The saying goes: If a person is shameless enough, they are invincible.
Wang Sandong obviously had not yet reached that level of invincibility.
Although she had already planned to use the “Miss Yuanyuan” persona as a shield, it was truly embarrassing to do so in front of so many people.
However, once you are riding a tiger, it is hard to get off, and the “blood” would not wait for her!
Wang Sandong dared not delay any longer.
She could only grit her teeth, brace herself, and dive into the rouge shop.
Looking around the large rouge shop, one’s eyes were filled with competing beauties, one’s ears filled with the chatter of birds and the songs of warblers, and one’s nose filled with rich, fragrant scents.
This was not a rouge shop; it was more like a greenhouse.
Once inside, one would never want to leave, wishing only to linger and indulge in a drunken stupor.
Wang Sandong had seen the world.
Compared to this place, the scenes in Fengyue Tower were even more intense.
Thus, she simply glanced around, “admiring” the place roughly, before walking toward the counter.
The shopkeeper was a woman in her forties who recognized Wang Sandong.
Before Wang Sandong could speak, she smiled and greeted her, “Oh my, it is the Third Young Master Wang. What a rare guest.”
Wang Sandong was surprised.
“You know me?”
“Third Young Master Wang is a celebrity in the Old Capital, so naturally, I recognize you. Furthermore, the Wang family is related to my Liu family by marriage, so I would not dare to not know the Third Young Master.”
Saying they were “related by marriage” was indeed the truth.
Wang Sandong’s mother, Madam Wang, was from the Liu family.
Therefore, strictly speaking, the shopkeeper should have called Wang Sandong “Cousin.”
However, Madam Wang was from a branch of the Liu family.
The title “Cousin” was not particularly appropriate—it would make the Liu family look like they were trying to cling to the status of the Wang family.
At this moment, customers who were selecting goods or chatting nearby were all attracted to the conversation.
Some were shocked and whispered: “It’s a man? I thought it was a woman.”
“Is this the rumored Wang Sandong?”
“As the rumors said…”
“He truly looks like an immortal being…”
It was the time of the Celebration Grand Ceremony, and there were many out-of-towners in the Old Capital.
Most of them had heard of Wang Sandong’s reputation.
They had originally thought it was just hearsay, but seeing the person in the flesh, they were naturally curious and shocked, leading to whispers.
Wang Sandong was long accustomed to such scenes.
Usually, when she encountered them, she didn’t pay them any mind.
However, today was a bit different.
The countless gazes falling upon her felt like scorching rays of light, roasting her until her face turned beet red.
“Ahem, well, give me some of the best rouge and powder you have right now.”
Such an instruction would have been sufficient.
Yet, out of a guilty conscience, she explained it herself: “I took a fancy to a girl named Yuanyuan at Fengyue Tower, and I intend to buy some rouge and powder for her.”
Psychologically, she felt that the more detailed she was, the more it sounded true.
The shopkeeper smiled and flattered her upon hearing this: “To be favored by the Third Young Master, that Miss Yuanyuan must be quite extraordinary.”
As she spoke, she skillfully brought out some rouge and powder.
“These are the best goods in the shop, and naturally, they are the most expensive. Third Young Master, please see if they suit your tastes.”
Wang Sandong smiled and said, “The price does not matter; pack them up for me.”
As she spoke, she took a gold leaf from her bosom and slapped it onto the counter.
“Oh, right. Also…”
She lowered her voice, “Some menstrual belts as well. Miss Yuanyuan surely wouldn’t be willing to use the Liu family’s menstrual belts, as they are too expensive.”
Though the voice was low, it was still heard clearly by those with prying ears.
Behind her, someone whispered in disgust: “Buying menstrual belts for a woman, that’s rare…”
“Playboy masters are common, but to be this sleazy… it’s hard to find…”
“How truly shameful.”
The shopkeeper naturally heard these whispers but ignored them, smiling as she comforted Wang Sandong.
“It is truly rare to find a man as thoughtful and considerate as you, Young Master.”
She paused and then asked, “How many?”
“Since I’m already here, take a few more.”
Although Wang Sandong’s face was burning, feeling as if she were about to “bleed a river,” she couldn’t worry about her pride and had to brace herself.
“Just take fifty.”
Hearing this, someone let out a snort of laughter.
A bold woman with an accent from outside the city teased, “Are you buying them wholesale to resell?”
Once spoken, the women burst into laughter.
Although it was a shameful topic, if there were enough women together, it not only stopped being shameful but instead became boisterous and uninhibited.
Someone said, “Even if you are pretty, I doubt any woman would buy these from you.”
“Hey, he could put on a dress; nobody would realize he’s a man.”
“He’s a bit too flat, though.”
“Yours aren’t much bigger, either.”
“Get lost!”
One word after another, the scene became exceptionally lively.
The shopkeeper was also at a loss for how to react, but she resisted laughing and whispered a reminder to Wang Sandong: “Just so you know, Third Young Master, these Liu family menstrual belts can be washed and reused repeatedly. Therefore, usually having three or five is enough for rotation. There is no need to prepare so many.”
The crowd erupted in laughter again.
Wang Sandong was so embarrassed she wanted to crawl into a hole in the ground.
Her mind went blank, and she didn’t know how to respond, but suddenly she thought of a memory—both familiar and alien—of herself chatting and laughing with a group of geishas on a painted boat…
This was the memory of Cui San’er, whom Wang Sandong had killed.
“Don’t laugh!”
Wang Sandong said, her face flushed red.
She waved a hand and put on a lecherous smile.
“I want fifty because I plan to give them to all the sisters here. Everyone present gets one.”
“Ugh! We don’t want yours.”
“Keep it for yourself.”
“Do you take us for Miss Yuanyuan, who can’t afford to buy the Liu family’s menstrual belts?”
The chattering voices filled her head.
Wang Sandong felt a splitting headache and instinctively wanted to cover her ears.
Looking up at the shopkeeper, she quickly said, “Hurry and arrange for the items; I’m going to be driven mad by this noise.”
Turning her head, she caught a glimpse of Wang Tong, who was red-faced and looking down.
She was immediately filled with rage.
I am the one being mocked, so why are you embarrassed?
Are you ashamed to be following me?
You dog!
I’ll deal with you later!
At this moment, the shopkeeper quickly made the arrangements and was just about to speak up to soothe the agitated Wang Sandong when she looked over and immediately greeted someone.
“Seventh Miss.”
The newcomer was the Seventh Miss of the Liu family.
Wang Sandong followed the shopkeeper’s gaze, and the expression on her face froze.
Seventh Miss Liu wore a stern face and glared at Wang Sandong.
“You don’t have many days left to live, yet your head is filled with filth! That the Wang family produced a fop like you—neither man nor woman—is a misfortune for the family.”
Wang Sandong remained silent.
She struggled to suppress the fire in her heart.
Filth?
Neither man nor woman?
What?
Did I eat your rice?
Busybody!
If her strength allowed it, she would have slapped her silly!
She didn’t want to engage with her, but thinking of her mother’s mournful eyes, Wang Sandong could only force a smile and cup her hands.
“Greetings, Seventh Cousin.”
She never expected to be so unlucky as to run into Seventh Miss Liu here.
Seventh Miss Liu directly ignored Wang Sandong’s greeting and began chatting with a regular customer.
Such a deliberate act was like a direct slap to Wang Sandong’s face.
Wang Sandong’s expression shifted several times, and she said nothing more.
She turned her face to the side, ignoring Seventh Miss Liu altogether.
Some people whispered, some glanced back with light smiles, and others secretly speculated.
Wang Sandong stood with a face like dark water, waiting without a word.
Fortunately, the items were soon ready.
Wang Sandong ordered Wang Tong to take the things, and they left the rouge shop in a hurry.
The carriage moved at a snail’s pace through the congested streets.
Wang Sandong hid inside the carriage and warned Wang Tong: “Do not lift the curtain.”
Although Wang Tong did not understand, as a servant, he dared not ask and simply complied.
Only then did Wang Sandong take out a menstrual belt.
How do you use this thing?
Sharpening the sword does not delay the wood-chopping; even though she was about to leak, she had to study it first.
Turning it over and over, studying and trying, she was anxious, exhausted, and overheated. Covered in sweat and panting, she finally managed to put it on.
The menstrual belt produced by the Liu family was indeed effective.
After putting it on, she felt refreshed.
She wrapped the blood-stained cloth she had removed in a clean piece of fabric she had prepared beforehand and hid it under the seat.
Yet, after this whole ordeal, Wang Sandong was gasping for air.
She felt a great deal of resentment toward this frail body.
Unfortunately, even with Mr. Yi’s memories, she couldn’t think of a good way to condition her body.
In this world, whether it was cultivation or medicine, everything was based on the Spiritual Root.
Without a Spiritual Root, everything was for naught.
Wang Sandong, physically and mentally exhausted, leaned back in the carriage and drifted toward sleep.
“Young Master, are we going back to the manor? Or to Fengyue Tower?”
Wang Tong asked through the door curtain.
“Back to the manor.”
She was tired; she needed to go home and rest.
The road was truly too congested.
Seeing this, Wang Sandong instructed Wang Tong to take a detour.
Although it was further, it was much more spacious, so they wouldn’t be stuck there unable to move.
The further they went, the more spacious it became.
Because further ahead was the ruins of the Zheng Clan.
The events of last night had already spread throughout the world.
Although people were curious, few dared to approach these ruins, fearing they would get into trouble.
Those who dared to approach were either people of status or the extremely bold.
Wang Tong pulled on the reins to stop the carriage and whispered to Wang Sandong: “Young Master, shall we continue forward? Ahead is the ruins of the Zheng Clan.”
The ruins of the Zheng Clan…
A tightness gripped Wang Sandong’s heart.
She lifted the curtain to look outside, pondered for a moment, and said softly, “Continue.”
The carriage proceeded.
The ruins drew closer.
Members of the Zheng Clan were cleaning up the debris.
Some were clearing out valuable property, others collecting their fallen relatives.
The scorching sun hung high, turning the ruins into a steamer, yet it still made one’s spine go cold.
In the center of the ruins, on a broken wall, Zheng Xiao sat with a sword, staring at the ruins in a daze.
Her gaze was cold and empty, and no joy or anger could be seen on her face.
“Those who are too rigid are easily broken,” Wang Sandong said softly.
“When something cannot be done, one must endure.”
Zheng Xiao turned back to look at Wang Sandong and actually revealed a faint smile.
“The wedding date… I’m afraid it will have to be postponed.”
She then looked back at the busy Zheng Clan members.
“The Zheng family must hold a funeral first.”
Wang Sandong hesitated for a moment and asked, “Your brother, he…”
“Thank you,” Zheng Xiao said.
“Fortunately, for your prescription, otherwise my brother would definitely not have held on yesterday.”
This was not just polite rhetoric, nor an exaggeration.
If it hadn’t been for Wang Sandong’s prescription, which allowed the Zheng Clan Head’s body to “regain some blood,” he would certainly have died after suffering such a grave injury last night.
“Sigh…”
Aside from sighing, there was nothing Wang Sandong could do.
Looking at the ruins before her, Wang Sandong remembered the glance the Human Sovereign had given her so casually last night.
In front of such a master, she was as fragile as a bubble.
“This world is always like this,” Zheng Xiao said, looking at the ruins as well.
“The law of the jungle, the strong prey on the weak.”
Wang Sandong sighed again and said, “Indeed.”
“Always like this…”
Zheng Xiao murmured, as if talking to herself.
“But it shouldn’t be like this.”
Then, she laughed.
“We are always doing evil, but because we are always doing evil, how can we believe that doing evil is right, or believe that it must be this way, or even that it should be this way?”
As she spoke, the sword in her hand reflected the sun’s rays, shining dazzlingly.
Wang Sandong watched Zheng Xiao quietly.
She noticed that Zheng Xiao was actually exuding an aura that commanded respect.
Her sword carried not a shred of spiritual energy, yet it seemed incredibly sharp; her body released not a trace of killing intent, yet it seemed as if she were about to start a slaughter; her eyes held no emotion, yet they seemed to hide all manner of feelings.
In a trance, Wang Sandong felt that she was not facing Zheng Xiao, but the Yuan Di.
Zheng Xiao exhaled lightly, looked at Wang Sandong, and said, “I want to have a child.”
“…”
Wang Sandong was stunned; she thought she had misheard.
The topic shift was too fast.
So fast that she couldn’t react in time.
“Too many people in the Zheng family have died, and the descendants with good aptitude are all dead… It must have been the Zither Emperor’s doing.”
Zheng Xiao’s tone was flat, her expression cold.
“The Zheng family can be destroyed, but the inheritance of the Noble Spirit Art cannot be broken. I want to have a child to pass these on.”
She said it as if she were chatting about the weather today.
Zheng Xiao’s calmness was like the quiet before a storm.
Wang Sandong scrutinized Zheng Xiao, feeling that she wasn’t joking.
Zheng Xiao said, “With the bloodline of the Zheng and Wang families, the aptitude shouldn’t be bad.”
She paused and added, “A child of the Wang family should be able to keep their life.”
These words inexplicably carried a note of bleakness and determination.
Wang Sandong swallowed hard—Zheng Xiao’s calmness gave her a feeling of grotesque impending crisis.
Taking a deep breath, Wang Sandong said cautiously, “I have no Spiritual Root from birth, my aptitude should be considered extremely poor, so… you…”
Zheng Xiao shook her head and said, “I have never seen someone survive without a Spiritual Root. Therefore… you must have something extraordinary about you.”
“My body is very weak, and if I get even slightly agitated, it could cost me my life. So…”
“I will find a way to steady your vitality.”
After saying this, Zheng Xiao, who had shown little expression, suddenly raised an eyebrow, stared into Wang Sandong’s eyes, and asked, “You are resisting so much… do you really not fancy me?”
“This… I…”
Wang Sandong felt miserable.
She really wanted to curse.
You want to have a child with me now?
What were you doing earlier?
You might be capable of giving birth, but what am I supposed to use to plant the seed?
My brain must be fried too!
After suffering such a disaster, the first thing you think of is to find a man to have a child with!
I know you are worried that the Zither Emperor will truly exterminate the Zheng family, and you want to leave an inheritance and rely on the power of the Wang family to protect the child, but…
There are so many young men in the Wang family, why must you choose me?
Perhaps because she was currently in the midst of her period, Wang Sandong felt incredibly distressed.
Although she pitied Zheng Xiao’s misfortune and felt a touch of sadness due to the memories that did not truly belong to her, she was who she was after all; she only wanted to live well and did not want to get mixed up in the messy business of the Zheng family.
Moreover, if she were to really marry Zheng Xiao and then be pestered by her to have children, the secret of her transformation would definitely be exposed!
Finally, there was a somewhat pretentious reason—she did not want to become a “sowing tool.”
Wang Sandong decided to make Zheng Xiao lose hope.
She met Zheng Xiao’s gaze and said, “Actually, there is a girl I like.”
“That maid called Hongxiu?”
“No, it’s Miss Yuanyuan of Fengyue Tower.”
“Men often have several wives and concubines; it is a common matter,” Zheng Xiao said.
“A brothel woman, just buy her home and keep her.”
Wang Sandong was speechless.
She had completely forgotten that in this world, there was no custom of “monogamy.”
Her mind spinning, Wang Sandong said with feigned devotion, “I promised Yuanyuan that I would only marry her in this life.”
After saying this, she sighed with regret.
“I am sorry.”
Then, she turned to leave.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.