Simulates history, but Chongzhen is the Divine Emperor at the beginning

Chapter 218: One step away from becoming Mr. Ximen!
[You, physically and mentally humiliated, are filled with the desire to vent your anger!]

Revenge! Revenge! Revenge!

[Although you don't understand the details of love and affection, and you've never even held a woman's hand before...it doesn't matter, because Madam Pan understands!]

[And you showed no mercy to her, because she was unworthy of your mercy! She was neither your wife nor your lover; she was merely your enemy and your target.]

[You only need to ruthlessly avenge her until you complete the "pay a large sum of money to have a child" mission. You don't need to worry about anything in between...]

[This was never love, it was just a transaction...]

【…】

[This goes on day after day, month after month.]

[During this period, you only need to report to the barracks every day to prove that you are not a deserter. The rest of the time you will stay at Madam Pan's house...]

[At first, you had to bring your own dry food and change of clothes. After all, this wasn't the military nor your home, so you still had to take care of yourself when you weren't on a mission.]

[But as you stayed longer and longer at her house, she gradually began to do your laundry and cooking on her own initiative...]

[Her every move, every word, and every action always reveals the weak and frail air of a concubine... She dares not speak loudly to you anymore, nor does she dare to act like a "captain's wife" to you anymore. She only serves you weakly as if you were her master.]

[She will even act coquettishly towards you and play many fun things with you...]

If an uninformed outsider saw this, they would probably think you were a husband and concubine, and would never imagine that you were actually in a transactional relationship.

[And when you face her transformation, while feeling relieved, you're also confused: What's going on? Why is she really being so nice to me?]

You pondered for a long time, but couldn't figure out this woman's train of thought. After all, you've never shown any kindness to her, and even every day you've done nothing but seek revenge on her!

[After thinking about it, you can only think that she is suffering from Stockholm syndrome...]

You initially felt a bit resistant and uncomfortable with her advances, but then you thought: This is revenge anyway, so why not be bolder?

[So you gradually grew bolder and began to accept her advances with a clear conscience.]

[And your reaction happened to catch her eye, which made her very happy!]

[So, her enthusiasm for cooking and washing for you every day was even greater. Not only did she make you a variety of meals, she also personally mended your worn-out clothes and washed them clean. She even bought fine fabric and made you new clothes that fit you perfectly...]

[This is absolutely a virtuous, loving, and all-round wife and concubine! ]

Even you can't help but murmur: No wonder Liu Dutou was willing to risk being criticized and divorce his original wife, and spend a huge amount of money to marry her... She's beautiful, virtuous, and versatile, marrying her is really worth it!

【only……】

You can't help but think maliciously: Perhaps even Liu Dutou hasn't enjoyed all this?

Liu Dutou is old and frail, and even with his beautiful wife, he can't enjoy her. He even has to pay a large sum of money to have a child... This is really a loss for the whole family!

[But it's precisely because of this that you have this good fortune... You feel you should thank him!]

[Within this state of mind, your mindset gradually shifts: perhaps your outdated set of values ​​should be adjusted for this...]

【…】

【Happy days pass one by one. 】

[A few months later, the wife-like Madam Pan suddenly hugged you after you had just returned from duty and happily told you a piece of great news...]

[“Zhou Lang, I’m pregnant!”]

【Yes? 】

[Listening to her joyful words, you can't help but be stunned, and then a sense of loss arises...]

[According to the original agreement, as long as Madam Pan can get pregnant, the deal will be complete... Afterwards, you will receive a generous gift of silver from Liu Dutou, and you will also receive a promotion from Liu Dutou. With your background and this opportunity, your future is truly promising!]

[But... now, you're a little reluctant to let go.] [Although you and Madam Pan were just business partners at first, after spending so much time together, this virtuous and caring elder sister has already made you develop some inappropriate feelings...]

[In other words, you no longer want to return her to Liu Dutou!]

[Besides, she's pregnant with your child, which makes it even harder for you to let go...]

Your obvious abnormality naturally caught the attention of Madam Pan... This clever woman guessed your thoughts with a little thought, and she began to hesitate.

After a moment, she gritted her teeth, suddenly pulled you into the inner room, and whispered in your ear...

"Zhou Lang, disaster is imminent!"

You startled and asked hurriedly, "What's wrong?"

She seemed to have made a decision, and whispered, "Actually, that old man had bad intentions from the beginning... He didn't want you to live at all!"

"If you had refused the deal, he would have found a pretext to send you to the border patrol, specifically to inspect areas where the Jin people were most likely to cross the border..."

[“And if you agree to the deal, then when I become pregnant, he will also find a way to silence you…”]

"No matter what you choose, you will die!"

[As soon as the words were spoken, your mind was immediately in turmoil...]

You certainly know that Liu Dutou might have bad intentions, but before things develop to the final step, you still have certain fantasies about him, such as the fantasy that he will spare your life as promised.

[But when Madam Pan made it clear, you realized you were still too young and didn't know enough about these old things...]

[But you can understand his logic. After all, you slept with his wife for several months, and the two of you were very much in love, and you even had a child... This is extremely insulting to a man! So it's not surprising that he did anything.]

You couldn't help but ponder for a moment: With Liu Dutou's methods, you definitely wouldn't be able to confront him head-on. Even as long as you were still a soldier in the army, you would definitely not be able to escape his butcher knife.

[Could it be... that I am going to be a deserter? ]

This difficult choice is troubling you. If you desert, not only will your family be implicated, but your dream of conquering the battlefield will also be shattered... You really don't want to end up like this!

[Your face is filled with resentment...]

But at this moment, Madam Pan beside her whispered, "Don't worry, Mr. Zhou. I have a plan that will work!"

【“What’s the plan?” You asked her subconsciously.】

She then said viciously, "That old fellow has been treating me badly ever since we got married. He even tried to have a child... What does he think of me?"

"Thankfully, that old man trusted me and entrusted me with all the property and deeds... If we work together to kill him, not only will Zhou Lang have one less enemy, but we can also seize the money and house he's saved over the past few decades!"

“Once this is accomplished, you and I will be able to live together openly and honestly, and our children will be able to grow up without worries about food and clothing…”

Madam Pan became increasingly excited as she spoke, her face flushing. She even began to imagine herself taking care of her husband and children, living the life a wife should live...

[But the madness and viciousness revealed in her words made you shudder! ]

[She even dared to collude with her adulterer to commit murder and robbery... This woman is too terrifying!]

[If you had a choice, you would definitely stay away from her and all this trouble as much as possible... But unfortunately, you don't have the power to choose.]

[The arrow is on the string and must be shot. Since Liu Dutou is already preparing to attack you, no matter how soft-hearted you are, you have no choice but to ruthlessly strike first!]

"But... this is wrong! It's so immoral and so illegal! An adulterer and an adulteress murdering for money sounds like something out of a storybook. How could this be something you should do?"

Once again standing at the crossroads of morality, law, and the will to survive, you must make a difficult choice...

……

(End of this chapter)