12: Chapter 12 The Lady's Secret

The river breeze was slightly cool, making the willow branches on the shore rustle.

Tang Xiaowu tightly clutched the corner of her clothes, her voice so low it was like she was talking to herself, yet it reached Chen Shanzhi's ears clearly:

"Earlier today, some people at Four Seas Academy were... were discussing those rumors about you and me. Senior Brother Tang Liu couldn't stand it and went to argue with them, but it turned out to be the youngest son of the Minister of Rites. They got into a disagreement and started fighting; Senior Brother Tang Liu didn't hold back his strength..."

Speaking of this, Tang Xiaowu's body trembled. She looked up at Chen Shanzhi, her eyes red:

"He destroyed the other's Dantian and even broke seven or eight of his ribs. The person is still unconscious in the clinic, and Senior Brother Tang Liu was taken away by the people from the Jiantian Division who rushed there. He's likely locked up in the Imperial Prison now."

"Destroyed his Dantian?"

Chen Shanzhi was stunned, and the folding fan he was waving stopped.

This plot isn't right.

As a veteran gamer, he clearly remembered that this was originally a prerequisite plot for the protagonist Tang Liu to join the First Prince's faction.

According to the original work, that playboy young master should have harassed Tang Xiaowu, and Tang Liu would teach him a lesson, but it would only be superficial injuries like a bruised Face.

Although the Minister of Rites was old-fashioned, he valued talent above all. Instead of blaming Tang Liu, he would have appreciated his spirit, leading to the later scene where he introduced him to the First Prince.

How did it get to the point of directly destroying someone's Dantian here?

"This is a bit too ruthless," Chen Shanzhi muttered.

It seems that because he had let Tang Liu eavesdrop from the next room that night, Tang Liu had been overly stimulated?

So these past few days, Tang Liu had been suppressing a surge of anger with nowhere to vent.

Then he happened to encounter the son of the Minister of Rites harassing Tang Xiaowu, so he just exploded?

"This really is the butterfly effect..."

Chen Shanzhi rubbed his temples; this matter was a bit tricky.

If it were an ordinary brawl, it would just be a matter of a single word given the Face of the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion.

But entering the Jiantian Division made it troublesome. Commander Fu Qingyun of the Jiantian Division was a well-known Iron-Faced Judge who was incorruptible; he wouldn't care at all about the Face of the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion.

What's more, the victim was the son of the Minister of Rites.

Although the Minister of Rites had no military power, he was the leader of the Pure Stream faction in court and was backed by the First Prince.

With his own son crippled, this grudge was definitely deep.

"Chen Shanzhi..."

Seeing Chen Shanzhi remain silent for a long time, the hope in Tang Xiaowu's heart sank bit by bit.

She also knew how difficult this matter was.

Over the past few days, she had begged everyone, from the Senior Brothers and Junior Brothers who usually hovered around her, to even the Elders of the academy.

And the result?

As soon as they heard the words Jiantian Division and Minister of Rites, each one ran faster than a rabbit.

Only those few with ill intentions hinted that if she were willing to offer herself, they might be able to find a way.

"You... don't have a way either?"

Tang Xiaowu bit her bloodless lips, a hint of despair in her voice.

Chen Shanzhi came back to his senses and looked at the pitiful girl before him.

Under the moonlight, her clear and beautiful Face appeared exceptionally pale, and the tear stains at the corners of her eyes had not yet dried. Even someone with a heart of stone would soften a bit upon seeing her.

But Chen Shanzhi didn't agree immediately. He frowned, putting on a troubled expression as he paced back and forth along the riverbank.

"Xiaowu, it's not that I won't help you. The Jiantian Division oversees all the Martial Artists in the world. This incident with Tang Liu happened right under the Emperor's nose in the capital; it's practically a slap in the Face to the Jiantian Division.

Moreover, the other party is the Minister of Rites, a First-Rank Official of the court.

If I intervene in this, I'd be pushing the Zhenguo Marquis Mansion into a pit of fire. If that old man of mine found out, he'd definitely break my legs."

Hearing these reasons one by one, Tang Xiaowu's body swayed, nearly unable to stand.

That's right, she had no relation to him; why should he take such a big risk for Tang Liu, who had offended him?

Furthermore, she had previously treated him coldly and never given him a good look.

"I understand."

Tang Xiaowu smiled miserably and turned to leave.

Since there was no hope, she could only attempt a prison break.

Even if she died, she would die together with her brother.

But just as she turned around, a thought suddenly surfaced in her mind.

The Witch Priest's words echoed in her ears again.

"For the sake of the tribe, some sacrifices are worth it."

Tang Xiaowu's steps came to a sudden halt.

She took a deep breath as if she had made a certain decision, then suddenly turned around and stared fixedly at Chen Shanzhi:

"As long as you can save Senior Brother Tang Liu."

"I promise to do one thing for you."

She paused, her voice trembling but exceptionally firm:

"Anything."

As soon as those words were spoken, the air seemed to freeze.

Chen Shanzhi stopped pacing and turned to look at her.

Those eyes, which usually held a bit of playfulness, lacked it now, appearing exceptionally deep instead.

He naturally knew the weight of those words.

For a woman like Tang Xiaowu, who valued her chastity more than her life, who knows how much mental preparation it took for her to say these words.

This Tang Liu really held a significant position in her heart.

No wonder she was the heroine who followed the protagonist from the start of the game.

It seems that if he wanted to max out her favorability, he had a long and difficult road ahead.

"Anything?"

Chen Shanzhi's gaze swept over her graceful figure, a hint of playfulness curling at the corner of his mouth:

"Including not going back tonight?"

Tang Xiaowu's Face turned deathly pale instantly, her nails digging deep into her palms.

But she didn't argue; she just closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling as two lines of tears fell:

"...Yes."

Seeing this, Chen Shanzhi sighed in his heart.

Although it was tempting, if he truly took advantage of her in her time of need, her favorability would likely drop to a negative value, making it difficult to increase it later.

In the game, to get the rewards behind each heroine's side quest, one had to reach the highest favorability.

So, while a forced melon might quench one's thirst, it wasn't sweet.

"Fine."

Chen Shanzhi put away his frivolous manner, his tone becoming serious:

"Dry your tears. Although This Heir is lecherous, I won't go so far as to take advantage of someone in distress.

As for the reward, we'll talk about it after the person is saved.

Now, stay quiet and don't disturb my thinking."

After speaking, he ignored Tang Xiaowu and lowered his head in deep thought.

Tang Xiaowu snapped her eyes open and looked at the figure with his back to her, a complex emotion surging in her heart.

He... he refused?

He was clearly a lecherous playboy, yet when faced with what was essentially her explicit offer, he actually refused?

For a moment, Tang Xiaowu seemed unable to understand this lecherous Heir before her.

Meanwhile, Chen Shanzhi's mind was racing.

Going head-to-head with the Jiantian Division was definitely out of the question; he had to find another way.

That old man, the Minister of Rites, was also stubborn and stuck in his ways.

But...

A very subtle, mischievous smile suddenly appeared at the corner of Chen Shanzhi's mouth.

A hidden side quest from the game surfaced in his mind, titled "Madam's Secret."

In the original game, the legal wife of the Minister of Rites, Madam Li...

On the surface, she was a model of the capital's noblewomen—dignified, virtuous, and skilled in managing the household. Even the Empress in the palace had praised her as a "Paragon of Female Virtue."

But in reality?

Because she had long faced that old-fashioned, dull, and perhaps even sexually incompetent Minister, Madam Li's heart had long been lonely, empty, and cold.

In the game, as soon as the protagonist first visited the Ministers Mansion, this seemingly dignified lady would secretly seduce him.

And if the protagonist accepted the seduction, he would enter this side quest.

Then, Madam Li would take advantage of the Minister of Rites being away at court to invite the protagonist to the Ministers Mansion.

Then the two of them would 'applaud for love' in various buildings throughout the mansion.

Looking back at this plot now, there were all sorts of hidden pieces of information.

For example, Madam Li and the protagonist left traces all over the mansion. With such a big commotion, why did the Minister of Rites not know anything?

Could Madam Li, a mere woman, control the entire Ministers Mansion with just her wits?

Based on Madam Li's wanton character in the game, it probably wasn't her wits she relied on, but her body.

Looking at it now, it was hard to say if that son crippled by Tang Liu was even the Minister's biological offspring.

Chen Shanzhi stroked his chin.

As long as he handled this Madam Li and got a hold of her secrets...

He could have her step forward and say the incident was a misunderstanding, or simply design a way for her to admit the son wasn't the Minister's biological child; the matter would then be easily resolved.

After all, once the Minister found out, he'd likely wish the son was crippled to avoid the annoyance of seeing him.

"I have a way." Chen Shanzhi snapped his fingers and turned to look at Tang Xiaowu, who had been watching him nervously.

"You thought of a way?" Tang Xiaowu asked urgently, the light of hope reigniting in her eyes.

"You could say that."

Chen Shanzhi nodded, looking profoundly mysterious:

"Trying to go through the Minister of Rites definitely won't work; that old man probably wants to skin Tang Liu alive right now.

However, we can take the route of the Minister of Rites' wife."

"The Madam route?" Tang Xiaowu was completely bewildered.

"Exactly."

Chen Shanzhi talked nonsense with a straight Face:

"I heard that the wife of the Minister of Rites is most kind-hearted; she wouldn't even step on an ant.

Moreover, her words carry a lot of weight in the mansion, and the Minister listens to her.

As long as we can see her, explain the situation reasonably and emotionally, and clarify the whole story.

And then provide appropriate compensation, with Madam Li's personality, she might say a few good words for us."

After listening, Tang Xiaowu said hesitantly:

"But the Ministers Mansion is heavily guarded now; how can we see her?"

"This is where This Heir's intelligence network comes in."

Chen Shanzhi gave a mysterious smile:

"As far as I know, Madam Li enjoys refined activities and goes to the 'Yiyuan Garden' on the outskirts of the capital every week to enjoy the flowers. That's our chance."

"Then we'll go to Yiyuan Garden to find her tomorrow!" Tang Xiaowu said impatiently.

"It's not that simple."

Chen Shanzhi shook his head, a look of difficulty appearing on his Face as he sighed:

"First, we might not necessarily happen to encounter Madam Li visiting Yiyuan Garden tomorrow.

Second, as you know, This Heir's reputation in the capital... cough, isn't very good.

If I approach Madam Li alone, I'm afraid before I even speak, I'll be driven out with clubs as a lecher.

When that time comes, let alone pleading for mercy, I might even be slapped with a charge of harassing an official's family member."

Tang Xiaowu was stunned.

Indeed, with Chen Shanzhi's notorious reputation for lechery known throughout the streets, going to see Madam Li alone would surely lead to misunderstandings.

"Then... what should we do?" Tang Xiaowu panicked slightly.

Chen Shanzhi looked at her, a flash of cunning in his eyes, then he shrugged his shoulders helplessly:

"That's why I need a cover."

"A cover?"

"Yes."

Chen Shanzhi pointed at Tang Xiaowu:

"I need you to go with me during this time.

Then the two of us will pretend to be a... cough, pair of garden-visiting lovers who are of one mind.

Think about it. If I have a beauty as stunning as you by my side, others will surely think I'm wholeheartedly accompanying a lady, so they naturally won't suspect our purpose for coming to Yiyuan Garden is to contact Madam Li.

Then we'll arrange a chance encounter, naturally strike up a conversation with Madam Li, and only then will it be possible to inform her of the situation and have her plead for us."

Tang Xiaowu was dazed for a moment after hearing this.

Pretend to be a couple?

Visit the garden with him?

Her instinct was to refuse.

"What? Unwilling?"

Chen Shanzhi looked at her conflicted expression and shrugged:

"If you're unwilling, then there's nothing I can do. This is the only way I can think of for now."

Tang Xiaowu took a deep breath, thinking of Tang Liu still suffering in the Great Prison.

Compared to her brother's safety, what did her reputation and shame matter?

And...

Chen Shanzhi was also doing this to save someone, forced to play this scene with her.

Thinking of this, Tang Xiaowu gritted her teeth, an unnatural blush appearing on her cold Face:

"Fine... I promise you."

"That's the spirit."

Chen Shanzhi was overjoyed in his heart, but his Face wore an expression of 'I'm also making a sacrifice for the sake of the big picture':

"Then it's a deal.

Since we're pretending to be a couple, we have to make it look real.

If I have to hold your hand or put an arm around your waist or something when the time comes, don't give me a sour Face. If we blow our cover, all our efforts will be in vain."

Tang Xiaowu lowered her head in shame and anger, her voice as thin as a mosquito's:

"As long as... as long as it's not excessive, I'll... listen to you."

"Alright, then it's settled."

Chen Shanzhi looked up at the sky, his mood excellent.

"It's getting late, and it's not safe for a girl like you to be out alone."

Chen Shanzhi straightened his lapels and said very gentlemanly:

"Come on, I'll take you back. Tomorrow morning, I'll drive to pick you up. Remember to dress nicely."

Tang Xiaowu nodded and obediently followed behind Chen Shanzhi.

Looking at the tall figure ahead, that feeling of loathing in her heart seemed to... inexplicably lessen a bit.

Perhaps he really wasn't as bad as the rumors said?

She just thought about tomorrow, having to pretend to be a couple with this playboy Heir in broad daylight at Yiyuan Garden.

A wave of shame surged from the depths of her heart.

Yiyuan Garden was no secluded garden; it was the largest free royal garden in the entire capital.

Students from Four Seas Academy and many high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital all liked to visit Yiyuan Garden.

Tomorrow, she would go to Yiyuan Garden with him as a couple.

I'm afraid in just a few days, this matter would spread throughout the entire capital.

By then, those rumors about her and him from before would likely be confirmed.

But to save her brother, let those rumors spread if they must.

As long as her brother believed in her, it would be enough.