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Sang Qian jumped. “Why do you know about this?”
“The only way anything can truly remain hidden is if you silence all those involved.” Sang Hong said with a cold snort. “Honey trap, of course it would be someone like you who thinks up something like that!”
Sang Qian immediately became embarrassed. “I was just trying to take over the Plum Blossom Sect’s business! After all, we have a gambling hub ourselves…”
“Enough. Don’t let me know about those types of things.” Sang Hong said with an impatient expression.
“Ah…” Sang Qian cursed endlessly inside, thinking fine, you’re noble and virtuous, you don’t covet riches at all. However, the bureaucracy path isn’t without great spending, so how can an official’s salary be enough?
“Those who deal with big things do not bother with the trifles. Moreover, history has proved again and again that sexual entrapment is still extremely useful!”
Sang Hong shot his son a glare. “Are you actually dumb? Others’ honey traps are all carefully groomed female spies, who in the world uses their own fiance?!”
Sang Qian revealed an embarrassed laugh. “I couldn’t find a suitable candidate right away, so I had Zheng Dan give it a try. Don’t worry, her temperament is graceful and reserved, and she is quite intelligent. She won’t really let Zu An take advantage of her.”
“I really don’t know where you get your confidence. This is playing with fire! A single mistake and you’ll end up giving away your wife too.” Sang Hong released a cold snort.
“Don’t worry pops. In terms of appearance, family background, and ability, which one of these can he possibly compare to me in?” Sang Qian said proudly. “Miss Zheng has always had such high standards, so why would she ever fall for this type of guy?”
When he saw how little importance his son was treating this matter with, Sang Hong frowned, feeling like he was a bit too cocky. However, he had met that child Zheng Dan before as well. She looked gentle and sweet-tempered on the surface, but she was definitely a headstrong girl. She came from a distinguished background as well, so the chances of her falling for this type of drafted son-in-law was extremely low.
Only after he thought about all of this did he relax a bit. “Forget it. Since things are already like this, give her another task. See if she can find out anything about that mysterious expert behind Zu An.”
Sang Qian was stunned. “Didn’t you already ask me and that masked man to separately look into this?”
Sang Hong shook his head. “If that mysterious expert intentionally hides himself, they might not be able to find him in Chu clan. It is also the same on your side. That is why we have to see if that Zu An will end up getting trapped by beauty and accidentally reveal something.”
His expression was full of worry. He had a hundred percent confidence in completing what he set out to Brightmoon City to do, but after receiving news of this mysterious expert, it seemed like there were suddenly more variables. His plans might even very well collapse over this affair. That was why he had to dig these variables out as soon as possible.
“Alright, I’ll talk to Zheng Dan.” Sang Qian agreed. He felt a bit wronged inside. He had just been lectured on using his own fiance as a honey trap, yet in the end, the other party actually took the initiative to use this method.
After a bit of hesitation, Sang Hong said, “Right, there is one other matter I need to remind you of. If Zheng Dan really ends up doing anything that lets you down, what do you plan to do?”
“She dares?!” The scene of Zheng Dan being defiled under Zu An appeared in Sang Qian’s head. His eye sockets immediately felt like they wer esplitting. “If she dares do anything that lets me down, I will make sure not even her family’s dog is left alive!”
“Anger of the ignorant!” Sang Hong angrily rebuked. “If that really happens, you have to pretend as if nothing happened…”
Before he even finished, he was cut off. “Isn’t that the same as willingly become cuckolded?!”
“Of course it isn’t!” Sang Hong said furiously with an unquestionable tone, “If you want to achieve anything great, you must be able to endure far more than ordinary people. When something really does happen, you cannot blame Zheng Dan without sorting out the rights and wrongs of the matter! Otherwise, you will only be pushing her further into the embrace of another man.”
“What you have to do is console and forgive her, completely ease her heart, to do as much as you can to make her work for you. Then, after the overall situation is already decided, that is when you can settle things.”
Sang Qian didn’t really approve of this, but his father had always been strict, so he felt disinclined to argue. “I got it.”
When he heard the half-heartedness in his tone, Sang Hong’s brows furrowed. However, he didn’t say anything else either. He hoped Zheng Dan, that child, was smart enough, that she wouldn’t head down the wrong path.
“I just remembered. Were you planning to go to the Courtesan Meeting?” Sang Hong sat down to leisurely sip on some tea again.
“Yes. I heard that Immortal Abode’s courtesan queen Qiu Honglei is going to even privately entertain a single guest. Lady Qiu’s skills in the arts are exceptional. Countless men have prostrated before her, yet she has remained a pure woman all this time, only entertained with art, never with her body. The men of this city have already longed for her for a long time, so I naturally have to try my luck tonight as well…
While speaking, he suddenly noticed that his father’s eyes almost released flames, only then did Sang Qian shut his mouth in embarrassment. Talking about these things with his father really wasn’t too appropriate.
Sang Hong released a heavy snort. “You don’t need to go tonight. A glorious court official heading to a place of prostitutes, whatever’s next?!”
“Visiting brothels is a deed of the suave and elegant to begin with, there’s nothing unacceptable about it.” Sang Qian disapproved.
“There’s more to that Qiu Honglei than what meets the eye.” Sang Hong said with a heavy voice. “I even sent someone to look into her…”
“Ah, turns out pops also had an interest in her.” Sang Qian’s face revealed a look of understanding. No wonder you stopped me from going! It’s because you thought I was competing with you over her.
Sang Hong immediately knew what kind of nonsense he was thinking from a single glance. His face became as dark as charcoal. “Absolute nonsense! I just wanted to make sure I had all the information I needed to complete what I was assigned. That woman is famous in Brightmoon City, of course I would look into her. It is a pity that she is only an ordinary courtesan.”
“She was a courtesan to begin with?” Sang Qian found it a bit hard to keep up.
“This is what’s strange.” Sang Hong looked towards the city’s south through the window. “She was born with such great beauty, her reputation far and widespread. If she was only an ordinary courtesan, how could she have possibly retained her purity after so many years?”
“Ah…” When his father said these things, he also realized that something was off.
Sang Hong immediately added, “Furthermore, you’ve just announced your engagement with Zheng clan, yet you’re already looking for some courtesan, just what exactly are you trying to show Zheng Dan, show the entire Zheng clan? In order to deal with Chu clan this time, we need the full support of Zheng clan. I do not want there to be any hiccups between our clans because of your ‘opportunity’. Stay at home today, you aren’t permitted to go anywhere!”
Sang Qian had a look of disappointment on his face, he understood that he couldn’t go against his father’s orders, so he could only carry hidden bitterness as he looked towards the city south’s Immortal Abode. He wondered which lucky bastard would end up picking this exceptional flower.
…
After Zu An saw off Ji Dengtu, he returned to his room to carry out meditation cultivation. Either way, Chu Chuyan had Qin Wanru watching her right now, so he couldn’t head over anyway.
Not long after he sat down, a knocking suddenly sounded outside. “Ah Zu, Ah Zu are you there?”
Zu An stared blankly for a moment. This voice was a bit familiar. After thinking for a bit, he realized that this was the third branch’s son Chu Yucheng, someone he met before during the competition between Chu and Yuan clan. They also exchanged some greetings in Chu estate before, but the two didn’t interact much beyond that.
“What does this guy want from me?” Zu An was inwardly puzzled. He got up to take a look. Sure enough, a youngster that was chubby like a ball stood at the entrance, on his face a big smile.
His eyes were narrowed to the point where they almost formed a line.
Zu An didn’t dare underestimate him. During the clan competition, this fella was completely a small tank, his fat the perfect meat shield, overwhelming his opponent without giving him a single chance to retaliate.
What was even more shocking was that there was another person at his side. His hands were folded in front of him, hugging a sword. His face was cold and proud; this was precisely the second branch’s Chu Hongcai.
“Is there something the two of you need from me?” Zu An asked curiously.
“Of course it’s for something good!” Chu Yucheng walked over and hooked his arm around Zu An, on his face the knowing smile of a bro. “Tonight is Immortal Abode’s Courtesan Meeting! You in?”