Chapter 73: Chen Chuxue’s Past...

"Thirty percent!"

Chen Chuxue extended three slender, jade-like fingers toward Li Yuanjing, her tone grave and earnest:

"Master, this is the profit margin of a well-established, long-running workshop. For the more unstable, ordinary ones, the margin is at most twenty percent, sometimes only fifteen."

"And even so, they have to constantly deduct wages from the workers below just to achieve that!"

As she spoke, a fiery light seemed to ignite in Chen Chuxue’s beautiful eyes—a fervor difficult to describe—as she looked at Li Yuanjing:

"Master, as long as you possess such a marvelous new loom, I fear it will take only a few years before you become the greatest textile merchant in all of Great Qian."

With a sudden thud, Chen Chuxue dropped to her knees before Li Yuanjing:

"Master, if you trust me, could you give me a share? Even if it’s just one percent, I am confident that within five years, I can help you achieve everything I have promised!"

Watching her kneel in such reverence, her graceful figure accentuated—especially the alluring curve of her waist and hips—Li Yuanjing inhaled her delicate fragrance, then suddenly let out a derisive chuckle:

"Miss Chen, are you truly that confident?"

Seeing his mocking smile, Chen Chuxue felt a pang of anxiety, but quickly composed herself and replied:

"Master, I understand mere words cannot win your trust. But I am willing to show you the utmost sincerity!"

Biting her lip, Chen Chuxue summoned her courage and met Li Yuanjing’s gaze:

"Master, do you know why people call me the 'jinx'?"

Seeing Li Yuanjing’s evident interest, her eyes dimmed for a moment, but she gritted her teeth and pressed on:

"Master, have you ever heard of the Niu family, once the most powerful clan in the provincial capital?"

"Niu family?"

Li Yuanjing’s eyes narrowed sharply:

"You mean the protagonists of the Qizhou Rebellion two years ago—the generals of Qizhou?"

"Exactly!"

Chen Chuxue’s delicate body trembled uncontrollably, but she forced her voice to remain steady:

"Master, I am not of the Niu bloodline, but my mother was born into the Niu family! Back then, the largest textile workshop in all of Qizhou was run by my father and mother."

"In truth..."

"People thought my parents owed their success to my grandfather’s support, but the truth is, he gave them little help—in fact, it was my parents who constantly supported him..."

"My father was deeply versed in loom-making. Our machines were at least fifty percent more advanced than anyone else’s!"

Who could have foreseen...

"My parents worked so hard to build the business, their relationship with my grandfather had just begun to mend, and yet... such a terrible disaster befell us..."

At this point, Chen Chuxue’s voice broke with sobs, but her eyes grew all the more resolute:

"When the catastrophe struck, I was playing in the workshop. My father’s most loyal old servant and his wife found me and took me away at once!"

"Though I managed to escape Qizhou that very day, those people remained unsatisfied after killing my parents and grandfather—they pursued me relentlessly!"

"A few days later, the old servant who protected me went out to confront them. He was caught and tortured to death."

"My aunt and I fled all the way to Feng City, hoping to take refuge with her relatives in Spring Village."

"But we hadn’t expected..."

Chen Chuxue lowered her head, then with great difficulty, raised it again:

"We were still caught. My aunt was beheaded before my eyes. Only then did I learn the reason for their pursuit—they wanted the loom blueprints my father left me!"

"I didn’t want to give them up, but in the end, I had no choice..."

"And yet..."

"Even after I handed over the blueprints, they still tried to violate me... so I..."

Chen Chuxue struggled desperately to hold back her tears, then slowly removed her veil before Li Yuanjing.

Even Li Yuanjing could not help but gasp.

What he saw was this: on one side, her face was lovely and delicate; on the other, a terrible, indescribable scar marred her features.

Perhaps feeling that even her last shred of dignity had now been stripped away before Li Yuanjing, Chen Chuxue found a strange calm:

"Seeing me like this, they didn’t dare lay another hand on me. The officer in charge had once received great kindness from my grandfather."

"That night, he donned a mask, killed all the guards watching over me, and found a body double for me, allowing me to survive..."

"As for what happened to my aunt’s relatives afterward, that truly had nothing to do with me..."

"Looking back now, I suppose I really am cursed, a true 'jinx'..."

After speaking, she seemed to lose all strength, collapsing onto the floor in helpless sobs.

Watching Chen Chuxue in such a state, Li Yuanjing found himself at a loss for words. He had always suspected her past was difficult, but he had never imagined it could be so harrowing.

Although Li Yuanjing knew little of her grandfather or the true nature of the Qizhou Rebellion, even a fool could sense the terrifying struggle for profit that must have played out.

It was after that rebellion that the prince’s attendant rose to become the commander-in-chief of Qizhou, styled as the 'General of Qizhou'.

Yet even in the face of such horror, Chen Chuxue had survived with unbroken spirit, refusing to yield!

Li Yuanjing, a man in the prime of his vigor, and blessed with extraordinary fortune, was only facing a minor pressure—how could he allow himself to appear dejected or contemplate defeat?

Still, though he felt deep sympathy for Chen Chuxue, he kept his mind clear, and after a long silence, his voice hoarse, he asked:

"Miss Chen, what is it you wish to obtain from me?"

Startled, Chen Chuxue quickly wiped her tears and replied:

"Master, I do have my own selfish wishes. There are two."

"First, I want to fulfill my parents’ last wish—to build the finest textile workshop in all of Great Qian!"

But here she shook her head and gave a bitter smile:

"Now I see how foolish my parents were... The loom blueprints they protected with their lives may have seemed valuable to others, but compared to your new loom, Master... they are nothing at all..."

"And second..."

Chen Chuxue looked into Li Yuanjing’s eyes:

"To speak honestly, Master, I want revenge!"

"But rest assured, I will not act rashly or bring you any trouble! I only wish to help you grow the workshop and earn enough money!"

"When I have enough, I will leave, sever all ties with you, and only then will I seek vengeance! I will never bring you the slightest misfortune!"

"With your shrewdness, you must already know: 'Chen Chuxue' is not my real name..."

"If you still do not trust me, then—even though I am not much to look at—I am willing to submit to your every command... so long as you do not ask me to bear your child, I will do whatever else you desire..."

As she spoke, Chen Chuxue began to undress...

Revealing at last to Li Yuanjing the enchanting figure he had so long desired, but only now truly beheld...