Chapter Seventy-Eight: Courting Death

Today would be a day that Huang Sheng would never forget in his entire life. After Lin Nan patted his head, misfortune struck him one after another! Out of nowhere, he suffered a stomachache, and when he went to the restroom, he was knocked out by a falling flowerpot, sending him straight back to the Huang family. After this ordeal, a shadow lingered in Huang Sheng’s heart, and that shadow was Lin Nan. He would never dare let Lin Nan touch him again, not even for his life.

Once Huang Sheng was carried away, Hu Mo could only stay with Cang Ling and Lin Nan. The feeling of being outnumbered left him uneasy and restless.

Lin Nan’s bad luck couldn’t affect Cang Ling. As she explained, misfortune would only influence those whose power was weaker than the one who cast the curse—the weaker, the more dangerous. If that were true, wouldn’t her strength surpass even the Five Elemental Gods? The thought weighed heavily on Hu Mo’s mind; when would he ever reach such a level himself?

When Zhu Xinluo reappeared, she no longer exuded the same carefree air. Like Cang Ling, she wore a simple white robe, which nonetheless highlighted her refined and graceful aura—a single word described her: pure. Everyone felt the same.

Thanks to Zhu Xinyue’s special arrangement, Hu Mo found himself seated beside her. He couldn’t deny it—the spot he occupied made every man in the pavilion envious and jealous. All around him sat a bevy of beauties, making the view exceedingly delightful.

Seated there were several of Zhu Xinyue’s cousins and some daughters and relatives of high-ranking court officials. Hu Mo was like a lone patch of green amidst a sea of blossoms, so obvious, so unique.

Yet to Hu Mo’s heartbreak, except for Zhu Xinyue, none of the women’s eyes lingered on him. Their attention was entirely focused on Lin Nan, who sat beside him.

Lin Nan’s looks belonged to the idol type—a true heartthrob. She’d already enchanted a group of women outside the Phoenix Song Pavilion, and now, even inside, she continued to steal the limelight. If only her identity weren’t a secret, Hu Mo would have long since awakened those infatuated girls with a single line: “Take a closer look, she’s a woman!”

The so-called socialite gathering offered little novelty to Hu Mo. It was merely drinking and chatting together. He’d imagined there might be a dance, which would have been far more intriguing.

But that idea soon faded, for Zhu Xinluo and her companions produced paintings, calligraphy, and musical instruments, transforming the grand event into a gathering for the arts—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

Hu Mo leaned back in a fur-covered chair, eyes half-closed in contentment. Royal wines, exquisite pastries, beautiful women, and the graceful sounds of zithers and flutes—such enjoyment was truly fit for an emperor.

“Brother Hu, why don’t you show us your talent? I can sense it—you must understand music!” Zhu Xinyue said with certainty, having watched Hu Mo’s fingers tap in rhythm with the music. It convinced her he knew the art well.

“Huh? Haha, Princess Xinyue, you overestimate me. I’m just a frivolous fellow; how could I know such refined things? I’d rather sit here and listen, enjoy the sights and sounds, but I wouldn’t dare make a fool of myself!” Hu Mo replied with a playful grin, taking a sip of wine.

Zhu Xinyue’s enthusiasm vanished instantly. She slumped, exhausted, onto another fur chair and sighed, “So boring, Brother Hu. I thought you’d bring some joy to this event, but it’s still just as dull. Those lechers take the chance to get cheap thrills, and those gold-diggers seek bedmates—how utterly tedious.”

Her words made Hu Mo spit out his wine and cough, protesting, “You exaggerate! It’s not some brothel gathering.”

“It’s not far off, and that’s exactly what my eldest sister intended. Romance is permitted, but no groping or inappropriate behavior. Otherwise, my sister would never tolerate it. For instance, if you were to touch my hand now, you’d probably be thrown out immediately.” Zhu Xinyue giggled, reaching out her petite hand.

Startled, Hu Mo quickly withdrew his own, tense. “I’d rather not be tossed out; best to behave.”

Zhu Xinyue’s little trick couldn’t fool Hu Mo, but he was genuinely unsure about his feelings for her, which made him hesitate to act.

She paused, her disappointment growing, and sighed softly, “With me here, who would dare throw you out? I’m off to find Sister Cang; she’s surrounded by those men and must be annoyed. I’ll go help her chase the flies away!”

With that, Zhu Xinyue bounced off toward Cang Ling. Hu Mo glanced in her direction and saw Cang Ling indeed encircled by a group of men. Though she wore a veil, her unique aura made them flock to her, unwilling to leave her side.

Looking closer, Hu Mo noticed a few familiar faces—the three brothers from the Xu family who had harassed Cang Ling in the street.

Those three lecherous men crowded around her, showering her with compliments so nauseating that Hu Mo could barely stand to listen.

Cang Ling responded with cool, playful banter, spinning them in circles and laughing merrily.

Just then, Xu Zhu, with a smile, said, “Miss, I truly feel like I’ve met you before. Just a few days ago, I encountered a woman in the street whose figure was much like yours—truly one in a million. I thought I’d only ever see her once in my life, but now, seeing you, it must be fate! Haha…”

“Oh? There’s someone with a better figure than mine? Yet you kept praising me just now. Clearly, your words were insincere,” Cang Ling sighed, shaking her head as if deeply ‘upset’.

Xu Zhu grew anxious. “Miss, please don’t say that! You wrong me terribly. You are the moon in the sky, so pure and flawless that even the most beautiful jade would pale beside you. The woman I saw before was just a lowly courtesan, though she latched onto that useless Hu family heir, she remains beneath you—how could she compare?”

No sooner had Xu Zhu finished speaking than Zhu Xinyue, who had just arrived, slapped him hard across the face. He cried out in pain, sent flying across the room.

It was a full-force slap, and under his brothers’ stunned gaze, Xu Zhu crashed into a table. The atmosphere in the hall shifted instantly, and many guards rushed to Zhu Xinyue’s side to protect her.

“My little sister, what happened? Did these men try to bully you?” A woman in a rainbow dress strode over, her face dark with anger. She was Zhu Xinyue’s second sister, Zhu Xinshui, the Second Princess of the Empire of Heavenly Fire, renowned among her sisters for her fierce and bold temper.

Zhu Xinyue was so furious her hair nearly stood on end. She glared coldly at Xu Zhu, spitting, “He bullied me, Second Sister—avenge me!”

Xu Zhu, stunned by the slap, was now overwhelmed by the accusation and burst into tears. “I’m innocent, Your Highness! I never touched the princess, nor any of the ladies present. Many can testify for me—I truly did nothing!”

Zhu Xinshui’s expression grew colder, her aura sharper. She snorted, “Would my little sister ever lie? You dare question a princess’s word and even attempt to assault her? These two crimes alone are enough to cost you your life! Guards, give him a hundred strokes and throw him in the dungeon to await judgment!”

As soon as her words fell, the guards seized Xu Zhu, preparing to drag him away.

“Wait!” A sudden voice broke the tension. Situ Feng approached with a smile. Xu Zhu, seeing him, cried out, “Young Master Situ, save me! I’m innocent, you saw it—please help!”

Zhu Xinshui frowned. She could punish Xu Zhu, but not Situ Feng; they were on entirely different levels.

“Young Master Situ, what do you have to say? Are you pleading for him?” Zhu Xinshui asked, her tone anything but polite.

Situ Feng smiled mildly. “Your Highness, facts must speak for themselves. I witnessed everything just now. Xu Zhu did nothing to the princess; the only thing that might have angered her was his insult to Young Master Hu. Haha, Young Master Hu, how much longer do you plan to watch the spectacle? Will you let the princess avenge you?”

Without turning, Hu Mo sighed softly, his slightly drunken voice following, “No need to trouble Young Master Situ. It’s a simple matter—just watch. He’s merely courting death.”

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