Chapter 9: Enticement.

A-Wu’s trembling gaze shifted away from the man’s face.

She looked around helplessly, her eyes scanning the surroundings. 

The incense offerings at the Taoist temple were sparse, the imperial banners fluttered in the wind, and everywhere she looked, there were dazzling beauties adorned with pearls and jade, their faces wearing ingratiating smiles, flattering smiles, all deferential.

Yan Yang Temple belonged to Nanqiongzi, which was originally the royal family’s private garden, surrounded by high walls and guarded by soldiers. 

How could she escape this cage, and who could she rely on!

The key point… today the Empress herself had come to Yan Yang Temple. 

According to protocol, there shouldn’t be any unrelated men here, yet the Seventh Master had appeared. 

He must be a member of the royal family.

Who exactly was he?

A-Wu looked at the Seventh Master again, and he happened to look back at her.

Their eyes met, and he smiled lightly, as if everything was under his control.

A-Wu had been terrified of this man, but now, when he thought like this, she suddenly felt a surge of defiance. 

She gritted her teeth and glared at him fiercely.

However, Seventh Master only raised his eyebrows higher, smiling even more at A-Wu’s reaction.

A-Wu felt this was humiliating. 

The way he looked at her was like watching a pet cat clawing and scratching!

She wished she could swing her fists at him.

Just then, a voice came from beside her: 

“What are you doing? Do you have no sense of propriety!”

A-Wu quickly looked over , it was the Deputy Head of Yan Yang Temple.

She immediately composed herself and said respectfully, 

“This disciple dares not.”

The Deputy Head scolded her a few more times before hurrying away.

A-Wu stole a glance around, but Seventh Master was nowhere to be seen. 

She didn’t know where he had gone.

At this moment, the Empress was leading the noblewomen and royal relatives in a grand ceremony. 

It was a lively event, and Miaoxin was eager to go and see.

But A-Wu had no interest in it.

Her mind was entirely occupied by Seventh Master.

In her unease, an elderly Taoist nun instructed A-Wu to assist at the incense burner.

A-Wu didn’t dare cause any trouble now. 

She wanted nothing more than to keep a low profile, so she quickly followed.

The ceremony had already ended, and the ceremonial items, silk and jade tablets were being brought to the incense burner at the south gate. 

They needed to be counted, announced, and then burned.

There were about seven or eight young Taoist nuns at the burner, all chattering away. 

They talked about the procession, the ceremonial guards, and how the nobles had withdrawn from Yan Yang Temple in order. 

They also mentioned how awe-inspiring the nobles were.

One of them  mentioned someone surnamed Lu.. as soon as the others heard this, they learning quite a bit.

A-wu was curious.

A-Wu also pricked up her ears and listened.

In the past, she knew he was surnamed Lu, ranked seventh, and people called him Young Master Lu or Seventh Master. 

Now she learned his real name was Lu Yunjian, the legitimate son of the Marquis of Zhen’an, and the younger brother of the current Empress.

A-Wu was terrified.

When she had first been with Seventh Master, she had thought he was some unscrupulous merchant who had dealings with pirates, perhaps involved in criminal activities, which was why he didn’t reveal his true identity.

But-

The Empress’s younger brother?

A-Wu’s mind was in a fog, feeling as if she had fallen into a cloud.

She couldn’t figure out what the Seventh Master was up to. 

Had he deliberately concealed his identity to investigate pirate activities along the coast incognito, or was he himself a pirate, merely wearing the disguise of a royal brother-in-law?

A-Wu shuddered.

She remembered what her father and brothers had told her-how the pirates along the coast occupied offshore islands, gathered ships, and even extorted “water money” from passing merchants. 

Sometimes they would team up with other pirates to raid coastal villages.

Regardless of which it was, this was not something she should know.

She wished she could gouge out her own eyes, so she wouldn’t have to see Seventh Master!

But he had already seen her.

A-Wu recalled the smile on Seventh Master’s lips-that inscrutable smile, as if everything was under his control.

She shuddered, suddenly realizing a possibility.

When she had been with Seventh Master before, though his temperament was unpredictable, he had been quite infatuated with her body. 

At night, he would hold her, over and over, never satisfied. 

Even when she was pregnant, he still wanted her.

But later, after she had given birth and the child had died, he suddenly changed. 

He sent her away, had the matrons train her, and then gave her to the Crown Prince.

She should have realized it earlier he must have had some plan, and that plan was surely related to their courtly affairs.

The Crown Prince was the heir apparent. 

One day he would ascend the throne, becoming untouchably noble. 

Seventh Master wanted her to stay by the Crown Prince’s side, knowing her background. 

If she were fortunate enough to gain the Crown Prince’s favor, he would undoubtedly use her past to control her.

Although the Crown Prince was listed under the Empress, he was not her biological son. 

The Emperor and Empress were still young, just over thirty. 

If the Empress were to have a child of her own one day, the Crown Prince’s position would become precarious.

If that were the case… A-Wu thought, could it be that Seventh Master was planning for the Empress, deliberately placing her by the Crown Prince’s side, making her a pawn in his scheme?

At this thought, A-Wu’s mind was in turmoil.

She had just escaped from the Crown Prince, thinking she could finally have a few peaceful days. 

Little did she know there was a wolf waiting, its green eyes glaring at her, ready to pounce!

No, she had to leave this place!

She couldn’t delay for a moment!

She would rather die than stay!

That evening, A-Wu worked late before finally returning to her room. 

She was exhausted, her body aching all over.

But her eyes still darted around nervously. 

Nie San had come to see her before. 

Perhaps he was hiding somewhere in Yan Yang Temple.

Since he had come to find her, how could he leave empty-handed?

She didn’t want to doubt anything now, nor did she want to think about whether Nie San’s words were true or false.

Nie San might be the Crown Princess’s person, but Lu Yunjian was the Empress’s person, and he might be an opponent of the Crown Prince.

These people were all tricky.

Since they were all tricky, she might as well take any path.

At least for now, Nie San seemed better than Lu Yunjian.

Nie San might assault her and then kill her, but Lu Yunjian would devour her without leaving a trace.

She never wanted to fall into Lu Yunjian’s hands again—he was no human!

So now she actually hoped Nie San would come find her again. 

She could discuss things with him.

Didn’t he say they could sail to the East Sea? 

That was perfect. 

First, they could leave this place of trouble, escape to the East Sea, and perhaps carve out a new path.

But as it turned out, Nie San didn’t appear.

That night, A-Wu slept with Miaoxin, so there was no chance of seeing Nie San.

This made A-Wu feel disheartened, thinking that everyone was a liar, a liar.

As a last resort, perhaps she could only beg the Crown Prince for help.

By now, the Crown Prince must have been persuaded by the Emperor. 

He wouldn’t dare to defy the Emperor for her sake, but that was fine. 

He still felt some guilt toward her.

She could use that guilt to ask him to protect her and help her leave-of course, that was the last resort.

She wanted fresh grass, not the Crown Prince’s leftovers.

So she endured this torment until the next day, when several young Taoist nuns were going to pick fruits and mushrooms. 

She volunteered to go in their place, and they were happy to let her.

A-Wu carried a basket to the vegetable garden at the back, picking randomly while glancing around.

Suddenly, she saw a long shadow on the ground, almost enveloping her.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she nearly screamed.

A pair of hands quickly covered her mouth.

The masculine scent overwhelmed her-it was Nie San.

Nie San then released her and pulled her into the nearby woods.

The man’s strength was immense, making A-Wu acutely aware of her own fragility and helplessness.

The reason she could banter and spar with men, trading barbs and wits, was because they were willing to play along.

If she fell into their hands and they truly wanted to do something, she would have no power to resist.

Nie San suddenly stopped. 

A-Wu, still in shock, instinctively pushed him: “What are you pulling me for?”

Nie San: “Didn’t you want to see me?”

A-Wu snorted: “Who wanted to see you?”

Nie San stared at A-Wu’s flushed face: 

“You’ve been looking around everywhere. Weren’t you searching for me?”

Caught in her thoughts, A-Wu showed no guilt.

She smiled and said, “You saw through me.”

Then, her tone shifted, and she gave him a cool look: 

“So you knew I was looking for you, but you deliberately kept me waiting, hiding and watching

me search anxiously. Did you find it amusing?”

Nie San: “…”

He looked at A-Wu with a somewhat helpless expression: 

“I apologize for making the Immortal Maiden wait. It was my fault.”

A-Wu: “Good. Since you know you were wrong, we can sit down and discuss our future.”

Nie San: “Our future? What, do you want to flee to the ends of the earth with me?”

He said this casually, expecting A-Wu to retort. 

This young lady had a sharp tongue and a fiery temper.

But to his surprise, she remained silent after he spoke.

Her long, delicate eyelashes lifted slightly as she looked at him quietly, like a butterfly resting on a flower leaf, observing a stranger.

Unconsciously, Nie San held his breath.

He vaguely sensed that the young lady was contemplating, making an important decision.

The air grew still, the occasional bird songs ceased, and even the mountain breeze stopped blowing.

Nie San had waited countless times in his life, always with patience, but never had he felt such torment as now.

He looked at the delicate woman before him, so fragile and tender. 

He could lift her with one hand, yet he waited, waiting for her response.

Just as he was about to speak, she suddenly smiled.

Her bright almond-shaped eyes curved into a graceful arc, sparkling with a charming allure.

She was smiling at him.

Nie San’s heart trembled violently.

At this moment, he understood more clearly than ever why the Crown Prince couldn’t let go of this woman, why emperors in history had gone to war for a beauty.

Because she was worth it.

Then A-Wu spoke: “That day, you said we could sail to the East Sea?”

Nie San didn’t reply, only stared intently at A-Wu.

When she smiled, she was both innocent and alluring.

When she spoke, she was both guileless and enticing.

Her words were like a feather, lightly brushing his heart, sending waves of tingling sensations.

Nie San knew he couldn’t escape. 

He was both the hunter and the prey.

His gaze locked onto her face as he asked, 

“I did indeed say that. But what does the Immortal Maiden think?”

A-Wu lowered her eyes and sighed softly: 

“Third Brother, life in this mountain temple is too bitter. If I stay here day after day, enduring this torment, what’s the point? I only wish someone could take me away, but I fear entrusting myself to the wrong person.”

Nie San immediately understood A-Wu’s meaning.

He pressed his lips together, suppressing his racing heart, and asked calmly, 

“What would it take for the Immortal Maiden to trust me?”

A-Wu: “You have a bright future ahead. If you leave with me now, everything will be lost. You might even become a fugitive, with no peace for the rest of your life.”

She shook her head, her expression melancholic:  

“How can I believe that any man in this world would go that far for me?”

Her fair skin, delicate and soft, added a poignant allure as she sighed.

Faced with such a woman, even another woman would feel pity, let alone a passionate man like Nie San.

Nie San gazed at her silently for a long time before finally saying solemnly, 

“If the Immortal Maiden trusts me, I will take you away to the East Sea. Since you come from the coast, I will accompany you back to your homeland.”

A-Wu’s eyelashes fluttered, and her light eyes shimmered with hope.

She bit her lip, as if she couldn’t believe it: 

“Really, Third Brother? You… you can take me back to my homeland?”

Nie San looked at her like this and sighed inwardly.

He slowly said, “If the Immortal Maiden is willing, I will do my utmost.”