Chapter 25: Past Debts Repaid in the Present

Lu Lanci did not have time to think; she only felt that today’s trip had not been in vain.

"I know, my lord is the most powerful. I shall wait for you to finish your business and come to fetch me."

"You little minx, I just love how shameless you are..."

"Oh... my lord, be gentle... don't hurt me..."

"I prefer it rough..."

Desire swelled in Li Ao’s eyes. He tore the woman’s clothes off viciously, and as the bed curtains fell, only the creaking of the bed frame could be heard from within.

Although Lu Lanci had never consummated her marriage with Zhuang Huanjin in her past life, she was married, so she understood more or less what was happening. In broad daylight, these two were completely uninhibited, caring nothing for the presence of others.

Lu Lanci thought, "..."

Bai Zhi blushed, her heart pounding. Lu Lanci could not help but cover her ears and force her to keep her eyes shut, silently chanting to herself: *I have sinned, I have sinned. I shouldn't have brought Bai Zhi up here and tainted the eyes of an innocent little bunny.*

"Miss, this is the third woman he has slept with today. Is he not afraid of catching some filth?"

"Stop watching, you’ll get a sty in your eye. Bai Zhi, just pretend you saw nothing. It is truly too disgusting..."

Lu Lanci’s face grew dark, her icy gaze revealing threads of murderous intent. Li Ao, relying on his status, was cruel, vicious, depraved, and tyrannical, having ruined the reputation of countless decent women. Yet, officials shielded one another, and those with grievances but no standing had nowhere to turn.

In her past life, how did Bai Zhi encounter Li Ao? What secret did she discover that offended him so deeply—a secret that even caused Zhuang Huanjin to stand by and watch her die, or perhaps even take the initiative to kill her?

"Bai Zhi, the show is about to begin."

Before Bai Zhi could understand what she meant, a loud crash echoed as the room door was kicked off its hinges. The two people on the bed, stark naked, were startled half to death.

"Who dares to barge into this young master’s room?"

Li Ao snatched the quilt to wrap himself tightly, leaving the woman huddled in the corner of the bed, shivering.

"Husband, you are quite bold, playing so wildly behind this Princess's back..."

Liang Ruoxue walked in with a graceful, swaying gait. She pulled back her cloak, and when Li Ao saw her, he gulped involuntarily. The woman beside him turned pale with terror.

"Princess, you... how did you come here?"

"Put on your clothes. Don't dirty my eyes."

Liang Ruoxue walked into the outer room, her eyes filled with disdain and revulsion. Li Ao and the woman scrambled to dress. The woman hid behind Li Ao, her face drained of color.

"Husband, I have turned a blind eye to your usual behavior, but today you actually intend to keep her as a mistress?"

"Who said that? Who is the blind fool spouting nonsense?"

Li Ao denied it vehemently. When it came to ruthlessness, Liang Ruoxue was no less capable than he was; the several women he had secretly kept outside had all been murdered by her. Even the maids in his own mansion were nowhere to be found, as they had all died under mysterious circumstances. The crux of the matter was that he and Liang Ruoxue had been married for years without consummating the union; she never considered that he was a normal man with normal physiological needs. However, the Emperor and the Grand Princess pampered her to the point of lawlessness, and even his father could only turn a blind eye, constantly scolding him for being useless and unable to manage a single woman.

"My lord, didn't you just say you would buy a house for me?" The woman behind him clutched Li Ao’s sleeve with tear-filled eyes.

"You slut, when did I ever say such a thing? A whore ridden by thousands, wanting to enter the gates of my Prime Minister’s manor? You are truly delusional."

"My lord..."

The woman stared at Li Ao in disbelief. It turned out his affection from moments ago had all been a performance—he was truly cold-blooded.

"Since that is the case, I find her rather unsightly..." Liang Ruoxue sat there, nonchalantly twisting her hands.

"Princess, have mercy! I will never dare to do it again..." Hearing this, the woman realized she was doomed. She knelt on the ground, weeping and begging for mercy. Seeing that Liang Ruoxue remained silent, she turned to Li Ao: "My lord, save me! Please, beg the Princess on my behalf..."

Li Ao shook her off in disgust, terrified of being implicated. The woman fell into despair. Tears streaming down her face, she cried, "When you were with me just now, didn't you say she was nothing? You said you didn't even fear the Princess, let alone a mere noblewoman? Now you cower—are you even a man?"

Liang Ruoxue asked casually, "Oh? Did my husband really say that?"

As soon as the woman finished speaking, she suddenly spat out blood and looked down at her stomach. Blood flowed freely, soaking her clothes red. She opened her mouth and pointed at the man with the hideous expression before her: "You are truly a beast in human skin... I will not let you go even as a ghost..."

The woman’s eyes were bloodshot, her face twisted. She felt regret; how could she have believed that someone who committed every evil would treat her as an exception?

Li Ao pulled the blade from her stomach, shook his hand, and said heartlessly, "Princess, do not listen to this bitch’s ravings. She seduced me, and when I refused, she grew resentful and sought revenge." He then turned to his two attendants, barking with arrogance, "Throw her corpse into the hunting grounds to feed the wolves."

The hunting grounds were filled with fierce beasts, kept specifically for the gambling and entertainment of the powerful. This was the decadence of the elite, who viewed human life as nothing more than blades of grass. Li Ao did not even want to leave the woman a whole corpse; he was truly vicious.

"Husband, you really are one to discard someone the moment you pull up your trousers. Never mind, the autumn hunt is tomorrow; don't make a scene. Let the proprietor handle it."

"The Princess is right. Does the Princess have any further arrangements? Shall I accompany you?"

"No need. I do not like to be disturbed."

Liang Ruoxue rose to leave, but suddenly turned back to add, "I just love the look on your face when you want to kill me but cannot."

Watching Liang Ruoxue’s proud retreating figure, Li Ao gnashed his teeth, wishing he could devour her. *Bitch! Relying on the Grand Princess's influence... one day, I will trample you underfoot and make you beg for mercy. I will make you crawl beneath me! I will torture you every single day!*

Bai Zhi murmured softly, "It truly is as they say: those who are not of the same family do not enter the same house."

Lu Lanci had wanted to collect the woman’s body, but after a moment’s thought, she decided against it. It was the woman’s own ambition to cling to the powerful that dug her grave; she had brought this upon herself. However, for the sake of the vengeance Bai Zhi could not claim in her past life, she would ensure Li Ao paid for it in this one.

Afterward, she took Bai Zhi to an inn, changed into black attire, and gave a few instructions: "Bai Zhi, you go first. I need to visit the Western Suburb Villa. We will meet at the outskirts of the city later. Be careful and stay safe."

After giving her orders, Lu Lanci took the black veil from Bai Zhi and vanished into the crowd. Bai Zhi was immensely excited; this was her first time following her mistress to punish evil and promote good. She was determined not to hold her back.