Shen Qingshan wasn't staying at the same inn as Fang Jie and his companions. It was unclear whether she genuinely wanted to give Fang Jie a chance to steal her away. However, it was obvious that after much deliberation, he had abandoned his plan to meet Shen Qingshan at another inn.
It had nothing to do with courage.
Sitting in a chair, Fang Jie suddenly felt a strong urge to drink tonight. So, he naturally took the wine jug from Mu Xiaoyao's hand and took a large gulp. Mu Xiaoyao had already drunk half of the wine; he didn't mind that she had drunk from it, and she didn't mind that he took it and drank from it.
"Mr. Zhuo, may I ask you a question?"
He turned to look at Zhuo Buyi, who was standing by the window looking at the night sky.
"Ask away."
Zhuo Buyi didn't turn around, still gazing at the night sky, his gaze seemingly drawn to a particular star.
"After I arrive in the capital, who should I visit first?"
Fang Jie asked earnestly.
Hearing this, Zhuo Buyi hesitated slightly, then couldn't help but laugh. He turned to Fang Jie and said with a smile, "With your status, you don't actually need to pay any visits to anyone."
His words were quite tactful.
Fang Jie understood the meaning.
"I still hope you can give me some guidance."
He hadn't given up.
Zhuo Buyi gave Fang Jie a meaningful look and couldn't help but sigh, "Someone like you is indeed suited to working in officialdom."
He walked back to the table and sat down. Fang Jie got up and poured him a cup of hot tea. After thinking for a moment, Zhuo Buyi said, "If you really want your path to the capital to be smoother, the first people you need to visit aren't high-ranking officials, but rather some ordinary people… For example, those officials in the Ministry of War who are only sixth or seventh rank. Although their power and position aren't high, some of them happen to be in charge of your approval procedures."
"These people aren't as difficult to please as those high-ranking officials, but their tastes are often very discerning… Because they're constantly being made difficult by their superiors, if they don't make things difficult for a lowly border soldier like you, who else can they make things difficult for? So, building a good relationship with them isn't easy. Giving an expensive gift might not solve anything; it's best to cater to their tastes. You come from a scout background; to find out what someone likes…" "It's not difficult to know what you dislike or hate."
"Second..."
Zhuo Buyi continued, "You need to quickly build good relationships with the candidates taking the Martial Arts Academy exam, especially those from military backgrounds. You know there are two types of people who can take the Martial Arts Academy exam: one is the so-called talent selected from various cities, who are actually just sons of wealthy families who need to gain experience. The other is people like you, selected from various armies—truly capable talents... Therefore, in every Martial Arts Academy exam, the candidates are clearly divided. Sons of wealthy families look down on you soldiers, while those from the military often band together against a common enemy."
"Find the people you need."
He summarized his meaning in one sentence. Fang Jie nodded sincerely, "Thank you for your guidance, sir."
"It's not really guidance."
Zhuo Buyi smiled and said, "I just find you an interesting young man. You make me feel very comfortable. Unlike those aristocratic families, who clearly look down on those from humble backgrounds but pretend to be courteous and respectful—it's disgusting."
"Insightful."
Fang Jie nodded and smiled, "The higher one's social standing, the more they try to appear approachable."
Zhuo Buyi said, "After we arrive in the capital, I will inform the intelligence department to take care of you. Although this is somewhat against the rules, our acquaintance is fate. Besides… who knows, this gamble I made with so little investment might actually be on the right person."
After saying this, he couldn't help but ask curiously, "What exactly have you prepared? Why did you seem so confident that you could enter officialdom that day?"
"Not some great talent, but I reckon it'll be very practical."
"For example?"
Zhuo Buyi continued to ask. Fang Jie thought for a moment, then asked seriously, "What is fifteen plus sixteen?"
Zhuo Buyi was taken aback. Although he found the question somewhat strange, he still gave the answer: "Thirty-one."
"How do you calculate it?"
"Why bother calculating such a simple arithmetic problem?"
"Then how do you calculate the fraction of 18,427 plus 3,119 minus 403?"
Fang Jie asked again.
This time, Zhuo Buyi didn't answer, but asked seriously, "How do you think it should be calculated?"
Fang Jie chuckled: "I can't say."
He stood up, looked at the inky black night outside the window, and after a moment of silence, suddenly said, "I'm going out for a bit."
Da Quan looked up at him, but Mu Xiaoyao's expression froze, and she didn't look at him.
"I'll be back soon."
He said this while looking at Mu Xiaoyao.
Mu Xiaoyao still didn't answer.
Fang Jie smiled self-deprecatingly, straightened his clothes, and left the room. Leaving the inn and walking east along the main street of Lulai County for about ten minutes, Fang Jie arrived at another inn. It was late, and the innkeeper was putting up the doors in preparation for closing. Seeing Fang Jie arrive, the sleepy innkeeper waved his hand and said, "We have no rooms left. Please check again tomorrow to see if any guests are checking out."
Before Fang Jie could reply, a voice suddenly came from inside the inn: "You're here to see me? Come on up."
The innkeeper was startled, turned around, and immediately widened his eyes. Standing at the top of the stairs on the second floor was the stunning beauty he had been fantasizing about for half the night. Her slender waist, her full breasts, and the curve of her hips outlined by her skirt as she walked—all of this had fueled his fantasies.
Therefore, when he looked at Fang Jie again, he couldn't help but secretly admire her.
Such a goddess-like figure actually came out to greet him… In an instant, while filled with jealousy and envy, Fang Jie couldn't help but scrutinize him closely, then a slight sense of inferiority crept in… This young man, at least, had a handsome face.
"You've kept me waiting impatiently."
Chen Qingshan, draped in a sheer shawl that subtly revealed her shoulders, leaned against the stairs and spoke softly.
At that moment, the waiter felt his heart melt.
…
…
Underneath Shen Qingshan's sheer shawl was a light pink strapless dress, very thin, probably what she usually wore to bed. The strapless dress fit her perfectly; under the light, the outline of her body was even visible. Especially her shoulders, faintly visible beneath the shawl, and her rounded, gradually rising breasts, made one's heart flutter.
Even though Fang Jie was preoccupied with his own thoughts, he still couldn't resist glancing at her a few more times. "Beautiful?"
Shen Qingshan smiled alluringly, spinning around on the spot, her skirt billowing up to reveal a pair of dazzlingly beautiful, snow-white legs. Fang Jie had no doubt that if she spun a few more times, he would see something even more stimulating.
"Beautiful."
He answered truthfully, his tone deliberately calm but absolutely sincere.
"How does she compare to Senior Sister?"
Shen Qingshan stopped, slowly walking to sit opposite Fang Jie and asking.
Fang Jie chose to remain silent.
"As expected, you still care about her more."
Shen Qingshan lowered her eyes, gently biting her lip. That single gesture was enough to captivate.
Fang Jie took a deep breath, trying his best to shift his attention away from Shen Qingshan. He glanced at the two sets of bowls and chopsticks, two wine cups, a pot of wine, and a table full of dishes on the table, and couldn't help but ask, "You knew I'd come?"
Shen Qingshan chuckled, raising her slender, delicate fingers to brush across Fang Jie's face. "If I were truly certain you'd come, I wouldn't have changed my clothes and prepared to sleep."
"The wine and food are still warm,"
Fang Jie said.
Shen Qingshan's alluring gaze swept over Fang Jie's face, her eyes full of approval. "I knew you were smart when we were together. Three and a half years have passed, and you've become even smarter… Back then, you knew how to use the relationship between me and my senior sister, and you also knew how to use everyone who protected you."
"Using" isn't a nice word,"
Fang Jie shook his head with a wry smile.
She blinked and said, "I know you're curious. Anyone would be."
Shen Qingshan sat up straight, poured herself a glass of wine, and drank it all in one gulp. As the wine entered her mouth, she couldn't help but frown slightly.
Fang Jie took the half-finished glass of wine she had left and drank it, then said, "You still don't like drinking, so why force yourself? Just because... Mu Xiaoyao's alcohol tolerance is amazing?"
"Is the wine really that good?"
She asked.
Fang Jie thought for a moment and replied, "Sister Xiaoyao drinks not necessarily because the wine is so good."
Hearing this, Shen Qingshan's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Are you flattering me?"
Shen Qingshan asked with a half-smile.
Fang Jie was silent for a moment and then said, "Can you tell me, who am I?"
Shen Qingshan looked at Fang Jie and sighed softly, "In the end, you're just curious about your own background. You came to see me, not to see me."
"We don't have that kind of close relationship."
Fang Jie's answer was direct.
"Then how close are you and Mu Xiaoyao?"
Shen Qingshan stared intently into Fang Jie's eyes, wanting to know if his next answer would be a lie. Even the most cunning person will inevitably reveal their true colors when lying. Besides, she didn't believe Fang Jie could hide anything from her.
"Perhaps, I consider her my older sister."
Fang Jie's answer slightly surprised Shen Qingshan, then she confirmed that she didn't see any falsehood in Fang Jie's eyes.
"Older sister?"
She couldn't help but laugh, then straightened up and looked at Fang Jie seriously, saying, "I don't want to be your older sister."
Fang Jie didn't understand this sentence.
...
...
Women have many ways to attract men, but undoubtedly the most direct one is undressing.
Shen Qingshan was undressing.
For Fang Jie, who, although only fifteen years old in this life, was already psychologically mature, the temptation was undoubtedly irresistible. Especially a beauty like Shen Qingshan, alluring to the core, was enough to make one's blood boil even before she undressed; when she began to undress, the whole world seemed to quiet down, making Fang Jie's increasingly heavy breathing all the more clear.
Fang Jie knew his body was changing, but he felt no shame.
It was a perfectly normal reaction, the kind any normal man would have.
"Have you ever had a woman?"
Shen Qingshan slowly removed the gauze draped over her shoulders, looking at Fang Jie earnestly.
"Women…no."
Fang Jie replied, "If I wanted to possess a woman, it wouldn't be difficult. At least back in Fan Gu, if I wanted, at least dozens of women would have married me. If I wanted, I could have cuckolded quite a few men. But unfortunately…though even I don't want to admit it's because of moral constraints."
"Then why haven't you had a woman?"
Shen Qingshan asked, revealing her rounded shoulders.
Her strapless top was low-cut, revealing half her breasts. In the dim light, her skin had a captivating, alabaster-like color. The gradually rising curve of her chest was so alluring, and the deep cleavage was enough to make one unable to look away.
"Can you tell me first, who am I?"
Fang Jie practically bit her lip as she asked the question.
Shen Qingshan pointed to her chest and said softly, "If you dare to help me take this dress off, I'll tell you."
Fang Jie looked at her dazzlingly beautiful breasts, breathing heavily.
Shen Qingshan wasn't in a hurry; she was certain Fang Jie was already in her grasp. She saw only desire in Fang Jie's eyes, an almost uncontrollable desire.
The sheer dress, revealing her curves under the light, even the outline of her legs and buttocks. Her waist was so slender it seemed almost impossible to grasp, and the small protrusions of her breasts were faintly visible beneath the dress.
These were her fatal weapons.
Just when she thought Fang Jie would inevitably rush over and tear off her clothes, Fang Jie's eyes suddenly cleared again.
"Although you won't say it, I'm at least certain of one thing now… the person who gathered you all to protect me must be a figure of immense power in this world. So much so that… even someone as aloof as you would resort to stripping to try and control me. While I don't know what bargaining chips you're trying to get from the person behind me, or whether you're seeking his protection, I can tell you… you might be disappointed."
Fang Jie stood up and reached out to pinch the somewhat dazed Shen Qingshan's chest.
Just as precisely as he had pinched Widow Sun's breast in Fan Gu, he found the barely noticeable nipple. Small, with a pleasant texture.
"Quick, not bad."
Fang Jie laughed heartily and turned to leave.
Shen Qingshan bit her lip, looking at the sheathless longsword not far away, but ultimately didn't make a move.
After a while, the half-naked, alluring woman suddenly smiled, walked to the window, and looked at the figure elongated by the moonlight on the street.
"You're right, I did want to control you…"
She murmured, watching his retreating figure, "However, you little rascal did indeed tempt me a bit just now."