Chapter 1441
Shangguan Yan's Seduction
Chapter 1441 Shangguan Yan's Seduction
"Alright, stop being so coy!" Lin Hao said, helping Yin Qi up.
"You are, after all, the fifth young master of Xinchuan. Don't embarrass the people of Xinchuan here!"
Yin Qi stood up gratefully, then asked in confusion, "By the way, Sixth Brother, what was your attitude just now?"
Lin Hao then shared his analysis with Yin Qi and the others, and everyone finally understood.
After calming down the fifth brother, Lin Hao took Li Wei's hand and walked towards the room. He hadn't forgotten that Li Wei had just said she didn't like him.
Back in the room, Lin Hao coldly said to Li Wei:
"If you don't like me, you can just tell Chuanzhu clearly. I didn't force you to like me!"
Seeing Lin Hao's cold and serious expression, Li Wei thought her words had hurt him, so she quickly explained:
"I... I did have that thought before, but after spending so much time with you, I've long since given up on it!"
Then, looking pitifully at Lin Hao, he said:
"I didn't mean anything by what I said just now. I was just trying to appease the Fifth Young Master. I didn't really mean to leave you!"
"Slap! Slap!" Taking advantage of Li Wei's inattention, Lin Hao slapped her buttocks twice and said, "See if you dare to say such things to me again!"
"I won't do it again, I won't do it again!" Li Wei retreated pitifully, her big, watery eyes looking at Lin Hao as if sending some kind of signal.
"Go to sleep!" Lin Hao was tempted, but this wasn't Xinchuan, and the atmosphere wasn't right, so he decided to hold back and deal with her when they got back.
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At this moment, Shangguan Yan was caught in a dilemma. Danchuan was indeed not afraid of Xinchuan, and had long wanted to abolish the idea of Xinchuan as the superior power and the idea of marrying Danchuan women to foreign powers.
They were indeed planning to abolish it, but unexpectedly, at that very moment, Danchuan was hit by a once-in-a-century flood.
That's why they had no choice but to send their sister to Xinchuan for a marriage alliance, hoping that Xinchuan would help them get through the flood and resettle the refugees.
Therefore, after her younger sister returned to her parents' home, she was actually unwilling for her sister to remarry into the family for political reasons.
However, circumstances are beyond our control. If the engagement is truly called off, Danchuan, with its current strength, is powerless to deal with Xinchuan.
That's why she deliberately bullied Yin Qi and even humiliated the Fifth Young Master before, but now she's messed things up.
It would be easy to salvage the situation, but she was unwilling to simply agree to let her sister go back.
After thinking it over all night, Shangguan Yan sent someone to talk to Lin Hao alone.
The following day, Situ Jin came to deliver a message, saying that Lord Danchuan was hosting a banquet at Lanyue Pavilion and invited the Sixth Young Master to have a private talk.
When Lin Hao arrived, Shangguan Yan was standing by the railing, holding a cup of tea, gazing at the distant mountain scenery in a daze.
Lin Hao cupped his hands in a respectful bow and said, "Lord Danchuan!"
After all, he is the ruler of a river, and his status is higher than mine, so he should be given the respect he deserves.
"Sixth Young Master has arrived, please have a seat!" Shangguan Yan turned around, a slight smile playing on her lips.
Lin Hao sat down as instructed, his gaze sweeping over a pot of tea and several plates of Danchuan specialty snacks on the table, arranged in a way that was both casual and exquisite.
It was clearly Shangguan Yan's doing, a private test to gauge Lin Hao's attitude, and Lin Hao already knew what was going on, so he simply responded accordingly.
Shangguan Yan sat down opposite him, poured him a cup of tea herself, and as she pushed it towards him, her fingertips inadvertently touched the rim of the cup before she withdrew them.
"I'm afraid the Sixth Young Master is still upset about what happened yesterday," she said bluntly, her tone casual, as if she were talking about a trivial matter.
Lin Hao picked up his teacup, took a sip, and instead of answering, asked, "Dan Chuan Master, did you summon me here today to hear the truth, or just polite words?"
Shangguan Yan was slightly taken aback, then chuckled softly, "You're quite straightforward. Of course, I'll hear the truth!"
"Alright!" Lin Hao put down his teacup, looked up at Shangguan Yan, and said calmly, "Yesterday, Master Danchuan went back on his word and was fickle."
“If it were just about disciplining my own brother-in-law, that would be one thing. But Lord Danchuan has acted on imperial edicts time and time again. This is not just damaging my fifth brother’s reputation!” When it comes to matters of national dignity, Lin Hao is naturally firm.
After a pause, Lin Hao spoke slowly and deliberately:
"The alliance between the Nine Rivers is a century-old agreement, relying on the principles of trust and righteousness. Does Lord Danchuan think that my Xinchuan is easy to bully, or does he think that this century-old alliance can be torn up at will without paying any price?"
These words carry considerable weight, yet the tone was so casual it sounded like a joke; however, the words themselves carried significant weight.
The smile on Shangguan Yan's face gradually faded. She stared at Lin Hao for a moment, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of her glass, without saying a word.
For a moment, the pavilion was so quiet that only the sound of the wind could be heard.
"Sixth Young Master, your words are too harsh!" After a long silence, Shangguan Yan finally spoke:
"I was just standing up for my sister, why did it have to escalate to the point of an alliance?" Shangguan Yan's voice was a few decibels lower than before, clearly indicating that she had swallowed her anger.
"Whether it's to vent your anger or not, Lord Danchuan knows perfectly well!" Lin Hao said unmoved.
“My fifth brother was in the wrong first, so it’s only right that he come to Danchuan to apologize. You want him to undergo some kind of ‘merit assessment,’ and he has already done it!”
“My fifth brother already has bronchitis, and you still asked him to make chili oil, which he did. Xin Chuan has given him every bit of face he deserves!”
"But what about Lord Danchuan?" He changed the subject, his tone slightly more serious:
"They agreed to meet right away, the princess ordered him to eat chili oil, and then she turned around and took back her order!"
"This isn't teaching someone a lesson, it's making a fool of them. Lord Danchuan is the ruler of a river, is he treating Xinchuan like a monkey on the street?" Lin Hao's words were extremely impolite.
Shangguan Yan frowned, a hint of annoyance flashing in her eyes, but she quickly suppressed it, instead chuckled softly, picked up her teacup, and took a sip.
"Sixth Young Master, you have quite the eloquence!" She put down her teacup, leaned forward slightly, rested her chin on one hand, and glanced at Lin Hao's face before saying:
"But have you ever thought about why I have to do this?"
Lin Hao raised an eyebrow, knowing full well the answer, and asked, "I'd like to hear the details!"
Shangguan Yan stood up, walked to the railing, turned her back to him, and said in a soft voice:
“Jingjing is my only younger sister. She married into Xinchuan and has no relatives or friends there. She doesn’t even have anyone to talk to.”
"Yin Qi is quite something. He says he likes her, but then he wants to take a concubine. Put yourself in his shoes. If you were in his shoes, would you be willing to accept that?"
She turned around, looked at Lin Hao, and said with a hint of scrutiny in her eyes, "I heard that the Sixth Young Master's residence also has a concubine from Jichuan?"
"Yes!" Lin Hao met her gaze calmly and said:
“My concubine initially thought I was going to die. She set up a mourning hall for me at home, painted my portrait, and burned paper money. She wished I would pass away soon so she could take the pension back to Jichuan.”
Shangguan Yan was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting to hear such a reply.
"But what about now?" Lin Hao smiled and said:
"Now she urges me to take my medicine every day, cooks me delicious meals in all sorts of ways, and even named my dog after her. Why do you think this is, Master Danchuan?"
Shangguan Yan remained silent, while Lin Hao continued, "Because I treated her with sincerity. I didn't force her to do things she didn't want to do; when she missed home and her parents, I let her write letters; when she wasn't used to the rules of Xinchuan, I covered for her!"
At this point, Lin Hao looked directly at Shangguan Yan, his eyes filled with certainty, and said:
"She's willing to stay, not because of any alliance, not because of any grand strategy, but because she feels comfortable here!"
He looked into Shangguan Yan's eyes and said, word by word:
"Lord Danchuan wants his sister to live a good life, not by leaving her here, nor by forcing Fifth Brother to do any kind of husbandly work test, but by letting the two of them live their own lives."
"Whether they are doing well or not is their own business. Even if Lord Danchuan protects her, he cannot live her life for her!"
"Putting everything else aside, my fifth brother has always respected Shangguan Jing and has never forced her to do anything."
"As far as I know, they have not yet consummated their marriage. This is because the five of us are honest and straightforward, and treat others with sincerity."
"If it were my eldest son's second brother, do you think the situation would be like now!"
"I guarantee that the eldest son of the main wife has plenty of ways to deal with Shangguan Jing and leave you speechless."
Shangguan Yan was speechless for a moment after hearing what he said. She opened her mouth, wanting to refute, but couldn't find the right words.
She knew the situation inside the Xinchuan Palace all too well; everyone had planted spies among the other river chiefs, so she understood what Lin Hao meant.
"Hmph!" She snorted softly, sat back down in her chair, picked up her teacup and put it down again, her movements revealing a hint of annoyance.
"Sixth Young Master makes it sound so easy!" She glanced at Lin Hao, her tone tinged with resentment.
"If your concubine were to propose taking male concubines, would you treat her with the same sincerity?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Hao couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Is Lord Danchuan testing me?"
Shangguan Yan didn't deny it. Instead, she rested her chin on her hand and looked at him with interest: "What, you don't dare to answer?"
"What's there to be afraid of!" Lin Hao sat down again, poured himself a cup of tea, and then said:
"Not to mention that I, Xinchuan, do not have such rules, even if I did, if she really wanted to take a male concubine, it would mean that she does not like me."
"Forced relationships are never sweet. I'll let her go. But if she likes me, why does she insist on taking male concubines to spite me?"
He took a sip of tea and said slowly, "Then I must first ask Lord Danchuan, are all the men of Danchuan so magnanimous?"
Shangguan Yan was speechless for a moment after hearing this. She wanted to say something, but felt that no matter what she said, it would be wrong. In the end, she could only glare at him.
"You sure know how to talk!"
"Just telling the truth!" Lin Hao put down his teacup and said seriously.
"Lord Danchuan, if I may say something that is not pleasant to hear, your Danchuan practice of polyandry and men marrying into the wife's family is your custom, and I have no intention of commenting on it."
“But my fifth brother is from Xinchuan, so his wife must naturally be chosen according to Xinchuan’s customs!”
“If he truly loves Jingjing, shouldn’t he change for her?” Shangguan Yan said indignantly.
"Of course, if my fifth brother doesn't take a concubine for Shangguan Jing's sake, that's their business!"
“Liking someone is mutual!” Lin Hao said, looking at her. “Master Danchuan only thinks about getting Fifth Brother to change, but has he ever thought about what Shangguan Jing has changed for him?”
Shangguan Yan was stunned, while Lin Hao continued:
"She could tell which of the five portions of chili oil yesterday was made by Fifth Brother just by tasting them. What does that mean?"
"This shows that Fifth Brother has been trying to make her happy with her food, and she has been adapting to life in Xinchuan!"
He paused, then lowered his voice: "When two people live together, it's not about one being superior to the other. Lord Danchuan is a wise man; I don't need to explain this to you, you should understand it too."
Shangguan Yan fell silent. She leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping the table unconsciously, her gaze fixed on the window, lost in thought.
After a long while, she sighed and then spoke, her voice much softer than before: "I understand what the Sixth Young Master is saying."
She turned to look at Lin Hao, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes:
“But I still can’t bear to part with her. Jingjing grew up by my side. I watched her cry, watched her laugh, and watched her get married.”
“Now that she’s been wronged over there, I, as her older sister, can’t just do nothing.”
"So, Lord Danchuan is going to torment Fifth Brother?" Lin Hao's tone softened as he spoke.
"Now that you've finished making a fuss, my fifth brother has admitted his mistake, and you've punished him. Why not let Shangguan Jing go back and continue living her life?"
Shangguan Yan felt a little uncomfortable when he pointed out her secret. If it weren't for her sudden impulse yesterday, the problem would have been solved long ago.
Then she looked at the handsome and extraordinary Lin Hao, and then, on a sudden impulse, she got up and walked to Lin Hao, bending down and getting closer.
"Sixth Young Master!" she said in a low voice, with a hint of a smile.
"From the first time we met, your eyes have been filled with desire. Now that you've gained the upper hand because of Yin Qi, don't you want to get something out of me?"
Lin Hao raised an eyebrow and leaned forward, almost bringing his nose to Shangguan Yan's.
"Lord Danchuan is overthinking it!" Lin Hao looked at Shangguan Yan with a playful gaze and said with a smile, "I'm just stating the facts, I have no other intentions!"
The masculine aura emanating from Lin Hao made Shangguan Yan's heart race, and she straightened up with a darting look in her eyes.
Then, with a smile playing on his lips, he slowly strolled over to Lin Hao's side, his fingers lightly tracing patterns on the table.
"Let's stick to the facts?" She walked around behind him, her voice coming from behind his ear, "I heard that the concubine in the Sixth Young Master's mansion was betrothed to you by your father, the new Lord of Chuan!"
"You two haven't known each other for very long, and it seems you haven't consummated your marriage yet, have you?"
Lin Hao remained seated, but out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Shangguan Yan's sleeve brushing past him, carrying a faint scent of gardenias.
"What is Lord Danchuan thinking?"
Shangguan Yan moved to face him, placed her hands on the table, leaned slightly forward, and looked directly at Lin Hao as she spoke:
"What I meant to say was, if Sixth Young Master feels that your concubine is not good enough, you might as well consider my Danchuan!"
She smiled, a mischievous glint in her eyes, and said, "Women from Danchuan won't set up a mourning hall or paint a portrait for you!"
Lin Hao looked at the face so close to his own, with delicate features, a smile on his lips, and a hint of provocation and a touch of testing.
Lin Hao suddenly laughed, casually leaning back in his chair, and said in a relaxed tone:
"Lord Danchuan, you have quite the tactics. First you tested me with words, then you used your body to lure me into a trap. Are you trying to trick me into revealing information, or do you want to see me make a fool of myself?"