TSWRLM -Chapter 280 Does the Master Want to Kill Me?

Outside, firecrackers popped and cracked, the streets filled with the warmth and joy of family reunions. Yet the normally bustling Wuyou Pavilion was unusually quiet.

Lanshu led Wei Lingze upstairs, sharing the food and wine he had originally bought for himself: “It’s cold. Young Master Wei, have a cup of wine to warm yourself.”

Wei Lingze’s face was icy. He swept the cup off the table onto the floor: “I didn’t come here to drink. I’ll say it again—tell Xiao Yecheng to come see me.”

“Tonight is New Year’s Eve. The master won’t come here. And normally, I handle all the affairs of the pavilion. The master doesn’t personally get involved,” Lanshu said, smiling gently.

Before his words finished, Wei Lingze’s hand shot out, gripping his neck: “You have only two choices—either summon him to me, or die in his place!”

His grip was strong, and he kept tightening it as he spoke. Lanshu didn’t resist and repeatedly nodded.

After a moment, Wei Lingze released his hand.

“Cough, cough,” Lanshu coughed lightly and then instructed someone to summon Xiao Yecheng in front of Wei Lingze.

Once the person left, Lanshu added more coals to the brazier and retrieved a guqin.

He gently plucked the strings, and the pure, clear notes immediately washed over the room.

Lanshu’s skill was exquisite. He played a slow, soothing piece. After listening for a while, Wei Lingze felt some of the agitation in his heart ease.

When the song ended, Lanshu spoke again: “Young Master Wei, it’s New Year’s Eve. Aren’t you afraid your family will be displeased that you came here alone instead of staying home to see the year in?”

“I’d just be in the way if I stayed at home,” Wei Lingze replied instinctively.

He frowned immediately afterward—he hadn’t come to chat with Lanshu, but to vent his anger at Xiao Yecheng.

“When will Xiao Yecheng arrive?” Wei Lingze asked coldly, his expression darkening.

Lanshu walked over, half-kneeling as he poured another cup of wine: “I’ve already sent someone to invite the master. He should arrive soon. Don’t worry, Young Master Wei—Wuyou Pavilion is open for business; we would never harm a guest.”

He finished speaking and tilted his head back to drink the wine.

Lanshu wasn’t exceptionally handsome, but as he drank, the line of his jaw became distinct and his Adam’s apple moved with each swallow. There was something strangely captivating about the sight.

So when he poured another cup for Wei Lingze, he didn’t refuse this time.

Wuyou Pavilion always offered the best to its guests. The wine Lanshu served was a fine, aged pear-flower white. Heated, its aroma was rich and mellow; a single sip spread warmth throughout the body.

Wei Lingze felt the long-suppressed frustration in his chest melt away with the warmth. He asked Lanshu for another cup and spoke up: “I’m telling you—He’er belongs to me. Xiao Yecheng isn’t worthy of her. When he arrives, I want him on his knees, licking my shoes!”

Lanshu went along with his words: “The purpose of Wuyou Pavilion is to make guests happy. As long as Young Master Wei pays the right price, having the master do such things isn’t impossible.”

These words delighted Wei Lingze greatly, and he laughed out loud.

Indeed, in Wuyou Pavilion, money could get anything done.

He intended to humiliate Xiao Yecheng severely, to make him understand his place, so he would never covet He’er again!

Xiao Yecheng arrived at Wuyou Pavilion half an hour later.

Although Lanshu was tactful and competent, Xiao Yecheng worried he might not handle Wei Lingze well.

On the way, he had imagined countless possible scenarios, yet when he pushed open the door, the shock still hit him.

The brazier burned brightly, and as soon as the door opened, a wave of heat hit him. Mixed with it was a strange, intoxicating fragrance that made every pore in his body relax.

Wei Lingze seemed drunk, slumped in a chair, continuously calling out He’er’s name. Lanshu knelt before him, holding Wei Lingze’s belt in his hands.

Were these two insane?

Xiao Yecheng frowned and hurried forward, dragging Lanshu outside.

Xiao Yecheng’s body radiated cold, and his hands were freezing. Lanshu shivered, then lazily said, upon seeing Xiao Yecheng’s face: “Master, you’re here. I thought you didn’t care whether I lived or died.”

Xiao Yecheng used lightness skill to bring Lanshu to the back courtyard and splashed a bucket of cold water on him.

The icy water pierced to his bones. Lanshu’s gaze immediately cleared.

Xiao Yecheng glared at him coldly: “Awake now?”

Lanshu wiped his face and nodded: “Awake.”

“What did you do to Wei Lingze?” Xiao Yecheng asked, his voice trembling with anger.

Lanshu glanced at the belt in his hand, then at Xiao Yecheng, and said uncertainly: “Young Master Wei’s temper was too fierce. I feared you wouldn’t be able to get here tonight to save me, so I used a bit of calming incense on him. Just now… I helped him enjoy himself a little.”

Xiao Yecheng had guessed what happened, but hearing Lanshu admit it aloud still made his blood boil: “Are you insane?”

Although Xiao Yecheng hated Wei Lingze and wanted to punish him, he had never imagined humiliating him this way. When Wei Lingze woke, he would likely tear Lanshu to pieces and even mobilize all the Wei family’s resources to crush Wuyou Pavilion.

Cold water soaked his clothes, the chill cutting to his bones.

Lanshu, having spent years in Wuyou Pavilion, had grown almost immune to the regular incense—but he hadn’t expected the intoxicating incense, even in slightly increased dosage, to be so potent. That was why he had accidentally fallen into this trap.

Now that it had happened, regrets were useless. He looked up at Xiao Yecheng: “Master, do you intend to kill me to appease Young Master Wei, or spare my life, kill Young Master Wei, and cover up the evidence?”

Neither option was one Xiao Yecheng wanted to take.

He glared at Lanshu: “You caused this mess. Figure it out yourself. If you can’t, I won’t stop Wei Lingze from killing you.”

Lanshu rolled up his sleeves to dry the water from his face, sighing: “After working together all these years, I always knew you’d never kill me.”

Half an hour later, Wei Lingze woke up. Xiao Yecheng stood before him with a cold expression, while Lanshu acted as if nothing had happened, handing him a cup of warm water: “Young Master, you’re awake. Any discomfort?”

The brazier had been removed, the windows opened wide—the chill cleared Wei Lingze’s head.

Yet his memory stopped the moment Lanshu gave him the wine; he had no recollection of what had happened afterward.

“You dare! What did you do to me?” Wei Lingze shouted, overturning the water.

Lanshu remained composed, bowing slightly: “Master hadn’t arrived yet. I feared you might vent your anger on me, so I secretly used calming incense to make you sleep. Now that the master is here, I won’t interfere with your conversation.”

He attempted to step back. Wei Lingze ignored him, his eyes darkening as he summoned all his strength to strike a punch at Xiao Yecheng.