Chapter 10: Strategy
Author: ccc
Editor: Mymensingh Khan
Read the raw novel at fanmtl.com
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Bai Ruoxi sat in a chair in the side hall, the tea on the table already cold. With a frown and pursed lips, she appeared absent-minded. It was no surprise; Mu Zhian had previously mentioned he would give her two or three days to think things over, and now two full days had passed. The longer this dragged on, the greater the loss for the Bai family. Today, under her mother's pressure, she found herself visiting the Mu family again.
A servant entered the hall and respectfully addressed her, "Miss Bai." Bai Ruoxi raised her gaze slightly, but her disappointment was palpable when she noticed Mu Zhian was not with the servant. She whispered, "Is Master Mu not free now?"
The servant replied, "Master Mu went to the Jiaofang and asked you to wait for him in the teahouse opposite."
"Jiaofang...?" Bai Ruoxi echoed, her frown deepening. She was puzzled by Mu Zhian's actions. Typically, one wouldn't go to the Jiaofangsi and mention a woman so openly unless they didn't view her as a romantic interest at all. But that seemed impossible; there had to be a reason. Bai Ruoxi considered herself an intelligent woman and undeniably beautiful. In the entire Tianxuan City, no one rivaled her beauty—those who looked similar lacked her curves, and those with her curves weren't as lovely.
Although Mu Zhian's recent behavior suggested a lack of interest, it was inconceivable that he felt nothing for her. He must have gone to the Jiaofang for something important... but what exactly?
Quickly regaining her composure, Bai Ruoxi politely thanked the attendant and left with the umbrella she had borrowed from the Mu family the night before.
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At the Jiaofang, Mu Zhian lounged on a soft couch, while the courtesan Yang Yanyan, dressed in revealing attire, gently massaged his shoulders. "Young Master, you haven't visited the Jiaofangsi lately. Have you found a new love?"
In Tianxuan City, people generally avoided Mu Zhian, but places like the Jiaofangsi welcomed him. His handsome features and engaging conversation made him a pleasant companion, and his occasional tips were a bonus. Few wealthy young men could afford to be so generous, and Mu Zhian was among them.
He smiled, patting Yang Yanyan's slender hand. "Family matters have kept me busy; it's been inconvenient to go out."
Yang Yanyan's eyes sparkled with curiosity, but she feigned sympathy. "I see; it must be tough for you, Master Mu." Although she doubted he was truly handling family affairs, she chose to play along.
As they chatted, Mu Zhian casually asked, "By the way, has Gongsun Zan been around these past few days?" Yang Yanyan paused, recalling, "I saw him last night, but I wasn't the one who received him."
The courtesans at Jiaofang generally sold their art, not their bodies. Yang Yanyan would only stay if particularly enchanted or if the price was right.
"Has he not come today?" Mu Zhian inquired.
Yang Yanyan shook her head. "I'm not sure. Why do you ask?" Her curiosity about Mu Zhian's interest in Gongsun Zan grew. Despite Gongsun's powerful family, he was not well-liked, often seen as unpleasant and unattractive.
Mu Zhian playfully patted her, saying, "Why so inquisitive?" Yang Yanyan, twisting her body in mock annoyance, leaned closer and lowered her voice. "I overheard someone who serves Master Gongsun mention something yesterday."
Mu Zhian raised an eyebrow. "What was it?"
She glanced around nervously before whispering in his ear, "I heard Gongsun Zan plans to confiscate a house today."
Mu Zhian pondered this. Confiscation wasn't uncommon in Tianxuan City, especially for families like the Gongsuns, Mus, and Bais, who had connections to the court. It was rumored that these powerful families embezzled some of the confiscated property, an unspoken agreement among them.
"Whose house is he targeting?" Mu Zhian asked.
Yang Yanyan shrugged. "I don't know; Gongsun Zan never said."
Mu Zhian nodded, deciding to contact Gongsun Zan later. He set down his teacup and stood up.
"Are you leaving already, Master Mu?" Yang Yanyan looked surprised.
He smiled. "I have some matters to attend to." Despite her attempts to persuade him to stay, he politely declined.
As Mu Zhian exited the Jiaofang, he spotted a young man of average appearance approaching. Gongsun Zan, the third son of the Gongsun family, had thin lips and triangular eyes that hinted at a rebellious nature. Unlike Mu Zhian, who had a boy-next-door charm, Gongsun Zan was more of a bully, indifferent to his looks, relying on his family's power.
"Master Gongsun, are you just arriving?" Mu Zhian greeted him.
Gongsun Zan seemed taken aback by the friendly approach. Though both had questionable reputations, they had never interacted before. He nodded slightly, a smirk forming. "I haven't seen you around, Master Mu. I thought perhaps you had turned over a new leaf. But it seems you were just in solitary confinement."
His words dripped with sarcasm, reflecting Gongsun's disdain for Mu Zhian. Despite their shared notoriety, Mu Zhian was treated better by the courtesans than Gongsun was, who often faced rejection.
Before Mu Zhian could respond, Gongsun Zan said, "I have business to attend to, so I'll take my leave. Enjoy yourself, Master Mu." He walked past Mu Zhian, glancing disdainfully at his handsome face, clearly unimpressed.
"Then I won't keep you, Master Gongsun," Mu Zhian replied, bowing slightly. He smiled at Gongsun Zan's disdainful expression, unbothered by it. After all, he was used to such judgments.
In the Gongsun family hierarchy, Gongsun Zan ranked low, often manipulated by his younger brothers. At 32, he remained stagnant in his progress, making it easier for Mu Zhian to gather information from him in the future.
With a plan forming, Mu Zhian turned and headed into the nearby teahouse, where Bai Ruoxi awaited him.
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Inside the teahouse, Bai Ruoxi wore a low-cut white dress that accentuated her beauty. Her long legs and flawless complexion made her look enchanting. Upon seeing Mu Zhian, her eyes lit up, and she gestured for him to sit.
"Master Mu, please take a seat here."
Mu Zhian obliged, sitting beside her. Bai Ruoxi poured him a cup of tea and asked, "You just came from the Jiaofang. There must be something important going on."
"Miss Bai is perceptive," he replied with a smile. "I went to see Gongsun Zan."
"The third son of the Gongsun family..." Bai Ruoxi frowned. The Gongsun family was partly responsible for the Bai family's current troubles, making her uneasy at the mention of them.
Mu Zhian took a slow sip of tea and continued, "Today, I received word from a spy that Gongsun Zan and Ye Yu seem to have some connections."
"Ye Yu? How could he be involved with Gongsun Zan?" Bai Ruoxi was incredulous. The Ye family had ties to the Bai family, and given their current predicament, it was unlikely they would cooperate with the Gongsun family.
Mu Zhian smiled knowingly. "Perhaps they've received information that led them to believe they could act without interference from the Mu family. Ye Yu's recent visit to the Mu family might have been leaked by someone from the Gongsun family."
At the mention of "good thing," Bai Ruoxi's cheeks flushed slightly. She glanced at Mu Zhian, whispering, "I apologize for Ye Yu's behavior that night." Since that day, she had worried that Mu Zhian might be angry about the tea incident and reconsider helping the Bai family.
Mu Zhian gently took her hand, smiling. "What does Ye Yu's matter have to do with you?"
Bai Ruoxi stiffened slightly, her gaze lingering on his handsome face, filled with complexity. She found herself uncertain whether her lack of resistance stemmed from coercion or something deeper.
The teahouse was relatively quiet, situated away from the bustling streets. As Mu Zhian absently glanced at the curtain, he noticed a figure retreating behind it.
Someone was eavesdropping? Was it the Gongsun family or the Dawn Chamber of Commerce? No, they wouldn't dare; the consequences would be dire if the Mu family found out. Perhaps it was the mysterious black-robed man seeking Ye Yu...
Mu Zhian contemplated, then leaned closer to Bai Ruoxi, as if to kiss her cheek, and whispered something in her ear.
Bai Ruoxi's eyes widened slightly, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. After a moment of silence, she softly replied, "Master Mu is right. His affairs have nothing to do with me."