Xuanqing Guard-Chapter 64: Green Waist

Jiang Cheng originally wanted to see how Shen Hao would evaluate Tang Qingyuan and Chen Yiyun, but didn’t expect Shen Hao to jump right over this linguistic trap, not saying a single bad word about his superiors.

This not only surprised Jiang Cheng but also delighted him. He hadn’t expected Shen Hao to have such a deft grasp of social maneuvering.

"You had better think it through. If you study under me, you’ll have to dedicate yourself entirely. The moment you become lazy or your mind is distracted, your learning will be ruined, and you’ll never get far."

Shen Hao understood that Jiang Cheng was warning him, and hurriedly cupped his hands. "Please rest assured, my lord. To hear your teachings is already your grace. How would I dare to slack off in the slightest?"

"That’s for the best."

Jiang Cheng finished and raised the cup before him. Shen Hao likewise quickly took up his own cup with both hands. The two clinked them and downed them in one go.

It’s done!

Shen Hao let out a huge sigh of relief inside.

There’s no need for more words. Everything’s said in the wine.

After this drink, it was already the fifth cup—for a total of nearly half a kilogram of liquor. Even with Jiang Cheng’s tolerance, he couldn’t help but feel a wave of drunkenness, and could only put down his cup to let the songstress at his side warm up a compress and bring him some tea.

Shen Hao, though doing a bit better, was also somewhat tipsy. Still, with Jiang Cheng looking like he needed sobering, he couldn’t act completely unaffected, and so also let himself lean against the songstress by his side.

The two songstresses giggled as they helped Shen Hao and eased him onto a recliner.

Warm water to wipe the face, tea to drink, massages, and some hangover soup... The whole set really was extremely comfortable—especially that sour and spicy hangover soup. One bowl went down, and his stomach at once felt at ease; even the last bit of dizziness vanished for Shen Hao.

Jiang Cheng had sobered up as well; with his Cultivation the highest, even without using True Qi to force out the alcohol, his constitution alone was enough.

"Let Lian Xiang come over and sing a couple tunes." While rubbing the songstress beside him, Jiang Cheng smiled and called out leisurely. He wasn’t speaking to anyone in particular, but someone outside responded promptly.

Jiang Cheng then turned to Shen Hao and said, "The highest-grade songstresses in Li City are just Fifth Grade, but here at Hong’en Tower, there’s a Fourth-rank Green Waist Songstress. She’s not only stunning, but her music and singing are extraordinary. You’ll get to see for yourself in a bit, Shen Hao."

"Now that you say so, my lord, I’m even more eager with anticipation."

"Haha! Then, you young lad, you can get close to her later, all right?" Jiang Cheng’s speech was noticeably louder now, clearly much more relaxed. Back before, he wouldn’t have joked with Shen Hao like this.

Not only Jiang Cheng—Zhang Qian and Gan Lin, both mostly sobered up as well, started egging Shen Hao on with silly grins, their attitude now very different from before.

The mood got lively again. Even Wang Jian sat up in good spirits. Though he’d felt miserable earlier, he hadn’t truly passed out drunk—he naturally understood that his own General Flag had finally landed the job after much effort. From today on, his General Flag would be serving under Households Commander Jiang, and Wang Jian himself would also have picked a side. All this was thanks to Shen Hao bringing him along today; otherwise, this credit would not have landed on his head.

A moment later, the box door was pushed open from outside. A fragrant breeze swept in, and a graceful figure instantly caught the eyes of all the guests inside. Her bewitching aura filled the room and seemed to seep into everyone’s body.

If the Wen Xiuyun Shen Hao met earlier in Brocade Pavilion could be called "enticing", then the Lian Xiang before him now was downright "bewitching".

What drew Shen Hao in even more was that aura of hers—after being ignited by Charm Skill, it surged outward, making everyone feel at ease and their mood soar. Shen Hao secretly thought, for men, this woman and the aura she brought were perhaps just as potent as a strong dose of aphrodisiac!

This is the kind of woman who could drain a man dry.

Better not mess with her! Better not!

Shen Hao quickly closed his eyes and calmed his mind, simultaneously circulating True Qi to dispel the effects of the Charm Skill on his senses. When he opened his eyes again, he realized Jiang Cheng had done the same—neither of them had chosen to lose themselves in the spell’s influence.

"Shen Hao, you’re a young man—why’re you acting like an old fellow like me, keeping such a tight rein? Beauty before you and you won’t let yourself enjoy her Fragrant Soft Skill? Don’t you realize you’re missing out on a lot of pleasure this way?"

"My lord, I’m just not used to having my Perception affected. You’ll have to pardon me for that."

"Haha, I understand. I’ve read your file. I suppose it was Evil that left you with this shadow, right?"

"I’ve made a fool of myself before you, my lord."

"No harm done." Jiang Cheng nodded with a smile. To be so steady before such a bewitching woman—whether out of habit or not—was enough to make him look at Shen Hao in a new light.

Yet while Jiang Cheng didn’t mind, the seductive Green Waist Songstress was not at all pleased. She pouted, brushed up next to Jiang Cheng with a fragrant waft, and said in a spoiled tone, "Oh, Lord Jiang, it’s one thing for you to bully me, but how can you bring someone else to help bully me too? My Charm Skill is to make you happy, I’m not out to hurt you! How could you just cast me off like that? It’s really too mean!"

Shen Hao looked over and opened his eyes. It was the first time he’d seen a woman sulk this naturally and seductively. Even after blocking out her charm aura, he still found it hard to look away from her coquettish ways.

"Heh, Lian Xiang, don’t say that. I just can’t enjoy your Charm Skill, is all. Shen Hao, well, I’d guess it’s just a habit forged from killing—he doesn’t like his Perception muddled. We’re not bullying you, really."

One could tell from the way they spoke that the two were quite familiar, but Jiang Cheng didn’t treat this more alluring Lian Xiang the way he did with the other songstresses—there was just a brief hug, not a hint of impropriety.

Shen Hao kept this in mind, secretly wondering whether this Green Waist Songstress had something special about her—enough, apparently, to make Jiang Cheng hold back a bit.

Unexpectedly, after hearing Jiang Cheng introduce Shen Hao’s name, Lian Xiang immediately stood up from beside Jiang Cheng and sized Shen Hao up with shining eyes. She asked with a smile, "Is this by any chance Shen Zongqi from the Li City Black Banner Battalion?"

"Oh? Miss Lian Xiang, you’ve heard of me?"

Not only Shen Hao was surprised—none of the men present imagined that this Green Waist Songstress would know Shen Hao’s background.

"Of course! Shen Zongqi, your literary skill is unmatched. Just one poem, ’A Cut of Plum’, left Sister Xiuyun dizzy and lovestruck. How could a girl like me not have heard your name?"

’A Cut of Plum’? Xiuyun?

Shen Hao understood now—this Lian Xiang Songstress must’ve heard his name from Wen Xiuyun; since both were songstresses, it made sense they’d be in touch privately.

"Haha, Miss Lian Xiang, you praise me too highly. That little piece was just idle amusement and really doesn’t count for much in terms of literary merit."

"Heehee, Shen Zongqi, you’re so modest! I can both play and sing ’A Cut of Plum’—it’s truly wonderful. I think it’s even better than the poems of Meng Qianxun, the grand master!"

Who is Meng Qianxun? Shen Hao might not know, but Jiang Cheng and those used to the pleasures of such establishments certainly did, and Lian Xiang’s comment left them all secretly startled.

"Oh? Are you serious, Lian Xiang? Shen Hao’s literary talent really is that impressive?!" Jiang Cheng was the only one present who hadn’t actually heard ’A Cut of Plum’. No matter how he looked at it, Shen Hao just didn’t seem like the scholar type!