Persuading Yun Niang (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

Even ants cling to life—why should people not cherish their own?

Under Xu Xing's few brief words, Zhao Yunniang understood.

Even if she remained loyal to Han Sui now, it would still be hard for her to preserve her life. On the other hand, if she threw in her lot with Xu Xing, with the child in her belly... even if Xu Xing were a harsh, ungrateful official, a mother rose with her son. So long as Xu Xing prospered in the future, there would surely be a bite of food for her.

"Husband."

"Betraying Han Sui is not difficult, but... how are we to explain what happened today?"

Zhao Yunniang twisted the hem of her skirt, bit her lip, and asked.

"If you do not die these next few days, Han Sui will certainly grow suspicious. Then this humble one..."

She stared at Xu Xing, frailty tinged with a thread of resolve.

If Xu Xing intended to send her to her death as well...

Then even if she died, she would tear a piece of flesh from Xu Xing before she did.

"I already have a foolproof plan for this."

Xu Xing glanced toward the cell on the left, then withdrew his gaze.

Academician Su had already repaid his "kindness of a single meal." To go begging Academician Su again now would be a little too ungrateful.

Though he was no gentleman, he was unwilling to be a petty man.

"No one saw whether I ate the food you brought..."

"So... I have here a method for making glass. Present this method to Han Sui. Say that I gave it to you because I wished to live a little longer. Han Sui will certainly see the value of producing this kind of glass..."

"Compared with this method, the three hundred warhorses missing from the Imperial Stud Directorate are not worth a single coin."

"With this, the two of us can buy some time."

Xu Xing took a sheet of paper from the writing desk and handed it to Zhao Yunniang. "This method is not complicated. There is no need to take the paper out with you. There is still an hour and a half until dawn—enough for you to memorize everything on this page."

The instance world was a treasure trove.

Though it might fall short of the real world in terms of supernatural power, some of its knowledge, once brought into the real world, was worth a fortune.

Moreover, the time difference between the real world and the instance world was also a wonderful thing.

For instance, the strategy he had just used to force Zhao Yunniang onto his side could not have been fully thought through in such a short time. Yet by borrowing the difference in time between the two worlds, he had five times as much time to think it over and break the deadlock.

"Glass?"

After taking the plain sheet of paper, Zhao Yunniang's willow brows drew together.

She knew that glass was worth more than gold, but Xu Xing actually possessed a method for making it?

"Ordinary sand can be used to refine glass?"

She stared at the steps for making glass, and the longer she looked, the more her heart pounded.

If this method was real, then whoever obtained it could become rich enough to rival a nation in time. That was no wild dream.

"Thank you, Husband."

"For saving Yunniang's life..."

Zhao Yunniang curtsied to Xu Xing and spoke softly.

It was true that Xu Xing had nearly cost her her life, but women like them, pure courtesans, had lives thinner than paper to begin with. Though she bore resentment toward Xu Xing, after thinking it through carefully, Xu Xing was still her husband. In the future, he would also count as her only support...

Thus, these words were meant to ease the awkwardness and conflict between them.

"There is no need to thank me."

"You and I are husband and wife who share a bed and pillow. From now on, we will rely on each other..."

"Zhang'er is indeed a fine name."

Xu Xing lightly wrapped an arm around Zhao Yunniang's slender waist, his tone gentle.

Old Marx said it well.

When profits reach one hundred percent, capitalists will take risks. When profits reach two hundred percent, they will defy the law. Once profits reach three hundred percent, they will trample everything under heaven.

The profit between sand and glass was more than merely tripled.

And sand cost nothing in the first place.

In other words, what Xu Xing had given Han Sui was the art of turning stone into gold.

Before Han Sui managed to fire qualified glass and build high-temperature boilers and the like, the first person who would not want Xu Xing dead would likely be Han Sui himself. During that time, Xu Xing was fully confident that he could lie low until he turned the tables on Han Sui.

After all... compared to the supernatural, worldly power was not worth mentioning.

Furthermore, his fate kept improving. When Han Sui moved against him then, he would likely suffer some unforeseen disaster and die an untimely death.

Before long, an hour had passed.

"Mrs. Xu, dawn has broken."

"Visiting hours have begun."

Outside the cell, Old Li the jailer called out.

Zhao Yunniang immediately tore down the cloth curtain, carried the food box out of the cell, then pulled a silver ingot from her sleeve and pressed it into Old Li's hand. "My husband has been in your care these past days, sir. This humble woman is grateful beyond words."

"Thank you, Madam Xu."

Old Li's face split into a grin as he accepted the silver.

The silver Zhao Yunniang had given him this time was not meal money meant to improve Xu Xing's food and drink, but purely a gratuity for him.

The former had to be shared with his colleagues; the latter counted as extra income for himself.

"Madam Xu, allow this lowly one to offer you a reminder."

"There are mounted officers from the Night Patrol Directorate outside the Imperial Prison. Commander Liu has given the order: not even a scrap of paper may leave the prison. You are a woman, after all—it is hard to say they will not get rough..."

Old Li said.

The mounted officers had long grown used to lax discipline. For ordinary people coming and going, a casual search was usually enough. But Zhao Yunniang was a woman—how could those mounted officers resist taking the chance to cop a feel and indulge their hands?

Lord Han's reputation might be formidable, but it was not greater than Commander Liu's.

"Then please, sir, show me a clear road."

Zhao Yunniang lifted her delicate brows and handed Old Li another silver ingot.

She had no desire to suffer such indignity and let others take advantage of her.

"Please follow this lowly one, Madam Xu."

"There is a secret passage in the Imperial Prison. It is usually used to transport night soil, but no one is there now..."

Old Li led the way, smiling broadly.

Before long, the Imperial Prison had returned to silence.

"You told Zhao Yunniang the truth?"

"You're not pretending anymore?"

"Since ancient times, whores have no hearts and actors no righteousness. You trusted her so easily—sooner or later, you will bring ruin upon yourself."

Seeing that Xu Xing's breathing was steady, Chang Ji understood the crux of it after a moment's thought and mocked him.

He knew a little about the effects of Musk Dragon Powder as well.

He had originally thought Xu Xing was deeply calculating, capable of bluffing him with ease. Yet unexpectedly, Xu Xing had believed Zhao Yunniang so readily. Then again, beneath a beauty trap, how many heroes had bent the knee?

"No."

"She had no choice but to believe me."

Xu Xing shook his head and answered succinctly.

"What method did you use?"

"If you get out... can you take me with you?"

Chang Ji's gaze flickered as he asked in a low voice.

Xu Xing's words did not sound like something a man caught in a "beauty trap" would say.

"Wait!"

"One word: wait!"

Xu Xing gave Chang Ji a meaningful look.

Some people might not necessarily accomplish anything, but they would certainly ruin things.

Though he had never said that he intended to escape from the Imperial Prison, with Chang Ji's wits, he would surely guess his intentions. Rather than conceal it by halves, he might as well speak plainly.

What he lacked now was time.

Therefore, during this period, he absolutely could not let Chang Ji spoil things.

"I believe you."

Surprise showed in Chang Ji's eyes. He stared straight at Xu Xing for several moments, then nodded solemnly.