“Host, be careful he doesn’t discover why you came to the gambling house. If you fail to uncover the assassin and instead make him suspicious, you’ll only cause trouble,” the System whispered in warning.
Alright…
Tang Li nodded, already planning in silence how to get herself out of this.
The moment the purple-robed old woman saw the token in the Ghost Masked Young Master’s hand, her entire expression changed. The wrinkles on her face instantly folded into an ingratiating smile.
“So she is the young master’s lady, this old woman’s eyes have failed her, I did not recognize her… Men, hurry and bring the young master double the chips as an apology!”
With a clap of her hands, two attendants came forward and placed fresh chips before the Vermilion Bird seat. After flattering him with a few more words and wishing him luck at play, she withdrew.
The “Wen Shuyu” in the ghost mask cast Tang Li a glance, called her Mu Niang, then naturally slipped an arm around her waist and guided her to the Vermilion Bird chair, every inch the frivolous young aristocrat.
His broad palm settled over her slender waist to steady her, then he pulled her down onto his lap.
“Master Miaoshan, don’t think you can run after losing silver. Add more chips. Tonight this one intends to enjoy himself thoroughly.”
Bai Shan sharply called out to the monk who had tried to slip away amidst the confusion. Master Miaoshan looked around the table, realizing there was no escape this time, and could only wipe the sweat from his palms before sitting back down.
In the dim gambling hall, a silent pressure thickened the air.
Redwood chips lacquered with gold toppled with dull knocks. Fresh wagers passed between the four players. Exquisite jade dice spun through the air, bounced several times, then stilled in one corner.
“You lost, Young Master.”
Tang Li traced “Wen Shuyu’s” profile with her gaze. His eyes were still as an unfathomable pool. Without expression, he casually pushed another stack of golden betting slips onto the table.
“What fun is adding chips alone? Since you brought a dancing girl today, why not make the forfeit a cup of wine?”
Bai Shan bared sharp little teeth and said darkly, “Unless she…”
Tang Li knew Bai Shan was not someone easily fooled. If she refused now, both she and Wen Shuyu would be exposed, and the situation would only worsen.
The gambling den’s air was murky, the lamps flickering. Holding the wine cup, Tang Li turned toward him, the faint flush on her fingertips vivid in the dim room.
Wen Shuyu stared at that blush of color, his breathing slowly losing rhythm.
It had been the same in their previous life. In a chaotic gambling den, he had come to investigate a case, she had disguised herself as a dancer, and with lips soft and brushed by intoxicating wine, she had touched the corner of his mouth.
In that instant, his heart had pounded like a drum, and a tangle of love and hatred had taken root.
And now in this life, she had come again carrying a wine cup.
Inside his sleeve, Wen Shuyu’s hand clenched so hard his nails nearly cut into flesh. He unconsciously held his breath, eyes fixed to the hand moving toward him with the cup, desperately waiting for that familiar, addictive touch.
If she dared touch him.
If she did as she had in her last life…
Tang Li stopped before him.
Her wrist lifted, the wine cup steady at his lips. The movement was smooth and utterly unhesitating, as casual as tossing alms to a beggar on the roadside.
No pause.
No hesitation.
Not even the slightest brush of her fingertips against his mouth.
Wen Shuyu parted his lips instinctively, and the wine slid down his throat, burning all the way.
“…”
Tang Li withdrew her hand without sparing him an extra glance.
Wen Shuyu froze.
The tension in his body collapsed at once, and only then did he realize how much pain he had caused his own palm, but even sharper was the sudden hollow caving in within his chest.
She had not touched him.
She had not made his heartbeat race as in the last life.
She had not pulled him into that terrible mix of anticipation and dread.
He had been terrified she would touch him, seduce him, drag him into repeating the past.
Yet when she treated him like a stranger and pushed him away so completely, he found himself bitterly disappointed.
So this was the cruelest torment.
Not rekindled old feelings.
But she could not even be bothered to pretend anymore.
Had Tang Li truly had no feelings left for him at all?
The next morning.
When the first golden light of dawn spilled over the eaves of Wanshan Temple, the ancient, solemn bell awakened the sleeping mountain forest.
Wanshan Temple sat halfway up Xiang Mountain southwest of the capital. Its scenery was lovely in all seasons, and it was said prayers made here were especially effective, drawing pilgrims from everywhere.
Sure enough, while dawn was still dim, incense already thickened the temple grounds, and worshippers crowded the main hall.
Tang Li knelt on a cushion before the Bodhisattva with palms pressed together, eyes closed like a devout believer.
After a long while, she lifted her goose-yellow skirt, rose, and stepped out into the courtyard, slowly tracing the temple surroundings with her eyes along the painted murals.
“Teacher System, I’ve wandered the temple and found nothing unusual…”
Her delicate brows furrowed thoughtfully.
After the gambling den dispersed yesterday, Tang Li had immediately found an excuse to shake off Wen Shuyu.
Partly because she had no idea how to deal with her “capture target.” In her previous life, she had barely exchanged words with men.
Partly because she wanted to find the little boy.
He had clung desperately to Master Miaoshan’s robes begging for help. Perhaps he knew something about the assassin.
So at dusk, while the proprietress was gone, Tang Li slipped into the rear courtyard and found the boy locked in the woodshed.
At first the starving child was wary, but hunger soon won, and crouched in a corner he devoured the flatbread she bought him.
The boy was called Xiao Shuo.
He told Tang Li the reason he grabbed Master Miaoshan’s sleeve was because he carried a dangerous scent.
“A dangerous scent?”
“Big Sister beats me. I have nowhere to run. My nose is very sharp…”
He curled in the corner, trembling.
“I smelled something sharp and choked on him… If I breathe it too long, I get dizzy…”
“Big Sister is afraid of that smell too… Whenever guests carrying the same smell come to the gambling house, she doesn’t dare raise her head…”
What smell could it be?
Since it clung to Master Miaoshan… blood?
“It’s Purple Mist Immortal.”
The System, silent until now, spoke.
“The Virtuous Prince’s assassins excel in using it.
Purple Mist Immortal is a poisonous herb. Its flowers are cup-shaped, colored like sunset clouds. If swallowed by mistake, in moments it tears through the stomach and kills. Extremely vicious.”
Then Master Miaoshan truly was one of the Virtuous Prince’s remaining assassins…
If they caught him, perhaps the original novel’s plot where the young emperor was poisoned could be prevented.
Inside Wanshan Temple.
“Where exactly is Miaoshan hiding?”
Tang Li raised her handkerchief to block the fierce sunlight. She had searched half a day and still found no sign of the assassin.
As abbot of Wanshan Temple, he would not disappear without cause.
Had he sensed danger in advance and hidden himself?
“Well, if it isn’t the lowly maid cast out of the manor. Still alive, I see?”
Tang Li glanced sideways and saw Ninth Miss approaching in splendid robes, a maid beside her carrying sandalwood incense.
“What, regretting you demanded a separation? So you’ve come to Wanshan Temple to pray for marriage?”
Ninth Miss sneered and pointed mockingly at her.
After Tang Li was driven from the manor at the beginning, the System had explained why Ninth Miss treated the original owner this way.
It was because of the author’s melodramatic romance plot.
Ninth Miss was the original heroine, blessed with noble birth and countless admirers. The male lead Shen Mo was a famed young general. They were supposed to be heaven matched.
But the author insisted on stuffing endless romantic rivals into the story so the heroine could grow jealous, break up repeatedly, and drag out the word count.
And Tang Li had been Shen Mo’s despised former fiancée, discarded and sent back to her family.
Out of jealousy, Ninth Miss had then driven Tang Li into wandering.
Just my luck.
Even doing a side quest I run into her.
Tang Li lifted her head toward the plaque above the side hall and realized she had unconsciously stopped before the hall dedicated to marriage blessings.
So this woman was attacking again because her rivalry setting had activated.
I tolerated you last time.
Now let me disgust you to death.
Tang Li rolled her eyes, folded her arms, and smiled.
“Yes, after I returned I regretted it. General Shen is so heroic, I truly cannot bear to leave such a fine husband.”
Ninth Miss’s face twisted in fury, the jewels in her hair trembling.
“You…”
“Everyone knows you’re nothing but a lowly servant in the manor. You dare call yourself the General’s wife?!”
“So long as the engagement has not been dissolved, I remain the General Manor’s rightful wife, and you can never be his principal wife.”
“Shut up!”
The side hall lay in a secluded corner near the lake and was usually deserted.
With no one around, Ninth Miss did what she always did when disciplining someone she despised. She lifted a hand and slapped Tang Li’s face.
But Tang Li did not kneel and beg as before.
Without hesitation, she stepped forward, seized Ninth Miss by the collar so she could not struggle, then swung backhanded.
Smack! Smack!
Two vicious slaps.
Ninth Miss froze in disbelief.
This lowly creature dared hit her?
Tang Li let go of her collar. The butcher’s daughter body she inhabited truly had inherited formidable strength. Soon Ninth Miss’s face was swelling.
“You wretch, have you gone mad?!”
Ninth Miss fell to the ground shrieking.
Tang Li calmly took out a handkerchief, wiped her hands clean, dropped it to the ground, then looked coolly at the heroine who had tried to abuse her and instead was punished.
“What, you still dare provoke me?”
Humiliated and enraged, Ninth Miss lunged to shove her.
Tang Li flicked a glance into the distance.
She knew a man stood hidden in the moonlight there, watching everything.
And in that instant inspiration struck.
Swift as lightning, she grabbed Ninth Miss’s hand and pulled both of them backward into the lake, letting the freezing water swallow them.
“You… glub… glub…”
Ninth Miss thrashed wildly in the water, eyes full of shock.
Has this madwoman lost her mind?
Insulting her was one thing.
Dragging them both into a lake together?
She couldn’t swim!
Tang Li surfaced, used Ninth Miss’s body as cover, and viciously slapped her own face.
Instantly one cheek reddened and swelled.
Ninth Miss stared, stunned.
Only then did she realize she had been played.
Had she known this woman was insane, she never would have provoked her.
Regret!
Ninth Miss was now filled with it.
Even the System was dumbfounded, its voice stuttering.
“Host… what are you…”
Take the green tea schemer’s road and leave the green tea schemer nowhere to walk.
Tang Li’s lips curved wildly upward, confidence surging.
Just watch me turn this game around.