Hu Caina!
Lu Zheng blinked, his eyes flickering, but he couldn’t make a move.
He hadn’t expected to receive such treatment himself.
“Ahem!”
Lu Zheng coughed, then picked up a piece of vegetable for Shen Ying.
The delicate foot retreated.
Lu Zheng smacked his lips, relieved, yet faintly disappointed.
“Thank you, dear,” Shen Ying said, giving Hu Caina a meaningful glance.
Hu Caina acted oblivious, behaving naturally.
“Caina, stop fooling around!” Hua Yixing scolded, smiling awkwardly, then raised her cup to Shen Ying in a toast.
“Caina loves to flirt. She sometimes goes to town, seeking handsome scholars for a night of fun. Please forgive her, Miss Shen, Master Lu.”
Good heavens, Lu Zheng leaned back tactically. A true player!
He quickly reined in his stirring thoughts, offering a polite, natural smile. “No matter.”
Lin Jing’er smirked mischievously, raising her cup to Lu Zheng, then downed it. “No worries, don’t be scared. Third Sister never forces anyone!”
Lu Zheng: “…”
Is this about forcing or not? Do I look that frail?
Bai Ting’er looked around, confused, unaware of what had just happened.
Yu Mingxin shrugged, stifling a laugh, then whispered something to Bai Ting’er, whose face turned red.
Lu Zheng was speechless…
What did you say? You’re whispering right next to her, so why use secret transmission?
What was the point of leaning in, just for show?
“Knock, knock, knock!”
A knock came at the door.
“I’ll get it!” Unable to handle Yu Mingxin’s teasing, Bai Ting’er jumped up and fled to open the door.
Lu Zheng looked at Hua Yixing. Didn’t she say Wuxiu Manor was remote, rarely visited?
Hua Yixing nodded, confirming it was rare for anyone to come.
“Miss… hello, I… I think I’m lost. These country paths are hard to follow. Is the road west from here to Xiahe Town?”
“You’ve gone the wrong way. West leads deeper into the mountains. You need to backtrack to the southern fork and head southwest.”
“Oh, oh, got it.”
A pause, then the voice spoke again. “Um… is there any food here? I’d be willing to buy some…”
Hua Yixing looked at Lu Zheng, who nodded. She called out, “Ting’er, invite the traveler in.”
“Alright!” Bai Ting’er replied. “We’re eating too. Come in, I’ll get you some chopsticks.”
“Thank you, thank you! Sorry for the trouble!”
As Bai Ting’er returned, they saw a scholar in faded green robes behind her, his face refined but shy.
Seeing the table in the hall, the scholar froze.
Goodness, the one who opened the door was like a fairy from a painting, and now five stunning women? If not for the scholarly man present, he’d think he’d stumbled into a fox den.
“G-Greetings, everyone. I’m Ji Zizhen from Dingxian County. Greetings, sir, ladies,” the scholar hurriedly bowed.
“Come, come, Master Ji, sit. No need to be formal,” Hu Caina beckoned.
Realising Lu Zheng wasn’t interested—Shen Ying outshone her in beauty and grace—Hu Caina swiftly shifted her attention, inviting Ji Zizhen to sit.
“Thank you! Thank you!” Ji Zizhen bowed repeatedly before sitting on the chair Yu Mingxin brought.
Bai Ting’er set out a bowl and chopsticks, earning more thanks from him.
Hua Yixing raised her hand. “We’re halfway through our meal, Master Ji. No need to stand on ceremony.”
“Right, right, thank you!”
Ji Zizhen was indeed hungry. Though it was all vegetarian, he quickly ate a bowl of rice and took another.
“Are you heading to Xiahe Town, Master Ji?” Hu Caina asked suddenly.
“Indeed,” Ji Zizhen nodded, finishing his last bite of rice and exhaling.
“Xiahe Town isn’t close. If you hadn’t taken the wrong path, you could’ve reached it by evening,” Hu Caina said. “But you missed the fork and came three miles north. Going back now, you won’t make it before dark.”
“What?”
Ji Zizhen’s face fell. “Can’t I get there if I hurry?”
“The mountain paths are tough. Hurrying could be dangerous.”
Ji Zizhen licked his lips, knowing the risks of night travel. “Is there anywhere to stay along the way?”
“A town of barely a thousand? No one runs a guesthouse outside it.”
“Then…”
“Why not stay here tonight? Leave in the morning. It’s safer.”
“Would… would that be convenient?”
“We have spare rooms and bedding. Don’t worry, Master Ji.”
In a few words, Hu Caina arranged for Ji Zizhen to stay.
Relieved, Ji Zizhen turned to Lu Zheng. “I was a bit flustered earlier, forgive me. May I have your name, sir?”
“Lu Zheng of Tonglin County. Greetings, Master Ji.”
Ji Zizhen waved his hands. “No, no, just a humble scholar. Call me Zizhen, Brother Lu. Are you…?”
“We’re guests too,” Lu Zheng said. “The hosts are very welcoming.”
“Exactly! Exactly!” Ji Zizhen nodded, assuming Lu Zheng was like him. “Did you get lost too, Brother Lu?”
“Something like that,” Lu Zheng chuckled, turning to Hua Yixing. “Thanks to Miss Hua’s hospitality, I’m full and satisfied. We’ll take our leave.”
“We were just getting to the good part. Why rush off, Brother Lu?” Lin Jing’er interjected before Hua Yixing could respond.
She and Lu Zheng had been discussing calligraphy, using fingers as brushes and wine as ink on the table, until Hu Caina’s antics interrupted.
“It’s getting late. The city gates will close soon. There’ll be time to talk another day,” Lu Zheng smiled, then asked Hua Yixing, “Is it alright for Master Ji to stay the night?”
Hua Yixing nodded. “Of course.”
“Good,” Lu Zheng nodded. From what he’d seen, these five women weren’t malicious. Even Hu Caina was just a bit wild.
Ji Zizhen, however, was confused. “You’re returning to Tonglin County?”
“Yes!”
“But… isn’t Tonglin County over a hundred miles away?”
“Yes!”
“Then how…?”
“I have my wife!”
Ji Zizhen: ???
What does returning to Tonglin County have to do with your wife?
“My wife has powers. She can travel a thousand miles in a day,” Lu Zheng said seriously.
Ji Zizhen: ???
Shen Ying smiled, nodding lightly to Ji Zizhen. With a wave of her sleeve, a breeze lifted them, and she and Lu Zheng floated out of Wuxiu Manor, drifting away.
Before leaving, Lu Zheng winked at Hu Caina, who glared back, half-annoyed, half-amused.
Lu Zheng had set a trap for her.
By revealing a hint of magic, he’d sparked suspicion and caution in Ji Zizhen, adding uncertainty to Hu Caina’s plans to seduce him that night.
