017 Magnificent, Graceful Long Legs

Chapter Title: 017 Splendid, Long Legs

Because of his special abilities, Fang Rulai possessed an extraordinary sensitivity to voices. No matter how someone tried to lower or raise their tone deliberately, their timbre always carried an unalterable mark to Fang Rulai’s discerning ear.

And the voice that had just sounded outside the carriage—it was unmistakably...

Before Fang Rulai could finish his thought, the curtain suddenly flung open with a rush. Light poured in, accompanied by a torrent of curses. “You wretched girl! The moment your brother’s away, you dare ride in the same carriage as the young master? Have you turned all my teachings into pickled vegetables? Get out! Do you want me to drag you out?”

As the tirade continued, a large hand reached swiftly for Fang Rulai. She barely had time to tighten the cloth around her head before she was hauled out.

“Ah, you even dare to wear the young master’s clothes! Are you so desperate for men that you want the whole world to know? Cover yourself up! If you have no shame, at least your brother does!”

A heavy cloak was thrown over Fang Rulai, covering her from head to toe, its hem brushing the floor.

Instinctively, Fang Rulai wrapped herself tightly. Just as she tried to lift her head for a look, a hand seized her by the nape, lifting her so her feet dangled half an inch above the ground.

Now, even her shoes were thoroughly hidden.

The Third Commander, who had been waiting outside the carriage, unwilling to give up, had hoped to inspect the passengers once daylight fully broke. Yet the burly, round-faced man known as Axi, reputedly the young master’s servant, managed with a grab, a cover, and a lift to conceal every trace of the person’s face.

Something felt off to the Third Commander, but dressed as a Taoist priest, he couldn’t simply pull aside the cover to check. He could only ask.

He stepped forward, blocking Axi’s path as he turned, and greeted him, “Blessings, Axi. Is this not your young mistress?”

“What? Young mistress? My young master hasn’t taken a wife yet!” Axi denied immediately, then realized the intent behind the question.

He slapped Fang Rulai’s backside, “You wretched girl! Are you playing house with the young master again while your brother’s away? You’ll be the death of me! Come with me inside, and see how I deal with you!”

Axi’s face was red with anger as he skirted around the Third Commander, ready to leave. Behind him came the young master’s voice, “Axi...”

“Young master, you needn’t defend her. I know my sister well. Ever since she was kicked in the head by a donkey at age three, she refuses to remember anything unless she’s beaten twice!” Axi pressed on toward the servants’ quarters, his latter words directed at the Third Commander, “Master Taoist, please escort our young master to bathe and change. Once I’ve disciplined this troublesome girl, I’ll come to serve.”

The Third Commander felt increasingly uneasy and raised a hand to stop and question them again, but the young master spoke first, “Master Taoist, I leave it to you.”

Ah, this one must also be verified—was he indeed a guest invited by Daoist Sanfengzi? Weighing the pros and cons, the Third Commander suppressed his urge to investigate the pair and turned to lead the young master to the temporary guest room.

Once they were gone, Axi dragged Fang Rulai into a room.

Bang! Axi kicked the door shut, then flung Fang Rulai, still wrapped in the cloak, onto the bed.

Momentum sent Fang Rulai rolling twice before she sprang to her feet. “Guan Shiyin, what are you doing?”

Indeed, the person before her—whose shape, appearance, and even gender had changed—was none other than Guan Shiyin.

He now sat in the center of the inner hall, one leg crossed over the other.

“What am I doing? Saving you, of course!” Guan Shiyin’s voice, restored to its usual tone, shifted from fierce to plaintive in an instant. “Tell me, Abbot’s wife, have you treated me fairly? We’ve been apart but a day and night, and you’re already eager to climb the wall and seek another?”

Fang Rulai was speechless for a while, then chose to ignore his nonsense, focusing on the key point. “I am an abbot, but not your wife. So there’s nothing to be fair or unfair between us.”

Considering that he had once again rescued her, Fang Rulai was willing to discuss her perspective calmly. “I don’t know why you are here, nor do I wish to know your relationship with that young master. I only want to know one thing: how can I escape all this and leave as quickly as possible?”

“Why do you want to escape?”

“Why not? This is a Taoist temple, and I am a Buddhist abbot—”

“I’m not asking why you want to leave here.” Guan Shiyin interrupted her.

Fang Rulai was momentarily stunned. Then what was he asking...?

“Why do you want to escape from me?” Guan Shiyin leaned forward, his expression unusually serious. Didn’t she realize that being connected with him meant a future of comfort and privilege? Besides, she knew he wasn’t a woman, and he considered himself quite handsome and prosperous—so why did she want to distance herself?

Fang Rulai met his seriousness with equal gravity. “Do you like me?”

“Eh?” Guan Shiyin was caught off guard; he hadn’t expected anyone—especially a woman—to be so direct.

“You don’t like me! Your persistence is merely a reaction to your pride as a man being wounded.” Fang Rulai answered for him, then summed up, “To be precise, you just can’t accept that someone else wants to leave before you do.”

In her era, he would be a typical prince—only he could say no, never others.

“Well then, let’s say you dumped me!” Fang Rulai concluded, rolling off the bed. If a clean break could be made, she didn’t mind playing the part of the one abandoned.

Swish—a long, splendid leg stretched out before Fang Rulai, blocking her path.

Her eyebrow twitched. She realized, “So even your disability was fake?”

Guan Shiyin kicked his long leg in the air, his expression smug. “Of course! I was born beautiful—how could Heaven bear to let me be handicapped?”

Fang Rulai’s lips twitched, her gaze darkening. No wonder he pretended to be disabled—even standing, that long leg would arouse suspicion, for it was unmistakably not feminine.

Guan Shiyin leaned in close to her contemplative face. “What’s wrong? Seeing my splendid long leg, are you reconsidering? Are you moved?”

Fang Rulai suddenly turned away. Yes, she was... impulsive! So impulsive that she wished she could slap herself in that moment when she fell for his feigned disability and let her guard down, thus inviting this persistent pest.

Her deep, frustrated resentment was obvious even without explanation, and Guan Shiyin was quick to discern it.

But if a little resentment could wound his spirit and make him wilt, he would not be Guan Shiyin.

“Ah, Abbot’s wife, you stare at me so intently—should I, as those books of romance describe, close my eyes in coy resistance?”

By the way, yesterday I received more flowers from old friends Stinky Egg Haha and Chao Jin Lu Kui, which made me suddenly feel embarrassed.

I must admit, this story still hasn’t reached the mainstream and remains a niche, and I truly feel I’ve let everyone down with my lack of promotion.

But rest assured, I will continue serializing this tale until its conclusion.

Thank you all for your support—it’s wonderful to know you!

This book was first published by...