Chapter 1254 - 1163: Female Prime Minister 102
Gao Ya watched as Yin Shuangshuang’s expression remained undisturbed, showing no curiosity about her words, and felt a slight disappointment in her heart. This County Magistrate’s depth was too profound indeed.
Still, Gao Ya laughed and said, "About their secret dealings, I do know a bit of the inside story."
"Oh, what inside story?" Yin Shuangshuang inquired with an unchanged demeanor, her face showing no trace of emotion.
Gao Ya leaned slightly forward, lowering her upper body, bringing her mouth close to Yin Shuangshuang’s ear, and whispered, "It’s said they discovered a gold mine deep in the mountains. The court mandates that whether it’s a gold mine, silver mine, or iron mine, once discovered, it must be reported to the court.
But greed took over them, and they refused to report the gold mine to the court. They even killed a County Magistrate who refused to collude, then joined forces to control the area, selling the gold they extracted, and now each of them is rich beyond belief."
Yin Shuangshuang’s eyes darkened, yet on the surface, she showed no sign of this, her voice remaining calm and indifferent: "This indeed is a shocking news.
However, why should I believe you? The Shopkeeper of the Rouge Pavilion has quite a reputation here in Qinglin County; everyone knows you’re County Magistrate Chai Pengfei’s mistress.
Chai Pengfei holds you dear as a treasure, and now you speak here disparagingly of Chai Pengfei, do you think your words are credible?"
Facing Yin Shuangshuang’s suddenly sharp gaze, Gao Ya showed no fear at all despite the awkwardness of being exposed as a mistress, instead covering her lips with a charming smile.
"Lord County Magistrate is also a woman; to reach this position, you must have paid a considerable price. County Magistrate should most understand the difficulties women face.
For ordinary women, it’s hard to establish oneself, let alone a young woman like me, with no parents, no relatives, nor friends, wishing to establish a foothold is even harder.
I read the books of sages with my father from an early age, and I have a sense of propriety. If possible, who would want to become a man’s mistress? But not doing so, I couldn’t even stand in Qinglin County.
County Magistrate, look at my face, a face like this naturally draws men. It’s not my will, it was Chai Pengfei who forced me to be his mistress; as an orphan with no support, what could I do?
Even if I hate him to the bone, I still have to wear a smile to please him. County Magistrate, please believe me, his bullying makes me hate him more than anyone else!"
Gao Ya’s eyes revealed a hatred so intense it was impossible to feign, a hatred filling one with a chilling sense of darkness.
Gao Ya at this moment was like a hidden serpent in the shadows, waiting patiently to deliver a deadly strike, exuding a spine-chilling darkness.
Yin Shuangshuang frowned slightly but quickly regained her calm, neither showing belief nor disbelief towards Gao Ya.
"It seems Manager Gao knows the location of the gold mine in the mountains? What does Manager Gao wish to gain by revealing this news?"
Gao Ya withdrew the malice from her face, turning again into a lively and seductive beauty shopkeeper, covering her lips with a smile: "Actually, what I seek is simple. I wish to be self-reliant, quietly doing business on my own, without being cursed or becoming a mistress.
I hope to escape Chai Pengfei’s control. If fortunate enough, I hope to someday meet a kindred spirit and be with him openly and honestly.
If not, I hope to sustain myself without relying on anyone, not forced to be with a man.
If Lord County Magistrate is willing to protect me, allowing me to conduct business peaceably in Qinglin County without influence, I would be content, asking nothing more.
If the County Magistrate agrees to protect me, I am willing to lead the way, showing the County Magistrate the location of the gold mine.
Chai Pengfei has a strong fondness and was very fond of me, once even taking me to the gold mine to broaden my horizons. I naturally memorized its location well."
Yin Shuangshuang remained indifferent, and after a while, smiled and said: "If so, then I’ll trouble Manager Gao. If you truly lead me to this gold mine, allowing me to capture their evidence of crime, I guarantee no one in Qinglin County will dare mistreat you."
"In that case, I thank the County Magistrate greatly!"
............
After leaving Rouge Pavilion, Wei Yingnan, supporting Yin Shuangshuang, frowned and said, "Sister Shuangshuang, do you really believe this woman’s words?"
An ambiguous smile appeared at Yin Shuangshuang’s lips: "Believe, why wouldn’t I believe."
Wei Yingnan: "..."
Completely unable to understand what Sister Shuangshuang was thinking, her face seemed not to be one of belief.
............
Inside Rouge Pavilion, soon after Yin Shuangshuang left, a secret door suddenly opened in the wall of the room behind Gao Ya. From the secret door emerged a man, none other than Chai Pengfei.
Chai Pengfei appeared and hugged Gao Ya’s waist, his face smiling with praise: "My little Ya’er is truly remarkable. Even this smart County Magistrate Yin fell into your trap, I thought she was much cleverer, yet she was easily toyed with by you."
"Actually, the reason she believed me was that I cater to her tastes. She’s a strong woman, naturally not fond of weak women, so I present myself as independent to please her. Seeing me favorably, she naturally believes me easily."
As she spoke, Gao Ya suddenly extended her hand, holding Chai Pengfei’s wandering hand, turned, and lightly punched him: "I took great risks for you this time, you better treat me well in the future."
"Yes, yes, have to treat my little Ya’er well. What if I divorce that aging wife, then marry you with great ceremony?" Chai Pengfei’s words carried a hint of probing.
Gao Ya cast a glance at Chai Pengfei, addressing him with mock rebuke: "Didn’t we agree to not mention this again? I told you, I come from a reputable family, our ancestral rule forbids becoming a concubine.
Yet I fell in love with you, breaking ancestral rules to become your mistress is my limit. If I let you divorce a blameless wife for this, my conscience could never be at ease. So if you mention this again, don’t come to me."
Gao Ya turned her back, ignoring Chai Pengfei. Chai Feipeng hurriedly stepped forward, hugging her, coaxing: "Don’t be mad, I only meant I felt having a mistress unfair for you, it unnerves me when you’re angry. I won’t mention it again if you don’t like it."
Gao Ya’s expression suddenly turned sorrowful as she cradled Chai Pengfei’s face: "I’m not angry, just saddened, meeting you too late, lamenting not meeting before marriage."