Only after Jiang Liuli had knelt until she lost all feeling and fainted did Jiang An receive the news. He hurried back from outside, not even knowing whom to vent his anger on.
After ordering servants to take Jiang Liuli back, he had no desire to stay in the East Courtyard either.
He wanted to see Jiang Mother, only to be turned away with one excuse after another.
Left with no other choice, Jiang An could only sleep in his study.
When the system reported this to Jiang Shuyue, she was not surprised in the slightest.
[Serves that scumbag right! But my mother's being strange too. I feel like she's already seen through my father's little schemes, so why hasn't she kicked him out yet? Is she saving him for New Year's as stale leftovers?]
The system had accompanied several hosts and understood human nature better than Jiang Shuyue did. [I think your mother doesn't want to let him off cheaply. Losing his reputation and standing would hurt him more than killing him.]
[True. My scumbag father acts so nice in front of outsiders that my mother has to do some planning. Inch forward, step by step, and destroy him until living is worse than death-that's the way to go! That's my mother for you. What a legend!]
Jiang Shuyue burst into giggles. The system could no longer tell which of them was the Great Villain.
"What's made you so happy?"
"Husband? Nothing. I was just thinking that a banquet at the Imperial Palace must be very interesting!"
Little liar. The lies just roll off her tongue.
Zhou Yunshen sat down beside the bed and pulled her into his arms, greedily breathing in her delicate fragrance. Even his mind felt considerably clearer.
"Palace banquets are the most tedious things imaginable. What's interesting about them?"
"How could they be tedious? There are so many beautiful women."
[Three women make a whole play. A crowd of women means a whole bunch of plays! There might not even be enough stages for them all. How entertaining!]
The system nodded furiously. [Exactly, exactly! It's a place where juicy gossip piles up, with plenty of green-tea schemers and white-lotus innocents. It's very entertaining!]
Jiang Shuyue looped her arms around his neck and rubbed against his broad, double-door chest. "But it is the Imperial Palace, after all. I don't know the rules, and I don't want to learn them. If I get into trouble, you have to help me, husband."
She's plainly just lazy, and she wants to use me as a shield.
Still, that isn't out of the question.
Zhou Yunshen rather enjoyed the way she wheedled and often lamented that she was a green-tea spirit.
With that seductive little look, she ought to have been a fox spirit instead.
Zhou Yunshen tapped his cheek. "That depends on how you perform, my wife!"
"Hehe, I knew you were the best, husband."
Jiang Shuyue knelt on his thighs, cradled Zhou Yunshen's face, and lightly pecked his lips.
A faint, fresh tea fragrance rushed straight into Zhou Yunshen's very core. It felt as though even his old injuries had been healed.
"My wife, you really are an enchantress."
[Wrong. I'm a half-immortal, just one step away from becoming a true immortal.]
Zhou Yunshen held her hand and rubbed it against his lips. "My mistake. My wife isn't an enchantress. She's a little fairy-the most enticing kind."
Jiang Shuyue felt something was odd. [System, he seems hotter than usual. Something's wrong. Does he have a fever?]
The system shook its head. [He's not feverish. He's horny.]
Zhou Yunshen did not deny it, which amounted to an admission.
Tomorrow would be another day of an aching back and sore waist.
The next day, Jiang Shuyue sat on a reclining chair in the courtyard, tallying her Green Tea Points. She was only fifty points short of being able to redeem a Marrow-Cleansing Pill.
Jiang Shuyue was thoroughly displeased. [That little green-tea schemer is so useless! I'm one kick away from scoring, and she won't put in any effort! Where am I supposed to make up these fifty points?]
[No need. The Green Tea Points will deliver themselves to your door.]
"Oh my, it's almost noon, and you're still lying here, elder sister. How leisurely! Unlike your little sister here, who got up at the crack of dawn to serve the marquis his meal. Such hard work."
Out of the corner of her eye, Jiang Shuyue saw a woman wearing a large red flower on her head enter, swaying her slender waist.
[System, who is this? Did the Great Villain have breakfast with her today?]
The system shook its head. [Her name is Ji Ruhua. She's a concubine sent by the emperor. She got up at around four in the morning to prepare breakfast, but unfortunately, the Great Villain ate two steamed buns, drank a bowl of congee, and left. She didn't even get to see his face.]
So her specialty was imagining affection where none existed, with a side of self-hypnosis.
Jiang Shuyue could not be bothered with her. "Yes, yes, of course such hard work should be left to you, little sister. Me? I was born to enjoy life. I couldn't endure that kind of hardship."
Ji Ruhua ground her teeth.
She had imagined countless reactions, but never this one!
The system said, [Although Ji Ruhua was sent by the emperor, she's actually Consort Shu's woman. Consort Shu thinks the Marquis of Zhennan might become an obstacle to the Fourth Prince taking the throne, so she wanted to send someone here to stir up trouble.]
[The women in the palace might be too stiff and dull to catch the Great Villain's attention, so she had someone find a brothel girl from among the common folk.]
Pfft!
What?
From a brothel?
Jiang Shuyue looked Ji Ruhua up and down.
She had not gotten a clear look earlier, but upon closer inspection, the woman had a melon-seed face, large eyes, a water-snake waist, and steamed-bun breasts.
Apart from her obnoxious mouth and being a little vulgar, she really had no flaws.
Jiang Shuyue was very curious. This woman ought to have some impressive bedroom skills. She wondered who would be better, her or the Great Villain.
Jiang Shuyue thought, [Too bad I'm a woman. Otherwise, I'd want to try out her skills too.]
The system shot her a glare. This girl was getting rather explicit...
[Stop thinking about those impractical things. Let me tell you, although Ji Ruhua is pretty, as a person she's really... tsk, tsk, tsk. Not only does she enjoy watching women being abused, she also likes multiplayer games. That's the only way she can get excited.]
[Oh, and she especially enjoys forcing people. The more pain she sees them in, the happier she is. She's a complete and utter pervert.]
[Every time the madam of the Ten Thousand Flowers House buys new girls, she hands them over to Ji Ruhua to be trained. Only half survive. Of the remaining half, they either go mad or become just like her. This woman is quite a piece of work.]
Jiang Shuyue was stunned. Consort Shu had actually sent her such an enormous pervert...
Just my cup of tea.
Jiang Shuyue smiled sweetly. "You big perv-no, beautiful lady, surely you didn't come to see me just to show off about having breakfast with the marquis?"
"Of course not. The marquis also said that I'm beautiful, gentle, and womanly. He hoped I could get along well with you, elder sister, and help you become more considerate along the way."
The system spat in disgust. [Liar! Whatever you do, don't be alone with her. Consort Shu ordered her to make trouble for you, preferably ruin your reputation so the Great Villain would despise you.]
[Ji Ruhua's favorite pastime is training pretty girls. You're her type too.]
Jiang Shuyue propped her chin on her hand and feigned delighted surprise. "Wow, the marquis is so thoughtful. Then don't just stand there. Start demonstrating."
"D-demonstrating?"
"Even teachers have to demonstrate when teaching reading and writing. What you're teaching is much harder, so of course you need to give me a proper demonstration. Little Peach, bring over a larger cushion and let this young concubine give us a live lesson."
"Oh, and tell the servants in the household to put down their work and come watch. This is a major matter concerning marital harmony. They should learn as much as they can. It'll come in handy someday."
Before you continue