Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 217 Winning a Heart, Professional Advancement (10,000 words, seeking subscriptions and monthly votes)

Just as Chen Ye was thinking rapidly, Xie Weining had already walked up to him.

"My lord, this young lady is...."

This time, without Chen Ye needing to remind her, she took the initiative to address Chen Ye as her husband, and deliberately emphasized it, as if she was stressing something.

"This humble woman, Yuan Xiao'e, greets Madam." Before Chen Ye could speak, Bai Yingluo quickly curtsied, her voice soft and her posture respectful, perfectly portraying an ordinary commoner who was frightened but knew proper etiquette.

This acting is absolutely amazing.

[Tsk tsk, this little guy's wife is quite pretty. Perfect, once I'm tired of him, I'll take this little lady as well.]

Bai Yingluo's heartfelt words made Chen Ye clench his fists instantly.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the murderous intent in his heart, and forced a smile that looked as natural as possible.

"Wei Ning, here's what happened. This Miss Yuan was bullied by some thugs at the market yesterday. I happened to be passing by and helped her out a little, so she came to thank me today."

Xie Weining's expression softened slightly after hearing this.

[So that's how it is? A hero saving a damsel in distress?]

[Hmph, he certainly knows how to play the good guy, but this girl doesn't seem like a bad person either. It seems I really misunderstood him.]

Hearing Xie Weining's thoughts, Chen Ye couldn't help but breathe a slight sigh of relief.

This silver tongue was indeed very useful; it could easily change a woman's opinion and even influence her emotions.

"I see." Xie Weining nodded, then looked at Bai Yingluo, "Then I must thank Miss Yuan for making this special trip."

"No... I dare not accept such praise. It is I who should thank you, sir." Bai Yingluo quickly waved her hand, looking extremely humble and apprehensive.

The three people's conversation appeared polite on the surface, but only Chen Ye knew the undercurrents beneath.

All he wanted now was to end this bizarre meeting as soon as possible, bring Xie Weining into the mansion, and keep her away from this dangerous vixen.

"Alright, Wei Ning, you must be tired after just getting back. Let's go inside and rest, and we'll have the kitchen prepare something for you to eat."

Chen Ye gestured to Xie Weining, then turned to Bai Yingluo.

“Miss Yuan, I appreciate your kindness. It’s getting late, you should head back soon.”

Chen Ye's tone left no room for doubt. After speaking, he turned around and intentionally or unintentionally protected Xie Weining by his side, leading her towards the inner courtyard.

His seemingly casual action actually created an invisible barrier between Bai Yingluo and Xie Weining by separating them with his body.

As Bai Yingluo watched the two figures walk away side by side, a cold, eerie light flashed deep within her originally pitiful eyes.

However, she didn't say much, just smiled slightly, and then turned and left.

Chen Ye finally breathed a sigh of relief after entering the inner courtyard.

"Husband." Xie Weining's voice rang out from the side, interrupting Chen Ye's thoughts.

He turned his head and saw Xie Weining standing in the middle of the courtyard, arms crossed, looking at him coldly.

The maids and servants around them tactfully moved away, leaving only the couple.

"Was that woman really just here to thank me?" Xie Weining's eyes were filled with doubt at this moment.

She is not a fool.

Would an ordinary commoner girl cry her heart out to repay a debt of gratitude and even chase after a mansion?

This matter seems unusual no matter how you look at it.

"Of course," Chen Ye said calmly. "What else did you think?"

"What did I think?" Xie Weining sneered. "I thought that now that Lord Chen has risen to prominence, his old habit of philandering has resurfaced."

These words were as sharp and cutting as a knife.

Chen Ye wasn't angry when he heard this; instead, he stepped forward and approached Xie Weining step by step.

"You...what are you doing?"

Xie Weining felt a little flustered under his gaze and subconsciously took two steps back.

Chen Ye persisted, until he cornered her against a pillar in the courtyard, leaving her with nowhere to retreat. Then, he suddenly reached out and braced himself against the pillar, trapping Xie Weining between himself and the pillar.

This is an extremely aggressive pose.

Xie Weining's heart skipped a beat, and a blush involuntarily rose to her cheeks.

She tried to push Chen Ye away, but lowered her hand halfway through.

"Xie Weining." Chen Ye lowered his head and whispered in her ear, his voice deep and magnetic.

"Is that how you see me?"

The warm breath on her earlobe made Xie Weining tremble involuntarily.

She felt like her ears were burning.

He...he was too close...

What is he trying to do? This is the courtyard; what if the servants see us...?

But...he looks so intimidating...why is my heart beating so fast...?

Hearing Xie Weining's flustered yet expectant voice, Chen Ye chuckled inwardly, then deliberately leaned closer, almost whispering in her ear:

“I admit that Chen Ye used to be a bastard, but I’m different now.”

"I told you I would show you a different Chen Ye, have you forgotten?"

His voice carried a captivating power, each word striking a chord deep within Xie Weining's heart.

Xie Weining was so aroused by Chen Ye that she couldn't utter a single question she had prepared.

She could only turn her head away, not daring to look Chen Ye in the eye, but she still tried to put on a brave face.

"Who...who knows if what you're saying is true or false?"

"Then how do you want me to prove it?" Chen Ye chuckled, then reached out his other hand and gently pinched her chin, forcing her to turn her head and look at him.

"Do you want me to take my heart out and show it to you?"

Eyes facing each other.

Chen Ye's eyes were deep, like a bottomless starry sky, possessing a captivating magic.

Xie Weining looked into his eyes and felt as if she were being sucked in.

Her defenses completely crumbled at that moment.

His...his eyes are so beautiful...

Is he telling the truth? Is he really different from before?

Perhaps... I should trust him one more time?

"I..." Xie Weining opened her mouth, about to say something.

Chen Ye suddenly released her, took a step back, and his smile faded, turning somewhat serious.

“Wei Ning, I know you don’t believe me, but there are some things I have to make clear to you.”

"There's something wrong with that woman."

He decided to reveal some information to Xie Weining in a limited way.

Chen Ye couldn't call Bai Yingluo a witch, because that was too absurd. Xie Weining definitely wouldn't believe it; instead, she would think he was talking nonsense and try to change the subject.

But he can approach it from a different angle.

"Is there a problem?" Xie Weining was taken aback, clearly not following Chen Ye's train of thought.

“Yes.” Chen Ye nodded, his expression serious. “Although I’ve only met her twice, I can sense that this woman is not simple.”

"Her approach to me was definitely not simply to repay a debt of gratitude; she must have had other motives."

“Otherwise, how could an ordinary girl selling tofu have such audacity?” Chen Ye said, half-jokingly.

He disguised his suspicions about Bai Yingluo as the professional intuition of a Xuanjing Division official.

Xie Weining frowned after hearing this.

Although she had been blinded by jealousy, she was a very intelligent woman, and after calming down and thinking about it, she realized that everything seemed suspicious.

"You mean... she might be someone sent to get close to you and spy on you?" Xie Weining quickly realized this.

After all, Chen Ye is now the Zhaowu Captain of the Xuanjing Division, a sensitive position, so it's normal for him to be targeted.

“That possibility cannot be ruled out.” Chen Ye continued, “The Xuanjing Division has many enemies, and the court is a very complex place. Now that I am in this position, I have to be careful.”

“So, Wei Ning,” Chen Ye’s expression became incredibly sincere, “you must stay away from her if you ever see her again. This woman is dangerous.”

He was giving Xie Weining a heads-up.

Looking at Chen Ye's serious expression and listening to his sincere advice, Xie Weining's last bit of doubt and resentment vanished.

It turns out he wasn't having an affair with another woman.

It turns out he was worried about himself.

A warm feeling welled up in Xie Weining's heart, along with a trace of guilt.

"I...I understand." She lowered her head, her voice much softer. "I was too impulsive just now."

"It's nothing." Chen Ye smiled and reached out to ruffle her hair. "You're my wife, so it's only natural that you care about me and get jealous."

"Who...who's jealous of you! I'm not!"

Xie Weining's face flushed red instantly, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She quickly slapped Chen Ye's hand away and retorted stubbornly.

Seeing her adorable, contradictory expression, Chen Ye couldn't help but laugh out loud.

He easily defused a crisis with his superb acting skills and silver tongue.

However, Chen Ye felt far from relaxed.

He knew today was just the beginning.

That enchantress named Bai Yingluo is like a time bomb, ready to explode at any moment.

Therefore, he must find a way to defuse the bomb as soon as possible!

Just then, Xie Weining seemed to remember something and suddenly looked up at Chen Ye with a hint of inquiry in her eyes.

"Husband."

"Ok?"

Xie Weining hesitated for a moment, but still asked, "Why do I feel like you're hiding something from me, and you seem... always able to easily see through other people's thoughts?"

Xie Weining's question caused Chen Ye's smile to freeze slightly.

Did she discover something?
Impossible! The talent of being able to hear a woman's heart is a gift from her profession, and it's absolutely impossible for outsiders to notice it!

Chen Ye's heart was in turmoil, but he remained outwardly calm. So why did she ask that?
Chen Ye quickly recalled every little detail of their time together.

From the very beginning, he pointed out the hidden dangers of bandits on her business route at the dinner table.

Later on, I was always able to soothe her emotions and dispel her doubts at just the right time, and just now, I dispelled her doubts with just a few words.

One or two times could be considered a coincidence, or it could be attributed to keen observation.

But if this happens too often, Xie Weining, being intelligent, will definitely notice that something is wrong.

She must feel like she can read her mind.

Having figured this out, Chen Ye immediately felt more confident.

"Hiding it from you?" Chen Ye first raised an eyebrow in feigned surprise, then chuckled. "What could I possibly be hiding from you?"

"As for seeing through other people's thoughts..."

Chen Ye paused for a moment, then reached out and gently stroked Xie Weining's nose with his finger, a gesture that was quite intimate.

"That's because I'm looking at you with my heart, my wife."

His voice was so gentle it could melt water, and his eyes were full of deep affection.

His silver tongue was then fully activated.

"If you pay attention, you can see the other person's joys and sorrows, and you can know what the other person is thinking and what they need."

“I didn’t pay attention before, so I couldn’t see it. Now I want to be a good husband, so I’m always looking at you and feeling you.”

"That's how I know when you're happy, when you're angry, and when... you're being jealous while saying one thing but meaning another."

These words are simply the pinnacle of romantic dialogue.

It cleverly interpreted Xie Weining's doubts as "Because I love you, I understand you."

This not only perfectly concealed his secret but also garnered him a lot of goodwill.

Sure enough, Xie Weining was stunned after hearing these words.

She stared blankly at Chen Ye, her beautiful eyes first filled with shock, then shyness, and finally overflowing with emotion and sweetness.

Was he... was he confessing his feelings to me?

Look at me carefully... that's how you understand me...

So that's how it is...

My heart is racing... I feel like I can't breathe...

Xie Weining's sweet words echoed in Chen Ye's mind.

She was completely smitten.

"What...what nonsense are you spouting!"

Despite feeling sweetness in her heart, Xie Weining, out of shyness and her stubborn personality, pushed Chen Ye away and ran into the house without even looking back.

Watching her fleeing figure, Chen Ye's smile deepened.

Just now, a series of prompts appeared in front of Chen Ye's eyes.

[The Prodigal's profession level has been upgraded to LV3]

[Eloquent Tongue Skill Upgraded to Lv3]

Thanks to this successful performance, Chen Ye has gained a lot, with both his professional level and skills leveling up by one.

So this damn job forces you to be a scumbag.

Chen Ye sighed inwardly, then his expression turned serious again.

Today's events served as a wake-up call for him.

He could no longer treat this demoness from the Nine Nether Sect with the same casual, playful attitude he had before.

We must find a way to resolve this problem as soon as possible!

But how do we get rid of it?

Killed in the street?

No!

Chen Ye immediately rejected the idea.

Bai Yingluo is now Yuan Xiao'e, an innocent woman who sells tofu!
If I were to kill someone without cause, tomorrow all the censors and officials in Yunzhou City would drown me in their spittle.

Even if his sister and Commander Shen Lian wanted to protect him, they wouldn't be able to.

To strike in secret?

That's not easy either.

Because this demoness is not weak, and she is also cunning and treacherous.

Last time at Tingyuxuan, she escaped the inescapable trap set by Master Yan and the students of the academy by disintegrating her body and transforming into a human form.

Therefore, it would be extremely difficult for one person to kill her silently.

If you fail and she becomes wary, it will be difficult to find another opportunity.

More importantly, she now lives in the southern part of the city, which is a working-class area with many people and a complex environment. If a fight breaks out, it could easily involve innocent people.

As for notifying the academy, Chen Ye had considered it.

The problem is that the people from the academy won't act without a reason, especially since Bai Yingluo hasn't shown any flaws. So what should I say if the teachers from the academy ask me how I discovered that Yuan Xiao'e was acting strangely?
You can't exactly say that you can hear a woman's thoughts and that's how you discovered something was wrong.

That would expose your biggest trump card.

This won't work, and that won't work either.

Chen Ye felt a headache coming on.

This vixen is like a piece of chewing gum stuck to the sole of your shoe—you can't shake her off or break her down; she's disgusting.

Just then, the image of Master Yan and the rubbing of the "Ode to Righteousness" that he had given him suddenly appeared in Chen Ye's mind.

"This rubbing was written by the great Confucian scholar Wenshan of the previous dynasty. It contains a trace of his spirit and has the effect of warding off evil and purifying the body. Carrying it with you may give you more protection."

You must know that righteousness is the nemesis of all evil spirits!

Last time at Tingyuxuan, I was able to resist Bai Yingluo's demonic aura thanks to the Righteous Qi Jade Pendant given to me by Master Yan.

So, would this rubbing of the Song of Righteousness, which contains a stronger spiritual imprint, have a stronger restraining effect on her?

If I approach her with this rubbing, will she give me away?

The idea started growing rapidly in Chen Ye's mind as soon as it appeared.

Yes! You can give it a try!

Because this is the lowest-cost and safest way to test the waters.

If the Song of Righteousness really works on her, then I've found a weapon to deal with her; if it doesn't, I won't lose anything.

Thinking of this, Chen Ye's mood immediately brightened up a lot.

Without further hesitation, he turned and went into his study.

After his dealings with Xie Weining, he was wide awake and instead felt unusually excited.

Chen Ye walked to the bookshelf and found the brocade box that he had carefully kept among a pile of files.

Upon opening the brocade box, a thread-bound booklet lay quietly inside—a rubbing of the "Ode to Righteousness" gifted by Master Yan.

Chen Ye took a deep breath and slowly turned to the first page.

"Heaven and earth possess righteous energy, which manifests in various forms..."

Familiar verses came into view.

Just like last time, as soon as I opened it, a magnificent, vast, and supremely powerful aura rushed towards me.

This aura was like a clear spring, instantly washing away the fatigue and irritability he had developed from a sleepless night, and invigorating him.

"Good stuff..."

Chen Ye couldn't help but admire it in his heart.

This is just a rubbing, yet it has such miraculous effects.

If it were an authentic work by Mr. Wenshan, what kind of power would it possess?

I'm afraid that demons and monsters wouldn't even be able to get close to the original; they would be purified into ashes by that righteous energy.

Chen Ye carefully read the entire Ode to Righteousness again.

This time, he no longer skimmed through the text like before, but instead tried to understand the meaning and spirit contained within each word and phrase.

Although Chen Ye still felt that this path was not suitable for him.

He could not do what these sages of the past did, sacrificing everything for righteousness and achievement.

Chen Ye actually believes that people must love themselves first, make sure they can survive and live well, before they are qualified to talk about anything else.

However, this does not prevent him from having sincere respect for these sages and the noble spirit they upheld.

"Righteousness and justice, the nemesis of evil..."

Chen Ye stroked the cover of the rubbing, his eyes sparkling.

"In that case, let me test just how powerful you really are."

Thinking of this, Chen Ye carefully closed the rubbing, then put it close to his chest, close to his skin.

A warm and peaceful aura emanated from the rubbing, slowly seeping into his body, making him feel warm all over and indescribably comfortable.

Next, it's time to meet that witch.

Chen Ye wasn't in a hurry. Instead, he ordered his servants to bring him a meal and enjoyed it. Then he went back to his room for a nap until he was in top condition before finally going out.

When the servants in the mansion saw Chen Ye come out, they all bowed and paid their respects.

"grown ups."

"Prepare the horses," Chen Ye ordered.

"Yes, my lord."

Soon, a servant brought over his Snow-Treading Black Steed.

Chen Ye mounted his horse and, without pausing, headed straight for the gate of the mansion.

He didn't go to the Xuanjing Division, nor did he go anywhere else; this time, his goal was very clear.

That's the South City, the market!

(End of this chapter)