Gui Qinshao had arrived at the Flower Rain Pavilion as if possessed by ghosts and spirits.
Her heart was filled with anger and hatred. As for whom this hatred was directed at, she could hardly say clearly.
Her father, who had always doted upon her so, had actually struck her. He had struck her for Ling Ao’s sake.
And Ling Ao had originally been merely a lowly commoner. It was only after her father brought him to Linhai City that he received the finest training and obtained everything he had today.
And he, he had actually dared strike her too?
She was a spoiled woman. Apart from with Suo Lun, she had never suffered any grievance.
But Suo Lun was the enemy, while Gui Xingfu and Ling Ao were her own people.
Yesterday she had been struck by Princess Zhiyan. Today she had been struck by her father and fiancé. She truly felt a sense of being betrayed by the entire world.
Therefore, she wanted revenge. Revenge upon her father, revenge upon Ling Ao.
Whatever they most did not want her to do, she would do.
She knew very clearly what would happen once she came to the Flower Rain Pavilion, how Suo Lun would treat her. Yet she had still come as if possessed.
However, after walking nearby, fear began to grow in her heart. She began to regret, wanting to retreat.
But she was also unwilling to retreat. Recalling that Suo Lun had said the final deadline was sunset.
So she lingered nearby, only entering the Flower Rain Pavilion after the sun had set.
What kind of complex psychology this was, even she herself could not say clearly.
Arriving before the Flower Rain Pavilion, she said to Turing Duo, “I wish to drink.”
Turing Duo wore an expression of indifference. At this moment, she cared about nothing whatsoever.
Regarding Gui Qinshao’s encounter and hatred, she merely found it laughable. Merely being struck by a single slap, and she felt betrayed by the entire world. Truly childish to the extreme.
Father Turing Tuo never struck her, but just yesterday, he had completely ruined her life.
From now on, she would no longer be a member of the Turing family, but merely a tool for political marriage. Not only that, she would also have a short, ugly, and perverted husband. Once this betrothal became known, she would become the laughing stock of everyone.
Once, she had been the school flower of the Royal Academy, the most outstanding person, serving the empire from a very young age.
Many people even regarded her as an important heir of the Turing family. She would become the most outstanding noble lady in the entire Kingdom of Furious Waves, completely different from all other women.
But now…
She was about to become the most miserable person.
Hearing Gui Qinshao say she wished to drink, Turing Duo nodded indifferently and said, “Very well, I also wish to drink.”
Then, the two walked into the tavern.
…
In the crowd, Suo Lun saw Gui Qinshao and Turing Duo, and could not help but be taken aback.
But immediately after, he spotted another person several dozen metres behind the two.
Turing Chen, the one who had once been madly in love with Yan Nai’er, Liu Chen, and at least a dozen Turing family warriors dispersed at several points along the street.
He knew that the Turing ducal residence did not allow two young ladies to walk out and wander about on their own.
Before Gui Qinshao and Turing Duo entered the tavern, several warriors from the Turing ducal residence’s deputy manor went in first, observing the surroundings, then found several positions and sat down.
Turing Duo and Gui Qinshao found a table and sat down.
Very quickly, the tavern’s proprietor came personally, opening a brand new set of tableware. His eyes were sharp, able to tell at a single glance that these two guests were women, and of incomparably noble status.
Then, she sent over a pot of the finest wine.
“Not wine, not strong enough.” Turing Duo said.
The tavern proprietor hesitated slightly, then sent over a bottle of strong ale.
And at this moment, Turing Chen also walked in, choosing a position, drinking and pouring for himself. The dozen or so Turing family warriors were also distributed at tables around the tavern.
In this kind of environment, wanting to get Gui Qinshao alone was truly very difficult.
After sitting down, Turing Duo drank the strong ale cup after cup, almost as if in revenge.
And Turing Duo appeared somewhat absent-minded, pouring cup after cup of wine down her throat.
Suddenly, she saw that Turing Duo’s drink was golden in colour, and could not help pouring herself a cup.
After drinking it, she instantly felt from her mouth to her stomach, everything was burning like fire, yet there was a very exhilarating sensation.
So, she mixed the strong ale and wine together, drinking cup after cup.
And the Turing Chen beside her made no move to stop her. Turing Duo was his younger sister. He also felt somewhat pained by his sister’s encounter. Getting drunk was fine too.
After drinking a full three cups of mixed drink, Gui Qinshao’s originally retreating demonic thoughts stirred restlessly again. Then her beautiful eyes looked around and said, “Turing Duo, these people are very annoying. Let us go to the Flower Rain Pavilion and drink until dawn!”
“Very well.” At this moment, Turing Duo cared about nothing.
Then, the two called over the tavern’s proprietor and said, “We wish to book the Flower Rain Pavilion.”
The Flower Rain Tower was a small manor that combined tavern and inn, counted among the high-end establishments of the royal capital Zhi Capital.
And the Flower Rain Pavilion was the highest grade loft, with three floors in total, built upon an artificial lake, connected to the outside by a winding bridge, the pavilion surrounded by flowering trees, hence its name.
Therefore, when the royal capital’s nobles and officials entertained guests, many would book the Flower Rain Pavilion to show solemnity. Of course, the price was astronomical. Not counting any consumption, it cost five gold coins per booking.
When the tavern proprietor heard that Gui Qinshao wished to book the Flower Rain Pavilion, he immediately said with difficulty, “But, the Flower Rain Pavilion currently has guests.”
The Flower Rain Pavilion always had guests. One needed to make reservations long in advance.
“Drive them out.” Gui Qinshao said directly.
The proprietor said, “Any guest is our bread and butter. How can there be any reason to drive out guests?”
Turing Chen took out a jade pendant and handed it to the tavern proprietor, saying, “Go and give this to the guests in the Flower Rain Pavilion, asking them to make way.”
The tavern proprietor immediately bowed to receive it, saying, “Yes.”
Then, four Turing family warriors followed behind the proprietor to the Flower Rain Pavilion.
About a quarter of an hour later, the tavern proprietor returned, together with several noble young masters who had previously booked the Flower Rain Pavilion.
These people Turing Chen all knew. Two were sons of earls, and one was a commander of ten thousand cavalry. They were currently conducting a farewell drinking session in the Flower Rain Pavilion.
When these three saw the jade pendant of the Turing ducal residence, they were naturally willing to yield the Flower Rain Pavilion, and even specially came to pay their respects to Turing Chen.
After all, Duke Turing Tuo controlled the supreme command headquarters. The fate of this commander of ten thousand cavalry was entirely in the Turing family’s hands.
“We pay our respects to Lord Turing.” The three bowed in unison, then respectfully returned the jade pendant.
“Many thanks.” Turing Chen nodded.
The three did not dare to exchange further pleasantries. After bowing once more, they directly departed.
Then, Turing Chen said to Gui Qinshao and Turing Duo, “Come, let us go drink at the Flower Rain Pavilion.”
Gui Qinshao said, “You are not to go. We do not wish to see you. And those dogs beside you, not a single one is to go.”
Turing Chen nodded, “Very well, I shall go have people clear the inside, replacing all the tableware, cushions, and so forth with new ones.”
Then, Turing Chen led the family warriors into the Flower Rain Pavilion, inspecting every corner thoroughly, confirming there was absolutely no danger whatsoever, then having people replace all the tableware, cushions, and so forth inside.
Moreover, they replaced the bedsheets and quilts with new ones as well.
Because these two girls might spend the night here after getting drunk tonight.
After a full half hour of fussing.
Only then did Turing Duo and Gui Qinshao pass through the garden, cross the winding bridge, and enter the Flower Rain Pavilion in the middle of the artificial lake.
At this time, the sky was completely dark.
Turing Chen brought over a dozen family warriors to a pavilion not far away, drinking while monitoring and protecting.
Because Gui Qinshao had said directly that whoever dared set foot upon the winding bridge, she would turn hostile.
…
After entering the Flower Rain Pavilion, Gui Qinshao did not see Suo Lun. Last night, he had arranged to meet her secretly at the Flower Rain Pavilion.
Instantly she let out a long breath of relief, yet also felt an indescribable sensation.
Then, the two women faced the delicacies and the full table of fine wine, beginning to drink in silence.
“Hmph… that useless thing Suo Lun, after all merely boasting. He simply dares not appear.” Gui Qinshao thought with a cold laugh.
Then, Gui Qinshao raised her cup and said, “Turing Duo, I heard you were once imprisoned by Suo Lun?”
Turing Duo said coldly, “Correct. What do you wish to say?”
Gui Qinshao said, “That beast is a lecher. Did he not do anything to you?”
Turing Duo said coldly, “Are you taking such delight in my misfortune?”
Gui Qinshao said, “However, even if you were ruined by Suo Lun, it matters not. In any case, your chastity is no longer valuable. Marrying such a husband, what use is there in preserving chastity?”
Turing Duo’s beautiful face twitched, ultimately not stooping to Turing Duo’s level. But then she recalled something and asked, “When we were young, the matter of Suo Lun bullying me, was it you who told County Mistress Zhiyu?”
Gui Qinshao said, “So what if it was? That was the truth.”
Turing Duo said angrily, “But you should not have added fuel to the flames, saying that I had already been intimate with Suo Lun at eight years old. Clearly it was you and Suo Lun joining forces to bully me, and that knockout drug was given to me. Had you not slandered me so, I would not have fallen to today’s fate.”
Gui Qinshao said, “You were too incompetent, losing to Suo Lun in the Tianshui City battle. What has that to do with me?”
Turing Duo said, “Father made me prove my innocence by leading an officer corps to participate in the Tianshui City great battle, when originally I need not have gone. In the end, the Tianshui City great battle was clearly lost through Zhiyu’s foolishness, yet it made me suffer as well. Not only did I lose my family’s standing, but I must also marry someone like Tuli Yang… a monster.”
Speaking to this point, Turing Duo was instantly furious, directly throwing a cup of wine at Gui Qinshao, saying, “You selfish, self-serving woman, why did you harm me so?”
Gui Qinshao had always been a woman who took advantage and could not suffer losses. She also immediately turned hostile.
Instantly, the two began throwing plates back and forth at each other, then picking up candlesticks as weapons and beginning to fight.
Turing Chen heard the commotion inside and was instantly alarmed, rushing in like lightning.
Then, he saw an awkward scene. Two young ladies of noble status were using candlesticks as weapons, fighting into a tangled mess, completely wrecking the Flower Rain Pavilion’s dining hall.
Moreover, the clothing on both their bodies had been torn into strips by each other.
Seeing Turing Chen enter, the two said in unison, “Scram!”
“Fight if you must, but do not truly harm her.” Turing Chen said to his younger sister Turing Duo.
“Pah, she would have to be able to beat me.” Gui Qinshao said.
Without another word, Turing Chen directly left like lightning, retreating to the pavilion several hundred metres away.
Gui Qinshao was no match for Turing Duo. As long as his younger sister Turing Duo exercised restraint, this fight could continue until dawn without incident.
…
“You deserve to marry that monster Tuli Yang.”
“You deserve to be raped by Suo Lun. You were played by him at eight years old, and raped by him again at twenty-one. Truly you deserve it.”
“You say you are unwilling, but in your heart you do not know how happy you are.”
Unable to defeat Turing Duo, Gui Qinshao’s words grew increasingly venomous. Hearing this, Turing Duo truly wished she could thrust a candlestick through and pierce her tongue.
And just as the two were fighting with abandon, suddenly…
An additional figure appeared in the room!
Oh no, actually two. One in the open, one hidden.
The two fighting young ladies were stunned, about to cry out.
Then, they discovered their entire bodies had been sealed, completely unable to move. Because Princess Zhiyan’s cultivation could effortlessly control the meridians of both their bodies.
This familiar figure was naturally Suo Lun.
The Flower Rain Pavilion was a secret stronghold under the jurisdiction of Gao Yu, the trusted eunuch of the State of Light, one of the greatest intelligence sources, still unknown to anyone to this day.
And beneath the Flower Rain Pavilion, there was a secret passage directly leading to the bottom of the artificial lake. When Turing Chen came to inspect the Flower Rain Pavilion, Suo Lun and Zhiyan were at the bottom of the artificial lake.
At this moment, while Turing Duo and Gui Qinshao were fighting with abandon, the two opened the underground secret door and entered the Flower Rain Pavilion.
Suo Lun looked at the two women. Turing Duo’s clothing was still relatively intact.
As for Gui Qinshao’s clothing, it had been pierced into strips by the candlestick, almost exposing her springtime charms.
Turing Duo’s sword skills far surpassed Gui Qinshao’s, but she could not truly harm her, so she could only vent her anger by cutting her clothes.
Seeing Suo Lun’s appearance, both were first stunned, then their reactions differed.
Turing Duo was completely horrified, not knowing why Suo Lun would be here.
As for Gui Qinshao, her feelings were incomparably complex, appearing very surprised, yet not very surprised.
Today she had wanted to fall, to take revenge upon her father and Ling Ao, which was why she came to the Flower Rain Pavilion. But she had also been somewhat timid and hesitant, so she only came when it was nearly dark, thinking Suo Lun would no longer be there.
She had not expected that Suo Lun was still here.
Then what would happen next? Her body was completely trembling, her heartbeat racing to the extreme, not knowing whether it was fear or something else.
Suo Lun first lifted Gui Qinshao’s damaged skirt, glancing inside. Indeed, the view was incomparably beautiful.
Gui Qinshao’s face reddened, her delicate body stiffening, about to curse out loud, yet completely unable to make a sound.
“Rest assured, we have the entire night.” Suo Lun pinched the most sensitive place on her body, hard.
Instantly, a sharp pain and an indescribable sensation, like an electric current, coursed through Gui Qinshao’s entire body, making her want to cry out, yet completely unable to make a sound.
Then, Suo Lun came before Turing Duo, shaking his head and sighing, “You ultimately still cannot liberate yourself. You truly are somewhat disappointing.”
Turing Duo made no sound, her heart in turmoil, saying in a low voice, “What do you wish to do?”
She could speak, because Zhiyan had released her seal.
“Do you still remember when we were eight years old, the scene of me and Turing Duo bullying you together?” Suo Lun asked.
Turing Duo’s face instantly flushed red. She stared at Suo Lun fiercely, saying coldly, “What do you wish to do? I would rather die than be humiliated again.”
Suo Lun said, “Gui Qinshao treated you thus. Do you not wish for revenge? That day, how did I and Gui Qinshao bully you? Now, with you and me joining forces, let us re-enact everything from that eighth year upon her body. How about it?”
The moment these words were spoken, Gui Qinshao was instantly terrified into a shiver.
She immediately regretted it. She should not have come.
She clearly knew this bastard Suo Lun would not let her off, yet she still came. She truly regretted it.
That year when they were eight, Suo Lun had used the Bone-Eroding Pen to write on Turing Duo’s buttocks, and placed caterpillars in that place of hers.
“Of course, times have changed, so the methods must also differ somewhat.” Suo Lun smiled, “And we have the entire night. This is merely the first act!”
Turing Duo gazed at Gui Qinshao, a sense of vengeful pleasure welling up in her heart, then said coldly, “Very well!”