Chapter Sixty-Nine: Seduction

The next morning, Chu Bing surprisingly woke up early. The hens in the coop clucked noisily, shrinking their necks when they saw her.

“Tsk tsk, you’re quite like them,” Chu Bing teased the system.

The system refused to respond.

“Hongxiu!” A voice, suppressed with anger, shouted sharply.

Chu Bing turned around and saw Old Zhao standing in the courtyard, his face dark as he stared at her.

“All this... did you do it?”

Early that morning, Old Zhao had found a freshly dug vegetable patch at the corner of the courtyard, beside it a grapevine swing. This was meant to be the residence of a prime minister, not some village house!

Following Old Zhao’s gaze, Chu Bing looked at her handiwork from yesterday, nodded proudly, and said, “Isn’t it wonderful?”

She had worked hard all day for this!

“This is utter nonsense! Tear all this down immediately! If others see it, how will the young master keep his dignity?” Old Zhao sneered, “A village girl is always a village girl—never fit for the stage!”

Chu Bing was displeased. “Why isn’t it suitable? I think it’s lovely! So much charm and character!”

Before arriving here, she had always dreamed of having her own courtyard, growing vegetables and flowers.

Seeing Chu Bing refuse to move, Old Zhao strode forward, ready to dismantle everything himself. Watching her hard-earned work about to be destroyed, Chu Bing hurried to block him.

Old Zhao’s hand curled into a claw, striking fiercely at Chu Bing.

She gritted her teeth and dodged.

This old man was serious!

A glint flashed in Old Zhao’s eyes; his second attack landed toward Chu Bing’s shoulder blade.

Unable to reveal her true abilities, Chu Bing could only dodge repeatedly, but Old Zhao grew more aggressive, almost injuring her several times.

“Bang!”

Old Zhao, seeing Chu Bing evade again and again, suddenly reversed his hand and slammed it onto the grapevine swing.

The swing crashed to the ground, and Chu Bing’s anger flared.

This was her labor of love!

In a rush of heat, forgetting to hide her skills, she quickly formed a series of hand signs, setting up a formation at her side, then dashed toward Old Zhao.

Caught off guard, Old Zhao was kicked hard by Chu Bing and fell to the ground.

The air fell silent.

It was over!

Chu Bing quietly withdrew her leg.

Old Zhao, sprawled on the ground, was not furious; instead, a hint of satisfaction appeared on his face. “You really aren’t just an ordinary maid!”

How could a maid be so skilled?

Chu Bing forced a laugh, stepped forward to help him up, and smiled apologetically. “You misunderstood, I just have a bit more strength than usual, I really don’t know any martial arts…”

“Hmph!” Old Zhao snorted coldly, pushing Chu Bing away.

She stood awkwardly, inwardly lamenting, uncertain how she would explain herself. Suddenly, Old Zhao’s surprised voice rang out.

“Young master? You’ve been standing here all along?”

Chu Bing spun around in shock. Li Mohan stood quietly at the courtyard gate, expression indifferent as he watched her, who knows for how long.

She tugged at the corner of her mouth—finished! Surely he would suspect her!

Chu Bing stood uneasily, waiting for Li Mohan to question her.

She lowered her head like a pitiful child.

Step by step, Li Mohan walked toward Chu Bing. She stiffened, bracing for the impending judgment… but Li Mohan simply passed by her and went into his room.

What was happening?

Chu Bing blinked, bewildered, turning to see Li Mohan had already closed the door, leaving both her and Old Zhao—who always demanded she be thrown out—outside.

He wasn’t angry with her?

A tumult of emotions swept through Chu Bing. Li Mohan, so clever, surely had long noticed her oddities, yet he never spoke of them.

Did he trust her? Or simply not care?

Either possibility made Chu Bing feel guilty.

Old Zhao, having been snubbed by Li Mohan, glanced at Chu Bing still standing there, snorted, and left.

Chu Bing bit her lip. “Let’s go!”

“Where to?” The system, having watched everything, couldn’t help but ask.

It had been worried for its host—if Li Mohan caught her out, not only would her mission fail, she might not even survive.

Chu Bing clenched her fists. “I’ll find a way to please the big boss!”

Since she had angered Li Mohan, she would find a way to win him back!

Chu Bing was decisive. She grabbed her money pouch and went out to buy ingredients, determined to cook a meal herself to soothe Li Mohan’s temper.

After all, the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach. With her skill, she was confident she could quickly win him over.

Amid swirling steam in the hot spring, a face of extraordinary beauty appeared.

Li Yuxi opened his eyes, looking toward the distance, his voice icy. “Who’s there?”

A charming figure approached.

Yunxin, dressed in a thin gauze dress, swayed her hips gracefully as she came forward. “My lord, it’s me.”

As she spoke, she tugged at her dress, revealing a patch of snowy white skin at her chest.

A flicker of mockery crossed Li Yuxi’s eyes, though his expression remained unchanged. His voice grew even gentler, “What brings you here?”

“I’ve come to serve you.” Yunxin bent down, her hands nearly touching Li Yuxi’s shoulders.

She gazed at the man before her with infatuation.

She had never seen such a handsome man—powerful and striking. Following him was far better than serving the useless county magistrate!

From the moment Yunxin saw Li Yuxi’s true face, she had made up her mind to stay by his side.

She followed Li Yuxi to this manor, believing it was her opportunity.

If she could win his favor, she could have him.

Li Yuxi pushed her hand away.

He looked at Yunxin with a half-smile, half-sneer. “I remember telling you all, when I am alone, I don’t need any service.”

Embarrassment flashed across Yunxin’s face, quickly replaced by coyness. Her fingers touched Li Yuxi’s face, her voice sweet and seductive, “But I truly am devoted to you…”

Her hand slid down Li Yuxi’s face to his chest. The disdain in his eyes grew stronger, finally reaching its limit. He unleashed his energy, pushing Yunxin away.

“Ah!” Yunxin fell to the ground, looking at Li Yuxi in disbelief.

Li Yuxi’s gaze was calm, now chillingly cold. “If you wish to keep your miserable life, then get out.”

Yunxin bit her lip, fear quickly overwhelming her. She limped away, holding her leg as she fled.