Chapter 40: Nothing Out of the Ordinary

Bai Shuxuan pressed her crimson lips together, her emotions tangled. She let out a long breath and quickly suppressed her restless thoughts, feigning bashful shyness as she closed her legs, lips trembling with a delicate softness, and spoke to Cheng Guang.

“My lord, do you intend to consummate the marriage right now?”

“The night is long—why not take our time?”

As she spoke, a hint of blush colored her mesmerizing eyes, and a gentle fragrance reminiscent of peach blossoms seemed to emanate from her graceful form.

Cheng Guang gazed at Bai Shuxuan’s alluring yet dignified beauty, his heart skipping uncontrollably. The corner of his mouth twitched; an inexplicable feeling warned him that this woman was anything but ordinary.

When he first saw the system’s quest for vengeance against Bai Shuxuan, Cheng Guang had entertained the idea of capturing her—ordering his guards to forcibly bring her back to the Duke of the Nation’s residence, then tormenting her at leisure.

But after careful consideration, he abandoned the plan. First, he was unsure of Bai Shuxuan’s abilities—could his guards truly suppress her? If they could, all would be well. But if not, or if she possessed concealed powers and managed to escape back to the Eightfold Demon Domain, he would have gained nothing and risked much.

Given his status and strength, it was impossible for him to pursue her into the Demon Domain. The system’s quest would be stalled indefinitely. Cheng Guang had never expected the system, with its clumsy rigidity, to offer any clever solutions.

Second, he wasn’t clear on the exact nature of the vengeance described by the system. He would have to experiment, making several attempts; even if he couldn’t complete the quest, he mustn’t alert her prematurely.

Looking back, Cheng Guang felt, with an odd certainty, that he had made the right choice. Bai Shuxuan was far more dangerous than she appeared.

Despite her apparent lack of cultivation, she gave him an inexplicable sense of peril.

Cheng Guang quietly clenched his fists, the royal blood of the Great Xia dynasty coursing hotly through his veins, his heart thundering with barely perceptible beats.

Damn it.

Bai Shuxuan was definitely up to something!

He frowned, unwilling to linger with her any longer. He couldn’t decipher her intentions, but her eager insistence that he stay the night promised nothing good.

He was a novice on the path of cultivation, while Bai Shuxuan was a woman whose true strength was unknown—remaining with her was courting disaster.

“No need. I am a scholar of the classics, devoted only to the teachings of the sages, uninterested in women.”

Cheng Guang spoke solemnly, shifting his gaze from Bai Shuxuan’s fair chest and closing his eyes.

“Miss Bai, next time we meet, please wear your veil. Otherwise, I fear I’ll be distracted.”

With that, Cheng Guang shook his head, turned, and walked away, leaving the room.

Bai Shuxuan stood frozen for a long while before regaining her composure. Her flawless face flushed crimson, though whether with anger or embarrassment she could not tell.

“You claim you’re devoted to the classics? Nonsense…!”

“Your eyes never left me from the moment you entered!”

“You want me to wear a veil so I won’t distract you—so you can keep staring at my body?”

Bai Shuxuan was so infuriated her fingers clenched tightly, her usual elegance abandoned.

After venting her frustration, confusion crept in. Why had Cheng Guang entered only to leave again?

She was practically presenting herself, clean and bare, before him; though he’d shown some lecherous tendencies, he’d made no move whatsoever.

Could it be that there truly was something wrong with his body?

No matter how beautiful she was, no matter how tempted he felt, he simply could not act?

The thought made her expression increasingly peculiar, a hint of teasing in her eyes. She tapped her red lips thoughtfully.

“It seems the young lord’s body really is afflicted. I was worried he’d make a move, so I was guarded, but perhaps I needn’t be. I can be bolder, use more daring methods from the books to entice him.”

“Although he has physical issues, his preferences haven’t changed. I am still attractive to him.”

“So the techniques from the stories should work.”

Bai Shuxuan mused to herself.

Just then, a commotion erupted outside.

A clamor rose, surging like waves, threatening to lift the roof of the Jade Pavilion.

“What’s happening?” Bai Shuxuan’s beautiful eyes widened.

“Miss, something terrible has happened!” The maid, Red Candle, hurriedly pushed aside the screen and rushed in, anxiety etched across her face.

“Miss, it’s the young lord… the young lord…”

Bai Shuxuan’s willow brows knitted in confusion. “What is it?”

Moments ago, she hadn’t paid attention to the noise outside, absorbed in her own concerns.

Red Candle wrung her hands in distress, twisting her garment, unsure how to speak.

Bai Shuxuan was unconcerned, gently prompting her again.

“It’s all right, take your time.”

After composing herself, Red Candle spoke quickly: “The young lord…”

“He… he said after seeing your appearance, he felt not the slightest interest. He claimed your reputation is undeserved, and you are utterly ordinary.”

Red Candle’s voice quivered with a hint of tears. “Now, everyone outside believes you are plain, even ugly. They are loudly protesting.”

“They say we’ve all gathered here to compete over an ugly woman, as if they’ve been insulted. The young lord may be tolerant and doesn’t blame you, but they demand that the Flower Pavilion and you give them an explanation.”

When Red Candle finished, Bai Shuxuan was stunned, her exquisite features frozen, her eyes flickering with disbelief.

What?

The young lord said her reputation was false, that she was ordinary?

That she couldn’t interest him at all?

So the one who stared at her wasn’t the young lord?

Bai Shuxuan’s delicate face flushed red with anger and embarrassment, momentarily speechless. In the end, her frustration turned to amused laughter, and she let out a soft chuckle.

Red Candle was beside herself with worry, puzzled by her mistress’s laughter.

“Miss, what should we do? How could the young lord say such things? He’s seen your face before.”

“Now, everyone outside is convinced you are ugly, your fame empty, refusing to leave. Some scholars who had already departed have returned.”

“They’re furious, saying if not for you, they wouldn’t have come to the Jade Pavilion, only to be crushed by the young lord’s words that nearly shattered their resolve.”

Bai Shuxuan paid no heed to Red Candle, continuing to laugh until her smile stiffened and she finally composed herself.

She could guess why the young lord had said such things.

After all, he had a hidden ailment.

To save face, he claimed she was ugly, thereby justifying his swift departure. It made sense.

Bai Shuxuan felt she had seen through Cheng Guang’s intentions, but facing the current situation, she was still at a loss.

To quell the crowd’s anger, the solution was both simple and difficult.

If she could swallow her pride, remove her veil, and step outside to let everyone see her true face, all doubts would vanish.

But as the sacred maiden of the Qingqiu Fox Clan, the number who had seen her real face was not as few as one hand, yet still counted on fingers.

To go out like a courtesan, offering herself for public admiration, would be more painful than death.

Lost in chaotic thoughts, Bai Shuxuan’s face turned ashen, her lips pressed tightly together, unsure what to do.

……

[Thank you to the esteemed Shen Yuan Wu Jin for the generous reward! Much appreciated!]

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