#688 - Playing Hard to Get

Nearly an hour later, Chu Xianping met with Yan Huaiqing.

No one knows what the two said, only that the latter's expression was particularly relaxed when he left, indicating that he had likely obtained the result he wanted.

Thus, Chu Xianping was suspected of betraying Wei Changtian.

Saying it was betrayal seems a bit inappropriate, since he hasn't actually done anything to harm Wei Changtian's interests yet.

However, if he wasn't acting on a "counter-strategy", then such actions certainly couldn't be considered particularly loyal.

As for why the Puppet Pill hadn't taken effect...

This probably has something to do with the Puppet Pill's "judgment" method.

In other words, if it's just a simple thought of betrayal, then the pill's poison might not be triggered.

Of course, this is just speculation.

After all, even Wei Changtian himself isn't particularly clear about the Puppet Pill's trigger rules, let alone Chu Xianping.

Therefore, the latter most likely wouldn't take this risk.

Then, as mentioned earlier, there are only two possibilities for the current situation.

Either Chu Xianping didn't betray Wei Changtian at all, and only feigned agreement with Yan Huaiqing for other purposes.

Or he has already broken free from the control of the Puppet Pill.

Late Chen hour, Liangzhou City.

Just as Yan Huaiqing had left Chu Xianping's residence, Li Zimu had also returned to the small courtyard she shared with Tang Chen.

Getting out of the carriage, she walked absentmindedly towards the courtyard, clearly still thinking about the words Wei Changtian had just said to her.

Because of this, Li Zimu didn't even notice Tang Chen waiting for her in the front yard.

"Miss Li."

Seeing Li Zimu, who was only focused on walking with her head down, getting closer and closer, Tang Chen finally couldn't help but call out.

The former suddenly raised her head, first stunned for a moment, then regained her senses and asked softly:

"Young Master Tang, why are you here? Were you waiting for me?"

"Uh... I was just wandering around the courtyard, not expecting to run into you returning."

Tang Chen hesitated slightly, pretending to ask casually: "Miss Li, have you sobered up? Do you feel any discomfort?"

"Thank you for your concern, Young Master, I'm fine."

Li Zimu smiled and walked to Tang Chen's side, but maintained a certain distance.

"Speaking of which, I should also thank Young Master for taking care of me last night."

"My alcohol tolerance isn't good, and yesterday was the first time I drank so much, who would have thought I would accidentally get drunk."

"By the way, Young Master Tang, did I say anything I shouldn't have last night...?"

"."

The morning breeze brushed past her temples, and her cheeks seemed to still retain the blush of a hangover.

Compared to yesterday, Li Zimu seemed less playful, but more elegant, with a hint of melancholy between her brows, as if she had something on her mind.

Tang Chen's mood was also somewhat complicated.

On the one hand, when he heard Li Zimu say "Yesterday was the first time I drank so much", he felt inexplicably excited.

But on the other hand, he could clearly feel that Li Zimu's words and actions were deliberately keeping a distance from him, and the intimacy of last night seemed to have disappeared.

"This..."

After hesitating for a moment, Tang Chen softly replied: "Miss Li, don't worry, I won't tell anyone about what happened last night."

"So, I still said something I shouldn't have..."

Li Zimu lowered her head: "Young Master Tang, those were just drunken ramblings, don't take them seriously."

"."

His heart felt as if it had been struck hard by a heavy hammer, and Tang Chen felt a little suffocated for a moment.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know what to say.

Li Zimu didn't look up at him again, but simply gave a slight bow with her hands clasped in front of her.

"Young Master Tang, I'm still a little tired, I want to go back to my room to rest."

"Excuse me."

"."

After saying the last two words, Li Zimu walked past Tang Chen towards the depths of the small courtyard, and her pace became faster and faster, as if she was escaping something, and finally ran back to her room.

Tang Chen stared blankly at her back, suddenly feeling that Li Zimu's "abnormality" this morning should be related to him.

So what exactly happened?

Where did Miss Li go this morning?

Why did she suddenly intentionally distance herself from him?

This must not be Miss Li's intention.

Or, she must have some unspeakable secret...

Tang Chen felt that his guess should be correct, but he was afraid that he was just being sentimental, so he hesitated for a long time and didn't dare to catch up.

He silently walked back to his room, opened a book of military strategy on the table, wanting to distract himself by reading.

But half an hour passed, and the pages remained on the side that was opened.

Obviously, Tang Chen had no mood to read at this time, his mind was full of Li Zimu's figure.

Then, at a certain moment, he suddenly stood up with a "whoosh", and then pushed the door open and walked quickly in one direction.

"Swish ~"

The opening and closing of the door brought a gust of breeze, finally turning the pages of the book, the densely packed small characters on it were obscure and difficult to understand.

[The strategy of trapping the enemy is not to fight, but to weaken the strong and benefit the weak]

[If pressed, they will rebel, if allowed to leave, their momentum will be reduced. Follow closely without forcing, exhaust their strength, eliminate their fighting spirit; scatter and then capture, without bloodshed, it is necessary to have sincerity and light...]

"Miss Li."

Soon, Tang Chen found Li Zimu sitting alone in a daze in a pavilion in the backyard.

They lived in a small house, and there were definitely no rockeries or scenic lakes.

In addition, it was only early spring now, and most of the flowers and plants planted in the courtyard had not yet sprouted, only a few clumps of winter jasmine in the corner were blooming with small yellow flowers, so at a glance, this pavilion seemed a bit lonely.

In addition to loneliness, Li Zimu sitting in the pavilion seemed even more pitiful in Tang Chen's eyes.

In the former's somewhat "flustered" eyes, he walked quickly into the pavilion, his tone rare and very firm.

"Miss Li, you have been acting strangely since you came back from going out this morning."

"Did something happen?"

"Why don't you tell me, maybe I can help you."

"."

"Young Master Tang, you..."

Li Zimu stared blankly at Tang Chen, seeming to want to say something.

But after a moment, she lowered her head gently and said in a muffled voice:

"Thank you for your concern, Young Master, but I didn't..."

"Miss Li, aren't we friends?"

Suddenly, Tang Chen interrupted seriously: "Since we are friends, then your business is my business."

"Even if I may not be able to help, at least I can help you think of a solution."

"No matter what, it's not a good idea to keep it to yourself like this."

"Isn't it?"

"."

Her head was buried very low, and her hands were tightly gripping the corners of her clothes.

If one ignored Li Zimu's extremely calm expression, then her current appearance did look very struggling.

And after a long while, when she raised her head to look at Tang Chen, her eyes, which had no ripples, had become slightly red, and tears seemed to be brewing in them.

"Young Master Tang..."

"Do you know who I went to see this morning?"

ps: One update today, three updates tomorrow to make up for one. (I really will make it up, I made it up last time!)