Li Qingqing was Xu Sheng’s slave and was especially respectful toward him.
Her kneeling before Xu Sheng was hardly surprising.
What truly shocked Mo Ruxue was Li Qingqing’s actions beyond the kneeling itself.
Under the moonlight, Xu Sheng’s expression was strange; he placed his hand on Li Qingqing’s head and stroked it.
Mo Ruxue had never seen such a scene, yet this moment resembled something from the picture book Xu Sheng had given her a few days earlier.
Even in the darkness, Mo Ruxue could clearly see what was happening between the two.
She covered her mouth, suppressing the urge to gasp out loud.
Xu Sheng probably hadn’t noticed her; his eyes were closed at the moment.
…
This was part of the plan.
Of course, the bigger reason was that he had failed to resist temptation.
Xu Sheng disliked people who were hypocritical—those who indulged yet pretended otherwise.
Since he had chosen to do this, he had to face his own heart.
If he enjoyed the physical sensation while deceiving himself that it was only for the sake of the plan, then what difference was there between him and Mo Ruxue?
Sooner or later, someone else would exploit him.
Staring at the back of Li Qingqing’s head, feeling the impact on his senses, Xu Sheng only felt regret.
Regret that he hadn’t compromised earlier.
What had he been holding out for all this time?
Wasn’t it a waste to let Li Qingqing do only the chores that any ordinary servant could handle?
At least he had discovered Li Qingqing’s other side.
This was Li Qingqing’s first time being so close to a man.
To handle someone like this on her first attempt without Xu Sheng finding any fault—truly a natural talent.
Xu Sheng knew that Mo Ruxue was secretly watching right now.
That was exactly what he wanted—or at least, that was the surface purpose of everything he was doing: to lure Mo Ruxue.
Xu Sheng reached out, gently stroked Li Qingqing’s cheek, and his tone carried a hint of guilt.
“It’s been hard on you lately.”
“This is simply this slave’s duty.”
“That’s one thing, but recently, Mo Ruxue and Zhu Yuexi must have given you a lot of trouble, haven’t they?”
“…” Li Qingqing replied, “The trouble for this slave… has been very little. The real trouble for you, Master, has probably been a lot. You’ve been… enduring for a long time.”
Hearing this, Xu Sheng shook his head with a smile.
“Mo Ruxue doesn’t have much experience after all. Even if I gave her that picture book, she still doesn’t understand anything.”
“…Given Sect Leader Mo’s nature, I’m afraid there are some things she’ll never learn no matter how much time passes.”
Xu Sheng fell silent at these words. That silence was particularly meaningful. Finally, he shook his head again and gently patted her cheek.
“Let’s not talk about that.”
…
Of course, Mo Ruxue knew what they were doing.
When she heard them discussing her, she nearly lost her composure and exposed herself in the shadows.
She couldn’t describe exactly what she was feeling.
The first time she saw Xu Sheng and Li Qingqing in this Langting—the very place where she had been so intimate with Xu Sheng just two days ago, on a similar night, with Xu Sheng and another woman—a sense of vigilance rose in her heart.
Then, when she made out their actions, the first thing Mo Ruxue felt was a heaviness in her chest.
After that came a sourness that seeped into her bones, a jealousy so sharp it almost stung her nose.
Mo Ruxue knew clearly what they were doing.
She suddenly recalled what Xu Sheng had said during the day:
“Because of the cultivation method she practices, she cannot lose her Yuan Yin.”
That explanation had seemed unnecessary at the time, but when Mo Ruxue heard it, it stirred many ripples in her heart.
But now, witnessing this scene, those ripples seemed almost ridiculous.
She might not be able to lose her Yuan Yin, but there were plenty of ways a woman could please a man.
Mo Ruxue had no standing to criticize Xu Sheng, yet she couldn’t help feeling stifled and oppressed.
Then she overheard their conversation.
What did that mean?
“Enduring for a long time…”
“Even if time passes, Mo Ruxue will never learn these things.”
All these words reached Mo Ruxue’s ears, and her emotions fluctuated constantly.
She suddenly thought back to her recent interactions with Xu Sheng.
The bath, the minor episode at the dinner table aside.
Let’s start from two nights ago.
At that time, Xu Sheng had almost been begging for her kiss, only to be rejected.
Then Xu Sheng changed his attitude and used his hand to help her…
And last night, that kiss finally landed, but Xu Sheng told her she didn’t need to do anything; he would take care of it.
She fled.
Then came this afternoon…
Recalling these experiences, Mo Ruxue realized something.
Sometimes, when she and Xu Sheng were close, she could naturally feel certain physical reactions from him.
But when she thought about it, Xu Sheng had helped her many times, yet she had never once helped him…
That was why Li Qingqing said he was “enduring” and “ruined.”
But the part about Li Qingqing saying—
“You’ll never learn no matter what.”
Mo Ruxue couldn’t help but feel that Li Qingqing was driving a wedge between them.
A few days ago, when Yuexi was healing, she and Li Qingqing had spent some time in the Quiet Chamber.
Back then, Li Qingqing had a new red mark on her neck.
At the time, Mo Ruxue had always felt that Li Qingqing harbored a faint hostility toward her.
So that’s where it came from.
Realizing this, everything Li Qingqing had just said sounded to Mo Ruxue like manipulation.
She couldn’t learn?
Mo Ruxue had already fled the scene.
Aside from the sourness and oppression, witnessing that scene had also stirred a strange excitement in her.
But as she reflected, anger began to rise within her.
Back in her room, Zhu Yuexi was still asleep.
Mo Ruxue, who had originally planned to go outside to calm herself, now found sleep even further away.
She carefully recalled Li Qingqing’s actions just now.
Glancing at the deeply sleeping Zhu Yuexi, she hesitated for a moment, then finally took out a picture book from her storage pouch.
The first time she had read it, it was only to avoid sabotaging their cooperation.
Though she had read through all the content, her shame had made her skim through most of it without truly thinking, and she quickly forgot it.
Now, Mo Ruxue reopened the book she had thought she would never open again.
But the mindset with which she now flipped through this book was completely different from the first time, when she had only read it to ensure smooth cooperation.
…