All The Female Disciples Want To Kill Me-Chapter 553 323 Seduce a Married Man, Deserve to Die!_2

"Eastern Emperor, are you feeling unwell?" Dan Wulan asked carefully, her tone tentative.
Queen Lin lay on the deck, her expression tinged with dejection as she shook her head. "No. A few nights ago, he came to find me, and I could smell another woman's scent on him. Although I don't really mind—men are, after all, prone to philandering—I'm just more disappointed in him now. After all these years of mutual support, does it all mean so little to him? It's always when I'm dealing with state affairs for him that he goes and flirts with others..."
The more Dan Wulan listened, the angrier she became. She snorted lightly and said languidly, "It seems everyone in his family is the same. His sister is also a temptress."
Queen Lin furrowed her brow, looking at her in confusion. "Sister?"
Dan Wulan nodded, trailing her hand in the water. She pursed her lips. "When I'm not by Su Bei's side, those two get together. But she's quite good to Su Bei; it's just that her intentions aren't pure, that's all." She paused, glanced at Queen Lin again, and then continued, "Seducing a married man—that's despicable!"
Queen Lin coughed lightly, her cheeks flushing. She knew Dan Wulan was indirectly referring to her. She didn't say much, but her displeasure with Ji Nanjue deepened.
Queen Lin's gaze darkened, the crack in her heart slowly widening. So, he *did* have a sister. How ridiculous! She, his wife, had no idea. And that mysterious master of his—he never spoke of him to her, always preferring to visit Unrepentant Cliff alone late at night, disappearing for such long stretches... How many more secrets was he keeping from her?
"He treats you like this, and you don't hate him?" Although Dan Wulan felt she shouldn't be the one to say it, seeing the silent Queen Lin made her feel even more sorry for her. Their relationship is less like husband and wife and more like close confidantes, isn't it?
"He... he used to treat me well," Queen Lin murmured. Unconsciously, even in Dan Wulan's presence, the way Queen Lin referred to Ji Nanjue—and herself—had begun to shift.
"Used to?"
"At least, before he met Su Bei."
Dan Wulan fell silent for a moment, resisting the urge to throttle Su Bei. So, after all this, the disharmony between this couple was actually related to Su Bei? But the Eastern Emperor was a man. The two of them... The more Dan Wulan thought about it, the stranger her expression became. She then noticed an equally peculiar look on Queen Lin's face.
"I once thought that the Eastern Emperor might be..." Queen Lin trailed off. "Fortunately, that day I smelled the woman's scent on him, which dispelled my doubts. In the end, this is actually a good thing; at least the Eastern Emperor isn't..." She paused again. "Still, regarding my relationship with him... that day will come eventually, won't it?"
Dan Wulan was speechless.
Dan Wulan couldn't listen anymore. She grabbed Queen Lin's hand, looking into Lin Jinyu's eyes like a long-time confidante. "Next time, can you let me meet the Eastern Emperor? I can't take any more of this!"
Lin Jinyu quickly shook her head, smiling. "Actually, he's very good. Maybe he just doesn't like my type. Su Bei once said my personality is too assertive. Perhaps he prefers someone more demure, someone who can act coquettish, um... someone who can play cute..."
Dan Wulan stood up abruptly, looking down at her. "After he's treated you like that, you're still defending him? You, oh, you..."
Before they knew it, their small boat had arrived at the entrance of a cosmetics shop. Dan Wulan looked up and saw the three large characters "Wan Qingzhai." Her eyes suddenly brightened as if remembering various things from Mo City. She leaned close to Lin Jinyu's ear and whispered something.
Queen Lin's cheeks flushed instantly, her eyes wide with shock. "This... this is too scandalous! How can there even be such... such a bodice?"
A knowing smile touched Dan Wulan's lips. "Men, they're all the same. As someone with experience in these matters, I understand far more than you do. Every time I wear one, Su Bei immediately becomes like a bull... completely unrestrained."
Lin Jinyu swiftly covered the outspoken Dan Wulan's mouth, her face crimson. She shot her a few disapproving looks. "There are so many people around! What are you saying?"
However, as she looked at the three large characters of Wan Qingzhai, Dan Wulan's words echoed in her mind like a devil's whisper. Finally, she cautiously peeked inside the shop and ventured, "Well... perhaps we could pick one out to try?"
Dan Wulan took her hand, smiling. "Come on, let's go. Everything inside is for women. What's there to be ashamed of?"
「Inside Wan Qingzhai.」
Su Bei had always considered himself calm and composed during important moments, a man of the world. But faced with all the ardent gazes fixed on him, he felt a bit uncomfortable. It seems I'm still as pure as a blank sheet at heart, he thought.
However, not wanting to appear inferior in front of his three disciples, he approached a shop assistant, cleared his throat, and said, "Don't you recognize this young master?"
The shop assistant hesitated, carefully scrutinizing the handsome man before her. Confirming she had never seen him before, she honestly shook her head.
Su Bei opened his mouth. Could it be that Yu Hongxiu hadn't mentioned him to them? Well, that makes sense. The Twenty-One Provinces are so vast; it's impossible for everyone to recognize me.
"Do you have any rouge made from Su Fangmu wood?" he asked. "Bring a packet for me to see!"
This statement made the attendants standing near Su Bei's disciples pause. This man seems to be quite the connoisseur, they thought.
The shop assistant replied, "The rouge from Su Fangmu wood has very little scent and is quite rare, but we do have some in stock. How much would you like?"
Su Bei stood with his hands behind his back, a faint smile on his face. "Just bring out one packet."
Soon, an attendant hurried over with a packet of rouge. Su Bei opened it and sniffed lightly. A faint, delicate fragrance filled his nostrils—so subtle it was almost imperceptible unless one paid close attention.
"Exquisite! Worthy of adorning the fairest face reflected in a mirror!" he declared. "This is truly fine rouge."
Li Zijun blinked, looking at the rouge in Su Bei's hand. After a moment's thought, she asked, "Master, do you know a lot about rouge?"
The attendant also looked at Su Bei with curiosity. It was strange enough for a man to bring three women of celestial beauty to choose rouge, but it was even stranger that he was so knowledgeable about it.
Su Bei smiled faintly, then dipped his finger into the rouge. Before Li Zijun's wide eyes, he gently applied it to her cheeks. "Do you know the origin of rouge?" he asked.
Truth be told, since arriving in this world, Su Bei had not shied away from studying all sorts of unconventional subjects. When it came to matters concerning women, he was indeed well-versed. Seeing his disciples shake their heads, he couldn't help but feel a bit smug as he explained, "Rouge... long ago, in the Southern Border of the Twenty-One Provinces, there was a city called Yan City. The women there would congeal the juice of the Red and Blue Flower into a paste. Because it originated from Yan City, it was called 'Swallow's Grease,' which later evolved into the term 'rouge.'"
As Su Bei spoke of the history of rouge, the women in the shop gradually gathered around, packing the area tightly as they listened to his explanation. Indeed, although rouge was popular, most people did not know its origins, so they were naturally intrigued.
"However," Su Bei continued, "there's another account. Outside the Twenty-One Provinces lies a place called The Wilderness. It's said that rouge was introduced to our Twenty-One Provinces from there long ago. In The Wilderness, there's a mountain called Yanzhi Mountain, which produces this kind of rouge, and the women there use it to adorn their faces."
The onlooking crowd murmured in admiration, their gazes towards Su Bei filled with gentle affection.
Su Bei cleared his throat, about to continue, when a familiar voice suddenly cut in, "Well, well, so Elder Su is quite the expert, I see. It seems you've frequented places like this quite often..."
Su Bei's eyebrows shot up. He knew that voice all too well. His expression stiffened. Turning around, he saw the striking white hair and coughed awkwardly. "Ahem, Wulan, what are you doing here...?"