I'm Already the Richest Man, Why Did My System Just Arrive?

Chapter 254: Chapter 164: Honey Trap

Zheng Xiu had managed to worm out just about all the intel Xiaotao had on Yunhe Village—everything short of what color undergarments she wore. Before long, Xiaotao was even recounting the story of how she came to be there.

Xiaotao was originally the daughter of a wealthy merchant in the city. She had been well-educated and sensible since childhood, skilled in the four arts. One day, mounted bandits ravaged their town. As the wealthiest family, Xiaotao’s was the first to be targeted. Her entire family was massacred. Because Xiaotao was so pretty, the bandits planned to take her back to their mountain stronghold to be their chieftain’s wife.

On the way, that gang of bandits was ambushed by the people of Yunhe Village in a classic case of dog-eat-dog. Xie Luohe had personally led a ”foraging” party and, in the process, brought Xiaotao back to the mountain to be a maid.

”At the time, the Lady asked me, ’Are you willing to come up the mountain and wash my undergarments and smelly socks?’ I was all alone with no one to depend on, so I could only agree. At first, I was very nervous, but after a while, I realized the people of Yunhe Village weren’t like other bandits, so I settled in. Oh, right, sir, when you’re with the Lady in the future, you must never tell her I was gossiping about her behind her back. Otherwise, I’ll be punished.”

Zheng Xiu smiled. ”Everything you’ve said about Xie Luohe has been positive. How could that be considered gossip?”

Xiaotao shook her head. ”You don’t understand, sir. The Lady doesn’t like people talking about her.”

Zheng Xiu was puzzled. ”Why would you think I’d have a chance to spend time with her?”

”I think... that in the Lady’s eyes, you’re special, sir.”

Xiaotao spoke in a soft, quiet voice as she continued to feed Zheng Xiu spoonful by spoonful. She lowered her voice when she said this, subconsciously glancing out the window as if afraid someone might be eavesdropping.

”Why?”

Zheng Xiu didn’t understand.

’Isn’t this the first time Gongsun Mo and Xie Luohe have met?’

”I don’t know, but...” Xiaotao hesitated for a few seconds. Her face, already slightly pink, suddenly turned a deep red as if it had been scalded, flushing like a small Apple. She stammered, ”This is the first time in three years... that the Lady has... has... had me serve an outsider like this.”

Zheng Xiu froze.

’It’s just feeding me.’

’It’s not like we’re doing it mouth-to-mouth.’

’What the hell are you blushing for?’

Pushing aside his stray thoughts, Zheng Xiu silently organized the intelligence he had gathered from Xiaotao.

’These times are even more chaotic than I imagined.’

’No wonder the Historians didn’t dare write about this period. It was obvious that whoever wrote it down would be doomed. It’s even more chaotic than during the Northern Barbarian Chaos twenty years ago. At least back then, Old Wei was busy with the war. Not like now, where the Emperor is just a complete and utter waste.’

Any period of history would be subject to a certain amount of polishing, and the Daqian Dynasty was no exception. After a Historian finished writing a record, it had to go through layers of review and approval before it could be compiled into a book and added to the archives. But this period was full of nothing but scandals; it was impossible to polish. So the Historians simply didn’t write about it. Staying alive was more important. That was Zheng Xiu’s guess.

”I really... can’t take another bite.”

Zheng Xiu sighed to himself. Afraid that he was still hungry, Xiaotao continued to gently feed him one mouthful after another.

’Being fed like this is a real pleasure, but my stomach can’t take any more. It’s about to burst.’

Waving his hands in refusal, Zheng Xiu looked at the food in the basin. He had only eaten a small portion, leaving most of it. After a moment’s thought, Zheng Xiu asked, ”Xiaotao, have my three friends been given anything to eat?”

”You worry too much, sir. They are not like you. The Lady ordered them to be locked up securely, so of course, they haven’t been fed.”

Xiaotao said.

”In that case... my three friends and I have had a difficult journey. Could I trouble you to take this food to them so they can fill their stomachs? I hope they won’t mind.”

Xiaotao’s expression faltered for a moment, then she nodded. ”Actually, sir, you can take the food to them yourself.”

Zheng Xiu was stunned. ”I can just walk out this door?”

Xiaotao covered her mouth with her sleeve and smiled faintly. ”You may not know this, sir, but the Lady gave orders earlier. She knows you don’t even have the strength to truss a chicken. If you wish, you are free to walk around the village. No one will give you any trouble.”

’Well, then.’

After a moment of stunned silence, Zheng Xiu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ’I’m being completely underestimated by Xie Luohe!’

’Is Xie Luohe that certain I can’t escape from here?’

Zheng Xiu immediately picked up the food and walked out.

In the clearing, hundreds of bandits were passed out drunk, strewn about in disarray. The banquet had long since ended, and silence had fallen.

The night was deep. Zheng Xiu carried the bowl of food, tiptoeing down the stairs.

Xiaotao followed obediently behind him, silent.

After safely passing through the crowd of drunken bandits, Zheng Xiu reached a corner of the village where Chu Chengfeng, Xiao Buping, and Wen Shishan were locked in three separate iron cages.

As Zheng Xiu approached, Wen Shishan happened to look up and see two figures emerging from the darkness. Thinking they were bandits, she grabbed the bars of her cage and roared, ”You damn dogs! What’s so great about locking us up! If you’ve got the guts, let me out and we’ll fight to the death! If I, Wen Shishan, so much as flinch, then I’m not a true man!”

From the cages next to hers, Xiao Buping and Chu Chengfeng heard this and retorted weakly, ”But you’re not a man!”

Hearing footsteps, Chu Chengfeng rolled over and sat up, staring into the darkness.

”Shh! Shanshan! Shut up!”

Chu Chengfeng chided in a low voice.

He could smell meat.

”It’s you! Younger Brother Gongsun!”

When Chu Chengfeng saw who it was, he was both shocked and overjoyed. Shocked, because he was surprised that Gongsun Mo had managed to get out. Overjoyed, because if Gongsun Mo was out, and with the entire village of bandits passed out drunk, wouldn’t they be able to escape with their skills, especially with Xie Luohe nowhere to be seen?

”Brother Chu, Brother Xiao, you two look quite full of Spirit.”

Zheng Xiu placed the food in front of the three of them, a look of apology on his face. ”Sorry, these are my leftovers. If you don’t mind...”

”Brother Gongsun, you’re a true saint!” Xiao Buping reached for the food basin through the bars of his cage, stuffed his mouth full, and said indistinctly, ”You’re a lifesaver!”