“You enchanting man, taking advantage and then playing coy. Since you know you can’t have the master, don’t always pull this act, or I’ll keep getting taken advantage of.”
As soon as Dai Mei’s gaze met Hua Wu You’s, she exploded like a volcano. Any woman in this situation by the water would likely erupt, for being taken advantage of and then still expected to not complain – how could she be this unlucky?
Dai Mei’s face was stern. Ignoring whatever the楼主 (louzhu) was contemplating with a pensive expression, she sat down opposite Hua Wu You, picked up the tea urn on the table, and took a large gulp. It was better for her to drink some tea to calm her anger.
“Perhaps you deliberately let me hold you? Otherwise, why do you always fail to escape?” Hua Wu You’s blue eyes flickered with sarcasm, a half-smile playing on his lips, though his face lacked genuine emotion.
“You?” Dai Mei’s suppressed anger was ignited again by this man. Her face flushed with fury as she pointed at Hua Wu You’s nose, wanting nothing more than to curse him out. Liu Liu, already seated beside Dai Mei, spoke coldly, “Alright, don’t forget we have business to attend to?”
One sentence effectively choked Dai Mei’s rage back into its cradle. Liu Liu’s star-like, dazzling eyes fixed directly on Hua Wu You’s face. She sighed softly, her voice carrying an irresistible charm. Hua Wu You’s gaze flickered. He dropped his playful demeanor and stared motionlessly at Liu Liu. He was waiting for her to speak. As intelligent as she was, how could she not have noticed the flaws in the situation?
“That person, you arranged them to be by Feng Xie’s side?”
She asked, her voice as cold as ice. He had a feud with Feng Xie, but he shouldn’t have used her. How many times had she entrusted her son to this man? Thinking about it now sent shivers down her spine.
Cold sweat beaded on her back. She had placed Mu Xing in the tiger’s maw so many times. Fortunately, his reason had overcome the evil thoughts in his heart.
Hua Wu You remained silent, neither objecting nor agreeing, letting her interpret his meaning. Was she worried about Feng Xie, or angry that he had deceived her?
If it was the latter, he would have been happier. If it was the former, the mere thought of it made his heart ache terribly. For years, how many times had he seen Mu Xing, thought of Mu Xing as the child of his father’s enemy, and felt an urge to strangle him, to smash him?
In short, he had thought of countless ways to kill him, but at the last moment, he would think, “This is Liu’er’s child. I cannot harm him.” His feelings had outweighed his hatred, so he hadn’t harmed Mu Xing.
Although he had used her, for these past few years, he had abandoned his hatred and stayed by their side. However, these years were enough for him to understand that she only regarded him as a friend, nothing more.
Therefore, since their love could not be complete, he would enact his plan to avenge his parents.
“Why aren’t you speaking? Did you use me and not even offer an explanation? I considered you a friend, and for years I thought we were friends, but I never expected you to actually use me.”
Liu Liu rebuked him coldly, her anger evident. Hua Wu You pursed his lips, a thin, cold smile forming. His years of devotion had only earned him these words. Friends? He didn’t need friends.
If there was love, he could still refrain from seeking revenge.
But without love, what else could he do? His gaze was deep and hollow, leaving only killing intent and hatred. He was determined to kill Feng Xie and avenge his parents.
“I have nothing to say. If you think so, then let us pretend we were never friends,” Hua Wu You stood up.
Although he had imagined countless times that they would break ties over this matter, he hadn’t expected it to hurt so much. It was excruciating. The heart that had been revived was once again shattered into a thousand pieces, sinking into an abyss from which no one could rescue it.
“Hua Wu You?” Liu Liu called out angrily as he stood up, but she was stunned by the profound despair in his eyes and could not utter another word.
The wind blew in from the window, swirling his long robes and tangling his silver hair, making him look enchantingly peerless. She recalled their first meeting, when his long fingers had gripped her clothes, entwined with her.
He had been just as cold, just as ruthless back then. Later, many things happened. Until these past few years, when they spent time together, she had thought he no longer remembered the past. She hadn’t expected him to be so resolute today.
“Hua Wu You?”
Dai Mei looked at Hua Wu You’s heartbroken expression, then swept a look of despair and desolation at the 楼主. She opened the private room door and threw out cold words, “I am formally declaring war on Feng Xie. You can go tell him that person was placed by me.”
Dai Mei weakly called out again, “Hua Wu You, how could you do this?”
Why was everything becoming more complicated? Hua Wu You and the Emperor had a feud? What deep-seated hatred made him hate the Emperor so much that he decided to fight him to the end?
Dai Mei, her heart filled with annoyance, turned around. She saw the 楼主 frozen by the window, not reacting for a long time. She walked over and softly called out,
“楼主?”
Liu Liu snapped back to attention. Hua Wu You had said he was formally declaring war on Feng Xie.
Was she also a factor in this? Because he couldn’t have her love, he decided to formally declare war on Feng Xie?
But Feng Xie had only just learned that she, Qi Ye, was the current Empress. The thought sent shivers down her spine. If they fought like this, and something happened to the Emperor, Tian Feng would be in chaos.
Should she return to Xiaoyao Island now and pretend not to see, or watch from the sidelines, or help one side? Liu Liu felt utterly lost. A former friend, a former husband, and she was being torn apart between them.
“Are you alright, 楼主?”
Dai Mei called out softly, concerned. The 楼主 seemed to have lost control, completely distraught.
In truth, her own heart wasn’t feeling any better. Thinking of Hua Wu You’s sorrowful and resentful back just now, he looked completely like an abandoned child.
As a woman, a chord had been struck in her heart. This man was too pitiful. He liked the 楼主, but the 楼主 couldn’t accept him. He also bore a great hatred, living in hatred every day must be agonizing.
No wonder his temperament was so strange at times, Dai Mei sighed.
Liu Liu returned to her senses, shaking her head. What was she doing? She should go back. Sitting here wouldn’t help her figure anything out. What should she do about Bu Xiang Yin? Should she tell Feng Xie that she was a fake? Would he believe her?
Did she really have to reveal her true identity to prove that woman was fake? She absolutely could not do that.
Even if Feng Xie knew she was alive, she would not acknowledge him. She didn’t want to leave Xiaoyao Island?
From the day she left the palace, she had never thought of returning.
Although she sometimes felt resentment and missed her family over the years, she lived freely, unlike the stifling atmosphere of the palace. She hadn’t forgotten that there were other concubines in the palace.
Although she heard the Emperor had abolished the inner harem, there seemed to be a Zhang Xiu Yi, and more importantly, a De Fei. That woman had even given birth to a child. Would Mu Xing have to return and compete with that child for the position of Crown Prince?
Liu Liu’s expression flickered. Because she was thinking too much, she finally decided to closely monitor Bu Xiang Yin’s actions. If she made any rash moves, she would kill her, without telling Feng Xie anything. Having made up her mind, Liu Liu stood up.
“Let’s go back.”
“Alright,” Dai Mei nodded. The two of them went downstairs together. The father and daughter who had been performing downstairs were sitting at a square table waiting. As soon as they saw Liu Liu and Dai Mei coming down from upstairs, they quickly walked over and bowed to Liu Liu and Dai Mei.
“We heard the waiter say that the esteemed guests rewarded this old man and my daughter with some silver. This old man thanks you on behalf of my daughter.”
Liu Liu raised her hand. Without moving, a surge of energy lifted the father and daughter. Seeing this, the father and daughter knew they were in the presence of a martial arts expert. After thanking them profusely again, they led their daughter away from the tea house.
Liu Liu had given the father and daughter ten taels of silver. Ten taels of silver was enough for the two of them to live on for a year, so how could they not be grateful?