Unable to tempt him with profit, Sun Dazhi resorted to temptation through beauty.
Sun Dazhi had firmly believed that Shu Changyu could not possibly be an impenetrable wall. There would always be some weakness, some flaw that could be exploited.
After all, who in this world could truly have no desires or pursuits?
It was not that someone wanted nothing.
It was merely that their desires had not yet been discovered.
Shu Changyu glanced sideways at him.
Then Sun Dazhi clapped his hands twice.
Following the sound, everyone at the banquet stopped eating and talking, turning their attention toward the empty space in front of the hall.
Behind the curtains on both sides of the banquet hall, two rows of beautiful women slowly walked out.
They wore light gauze garments and carried pipa instruments in their arms.
Standing before Shu Changyu, they began playing the pipa and dancing.
Every single dancer possessed a graceful figure, light footsteps, and a slender waist delicate enough to be held in one hand.
Zhili was located farther north than Zhaojing. The local customs were more open and less refined than those of the capital.
The dancers wore thin gauze clothing and were dressed in the style of women from northern ethnic groups. Their willow-like waists and long legs were exposed, with small bells tied around them.
As they danced, the bells rang softly, complementing the sound of the pipa.
Shu Changyu looked up.
Through the dancers’ moving bodies and flowing veils, he saw Jing Mu standing at the entrance.
His face was completely dark.
He was staring at Shu Changyu with a deadly expression.
Shu Changyu nearly laughed out loud.
To be honest, in Shu Changyu’s eyes, this entire room filled with delicate veils, beautiful women, and pipa music was nowhere near as interesting as Jing Mu’s current expression.
Then, for some reason, he deliberately began letting his gaze wander among the dancers.
At the same time, from the corner of his eye, he watched Jing Mu’s reaction.
That big wolfdog-like young man looked as if his ears had stood straight up and all the fur on his body had exploded.
Separated by a group of soft, fragrant beauties, he was baring his teeth at Shu Changyu.
It was truly a pleasing sight.
However, in Sun Dazhi’s eyes, Shu Changyu’s gaze meant something completely different.
He thought:
Sure enough, I was right.
This man may not care about money, but he cannot possibly not care about beautiful women.
Sun Dazhi had already made his plans.
He had prepared beauties in his residence beforehand.
Once Shu Changyu became pleased with him, he could make him cooperate.
And if Shu Changyu later refused to acknowledge responsibility after taking advantage of the woman, he could simply give the dancer another identity and accuse Shu Changyu of forcibly taking an innocent woman.
At that point, Shu Changyu would have no choice but to cooperate with him.
Just then, the melody of the pipa changed.
It became softer and more lingering.
Another woman slowly danced out from behind the curtains.
Immediately, most of the men in the banquet hall held their breaths.
The woman wore a thin veil covering her face. Other than her pair of eyes, everything else was only vaguely visible.
But those eyes alone were enough.
The corners were slightly raised, carrying shyness and charm.
Every glance and every movement contained endless allure.
Her figure was like that of a thousand-year-old demon who had cultivated into human form.
Every gesture carried the softness and fragrance unique to a woman.
For a moment, even Shu Changyu’s gaze paused.
He thought:
Sun Dazhi truly is someone willing to sacrifice anything to achieve his goal.
It seems he is determined to obtain the funds for repairing the embankment.
But Shu Changyu found it amusing.
All this effort, all this preparation—
And he happened to run into someone like himself.
It was truly like throwing seductive glances at a blind person.
Within a few breaths, the woman’s gauzy clothing moved without wind.
Her eyes locked firmly onto Shu Changyu.
The endless tenderness in her gaze was thrown toward him without reservation.
Unfortunately, Shu Changyu’s heart remained as calm as still water.
Looking at her was no different from looking at a peony flower beside a window.
However, his gaze inevitably fell on her.
Sun Dazhi noticed this and found it amusing.
Sure enough.
A man who liked women could not possibly resist a woman he had carefully prepared.
At that moment, a slight commotion sounded at the entrance.
Shu Changyu looked over.
He saw Jing Mu actually pull open the door and turn around to leave.
—He left?
For a moment, Shu Changyu felt that he had teased Jing Mu too much and now could not fix the situation.
His gaze paused.
Just as he was about to send someone after Jing Mu, Sun Dazhi leaned closer with a smile.
“How is it?”
Sun Dazhi laughed.
“Master Shu, how do you find the lead dancer’s performance?”
As he spoke, the pipa melody became even more charming.
The woman spun lightly.
Her slender waist nearly dazzled everyone’s eyes.
Soft sounds of admiration came from all around.
“She is indeed quite good.”
Shu Changyu answered absentmindedly.
“Master Sun is truly blessed.”
“Ah, what blessing?”
Sun Dazhi straightened his expression and spoke seriously.
“This girl is my adopted daughter.”
At this moment, Shu Changyu was still thinking about Jing Mu leaving in anger.
Hearing this, he answered casually:
“Oh? Your adopted daughter?”
But his gaze continued drifting toward the door.
Sun Dazhi misunderstood completely.
He thought Shu Changyu was still watching the dancer.
His smile grew even wider.
“Yes. Years ago, this subordinate adopted an orphan girl who had neither father nor mother and raised her by my side.”
“This subordinate only has two sons, so naturally I have treasured this daughter greatly.”
“In the blink of an eye, ten years have passed, and she has grown into such a graceful young woman.”
Your own daughter raised to dance for others?
Shu Changyu silently mocked him.
You could fool a ghost.
Of course, Sun Dazhi’s real meaning was only to tell him that this girl had no family background and was still untouched.
Spending one night with her would only bring benefits.
Shu Changyu did not respond.
Sun Dazhi continued.
“My daughter turns fifteen this year and has not yet married.”
“This subordinate loves her dearly, so naturally I have been rather selective when choosing a husband for her.”
“But if it were Master Shu, this subordinate would feel completely at ease entrusting her to you.”
Shu Changyu frowned.
Forgetting Jing Mu who had stormed out alone, he finally looked at Sun Dazhi.
“Master Sun, are you trying to arrange a marriage?”
“Arrange a marriage? No, no.”
Sun Dazhi smiled.
“Although my daughter possesses a beautiful appearance, this subordinate knows my humble status. She is merely an adopted daughter and cannot hope to marry above her station.”
As he spoke, he studied Shu Changyu’s expression.
“Master Shu is twenty years old and currently has no one beside him who knows how to care for him.”
“A young hero like Master Shu…”
“My daughter, even if she only became a concubine and accompanied you by your side, would already be a blessing.”
Hearing this, Shu Changyu sneered inwardly.
He had not expected Sun Dazhi to have such ambition.
Was he trying to imitate Wang Yun and use Diao Chan to win over Lü Bu?
But Lü Fengxian was famously brave yet lacking in wisdom.
Shu Changyu, however, was no fool.
“Thank you for Master Sun’s kindness.”
Shu Changyu’s expression cooled.
“But this Shu is not someone who indulges in beauty.”
“As for your daughter, Master Sun, you should save her for a suitable marriage.”
Sun Dazhi thought:
You are still pretending to be noble with me?
Your eyes were wandering over there just now.
And now you pretend to be an upright gentleman?
However, he showed no reaction.
He simply raised his hand toward the woman.
“Liu Si, come here.”
Even the name had been chosen according to Shu Changyu’s preferences.
The woman stopped dancing and gracefully walked over.
She bowed lightly.
“This little woman greets Father and Master Shu.”
Her voice was as sweet as an oriole leaving the valley.
Shu Changyu smiled coldly.
“Master Sun, what exactly are you doing?”
“Since Master Shu has met my daughter, even if fate does not bring you together, surely you can at least drink a cup of wine with her?”
As he spoke, Sun Dazhi picked up the wine pot.
“Oh…”
He shook the pot.
“It is empty.”
“Liu Si, go bring another pot of wine for Master Shu.”
The woman named Liu Si accepted the empty wine pot and gracefully left.
“Master Sun.”
Shu Changyu frowned and leaned back in his chair.
“Even if you do not consider yourself, you should at least consider your daughter’s reputation.”
“What reputation?”
Sun Dazhi laughed.
“Master Shu is known throughout the world as an upright gentleman. Why bother with these meaningless formalities?”
“Besides, my daughter has always admired heroes and talented men. Naturally, she also admires Master Shu.”
“Having her pour wine for Master Shu can also fulfill her heartfelt wish.”
As they spoke, Liu Si returned carrying a pot of wine.
Her delicate hands, painted with red nail polish, poured a full cup for Shu Changyu.
“Why are you still wearing a veil?”
Sun Dazhi said.
“There are no rules?”
The woman immediately answered sweetly.
“Yes.”
Her hand lifted.
The veil drifted away.
Revealing a truly breathtakingly beautiful face.
Sun Dazhi watched Shu Changyu closely.
But what he saw was Shu Changyu frowning impatiently.
He did not even lower his eyes to look at her.
Instead, he raised his head and drank the entire cup of wine.
“Is this enough now, Master Sun?”
He glanced sideways.
“Everything should stop once it is enough.”
“Is that not right, Master Sun?”
Sun Dazhi hurriedly nodded.
“Yes, yes.”
He waved his hand and sent Liu Si away.
Shu Changyu did not look at him again.
Naturally, he missed the flash of satisfaction and calculation in Sun Dazhi’s eyes.
Jing Mu did not appear again until the banquet ended.
At first, Shu Changyu felt uneasy.
Later, a restless irritation began growing in his heart.
This emotion was extremely abnormal.
But anything related to Jing Mu had never been something Shu Changyu could measure by ordinary standards.
So he forcibly suppressed it.
Until the banquet ended.
Everyone stood to leave.
Shu Changyu also prepared to rise.
But the moment he stood halfway, his legs suddenly weakened.
He fell back into his chair.
Then an abnormal heat rose from his lower abdomen.
It spread rapidly through his limbs and entered his mind.
He had been drugged.
Shu Changyu’s thoughts instantly became chaotic.
“What happened to Master Shu?”
Beside him, Sun Dazhi pretended surprise after seeing the drug take effect.
“Could it be that you cannot hold your liquor?”
“Sun Dazhi.”
Shu Changyu pressed his fingers tightly against his temple.
His eyes narrowed.
His voice was filled with anger.
“You actually resorted to such despicable methods.”
“What is Master Shu saying?”
Sun Dazhi pretended confusion.
Shu Changyu gritted his teeth.
His chest rose and fell as his breathing became heavier.
He could barely speak.
Suppressing the burning sensation and unbearable itch spreading through his body, he clenched his fists.
With blurred vision, he searched for Jing Mu.
But at this moment, only Sun Dazhi’s people remained in the banquet hall.
Blood vessels began appearing in Shu Changyu’s eyes.
He gritted his teeth and used the chair to force himself upright.
At this moment, his entire body felt as if countless ants were biting him.
Then—
A soft, delicate hand landed on the back of his hand, where the veins were bulging.
The moment their skin touched, it felt like water had been poured onto flames.
White steam seemed to rise.
Shu Changyu looked up.
He saw Liu Si’s gentle, smiling face.
“This little woman will help Master Shu go rest.”
In his dazed state, Shu Changyu heard her whisper beside his ear.
Using the last bit of his strength, Shu Changyu pushed her away.
Jing Mu…
Where was Jing Mu?
Shu Changyu’s entire body burned with heat and weakness.
His mind was completely muddled.
His throat could not make a sound.
Supporting himself against the table with one hand, the only thought remaining in his consciousness was to stubbornly search for Jing Mu’s figure.
The more he searched, the more desperate and anxious he became.
His vision gradually blurred.
And finally—
He lost consciousness completely.