Chapter 415: Temptation (One)
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Jiang Shanshan poured a cup of tea for Yuwen Chu and smiled lightly. “I apologize for my inconvenience. Please forgive me, Your Highness.”
Yuwen Chu didn’t touch the refreshments on the table and said calmly, “If you have something to say, say it quickly. I can only spare fifteen minutes here.” The implication was that if Jiang Shanshan couldn’t finish speaking within fifteen minutes, he wouldn’t wait for her.
Jiang Shanshan bit her lip gently, her snow-white teeth pressing against her rouge-red lips, looking pitiful. However, Yuwen Chu just looked at her expressionlessly, his expression no different from when he looked at a stump.
What could be more frustrating and exasperating than trying to seduce a man after dressing up meticulously, only to have him treat it as nothing? Jiang Shanshan felt annoyed for a moment and said with great unwillingness, “As Your Highness probably knows, I went to your mansion yesterday, hoping to serve you and be by your side, to pour tea and water for you. I didn’t dare to have any other ambitions. However, Ying Wangfei severely injured me and almost killed me.”
“And then?” Yuwen Chu’s expression remained unchanged.
And then? Your wife severely injured me. At least you should express some apology, shouldn’t you? Countless grass-mud horses galloped through Jiang Shanshan’s heart. After taking a deep breath, she continued slowly, her voice choked with sorrow and bitterness, “Because I deeply love Your Highness and don’t want to marry anyone else, I have repeatedly refused the marriages arranged by the Empress Dowager and my family. Now I am forced to a dead end and want to beg Your Highness to give me a way out.”
Before she could finish her words, tears filled her eyes, and she choked up, unable to continue.
“What do you mean by giving you a way out?” Yuwen Chu raised an eyebrow slightly, his eyes showing some interest.
Jiang Shanshan, despite the pain in her feet, suddenly stood up and rushed towards him, kneeling in front of him and clutching his knees, choking, “Your Highness, please take me in! I absolutely won’t cause you any trouble, nor will I harm the Wangfei. I will serve her as my mistress with all my heart.”
Yuwen Chu looked down at her, his thin lips slightly parted. “Get away! I don’t usually hit women, but don’t make me break that rule.”
There are some people who can instill fear with their terrifying appearance, while others can chill you with just one look or one sentence. Yuwen Chu belonged to the latter category. Jiang Shanshan knew he meant it. She quickly released Yuwen Chu and backed away two feet, tears streaming down her face as she lowered her head, “Why is it so difficult to love someone? After all these years, you still don’t understand my feelings for you?”
Yuwen Chu’s heart churned, almost making him want to vomit. He stood up and was about to leave.
Jiang Shanshan knew that pretending to be pitiful and tender wouldn’t move him, so she immediately stopped her tears and said, “Your Highness, please stay. Since you don’t like me, I won’t force you. Let’s talk about business.”
Finally getting to the point, Yuwen Chu stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Jiang Shanshan. “There’s only half a quarter left.”
Jiang Shanshan sat upright in her chair, exuding a powerful aura. She pushed a complete bed crossbow diagram in front of Yuwen Chu and said with a light smile, “This is the bed crossbow diagram I gave you before, the only difference is that this one is complete.”
Yuwen Chu didn’t even bother to reach out to take it. “I remember I’ve already rejected you.”
“Yes.” Jiang Shanshan smiled lightly. “But I don’t believe Your Highness is such a quiet and idle person. You have ambitions, I know. How can you stay away from such a powerful weapon? If Fu Mingzhu can make the Drip Dew Pot, can she make this? A real man dares to think and do. If you want this, there’s no need to pretend!”
Yuwen Chu finally understood why Mingzhu was so keen on dealing with Jiang Shanshan. This woman was really self-righteous. He did want this, but he already had it, even the physical object had been made. To him, the diagram Jiang Shanshan brought was just a death warrant.
He smiled faintly, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes. “Indeed, this diagram is remarkable. I believe many people would want it, such as Zhongshan Wang, Linan Wang, the Empress Dowagers, and the Mins. Anyone who gets this diagram can offer you a lot.”
“Yes.” Jiang Shanshan saw the killing intent in Yuwen Chu’s eyes, but she didn’t care. She chuckled, “But I only want to give it to Your Highness. To prevent you from killing me in a moment of impulse and regretting it later, I gave the same thing to someone else. If I die, she will give it to someone else, and your grand plan may encounter obstacles.”
“What do you want?” Yuwen Chu sat back down.
“Cooperate with you. Let me enter the mansion as a concubine, and I will do my best to assist you.” Jiang Shanshan no longer harbored any hope for Yuwen Chu’s love, but she wanted to compete with Fu Mingzhu. Men are greedy. As long as he gives her a chance, she can turn the tables. She handed him another piece of paper. “If you think this is not enough, then take a look at this.”
Because she was afraid that Yuwen Chu wouldn’t understand, she explained, “Rocket, Your Highness knows about this, right? I have the formula to refine gunpowder, increase the power of rockets, and make other powerful firearms, such as thunder cannons, fire tubes. Would Your Highness consider it?” Although limited by the production capacity of this era and impossible to make firearms, it was possible to improve on existing rockets, fireballs, fire caltrops, thunder cannons, and fire tubes.
Yuwen Chu was indeed very tempted. He had witnessed the power of thunder cannons and rockets before. In wars, not only could they greatly reduce casualties, but they could also achieve more and greater victories.
Seeing him silent, Jiang Shanshan couldn’t help feeling proud. She knew that no one could resist such temptation. Even though Fu Mingzhu and she both transmigrated and knew some simple manufacturing methods, they definitely wouldn’t know about such specialized things.
The Kingdom and a beautiful woman, which one do you want? Men usually think, “When I have conquered the world, when I have the power, I will compensate you doubly.” Yuwen Chu was no exception. Jiang Shanshan smiled and quietly waited for Yuwen Chu’s answer.
Fifteen minutes quickly passed, but Yuwen Chu still didn’t leave. His slender fingers pressed on the paper, exerting great force until his knuckles turned white.
Jiang Shanshan wanted to burst out laughing. Mingzhu, you’ve lost! If she had known earlier, she should have tempted Yuwen Chu with this from the beginning. Then, there wouldn’t be any Mingzhu involved. She had been too cautious before.
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