Is she seeking the tiger's skin?
Lan Jinqin mused silently. She had been seeking the tiger's skin for many years.
The man in front of her was a bandit, yet she felt an invisible aura of righteousness emanating from him.
Lan Jinqin thought oddly. She intuitively felt that this bandit was quite reliable.
Much more reliable than Wen Zilong.
At least, in the empty and deserted night, he could remain unmoved by a weak woman like her and had no improper thoughts.
He was a bandit with a sense of morality.
Lan Jinqin cleared her throat. "Mister, whether I'm seeking the tiger's skin is not the point. The point is... as a bandit, when you heard about the huge sum of one million taels of silver, shouldn't your first reaction be to take it for yourself?"
Xiao Rencheng was taken aback. Looking at the sly expression on the woman's face, he suddenly found her extremely lively.
He knew that Lan Jinqin and Wen Zilong were on bad terms.
But he didn't expect that Lan Jinqin would be so bold as to conspire with a "bandit" to steal her husband's property.
This sly look really had a special charm that made his heart flutter.
The thin lips under Xiao Rencheng's mask curled up. He bent down to pick up the key and tossed it lightly in the air.
The key made a clear and crisp tinkling sound, which was especially distinct in the night.
Xiao Rencheng lowered his voice and continued, "Madam is right. I am indeed very interested... But are you so sure that I'll agree to cooperate with you?"
Lan Jinqin knew that her proposal was bold. But the fastest way she could think of to raise 200,000 taels of silver was this bandit in front of her.
Wen Zilong would never open his private treasury for her. She had to take this risk.
As for why it was 250,000 taels of silver...
She was worried that this bandit would bargain, so she deliberately set the price higher.
If he didn't bargain, it would be even better. After she got away, she would have some silver.
She could roam freely and spend the rest of her life in a beautiful and secluded place.
"My husband's private treasury is hidden. I know where it is, but you don't," Lan Jinqin summoned up her courage and negotiated with Xiao Rencheng. "There are guards patrolling there. You're not familiar with the terrain. If you go there alone, even if you have the key, you won't be able to get close... It's better to join hands with me."
Xiao Rencheng laughed as he listened to Lan Jinqin's well - reasoned analysis. Finally, he looked at her half - smilingly:
"Judging from what you said, madam must have coveted your husband's private treasury for a long time, so you're very familiar with the situation there."
A faint blush flashed across Lan Jinqin's face.
Xiao Rencheng was right. She had been keeping an eye on Wen Zilong's private treasury and had secretly followed him there.
It was a pity that although she was from a military general's family, she was weaker than her two younger sisters since childhood and hadn't learned any martial arts.
She could only sigh in despair at the heavily guarded private treasury.
"I have indeed been planning this for a long time," Lan Jinqin readily admitted. "So, mister, you might as well consider it, but don't take too long. After tonight, when my husband wakes up, we won't have this chance anymore."
Xiao Rencheng rubbed the key in his hand.
The private treasury that Lan Jinqin mentioned should be the silver Wen Zilong had embezzled during his years in office.
One million taels of silver was an immeasurable amount of money for ordinary people. It would take them a hundred lifetimes to earn that much.
But for Wen Zilong, this was just the beginning.
Wen Zilong had just been promoted to the Minister of War. His previous positions were not high enough for him to amass huge amounts of wealth.
So, after seven years in office, he had only accumulated one million taels of embezzled silver.
Xiao Rencheng had been trying to find out where Wen Zilong's private treasury was hidden, but he didn't expect to get a clue from Lan Jinqin.
If he could get close to the private treasury and go inside to check, he might not only find evidence of Wen Zilong's corruption but also evidence of his collusion with the crown prince.
This might be a powerful clue to bring down the crown prince.
Thinking of this, Xiao Rencheng put the key into his cuff and nodded in agreement. "Okay, I agree to cooperate with you, madam. Let's go get the silver together."
Lan Jinqin jumped up excitedly, like a little bird that had seen food, fluttering its wings in the carriage.
Xiao Rencheng smiled.
The man's long eyelashes drooped, and his eyes were as bright as stars.
He took out a handkerchief from his bosom, grabbed Lan Jinqin, and wiped her wet and disheveled face clean.
Lan Jinqin stopped her excitement and stood there stunned.
Xiao Rencheng put away the handkerchief, bent down, and got out of the carriage door. Then he sat on the carriage shaft.
He winked at the Xiao family's attendants and then drove the carriage in the direction Lan Jinqin had indicated.
The attendants, who had been hiding in the dark, were stunned when they saw their master was going to rob a court official's silver treasury.
Absurd...
The grand magistrate of the Supreme Court.
He was supposed to uphold justice and maintain the law.
But now he was going to break the law himself!
The night was gentle, and the Prince Yan's Mansion was full of fragrant clothes and beautiful women.
Caiyu was lifted under her armpits by Song Yinghuai's palms and then sat on the Buddha niche in the mansion.
Her delicate eyebrows drooped slightly, and her almond - shaped eyes were moist.
Originally, there was a statue of the compassionate Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva here. But the broken light leaking into the niche surrounded her, making her look more like an otherworldly little bodhisattva than the jade - carved statue.
The little bodhisattva stayed in the mortal world but did absurd things.
She propped her hands on the table, through the long gown that seemed rough compared to her fair skin.
Her toes curled slightly and nudged the man.
The man let out a muffled groan from his throat.
Caiyu hooked her fingers slightly and gently pulled at the Vajra Bodhi Buddha beads on his wrist. Her voice was as delicate and gentle as never before:
"My lord, give me your heart and keep the Buddha for yourself. How about that?"
A deep and hoarse groan came from the man's throat. With red - rimmed eyes, he leaned forward:
"Yu'er was born into a prosperous family and fell into the mortal world. She has no affinity with the Buddha but has an affinity with me..."
"I broke the Buddhist precepts long ago."
"Everything belongs to you."
His big hands touched every inch of the woman's body, making Caiyu as soft as water.
She couldn't sit still and slid down the niche.
Caiyu was afraid of him. She softened her attitude and pleaded, "My lord, please let me down first... Stop touching me..."
Song Yinghuai ignored her. He just pressed his strong body against her to prevent her from sliding down further.
The skin rubbing against the thin cloth made Caiyu on the verge of collapse.
She frowned slightly, climbed onto Song Yinghuai's shoulder, and turned her face.
She bit down hard on the man's sensitive earlobe.
It was like a punishment for the man's ignoring her.
A delicate itching sensation immediately climbed up the man's spine. His earlobe turned slightly red, and his arms loosened a bit.
Caiyu slid down steadily and landed in his arms.
Song Yinghuai's lips brushed across her forehead, and he curled his lips. "In private, there's no need to call yourself a servant, and you don't need to call me 'my lord' either."
His Third Miss Lan was originally a woman on an equal footing with him.
Caiyu also curled her lips. She stepped on his instep with her white feet unceremoniously and giggled:
"Xuanyao, Xuanyao!"
She had long been dissatisfied with Lu Baiwei's calling him "Xuanyao".
A man's courtesy name was only for close people to call. But Lu Baiwei was so shameless as to keep calling it.
Let her, Lan Caiyu, call it!
The delicate voice was still echoing in his ears.
Song Yinghuai's eyes widened in shock like an electric shock. His pupils shrank slightly, and he couldn't come to his senses for a long time.
He didn't know that it would be so pleasant to hear his beloved woman call his courtesy name. His heart was pounding like thunder in the spring valley.
One call after another.
It was deafening.
He kissed her with a smile on his face.
But Caiyu turned her head from side to side to avoid his kiss. She pointed at the jade dildo lying aside and said, "Xuanyao, use it..."
What jade dildo?
Song Yinghuai swept it to the ground with one palm, picked up Caiyu, and strode towards the bedroom:
"What do you need it for?"
"That cold and hard thing. It doesn't hurt you, but it hurts me."
He felt heartache.
How could his Third Miss Lan lose her virginity to such a cold thing?
Wasn't it just a rumor that he couldn't touch women and couldn't continue the family line?
When had Song Yinghuai ever cared about rumors?
So what if the whole world knew?
Who had the ability to stop him?