Chapter 6: Lust at First Sight

“What did she say to you?”

The man’s gaze followed Song Lan as she walked away with a light step. He noticed that the thick, churning resentment that had originally clung to her seemed to have been washed away, disappearing entirely.

Zhao Tan let out a soft “Hmm.” “She said, she begs me not to kill you.”

She looked puzzled. “But why would I want to kill you?”

Although she had promised Song Lan, she had never actually intended to do anything to him in the first place.

Besides…

Zhao Tan looked the man up and down. *He doesn’t seem that easy to kill, does he?*

Not to kill him?

The man couldn’t figure out the reason either.

But the resentment on Song Lan had indeed dissipated significantly.

Though it was very likely she had only suppressed it.

But since she was willing to suppress it of her own accord, it meant that this matter was enough to put her in a pleasant mood.

“Why do you think she would be so worried that I might be killed that she rushed back to plead for me?”

If this mystery could be solved, perhaps it would be possible to resolve the deep-seated resentment within Song Lan.

“A woman, worried and anxious about a man—and a man she’s only met once at that—what else could it be?”

Zhao Tan looked as if she were full of experience.

“Obviously, she’s taken a fancy to your looks!”

“Love at first sight?”

The man spoke almost in unison with her. Upon hearing the answer, he couldn’t help but purse his lips.

Zhao Tan scoffed, as if mocking him for his overconfidence.

Taken a fancy to his looks?

He raised a hand to touch his face. With his jade-like features, refined air, and clear, elegant appearance—a face as serene as a pine breeze and moonlight—it didn’t seem entirely wrong that someone might be attracted to his looks.

Song Lan was completely unaware that someone was currently labeling her a lecher.

She had just received feedback from the wisp of resentment she had attached to Zhang Chi.

Zhang Chi had been moved to a cell where there were no other prisoners.

She looked thoughtful, raising her head to check the sky.

It was still early.

Bad deeds are always more fitting under the cover of a dark, moonless night.

She wandered the streets aimlessly, feeling the aura of the living, her mood somewhat subtle.

Passing by the Zuixian Restaurant, she ordered their signature braised pork knuckle and warmed a pot of wine. Only after eating and drinking to her heart’s content did she stroll leisurely toward the Jingzhao Prefecture prison.

Money makes the devil turn the mill.

Song Lan stood still at the prison entrance and took out two large, round pearls, handing them to the guards. She got straight to the point: “I want to see Zhang Chi.”

Faced with such a grand gesture right from the start—unlike the usual relatives who would beg for a single meeting or ask for special care with meager bribes—the two guards shouldn't have hesitated.

However…

The two guards exchanged glances, both unable to resist the temptation of the pearls.

Yet, they couldn't take the money and not do the job. “Young lady, you’ve come at an inconvenient time. Young Master Zhang is…” He is currently meeting with a distinguished guest.

They wanted to persuade Song Lan to come back another day.

Song Lan decisively and cleanly pulled out a dozen more large pearls. “I’ll have to trouble you two brothers to help smooth things over.”

*Hiss!*

The two men stared at the pearls, which were of such excellent quality and clearly worth a fortune, and swallowed hard, their hearts racing with excitement.

These must be worth so much money!

“We can only ask for you.” If the distinguished guest inside didn't permit it, no matter how much they wanted the money, they wouldn't dare risk their lives to defy him.

Song Lan nodded. “Many thanks to you both.”

“By the way, my surname is Song.”

The two guards exchanged looks, and one of them went inside to report.

“Surname Song?”

The old head of the Zhang family frowned slightly, about to refuse.

“Grandfather! It must be that bitch Song Lan! She’s definitely here to kick me while I’m down and laugh at my misery!”

Zhang Chi gritted his teeth, his heart full of hatred; he wished he could skin Song Lan alive.

“It’s all her fault that I’ve ended up like this!”

If Song Lan hadn’t tricked him, how could he have panicked and spoken out of turn?

The old Master Zhang glanced at him, his expression stern without anger. “If you hadn’t made a mistake, she wouldn’t have been able to harm you.”

Running to the Princess’s residence to poison someone—he was a complete pig-headed fool!

Of all the civil and military officials in the court, why provoke that particular Buddha?

Never mind that the evidence was solid; even if there were no evidence, if that person wanted to kill the second son of a noble family, he would just kill him.

“Let her in.”

The old Master Zhang pondered for a moment. “I suppose she has some unfinished words to say to Chi’er. I shall step aside for a moment.”

He also wanted to see what Song Lan wanted by coming to see Zhang Chi at a time like this.

Could it be that she regretted breaking off such a good marriage?