My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 620 - 409: 90 Tales of Hatred_2

Dong Gong Ruoshu froze for a moment, then slowly retracted her fingers. After hesitating briefly, she said:

"You... what do you want?"

Fearing that Chen Yi might harm her, Dong Gong Ruoshu quickly added, "After all, we've bowed at the wedding hall, there's still some affection between us."

Chen Yi chuckled lightly and said, "So you remember that we've bowed at the hall."

Miss Donggong was instantly startled. Right, they had indeed completed the wedding ceremony—except for entering the bridal chamber. The man before her was known for his indulgences with women, and if he hadn't been in a rush to leave the Capital City that day, she suspected he might have gone along with the tide and taken advantage of her!

"You... you aren't planning to get yourself caught, are you?"

Chen Yi replied, "That's something you should be asking yourself, Miss Donggong. You wouldn't want me to get caught either, would you?"

Dong Gong Ruoshu's eyes widened slightly.

She immediately understood. If Chen Yi got captured, she'd likely be forced to consummate the marriage with him. Even though Anhou of Jingren Palace resents him deeply, a woman's heart is unfathomable, and there remains room for change. If Chen Yi were to return to the Capital City, the situation might shift dramatically.

"Well... I suppose you're right," she muttered.

Dong Gong Ruoshu nodded, dusted herself off, and stood up.

Looking at Chen Yi again, she suddenly felt more at ease. When a sense of peace settles in, thoughts tend to wander. Considering their reunion, she couldn't help but recall the indignation of hiding under the bed that day. For no apparent reason, a surge of anger flared in her chest: "…That day… Why did you run from our marriage? Running away is one thing, but shoving me under the bed to watch you marry another?!"

Chen Yi scratched his head, realizing this silly girl was upset. Explaining the reasoning would take too much effort and time, and delaying might lead to unforeseen complications, especially if the spies sent to fetch her from the Xique Pavilion discovered them. Thinking quickly, he said:

"By marrying me, you've already become a married woman and won't end up marrying the Crown Prince, will you?"

Dong Gong was stunned, then the realization hit her.

"Oh, that's true," she murmured.

A radiant smile immediately bloomed on her face, soft and beautiful,

"Well, thank you, Chen Yi. You're actually quite kind."

Chen Yi looked at her silly expression, unsure how to react. After a long moment, he sighed and said:

"I suppose we are… conveniently married."

With those words, Dong Gong Ruoshu's hatred dissipated entirely. Half a year's worth of festering resentment vanished without a trace, leaving her feeling carefree and relaxed. She suddenly thought Chen Yi wasn't such a bad "convenient husband" after all.

Considering how Chen Yi had helped her, Dong Gong Ruoshu felt a sense of gratitude and decided she should return the favor. However, the affairs of Xique Pavilion couldn't be divulged—there were too many secrets involved.

Dong Gong Ruoshu scratched her head, thought for a moment, then pulled a silver note out of her pouch and handed it to him. Chen Yi accepted it, puzzled.

"What's this?" he asked, confused.

"Let me tell you something," Dong Gong Ruoshu said, pressing the silver note into his hand.

"Miss Yin spent ninety taels to make me hate you."

...…

Pfft!

Lu Ying turned his head upon hearing a sound. Holding his tea, the graceful female crown inexplicably twitched her wrist.

"Daoist Yin, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing…" Yin Weiyin wiped her mouth, set down her tea bowl, and muttered under her breath, "How strange, I suddenly choked for no reason."

Was it some ominous premonition?

Lu Ying asked, "Are you alright?"

"It's just a minor cough," Yin Weiyin said with a casual wave of her hand as if to dismiss the stray thoughts clouding her mind. She then seamlessly pivoted the conversation: "By the way, hasn't the actress arrived yet?"

...…

"She's here."

Just as Chen Yi was about to press Dong Gong Ruoshu further, they heard the melodious voice of a woman from outside the door:

"Forgive me for keeping you waiting, Thousand Household Officer."

Dong Gong Ruoshu glanced at Chen Yi twice.

Chen Yi returned her gaze twice.

Earlier, he had negotiated with the housekeeper to go upstairs and identify the person on behalf of Taichua Goddess Yin Weiyin. With no response coming for so long, it seemed the housekeeper, unwilling to offend the so-called "Chen Thousand Household," had instead sent the actress over.

Dong Gong Ruoshu, though not quick-witted enough to grasp the intricacies, knew she needed to call the person in loudly lest her identity be exposed.

"Please come in," she said.

As her words fell, the door swung open, revealing a poised and graceful figure. The powder on her face shimmered faintly, and as she entered, she greeted with a bow. As she bent forward, her collar shifted subtly, offering a glimpse of her fair, smooth skin.

A rather charming actress.

Of course, without charm, one wouldn't cut it as an actress.

The actress adjusted her neckline, feigning that it had accidentally opened moments ago. She said with a slight smile, "This humble one is known by the stage name Tao'er. Thousand Household Officer may call me Tao'er. Having heard the officer recite lines from my play 'Si Fan,' I wondered if the reciter might be extraordinarily dignified. Now that I see, I'm truly astonished."

Dong Gong Ruoshu steadied her breathing and asked, "What astonished you?"

"Astonished by your divine presence," Tao'er said flatteringly. "I won't say much; my shallow experience tells me that the male actors in my troupe all lack such heroic spirit."

Dong Gong Ruoshu's eyes lit up slightly, and her hand, which had been resting on the hilt of the Yanling Saber, lowered.

Tao'er glanced at Chen Yi before returning her gaze to Dong Gong Ruoshu and asked:

"Has the Thousand Household Officer been having a good conversation with this friend of yours?"

She was probing both for his safety and for the relationship between Chen Yi and Dong Gong Ruoshu. Chen Yi caught the subtext.

Starting with an enticing glimpse of her skin, followed by flattering praise that eased tensions, she swiftly transitioned to asking the pertinent question without overstepping. Chen Yi couldn't help but marvel at this courtesan's ability to read people.

Chen Yi fiddled with a chopstick on the table.

Dong Gong Ruoshu, simple-minded as ever, replied, "Of course, quite good."

"Then shall Tao'er sing the two of you a piece now?"

Before Dong Gong Ruoshu could nod in agreement, Tao'er had already walked gracefully to the center of the room. Beneath her heavy makeup, the contours of her bone structure captivated admirers. She stood firm, cleared her throat, and began singing melodiously: