Chapter 129: Serving the Tiger
Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Serving the Tiger
Seeing the village chief change his tune, Yao Jinse grew anxious.
"Village chief, don’t let her pretty face fool you! She’s a cunning one—"
The village chief turned his head, his eyes dark and sullen. "Since when can just anyone order me around in my own village?"
Yao Jinse’s face stiffened.
Wang Yansheng’s expression was even uglier.
’In the past, I was the one who gave the orders, and he obeyed my every command. But now...’
The village chief glanced at Wang Yansheng, a smile returning to his face. "Lord Wang, ask her for whatever you want. Just leave her breathing for me. I just need to blow off some steam!"
As he spoke, he hauled Liang Wan up and shoved her toward Wang Yansheng, then turned and waved to the others with a laugh.
"Lord Wang hasn’t visited the village in a long time! From now on, we’ll treat him as our guest of honor, just like before. Serve him the best wine and meat!"
Liang Wan’s limbs were already stiff. Caught off guard by the shove, she tumbled to the ground.
The crowd, which had fallen silent, began to laugh and drink boisterously again.
The village chief had given him an out. No matter how furious Wang Yansheng was, he couldn’t afford to lash out. He had important matters to attend to; it wasn’t the time to turn on them.
At this thought, his tense expression softened. He smiled and said, "You’re too kind, village chief. Besides asking for your help, I also came to discuss our old business arrangements."
His smile was deep with meaning.
The village chief understood immediately, laughing loudly as he ordered his men to bring more wine and roasted meat.
Liang Wan winced in pain. The skin on her arm was scraped, and beads of red blood welled up.
Only then did Wang Yansheng crouch down, grabbing her by the collar, his eyes glinting with a cold light. "Where is it?"
The village chief was already seated back on his main chair, picking up a wine bowl. He watched the two people in the center of the floor with a smile, as if they were the best side dish to go with his drink.
Liang Wan met his gaze directly and said faintly, "The Master’s Mansion."
"What?" The malice in Wang Yansheng’s eyes deepened, his tone sinister. "Do you believe I’ll kill you?!"
Liang Wan nodded, a nonchalant smile playing on her lips. "If I’m not mistaken, you’ve already torn the Liang Mansion apart, haven’t you?"
She shifted her gaze to Yao Jinse, who was standing nearby. "Sister-in-law, on the day our home was raided, didn’t you take the opportunity to look for it?"
A sharp glint appeared in Yao Jinse’s eyes.
Wang Yansheng tightened his grip, pulling her closer. "Cut the crap!"
Liang Wan smiled sweetly. "On the day of the raid, I went back specifically to retrieve it. There’s no point hiding it now, so I’ll just tell you. It was always hidden inside the plaque in the flower hall."
’I don’t know what they’re looking for, but it seems I can use that plaque to buy some time.’
Liang Wan tried to keep her expression relaxed and added, "When I went to the Master’s Mansion, I made sure to take it with me. It’s hanging in the bedchamber I share with Lu Xiu. If you don’t believe me, you can send someone to check the Liang Mansion first, then go investigate the Master’s Mansion."
Wang Yansheng turned his head to look at Yao Jinse.
Yao Jinse gritted her teeth in anger. "There is such a plaque. I can’t believe it was hidden in plain sight!"
Wang Yansheng’s gaze returned to her face, his eyes chillingly cold. "I’ll have someone investigate tomorrow. If you dare try any tricks, I’ll make you wish you were dead!"
Liang Wan said aggrievedly, "What tricks can I possibly play now? I’m just trying to live a few more days."
Wang Yansheng stared at her intently for a long moment before flinging her hand away. "You’d better be!"
"Brother—" Yao Jinse was still worried.
Wang Yansheng stood up, gave her a meaningful look, and said, "For the next few days, you stay here and watch them. It won’t be too late to deal with them once we have the item."
Yao Jinse nodded, her eyes red.
Only then did the village chief smile and call out to Wang Yansheng again, "Now that the business is settled, let’s drink! Drink up!"
Wang Yansheng sat at the same table as Yao Jinse.
The village chief pointed a large hand at Liang Wan. "Didn’t you say you were going to serve me? What are you standing there gaping for? Get over here and let me have a taste of what it’s like to be an Emperor or a high official!"
Liang Wan struggled to her feet, rubbing her stiff, sore limbs as she shuffled toward the main seat.
As she passed Yao Jinse, the latter let out an undisguised, contemptuous sneer.
Liang Wan paid it no mind, as if it were just wind passing her ears, and the delicate smile on her lips deepened.
Before she could get close, Liang Wan’s ankle twisted. Just as she was about to fall, a powerful, bronze arm shot out, plucking her up and pulling her into an embrace like an eagle snatching a chick.
The moment her soft, fragrant, and delicate body landed in his arms, bringing with it a faint feminine scent, a numbing tingle shot through him like electricity. The burly man’s body couldn’t help but tremble as a strange heat flared up inside him, a fire that burned hotter and hotter.
"Damn, it’s like this Lady has no bones," he muttered. His large hand, as if venting frustration, squeezed her slender waist hard. It was unclear if it was the wine or the lust going to his head.
His exclamation sent a wave of excitement through the room.
"Boss, when are you gonna let us have a taste?"
"Pah! Look at your pathetic self!"
"Oh, you’re so much better? If you’re so much better, why won’t you let her go even after she said she’s old and ugly?"
The words were barely out before the hall erupted in laughter.
Choked by the retort, the big man’s face turned beet red, but he still muttered defiantly, "Well, it’s not like there are other options—"
Liang Wan fought back the urge to vomit. She lowered her head, her heart turning to ice.
The village chief roared with laughter. "Go untie those other two over there! One’s a bit old, but the other one’s not bad! Once we get this new business going, we can go back to how things were! And it’s all thanks to Lord Wang! Hahaha—"
With that, he raised his wine bowl and toasted Wang Yansheng from afar.
The other man raised his hand in a toast as well.
"Rest assured, village chief. Future business will certainly be better than before! Gold, silver, treasures, livestock, beautiful women—you’ll have it all!"
Wang Yansheng was full of confidence.
The village chief dared not be disrespectful any longer. "Drink! Drink up!"
Out of the corner of her eye, Liang Wan watched the two women tied to the wooden posts. Someone slapped their faces with a wet hand, and they immediately stirred.
Mrs. Zhang was held down by two men and had wine poured down her throat, struggling and cursing all the while.
A sharp pain shot through her jaw as Liang Wan was forced to lift her head, meeting a sinister smile. "Beauty, you’ve served high officials. Show us something new."
As he spoke, his throat moved, and a fiery liquid was poured into her mouth. The cool liquid went down her throat, while some of it trickled down her chin and under her clothes.
Liang Wan choked, her eyes turning red as tears streamed down her face.
Once the bowl was empty, the man let go. Liang Wan collapsed to the floor, coughing uncontrollably.
"Ah, Wan—"
"My Lady!"
’It’s not like Gao Qian never forced me to drink before. This is nothing...’
Liang Wan kept her head down, catching her breath. She pushed herself up with one hand and used the other to wipe away her tears and dry her neck.
When she looked up again, her smile was as radiant as a blossoming flower.
Someone was calling her name.
Liang Wan turned a deaf ear. She turned her head, her moist eyes meeting the brutish man’s. "Village chief, didn’t you want to know how I serve the Emperor and high officials?"
Hearing this, the crowd began to hoot and jeer.
Someone tried to rush over, but was pulled away to the other side. A moment later, the sounds of struggling and crying erupted.
Liang Wan stood up, brushed the dust from her clothes, and her eyes curved into a smile. "Would the village chief like to try?"