Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 223 A gentleman is open and honest, while a petty person is always anxious and worried.

"Xiao'e can't help you much, so please have a bowl of tofu pudding instead!"

As she spoke, Bai Yingluo deftly ladled out a bowl of tofu pudding and handed it to Chen Ye with both hands.

"My lord, please use it."

Her fingertips were fair and slender, appearing even more delicate against the backdrop of the rough porcelain bowl.

Chen Ye took the bowl, his fingertips accidentally touching her fingers.

Bai Yingluo's fingers were icy cold, which stirred Chen Ye's heart, and at the same time, a thought came to him.

This little guy's hands are quite warm.

Does he have feelings for me?

[Hmph, you mere mortal, how could you possibly resist my charm?]

Hearing these heartfelt words, Chen Ye almost spat out the tofu pudding he had just drunk.

This vixen is so narcissistic!

However, this also gave him an opportunity.

Chen Ye did not withdraw his hand, but instead gently grasped her fingertips.

Why are Miss Yuan's hands so cold?

He frowned, his tone full of concern, "It's so cold, why aren't you wearing more clothes?"

Bai Yingluo's body stiffened visibly, clearly not expecting Chen Ye to suddenly make such an intimate gesture.

He...he actually dared to hold my hand?

[How dare you!]

However, the temperature of his palm seems... quite comfortable.

Hearing a hint of confusion in Bai Yingluo's thoughts, Chen Ye knew his chance had come.

In an instant, Chen Ye activated the Heartstring Master talent.

A barely perceptible wisp of spiritual energy gently probed into the depths of Bai Yingluo's mind through their touching fingertips.

He didn't choose to forcefully implant any complex ideas, as that would be too easily detected.

He merely plucked a string of curiosity and amusement, and then silently planted a tiny idea beside it.

"This man doesn't seem so bad."

After doing all this, Chen Ye immediately let go of her hand, a hint of apology on his face.

"I apologize for my abruptness, Miss Yuan."

Bai Yingluo came to her senses, a blush rising on her face, looking genuinely shy.

"No...it's okay."

She instinctively pulled her hand back into her sleeve, but a strange feeling welled up inside her.

Why didn't I push him away just now?

He doesn't seem... so bad.

Bai Yingluo's inner thoughts became chaotic once again.

Chen Ye took in all of this and chuckled to himself.

It became.

Although it was just a trivial thought, the seed had already been planted.

As long as you diligently nurture it in the future, you will eventually be able to make this seed take root, sprout, and grow into a towering tree.

At that time, this demoness from the Nine Nether Sect might actually be able to be used by me.

"Miss Yuan's tofu pudding tastes as good as ever."

Chen Ye finished the tofu pudding in his bowl and handed the bowl back with a smile.

"I'm glad you like it, sir." Bai Yingluo lowered her head, somewhat afraid to look Chen Ye in the eye.

She felt something was off about her today; in front of this man, her usually proud composure seemed to have failed her.

"This humble woman...this humble woman will not disturb you any longer, sir."

After saying that, she picked up the wooden bucket and hurriedly left as if fleeing.

Chen Ye watched her slightly disheveled figure, his smile widening, before turning and returning to his study.

He was in a great mood at the moment because the new talent of the Casanova profession was even more useful than he had imagined.

If even a demoness of Bai Yingluo's caliber can be affected without her noticing, then dealing with ordinary people would be a piece of cake.
Thinking of this, he picked up the file on the table about Sun Demao and his gaze fell on the name Bai Jie.

It's time to go and meet this concubine of Lord Sun.

He wanted to see just what kind of person this woman was, the one who could make the outspoken censor keep her as a mistress.

The next morning, a scholar appeared at the entrance of Cui Liu Lane; it was Chen Ye.

At this moment, Chen Ye had changed into a blue scholar's robe, held a folding fan in his hand, and tied his hair up with an ordinary wooden hairpin.

This attire, combined with his already handsome face, made him look exactly like a dashing scholar on his way to the capital for the imperial examinations.

This Green Willow Lane is located in an inconspicuous corner of the south of the city. The lane is not wide, and the willow trees planted on both sides look somewhat desolate because of the winter.

The houses in the alley are not large, with blue bricks and gray tiles, exuding the tranquility of ordinary people's homes.

Chen Ye strolled slowly into the depths of the alley and soon found his target for the day: a small house.

The courtyard gate was tightly closed, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary from the outside.

After a moment's hesitation, Chen Ye stepped forward and knocked on the door.

After a few knocks, the courtyard gate was pushed open, and a woman dressed in a plain-colored dress came out.

She was slender and graceful, with a delicate and beautiful face, but her brows held a lingering sadness.

It was Bai Jie.

She was taken aback when she saw that it was a handsome scholar who was knocking on the door.

"who are you?"

Chen Ye bowed to Bai Jie and said, "Please do not be afraid, young lady. I am just a scholar passing by. I found this place serene and pleasant, so I wished to pay my respects to the owner. I apologize for any offense I may have caused."

Chen Ye spoke with great sincerity, and with his LV4 silver tongue skill, he immediately gained Bai Jie's trust.

At this moment, Bai Jie felt that the man in front of her was handsome and had an extraordinary temperament, so she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Men and women should keep to themselves, so it is inconvenient for you to enter. Please leave, sir." With that, he was about to close the door and refuse further visits.

Chen Ye did not leave immediately, but instead looked at her with a slight frown.

"Young lady, I see you look worried and your face is dark. Have you been having some troubles lately?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Jie's body visibly stiffened.

How did he know?

[A scholar, can he also read faces?]

Chen Ye's Heartstring Master talent clearly captured her surprise and vigilance.

"Young master is joking, I have no worries at all," Bai Jie denied immediately.

"Is that so?" Chen Ye smiled. "That's good. I'll take my leave now."

After saying that, he turned and left.

He hadn't gone far when he heard Bai Jie's voice behind him.

"Master, please stay."

Chen Ye turned around, a hint of doubt on his face.

"Is there anything else, young lady?"

"Young master, are you skilled in physiognomy?" Bai Jie asked hesitantly.

"I once learned a few tricks of aura reading from a Taoist priest, and I only know the basics," Chen Ye said, half-jokingly.

"Therefore, I see that you are surrounded by a cloud of bad luck that has lingered for a long time, which is not a good omen."

Bai Jie's face paled slightly.

[Is bad luck lingering? Could it be because of that old geezer, Sun Demao?]

Every time he comes, I feel upset for days.

Listening to her inner thoughts, Chen Ye knew he had guessed correctly.

"If you don't believe me, then just consider it nonsense." With that, Chen Ye turned to leave again.

"Young Master!" Bai Jie called out to him again, "Then... is there a way to resolve this?"

She was scared after all.

“There is a way to resolve this,” Chen Ye said, feigning contemplation. “However, I need to know the root of the young lady’s troubles so that I can prescribe the right remedy.”

Bai Jie's eyes flickered, clearly indicating that she was hesitating.

Can I trust him?

He was just a stranger.

But what he said seems to make a lot of sense. If he can really help me, wouldn't I be missing out on an opportunity?

Chen Ye was in no hurry. He simply watched her quietly, then silently activated his Heartstring Master talent, gently plucking the heartstring in her heart that represented loneliness and helplessness, and implanting a thought.

"This person might be trustworthy."

For a fleeting moment, Bai Jie's eyes glazed over.

When she came to her senses, her gaze towards Chen Ye had become less wary and more affectionate.

"If you don't mind, young master, would you... like to come inside and have a cup of hot tea?" she said, almost as if possessed.

Chen Ye felt relieved, knowing that things had been accomplished, so he nodded and said, "Then I will trouble you, young lady."

Bai Jie's room wasn't big, but it was very clean.

A censer of incense burned in the room, carrying a faint orchid fragrance.

Chen Ye looked around at the furnishings in the room: a zither, a bookshelf, and several calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall.

"Please sit down, young master." Bai Jie poured Chen Ye a cup of tea.

"Thank you!" Chen Ye took the tea but did not drink it.

Why isn't he drinking the tea? Does he suspect I poisoned it?

That's true; they were just strangers who met by chance, so it's normal for him to be a little wary.

Bai Jie's thoughts were transmitted.

Chen Ye smiled, picked up his teacup, and drank it all in one gulp.

"Good tea."

Seeing that he had drunk the tea, Bai Jie was clearly pleased.

"You flatter me, sir. It's just some ordinary Maojian tea."

"The tea is ordinary, but the person who brewed it is extraordinary." Chen Ye looked at her meaningfully. Bai Jie's cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her head. "Young master is too kind."

Chen Ye put down his teacup and his gaze fell on the guqin.

"Does the young lady also understand music?"

"I just had nothing better to do, so I casually fiddled with it a few times," Bai Jie said modestly.

"May I play a tune for you?" Chen Ye asked.

Bai Jie hesitated for a moment, but finally nodded.

She walked to the guqin and sat down. With a gentle wave of her slender hand, a string of clear and melodious notes flowed from her fingertips.

The music was melodious, yet it carried a lingering sense of sorrow and repression.

The song ended, and the lingering sound lingered.

"A beautiful piece," Chen Ye praised, "but it seems that many unspoken thoughts are hidden within the music."

Bai Jie's fingers paused on the strings, and she remained silent.

He... he can actually understand my piano playing?

[All these years, that old bastard Sun Demao has only ever known how to make me play those decadent tunes to please him. Has he ever truly listened to my heart?]

Her heart was filled with surprise and a hint of grievance.

Chen Ye got up and came to her side. "Miss, the tone of this zither seems a bit off."

As he spoke, he reached out and gently plucked the strings of the instrument.

With a clang, the sound was indeed somewhat muffled.

"Perhaps it's been too long since it was adjusted," Bai Jie said softly.

"I have some knowledge of tuning techniques. May I give it a try?" Chen Ye asked.

Bai Jie glanced at him, nodded, and then slightly turned her body to the side. Chen Ye then sat down and began to pluck the strings of the zither.

The two were so close that Bai Jie could even hear the masculine scent emanating from Chen Ye, causing her to blush and her heart to race. Yet, for some reason, she was reluctant to leave.

In fact, Chen Ye did not actually tune the sound, but pretended to do so while activating the Heartstring Master talent.

This time, he didn't implant any thoughts; he simply used his mental power to soothe Bai Jie's restless heart.

Bai Jie's eyes gradually became unfocused.

[Who is he? ]

Why do I feel a strange sense of peace when I'm with him?

I haven't felt this way in a long time.

Chen Ye spent a long time adjusting the instrument before he finally fixed it.

"Girl, try again."

Bai Jie sat down and plucked the strings again. This time, the sound was much clearer, and the oppressive feeling dissipated considerably.

"Thank you very much, young master," Bai Jie said sincerely.

"It was nothing," Chen Ye waved his hand. "Now, young lady, can you tell me what's bothering you?"

He brought the topic back to itself.

Bai Jie fell silent.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became somewhat heavy.

"If you don't want to talk about it, I won't force you," Chen Ye said, and then got up to take his leave.

"Wait!" Bai Jie called out to him, then bit her lip, as if she had made up her mind.

“Young master, I…I have indeed encountered some trouble.”

"I'd like to hear the details." Chen Ye sat down again, adopting an attentive listening posture.

Bai Jie glanced out the window to make sure no one was around before lowering her voice and saying, "Please don't be offended, young master. Actually... actually, I'm being kept by a very important person."

When she said those words, her face was full of humiliation and resentment.

Chen Ye understood, but his face showed a surprised expression.

"Big man?"

"Yes." Bai Jie nodded. "He is a high-ranking official in the court, and his official authority is very great."

“I was originally a courtesan at Tingyuxuan in Pingkangli. He redeemed me a year ago and settled me here.”

"He's usually pretty good to me, but he has a bad temper, and... and he has some weird fetishes."

As she said this, her body trembled slightly.

Perverted fetishes?

Chen Ye's heart skipped a beat; this was an important clue.

"Does he often beat you?" Chen Ye asked tentatively.

Bai Jie shook her head.

"Then he...?"

Bai Jie's face grew even paler, and her lips trembled.

"He...he likes to see me...to see me being tortured."

“Sometimes he would even find snakes, insects, rats and ants and put them on my body, watching me scream and beg for mercy in fear, which he found very amusing.”

Chen Ye frowned as he listened.

This Sun Demao is indeed a psychologically disturbed hypocrite.

"Then why don't you leave him, girl?" Chen Ye asked.

"Leave?" Bai Jie gave a bitter smile. "Where can I go?"

“My indenture is still in his hands, so I have nowhere to escape. Besides, he holds a high position of power. How can a weak woman like me fight against him?”

Bai Jie's voice was filled with despair as she said this.

Chen Ye looked at her and activated the Heartstring Master talent once again.

"Don't worry, the person in front of you will help you."

He planted this idea deep in Bai Jie's heart.

Bai Jie's body trembled, and her eyes looked at Chen Ye with a hint of dependence and hope.

"Young master, can...can you really help me?"

"I don't know," Chen Ye shook his head, "but I will do my best."

"Young lady, what is the name of this gentleman you speak of?"

This was his ultimate purpose in coming here today: to learn about another side of Sun Demao from Bai Jie.

Upon hearing Chen Ye's question, Bai Jie's eyes flickered, clearly indicating her hesitation.

Telling him his name would be tantamount to completely offending Sun Demao.

What if this scholar was just speaking casually and couldn't actually help her? Then what would become of her...?
Should I tell them?

[Asking this might offer a glimmer of hope.]

If I don't speak up, I'll be tormented by that old man for the rest of my life.

She was torn between her inner conflict and her own conscience.

Chen Ye noticed her concerns and didn't urge her, but simply picked up his teacup and took another sip.

"Miss, this tea... seems a little cold."

Bai Jie came to her senses and a hint of apology appeared on her face.

"Excuse me, I'll get you another cup."

She got up to change the tea, while Chen Ye took the opportunity to look around the room.

His gaze finally fell on a book on the bookshelf. The book was new, obviously recently purchased, but there were several ink stains on the pages.

Chen Ye walked over, picked up the book, and turned to the tainted page, which read: "A gentleman is open and honest, while a petty person is always anxious and worried."

The ink stain completely covered the five characters "君子坦荡荡" (a gentleman is open and honest).

Chen Ye's heart stirred, and just then Bai Jie returned with a cup of fresh tea.

Her expression changed when she saw the book in Chen Ye's hand.

"Young master, this book... I accidentally dirtied it."

"Is that so?" Chen Ye looked at her, his eyes full of meaning.

"I think the ink stain is applied just right."

"Why do you say that, young master?" Bai Jie asked, puzzled.

"A gentleman is always at ease, while a petty person is always anxious." Chen Ye pointed to that line of words.

"But in this world, how many truly upright gentlemen are there? There are far more hypocrites who are sanctimonious in appearance but are actually thieves and prostitutes."

"They are human by day and ghosts by night; they have one face in public and another in private."

"Young lady, do you think what I said is right?"

Every word Chen Ye said was like a needle, piercing Bai Jie's heart.

Bai Jie's face grew increasingly pale.

Chen Ye put the book back on the shelf and walked back to the table to sit down.

"Young lady, the gentleman you speak of must be such a virtuous man, right?"

Bai Jie's mental defenses completely collapsed at this moment, and tears streamed down her face. "Young Master, please save me!"

Chen Ye quickly helped her up.

"Please rise, young lady, let's talk things over slowly."

Bai Jie was helped to sit down in a chair by him. She sobbed for a long time before she could say intermittently, "His name is Sun Demao. He is the Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate."

Sun Demao!
Chen Ye sneered inwardly, "Finally, I've found something on you."

"Young lady, do you have any dirt on him?" Chen Ye asked.

"Handbook?" Bai Jie was taken aback for a moment, then smiled bitterly, "What handbook could a woman like me have?"

“He was always very careful when he came, and he never talked to me about matters of the court.”

"All I know is that he is very greedy and has amassed a lot of ill-gotten gains, but all those gold and silver treasures are hidden in a place that even I don't know about."

"Also... he seems to be associating with some very strange people."

"A strange person?" Chen Ye immediately asked.

“Hmm.” Bai Jie nodded. “Once I woke up in the middle of the night and overheard him chatting with someone in the outer room. Because it was dark, I couldn’t see the other person’s face, but I could hear their voice.”

"The other person's voice was very hoarse, neither male nor female, which was quite creepy. They also mentioned things like the Holy Sect and immortality."

(End of this chapter)