Rivalry in the Boudoir

Chapter Title: 024 The Quarrel Over Boudoir Affairs

There are certain people in this world who, no matter how dignified and impressive they appear, the moment they open their mouth, their true nature is revealed—divinity turns to depravity.

Fang Rulai instantly snapped out of her daze and turned to leave. Guan Shiyin wasted no time, gathered his breath, and sprang forward in pursuit. Jie Tang darted out to intercept, but didn’t even manage to touch the hem of Guan Shiyin’s robe. As he tried again to block the way, Guan Yue suddenly stepped out to thwart him. Helpless, Jie Tang could only watch as the two figures quickly vanished.

Fang Rulai and Guan Shiyin one after the other arrived at a side hall used for morning lessons. As soon as the door closed, Guan Shiyin lunged forward, lips pursed, “Abbot’s wife, your husband has missed you dearly.”

Fang Rulai was forced back until she stopped at the desk before the Buddha statue, but with foresight, she immediately snatched up the wooden fish on the desk and smacked it backwards at Guan Shiyin’s approaching mouth.

A sharp slap hit the target.

Guan Shiyin squeezed out a tear of grievance, while Fang Rulai, unperturbed, spoke coldly, “Who is the hibiscus fool? And who is the sickly Ke?” Though she already had her suspicions, she needed a definitive answer from him.

Guan Shiyin, hugging her from behind, knocked the wooden fish from her hand with his face and grinned mischievously, “Want to know? Simple! Turn around and kiss me, and I’ll tell you.”

Fang Rulai gripped his misbehaving hand at her waist tightly, too disdainful even to speak. Shameless people are the type who shine with just a bit of sunshine; the most effective way to deal with them is always to ignore them.

“You compared yourself with those two and asked for my opinion, so they must be people I’ve already met. Of the strangers I’ve seen recently, apart from the dead, there’s only the master of Chuchu Guanlou, Mu Zhijin, and that young master Ke I encountered that night.”

Guan Shiyin’s hand paused its mischief, and in his eyes flashed a hint of approval Fang Rulai could not see.

“You said yourself that young master Ke would rise to power, so he must be the second prince of Yao Heaven, famed for his frailty. As for the hibiscus fool, that must be Mu Zhijin, the master of Chuchu Guanlou.”

Having spoken her logical deduction, the person behind her suddenly fell silent. After a long moment, Guan Shiyin seemed to sigh, “You shouldn’t be so clever.”

Fang Rulai had no interest in guessing his thoughts. She knew only that his response confirmed the accuracy of her reasoning. Very well, continue.

“When Mu Zhijin arrived at Fahua Temple, his sleeve told me Zhu Xishi was in his master’s hands. You put those two together, so the title ‘young master’ must refer to young master Ke, the sickly second prince of Yao Heaven.”

Seeing that she wouldn’t let go of those two names, Guan Shiyin pouted jealously, “What’s this? Now that you’ve discovered that young master Ke is the exalted second prince, have you been moved? Want to climb up and become a phoenix?”

“Phoenix?” Fang Rulai’s gaze was indifferent. “Can a phoenix trade Zhu Xishi back from his hands?”

“Zhu Xishi?” Guan Shiyin didn’t immediately follow.

Fang Rulai reminded him, “She’s the daughter-in-law of the old woman murdered on your matchmaking night—the widowed butcher woman.”

“Oh, her.” Guan Shiyin remembered the information Guan Yue had given him. “The widow who often brings you braised pork?”

“Yes. Since you know the second prince, pass him a message for me: what must be done for him to release Zhu Xishi?” Fang Rulai finally voiced what she most wished to say upon seeing Guan Shiyin.

Guan Shiyin suddenly let go, then spun Fang Rulai around, “So you brought me into the hall just to have me deliver a message?”

“Of course.” Fang Rulai did not deny it. If he weren’t useful, she wouldn’t have let him follow her into the hall and lay hands on her.

Guan Shiyin’s gaze darkened. “Is that widow so important to you?” He had disposed of a group of black-clad men for her, yet never saw her thank him or show fear. The real reason she was willing to be alone with him was for the sake of a widowed butcher.

Fang Rulai nodded firmly. “Yes.”

“Abbot,” Guan Shiyin narrowed his eyes dangerously, “Don’t you know widows attract trouble? As a woman, you’re so adamant in rejecting my proposal, yet for a fellow widow you’re so deeply invested? Recalling Guan Yue’s description of the widow’s stunning beauty, Guan Shiyin couldn’t help but wonder—could it be that pretending to be a man so long has warped her preferences?”

His gaze was tinged with suspicion, which Fang Rulai saw at once. Fine, she thought, it was a good opportunity to rid herself of him.

Fang Rulai suddenly turned, hands pressed together in prayer. “Amitabha. This humble monk knows only that she is already a widow; I simply cannot let her remain a living widow.”

A living widow? Living widow!

Guan Shiyin stepped back half a pace, paused for less than a second, then surged forward, gripping Fang Rulai’s shoulders and growling low, “Do you even know what it means for her to remain a living widow? Even if you openly married her, she’d only be more of a living widow!”

Fang Rulai was unmoved by his emotion, replying calmly, “You worry too much, benefactor. Our future boudoir affairs need not be reported to you.”

“You—!” Guan Shiyin swore this was the first time he’d ever been left speechless.

Fang Rulai took the opportunity to twist away from his control and step toward the door. “I’ll trouble you to deliver the message… Ah! Guan Shiyin, what are you doing!”

Halfway through her words, Fang Rulai was once again seized from behind by Guan Shiyin. This time there was no desk to block the way, and Fang Rulai stumbled over a prayer mat, crashing to the floor with him.

“Hah, you dare to dream of future boudoir affairs?” Guan Shiyin laughed sinisterly, his thigh trapping Fang Rulai’s legs. “As long as I’m here, your future boudoir affairs will only be with me.”

Fang Rulai’s head buzzed from the fall, and she instinctively retorted, “What if you die early?”

“You—!” Guan Shiyin’s chest heaved with anger, but quickly calmed as he took in the scene.

Beneath him, Fang Rulai, freshly bathed and clad only in a monk’s robe, had her collar wide open, revealing a straight, exquisite collarbone that suddenly and unexpectedly caught Guan Shiyin’s gaze.

Objectively, Fang Rulai was not the sort of beauty who dazzled at first sight—especially since she was bald. And, between Zhu Xishi’s allure, Mu Zhijin’s charm, and Guan Shiyin’s own wildness, she was under siege. Yet Fang Rulai’s ethereal elegance, seemingly aloof from worldly affairs, was unmatched in all of Yao Heaven. Clad in a monk’s robe, her purity became a mysterious, inexplicable allure.

Guan Shiyin broke into a roguish smile, the kind that oozed flirtation and mischief.

Fang Rulai shivered at his smile, swept her hand across the floor, and grabbed the wooden fish she had tossed down earlier, holding it protectively to her chest. “No looking!”

Guan Shiyin was suddenly in a good mood, his temper gone. “Alright, if you say no looking, then I won’t look.” With that, he actually raised a hand to cover his eyes.

Fang Rulai was stunned—so easygoing? But the next moment she gritted her teeth, furious.

Because Guan Shiyin, dressed in vivid purple, used his other hand—uncovered—to yank open his own collar.

His movements were bold and forceful. With one pull, his collarbone was exposed, and the rise of his chest was faintly visible beneath his long hair.

“Abbot, will you marry me or not? If not, I’ll call for help!”

Thank you, dear zengfengzhu, for your diamond support!

Nickname Immortal, isn’t it? Be sure to drop by the comments section when you have time—Qingye wishes to thank you personally.

This book is published first by...