Chapter 11: Settling Debts
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He couldn’t bear to hurt himself too much. Ban Jian stole a glance at Mingzhu, seeing her indifferent attitude, he approached with a fawning expression, “Are you calm now?”
Mingzhu glanced at him, saying calmly, “That depends on what you’ve done.”
After hesitating for a moment, Ban Jian tentatively asked in a low voice, “Do you have any more copies of that drawing? Can you make me one?”
If he had been honest, it would have been fine, but he had to play these tricks with her. Mingzhu immediately changed her expression: “You’re dreaming! You claim to be familiar with these books and drawings, knowing everything, then you should know how important that thing is! It’s the only one in the world! No matter how much money you have, you can’t buy it.”
Ban Jian slumped to the ground, his eyes unfocused, “It’s over, it’s over. Even if I sell myself, it won’t be enough to compensate.”
Mingzhu looked at him expressionlessly, “Not to mention selling yourself, even the entire Jade Emperor Temple and its people wouldn’t be enough!”
Still unwilling to give up, Ban Jian said, “You said earlier that you were going to give me good wine. The jar of wine in front of our door, was it from you?”
Mingzhu snorted, “My people haven’t come up the mountain yet. Where would I get wine from?”
Ban Jian held his head in his hands, tears streaming down his face, “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have been greedy for alcohol…”
The blueprint was in her mind, and no one could take it away from her, let alone just a useless remnant. As long as Ban Jian, the skilled craftsman, was in her hands, it didn’t matter. What mattered was who had set their sights on that blueprint so quickly? So, has trouble already begun? What Mingzhu was really concerned about was this. Feeling somewhat annoyed, she threatened Ban Jian, “Stop talking nonsense. Tell me what happened quickly!”
Ban Jian, with tears in his eyes, said, “You know, I drank too much. After saying goodbye to you this morning, I went back to my residence to study the blueprint. I got thirsty halfway through and went out to find water to drink. I saw a jar of wine on the stone table outside the door, the seal was already broken, and the fragrance of wine filled the air. I couldn’t resist and took a sip. It was so delicious, sweet and refreshing, with a long aftertaste… I thought it was sent by you, so I kept drinking. I didn’t even know when I got drunk. When I woke up, I found that the blueprint was missing.”
Mingzhu was furious with him, pointing at him tremblingly, “What did I tell you when you borrowed the blueprint? How dare you eat and drink something with an unknown source?”
Ban Jian, covering his face, cried, “How would I know that such a nobody like me would attract someone’s attention? I know I was wrong. If you’re not satisfied, just bite me.”
Her bite him? He would love that. He wasn’t wrong in what he said. Originally, he was just an obscure nobody. If it weren’t for her interfering, who would be interested in him? Mingzhu endured and endured, seeing Ban Jian still crying like a little maid, she couldn’t help but slap his shoulder angrily, “Crying! You only know how to cry! You’ve caused trouble! Hurry up and take me to see! Think carefully about who you’ve met and who you’ve mentioned this to?” She closed her mouth before she could finish speaking.
Who else could be the most suspicious? This morning, when she was talking to Ban Jian, the only person who saw and eavesdropped on them was Ying Wang, Yuwen Chu! Only Yuwen Chu on the mountain had the audacity and means to do something like this. Thinking of this, Mingzhu hurriedly called Ban Jian, “Quick, take me to see!” As long as she saw that trouble-causing wine jar, she could probably get to the bottom of it.
Ban Jian hurriedly led her to his residence, pushed open the courtyard door, and pointed to the stone table, saying, “It’s right there on that stone table, the seal is half-open, and the aroma of wine fills the air…” He couldn’t help but swallow a mouthful of saliva.
How could she deal with someone addicted to alcohol? Mingzhu sighed and searched everywhere for the legendary wine jar, but she couldn’t find it even after looking all over the courtyard. She turned to glare at Ban Jian, “Where is it?”
Ban Jian was also anxious, rummaging around everywhere, “It’s impossible. It was fine here when I left. There was still half a jar of wine inside. I was thinking of drinking it later…” Then he saw Mingzhu’s furious expression and involuntarily shrank back, “It’s my fault. I lost your treasure. What do you want me to do?”
Taking this opportunity to lure someone back home wasn’t bad either. Mingzhu grabbed his collar and grinned, “I say, I want you to repay your debt with your body!”
Ban Jian was frightened by Mingzhu’s words of “repay your debt with your body” and shouted, “I won’t do it! I come from a good family…”
He wouldn’t do it? With his screaming, he seemed like she was forcing him into prostitution. Mingzhu found it amusing, and just as she was about to tease him again, the courtyard door was suddenly kicked open from the outside. A person walked in with a cold face, staring at Mingzhu grabbing Ban Jian’ collar with clenched teeth and said, “Let go of him! Fu Mingzhu, you’ve gone too far!”
Upon hearing this familiar voice, it felt like thunder rolling by her ears. Mingzhu’s back stiffened, barely suppressing the surge of anger and hatred in her heart, and slowly turned her head to look at the person who had broken in through the door.
Tall stature, broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs, dressed in a dark blue brocade robe, with a cold and hard rhinoceros horn belt, adorned with a golden crown, his face full of arrogance and handsomeness, but his face was so dark that it seemed like water could drip from it. The eyes looking at her were filled with disdain and anger. He was none other than Yuwen You, whom she had been infatuated with for twelve years.
Yuwen You strode over, slapped away her hand holding Ban Jian, and looked down at her, sneering, “You were making a fuss about calling off the engagement over there, and now you’re cozying up to a gigolo here. You really have no shame!”
On that last night, he also scolded her for being shameless. Countless times before, she had heard him scold her for many shameless things. She had heard the same words too many times, and she would inevitably feel a bit numb and dull. Mingzhu looked up at Yuwen You with a faint smile, “I think you’re the shameless one here. I don’t want you anymore, yet you still have the nerve to come after me? Are you trying to beg me not to abandon you?”
Absurd! It had always been her begging him for mercy and love. Now he wanted to beg her not to abandon him? Yuwen You was first stunned, then furious. He took a step forward, reached out to grab Mingzhu, and scolded, “I think you’re confused. Say that again and see what happens.”
Mingzhu and him had been enemies for many years, and she knew his temper and habits somewhat. She knew he was proud and hot-tempered, unable to withstand provocation, especially at this age when he had yet to experience any hardships. He was extremely arrogant and stubborn, quick to anger. She hid behind Ban Jian and said disdainfully, “I’ll say it again. Are you afraid? Yuwen You, you have no shame. I’m canceling the engagement and won’t marry you. Can’t you understand or read? Or do you have to marry me? You came here so eagerly. Well, based on your sincerity, if you kneel in front of me and bark like a dog three times, I’ll consider it. How about that?”
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