dognovel Chapter 69 The Beauty Trap
Chapter 69 The Beauty Trap
"Miss Zheng means to come in and look for it." Chunsheng was also so anxious that he was scratching his head and cheeks. Why was he asked to do such a difficult thing?
"Then come in." Gu Chang'an's voice showed no obvious fluctuation. He did not like others entering his study, but having been in officialdom for many years, he had long since learned to conceal his emotions.
The person was sent by Consort Zheng. He wasn't afraid of offending her, but it would be difficult to explain if A-Li entered the palace.
It's a small matter; if you can tolerate it, then tolerate it.
Chunsheng was surprised that the master was so agreeable today. He wiped his sweat and ran out, saying to Zheng Yanran, "Miss Zheng, the master invites you in."
Zheng Yanran smiled and said, "Thank you, young man."
"No... Miss, you flatter me..." Chun Sheng was almost bewitched by that glance, and quickly stepped aside to make way for her, wondering what kind of zodiac sign this young lady was, how could she be so alluring.
Zheng Yanran slowly withdrew her gaze, a hint of smugness in her smile. What her brother Yi Wang said about how difficult it was to win over Gu Chang'an seemed easy to her, but he couldn't even hold on to this first step of probing.
A man and a woman alone together in a study late at night—what kind of gentleman would agree to such a thing? They're just hypocrites.
She walked in gracefully, but the scene before her made her smile freeze. A screen blocked the view of the desk, and she could only see the bookshelves on the right, not even a person.
"Miss Zheng, please go ahead." Gu Chang'an's cold voice came from behind the screen, exactly the same as when they met before, without a trace of human tone.
The Living Yama, the Living Yama, lives up to his name.
"Thank you, Lord Gu." Zheng Yanran said softly, her voice as gentle as if it could drip water.
Gu Chang'an frowned upon hearing the voice, and even stopped writing. When would this woman finally leave?
"I wonder which classic Master Gu took in his imperial examination?" Zheng Yanran asked casually as she walked up to the bookshelf.
"The Minister of Personnel".
"The Book of Documents is a book for governing the world, and Lord Gu has great ambitions." Zheng Yanran praised, "However, I prefer the Book of Poetry, especially the line 'What night is this, that I meet such a good man?'"
Gu Chang'an frowned even more deeply.
“My dear son, my dear son, what can I do for you?” Zheng Yanran recited softly, then asked, “What does Lord Gu think of these two lines?”
"I have never studied poetry, Miss Zheng can discuss it with my wife tomorrow." Gu Chang'an did not want to answer a single word.
Zheng Yanran didn't want to talk about Shen Li anymore after hearing her name. Comparing poetry and literature with Shen Li would be too pointless.
"Gu..."
"Miss Zheng, please make yourself at home. I have finished my official duties and will not disturb you any longer." Gu Chang'an got up, walked past the screen, and went out.
"boom."
Before Zheng Yanran could say anything, the door had already closed, and she only had time to inhale a breath of the cold wind blowing in from outside.
She was completely stunned. Wasn't her poem's implication obvious enough? How could he not react at all?
Is this a case of playing hard to get? This method of letting go is too clever; she's genuinely starting to care about him now.
Gu Chang'an's appearance is even better than hers, and his aloof and distant aura really makes people want to conquer him.
She narrowed her eyes.
She refused to believe she couldn't win over Gu Chang'an.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
In her dazed state, Shen Li felt a cool breath approaching. Without thinking, she turned over and hugged him, even though he tried to dodge her, she still clung to him.
"I feel cold," Gu Chang'an said softly. He thought that he would get into bed quietly so as not to disturb her, and that he would let her hug him after he warmed up.
"Then I'll warm you up," Shen Li mumbled, leaning her whole body against him.
Even though it was the same every night, Gu Chang'an's heart was still racing. He calmed himself down and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "A-Li."
"Hmm?" Shen Li was so sleepy that she couldn't keep her eyes open.
“I think I know what Zheng Yanran’s purpose is,” he said.
“Spying on us,” Shen Li muttered. “I always knew my husband underestimated me.”
"Not only that, she wanted to use her beauty to seduce me." Gu Chang'an found it unbelievable when he said this; how could this woman be so stupid as to think of such a thing?
"Husband, go to sleep, okay?" Shen Li gently kissed his face, as if making a final attempt to comfort him, and then her breathing gradually became steady.
You can tell she's extremely tired.
"Okay." Gu Chang'an replied almost in a voice only he could hear, his eyes filled with tenderness as he looked at her peaceful sleeping face.
Even if that person was just trying to take advantage of him, he would have already fallen for someone else long ago.
When Shen Li woke up the next day, Gu Chang'an had already gone to court. Touching the somewhat cold quilt, she suddenly felt that her life was too comfortable.
She stopped reading in the morning and evening. You see, in her previous life, she only slept for three hours a day from childhood to adulthood. Now she's just relying on what she learned in her previous life to make do.
She should find something to do, and painting would be a good option. So, after breakfast, she said to Lian Qiao, "Please invite Miss Zheng to the inner study. I will teach her to paint."
"Yes." Lianqiao left.
Peony stepped forward to serve her but noticed that her mistress seemed a little dazed, so she asked, "Didn't you sleep well last night, Miss?"
"My husband seemed to have said something about her to me last night. What did he say?" Shen Li seemed to remember something, but couldn't recall it at all.
She was completely unguarded around Gu Chang'an, which made her too relaxed. She heard him but didn't remember him.
"Then don't worry about it. Just ask again when you get back tonight."
"That's true." Shen Li stood up. "Is there any news from the court?"
"No."
“That’s right, the morning court session isn’t over yet.” Shen Li was confident, her mind only focused on painting.
Zheng Yanran quickly entered the study and saw Shen Li dressed in white, looking elegant and beautiful. She couldn't help but feel a sense of comparison.
Although she used to compete, ever since Gu Chang'an repeatedly refused last night, her competitive spirit has become much stronger than before, and now she only wants to outdo Shen Li.
"Sister Shen, it's been a long time." Zheng Yanran stepped forward and bowed. "I'll be troubling you at your residence these days. How is your health?"
Peony thought to herself, "Oh no! I forgot to tell Miss the excuse the master gave me last night. What am I going to do now that I've let it slip?"
"It's just a cold. You can't avoid these things in autumn. Calling it an illness is a bit pretentious, but it's not really that satisfying. Fortunately, I took the medicine yesterday and I'm fine now." Shen Li said calmly, "Thank you for your concern, sister."
"..." She was overly worried about the peony.
"That's good."
“If you want to learn to paint, you can’t be afraid of hardship.” Shen Li gave up her desk: “Come on, I want a painting of a hundred flowers in the morning.”
"Huh?" Zheng Yanran's expression went out of control.
She was just using this as an excuse to stay at the Gu family's house; she didn't really want to study. Besides, she couldn't draw a complete painting even if she didn't eat or drink all morning.