Chapter 102: Wang Li Manipulates The Situation In Song Family

The crisp morning air carried a hint of intrigue as Wang Li summoned a young maid. "Tell the Second and Third Wives," he instructed, his voice firm with a hint of authority, "that the Eagle Masked Expert of the Xia Family requests a private audience with them in the gardens adjoining their quarters."

The maid, her eyes wide with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation, bobbed her head in nervous obedience and scurried away to deliver the message. A satisfied smile played on Wang Li's lips. The stage was set for his first act in this intricate play of power.

A short while later, a servant ushered him into the private gardens. Lush greenery bloomed around him, a stark contrast to the cold, calculated plans swirling within his mind. He found the Chu sisters, Yumei and Lingxi, seated amidst a fragrant bed of peonies, their faces cloaked in an air of guarded suspicion.

"Esteemed Second Wife, esteemed Third Wife," Wang Li began, his voice a smooth cadence, "I apologize for the intrusion, but I felt a direct conversation was necessary in these... uncertain times."

Yumei, the elder of the two, her beauty tinged with a hint of arrogance, arched an eyebrow. "Speak your mind, Eagle Masked Expert," she commanded, her voice laced with a sharp edge. "We don't have the entire day."

Wang Li chuckled, the sound devoid of genuine humor. "I appreciate such directness," he conceded. "The current situation, with Patriarch Song missing, presents a... unique opportunity for the both of you."

Lingxi, the more reserved of the sisters, tilted her head slightly. "Opportunity? Are you trying to incite chaos in my Song Family, Eagle Masked Expert?"

"Chaos can be an invitation for change," Wang Li countered, his words carefully chosen. "Is your current position within the Song Family truly fulfilling?"

The question hung heavy in the air, a challenge masked as a casual inquiry. Yumei's lips tightened into a thin line, while Lingxi's gaze flickered with a flicker of ambition momentarily hidden beneath a facade of indifference.

"We are content with our roles," Yumei finally replied, her voice a touch too polished.

Wang Li wasn't convinced. "Content or are you merely tolerating it?" he pressed gently. "Surely, you harbor ambitions that have been stifled."

The sisters exchanged a silent glance, a spark of unspoken understanding passing between them. They were well aware of their marginal position within the Song Family hierarchy, their primary role being to provide pleasure to their husband. The power they craved resided not in their marital bed, but in the halls of power.

"Let me be blunt," Wang Li continued, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "The Xia Family sees an opening for a stronger alliance with the Song Family. And let's be honest," he added with a hint of amusement, "the current leadership under Madam Song is... well, lacking."

Yumei and Lingxi finally mirrored the sly smirk playing beneath the Eagle Mask. His words resonated with them. They understood the political game. While they doubted the Xia Family truly cared who held the reins, they did see an advantage in aligning with a faction that would solidify ties between the two families.

"However," Lingxi interjected, her voice laced with apprehension, "our esteemed husband, Patriarch Song, would not be pleased upon his return if we..."

Wang Li feigned ignorance. "It appears the training array malfunctioned, Madam Song. Luckily, I sensed the disturbance and managed to... mitigate the damage."

His words resonated with a subtle truth, leaving Song Jingyan unaware of the true nature of the incident. Over the next few days, similar "incidents" plagued the Song Family.

A sudden infestation of venomous spirit creatures within the training grounds, a malfunctioning security perimeter, a deliberate sabotage of crucial resources – each incident meticulously orchestrated by the Chu sisters, each resolved with an almost uncanny swiftness by Wang Li.

The incidents were designed to be just dangerous enough - pushing Song Jingyan to her limits whether it was mentally or physically but not quite delivering a fatal blow.

This incidents served two purposes for Wang Li. It eroded Song Jingyan's sense of security, fostering a dependence on Wang Li's "timely" interventions, while simultaneously portraying him as a capable ally, vital to the Song Family's well-being.

However, Wang Li's true agenda went far beyond mere power plays within the family. He saw an opportunity for personal gain in Song Jingyan's vulnerability.

While tending to her after a particularly close call with an assassin, he began employing subtle touches, a hand on her shoulder for reassurance, a brush of his fingers against her back.

And then came the "accidents."

During one harrowing escape from a poisoned ambush, Wang Li, acting out of "necessity" to propel her forward, ended up grabbing her curvy hips, the warmth of her flesh sending a jolt through him.

One evening, as they discussed a harrowing escape from a poisoned vial, Wang Li leaned down to examine a minor wound on her arm. As he did, his hand brushed 'accidentally' against the soft swell of her breast, eliciting a sharp gasp from her. He quickly apologized, attributing it to his concern for her well-being.

Each touch, seemingly innocent at first, was calculated to gauge her response. To his surprise, Song Jingyan, burdened by the constant threats and her own limitations, seemed surprisingly receptive to his physical contact.

Emboldened by this unexpected development, Wang Li began to push the boundaries further.

One evening, as they discussed the latest threat against her life, he took a step closer, his hand lingering on hers a moment longer than necessary.

A jolt of electricity shot through him as he realized Song Jingyan hadn't pulled away. Instead, her gaze flickered from his hand to his masked face, a flicker of something akin to longing crossing her features.

This unexpected reaction fueled Wang Li's audacity. In a calculated move, he leaned in, his face mere inches from hers. "You are strong, Madam Song," he murmured, his voice husky with a hint of something more. "But even the strongest warrior needs someone to watch their back."