CXnovel Chapter 224
Chapter 224
Zhao Meng looked at Zhao Simin, whose eyes were full of calculation, and took a wary step back.
"Who are you?"
"Zhao Simin, the former Princess of Anping."
Whenever Zhao Simin thought of her past boundless glory, she hated Ye Chutang to the bone.
Zhao was a very common surname.
Although Zhao Meng shared the surname Zhao, he had no connection to the royal family.
He stared at the exquisite half of Zhao Simin's face and asked with interest, "What kind of deal does Miss Zhao want to make with this general?"
Who could have imagined that the Princess of Anping, once as noble as an imperial princess, would end up in such a state.
Thinking of this, he turned to look back at the inn.
That Ye Chutang was truly formidable, having destroyed the entire Prince An's estate single-handedly!
If he didn't listen to her, would his ten thousand garrison troops in the northwest be completely wiped out?
Just as Zhao Meng's internal worries deepened, Zhao Simin spoke.
"General Zhao, let's find a secluded place to talk."
With that, she took a few steps back and retreated into a dark corner.
Zhao Meng hesitated for a moment, gripped the sword at his waist tightly, and followed her into the shadows.
He would listen to the deal first before deciding whether to cooperate.
The shops in Dayang Town had lanterns lit at their doors, and every household kept oil lamps burning to facilitate the rescue efforts of the Protectorate Army.
The entire town was brightly lit, making the lightless corners seem particularly eerie.
Not knowing what kind of person Zhao Meng was, Zhao Simin adopted a defensive posture, ready to counterattack or flee.
Zhao Meng asked straightforwardly, "What deal does Miss Zhao want to make?"
"Currently, the medicinal herbs to treat the plague are in Qi Yanzhou's hands. As long as he is persuaded, General Zhao can get the life-saving decoction."
"Be direct. Don't beat around the bush."
"I have a way to make Qi Yanzhou hand over the decoction, or the prescription, but it involves some risks. I wonder if General Zhao dares to give it a try?"
These words tempted Zhao Meng. "How do we try?"
Unless it was absolutely necessary, he did not want to stand in opposition to the royal family.
Autumn and winter were fast approaching; there could be no issues with military pay, rations, and winter clothes.
Zhao Simin's eyes had adapted to the darkness. She took two steps forward, approaching Zhao Meng.
In a voice only the two of them could hear, she said, "Help me bed Qi Yanzhou so that what is done cannot be undone."
Hearing this, Zhao Meng immediately took a step back and looked at Zhao Simin with mockery.
"Do you know what you're saying?"
To think that the once-renowned number one beauty of the capital would sink to the level of a common prostitute!
Zhao Simin knew this idea would make people look down on her, but she had no choice.
The emperor had gone mad.
To destroy the Qi family, he was not only willing to slaughter the citizens of an entire city, but he wouldn't even spare his own brother's family!
The Zhao family's empire was doomed sooner or later.
And Qi Yanzhou was the best candidate to establish a new dynasty; his ascension to the throne was only a matter of time.
As long as she became his woman, the rest of her life would be secure.
Thinking of this, the slight awkwardness in Zhao Simin's heart vanished.
"General Zhao, what I say isn't important. The key is whether you are willing to take a gamble?"
Zhao Meng lifted Zhao Simin's chin and looked at the scarred half of her face.
"Looking like this, you aren't even a tenth as beautiful as Ye Chutang. Where do you get the confidence to win over Qi Yanzhou?"
Suppressing her disgust, Zhao Simin hooked her arms around Zhao Meng's neck and pressed herself against him.
"Lord Zhao, men always love a novelty, don't they?"
The unique fragrance of a woman entered his nose, making the hot-blooded Zhao Meng's mind wander.
He tensed his body and coughed lightly.
"How can Miss Zhao guarantee that after the deed is done, Qi Yanzhou will give me the prescription for the plague?"
He didn't want to take risks only to make a wedding dress for someone else!
On this point, Zhao Simin truly couldn't make a guarantee.
She wasn't even sure if Qi Yanzhou would kill her after he sobered up.
But she wouldn't tell Zhao Meng the truth about that.
Her slender fingers lightly poked Zhao Meng's hard chest, and her smiling words fell by his ear.
"General Zhao, have you considered choosing a wiser master?"
Zhao Simin felt that if she helped Qi Yanzhou secure the Bingzhou garrison, she would have another bargaining chip to stay alive.
Zhao Meng pushed away the touchy Zhao Simin and pretentiously straightened his clothes.
"If I wanted to choose a wiser master, what would I need you for?"
Couldn't he just agree to Ye Chutang's terms and expose the truth behind the sudden plague in Dayang Town?
Zhao Simin pressed closer to Zhao Meng again, lowering her voice.
"Looking at the current situation, the Zhao family won't sit on the throne for much longer. Meanwhile, there are countless people who want to support Qi Yanzhou as the new emperor. Even if General Zhao defects to him, it would be hard for you to be heavily valued. Am I making sense?"
Zhao Meng only had a force of ten thousand men. Let alone being heavily valued by Qi Yanzhou, he might not even catch his eye.
Thinking about how the Qi family was increasingly winning the hearts of the people and even dared to openly challenge the emperor, he was moved to submit.
"Miss Zhao makes a good point. Continue."
Seeing that Zhao Meng was persuaded, Zhao Simin secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"As long as the general helps me achieve my wish and allows me to stay by Qi Yanzhou's side, I will definitely ensure the general becomes a founding minister of the new dynasty!
Of course, scheming against Qi Yanzhou carries risks, but wealth and honor are sought amidst danger. No matter how bad the outcome is, it won't be worse than it is now."
These words made perfect sense, making Zhao Meng even more tempted.
Since ancient times, founding ministers were crowned with glory, gaining both power and wealth.
It was worth a shot!
But he worried that after helping Zhao Simin achieve her desire, she would burn the bridge after crossing the river.
"I can take the risk and help Miss Zhao give it a try, but I have one condition, just in case you go back on your word."
Zhao Simin had thought it would take a lot of talking to persuade Zhao Meng, not expecting it to be this easy.
Her voice revealed her excitement. "Please speak, General Zhao."
"Service me once."
These words made the color drain from Zhao Simin's face, and she refused without a second thought.
"No, I must use my virgin body to bed Qi Yanzhou and seal the deal."
If she were ruined goods, Qi Yanzhou would definitely kill her afterward!
Zhao Meng reached out and stroked Zhao Simin's smooth, delicate face, his eyes filled with lust that even the darkness couldn't conceal.
"Don't worry, I won't actually take your innocence, but you must strip naked and let me enjoy myself."
With that, he pulled up her soft, boneless hand and toyed with it.
The implication was very obvious.
Zhao Simin understood what Zhao Meng meant and felt extreme resistance in her heart.
She wanted to pull her hand back but held herself back.
After a long silence, she agreed to Zhao Meng's condition.
"Fine!"
Actually, Zhao Meng did not lack women. The garrison had military prostitutes for entertainment, so he had no need for physical release.
The reason he made such a demand was to memorize the physical characteristics of Zhao Simin's body.
If she dared to betray him, he would expose her private details and turn her into a slut everyone could ridicule!
Seeing Zhao Simin agree, he avoided Qi Yanzhou's men and took her to an empty, unoccupied room.
He looked Zhao Simin up and down, taking in every inch of her.
"I have memorized all the features on your body. If you betray me, I will have someone draw portraits of you naked and spread them all over the Beichen Kingdom."
These words made Zhao Simin turn pale.
"Rest assured, General Zhao. Helping you become Qi Yanzhou's trusted aide benefits me as well. I have no reason to betray you."
Zhao Meng felt that Zhao Simin made sense, and he opened his arms.
"Begin, then. Undress and pleasure me."