Chapter Ten: Gu Yun Niang

  A snow-white jade neck was set off by a light purple silk ribbon, and the ink-like hair was tied into a simple butterfly knot, revealing a few points of simplicity and elegance. Compared to the heavily made-up girl who accompanied Wang Ming, the purple-clad woman who came in, although her face could not be seen clearly, had already aroused the interest of the man who had fought several times in the midst of flowers.

  "Peony Pavilion's Artistic Girl has met all the esteemed gentlemen, may I ask what piece do you wish to hear today, and what dance do you wish to see?" The woman's voice was soft and gentle, making one's heart feel itchy.

  "Haha, Yunniang, come forward quickly and meet Wang Daren from Xianyang! Wang Daren has been thinking of you for a long time." Zhao Bin turned his body, with a smile on his face, pointing at Wang Ming.

  "Ah, a young lady, isn't it? Why are you lowering your head? Lift it up and let me take a look. What a beautiful peony flower!" Wang Ming stumbled forward with blurry eyes, swaying as he stood up, taking steps to grab the woman's sleeve.

  "Two seniors, Yunniang has recently heard that Daqin Jian'er defeated several thousand bandits in Liangdi and beheaded countless people. Moved by this, she composed a new melody called 'Jianqu' and choreographed a dance called 'Jiandance'. Please allow Yunniang to perform for the seniors!" The woman replied softly, her skirt fluttering as she quietly retreated one small step, just avoiding Wang Ming's lucky claw.

  Wang Ming's hand grasped nothing, his drunken eyes scanned the room and happened to catch a glimpse of a woman's slightly raised face. Her eyes were black and lively, her nose was straight and beautiful, and there were two small dimples on either side of her mouth, with an indescribable charm and beauty.

  "Hmm, Miss Yun is slow to arrive, why not accompany me for a drink first?" Wang Ming's eyes were dazed and he stumbled forward, this young girl looked extremely charming, just fitting Wang Ming's old intentions of getting along with the young girl.

  "Mind your own business, my sword doesn't have eyes." The woman named Yunniang snorted coldly, raised her head, and a hint of shyness and anger flashed in her eyes. In her hand, she was holding a delicate and sharp short blade.

  "Ah!" Wang Ming was startled by the sharp blade and cried out in surprise. As a scholar, Wang had only dealt with pens and ink his whole life, or at most moved his lips to flatter those in power during court sessions. This task of wielding knives and guns made him break out in cold sweat.

  "This little girl is so tough, what's the big deal about holding hands, which one of these prostitutes isn't selling themselves?" Wang Ming was very unhappy in his heart, and he sullenly turned back to his seat, not speaking a word for half a day. He had hit a wall with Yunniang again and lost face, making Wang Ming also somewhat resentful towards Zhao Bin.

  As a superior envoy from the capital Xianyang, Wang Ming had a strong sense of superiority and many expectations. This feeling was similar to that of officials in later dynasties who served as imperial envoys. In Xianyang, an imperial censor like Wang Ming had no real power backing him up, not even a fart, and could be given a stern look by even a gatekeeper slave from the Zhao Gao's residence. But once outside Xianyang, Wang Ming was the representative of the imperial court, and his words were all imperial decrees that must be carried out. This sense of superiority made Wang Ming feel very proud and arrogant.

  Today, a eunuch actually dared to refute Old Wang's face, what right does he have? Does Zhao Bao think that just because he is the nephew of Zhao Gao, he can disregard the dignity of the imperial court?

  "Haha, Yunniang, you dance first, and we'll properly toast Lord Wang later." Zhao Bi looked at King Ming with disapproval, his expression also somewhat uneasy, and only said a sentence to Yunniang before pulling King Ming down the corridor to talk.

  "What does Lord Zhao mean by this?" Wang Ming's face turned dark, and he put on a serious expression.

  "Cough, not to deceive you, sir, this artful girl is good, but she's too flirtatious. Although she looks fine, in reality, she can't compare to Little Xiang in terms of being affectionate." Zhao Bin said in a low voice, as he winked at the woman who had just wrapped her arms around him. The young girl called Little Xiang immediately let out a coquettish cry and pressed her soft, plump breasts tightly against Wang Ming's chest.

  "What's the background of that woman, General Zhao is so protective of her, could it be...!" Wang Ming was scolded by Xiao Xiang like this, and his bones immediately felt a few degrees lighter, and his unpleasant emotions also decreased a bit. Of course, in his heart, there were still some discomforts.

  "What the adults said, where did it come from? If Zhao had something, how could he not share it with the adults? It's just that this Yinniang is a big shot in Yangcheng, and we can't afford to offend him now." Zhao Bin paused for a moment, pretending to sigh.

  "Who in Huayang can't sell General Zhao's account? Is it Yang... Haha, is General Zhao going to borrow Wang's killing stick?" King Ming suddenly said, a flush rising to his face, and he gave Zhao Bi a somewhat unnatural smile.

  "Ha, little Xiang, Master Wang's big stick is powerful, you'd better serve him well." Zhao Bin burst out laughing, he had already seen that the bulge under Wang Ming's crotch was being tightly grasped by Little Xiang's small hands.

  "Never mind, I'm tired today too. I'll take a rest early!" Wang Ming pretended to yawn and nodded his head at Zhao Bin.

  Jade person holds a flute, King Ming has no mind to watch the song and dance again. Although Artisan Nang is good, she is someone who cannot be obtained. Yang Xiong is the commander-in-chief of Huayang, and since Artisan Nang has an unusual relationship with him, for now, Old Wang can only look on. Zhao Bi wants to use his hand to suppress Yang Xiong, and King Ming has also been in the officialdom for decades. Whether to take this life or not, when to take it, is a big question. A small fragrance is not enough to make King Ming take action.

  Wait a bit, isn't Yang Xiong in a very close relationship with Li You? There must be something that can be taken advantage of. Thinking of this, Wang Ming only felt a surge of evil fire rising up in his heart.

  Xiao Xiangyu's hand slipped into Wang Ming's crotch, her fingertips touching a sensitive area, causing the normally stern-faced Wang Ming to stumble slightly as he passed by Yunniang, almost making a fool of himself.

  Wang Ming left, the banquet continued with music and dance as before. Yunniang's slender figure was in the center, fluttering like a butterfly, her sword intent was fierce, one sword stabbed out, swift as a sudden clap of thunder, like tearing silk, the sound of the sword turned low and melancholic, like the tolling of a funeral bell, calling people to wake up, making one feel a sense of heroic abandon, willing to sacrifice oneself.

  Zhao Bi looked at Yun Niang for a long time, reluctantly withdrawing his gaze only when the song was over. Then he said to Yun Niang: "Gu Yun Niang, the Li family has fallen, and Yang Xiong's good days are also coming to an end. From now on, the world of Qin will be dominated by my Zhao family. Why must you remain obstinately ignorant?"

  "General Zhao, what are you talking about? What does the Li and Yang families have to do with me? Once I, Gu Yun Nang, arrived at Mudan Building, I only thought of devoting myself to music. The one I want to be is the captivating smile that brings the city to a standstill, the independent Gu Yun Nang, not some man's plaything." Gu Yun Nang sheathed her sword and raised an eyebrow, coldly saying to Zhao Ben.

  "Good! Extremely good! However, if you, Gu Yunniang, really kept yourself clean and proper, why did you have to enter the Li Youfu household in the first place and call Yu Xigong princess a sister? Tell me, what's it like for sisters to serve the same person?" Zhao Ben said with hatred. Gu Yunniang was originally the daughter of Xiangyang Magistrate Gu Feng. A year ago, Gu Feng was killed for participating in the Crown Prince Fusu incident, and the old and young members of the Gu family were either sent to the entertainment quarter or exiled to the border for hard labor.

  Gu Yunniang and Princess Yuxi, the wife of Li You, had a handkerchief relationship in Xianyang. When she heard that the Gu family was in trouble, Princess Yuxi changed Gu Yunniang's registration to Hengyang.

  Li You was defeated and died, Li Si's whole family was imprisoned, Yu Fu Gong Zhu in Xingyang is now struggling to save herself. When Hu Hai ascended the throne, he killed 17 of his brothers and sisters. If Yu Fu were not the daughter-in-law of Prime Minister Li Si, she would have been killed long ago.

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