Chapter 230: Chapter 230

Pei Shu’er nodded. That day, Pei Shu’er and Tang Zan began the martial arts lessons, with Tang Zan mainly teaching Pei Shu’er his own Heart-breaking Technique, focusing on inner strength and martial arts.

These moves were swift, precise, and fierce, best suited for close combat.

Pei Shu’er first practiced breathing, as well as the horse stance.

It was manageable at first, but as time went on, she found it increasingly unbearable, though she gritted her teeth and persevered.

Because Tang Zan had said that she needed to hold the stance for half an hour at the start.

Eventually, Pei Shu’er felt that her legs were so sore that they didn’t even feel like her own anymore.

Tang Zan’s eyes were deep; generally, for a beginner, especially a woman and someone like Pei Shu’er without muscle, it would be impossible to hold the stance for long on the first try.

Yet she managed to hold it for so long.

Most people would have given up long before; she held it for twice as long as others.

This came down not just to physical fitness but also to willpower.

When heading back to the tent, Pei Shu’er’s legs were trembling and unable to move, so Tang Zan carried her horizontally and walked toward the tent.

Pei Shu’er said, "I’ve sweated a lot. I hope to take a bath in your tent."

She could actually wash inside her own space, but the space only contained essential drinking water at the moment, and not much of it.

After saying this, Pei Shu’er felt a bit nervous, as the tent had a dirt floor, and it would surely get wet after a bath.

Tang Zan was much better than before he became darker, but allowing her to bathe in his tent seemed a bit too much.

Moreover, he had to heat the bathwater and such.

But if she went to the previous hot spring to bathe, the distance was too far.

It would take two hours round trip, and by the time she rode back, she’d be sweaty again, needing another bath.

She thought Tang Zan would refuse, but unexpectedly, he went out for a while and then returned.

The bathwater was soon carried in by soldiers.

Pei Shu’er coughed lightly and said to Tang Zan, "Then you go out."

Tang Zan left the tent, but didn’t go far, just sat at the entrance to guard against anyone barging in.

Listening to the sound of water in the tent, his mouth felt dry.

He took a sip from his water bag, but the heat couldn’t be suppressed.

He closed his eyes, but his mind was filled with images of Pei Shu’er’s fair and delicate skin.

Suddenly, Tang Zan regretted it; he shouldn’t have let Pei Shu’er bathe in his tent, nor should he have guarded the door himself.

But the camp was full of men, and besides him, he couldn’t trust anyone else.

Pei Shu’er was so beautiful, so sweet...

If even he couldn’t restrain himself, let alone others.

When Pei Shu’er finished her bath, she softly called for him inside.

Tang Zan entered and saw Pei Shu’er’s slightly damp hair as she sat in the tent.

Seeing Tang Zan coming in, Pei Shu’er looked up and smiled, soft and sweet.

Tang Zan had the bathwater carried out and ordered someone to tidy up the tent.

He walked to Pei Shu’er, stood behind her, and, as if possessed, took hold of Pei Shu’er’s long hair with his fingers.

Her hair was jet black and soft, draping beautifully.

Tang Zan picked up a cloth nearby to dry Pei Shu’er’s hair. Pei Shu’er actually wanted to use a hairdryer, but she thought it would dry too quickly and seem suspicious.

After Tang Zan dried her hair to a semi-dry state, Pei Shu’er smiled and thanked him.

Because her hair was long, Pei Shu’er had to wait patiently for it to dry.

Tang Zan rested in the tent for a while, then went out to gather the troops.

Pei Shu’er quickly entered her space and used the hairdryer to dry her hair.

In the evening, after Tang Zan’s training, he was sweaty, with sweat flowing over his muscular, toned arms, presenting an exciting picture of male beauty.

When he wiped his sweat with a handkerchief, he appeared much more approachable.

Xuan Liu came over, looked at Tang Zan, and suddenly hesitated to speak.

Tang Zan stopped wiping his sweat and looked coldly at Xuan Liu.

"Speak if you have something to say."

Xuan Liu took another look at Tang Zan, then knelt on one knee before speaking.

"Master, the matter you asked me to investigate about the exile has a result."

Xuan Liu glanced at the tent, then looked away.

He took a deep breath, then spoke.

"The incriminating evidence was left in the master’s study... by the Young Madam."

These words consumed all of Xuan Liu’s courage.

No matter how close Pei Shu’er had become to the master lately, or her status, it made him afraid to speak lightly.

This was telling the master that his wife had betrayed him.

And the master hated betrayal the most.

Tang Zan frowned and kicked Xuan Liu, who was kneeling, to the ground.

"Nonsense! Who told you to slander the Young Madam! I asked you to find the truth, and you give me this nonsense?"

He felt Tang Zan’s gaze on him as if it could tear him apart.

Xuan Liu got up and knelt again.

"Subordinate has no intention of perfunctorily deceiving you."

He took out a letter: "If not for seeing Jixiang’s handwriting, the subordinate wouldn’t believe it. After multiple confirmations, indeed... it was the Young Madam. The subordinate doesn’t understand why the Young Madam would do this, but the evidence..."

Jixiang was known for being honest and loyal.

Seeing Tang Zan’s face was extraordinarily grim, Xuan Liu told the rest.

"At the time... the Young Madam said she dropped her hairpin and arrogantly ordered the Prince Mansion’s people to search, took advantage of the guards’ absence, and ran into the study. When the servants went in, the Young Madam had already come out."

"The servants checked the study and found nothing missing. But Jixiang noticed that the golden box Pei Shu’er had before was gone."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Liu felt the air pressure around him drop again, cold enough to make him shiver.

He didn’t dare to look up at Tang Zan, knowing his expression must be extremely grim at that moment. Discover more novels at novel⦿fire.net

Tang Zan remained silent for a long time, the air heavy around him, his face cold as ice.

He snatched the evidence and quickly scanned through it, finding it was indeed Jixiang’s handwriting, with narrative style identical as well.

He couldn’t believe it was truly Pei Shu’er.

He thought Pei Shu’er was at most passing messages, playing a trivial accomplice role.

He felt that the Third Prince didn’t fully trust her either.

But she had directly placed the incriminating evidence in their Prince Zhan Mansion.

Why would Pei Shu’er do this after marrying into the mansion herself?

He took a deep breath and finally used his inner strength to shatter the letter into powder.

"Investigate further."

With icy shards seemingly flying towards Xuan Liu, he shivered again, almost unable to lift his head under Tang Zan’s oppressive presence.