Chapter 178: Devouring the Second Goddess, Please Make the Princess Consort More Aggrieved for the Protagonist's Growth (2)
Meanwhile, Su Qing had no idea a fresh wave of murderous intent was brewing behind the scenes.
He was currently in a standalone courtyard, preparing for a serious talk with someone.
The quiet, secluded yard happened to be within view of the dungeon where Tang Xuan was imprisoned.
From over there, one could see what was happening here — a double blow to the protagonist.
Because he could clearly see that Su Qing had appeared in the very courtyard where his sister-in-law was imprisoned!
Once Tang Xuan realized this, he naturally broke down emotionally.
Su Qing didn't care about his feelings in the slightest.
He had more important matters to deal with, and this time, provoking the protagonist wasn't even the goal.
"Madam, this is a VIP seat I specially arranged for you. Do you like it?"
He looked at the delicate, soft-spoken married woman, his gaze somewhat appraising.
This big sister was undeniably attractive—her face and figure were flawless.
That gentle, mature face, those moist eyes full of unspoken sorrow—she looked like she carried a burden of melancholy.
Expressions like that naturally sparked a lot of thoughts.
Though what kind of thoughts exactly—whether to bully or to protect—was up for debate.
Even if she was deliberately putting on an act, she could still be called the pinnacle of pure and seductive charm.
Who could resist a frail and alluring wife like this?
"What exactly does Lord Su want? Could you just be straightforward with me?"
Nong Ying spoke softly.
She said that, but her heart was already calculating.
A man and a woman alone in a room—why else would he come?
Clearly, his lust had taken over and he couldn't resist humiliating her.
She had fully prepared herself—this time, she would not repeat past mistakes!
"Still putting on a show? Haven't you had enough?"
But Su Qing didn't approach. He pulled out a chair and sat down.
His expression was laced with amusement, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor, exposing her true colors directly.
This time, he was determined to gain a very special ally.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Nong Ying looked slightly confused, as if she truly didn't understand.
"Then I'll do you the courtesy of being more specific."
"Some people have always had a very clear goal—willing to stay beside a villain, silently hiding."
"Able to closely monitor the Empress's every move, while ensuring the safety of the chosen one."
"Tell me, am I right, dear goddess?"
As Su Qing spoke, he stared directly at the widowed woman.
Nong Ying's eyes briefly showed surprise, but she quickly masked it.
She opened her mouth to respond, but was interrupted again.
"Beyond the Southern Court—Leader of the Dao Alliance."
"They say your relationship with the Heavenly Dao Master is quite... intimate?"
Su Qing wasn't in the mood to play verbal games—he directly exposed her identity.
This time, Nong Ying truly fell silent. Her expression visibly shifted.
The formerly gentle and sorrowful widow now carried a different kind of presence.
Under his gaze—so piercing it seemed to see through everything—she could no longer maintain composure.
She couldn't help it. What he'd said struck too close to home for an undercover agent.
He understood her actions and intentions down to the last detail.
Not only that—he even identified her identity in one breath!
Where had he gotten this information? What kind of intelligence network did he have?
Too deep to fathom!
Before, she thought he was just a reckless piece on the board, at most a lucky fool.
But now, it was clear—he wasn't lucky. He had planned and prepared all along!
The piece on the board had become a hidden, masterful player.
Nong Ying's gaze grew serious. Her eyes flickered as she weighed her options.
This unexpected twist left her momentarily unsure what to do.
Even someone as clever as her didn't know why Su Qing would suddenly call her out.
But she quickly regained her calm.
Since he had brought it up, it meant he wasn't her enemy.
Otherwise, the Empress herself would be standing here now.
"That kind of composure... no wonder you dared to hide at my side. Fine, let's speak plainly."
Su Qing praised her, then said,
"My goal is simple—I want to make a gentleman's agreement with you. Right now, we have no need for conflict."
Nong Ying paused, frowning.
"You... are trying to win me over the same way you did with Ye Xueyi?"
"To prove you're more worthy of my loyalty?"
The reason she guessed that was because there was no reason for him to reveal her identity otherwise.
If he wanted peace, he could've pretended he didn't know anything.
Now that he had exposed it, clearly he was trying to demonstrate his strength.
"No, no. That's not quite right. I don't need to prove how good I am."
"What I want is to conquer you—to make you obey me. Loyalty isn't the point."
Su Qing's tone was domineering and firm.
Unfortunately, this rare display of charm had zero effect on the mature beauty.
"Oh? Then I'd like to see how you plan to do that. Threaten me with the chosen one?"
Nong Ying didn't seem fazed—in fact, she looked a little dismissive.
Truthfully, if Su Qing hadn't revealed his depth, she would've shown that disdain even more.
"Have you heard the phrase: seek common ground while reserving differences?"
"My goal is simple—to humiliate a goddess as sacred as you."
"Your goal is to push the chosen one toward the pinnacle of this world."
"Different ultimate goals—but when you think about it, we've got a lot in common."
"What we're doing doesn't conflict. In fact, we can complement each other."
Su Qing smiled brightly.
He felt no guilt in manipulating bad women. None at all.
"Explain."
Nong Ying's heart stirred.
Those four words—'seek common ground'—really did sound quite reasonable.
"All those scenes you played with me were to make him see you being humiliated."
"To drive him into rage and push him to train harder, to grow faster."
"You must've noticed your tactic worked—so you kept doing it, again and again."
Su Qing continued.
No fear she wouldn't fall for it—only fear she wouldn't listen.
Since she was listening, that meant the plan was already halfway there.
After hearing this, Nong Ying fell completely silent.
Her cheeks flushed slightly—clearly a little embarrassed.
As a widow, of course she'd realized it—and had repeatedly exploited it.
But knowing it was one thing—having it exposed right in her face was another.
As a refined and composed older woman, she didn't have the thick skin of seasoned schemers.
"So now, we've found common ground."
"I want to make the protagonist, and for that, you'll need to sacrifice a bit of chastity to accelerate his growth."
Su Qing finally stated his goal.
"Why should I cooperate with you? I could easily find someone else to help."
Nong Ying asked.
She didn't really plan to—she just didn't want to be led around.
"Because time is critical, Goddess. You should know how badly he's hurt this time."
"Physical injuries are secondary—the mental blow has left his very core shaken."
"An average person would be finished. Even with divine protection, he's badly damaged."
"If he doesn't bounce back, his progress will be stalled for a long time."
"If you don't cooperate with me, will you really have time to find another suitable target?"
"Don't forget—he hates me the most. Only I can stimulate him effectively!"
"Pick someone else, and your plans will be delayed. That's not what you want, is it?"
Su Qing patted his chest with pride.
As if being hated was some kind of badge of honor.