Chapter 16: Murder
Chunying immediately stood up, frowning as she surveyed Chen Zhao before her. After not seeing him for several days, Chen Zhao looked haggard, his eyes bloodshot and his lips cracked with peeling skin. Chunying paused before finally saying, "You're here."
Chen Zhao plopped down onto a stool in Chunying's room, grabbing the teapot from the table and tilting his head back to gulp it down. Chunying opened her mouth to stop him but ultimately held back, only a flicker of impatience flashing in her eyes before she coldly asked, "What are you here for?"
Chen Zhao had just sent her money two days prior, so he certainly wasn’t here to play the role of a generous benefactor. She couldn’t fathom his purpose.
Instead of answering, Chen Zhao wiped his mouth and sneered, "A lowly maid like you can actually afford top-grade Mount Jun Silver Needle? Truly, spending the money I gave you without a shred of guilt!"
Chunying was vain by nature, and nothing disgusted her more than her humble origins. Chen Zhao’s words were like rubbing salt in her wounds, instantly igniting her fury. Her eyes narrowed, but she forced a smile instead. "Indeed, I am a lowly maid. But what does that make you? Do you really think of yourself as some young master from a wealthy family? Or do you believe that just by having Miss Jiang, you can climb your way into the Minister’s household?"
Chen Zhao’s expression darkened. Chunying had seen right through him, and her words were like needles to his ears.
Unfazed by his reaction, Chunying continued, "We’re the same, you and I—both servants at the mercy of our masters. Besides, didn’t you give me that money willingly? Or do you think your future prospects aren’t worth a few measly coins?"
"You—" Chen Zhao clenched his fists, grinding out the words through gritted teeth, "Don’t push your luck."
" You’re the one pushing me ," Chunying said sweetly as she sauntered over to him, her delicate arms slowly winding around his neck. "But tell me, what exactly brings you here today?"
The intoxicating fragrance of Chunying’s perfume momentarily clouded Chen Zhao’s judgment, softening his demeanor. "Enough of that. I came to tell you—I’m no fool. If you think you can leech off me forever, you’re sorely mistaken. We should settle this cleanly. After all, this was a mutual arrangement."
Chunying’s fingers tightened, leaving bright red nail marks on Chen Zhao’s neck as she smiled slowly. "Are you trying to renege on our deal now? A mutual arrangement ? It was you who forced yourself on me . We’ve never had any prior dealings—everyone on the estate can testify to that. If you dare claim it was consensual in court, do you really think the magistrate would believe you?"
Chen Zhao knew even he struggled to believe his own words. Gritting his teeth, he demanded, "What do you want ?"
Chunying’s gaze swept over him. She was well aware that while Chen Zhao had some money, most of his wealth was controlled by Zhang Lan—and this matter absolutely could not reach her ears. Zhang Lan was formidable, and if she got involved, it was hard to say who would come out worse. Chen Zhao might be a cash cow, but even the richest veins ran dry eventually. Better to make a clean, profitable break now.At this thought, Chunying's voice softened again: "I'm not unreasonable or ignorant. After all, we have some acquaintance between us. How could I bear to push you to the brink? But you've taken my body, and after this, who would want me? You must give me some compensation so that when I'm released from the estate in the future, I'll have a place to live and a way to survive." Her delicate fingers lightly pressed against Chen Zhao's forehead. "There's a three-courtyard house on East Street at Shili Shop. Buy it for me. After that, we'll go our separate ways, with no debts between us."
"You're insane!" Before Chunying could finish, Chen Zhao had already jumped up, shaking off her hand on his shoulder. "East Street is worth every inch of gold. A three-courtyard house would cost at least a thousand taels of silver. How could I possibly afford that? You think too highly of yourself. Do you think you're the top courtesan of Yihong Pavilion, worth a fortune for a single night?"
Chunying laughed instead of getting angry. "My body may not compare to the girls of Yihong Pavilion, but your future, in your own eyes, can be bought for just a thousand taels of silver. Don't you think you're undervaluing yourself too much?"
"What do you want?" Chen Zhao asked.
"This is the biggest concession I'm willing to make. Of course, you don't have to agree. But in the future, we'll see each other in court!" Chunying glared at him coldly.
Chen Zhao, furious, smashed the teapot on the table with a loud "crack!" "Don't push me too far!"
"Chen Zhao!" Chunying stared back at him unyieldingly. "Will you give it or not?"
Chen Zhao's face flushed red with anger. He had long heard of Chunying's shameless obstinacy but never imagined that once entangled with her, he would end up in such a predicament. A few days ago, he had sold a plot of land and already had a huge fight with Zhang Lan. Now, Zhang Lan had locked away all the family's property deeds, leaving him helpless. Yet Chunying continued to press him relentlessly. He was already penniless, at the end of his rope.
Chen Zhao looked up at Chunying, who sneered at him, her smile blindingly sharp, the remnants of red rouge at the corners of her lips like a death warrant. Such a greedy beauty—once she opened her mouth, there would never be a day of satisfaction. So this wasn't the end. If only she were dead. If Chunying no longer existed in this world, he wouldn't be in such a wretched state.
Chunying was smugly contemplating her plans, oblivious to the madness in the other's eyes. By the time she realized, Chen Zhao had already viciously pounced on her, knocking her to the ground. She barely had time to scream before he covered her mouth and nose. Chunying struggled desperately, but a woman's strength was no match for a man's.
"Die, you bitch!" Chen Zhao, now completely deranged, laughed maniacally.
Chunying could only grip Chen Zhao's hands tightly, her eyes wide with terror, her legs kicking wildly. Gradually, her body went limp in the struggle until finally, she stopped breathing.
Chen Zhao released his grip. Chunying's wide, lifeless eyes stared straight at him, a horrifying and eerie sight. He froze for a moment before snapping back to reality—he had killed someone!
Staggering backward, he cautiously reached out to check for breath under Chunying's nose, then collapsed onto the floor, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.After half an hour of panic, Chen Zhao gradually calmed down. He thought for a moment, then suddenly sneered and spat in Chunying's face, "You wretch, daring to oppose me!" He then lifted Chunying's body, found a large sack in the room, stuffed her inside, and quietly slipped out the door.
Little did Chen Zhao know that as he carried out these actions, a pair of eyes in the shadows was closely watching his every move. What he believed to be a flawless murder was witnessed in its entirety by another.
(End of Chapter)
OpenNovel