Knowing the Warmth of Southern Tea (GL) - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Nan Nuan glanced at the corpse inside the room (the County Magistrate’s son: “I’m not dead yet.”) and sighed helplessly. She had heard of this Huo Sanniang back in the capital; she was a heroine, albeit one with a bit of a wicked sense of humor. Furthermore, this incident originally had nothing to do with Huo Sanniang. However, pleading for someone indiscriminately was a bit problematic. Regardless of the reason, such a person was unfit for great responsibility… no wonder they had been banished to Jicheng.

“What an inauspicious start,” Nan Nuan murmured, before ordering An San to bring Wen Cha back. Solving one trouble only leads to another; even if I don’t go looking for trouble, trouble finds me.

“Reporting to Miss, Wen Cha (the woman in red) has been brought here.” An San knelt to report, casually tossing Wen Cha onto the ground.

By this time, Wen Cha had fainted. After all, hanging from a tree all night was an ordeal; she was lucky not to have fallen ill.

“Splash her awake.”

“Yes.” An Yi splashed tea onto Wen Cha. She was right in the middle of a beautiful dream about eating roast chicken when she was jolted awake. She had been just one bite away from tasting it…

“Ah! Which little brat splashed me? I was just dreaming about roast chicken!” Wen Cha shouted. Having her beautiful dream interrupted naturally made her furious. Wen Cha had a terrible “wake-up temper,” and since her mother had doted on her excessively, she had grown up with this disposition.

“Seems like you’ve got plenty of energy,” Nan Nuan said, looking playfully at Wen Cha, who was referring to herself as “this old lady.” After all, most people wouldn’t be this energetic after hanging for an entire night!

Wen Cha opened her eyes and saw Nan Nuan. Her mind wasn’t fully clear yet, and she blurted out: “Uke?” (Note: “Submissive/Bottom” in a BL context).

Nan Nuan laughed from sheer irritation, admiring Wen Cha’s audacity. She truly hadn’t met anyone quite this persistent. Was she stupid or just frank? It seemed a night of hanging hadn’t made her realize she was the fish on the chopping block.

“It seems Miss Wen Cha isn’t quite awake yet. An San…”

Before Nan Nuan could finish, Wen Cha interrupted: “Young Master, you are a great man with a wide heart, please don’t lower yourself to my level. I just have a loose tongue. If I could move, I’d definitely slap my own face.” Wen Cha did not want to be hung up again; a wise person knows when to submit. As soon as she heard Nan Nuan’s voice, she was wide awake. When a devil is right beside you, no amount of sleepiness matters.

“Oh, you want to slap yourself? I can certainly help you with that.” Nan Nuan smiled and prepared to gesture to An San, who was already eager to assist.

“No need! The Young Master shouldn’t mind the faults of a lowly person like me!” Wen Cha said quickly. I was just using a figure of speech, I don’t actually want to hit myself.

“Naturally, I won’t hold a grudge. However, I would like to ask you, Miss—how did I offend you that you felt the need to plant a parasite on me? A Love Parasite (Qing Gu), no less? Could it be that you’ve fallen for me, and since you couldn’t have me, you…” Nan Nuan asked.

“Huh? I swear on my life that I have absolutely no feelings for you,” Wen Cha said, thinking to herself: How can this “pretty boy” be so shameless? I am a beautiful Physician Immortal; how could I fancy such a pale-faced brat? Cold-blooded, heartless, and selfish.

“If that’s the case, why did you plant a Love Parasite on me to pair me with someone else? Were you simply bored out of your mind?” Although Nan Nuan asked calmly, Wen Cha could still feel the killing intent.

Wen Cha thought for a moment and decided to come clean: “We people of the martial arts world (Jianghu) are chivalrous at heart. You saw someone in need and didn’t help, and I couldn’t stand it. I just wanted to give you a punishment.”

“Hmm, and then…?” Nan Nuan waited for her to continue.

“I saw how you treated that girl and got angry, so I gave you and that ‘fat pig’ the Love Parasite. I wanted to force you into… well, doing the deed, so you’d be stuck together and stop ruining other women’s lives.” As Wen Cha saw Nan Nuan’s expression darken, she felt like she might be doomed.

“Oh, I see.” Nan Nuan nodded. She wasn’t truly angry anymore; after all, this was just a young girl new to the martial arts world (as was Nan Nuan herself), and there was no need to be petty.

“So, can you let me go now?” Wen Cha asked, feeling she had suffered enough over the past two days. If this young master let her go, she would surely give him an unforgettable lesson and make him kneel to beg for mercy.

“Of course… not. Did you know that woman is a habitual offender in this city who frequently scams travelers? She is a professional con artist,” Nan Nuan replied. Seeing Wen Cha’s eyes blinking, she knew the girl was plotting something, so she purposely paused between “Of course” and “not” to tease her.

“What? She’s a scammer?” Wen Cha didn’t believe Nan Nuan’s words; seeing is believing, after all.

Nan Nuan explained: “Her name is Huo Sanniang, and she is skilled in the art of disguise. Little girl, I won’t hold your slander against me, but poisoning me indiscriminately—is that what a daughter of the Jianghu should do? You claim to be righteous, but is being blind to the truth your version of justice?”

“What proof do you have that what you’re saying is true?” Wen Cha was the type who wouldn’t give up until she reached the “Yellow River” or saw the “coffin.”

To make Wen Cha yield completely, Nan Nuan specifically called Huo Sanniang over and had her demonstrate her disguise technique. When Huo Sanniang transformed back into the “woman selling herself to bury her father,” Wen Cha was shocked.

“Little girl, I’m sorry.” Huo Sanniang felt bad for involving the young girl in her mess.

Nan Nuan waved her hand to dismiss Huo Sanniang. Wen Cha realized she was indeed in the wrong. As Huo Sanniang left, she kept looking back, afraid Nan Nuan would order Wen Cha’s death on a whim.

“Um… I can take the Love Parasite out for you, really,” Wen Cha offered. If the story was true, then this man had indeed suffered an undeserved calamity.

“I would naturally be grateful if you’re willing to remove it. However, I have doubts about your character. Pray tell, Miss, what exactly is this Love Parasite?” Nan Nuan asked, not showing any outward joy at the prospect of being cured.

“I can tell you, but can you unblock my pressure points (Acupoints) first? My body feels stiff,” Wen Cha bargained. A whole night of this was exhausting.

“Of course not. If you don’t want to talk while lying down, you can talk while hanging up again.” Nan Nuan didn’t know the extent of Wen Cha’s strength and couldn’t take any risks.

“Lying down is fine!” Wen Cha shouted. Why was “hanging someone from a tree” always the immediate threat?

Nan Nuan glanced at her, and Wen Cha immediately continued. “The Love Parasite was developed by my mother. Once it’s planted in two people, if their hearts aren’t as one, they must stay together. Otherwise, they will experience heart pain and eventually die from bleeding out of their seven orifices. But if their hearts are truly connected, it doesn’t matter if they are apart. Originally, it was created for someone who wanted to ensure their lover’s heart would never change—to test the sincerity of two people.”

“Does it work on anyone?”

“Of course. Once the parasite is planted, they will eventually fall in love with each other.”

Nan Nuan suddenly thought of something, and her smile became quite terrifying.

Why not take this “achievement” back to play with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?