Chapter 42: A Smile That Can Charm a Hundred Beauties

  Fang Yi stood dazed in the pavilion, he really didn't know what to say, should he tell Zheng Liwan that he was indeed afraid?

  "Second Master, you've changed for the better, but your courage has shrunk. Two years ago, although you flirted with me, I admired you because you were the only one who dared to flirt with me in public." Zheng Liwan smiled lightly, her tone full of disdain. She had long looked down on men like this, with their hypocritical courtesy. Lu Shuang was no exception - talented and refined, but he had handed over his fiancée to someone else.

  Fang Yi'ai slightly furrowed her brow, it seemed that she was the unlucky one today and had become Zheng Liwan's punching bag. Just look at Zheng Liwan like this, who knows how long she has been suppressing her emotions?

  "Miss Zheng, are you done?" After Zheng Liwan finished venting, Fang Yiai raised an eyebrow and smiled nonchalantly.

  "Second Master, aren't you angry?" Zheng Liwan slightly furrowed her delicate eyebrows, her beautiful eyes as clear as water.

  "Miss Zheng, why should I be angry? It's a blessing to be scolded by a beauty like you. Others don't even have the chance to be scolded by you, right?" Fang Yiai said with a playful tone.

  Zheng Liwan shook her head and gently stroked the hair in front of her forehead, smiling: "Second Master, this is more like your style!"

  "Was I really so unbearable before?" Fang Yiai muttered with little confidence.

  "Heh heh, Second Master, back then you cornered me at the Xianmeng Building and humiliated me in front of so many people. You said how unbearable it was for you?"

  "Ah, this... I really blocked you to the entrance of Xiāngmèng Lóu?" Fang Yí'ài felt his face turning a bit red. What kind of place was Xiāngmèng Lóu? It was the most famous brothel in Cháng'ān City! He didn't expect that he had done something so bizarre back then. Why hadn't those friends mentioned this before?

  "Second Master, do you think I would deceive you?" Zheng Liwan stretched out her sleeves, and the light green gauze danced in the wind. "Second Master, tell me, are you afraid of me?"

  Taking a glance at this stunning beauty, Fang Yiai turned his head and said with his back to Zheng Liwan: "Miss Zheng, I'm not afraid of you, but rather showing respect for you!"

  "Haha... respect me? Second Master, this is the most ridiculous joke I've ever heard!" Zheng Liwan looked at Fang Yiai's back with a somewhat sad smile and said: "Why don't you dare to speak in front of me, are you guilty?"

  Fang Yi turned around and stared into Zheng Liwan's eyes, saying seriously: "Miss Zheng, I'll say it again, I'm not afraid of you, I'm just respecting you!"

  Zheng Liwan gazed intently at Fang Yili for a while, then suddenly turned her head away. After hesitating for half a day, she slowly said: "Second Master, you are indeed a man unlike others. People change after three days of separation, and one should look at them with new eyes. But if the Flying General of Longcheng were here, he would not allow the barbarian horses to cross the Yin Mountains. Second Master, is your ambition on the battlefield? You should know that with your family background, you don't need to be like this."

  "Miss Zheng, living in this world, there are many times when you have no choice. Whether you like it or not, some things must be done. And I'm a man, with some responsibilities that must be shouldered!" Fang Yi'ai turned his head and stood shoulder to shoulder with Zheng Liwan, gazing at the peach trees filling the garden, speaking softly.

  "What you said is not wrong, sometimes it's just helpless. I bear the appearance, while you bear the rise and fall of the House!" Zheng Liwan bent down, sat sideways on the railing and smiled, "Second Master, have you thought that there are many ways to keep the House safe?"

  Fang Yi Ai's heart kept trembling after hearing Zheng Li Wan's words, what a formidable woman, beautiful and unparalleled, intelligent and wise, perhaps Zheng Li Wan not entering the palace wasn't a bad thing.

  "Miss Zheng, I don't understand what you're saying, and you're talking too much!"

  "Is that so? Is the second young master really not understanding, or is he pretending not to understand?" Zheng Liwan's eyebrows slightly furrowed as she smiled faintly, "Since the second young master doesn't want to listen to these things, then I won't say them. Just now, I saw that the second young master seemed to be deeply troubled, may I ask if you can tell me about it?"

  "This is not a problem, I have several ways to make money, but now there is no suitable manager. Miss Zheng, you should know the rules of our Datang, with my identity, it's impossible for me to do business in person." Fang Yiai said with a smile, leaning on the railing with one leg raised.

  "Oh? Second Master, are you planning to find someone to take your place in business?" Zheng Liwan asked with a curious expression.

  "Yes, but among the people I know, there isn't a suitable candidate!"

  "Hehe, Second Master, don't you think I'm suitable?" Zheng Liwan thought for a moment before suddenly lifting her head and smiling coyly.

  "Really? Miss Zheng, are you kidding me?" Fang Yi'ai's eyes widened in astonishment, her face full of incredulity.

  "Do you think I'm joking?"

  "Miss Zheng, you're suitable or not, but doing it this way, isn't it bad for your reputation?"

  "Hahaha..." Zheng Liwan burst out laughing upon hearing this, as if the sentence was ridiculously funny. "Second Master, do you think I still have a reputation?"

  Fang Yiai nodded helplessly, it turned out that this woman was really miserable. Fang Yiai didn't know if she should blame Li Shimin, one edict had ruined a woman's lifelong happiness.

  "Miss Zheng, since that's the case, I won't say anything more. However, I want to make one thing clear: you only have management rights." Fang Yiai knew it was a bit petty to say this, but some things were better said clearly, especially when dealing with a woman like Zheng Liwan.

  "Second Master, rest assured, Lian understands. Are you still worried that Lian will embezzle?" Zheng Liwan smiled calmly.

  "Hehe, Miss Zheng is a clever person. I didn't suspect you of anything, it's just that some things are better clarified!" Fang Yiai said with a serious expression, waving his hand.

  "Hmm, Second Master, I'm asking you, did 'Like a Dream, Not a Dream, Immortal in the Dream' really come from your mouth?"

  "This..., Miss Zheng, how did you know?" Fang Yiai asked in surprise.

  "Is that important? Alright, I'm a bit tired, I'll go back and rest first!" Zheng Liwan said as she stood up and walked out of the pavilion without stopping.

  Fang Yi'ai hastily stood up and asked loudly: "Miss Zheng, what about the business matter?"

  "Second Master, I promise you that Miss Li will not go back on her word. Don't worry, when the time comes, she'll personally visit your doorstep!" Zheng Liwan turned her head and smiled sweetly, causing Fang Yiai to sigh in admiration - what a captivating smile, enough to make all the beauties in the six palaces lose their color.

  After returning home, Zheng Liwan stood at the door of her boudoir and instructed Xiao Huan: "Xiao Huan, go spread rumors that Fang Yiai flirted with me in Plum Blossom Valley."

  "Ah! Miss, why are you doing this? The second young master didn't tease you!"

  "Just go if you want to go, why so much nonsense!" Zheng Liwan said coldly with a frown.

  "Yes, miss, I'll go arrange it now!" Xiaohuan left with a helpless expression, hanging her small head.

  Zheng Liwan pushed open the door and walked into her boudoir, sitting in front of the dresser, gazing at the coquettish face in the copper mirror with a silly smile: "Fang Yiai, you say that sometimes people have no choice, but I, Zheng Liwan, don't believe in these things. I, Zheng Liwan, won't live such an ordinary life, I can completely get something better than others, so why should I resign myself to fate?"