Chapter Fifty-Eight: Temptation

Ye Ling walked along, deep in thought. Earlier, Ye Xin had already deduced that the Zong family's target was the Heavenly Wolf Manual, just like the Deng family, though he wasn't sure what methods Zong would use. So he had worked out many plans with Ye Ling, assigning her various roles to play. Although she didn't fully understand why her brother insisted on this, she chose to trust him.

Ye Ling approached Deng Qiaoying and whispered, "If we lend you the Heavenly Wolf Manual, can the Zong family find a way to rescue my father?"

"Ye Ling?!" Deng Qiaoying was startled.

"Mother, I know what I'm doing," Ye Ling replied, shaking her head.

The two stewards from the Zong family were overjoyed, nodding repeatedly. "Miss Ye, please rest assured. Though the Zong family hasn't been in Jiuding City for long, we enjoy great favor with the ruler. Our master will certainly plead with the sovereign on your father's behalf."

Tie Shudeng gritted his teeth and whispered, "Nonsense! I've pleaded with my father many times, but he has never agreed. Who does the Zong family think they are?"

"Mother, let's just lend them the Heavenly Wolf Manual," Ye Ling said, turning to Deng Qiaoying. "It's right here anyway—they wouldn't dare take it away."

Deng Qiaoying's face alternated between pale and flushed. She knew she was not clever, but Ye Ling was always sharp and resourceful, often helping her maneuver through difficulties. Ye Ling's rare insistence must have her reasons.

"If we don't lend them the Heavenly Wolf Manual, sister-in-law will never enter our family, and we..." Ye Ling sighed softly.

Pain crossed Deng Qiaoying's face. She slowly turned to look at Ye Xin, whose expression was calm, betraying neither joy nor anger. Then she glanced at Ye Ling, who nodded slightly.

At last, Deng Qiaoying turned around and spoke in a low, hoarse voice, "White Rider, come with me." In just those few moments, her voice had grown raspier and weary.

She proceeded slowly toward the main hall, with Xue White Rider close behind.

Over ten minutes passed before Deng Qiaoying emerged again, looking as though she had aged a decade in an instant, barely able to walk. She approached Ye Ling, slowly handed her the item, and said mournfully, "Ye Ling..."

"Mother, trust me!" Ye Ling steeled herself, refusing to look at Deng Qiaoying's face, and reached for the Heavenly Wolf Manual.

The famed Heavenly Wolf Manual was nothing more than a small booklet, palm-sized, outwardly unremarkable.

Ye Ling gripped it tightly, speaking each word clearly: "You promise? You can get my father out of the dungeon?"

"Of course, of course..." The two stewards from Zong were breathing heavily, their eyes fixed on the manual.

Ye Ling began to hand the manual over, but as one steward reached for it, a loud voice rang out, "Wait!"

Ye Ling instantly withdrew her hand, stepping back a few paces.

The Zong stewards, furious, turned toward the source of the voice, seeing Ye Xin walk out slowly.

Ye Xin approached Ye Ling and held out his hand, speaking gently, "Give it to me."

Ye Ling obediently placed the Heavenly Wolf Manual in Ye Xin's palm.

"You can go back now," Ye Xin said.

Ye Ling retreated. Ye Xin began to fan himself with the manual, eyeing the Zong stewards with leisurely composure.

"Young Master Ye, what do you mean by this?" one steward couldn't help but ask.

"Nothing in particular. I just want to clarify things," Ye Xin replied, gesturing with the manual toward the veiled woman. "Is she supposed to be my wife?"

The Zong stewards' gaze never left the manual, like starving dogs eyeing their master's food. Wherever Ye Xin's hand moved, their eyes followed, a sight both absurd and pitiful.

"Young Master Ye, she's not your wife until she steps through the Ye family’s threshold," one steward said with a forced smile.

"So, I must hand over the Heavenly Wolf Manual for her to enter our family; otherwise, she won’t?" Ye Xin asked.

"Our Zong family does not look down on the Ye family. We're willing to marry our precious daughter into your household, so your family should show some sincerity, don’t you agree?" the steward replied.

"That makes sense..." Ye Xin nodded, seeming to ponder. Then he continued, "But I can't see anything. What if she's ugly? Wouldn't I be at a loss?"

"Impossible!" the steward protested. "Our lady may not be a peerless beauty, but—"

"Words are no proof," Ye Xin interrupted. "Let me inspect the goods first. Unveil her."

Had this been a proper wedding, such a rude request would have enraged the bride’s family. But the Zong stewards, wholly absorbed by the manual within reach, failed to consider, and quickly agreed, "Of course, of course..."

Ye Xin burst out laughing, then spun around sharply, his scarlet battle robe billowing in the air—a striking sight. Tie Shudeng and the others were captivated by Ye Xin’s heroic stance and laughter, while those behind were blocked from view by his swirling robe. With a flash, Ye Xin tucked the manual at his waist and drew out a duplicate. "Third Brother, did you hear what they said?"

He turned sideways, holding up the manual and pointing it at the stewards, all the while watching their expressions. He hadn't practiced magic tricks in ages, and wasn’t a professional—he’d only learned them to impress girls. If the stewards noticed the swap, he’d need a new plan. Seeing their eyes still fixed on the manual, he relaxed.

"Of course I did!" Tie Shudeng replied loudly, playing along.

"I said I wanted to inspect the goods, and they agreed. Ha!" Ye Xin laughed again. "Their precious daughter, nothing but merchandise!"

Everyone burst into laughter, except Wen Hongren, who looked faintly suspicious.

"Young Master Ye, what do you mean by this?!" The stewards finally realized something was amiss and shouted angrily.

"Why so impatient?" Ye Xin said with a smirk. "All things in this world are transactions. Transactions are fair—they’re mutual. Why are you still hesitating? Unveil her!"

The stewards were unsure of Ye Xin’s intentions. But with his firm insistence and the transaction at stake, they had no choice but to comply. One stepped forward, pushed the maid aside, and pulled off the bride's veil.

Beneath the veil was a pale, expressionless face, eyes vacant, staring at the muddy ground.

Ye Xin gazed at Zong Ying for a long moment, then finally smiled and nodded. "Not bad, not bad..."

The stewards breathed a sigh of relief, secretly contemptuous—Ye Xin was indeed as the rumors said, a lecher! All the better, for now a great achievement was within their grasp.

"Well, Young Master Ye? We didn’t exaggerate, did we?" one steward asked with a laugh.

"She’s indeed beautiful," Ye Xin replied, eyes practically sparkling with infatuation. Then he added, "Introduce her to me."

"What? Introduce what?" The stewards were stunned.

"Are you idiots?" Ye Xin barked. "Look at the bun sellers—they always describe their buns, how big they are, how much filling. Fruit sellers, too—they talk about freshness, sweetness, or sourness. You say nothing—how am I supposed to know what’s good about her? You expect to trade for my Heavenly Wolf Manual with just a pretty face?"

"Well..." One steward hesitated. "Our lady is educated, gentle, pure, and kind—"

"That’s meaningless; be specific!" Ye Xin cut him off.

Tie Shudeng and the others understood well: Ye Xin had no intention of letting Zong Ying into the Ye family; otherwise, he wouldn’t humiliate the Zong family so. Wen Hongren drew a sharp breath—Ye Xin was ruthless, using the Zong family’s greed to lure them into disgrace. After today, Zong would become a laughingstock; if someone worked it further, it might even affect Wei Qingfan and Zong Yunxiu’s marriage. So marrying a daughter was just selling goods…

The Zong stewards remained oblivious, led blindly by Ye Xin. The crowd watched the farce, even Zong's own guards looked uncomfortable, but the stewards, on the verge of success, had no energy to think of anything else. They failed to realize that many a step away can mean never crossing the threshold.

"What do you mean…specific…" The stewards looked confused.

"I said you’re pigs, and you really are pigs!" Ye Xin twisted his waist, slapping his own backside. "For example, is she big here? Is she fit for childbearing? Is her temperament good? Can she meet all my needs? Are her waist and legs flexible, can she assume different positions? Heh heh… we’re all men here, you know what I mean!" He finished with a lecherous grin.

"Isn’t that inappropriate…" one steward stammered.

Standing at the back of the crowd, Shen Miao suddenly sighed, "How clever! Truly clever…"

"Oh?" Wen Rong smiled.

"If the Ye family refuses to hand over the Heavenly Wolf Manual and Zong Ying declines to marry in, people would only laugh at the Ye family—for not being able to marry even a concubine’s daughter," Shen Miao murmured. "But now? If Ye Xin drives her out at this point, people will mock the Zong family! In just a few words, he’s turned the whole situation around… Is he really that Ye Xin?!"

"What’s inappropriate about it? If you won’t tell me all her virtues, how can I trust this transaction?" Ye Xin waved the manual. "Look, it’s right here. As long as your answers satisfy me, the manual is yours."

The Zong stewards were hardly exceptional men, and their minds were clouded by greed. Ye Xin easily steered their thoughts, covering their hearts with thick lard, their intelligence sinking almost to zero.