Chapter 6: Repaying a Life Debt with a Life

  "What?" Ba Li Chang Jian was the second prince, his mother was Concubine Jiang. Even if imperial favor did not wane, she was after all gradually growing old, only obtaining the highest power was the most real thing.

  Zhuang Fei was young and beautiful, but she had no background. The Zhang family and her mother's maiden home had been in good relations for generations, so they had always risen and fallen together. That's why there was the previous incident of Zhang Xiao and Leng Ziyue's divorce.

  Marrying the fourth princess of Beihanguo, who is favored by the emperor, is better than marrying a woman without status or power. Although, Leng Ziyue's beauty has long surpassed what can be described as stunningly beautiful.

  He wants to get the throne, so he will care about what kind of woman Zhang Xiao is looking for. The palace has his mother and Empress Zhuang to deal with, and what he needs to do is to win over the forces outside the court. The crystallization of his hard work for so many years cannot be ruined by Zhang Xiao's sentimental feelings.

  She's just a woman, after all. Once they've accomplished their great task, Zhang Xiao will want whatever kind of beauty he desires, and Bai Li will not frown even once.

  Now, this woman, Leng Ziyue, must not be allowed to disturb Zhang Xiao's heart. The princess of Beihan Country, Bei Tang Xiner, is known for her jealousy, and if she finds out that Zhang Xiao still has feelings for Leng Ziyue, it will be difficult for him to fulfill his promise.

  "Yu'er...... I..." Zhang Xiao murmured, the woman he had been thinking about for a long time. The lone figure of Zhu Que Tai fell down resolutely, leaving him no time to grab her hand, and the blood blinded his eyes, making him feel unbearable pain.

  He carefully inquired about her injuries, watching as his maid knelt and begged Zhong Jun to find a doctor to save her life, but he could do nothing. He couldn't go against his family, couldn't go against his mission, even if it meant sacrificing the woman he loved most.

  Zhang Xiao felt he was the most pathetic man in this world, pitiful yet undeserving of sympathy.

  "What are you doing? She's no longer your fiancée. A woman from a boudoir who comes out to show off her face, it can be seen that she is of what character. What thoughts do you still have for her?" Baili Changjian grabbed Zhang Xiao's hand, not hesitating to use his internal energy. "Don't forget, the Fourth Princess is your future wife. Her eyes cannot tolerate any sand, if you want to save her life, you should know how to act."

  After he finished speaking, he let go of his hand. He was gambling, Zhang Xiao was concerned about the life and death of Leng Qingyu.

  Zhang Xiao stumbled a few steps, fell onto the chair, and felt pain that pierced through his limbs, making him unable to hear or see anything. Only the last words of Bai Li's long sword kept swirling in his mind - how could he forget? It was because he cared about Leng Xueying that he allowed Bei Tang Xin'er to poison her, driving her to death.

  What qualifications does he have to stand by her side and protect her?

  Just like she sang in the song, his promises all turned into illusions, just a joke. Those words, one by one, were like the beautiful memories between him and her, poignant and heart-wrenching.

  He is an ungrateful person, how can he have the face to stand in front of her?

  "Long Jian, you've gone too far." Jing Chang Ke furrowed his brow, his eyes slightly darkening. A man having ambition was a good thing, but it didn't need to be done with such methods, truly making one look down on him.

  It's also true that only such a man is a real man, and no one will not surrender in front of him.

  "The maiden's zither skills are excellent, the spring breeze is willing to concede defeat." A slightly low voice came from behind the milky white beaded curtain, soft and gentle like a wisp of clear wind brushing past.

  Leng Xueyu raised her eyes, and saw a person wearing a cherry blossom-patterned white undergarment with a pale purple long-sleeved gauze outer garment, with an exquisite butterfly knot tied below the chest. The whole person looked pink and delicate, like a peach flower in March, charming and captivating. A pair of pale purple cherry blossom embroidered shoes tightly wrapped around three-inch golden lotus feet. At her waist hung a fragrant sachet embroidered with a green-based water lily pattern, surrounded by a faint fragrance.

  Ever since she arrived at Zui Ke Ju, every three days someone would appear who wanted to challenge the four sisters. Few people could make them surrender without a fight. Evidently, the woman standing in front of him with her hands behind her back, looking proud and cold, made Chun Feng's heart skip a beat. A feeling of admiration arose naturally.

  She had three thousand strands of black hair, which was only held by a cheap silver pin, combed into a slanted cloud bun. A coarse white linen long dress that had been washed until it turned pale, without any accessories. Even so, she couldn't hide the noble air emanating from her bones. Her clear eyes were like thin ice, and although they seemed to be very close, they made her feel ethereal and untouchable.

  "I won." Leng Ziyue's expression remained unchanged as she gazed at Chunfeng, her voice calm and collected. The sound of jade beads falling onto a plate echoed once more as she spoke: "Huang Zhanggui, bring up the next table of fine wine and dishes. Deduct the cost of this meal from the remaining silver, and exchange it for silver notes."

  Huang Xing took a glance at Chunfeng, snapped back to reality and nodded directly, saying: "This meal is on me, Huang. I'll exchange the 50,000 taels of silver for silver notes immediately."

  Hua'er's eyes shone with big red stars, staring unblinkingly at Leng Ziyue. Her family's young lady was so formidable, earning 50,000 taels in one go! How much silver would that be? She couldn't even count it clearly, hehe.

  In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the table was filled with plate after plate of delicious dishes. Leng Zixuan's emotionless eyes finally had a hint of brightness, and in her opinion, these dishes were barely passable, at least compared to what she usually got to eat in the mansion, they could be considered fine cuisine.

  "Hua'er, sit down and eat." Picking up her chopsticks, Leng Zixue was all too aware of how weak her body currently was. If she didn't quickly recover to her former combat strength, she feared she would die a miserable death.

  There are too many people who want to see her joke, and there are also too many people who want her life. She still has to pay off debts, how can she let herself die before them?

  "Miss... can... is it possible?" Hua'er opened her eyes wide, somewhat hesitant. She was just a slave girl, how could she share the same table with Miss?

  "You don't eat, I'll throw you out of here." Leng Ziyue said, and started eating on her own. Her movements were quick, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe them as wolfing down food. Yet, this extremely un-ladylike way of eating somehow showcased her elegance and nobility, as if every move she made was full of charm.

  Hua'er shivered, sat down obediently, picked up her chopsticks and started eating fiercely. The contrast between the two people's eating manners was like heaven and earth, clouds and mud. Xiao Yāo Róng was really too pitiful to behold.

  The tavern was quiet, with everyone stretching their necks to look at the lovely pair of master and servant. Of course, the gazes were different - those looking at the radiant woman were drooling, their admiration endless, while also breaking out in cold sweat. Such a small frame, how could she eat so much? It would be a bit of a problem to support her. The little maid also ate a lot, but compared to her master, it was still considered less.

  Leng Xue dropped her chopsticks and bowl, her cold voice ringing out somewhat abruptly, "The one upstairs, get down here."

  She knew there were three people upstairs, who had been watching her since she finished playing the tune. Since they didn't seem to have any malicious intent, Chong Ciye hadn't made a sound. Now that she was full and content, she couldn't let others enjoy it for free.

  What she despised the most was that among those three gazes, one of them made her feel very familiar, no, it should be said that her body's original master felt very familiar, and unexpectedly, it should be that scoundrel.

  He, the majestic Prince of Ming Wang, was actually told to get out by someone, and Bai Li's face turned black in an instant. When did this woman's insight become so sharp?

  Is she still Leng Xueyu?

  That timid beauty?

  Jing Changke opened his fan and gently shook it, covering the smile that had not yet faded from the corners of his mouth. What a bold woman, to dare say such arrogant words when she clearly knew who was upstairs.

  Leng Xue's gaze swept over the three of them, touching and leaving, as if she had seen something dirty that polluted her eyes. Seeing Hua'er had already put away the silver ticket handed over by Huang Zhanggui, she elegantly stood up, step by step walking towards Zhang Xiao, with a slight curve at the corner of her mouth, seeming to smile but not quite. Her melodious voice was like clouds and mist, impossible to grasp, "A debt of feelings, repay with feelings, you say, a debt of life, what should be repaid?"

  At the pair of eyes full of smiling intention above, Zhang Xiao only felt his breathing was difficult, and the strength in his body was suddenly emptied, his chest hurt fiercely, and he involuntarily asked: "What else?"

  "Reprieve." The sound fell, and the straight figure had already walked down to the floor with a calm and elegant step, without taking away a single cloud.

  Zhang Xiao, the game has just begun...

  Digression

  The collection is not enough, but every day I am working hard to update it.

  The story develops very quickly, every chapter is wonderful, so good!