Dong Caiqi cried out: "You still say, you still say that you actually insult me, insult me for being foolish. I truly wish someone would kill you"

Dong Caiqi made a light gesture and said, "You speak so nicely, and then what?"

Pan Yan sighed, "Having fallen into this place, I have become a prisoner at the feet of the young lady. As soon as the young lady opens her cherry lips and calls me 'my lord', my bones will turn to mush, and I will have no way to escape."

Dong Caiqi's delicate body trembled as she recalled the events of today involving Yu Lang and Xiao Mei. She was astonished by this person's uncanny ability to predict events, yet she could not help but feel a wave of sorrow rise within her. Suddenly, she covered her face and wept, her fragrant shoulders trembling.

Pan Yan shook his head and said, "I never expected that the woman who is recruiting a husband would be so enchanting and charming, as if she were a little fairy that had fallen from the heavens."

Sister Xiao shook her head and said: "I have been busy for a long time preparing this table full of dishes, precisely to reward your affection. Why don't you try my cooking first and see how it is"

The serpent in my heart has a plan, and I said: "It seems that the young lady has seen through that person's scheme. Why was she deceived by me earlier? It appears that the young lady is not naive and innocent, but rather a wooden-headed fool.

Dong Caiqi said: "Isn't this too cheap for him? He has deceived me for a long time, and I want him to suffer a hundred times more than I do." As she spoke these words, her heart felt like it was being cut by a knife; she truly could not let go of this relationship. Thinking about the future without Yulang, she felt utterly lost and found life to be meaningless

Yu Lang sighed and said: "I have no genuine feelings for this little girl at all; the only one I truly cannot forget in my heart is you, Xiao Mei. Xiao Mei, come here."

Dong Caiqi secretly scolded the two for being shameless, but observing their demeanor, it seemed they were unaware of their presence here, which made him feel somewhat at ease, yet he was still annoyed by this situation. Xiao Mei asked, "Have you seen that little girl today?"

Yulang let out a sigh and lamented: "Xiao Mei, Xiao Mei, do not blame me for being heartless. I have been driven to a dead end by that little girl. If it were not for this, I would not be able to gain her trust, and my life would be nothing but ordinary and unremarkable."

The winding path: "There is absolutely no deception in nature. If Miss Dong can trust me, I will handle this matter with full authority. How about you take a look at the entire situation, Miss?"

The young man smiled faintly, immediately picking up his chopsticks to eat, praising the dishes without end. Xiao Mei was very pleased, continuously serving him food, while she herself only drank wine, her cheeks soon flushed, radiating beauty. The young man, feeling moved and anxious, embraced Xiao Mei, who let out a light laugh and kissed him on the chest and lower abdomen, the two of them writhing like worms.

She noticed Pan Yan gazing at her intently, feeling a slight shyness, but soon she opened her eyes wide and stared back without yielding. She asked, "Do you want me to call you 'Xiang Gong'? Isn't that just wishful thinking? What abilities do you have that would make me call you that?"

Dong Cai's whimsical thoughts: "What on earth is Tai Yi doing, entangled so intimately with him, it is truly embarrassing." Upon seeing this, her body grew warm, leaning against the coiled body, feeling as if she were sitting on pins and needles, overwhelmed with shyness

This statement is truly too excessive and overly flattering, coupled with audacity and recklessness. The guards in the prison, upon hearing this, were all enraged, glaring and watching closely. However, Pan Yan remained completely unaware, appearing relaxed and self-satisfied.

After waiting for a moment, the young lady Xiao walked into the room with an unfriendly expression, beads of cold sweat appearing on her forehead. She boiled water and cooked rice, personally taking to the kitchen with great diligence

She returned to her room to sleep, claiming to be unwell, and declined various social engagements. The Lord of Shebo City indulged her and did not intervene much.

Before long, Yulang returned and, upon seeing Xiaomei here, appeared somewhat surprised. However, he quickly replaced his expression with a smile and said, "My dear, you treat me so well. Meeting you, Yulang, is truly a blessing earned from a past life"

Dong Caiqi exclaimed "Wow" and burst into tears, stamping her feet and shouting: "How do you know everything? Can you see through my thoughts?"

Dong Caiqi slowly stopped crying, looked at him coldly, and said: "You claim to be clever, yet in reality, you are foolish. I initially had some regard for you, but your words and actions towards me have been disrespectful. I do not punish you, which can be considered an act of exceptional mercy. Now, tell me, how should I deal with you? If you can satisfy me, I will let you go."

He wrapped his arms around her body, pressing on her mute spot. Dong Caiqi felt both shy and anxious, unable to help but imagine how this person would manipulate her, which only heightened her fear and trepidation

Dong Caiqi thought: "This matter is easy. I have already avoided the cupboard once today; what harm is there in going through it again?" He nodded in agreement, set the plate down, and left. However, he was also afraid that the person would run away, so he instructed Wen Chao and the guards to listen to his orders, while in fact, they were to monitor this individual.

Dong Caiqi's expression turned stern as she said, "How bold of you to dare to tease this young lady." Although her words were severe, her tone was soft and carried a sense of room for negotiation

Pan Yan smiled and said: "This matter is far from over. When I attain a high position and great power, you, my beloved who is as beautiful as a celestial being and as intelligent as ice and snow, will instantly transform in my heart into a tasteless and repulsive yellow-faced woman. I will widely select beautiful women, gather lovely maidens, and pile them in the palace, indulging in pleasures day and night, while you, Miss Dong, will be cast into the cold palace. When I have given birth to dozens of sons and recall you, I will then sever your foolish head and kick it around to vent my resentment, for you were the one who made me suffer in silence back then."