Chapter 229: Utter Shamelessness

This night, no one slept well.

It wasn’t unusual for Xie Wei to be unable to sleep.

But for Jiang Xuening, lying wrapped in her blanket, facing the inside, she gradually became unable to calm her thoughts. Perhaps it was because she had already slept during the first half of the night, and now she wasn’t feeling sleepy at all. She kept her eyes open, and by the time the sky began to brighten, she felt her eyelids grow heavy and managed to doze off for a while.

When she woke up in the morning, Xie Wei had already gotten up.

There was no sign on his face of what had happened the previous night. His demeanor was calm and unremarkable, and even his blood-stained robe had been changed to a clean one.

The Celestial Teachings treated him now as if he were a guest, sending over everything needed for washing up in an orderly manner.

If it weren’t for the people downstairs constantly watching him, one might think he was still the former Du Jun, not the prisoner he had become.

Jiang Xuening blinked.

She knew that she was currently under the control of the Celestial Teachings and was deprived of her freedom. She shouldn’t be lazy. However, since she hadn’t slept well during the second half of the night, she felt drained, with a slight headache and weakness.

She struggled to sit up but quickly collapsed back down.

Xie Wei saw this and couldn’t help but find it a bit amusing. She was buried under the blanket with only a messy head sticking out, no longer showing the earlier defiance she had displayed. He simply asked her, “Are you awake?”

Jiang Xuening nodded in the blanket, then added, “Tired.”

Though it was just one word, her voice sounded different from usual—slightly hoarse, with a hint of lazy dejection. As soon as she spoke, she was momentarily stunned by her own voice. Then, she remembered something, gritted her teeth, and shot an annoyed look at Xie Wei.

Xie Wei was also startled by her voice but didn’t show much reaction. He turned his gaze away, lightly cupping his hand to his lips and saying, “Then go back to sleep.”

Jiang Xuening scoffed, “Do you need to tell me?”

She was too annoyed to bother with him. She angrily turned over, curling herself up under the covers again, closing her eyes, and ignoring everything outside.

The sky outside had already brightened, and the faint light of morning filtered through the slightly old, snow-white window paper, casting a soft glow on her. Her long, black hair was spread out on the pillow, and Xie Wei gazed at it, feeling as though time itself was slowing down in the presence of her soft hair.

It was a dangerous situation, yet somehow, it gave a sense of quiet intimacy.

He stood there for a while before slowly smiling and walking out.

Wan Xiuzi had already sent someone to invite him early in the morning.

The mountain villa was guarded even more tightly than last night, with guards stationed every few steps. A silent Taoist boy led the way, and every member of the Celestial Teachings they passed cast wary glances at him.

The path led to a lakeside pavilion, where not only Wan Xiuzi awaited him, but several others—ranging in height and build, some in Taoist robes, others dressed as typical martial artists—were also present. However, none of them seemed to be of a pleasant nature.

Wan Xiuzi had said that he would give a response today, so now that Xie Wei had arrived, he put down the teacup in his hand and said, “Last night someone was busy, did you sleep well?”

Xie Wei was always composed and self-disciplined, not like those young, indulgent men whose lives were wasted away by indulgence in wine and women. Whether in the past, when he would study late into the night or later, when he entered government affairs and stayed up late for discussions, missing a night or two of sleep didn’t bother him, and nothing on his face showed otherwise.

Wan Xiuzi’s words had a sharp edge, but Xie Wei ignored them.

He simply replied, “Very well.”

Very well?

Wan Xiuzi had his spies.

The previous night, Xie Wei had hinted at the situation, and the girl, irritated and embarrassed, had contradicted him, saying there was nothing between her and Du Jun. However, they had been locked in the same room and shared a bed, yet there was no sign of resistance. When the servant came in to deliver water in the morning, Du Jun had already gotten up, but there was no way to tell if the two had slept together. But later, someone who had been guarding outside the room reported that there had been no noise in the first half of the night, but when the second half arrived, they heard some sounds coming from within.

This explained everything.

Du Jun was usually composed and could endure a lot, but with beauty in front of him and alone in the same room, it would be strange if there had been no sounds. As for the fact that there were noises only in the second half of the night, that was understandable and even believable. After all, with walls between them, no one wanted to be caught. Also, the guards in the second half of the night were likely tired and might have let their guard down, allowing for some private actions that went unnoticed.

Unfortunately, Du Jun didn’t know this.

He had already given strict orders, and these people dared not slack off.

Wan Xiuzi didn’t believe in love, and while there might be women who were devoted, men wouldn’t behave like that. Women, to men, were just tools for releasing desires, just objects of clothing, only varying in beauty, vulgarity, or delicacy.

Closing his eyes, it made no difference who it was.

If not for that incident, which man would want to talk about love with a woman?

So, if Xie Wei hadn’t touched Jiang Xuening, Wan Xiuzi would have been suspicious. Now, however, he somewhat believed that Xie Wei had been momentarily blinded by infatuation.

Of course, Wan Xiuzi didn’t bring this up. Instead, he continued, “Yesterday, the conditions you proposed, I have discussed them with the other branch leaders. After all, you have been in the court for many years, and the Nine Cities defense maps are nothing special. The Celestial Teachings have been expanding since Jinling, already occupying Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Jiangxi provinces, moving swiftly forward, now aiming to the west and north, ready to swallow the Central Plains. If you can provide military deployment maps that aid our plan, a weak woman like her is nothing to us.”

Xie Wei looked at him but didn’t respond.

As expected, Wan Xiuzi wasn’t easily persuaded. He quickly changed the subject, “However, no one in the Teachings knows the details of the military deployment. We cannot verify the accuracy in advance. Even if you draw something casually to fool us, we wouldn’t be able to tell. But real gold can only be tested by fire, and we can only know the truth when actual combat begins. If you have a mind to deceive us, and we base our deployment on your map, it’s possible for the entire army to be wiped out. This condition—if you were in my position—would you agree to it?”

Wan Xiuzi, clearly after Xie Wei’s military deployment maps, did not want to release him.

Indeed, Wan Xiuzi’s words held some truth. However, beneath the grandiose speech, who could not see that he was keeping Jiang Xuening as a lever to control Xie Wei, to keep him compliant forever? If she was of no use, Xie Wei could never escape; if she was of use, he could continue to be forced to work for Wan Xiuzi.

Xie Wei spoke calmly, “If the sect leader has something to say, feel free to speak directly.”

Wan Xiuzi sneered coldly, “How could you not know what I want to say?”

None of the branch leaders around them interrupted.

The fake smile on Wan Xiuzi’s face quickly turned into a darker, more calculating expression. His eyes gleamed with malicious intent as he said, “That girl… I cannot let her go, not now. The Nine Cities defense map is a critical matter. A single mistake, and you won’t have enough heads to account for it. At this point, you are on my chopping block, and you have no options left. If you draw the defense map, perhaps I’ll spare you. But if you cannot produce it, or if it’s false, and the front lines suffer defeat, then she will be the first to die for you.”

Xie Wei’s face momentarily darkened with anger, and his eyes turned cold.

Wan Xiuzi didn’t rush him, merely stating, “Take your time to consider.”

But in reality, there was only one choice.

As Wan Xiuzi had pointed out, Xie Wei had no choice.

If he provided the defense map, showing his value, he might secure a slim chance at survival; if he resisted, his head would roll, and there would be no opportunity for escape.

A wise man would choose the former.

Xie Wei, knowing this, reluctantly chose the former.

When he gave his affirmative answer, Wan Xiuzi felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction as he saw the fingers Xie Wei had tucked into his sleeves clench tightly.

Even though Xie Wei possessed countless strategies and schemes, what could he do with a weakness exposed?

With a weakness in hand, one could be controlled!

And that was exactly what Wan Xiuzi had grasped, putting him in an unassailable position.

This day was the 23rd of the first lunar month. Xie Wei drew the defense map for Huizhou, the nearest to Jinling, which Wan Xiuzi didn’t even glance at. He had it sent straight to the front lines.

He never traveled with the army.

Over twenty years ago, he had failed in a rebellion with King Pingnan, retreating in disgrace from the capital and fleeing to Jiangnan. Since then, the court’s search for him had never ceased, which had made Wan Xiuzi overly cautious. He had countless residences in Jinling alone, most of which even Xie Wei had no knowledge of.

In such a critical time, the front lines were the most dangerous place. If a battle went awry, the outcome could mean death or capture—both unacceptable to Wan Xiuzi.

Thus, his military route was opposite to that of the Celestial Teachings. While they marched westward from the east, Wan Xiuzi went eastward, capturing cities in the east as the Celestial Teachings advanced. If everything went smoothly, he would meet the army at some city along the way.

This “three burrows for the cunning rabbit” tactic ensured that, even if someone wanted to strike at him, they wouldn’t know his whereabouts.

The swiftest horses could carry messages from Luoyang to Jinling in two to three days.

The front lines received his orders, and 20,000 soldiers were split from the 60,000 to attack Huizhou, focusing on the weak spots indicated in the defense map. By the end of the month, they had already taken the area, planting the Celestial Teachings’ “Great Unity Flag” on the city walls.

The news reached Luoyang, and the entire villa was invigorated.

This confirmed the accuracy of Xie Wei’s defense map.

Suddenly, Xie Wei’s former position as the “intellectual of the Celestial Teachings” and the “Du Jun” seemed to return. Even Wan Xiuzi treated him with more courtesy, though he still avoided mentioning releasing Jiang Xuening. Apart from that, their interactions seemed similar to when Xie Wei had been a part of the Celestial Teachings.

By mid-February, they set off eastward.

After leaving Luoyang, the next city was Xuchang, where they stayed at a small Taoist temple, a usual Celestial Teachings’ base.

Xie Wei had gained more freedom of movement. As long as he stayed within sight of others, he could move around the vicinity and didn’t have to remain cooped up in his room all day.

However, Jiang Xuening’s restrictions hadn’t been loosened one bit.

In fact, after arriving at the Taoist temple in Xuchang, the monitoring of Jiang Xuening had become even stricter than in Luoyang. While she was well-fed and well-treated, she wasn’t allowed to leave her room for the most part.

Jiang Xuening, with her lively and free-spirited nature, almost went mad from being cooped up.

During this time, she cursed Wan Xiuzi day and night. When they slept together at night, she would grumble, “Right now, I have to bow my head under his roof, but one day when this old man is in my hands, I’ll make him forget his ancestors!”

Xie Wei, who was constantly strategizing outside, always had his mind stretched taut, but when he heard her mockingly angry remarks, he couldn’t help but laugh.

He knew she was frustrated, so he tried to comfort her, saying, “It’ll be over soon.”

Jiang Xuening just rolled her eyes at him.

After a while, she hesitated and asked, “Shall we scream tonight?”

During this time, their act had become convincingly real, even sharing a bath in the same water. Although Wan Xiuzi seemed to have believed their relationship, no one dared to relax, fearing they might reveal a flaw. So, they continued their charade, making sure to stir up enough noise occasionally.

Xie Wei paused for a moment before answering, “Let’s scream.”

Jiang Xuening didn’t move for a long while.  

She seemed hesitant, as if held back by some apprehension.  

Over the past few days, Xie Wei had made her scream out more than once.  

After all, the act had to continue.  

But perhaps because his frustration had never truly been alleviated, instead of growing accustomed to it under the daily torment, his reactions only grew stronger. He couldn’t help but do something to her, and each time, he went further than the last. By the end, she didn’t even need to fake her voice—she was genuinely brought to tears, pleading for mercy, her eyes brimming with tears, her sobs soft and delicate.  

But it was too shameful, so she stopped calling out.  

She would bite her reddened lips or her slender fingers, unwilling to let out too much sound.  

At such moments, Xie Wei would gain a clearer understanding of himself.  

He would discover the dark impulses buried deep within, usually restrained by his saintly facade, now surging forth from the depths of his suppressed heart. Not only did he not let her go, but he would deliberately kiss her lips open, move her fingers aside, and watch as her eyes reddened with tears under his urging. Finally, she would collapse in his arms, aggrieved and soft, letting those sounds spill out in an even more provocative way.  

The last time was two days ago.  

She had clearly learned her lesson from the days before and called out with restraint.  

But he still couldn’t control himself.  

Perhaps he was inherently wicked, inherently indulgent, wanting to act like an ordinary man—or even more excessive than one. So he leaned in, his voice hoarse, and told her to let him kiss her mouth.  

She refused.  

He half-coaxed, half-forced her to open her mouth and take a little, but she resisted, her eyes fixed on him as tears fell, softening his heart. He punished her by making her turn around and press her legs together, and that was the end of it.  

So today, Jiang Xuening was naturally intimidated.  

She deeply felt that lying beside Xie Wei was like being a rabbit next to a jackal, ready to be devoured at any moment. She even had a dream once, back when she first met Xie Wei, where the rabbit she had brought home was skinned by him the moment he picked it up.  

But what could she do if she didn’t scream out?  

Let Xie Wei actually take her?  

Not to mention Xie Wei himself, even she couldn’t imagine that scene. Just the thought of it made her shiver.  

In the end, she resigned herself to her fate.  

She thought it would be like the past few days.  

But unexpectedly, today’s Xie Wei was unusually quiet, neither touching her nor moving his feet.  

Halfway through her calling, she grew puzzled and instinctively opened her mouth to ask, “What’s wrong with you today?” But just as the words were about to leave her lips, a jolt ran through her. She suddenly realized—what was she doing, asking this? Was she trying to die faster?  

So she quickly swallowed her words.  

But at that moment, Xie Wei suddenly spoke, saying, “Keep calling. I have something to tell you.”  

Jiang Xuening froze, understanding a little, and called out a bit louder.  

Xie Wei lay flat beside her, leaning close to her ear, his voice low. “Wan Xiuzi has been moving from west to east, capturing one city at a time before advancing. From Luoyang to Xuchang to Jinling, there are only nine key cities in total. I’ll continue providing defense plans, but to escape, we must act before he joins forces with the Heavenly Sect’s army—at the very latest, by the fifth city. Counting down from the nine, including Xuchang, that’s Nanyang, Runiang, Luzhou, Anqing…”  

Jiang Xuening’s heart skipped a beat.  

Xie Wei had ventured into the tiger’s den alone, so of course, he wasn’t without a plan. He continued, “Wan Xiuzi keeping me alive is like negotiating with a tiger for its hide. I can see that the fifth city, Anqing, is a critical point—once we reach it, there’s no chance to turn the tide. Wan Xiuzi can see it too. His guard is never so simple as that. His wariness of me won’t be easily dispelled, so he’ll surely suspect what I suspect.”  

Jiang Xuening said, “You’re going to make a move in Anqing?”  

Xie Wei smiled. “No, it has to be before Anqing. But if even you can think of that, don’t you think Wan Xiuzi can too?”  

Jiang Xuening then thought, if Wan Xiuzi could anticipate it, Xie Wei definitely wouldn’t choose to act in that city. He’d move one city earlier, which would be…  

She said, “Luzhou Prefecture?”  

Xie Wei replied, “I’m trying to predict what Wan Xiuzi is thinking. But what if Wan Xiuzi is also trying to predict what I’m thinking?”  

Jiang Xuening’s head was spinning.  

She counted on her fingers: based on the situation, when Wan Xiuzi joins the main army, the outcome will be decided. So, if they’re going to act, it has to be before they reach the fifth city, Anqing. Wan Xiuzi knows this, and so does Xie Wei. So, whether Xie Wei chooses to act in Anqing or not, Wan Xiuzi will surely move against him before they reach the fifth city—at the latest, in the fourth city, Luzhou. Xie Wei can predict Wan Xiuzi’s thinking, so waiting until Luzhou would be too late. He’d choose the third city, Runiang, or even earlier. But wouldn’t Wan Xiuzi also realize Xie Wei is predicting him?  

If this reasoning continued, where would it end?  

She grew anxious, unable to figure it out, and simply asked, “If you keep calculating like this, doesn’t that mean you’d have to act in the next city, or even right here?”  

Xie Wei poked her forehead. “This place has no soldiers ahead, no bandits behind, and nothing on either side. How could we act here?”  

Jiang Xuening was confused.  

Seeing her pause, Xie Wei reminded her, “Keep calling.”  

She shot him an exasperated glance, then half-heartedly called out a couple more times before asking, “Then where?”  

A glint flashed in Xie Wei’s eyes as he said, “Runiang Prefecture.”  

The third city, Runiang?  

Jiang Xuening opened her mouth to ask why, but then a map of the provinces along the Qian River flashed in her mind. Her scalp prickled, and her eyes widened slightly as she looked at Xie Wei.  

He only gave a calm smile.  

The prefecture bordering Runiang to the south wasn’t just any place—it was Huangzhou, where the Yan clan had been exiled years ago!  

Over the past two years, both Jiang Xuening and Lu Xian had secretly funneled a staggering amount of money to Huangzhou. She had never asked what it was for.  

But in her past life, You Fangyin had secretly aided Yan Lin to raise an army!  

In this life, the money was sent, but when Yan Lin left Huangzhou for the border, he went alone, using the border garrison’s troops. Not a single soldier from Huangzhou was involved.  

Realizing this, she gasped.  

Runiang Prefecture was the closest to Huangzhou. If they chose to act there, it would indeed be the most suitable location.  

But the prerequisite was…  

Jiang Xuening said, “Runiang is the third city. What if Wan Xiuzi makes a move before we reach Runiang?”  

Xie Wei replied, “There’s no end to calculations. Both he and I are gambling.”  

Jiang Xuening was speechless. “You’re relying on luck? If it fails…”  

Xie Wei chuckled lightly. “How could it fail?”  

Jiang Xuening was puzzled again.  

Xie Wei patiently explained, “If Wan Xiuzi moves against me in the fourth city, he’ll lose for sure. If he acts in the third city, we’ll clash, and it’s a fifty-fifty chance. If he chooses the first or second city, I haven’t acted yet, so I can feign compliance, tempt him with great benefits, and he still won’t kill me. He thinks he’s got my weakness, but he doesn’t realize his greed and suspicion are his weaknesses. Even if he acts in the first or second city, the worst-case scenario for me is joining the Heavenly Sect’s uprising. The goal is to reach the capital—who gets there first doesn’t matter much.”  

This was the fundamental reason Xie Wei dared to take such a risk.  

The worst outcome was simply helping the Heavenly Sect fight the court.  

Jiang Xuening was dumbfounded.  

Xie Wei looked at her, leaned down, and gently kissed her forehead, a cunning, almost demonic glint of confidence in his eyes. “Xie Ju’an may not always win, but he will never lose.”  

Jiang Xuening couldn’t say a word, only staring at him.  

Xie Wei continued, “When the time comes to act, it’ll surely be chaotic. I’ve been to the Runiang Prefecture’s branch, and the branch leader is a trusted confidant of Gongyi Cheng. He’ll definitely come for me. Per the sect’s rules, they’ll take me to the Heavenly Platform for public judgment. The terrace is a raised altar, and twenty steps from due east to north, there’s a hidden chamber known to Jian Shu and Dao Qin—unknown to outsiders. When chaos erupts, don’t worry about anyone else. Seize the chance and hide there. Don’t come out unless you hear Yan Lin or Jian Shu and Dao Qin. Understand?”  

A storm of blades and swords loomed on the horizon.  

Jiang Xuening silently repeated the instructions in her mind, nodding. “I understand.”  

Xie Wei made her repeat it twice before he was satisfied. He had her call out a bit more, then called for water and pushed Jiang Xuening. “Go bathe.”  

Jiang Xuening was still reeling.  

She’d been lazy these days, not leaving the room since last night. She hadn’t gotten dirty or sweaty, so she was reluctant to move. Grumbling, she tried to stall. “Why do I always have to go first? You go today, and I’ll wash after.”  

“…”  

Xie Wei’s eyes darkened as he looked at her.  

Jiang Xuening didn’t catch on, saying, “Go on.”  

The corner of Xie Wei’s eye twitched. Standing by the bed, he looked down at her, finally speaking calmly, “If you’re not careful and end up bearing my child, that wouldn’t be unacceptable.”  

Bearing a child?  

Jiang Xuening was stunned, taking a long moment to process.  

In an instant, her cheeks flushed crimson.  

Furious, she grabbed a pillow from behind her head and threw it at Xie Wei, her voice trembling. “Shameless! Utterly shameless!”  

Vile!  

Despicable!  

What on earth had this man been doing while bathing?!

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