Chapter 49 What More Is There to Lose?

Listening to Zhao Ang’s final words, Wang Xiuyun stood frozen as if turned to stone, her head lowered and completely motionless, save for the slight trembling of her shoulders.

A moment later, she abruptly raised her head, a complex flurry of emotions flashing in her eyes—resembling a mix of agony and struggle.

"Vengeance?"

Her voice was hoarse, like a cluster of shattered syllables squeezed up from the depths of her throat.

Zhao Ang straightened his posture, looking down at her from above with an elusive, faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"That's right, vengeance. What else can you do in this state? Curl up here like a dead dog, letting people point fingers at you, waiting for Zhou Qi to toss you a scrap of leftover food?"

Wang Xiuyun’s hands clutched desperately at the swaddling clothes. Her lips trembled slightly, and a profound, burning resentment surfaced in her eyes.

"But I... what other choice do I have? He... he is a man of the Duke's Estate... I..."

"The Duke's Estate?"

Zhao Ang let out a derisive scoff, his tone dripping with mockery.

"So what if it's the Duke's Estate? Zhou Qi is nothing more than a dog draped in human skin. Do you really think you can't fight him? Or do you actually believe he can protect himself for a lifetime? Let me tell you, Wang Xiuyun, a man like Zhou Qi will reap what he sows sooner or later."

Wang Xiuyun lifted her gaze slightly, as if she had caught a fleeting glimmer of hope.

Yet, an instant later, she lowered her head once more, hugged the bundle tightly to her chest, and muttered to herself, "Yet I... I have nothing left..."

Zhao Ang arched an eyebrow, his tone turning abruptly frigid.

"What is left for you to hold onto? A dead child? A shred of so-called dignity? What do you think your submissiveness can buy you? Zhou Qi has already ruined you—what more could you possibly lose?"

These words struck like a blade, piercing deep into Wang Xiuyun's heart.

Her body trembled faintly, and her grip on the swaddling clothes tightened until her knuckles turned white.

The dazed confusion in her eyes slowly gave way to a growing resolve. At last, she raised her head to look directly at Zhao Ang.

Her voice was low and hoarse, yet it carried an unmistakable chill. "You are right... I have nothing left... But I cannot accept this. I cannot just let it end like this..."

At this, the corners of Zhao Ang’s mouth curled upward, a flicker of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

He slowly squatted down, speaking in a low and deliberate tone.

"You cannot accept it? Then go do something about it. No matter how bitterly you cry, others will only treat it as a joke; but if you make those who harmed you pay the price, that is what it means to have backbone. Wang Xiuyun, if you do not want to rot away for the rest of your life, get up."

Wang Xiuyun stared blankly at Zhao Ang, her hands gripping the bundle tightly, her eyes a turbulent mix of pain.

After a moment, her fingers finally loosened, and she slowly placed the swaddling clothes down upon the ground.

Her movements were exceedingly gentle, as though she were handling some peerless treasure.

Yet the moment her hands pulled away from the cloth, a resolute sternness settled deep within her gaze.

"Will you truly help me?" Her voice was faint, but her tone held the hard-won composure of someone who had weathered a fierce inner turmoil.

Zhao Ang stood up, resting his hands on his hips, and drawled lazily, "Of course. I, Zhao Ang, am a man who loves to lend a hand—especially to those who have been bitten by a dog."

Hearing this, Wang Xiuyun gave him a complicated look before finally nodding slowly. "Very well... I will listen to you."

A brighter smile bloomed across Zhao Ang’s face. He clapped his hands once and beckoned to Fugui, who stood not far away.

"Go find her a clean set of clothes and tidy her up properly. Don't let her wander around hugging that pile of things anymore; it brings bad luck."

Fugui stepped forward without a change in expression, casting a critical glance at Wang Xiuyun with a slight frown before nodding. "Understood."

Wang Xiuyun looked at Zhao Ang, a trace of vitality finally returning to her features. She asked in a low voice, "What must I do now?"

Zhao Ang stretched lazily. "There is no rush. Follow me; once you have washed up and changed into proper attire, I will tell you what to do next."

Fugui quickly returned with clean garments, and several maids from the Zhao household escorted Wang Xiuyun to the rear courtyard of the teahouse to wash and dress.

When Wang Xiuyun emerged once more, though still somewhat slight of frame, she looked entirely transformed.

Seated on the second floor of the teahouse, one leg crossed over the other as he sipped his tea, Zhao Ang watched her ascend the stairs step by step.

A look of satisfaction crossed his eyes, and he chuckled softly. "There, that is much better. Now you look like a human being again."

Wang Xiuyun stood before him with lowered head, her voice still hoarse. "And now?"

Zhao Ang smiled faintly, set down his teacup, and spoke at a measured pace.

"Now? It is very simple. You will stay quietly put and follow my arrangements. A man like Zhou Qi cares nothing for how miserable you are, but if you can make him taste the sting of ruin as well—now, that will be interesting."

"How?" A trace of urgency bled into Wang Xiuyun's tone.

Zhao Ang glanced at her, the smile at the edge of his lips deepening by a fraction. "Rest assured, I will not demand too much effort from you. I have my own ways of making him pay the price."

Standing at the mouth of the alley, Zhao Ang gazed into the distance toward Zhou Qi’s residence, a rebellious, untamed smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

He casually brushed back his sleeve, turned his head to look at Yang Mu and Fugui standing nearby, and spoke in an unhurried drawl.

"Uncle Yang, Fugui, our main character should be arriving shortly, shouldn't he? If a good show starts too late, it loses its charm."

Yang Mu cupped his fists and murmured, "My Lord, Zhou Qi has just left the pleasure house. I am told he has a singing girl in tow and should be back any moment now."

Zhao Ang gave a slight nod, his gaze shifting to Wang Xiuyun, who stood behind him.

She had already changed into a plain yet immaculate dress, her hair neatly combed, though an undeniable air of unease still clung to her.

Zhao Ang strolled leisurely over to her, his voice low and cold. "You still remember what I told you?"

Wang Xiuyun kept her gaze fixed on the ground, her fingers clawed tightly into the fabric of her skirt. After a moment, she looked up at Zhao Ang, a complex emotion flitting across her eyes. "I remember."

"As long as you remember."

Zhao Ang’s tone remained detached, but his gaze was as sharp as a blade.

"Do you not wish for revenge? Tonight is your opportunity. A man like Zhou Qi responds only to force, never to softness. The more pitiable you appear, the more he will despise you; but if you can make him taste even a fraction of pain, he will finally understand that you are not someone he can trample at whim."

Wang Xiuyun’s hands trembled slightly. She clenched her teeth and whispered, "I will do it."

At this, the smile on Zhao Ang’s face widened.

He turned to Fugui and instructed in a soft voice, "Should things become too unruly later on, make sure to protect her and pull her out first. We cannot afford to let Zhou Qi get her back into his clutches too easily, understand?"

Fugui nodded. "Rest assured, My Lord, I understand."

Before long, Zhou Qi indeed made his appearance.

Clad in a magnificent brocade robe and embracing an elaborately dressed singing girl, he walked with an unsteady gait, clearly having consumed a considerable amount of wine.

He walked along, chuckling softly as he flirted with the singing girl, completely oblivious to Wang Xiuyun waiting outside his gate.

"Zhou Qi!" Wang Xiuyun’s voice suddenly rang out from the darkness, shattering the surrounding quiet.

Zhou Qi paused in his tracks, lifted his head, and upon seeing Wang Xiuyun standing by the doorway, the smile vanished from his face in an instant.

His brow furrowed deeply, a surge of disgust flashing in his eyes. "Why have you come again?"