Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“But I’m not threatening everyone. Only Jing’er and Wan’er stayed true to me, unlike you girls… While I was in a bloody battle, you were here plotting my demise! You’re repaying my kindness with enmity!”
These noble girls were in their teenage years, and each was more innocent than the next. How could their plotting win against Jiang Pengji?
If these inexperienced girls could hide their plotting from Jiang Pengji, Corps Seven should kill themselves.
Even though their plotting was a little adorable, Jiang Pengji did not hesitate when she made her threats. The noble girls turned pale upon hearing Jiang Pengji’s words, and their weak bodies shivered in fear.
“If you do that… you’ll get retribution!” one of the girls called out. To her, Liu Lanting and the bandits were different. Liu Lanting would not dare to do what the bandits would have done.
That girl spoke with her own noble status in mind. If it were the real Liu Lanting, however, she probably would have held her tongue.
Even if there was any friction between the noble families, they would have acted as though everything were fine. Calling others out on their behavior was considered barbaric.
Jiang Pengji was not one to do the same.
“Retribution? Tsk. This reminds me.” She placed a finger to her lips and thought for a long moment. “If you were to take any revenge, do you think I would roll over and let you trample over me? There’s one thing I need you girls to be clear about. To the outsiders, you are girls of nobility, and I’m a noble’s son. While you learn from your family, I’m outside learning the ways of Confucius and Mencius. The scheming that you are taught in boudoirs are nothing but embarrassing ploys made by children. Do you think such child’s play would work against me?”
The girls paled. It was like a slap in the face to all rich and powerful noble girls.
“How dare… you insult us…” The other girl was so enraged that she nearly broke her well-groomed nails.
“You’re wrong. You’ve been asking to be disrespected from the beginning.” Jiang Pengji laughed as she spun the dagger in her hand.
Shangguan Wan blushed and secretly tugged on Wei Jingxian’s sleeve before she said softly, “It feels like Brother Lanting is larger than life.”
Wei Jingxian sighed before she said unkindly, “Her words were a slap to all the noble girls, you little love-struck fool.”
Sticking out her tongue, Shangguan Wan turned her body. “Wan’er and Brother Lanting both have small chests…”
Wei Jingxian: “…”
“All you girls need to do is shut up and keep this a secret. If my identity is revealed…” Jiang Pengji sighed as she looked at the dagger and languidly continued, “A group of noble girls in a bandit’s den. Spent a night…”
Shameless! thought the group of girls.
Jiang Pengji’s words dealt a heavy blow to the girls, and one even fainted.
Even though they had faced the bandits, the nobles had never faced anything that had angered them so much. “Liu! Xi!”
The System could not bear it anymore: “Shouldn’t you show more pity for these beauties?”
Jiang Pengji gave a cold hmph. “Although I do have a fetish for pitiful, pretty faces, that is just an interest of mine. I’m calm and collected when I need to be. And because I’m calm and collected, I will not act on impulse.”
System: “…”
Oh yeah, calm and collected. Did you know that your views and integrity are highly questionable?
“I’ll let you choose. If you keep the secret, I’ll be your witness. I did kill all the bandits. And since they’re all dead, I’m your best alibi. Your reputation will remain untarnished.”
For these girls, their reputations and their families’ honor was worth far more than their own lives.
“The other choice is…” She made a cutting motion at her throat. “I can do it. In these mountains, there are many bandits. If I could only save Jing’er and Wan’er, I’m sure no one would blame me.”
It was a common trend in that era for men to powder their faces and perfume themselves, especially in Hejian County. Jiang Pengji’s current body was obviously frail. If she could protect herself and save two others, it would be considered an enormous feat.
The room was silent, and no one dared to breathe too loudly or let out a sob.
These girls were brought up by their families, but that did not mean they were unintelligent or submissive. There were some noble girls who were brave enough to study and had knowledge comparable to that of a scholar.
What Jiang Pengji had said was not meant to insult, but rather to provoke them.
After a long while, one of the girls spoke up.
“As long as… we keep your secret, you’ll help us?”
Jiang Pengji’s words and actions seemed to cause the girls to be on their guards.
The options that Jiang Pengji provided were simple, and the girls all knew which one benefited them.
However, one of the girls wanted the last jab. She taunted, “Your suggestion is the best right now, so of course we’d agree. However, if your true identity were kept hidden, would you really still plan to marry Wei Jingxian?”
Oh ho. Was she trying to instigate something?
It was a weak attempt, but it could still spark something.
Jiang Pengji lifted a brow and was impressed by the noble who suddenly grew a spine.
Based on the current situation, the other girl had delivered her provocation at the right time. But they were not aware that Jiang Pengji’s combat prowess, sharp-tongue, and flirting were top notch.
Why did all the ladies in Corps Seven refuse to marry anyone unless it was Jiang Pengji? Why were there more single guys whenever she was around?
Tsk! They deserved it since their flirting skills were not comparable to hers.
Wei Jingxian shot Jiang Pengji a complicated look that Pengji returned with a smile. Jiang Pengji then made her promise.
“If she’s willing to marry me and we become a couple in this life, I will do anything for her. If she wants the sky or if she wants to become the empress, I will fight and make sure she gets what she deserves. If she has other thoughts about the marriage, I will uphold her decision. If she chooses to back out of the marriage and tarnish my reputation, I will bear this burden alone… As long as she’s willing to grow old with me.”
Wei Jingxian’s cheeks turned red with embarrassment and anger.
“You looked so decent in the past, but now… The more you speak, I see there is not a single decent bone in you. Unless what Wan’er said is true… that once you reveal your secret, you no longer need to hide your true personality. You want to take me as your wife… But that doesn’t mean I would agree to it.”
The nobles: “…”
There’s a time and place for flirting, alright?
System: “…My dear host, I must say, flirting like that… If she can’t get married, you have to take responsibility!
Why flirt if the aim isn’t to get married?
Jiang Pengji innocently asked Wei Jingxian, “If I’m the one at fault for hiding this secret from you for so long, shouldn’t I be doing all this for you?”
And at that moment, she replied to the System, “Of course I’ll take responsibility.”
System: “…”
No, wait! If she did not reveal her true identity, how was she to participate in a harem fight?!
