Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 118 Those who are clean will clean themselves up

Of the two, Shen Tu Zhuo was the more sober. He asked, "You yourself want to be an official's wife, and your father wants to take a shortcut to get the title of imperial merchant, so you've set your sights on me. But what good does this do for me? In terms of talent and beauty, can you compare to those daughters of wealthy families? In terms of family background, you're just a spent force..."

Tan Anfu laughed and said, "But when it comes to tactics, those daughters of wealthy families aren't as bold and decisive as I am. Can they lower themselves and lose face? They say the people along the border are tough, and their women are unrestrained and bold, daring to love and hate. But don't they still pretend to be docile and polite, waiting for their families to arrange marriages?"

"You're not being unrestrained and free-spirited. You're forcing others to do what they cannot."

"So what? If you want something, you should go and fight for it yourself. Why would you just wait for others to give it to you?" Passion welled up in Tan Anfu's face, and her words became increasingly frivolous and arrogant. "Master Zhuo, just give in to me... Look at my brother, he's as stupid as a pig. He only knows how to gamble and squander the family fortune. How can he possibly take over such a huge family business? Well, with a little trick from you and me, the entire Tan family business will be in our hands."

"What if I insist on not obeying?"

"You won't obey?" Stroking this hot and strong body, Tan Anfu was determined to win. "You want to participate in the imperial examination. Reputation and conduct are the most important. The evaluation of filial piety, integrity, and supreme virtue are both indispensable. If you insist on not obeying..."

She glanced at the wine bottle in the room and said, "Then I can only ask you to drink a few more cups of fruit wine with drugs added to it and get completely drunk. Tomorrow morning, my grandfather will distribute soup and porridge to the soldiers from the old house. If everyone sees you coming out of my boudoir, I will cry and feel wronged, but won't the result be the same?
"But this will only make the situation even more awkward. Master Zhuo, do you really not want to cooperate?" She bit his lower abdomen gently. "Looking at your body... you're clearly willing to do this."

Shentu Zhuo relaxed a little in the face of her extremely seductive words.

As if he was convinced by her, or completely fell in love with the red and crisp fragrance, he actually accepted Tan Anfu's teasing and turned his neck back, as if to respond.

Seeing that he had given up resistance and looked like he was indulging in desire, Tan Anfu was overjoyed and her movements became more and more presumptuous. She sat on him, swaying her waist, and eagerly took off all her clothes except for a thin layer of underwear. She also untied Shen Tu Zhuo's belt, preparing to move further down.

While she was busy with her work with her head down, Shentu Zhuo suddenly half sat up and hugged her tightly with his arms.

Thinking he was overwhelmed with emotion, Tan Anfu called out in a gentle voice, "What's the rush? I'm still..." Before she could finish her words, she felt a dizzy sensation, and then someone pinned her down on the couch. Still unresponsive, she threw her arms around the man in front of her, glaring seductively, "You were acting so respectable earlier, but Master Zhuo likes roughhousing?"

The strength he had been accumulating for a long time finally came in handy. Shen Tu Zhuo looked at her while panting heavily, a triumphant smile on his lips: "I'm sorry, Madam Fu, I just like to be a little rough."

As he said this, he pried open Tan Anfu's arms that were wrapped around his neck, pulled off the straps that bound the bed curtains, lifted her arms high, and tied them firmly to the wooden bed rails.

Tan Anfu felt something was wrong and asked, "What do you want to do?"

Shentu Zhuo finally caught his breath, got off the bed, quickly put on his clothes, staggered to the table in a daze, picked up the tea that had already gone cold, and gulped it all down.

Then he went to a corner and scooped two spoonfuls of fruit wine from the drugged bottle, feeding it to Tan Anfu. His hands were shaking from the incense, and a lot of the wine spilled, soaking the pillow and mattress, leaving a rich aroma on her lips and cheeks, making the scene even more lewd.

Seeing that Tan Anfu became dazed, he stopped and turned to leave.

Tan Anfu pleaded in shame and anger: "You...you are not allowed to leave! Mr. Zhuo, please be kind and hurt me..." She moved her bound wrists with difficulty, her eyes sparkling, "Aren't you uncomfortable? At worst, you can have sex with me and then leave. I won't be able to bother you in the future without any evidence. Why leave me here to suffer?" She spoke pitifully and touchingly, but Shentu Zhuo did not waver at all.

He said sarcastically, "I wouldn't dare take this gamble. It's unfounded. If you come to me with a big belly, I won't be able to defend myself. Lady Fu, you have a lot of little tricks up your sleeve. It's safest for me to keep my name clean."

Knowing she couldn't keep him, Tan Anfu stopped pretending and cursed, "You're such a good thing, Second Young Master Shentu! You managed to get through the drug without even realizing it. Even the red crispy incense I bought on the black market had no effect on you. I really underestimated you!"

Shentu Zhuo opened the window, took a deep breath of the fresh air outside, and checked the next escape route - he would definitely be blocked if he went through the main gate, so he would have to climb over the wall. Fortunately, he was familiar with this old house and knew where the wall led to the path, so he could just run back to the county government office under the cover of night.

The cold wind blew across his face, making him more alert. He said, "You forgot, I'm a frequent visitor to Lanying Pavilion. I've gotten used to the smell of Hongsu incense. With a strong will like mine, I can naturally withstand anything."

He meant that he had been teaching music composition and rehearsing songs and dances at Lanying Pavilion for years, and that the aroma of the faint red and crisp incense had become somewhat accustomed to it and was no longer easily influenced. But he said it briefly, and to Tan Anfu, it sounded like he was just saying that he had been so reckless at Lanying Pavilion that he had long since mastered the art of controlling himself.

Tan Anfu scoffed, "I was so much of a true gentleman, unfazed by the temptations of women. I'm actually a notorious playboy. Master Zhuo was squandering money recklessly at Lanying Pavilion, so much so that even this rich red cream has lost its effect on you. I'm afraid your health has long been depleted. If anyone were to perform the Qinglu ceremony with you, you'd probably be incapable of it."

Shen Tu Zhuo, who was about to climb out the window, stopped immediately and said angrily: "Who said I was broke? Don't spread rumors!" If my sister-in-law knew about this, I would never have the face to ask for her hand in marriage!

Under the double torture of the drug and the passion, Tan Anfu felt weak all over, yet felt as if she was being burned by fire. She was sweating profusely and had no energy to engage in oral sex with him anymore.
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Fortunately, the servants in the old house were old and few in number, so Shentu Zhuo climbed over the wall and finally escaped.

He walked all the way to the county government office. The effect of the red and crisp medicine still made him furious. Passing by the tributary of the Black Water River that was diverted during the day, he couldn't help but stop when he saw the cold and clear river water right beside him.

A full moon hangs in the sky, reflected in the river.

Somehow, he thought of Tan Huaike who was far away in the world, and the fire in his heart burned even more fiercely.

A canal guard on night patrol saw him standing there in a daze, so he shone a lantern in front of him and asked, "Who is he?"

Shentu Zhuo didn't hear anything at all and jumped into the river.

The canal guard was startled: "Master Zhuo? Why did Master Zhuo jump into the river?"

Hearing the commotion, the canal guards patrolling the other side also rushed over. Not knowing what was happening, they could only shout in vain, "Master Zhuo! If you encounter any difficulties, please think positively and don't do anything stupid!"

Shentu Zhuo swam back and forth twice in the river. The cool water calmed him down, and he replied, "What are you yelling about? I'm just going to see which way the underground spring goes!"

He couldn't just say, "I was almost defiled by a young lady, so I went to the river to wash myself!"
Next chapter: Mr. Tan is very sensible in asking others to do things for him.