Villain: Manipulating the Heroines into hating the Protagonist-Chapter 823: Breaking Xinqiao’s Trust In Feng Xuan

Wang Jian watched as Xinqiao’s tears flowed freely, her silent sobs speaking volumes. He knew that her trust in Feng Xuan was at an all-time low, the perfect moment to strike. ’Strike while the iron is hot,’ he thought, a predatory gleam in his eyes. ’Or in this case, strike while the heroine is heartbroken and vulnerable. Much more effective.’

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He approached her cautiously, his expression filled with concern and sympathy. "Lady Xinqiao," he said softly, his voice laced with gentle disapproval. "I… I can’t believe he would do this to you. I can’t believe Feng Xuan would be such a… coward."

He paused, letting his words sink in, then continued, his voice gaining strength. "If it were me," he said, his voice filled with conviction, "I would have torn those elders limb from limb. No one would dare to lay a finger on you, let alone threaten you. I would have made an example of them, a lesson for the entire Crimson Flame Belt. They would have learned never to disrespect you again."

He knew his words were a bit cheesy, a bit over-the-top, but he also knew that they were exactly what Xinqiao needed to hear at this moment. She was vulnerable, hurt, and longing for someone to validate her feelings, to confirm that she deserved better. And Wang Jian was more than happy to play that role. ’It’s like a bad romance novel,’ he thought with a wry smile. ’But hey, if it works, it works.’

He gently approached her, reaching out to wipe away her tears with his thumb. "Such a beautiful face," he murmured, his voice soft and admiring. "It’s a pity to see it ruined by tears shed for such a… spineless husband." He then added in a whisper, "You deserve so much better, Lady Xinqiao."

As he spoke, his hands began to roam, almost casually, over her body. He started with her arms, gently tracing their curves, then moved to her shoulders, his fingers lightly kneading the soft flesh. Finally, his hands came to rest on her back and waist, his touch becoming slightly more intimate, pulling her gently closer.

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"I… I never imagined," he said, his voice laced with a hint of guilt, "that my gift to your father would cause such… complications. If I had known this would happen, I would have never presented the Crimson Dawn."

Xinqiao, lost in her own thoughts and still reeling from her disappointment with Feng Xuan, barely seemed to notice Wang Jian’s wandering hands. She was startled by his words, however, and immediately shook her head.

"No," she said, her voice filled with conviction. "It’s not your fault, Honored Guest Wang Jian. It’s… it’s because of your gift that I finally saw the truth. I finally saw my husband’s true colors." She looked at him with a mixture of gratitude and sadness. "If it weren’t for your gift, I might have continued to live in ignorance, believing in a lie."

Wang Jian’s internal smile widened. ’She’s blaming Feng Xuan, not me,’ he thought, a sense of satisfaction washing over him. ’Perfect.’

He leaned closer to her, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "I was so worried," he murmured, his breath ghosting across her ear. "I was so worried that you would blame me for this. I didn’t know what I would do if you started to… hate me."

He then pulled her into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around her body, holding her close. "I… I just wanted to make you happy," he whispered, his voice filled with feigned sincerity.

Xinqiao, still vulnerable and emotionally distraught, found herself seeking comfort in his embrace. His arms felt strong and reassuring, his presence strangely calming. She leaned into him, feeling a sense of safety and warmth she hadn’t felt in a long time. ’He’s so kind,’ she thought, closing her eyes and letting the tears flow freely. ’He’s the only one who truly understands.’

Wang Jian held her close, his hands gently stroking her back. He could feel the warmth of her body, the softness of her skin beneath her robes. He could smell the delicate fragrance of her hair, a mixture of flowers and spices. He felt a surge of desire, a longing to possess her completely. ’Soon,’ he thought, his eyes narrowing slightly. ’Very soon.’

He knew he had to be patient, to play his cards carefully. He couldn’t rush things, not yet. He needed to solidify his position as her confidante, her protector, the one person she could truly trust. Once he had achieved that, he could move on to the next phase of his plan, the phase that would ultimately lead to her complete surrender.

He continued to hold her, offering silent comfort, whispering words of reassurance. He praised her beauty, her strength, her kindness, carefully crafting an image of himself as the perfect admirer, the one who truly appreciated her for who she was.

Xinqiao, still caught in the throes of her emotional turmoil, clung to him, finding solace in his words and his touch. She felt safe in his arms, protected from the pain and disappointment she had experienced with Feng Xuan. She didn’t notice the subtle manipulations, the calculated moves that Wang Jian was making. She only saw a kind and compassionate man, a man who seemed to genuinely care for her well-being.

As the minutes passed, the tension in Xinqiao’s body began to ease. Her sobs subsided, replaced by quiet sniffles. She pulled back slightly from Wang Jian’s embrace, wiping away the remaining tears from her face.

"Thank you," she murmured, her voice soft and grateful. "You… you’ve been very kind."

Wang Jian offered a gentle smile, his eyes filled with warmth. "It is my pleasure, Lady Xinqiao," he said softly. "I only wish to see you happy."

He knew that he had made significant progress. He had gained her trust, her confidence, and perhaps even a hint of affection. The seeds he had planted were beginning to blossom, and the harvest was fast approaching. The downfall of Feng Xuan and the seduction of Wufang Xinqiao were now within his grasp.

~~

Wang Jian, sensing that Xinqiao’s emotional state was stabilizing, decided to further solidify his position as her confidante. He adopted a serious expression, his voice filled with sincerity. "Lady Xinqiao," he said, his gaze meeting hers directly, "I want you to know that you can always rely on me. If you ever need anything, anything at all, please do not hesitate to ask. I will do everything in my power to help you."

He paused, then added with a touch of playful arrogance, "Despite my… unassuming appearance, I am quite capable. There are not many in this cosmos who could best me." ’It’s always good to throw in a little humble bragging,’ he thought with a wink. ’Gotta maintain the mysterious powerful benefactor image.’

Xinqiao, her mood significantly improved by his comforting words and embrace, offered a grateful smile. "Thank you, Honored Guest Wang Jian," she said, her voice now much lighter. "Your kindness is truly… overwhelming."

She had indeed recovered a good portion of her earlier composure and was now engaging in light conversation with Wang Jian. The tension that had filled the room just moments ago had dissipated, replaced by a more relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.

Just as they were chatting, a knock sounded at the door to Xinqiao’s chamber. Xinqiao startled slightly, her eyes widening in surprise. She glanced at Wang Jian, then quickly pulled away from him, realizing their previously intimate contact. She felt a slight blush creep up her cheeks. ’Oh dear,’ she thought, smoothing down her robes. ’It’s good that no one saw us.’

"Who is it?" she called out, her voice regaining its composure.

"It’s me, Xinqiao," a familiar voice replied. It was Lixian Yujia.

Xinqiao’s expression relaxed. "Come in, Yujia," she called out.

The door opened, and Yujia entered the chamber. She had come to explain the situation regarding her father’s protection of the two elders who had attacked Xinqiao. She valued her friendship with Xinqiao and felt that she owed her an explanation.

However, her eyes widened slightly as she entered and saw Wang Jian also present in the chamber. She offered a polite nod to him. "Honored Guest Wang Jian," she greeted him.

In reality, it had been Wang Jian himself who had instructed Yujia to come to Xinqiao’s chamber at this specific moment. He had planned this encounter, intending to use Yujia to further damage Xinqiao’s perception of Feng Xuan.

He knew that Yujia, as his secret sex slave, would readily obey his commands. ’It’s like having a remote control for her,’ he thought with a smirk. ’So convenient.’

"Yujia," Xinqiao greeted her friend, offering a warm smile. "What brings you here?"

Yujia hesitated for a moment, glancing at Wang Jian before turning back to Xinqiao. She had been instructed by Wang Jian to speak ill of Feng Xuan, to paint him in a negative light. She felt a pang of guilt at the thought of betraying her husband, but she knew she couldn’t disobey Wang Jian. The consequences of defying him were too terrifying to contemplate.

"I… I came to explain about my father’s involvement in the… incident with the elders," Yujia began, her voice low and hesitant. "I know you must be upset, and I wanted to explain his reasoning."

Xinqiao nodded understandingly. "I suspected that your father was involved," she said, her voice tinged with sadness. "But I still don’t understand why he would protect them. They attacked me, Yujia! They threatened me!"

Yujia sighed, her expression filled with false remorse. "I know, Xinqiao," she said, her voice laced with a pitiful tremor. "And I am truly sorry that this happened to you. But my father… he’s just trying to protect the sect. He believes that punishing those elders would create unnecessary division and weaken our position."

She paused, then continued, her voice becoming more urgent. "He’s also worried about Xuan," she whispered, glancing nervously at Wang Jian. "He’s afraid that if Lord Wufang challenges Patriarch Feng Tianming and wins, it will damage Xuan’s reputation, his standing within the sect."

Xinqiao’s expression darkened. She had already considered this possibility, but hearing it from Yujia, her close friend, made it feel even more real. ’So, it’s all about protecting Xuan’s reputation,’ she thought, a wave of disappointment washing over her. ’No one cares about what happened to me. They only care about appearances.’

Wang Jian, observing the exchange, decided to add fuel to the fire. "It’s truly… disheartening," he said, his voice filled with feigned sadness. "To think that such a… minor incident would be prioritized over your safety, Lady Xinqiao. It speaks volumes about their… priorities." He then subtly glanced at Yujia, giving her a barely perceptible nod, signaling her to continue.

Yujia took a deep breath, steeling herself for the next part of her performance. "And… there’s something else," she said, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "My father… he also mentioned something that shocked me. He told me how he was surprised that Xuan… didn’t push the matter too hard. He seemed… reluctant to punish the elders severely."

Xinqiao’s eyes widened in disbelief. "What?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Xuan… didn’t defend me?"

Yujia nodded slowly, her expression filled with feigned sorrow. "He… he tried to reason with my father," she explained. "But he didn’t… insist. He didn’t demand justice for you."

Xinqiao felt a coldness spread through her chest. She had hoped that Yujia’s words would somehow provide a reasonable explanation, some justification for Feng Xuan’s inaction. But her words only confirmed her worst fears. Her husband had not defended her. He had prioritized the sect’s internal politics over her safety and well-being.

’He… he didn’t even try,’ she thought, her heart sinking. ’He just… gave up. He didn’t even fight for me.’

Wang Jian, sensing her growing despair, placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Lady Xinqiao," he said softly, his voice filled with concern. "I am so sorry that you have to go through this. You deserve so much better."

Xinqiao looked at him, her eyes filled with tears. She didn’t say anything, but her expression spoke volumes. She was hurt, betrayed, and utterly disillusioned.

Wang Jian smiled internally. His plan was working perfectly. Xinqiao’s faith in Feng Xuan was crumbling, and he was there to offer her solace and understanding. He was slowly but surely weaving his web, ensnaring her in his carefully crafted trap.