CHAPTER 247: CHAPTER 247: THE LOST SCHOLAR

Hu Cai Niang!

Lu Zheng blinked, his eyes shifting, unable to act.

He really didn’t expect that he would receive this kind of treatment.

"Ahem!"

Lu Zheng cleared his throat and then picked a dish for Shen Ying with his chopsticks.

Then that jade foot retracted.

Lu Zheng smacked his lips, breathed a sigh of relief, and then felt a hint of loss.

"Thank you, Lu Lang."

Shen Ying thanked, giving Hu Cai Niang across the table a meaningful glance.

Hu Cai Niang showed no awareness, acting incredibly natural.

"Cai Niang! Don’t mess around!"

Hua Yixing scolded Hu Cai Niang with a hint of embarrassment, then raised her glass to Shen Ying in a mock toast.

"Cai Niang is just a bit flirtatious, occasionally visiting the town and countryside, finding some handsome scholars to enjoy a night. Please forgive her, Miss Shen, and Young Master Lu."

Goodness, Lu Zheng leaned back tactically, turns out she’s a maneater!

Decisively suppressing the restless heart within him, Lu Zheng flashed a naturally polite smile, "It’s alright."

Lin Jing’Er chuckled mischievously, raised her glass in a virtual toast to Lu Zheng, then drank it all up, "No worries, don’t be afraid, Third Sister never forces anyone!"

Lu Zheng, "..."

Is this about forcing or not forcing? Do I look weak?

Bai Ting’Er glanced around looking somewhat bewildered, not noticing what had just occurred.

Yu Mingxin shrugged, suppressing laughter, then leaned over to whisper a few words in Bai Ting’Er’s ear, causing her face to suddenly turn red.

Lu Zheng was speechless...

What did you say! You’re all gathered together, so why whisper?

Why did you lean in, just to do a formality and gather in vain?

"Knock, knock, knock!"

The sound of knocking suddenly rang out.

"I’ll get the door!" Unable to bear Yu Mingxin’s teasing, Bai Ting’Er jumped up, darting to open the door.

Lu Zheng looked at Hua Yixing, wasn’t it said that the Five Beauties Manor is secluded, and usually no one comes?

Hua Yixing nodded, indicating that indeed few people come.

"Miss... Miss, hello, I... I seem to be lost, this country road is too hard to recognize, could you tell me if the road from here west leads to Xiahe Town?"

"You’ve taken the wrong path, heading west from here leads into the deep mountains, you have to go back, take the southern fork, and then turn southwest."

"Oh, oh, okay, okay."

After a pause, the voice sounded again, "Um... I wonder if there is any food in the manor, I’d be willing to buy some..."

Hua Yixing glanced at Lu Zheng, Lu Zheng naturally nodded, so Hua Yixing then called out loudly, "Ting’Er, please invite the passerby in."

"Yes, alright!" Bai Ting’Er said, "We’re eating as well, come in, I’ll get you utensils."

"Thank you, thank you! Sorry for the trouble!"

As Bai Ting’Er entered, everyone saw a scholar in blue clothes following behind her, his clothes washed to a pale shade, with a delicate look, seeming a bit shy.

Seeing the table in the main hall, the scholar was even more directly stunned.

Good heavens, the one who just opened the door was like a fairy from a painting, now there are five absolute beauties, if there wasn’t another scholar present, the scholar would have thought he’d entered a Fox Den.

"Greetings, ladies and gentlemen, I am Ji Zizhen from Dingshan County, greetings to you, sir, and the ladies." The scholar hurriedly saluted.

"Come, come, Young Master Ji, have a seat, make yourself at home." Hu Cai Niang waved.

Realizing Lu Zheng was not interested in her, as Shen Ying outshone her in both appearance and demeanor, Hu Cai Niang swiftly changed focus, inviting Ji Zizhen to take a seat.

"Thank you! Thank you!" Ji Zizhen first cupped his hands towards everyone, then sat on the chair Yu Mingxin brought over.

At the same time, Bai Ting’Er also brought the tableware, setting it in front of Ji Zizhen, earning a series of thanks from him.

Hua Yixing raised her hand and said, "We’re halfway through our meal too, no need to stand on ceremony, Young Master Ji."

"Alright, alright, thank you!"

Ji Zizhen was indeed hungry, despite it being all vegetarian dishes, he swiftly consumed a bowl of rice, then another.

"Young Master Ji, are you heading to Xiahe Town?" Hu Cai Niang suddenly asked.

"Indeed." Ji Zizhen nodded, stuffing the last bite of rice into his mouth, exhaling a long breath.

"Although Xiahe Town is not far from here, if you hadn’t lost your way, you could definitely reach it by nightfall," Hu Cai Niang said, "But now you’ve missed the fork and walked three more miles north. If you turn back now, you probably won’t make it to Xiahe Town before nightfall."

"Ah?"

Ji Zizhen’s face turned bitter upon hearing this, "What if I walk quickly?"

"Mountain paths are difficult, walking fast might be dangerous."

Ji Zizhen licked his lips, knowing it was hazardous to trek mountain paths at night, "I wonder if there’s a place to lodge along the way?"

"A small town of a thousand people, how could there be lodging businesses outside the town?"

"This..."

"Why not stay at the manor for a night, set off early tomorrow, and be safer?"

"This... Would it be convenient?"

"We have spare rooms and bedding, Young Master Ji, don’t be formal."

In just a few words, Hu Cai Niang arranged for Ji Zizhen to stay in the manor.

Having settled his plans for the night, Ji Zizhen relaxed, turning to Lu Zheng, "I was a bit flustered just now, forgive me for that, how might I address you, sir?"

"Lu Zheng from Tonglin County, greetings to Young Master Ji."

Ji Zizhen waved his hands, "No need, a humble student, Brother Lu can just call me Zizhen, you are...?"

"We’re guests here too." Lu Zheng said, "The hosts are very hospitable."

"Exactly! Exactly!" Ji Zizhen nodded repeatedly, thinking Lu Zheng was in a similar situation to him, "Did Brother Lu also take the wrong turn?"

"More or less." Lu Zheng smiled, then looked at Hua Yixing, "Thanks to Miss Hua’s hospitality, I’m well fed and drunk, it’s time I take my leave."

"Just as it gets interesting, Brother Lu, why rush off?" Lin Jing’Er invited before Hua Yixing could respond.

She had been discussing calligraphy and painting with Lu Zheng beforehand, both writing a few characters on the table with fingers as brush and wine as ink. They were just getting excited when Hu Cai Niang’s actions interrupted, leading to subsequent events.

"It’s getting late; if I wait any longer, the city gates will close. There’s plenty of time later, we can chat again when there’s a chance." Lu Zheng smiled, turning to ask Hua Yixing, "No problem with Young Master Ji staying a night?"

Hua Yixing nodded, "Naturally no problem."

"That’s good." Lu Zheng nodded, judging from the situation these five women didn’t seem wicked, even Hu Cai Niang was just a bit loose in her private life.

But Ji Zizhen seemed a bit confused, "Sir, are you returning to Tonglin County?"

"Yes!"

Ji Zizhen continued his baffled look, "But isn’t it over a hundred miles to Tonglin County from here?"

"Yes!"

"Then how will you..."

"I have a wife!"

Ji Zizhen: ???

Returning to Tonglin County and having a wife, what’s the connection?

"My wife possesses magical power, capable of traveling a thousand miles a day." Lu Zheng spoke earnestly.

Ji Zizhen: ???

Shen Ying covered her mouth with a smile, nodded lightly to Ji Zizhen, then lifted her sleeve and gently waved, conjuring a breeze, she and Lu Zheng flew lightly out of the Five Beauties Manor, floating away.

Before leaving, Lu Zheng winked at Hu Cai Niang, who returned a glare both annoyed and amused.

Lu Zheng had set a trap for Hu Cai Niang.

By showing a spell, it would arouse Ji Zizhen’s suspicion and vigilance, complicating Hu Cai Niang’s plan to seduce Ji Zizhen that night.