Chapter 20: The Heart Has a Place to Belong

  Ya Niang was completely stunned, her whole body as soft as boneless, without a single thread of strength to resist, she could only let him be light and thin, gradually, she actually had a reaction, and kissed back.

  Xiao Jia Ding sucked her fragrant tongue, and found that her kissing action was indeed clumsy, it was clear that she had not experienced it before. Unexpectedly, this woman who was in a brothel, really guarded her body like jade, and really did not have a lover.

  Xiao Jiading hesitated, taking away a woman's chastity was something he had never experienced before. Subconsciously, he felt that this was not an ordinary matter, especially in ancient times when chastity was considered more important than life itself.

  However, Ya Niang's enchanting body was too enticing, his rationality only lasted for a moment, and he soon carried her into the inner room bedroom, put her on the embroidered bed, and began to untie her clothes.

  Ya Niang grasped his hand, weakly and softly saying a sentence that immediately made Xiao Jia Ding stop. She said: "You... are you planning to ransom me... marry me?"

  The songstress is now a singer or socialite, he doesn't mind being with them, but if he really wants to marry and take her home as his wife, that's a different story, whether such a woman is suitable for marriage, a wife is someone who will bear children and live with him for the rest of his life.

  His hand stopped, and he looked at Yanni with a questioning gaze.

  This gave Yan Niang a moment's rest, and she regained some of her strength. She continued: "My husband must be true-hearted and sincere in following me through life, just like the mandarin ducks, faithful and unswerving, till death do us part. Can you do that?"

  Xiao Jiading is not a romantic, how could he give up the whole forest for just one big tree? There are so many beautiful women that he hasn't even tasted yet, and he wants to spend his whole life with just one woman, this doesn't add up. Although you are very beautiful, it's still not enough for me to give up all the other beautiful women.

  Xiao Jiading immediately smiled and said, "You misunderstood, I didn't want to do anything to you. It's just that it's late at night and you're drunk again, so I helped you undress and rest. Now it seems you're still sober, so there's no need for me to bother. I'll leave now. You get some good rest."

  Having said that, he gently kissed her smooth forehead and got up to leave.

  "Wait!" Yan Niang called out softly, and Xiao Jia Ding stopped in his tracks, turning to look at her.

  Ya Niang struggled to sit up, gazing sorrowfully at his back. She knew that her words had frightened him away. She had seen countless scholars before, but one with such talent and good looks who could move her heart was rare indeed. She couldn't let him go easily. She took a deep breath, steadied herself, and said: "You... weren't you going to tell me something? Don't say it now?"

  Xiao Jiading slapped his forehead, earlier he was distracted by the beautiful woman and forgot the main purpose of his visit. He quickly turned around and said: "Yes, but aren't you dissatisfied with the words I filled in for you?"

  Ya Niang scolded: "Are you saying that you're clever but also foolish? Can't you tell I'm intentionally saying I don't like it, so you'll compose a few more?"

  "Why didn't you say so earlier! Now I've made Elder Xiao unhappy." Xiao Jiading walked back and sat on the edge of the bed.

  "You're not happy, so you treat others like this?"

  "Have I been bad to you?" Xiao Jiading asked with a flattering face.

  Her pretty face turned redder as she added a hint of shyness, lowered her head and whispered: "I've never seen such a bad man like you..."

  How's that? Men aren't bad, women just don't love them! What a truth.

  Xiao Jiading's face lit up with a big smile, he stretched out his hand and pulled her into his arms, saying: "You don't like it?"

  Ya Ni leaned against his chest, slowly lifted her head, gazing at him without a word. Her red lips were tender and luscious.

  Xiao Jia Ding could no longer hold back, and he pressed his lips to hers, his hands crawling up her breasts. Ya Niang yielded softly to his caresses, occasionally returning his kisses.

  Xiao Jia Ding once again felt the flames of desire burning around him, but he was still a man of willpower and finally managed to let go of Ya Niang's red lips and retract his demonic claws, saying: "Alright, let's talk business."

  The girl was like a little bird perched on his chest, nestling in his arms, nodding her head: "What do you want me to do? I'll agree to whatever you say."

  "This remark is extremely ambiguous, making people's imagination run wild. Xiao Jiading couldn't help but get excited again, and he quickly cleared his throat, grasped her shoulders, looked at her charming face, and said: 'I originally wanted you to agree to let me be your lover, but thinking carefully, I feel that this request is too excessive, isn't it like chaining you to my side? You are a courtesan after all...'"

  Ya Niang raised her hand and gently pressed his mouth shut, looking at him with a faint tone: "Do you think that from now on, I will let another man touch me?"

  "Ah... " Xiang Jia Ding's head grew bigger, and he quickly changed the subject, saying: "I mean, you're a courtesan, so you must know many high-ranking officials, right?"

  Ya Niang didn't know what he meant by asking this question, and nodded slightly.

  Xiao Jiading said, "Did they give you any calligraphy or paintings? You know I'm a bit of a connoisseur, and I've heard that the high officials in Yizhou are all men of great literary talent. Their calligraphy and paintings must be truly rare and precious. Can you let me take a look?"

  Yan Niang smiled and said: "In my opinion, no one's talent can surpass yours, including those high-ranking officials. Seven steps to become a poem, and it's such a good poem, let alone Yi state, even the whole Tang Dynasty, I also can't think of which poet can surpass you. It's precisely because of this that I just...". Yan Niang was too embarrassed to continue, and shyly leaned into his arms.

  Xiao Jiading stroked her hair and said in a low voice, "You've seen it before, so you don't think much of it. I haven't seen it before, so naturally I want to take a look. Seeing more allows one to recognize more, after all."

  Ya Niang raised her eyes and looked at him. Seeing that his attitude didn't seem to be joking, she said: "Well, they did leave me a lot of calligraphy and paintings. I'll show them to you."

  Xiao Jia Ding stood up, pulled his hand, and walked to a large trunk in front of the bookcase. He opened it, and inside were scrolls of calligraphy and paintings. She took them out one by one, unfolding them for Xiao Jia Ding to see. Indeed, they were all prominent figures from Yizhou, including high-ranking officials from the prefecture.

  Xiao Jia Ding was forced by his parents to recite Tang poetry and Song lyrics, which also led him to appreciate Chinese calligraphy and painting. After looking at a large number of them, he found that none were truly exceptional. Until he saw a splashed ink landscape painting with bold brushstrokes and majestic momentum, the technique, artistry, and atmosphere all belonged to the highest level. Unfortunately, during the Tang Dynasty, paintings were not signed or sealed, so it was impossible to tell who created this masterpiece. He turned to Ya Niang: "Whose calligraphic treasure is this?"

  Ya Niang smiled mischievously and said, "Look closely at that tree over there, his name is on it."

  "Is that so?" He leaned over and searched in a grove of trees at the bottom corner of the painting. Sure enough, on one tree trunk, he made out a name, and after examining it carefully, said: "Tang Lin?"

  "Hmm. He is the Sima of the Prefectural Government."

  "This calligraphy is really good, hanging it in the main hall would be very impressive! Such a great piece, you're putting it away in a box, what a waste!" Xiao Jia Ding couldn't help but admire it, his face full of envy and his mouth complaining.

  Yan Niang burst out laughing and said: "This painting of his, although not ordinary, is still not a treasure. If you like it, I'll give it to you."

  Xiao Jiading wanted exactly this result. The Sima of the prefecture, although it was just a nominal position with no real power, after all, was an official below the fifth rank, and using it to intimidate Deng County Wei was already enough, after all, there were so many levels between them. Xiao Jiading wanted Deng County Wei to be intimidated by the possibility that he had this powerful backing, and therefore did not dare to go too far. This was enough.

  This trick of "borrowing the tiger's might" is often used in modern society and has proven to be effective. For example, holding a certain high-ranking official's business card and boasting about it in front of clients can create trust and make them think that you have connections and ways to get things done. Now, with this painting by Sima, he can try to make the county magistrate guess his relationship with Sima, even though they don't actually know each other. This is the plan of "borrowing the tiger's might".

  He has already felt that Deng County Magistrate is suspicious of himself and must be on guard.

  Xiao Jiading looked somewhat embarrassed and said: "This... isn't quite right, is it? It was a gift to you. If you give it to me and he asks about it, what should I say?"

  "Don't worry, he won't ask. Even if he does, I'll just say it was a gift for you. He appreciates your talent and won't disagree."

  "Oh? He also knows me?"

  "Hehe, your great name is now known throughout Yi Province, who doesn't know it?"

  "Really?" Xiao Jiading slowly rolled up the painting, "Then I'll just take it away. Consider it a gift from him to me."

  "Hmm." Ya Niang said: "You took away my things, you should also leave something for me."

  "Go ahead, what do you want? I'll give you my life if it's okay with you."

  "Hmm!" Yanni exclaimed with delight, "You have to write down the three poems you just recited for me, I didn't remember all of them. And also, help me complete those few poems from yesterday, can you?"

  "Of course there's no problem, my little treasure said so, of course we'll do it." With that, he wrapped his arms around her and gave her a rather exaggerated peck on her red lips.

  Ya Niang blushed and lightly punched his chest with a fist, pulled him over to the desk, and helped him grind ink.

  Xiao Jiading picked up his pen and wrote these poems in traditional characters. He put down the brush, clapped his hands and said: "Is that okay?"

  Ya Niang murmured in agreement, picked it up and read through it once. When she saw the last poem, Song Huizong's sensual verse, she couldn't help but blush again, recalling what had just happened.

  This lovely and charming appearance made Xiao Jia Ding's heart move, and he hugged her again with affection.

  "Where do you live?"

  "The Yizhou Inn is temporary, once the government affairs are settled, I will find another place to live."

  "Hmm, how about I buy you a small villa instead?"