My Gentle and Pure Sect Leader Husband - Chapter 74

Hmm……

Yu Luocha’s eyes stared unblinkingly at Yan Hongyin. Seeing that she was just smiling without speaking, he became interested and started guessing, “I should be worth more than that pale-faced scholar just now, two thousand taels?”

Yan Hongyin shook her head.

“One thousand taels?”

She shook her head again.

“……Seven hundred, it can’t be any lower.”

Yu Luocha looked at Yan Hongyin’s expression, was silent for a moment, then compromised. “Fine, then five hundred.”

Yan Hongyin gave him a look.

Yu Luocha took a deep breath, gritted his teeth and squeezed out a few words. “I can’t possibly be worth the same as a bun seller, can I?!”

Already down to fifty taels, the Luocha Sect Leader’s tolerance was clearly at its breaking point.

Yan Hongyin raised her hand to tuck Yu Luocha’s loose hair behind his ear, trying to comfort him with gentle words. “The yamen’s bounty is determined by the defined cases, while other additional bounties are paid out of pocket by jianghu or common people. With your notorious reputation, naturally no one would prominently post a bounty for you.”

Yu Luocha’s expression remained wooden for quite a while, then with his eyes downcast, not looking at Yan Hongyin, he murmured, “Oh, so you’re saying I’m not even worth fifty taels… is that right?”

Yan Hongyin patted Yu Luocha’s hand reassuringly.

“This Lord’s price doesn’t even match a bun seller’s.” Yu Luocha drew out his words mournfully.

Yan Hongyin turned her head away, not letting Yu Luocha see the laughter she could barely contain at the corners of her eyes and brows.

“In the entire Luocha Sect, only I am worthless.” Yu Luocha’s gaze grew increasingly dejected.

Yan Hongyin barely managed to hold back her laughter. She turned back, held Yu Luocha’s chin, and leaned over to give her pouting husband a kiss in the middle of the street. Imitating Yu Luocha’s usual honeyed words, she said somewhat awkwardly. “That’s because you are priceless.”

All the gloom on Yu Luocha’s face instantly swept away. He smiled with crinkled eyes, as radiant as spring sunshine.

“Speaking of which… who had the highest bounty you’ve ever seen?” Yu Luocha asked curiously.

Yan Hongyin’s expression became slightly peculiar, then she said, “In recent years, it was probably Li Xunhan who was worth the most. Now… I just had a look, and Chu Liuxiang has surpassed him.”

Yu Luocha: “?”

Had he missed some information?

Weren’t these two righteous heroes in the jianghu?

Yan Hongyin’s tone lifted slightly as she explained. “In this world, women whose feelings have been betrayed can be more terrifying than many men. For those who want to be philanderers in the jianghu, besides having exceptionally handsome appearances and physiques, they also need extraordinary survival skills.”

“And the women these two men have offended are more fearsome than ordinary women, and they hold grudges longer.”

Yu Luocha: “……So how much is Chu Liuxiang worth now?”

Yan Hongyin lowered her head, her brows twitching slightly.

“I know where he is,” Yu Luocha said with an utterly innocent expression, earnestly adding, “I’m just a bit tempted by the gold. Who doesn’t like gold?”

He absolutely didn’t have even a hint of envy or jealousy about the other man’s reputation.

——Absolutely, not even a tiny bit.

****

“What background does that male concubine have?”

Since this princess entered the Luocha Sect, her every word and action had been beyond their expectations, giving Guzhu an unsettling feeling that things were subtly slipping out of control.

Hanmei had just received a letter from the Loulan person and laughed, saying, “She’s merely raised one or two male concubines. This princess was extremely favored in the Central Plains, and after going to Loulan and being crowned as king, taking away some of Loulan’s authority, how could she not keep concubines?”

“However, the princess did not mention the Sect Leader at all in her speech. It seems our Sect Leader might not have captured this princess’s heart. It was probably the Central Plains emperor who forced this marriage alliance for Loulan’s commercial routes and wealth.”

This newlywed couple not being of one mind was actually better for them.

Recalling the meeting with the princess earlier, when that male concubine nestled nearby putting on airs, Guzhu felt inexplicably irritated and unconsciously paid attention to that concubine.

After pondering for a while, he couldn’t find any resemblance between that concubine and anyone in his memory. Guzhu tightened his hand that was stroking his beard and said impatiently, “Didn’t the princess say she doesn’t trust our people and wants newly recruited children to serve her? Just send over those three troublemakers from Nanshan who have been trying every means to infiltrate recently.”

In the past, Guzhu would have simply killed those three little mice seeking death, but now with their grand scheme almost complete, the death of the Crown Prince of the King of Taiping would inevitably attract attention from the Divine Marquis Mansion or the Jinyiwei. Guzhu didn’t want to provoke trouble from the imperial court just for killing an insignificant youth.

“The princess asked to visit the Young Leader…?”

“Let her go. They’ve been trying all sorts of ways to get close to Tianbao Hall these days, surely they’re after something. Whether that boy is truly the Crown Prince of the King of Taiping, we’ll know once they meet!”

****

“Tianbao Hall… what kind of name is this?” Yan Hongyin walked into the courtyard that was not far from the Luocha Sect Leader’s compound. This was where the Luocha Sect’s Young Leader Yu Tianbao resided.

Yu Luocha, who had finally remembered the child’s name, said, “His parents named him Tianbao, and I was too lazy to change it, so I just used it directly.”

“Hmm?” Yan Hongyin gave him a sidelong glance. “Isn’t he a child you abducted?”

Yu Luocha: “Why would I need to go through that trouble? Beyond the frontier, abandoned or sold infants that families couldn’t raise were everywhere. I simply bought one.”

“How old was he when you bought him?” Yan Hongyin could manage to control the buying and selling of women and children in the Central Plains, but beyond the frontier was outside her jurisdiction. Moreover, the frontier was harsh and cold, and families with too many children to feed were not uncommon. It wasn’t a problem that could be solved with just one or two taels of silver.

“Old enough to be aware. That little devil was quite clever.” Yu Luocha, having been away from the sect for a long time, did not know what Yu Tianbao was like in the sect over these years. But he still remembered that originally he had not intended to buy Yu Tianbao, but a younger child. It was Yu Tianbao himself who grabbed his clothes, which made him change his mind. “So you came to see him to lure out those two from your family?”

“Yes, didn’t your secret guards say those three young fellows keep coming around here?” The security in this courtyard was tight outside but loose inside, with many serving maids coming and going, but few skilled guards. The Luocha Sect’s attitude toward this Young Leader was evident. “I’m somewhat interested in what they’re looking for.”

The two entered the room to find that Yu Tianbao, who should have been seriously injured and bedridden, was hugging a plate of snacks and eating on the bed, with crumbs all over his clothes.

Yan Hongyin: “……”

Yu Luocha: “……”

Yu Tianbao: “……!! Cough, cough cough cough!!”

The room was furnished with the finest items. The young man on the bed appeared to be only thirteen or fourteen years old, fair-skinned and plump, dressed in fine silk and satin. At that moment, he hurriedly put the plate aside, tried hard to brush the crumbs off his clothes, and respectfully cupped his fists in greeting toward Yan Hongyin.

“Tianbao greets Mother.”

It was the first time she had been addressed this way, and by a young man already waist-high.

Yan Hongyin’s mouth twitched.

Yu Luocha, however, nodded with secret satisfaction. Not bad for the child I chose back then, so clever.

“Mother has just arrived at the sect, and Tianbao failed to welcome you personally. Tianbao is ignorant of proper etiquette.” The young man spoke while his eyes darted about restlessly, with an expression of difficulty on his face. “It’s just that Tianbao was seriously wounded by assassins a few days ago, and the sect elders keep Tianbao under strict watch, making it difficult to even step outside the courtyard gate.”

Every word seemed apologetic but actually subtly provoked discord between the elders and the Sect Leader’s wife.

Yan Hongyin narrowed her eyes.

What did the intelligence say about the Luocha Sect’s Young Leader?

He was skilled in literature, martial arts, and internal cultivation, yet was stupid and unteachable, as useless as rotten wood. Despite his young age, he lusted after beauty, with numerous beautiful maids he had kidnapped in his courtyard. Recently, he was stabbed with a dagger for harassing a decent young man, and had been on the verge of death.

“How did you know who I am?” Yan Hongyin didn’t acknowledge his form of address and sat sideways on the edge of the bed.

Yu Tianbao curved his lips into a smile and said, “The news of Mother’s return to the sect is known throughout the sect. Besides you, who else would the elders trust to come see me?”

“However, Tianbao didn’t expect Mother to be somewhat different from the rumors.” Yu Tianbao meaningfully glanced at the man standing beside who wasn’t saying much.

Yan Hongyin showed no intention of introducing him and simply followed along with his words. “You are also very different from the rumors.”

Yu Tianbao choked for a moment, then tried hard to maintain his obedient and polite demeanor, continuing, “Has Mother come to Tianbao’s quarters to ask about Tianbao’s father?”

“Him? He’s not important.” Yan Hongyin said indifferently. “I came to see you.”

Yu Tianbao’s expression stiffened as Yan Hongyin repeatedly failed to follow the expected script. His lips quivered for quite a while before he spoke again. “Rumor has it that Father fell in love with Mother at first sight, and the two of you are deeply in love……”

Yan Hongyin snorted with a laugh, answering in a matter-of-fact tone, “Political marriages like this, how could there be mutual affection?”

Yu Tianbao: “……”

The conversation had completely broken down. Yu Tianbao felt this person had ill intentions. Dragging his not-yet-healed wounded body backward, he secretly glanced toward the window.

Yan Hongyin raised an eyebrow. “What are you looking at? My secret guards are outside, not even a bird could fly in. But you don’t need to be afraid. This Princess doesn’t care how many children he had before marriage. Or is it that Tianbao truly intends to inherit the Luocha Sect?”

Yu Luocha, standing beside like a decorative ornament, heard this and cast a forlorn glance at Yan Hongyin.

Upon hearing these words, Yu Tianbao let out a great sigh of relief and quickly declared, “The Luocha Sect will definitely be inherited by Moth— no, by Your Highness, or by the future child of the Sect Leader and Your Highness. Tianbao knows what Tianbao should do and would absolutely never harbor such disrespectful thoughts!”

“Your Majesty, look how you’ve scared the child, he doesn’t even dare call you Mother anymore.” Yu Luocha, who had been standing at the side feeling somewhat bored, heard movements outside and moved closer to Yan Hongyin, leaning against her again.

Yu Tianbao looked at the two people who dared to cuckold the Luocha Sect Leader right in front of him, his eyelid twitched, and he felt his teeth ache terribly.

Outside the room came the sound of knocking.

“Madam, Young Leader, would you like some more tea?”

Yu Tianbao frowned and whispered, “What servant is this? They don’t even know how to address themselves properly.”

Doesn’t know? It’s good that they don’t know.

A flash passed through Yan Hongyin’s eyes.

After all, whether it was her third younger brother, the Crown Prince of the King of Taiping, or the Young Master of Baiyun City in the Southern Sea, none of them would ever refer to themselves as “this servant” to others.

Yan Hongyin lifted her chin slightly, and Yu Tianbao understood. After all, compared to him, the princess was much more precious. Even if the newcomer was an assassin, they couldn’t pose a threat. He immediately called out. “Come in!”

Three young boys with bowed heads carrying trays entered in a line. The smallest walked in the middle, and as soon as he entered, he looked up toward the bed, making direct eye contact with Yan Hongyin.

“Imperial—-mmph!”

The wide-eyed, shocked little dumpling blurted out an exclamation, but Gong Jiu quickly put down his tray and covered the little dumpling’s mouth with his hand.

In the next instant, a sword light shot straight toward Yu Tianbao on the bed!