My Wife Is A Sword Immortal
Chapter 592 - 377 The Traps Can’t Hold Anymore (Added for the alliance leader "流觞曲中生")

Chapter 592: Chapter 377 The Traps Can’t Hold Anymore (Added for the alliance leader "流觞曲中生")

At this moment, the table in front of him, where Zhao Rong had just been ’casually touched’ by the young maid, he was struggling to maintain his normally composed expression.

"Hey, hey, hey, you little brat, be more careful, will you?"

"Me, the domineering young master embracing two fairies, Zhao Ziyu, being patted on the head by a little maid like you!"

He turned around with an itch in his teeth and gave her a ’serious warning’ look: Zhao Qian’er, you’ve lost your abdominal muscles, don’t think about touching this master for the next few days.

However, what puzzled Zhao Rong was that this time, Qian’er wasn’t as mischievous as before, didn’t glare back at him, or engage in a staring contest as they used to.

In his field of vision, the peach-blossom eyes of the young maid gazed at him, the corners of her eyes slightly glistening, her lips faintly upturned, lost in thought on her little face, with no indication of what she was thinking.

Something clutched at Zhao Rong’s heart, causing him a twinge of panic.

He feared that the foolish girl was lost in wild thoughts again, because she saw him taking the initiative to embrace Su Qingdai and Luo Xiu.

In truth, Zhao Rong’s ’training’ of Su Qingdai and Luo Xiu was merely to put on a show for those about to come downstairs, all for the sake of future schemes.

Zhao Rong took the teapot from Qian’er’s hand and caught her small hand, squeezing it tightly in his palm.

His other hand lifted, resting on her right cheek, the touch tender and smooth. His thumb caressed the delicate pink upward curve of her peach-blossom eyes.

Zhao Rong pursed his lips, feeling a twinge of heartache.

Little Qian’er was born with a pair of peach-blossom eyes, with a naturally rosy tint around them, appearing tear-stained even without the wind, giving her a dreamlike and sentimental charm.

Now, with tearful eyes, she seemed even more pitiful, tugging at the heartstrings for sympathy.

He wished he could fold the little maid into his arms, catch all her tears and grievances, and listen to her pour her heart out.

"Little Qian’er, after we meet them, let’s go. We won’t stay long and head back to the inn early," he said.

Zhao Rong looked down, speaking earnestly, word by word. The hand that wiped her tears moved attentively, as if afraid to cause her any pain.

Sitting in Zhao Rong’s embrace, Su Qingdai and Luo Xiu couldn’t help but look over with expressions of surprise and complexity.

They couldn’t resist taking a few more glances at Zhao Qian’er, who was being tenderly coaxed by Zhao Rong.

It seemed Zhao Qian’er came back to her senses, placed her hand over the back of his hand on her cheek, and spoke in a stunned voice:

"Big brother Rong’er, will you let me and missy have some candy?"

"Candy? What candy?"

Zhao Qian’er’s face became earnest: "The very sweet candy that missy and I have been longing and dreaming about. Only... only you can give it."

Curiously, Zhao Rong glanced at her, his mouth opening to speak. However, the little maid had already spoken first, saying timidly:

"You... would you be greedy, only wanting missy and me to give you candy, and not giving any to us, making... making us wait forever, wait foolishly?"

Zhao Rong was dizzy from her nonsensical words, but he still shook his head and said with a frown:

"Whatever candy you want to eat, I have it, and it’s all for you and Qing Jun. If I don’t have it, I’ll go to great lengths to get it for you, just as with anything else."

The two of them, clearly not on the same wavelength, somehow seemed to connect in a certain sense.

Zhao Qian’er stared at him, dazed, the warmth from the palm of his hand on her cheek spreading continuously, making her heart flutter with excitement.

"Okay... okay..."

Zhao Qian’er murmured vacantly, her face bewildered as she shyly turned her head away under the gaze of her beloved.

Zhao Rong, who had been smiling, suddenly thought of something at one moment, his eyes widening, "Cough, wait a second, the candy you mentioned, is it proper?"

"Huh?" The little maid snapped back to reality, looking slightly confused.

Zhao Rong said solemnly, "Ahem, this candy, doesn’t it... doesn’t it have the potential to cause tooth decay?"

He had just realized the meaning behind Qian’er’s words – phrases like ’the candy missy and I long for... only you can give’, ’would you be greedy, only wanting us to give you candy, and not giving us any...’.

The words sounded more and more like forbidden fruit... You’re asking me if I’d be greedy for your... candy?

Little Qian’er, that’s too much... But it’s not beyond negotiation... Well, actually, he had wanted to eat Qing Jun’s candy last time, but she wouldn’t let him, and even kicked him off the bed... Zhao Rong thought to himself.

Zhao Qian’er tilted her head, looking innocently at Zhao Rong, her voice soft and gentle, "Big brother Rong’er, it won’t cause tooth decay, it’s... it’s sweetness in the heart."

Zhao Rong roughly understood, and deep inside, repented for a fleeting second for his sinful thoughts.

He nodded subtly, preparing to turn back around.

Zhao Qian’er suddenly asked curiously, "Big brother Rong’er, what kind of candy were you talking about just now, the one that causes cavities? Could it be candied hawthorn?"

Candied hawthorn? It’s all the same... Zhao Rong mumbled to himself, yet he simply smiled and nodded in response.

Just then, a noticeable and unsettling change was taking place in the ground floor hall, shortly after Zhao Rong raised a toast to someone on the third floor.

Suddenly, in the view of Zhao Rong and the others, a familiar graceful figure appeared at the stairway entrance.

It was Madame Yue.

She was hastening down the stairs. This well-dressed woman first bowed from afar to the table where Zhao Rong and his company sat, and then walked to the side, issuing commands to the staff.

Suddenly, aside from the table where Zhao Rong and his companions were seated, a blue-dressed maid respectfully approached each guest table, spoke briefly, and then asked them to leave, implying that the Zuixian Building was closing early for the night and offering generous compensation.

Only the table at the fringes, where Zhao Rong and others were seated, was left undisturbed by any blue-dressed maid—instead, they were all respectfully routed around it.

The guests began to depart in large numbers.

Among these guests, there were some seemingly ordinary men who stood up from their seats with calm expressions, separated from the crowd, and moved to various corners of the great hall to stand still and keep watch – it was clear they were the guards of certain individuals.

Just like that, the ground floor hall quickly became increasingly empty.

Among the remaining people, only Zhao Rong’s table was still seated, while the others were either the guards standing by the wall of the great hall or stewards like Yue Niang from Zuixian Building.

These individuals stood respectfully with hands hanging by their sides and heads bowed.

They all seemed to be waiting for the arrival of certain guests, their gazes directed toward the staircase.

The ground floor hall fell into deep silence.

There were only sounds of picking up food and the light clinks of tableware from a certain table.

After Zhao Rong joked lightly with "eat your vegetables," everyone returned to normalcy, continuing their meal as if nothing had happened.

It looked somewhat bizarre, as if they were completely oblivious to the emptiness of the hall, intent only on their own dining.

However, amidst the banquet, the exchange of glances among the scholars made even the most careless student from Justice Hall realize what was going on.

"Quite the grand setup, Brother Yiwu, it seems these people value us highly," Zhao Rong commented, nodding in agreement.

Gu Yiwu was looking sideways toward the staircase and did not respond.

He suddenly turned around and cast a serious look at Su Qingdai and Luo Xiu, saying decisively:

"Ziyu, give me a straight answer, is this meal on you, or is it... a ’freeload’?"

Although he trusted Ziyu’s judgment, there was one thing Gu Yiwu needed to clarify in advance, especially since they were about to meet.

That was to understand their stance on today’s face-to-face meeting with these people.

Zhao Rong nodded slightly upon hearing this.

Either he was treating them, or he was freeloading off the people on the third floor.

Gu Yiwu’s question was indeed astute.

By now, the opposing side had sent over two ’generous gifts,’ and considering meticulously, they used an elegant and flowing method—be it a Fairy throwing herself at one, or a beauty giving her heart willingly.

This could be considered a form of bribery with beauty, just with a figurative fig leaf to cover the shame, dreams of the perfect lover, or the destined prince charming offering themselves willingly.

But anyone with clear sight could see this was soliciting favors through a back door—just cunningly justified to make it less blatant.

It was a face-saving measure for both parties.

Well, can the affairs of scholars be called a beauty-based bribe? No, this is more like a romantic encounter between talented scholars and beautiful ladies, elegant and dashing.

Yet even for these elegant and dashing scholars, after a night of pleasant conversation, there’s no reason to turn one’s back on a lady, right? After a night of deep connection, they should talk more properly in the daylight. Then, if the lady asks for a small favor, one must give it serious consideration.

They wouldn’t really be looking to freeload, would they?

If so, not to worry. The lady who could enchant a scholar with her elegance and grace can just as well brandish weapons and trade blows with him.

If it comes to making a scene at Linlu Academy, see if she doesn’t make that freeloader lose face. Then the whole Academy will know there’s a freeload weirdo.

So, it’s hardest to accept the favors of the beautiful; freeload with caution.

Think carefully—is it to be a charming tale or a laughingstock story?

In the end, bribery isn’t so simple to accept, and even freeloaders must abide by basic principles.

Zhao Rong knew the ins and outs all too well.

Those on the third floor probably wanted him to freeload with the two Fairies first before meeting Zhao Rong, to subtly hint that freeload wasn’t good and to please resolve the little troubles of the Fairies... This was probably why Luo Xiu was so eager for him to tidy up tonight.

Back to Gu Yiwu’s current question.

After the people from the third floor came down, would Zhao Rong be treating them, or would it be freeloading?

If Zhao Rong was treating, it meant that they were not freeloading: this meal was on them, later business would be conducted fairly, and it also served as a reminder to those on the third floor not to keep stirring things up all the time. Of course, at the same time, it would be a rejection of the two appetizing Fairies sent up by these third-floor folks, refusing to freeload.

But if Zhao Rong chose to freeload for this meal, it would simply mean letting those on the third floor foot the bill, taking home the two Fairies in his arms tonight as well, and having to alleviate their worries tomorrow—someone who freeloads has a ’short reach,’ and one’s mouth is bound after enjoying others’ generosity.

Zhao Rong pondered for a while and suddenly felt that this was not the right way to freeload.

From his past life experience as a seasoned freeloader, everything seemed off—why couldn’t he just freeload these two Fairies entirely? Forget all about the so-called basic principles and proceed with strictly business afterward...

The thought alone was exhilarating; he decided that would be his course of action.

At that moment, the domineering scion Zhao Ziyu, with his arms around the waists of two ethereally beautiful Fairies from Li Territory, frowned and said, "I’ve said it’s my treat, no one is allowed to argue with me."

Gu Yiwu could never have imagined Zhao Rong’s freeloading Realm was so high, stratospheric.

Believing he understood Zhao Rong’s hint, he nodded knowingly. "Ziyu, got it, it’s on us. No freeloading."

Zhao Rong coughed lightly, "Brother Yiwu, let’s discuss this in detail later."

Gu Yiwu nodded; this place was too crowded with prying eyes.

Just as the two had reached an understanding, at the staircase where the guards and Yue Niang were standing with bowed heads in respectful welcome, suddenly, a grand array of white-dressed beauties, fluttering like snowflakes, made their appearance.

They were instantly eye-catching.

Zhao Rong caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye, turned his head to look, and immediately inhaled sharply.

There was a crowd of exquisite ladies in white, wearing gauzy dresses with tasseled hair, each one with their own unique elegance and allure.

Looking around at that moment, the group of Li women, tall and slender with waists so slender they seemed to invite an embrace, now sashayed with light steps, swaying gently—so captivating that one could hardly look away.

Zhao Rong, playing the role of the arrogant young master surrounded by women, felt his legs quiver, and at the same time, his hands instinctively withdrew.

Already having two Fairies in his embrace, he dared not open his arms any further.

Good heavens, so many Li women? If they suddenly resorted to a swarm attack... his Fairy trap wouldn’t be able to contain them all.