Outside the side chamber.
Min Ning's lips were on the verge of bleeding from her biting, and the hilt of the blade at her waist was drenched in sweat.
This man... hasn't changed...
Sure enough, he is not trustworthy, not someone to forge deep ties with.
Thinking of Chen Yi's deeds over the past month—corruption and disregard for the laws of Great Yu.
And yesterday, she had thought he was feigning the guise of a decadent dandy while secretly biding his time, but now it seems that he was merely acting out of impulse and putting on a performance, in truth intending to...
Recalling Chen Yi's words from yesterday, Min Ning felt a wave of revulsion.
The officers all spread rumors that he indulges in women, but who could have imagined that his supposed fondness for women was merely a cover? In reality, what he's scheming for is his superior.
Now, for such a shameless matter, he even dares to coerce her elder sister...
Min Ning wished desperately to storm in and sever his head with a single strike.
But Min Ning couldn't.
He was a West Factory hundred-household...
If a dignified hundred-household were to die in Baihua Building, the West Factory would not remain indifferent. They would investigate thoroughly, and by that time, not only herself but also her sister would be implicated, their lives hanging in the balance.
That heroic face was now clouded with bitterness as she unwillingly clutched the hilt of her blade.
"What am I supposed to do..."
[Min Ming's negative emotion reward: Three years of True Qi; Min Ning's negative emotion reward: Five years of True Qi.]
Looking at the panel with eight additional years of True Qi, Chen Yi's finger twitched imperceptibly.
These two sisters are truly bonded as one, worthy of being members of Min's Bank.
Whenever he lacked True Qi, he need only come to them to "raise goodwill points"; they were practically the best cultivation partners for the cultivation of the Resentment Yin-Yang Technique. The Heavenly Realm may serve as a substitute, but the Min sisters were indispensable.
Min Ming adjusted the broken zither string, her fingertips trembling despite her efforts to steady herself. She struggled to remain composed, but with that man standing directly in front of her, she found it impossible to calm down.
Seeing her silence, Chen Yi spoke:
"Over these years, I wonder how much silver Miss Min has earned—would it be enough to buy your freedom?"
Min Ming exhaled sharply, asking with slightly trembling tones:
"What if it isn't enough?"
"I have always been a woman of scant fortune; it might not suffice to buy my freedom."
Chen Yi pulled something out from his chest.
Min Ming looked over, thinking it was a silver note, but to her surprise, it was paper and a brush.
Chen Yi pushed the paper and brush in front of Min Ming, speaking sincerely:
"If it's not enough, you can write me an IOU. Remember to repay it, calculated at fifty li of interest annually."
Hearing this from outside the door, Min Ning's Brocade Spring Blade couldn't resist sliding out inch by inch.
This bastard,
he wants to force her sister to become his concubine,
and then have her sister redeem herself? He himself gets it for free?!
Just as she was about to charge inside, Min Ning stopped herself. She recalled her own helplessness, her sister's willingness to endure humiliation for survival, and her eyes welled up with stinging bitterness and redness.
[Min Ming's negative emotion reward: Five years of True Qi; Min Ning's negative emotion reward: Five years of True Qi.]
Chen Yi made an effort to suppress the faint upward curve in the corners of his mouth.
Even Min Ming, faced with such shameless words, was frightened into pale distress.
She fought to calm herself down, looked at Chen Yi, and tried to threaten him:
"Are you not aware that behind me stands Wuyong Building?
Wuyong Building has been operating in the Capital City for quite some time now; surely a mere hundred-household cannot act recklessly."
As Min Ming spoke, Chen Yi carefully paid attention to the faint sounds outside the door.
[Negative emotion: 95]
Seeing such a high score, Chen Yi realized that if he continued pushing, Min Ning might lose control and strike to kill.
At this moment, he could not afford to let her mess up his plans.
"Miss Min, I do not fear Wuyong Building. You have Wuyong Building behind you, and I have the Lin Party behind me.
The purpose of this visit, aside from advising you to buy your freedom, is also to propose some collaboration with Wuyong Building."
Chen Yi explained slowly.
Upon hearing this, Min Ming's expression softened slightly.
But when she uttered those words, she had no confidence—no confidence that Wuyong Building would offend a West Factory hundred-household for her sake, especially one affiliated with the Lin Party.
Ultimately, no matter how capable she might be, she was still just a courtesan, and now she possessed not a shred of True Qi.
"What does the hundred-household want?"
Min Ming picked up a trace of her formerly enchanting tone.
"Spread a piece of news."
Chen Yi said plainly:
"Compose a ballad: Ming'an Divine Sect Eastern Factory Lord, Demon Sect Saintess Eastern Factory Protector."
"Say that the Eastern Factory colludes with the Demon Sect, assisting their escape from the Capital.
And furthermore...
intends to protect the Demon Sect, ushering the Saintess into existence."
Min Ming hung her delicate head low, falling into contemplation.
He wants to target the Eastern Factory?
Isn't this person purportedly ambitious only for self-profit and corruption? Shouldn't he be conspiring with the Eastern Factory?
At this thought, Min Ming was momentarily dazed.
Could it be that this so-called lack of ambition and corruption were all staged?
Was it all for the day he could bring down the Eastern Factory and cunningly scheme for the nation...
How many people have been played by him?!
That night, she had actually dared to test someone like him...
Min Ming broke out in goosebumps.
If that's the case, should she... sabotage the plan from within...
Seeing through her intentions at a glance, Chen Yi smiled and said:
"Miss Min, don't go trying any tricks behind the scenes.
Min Household's prospects are still in my hands.
And do you believe I don't know that Wuyong Building wouldn't offend me over you? Nor offend the Lin Party for me?"
After speaking, Min Ming seemed to have a sensitive nerve touched, her scalp tingling ever so slightly.
Chen Yi slowly stood up,
"Miss Min, my decision remains unchanged.
Prepare a written IOU ahead of time,
as when the time comes, you might beg me."
After saying this, Chen Yi slowly walked toward the door, paused for a moment, then opened the door.
Min Ning had disappeared somewhere.
Chen Yi sighed softly and then slowly descended the stairs.
Shortly after, a figure of a Jin Yi Wei stepped into the side chamber, her palms sweaty, her eyes red, seemingly ready to cry at any moment.