Chapter Twenty-Four: Purchasing a Maid, Rui

A gentle breeze swept by, stirring the dark locks at the ends of her hair, adding a touch of charm to her city-stunning face.

"Plum Blossom, the young lady is calling for you."

"I'm coming right away!"

...

Inside the room!

When Plum Blossom heard what Wang Chunxiao had to say, she was so agitated and incredulous that she couldn’t calm her heart for a long time. Her little mouth opened wide in shock: "Miss... I... I would never lay a hand on the young master. We are innocent, please do not punish the young master...!"

"Xichun, help her wash and dress. Send her over before nightfall. I don’t want to see that useless scholar wandering around the courtyard after dark, flirting with women," Wang Chunxiao ordered, then turned and headed toward Liu Wenxiang’s chambers.

"Plum Blossom, when the young lady gives her word, it’s as good as done—she wouldn’t deceive you. Hurry up and bathe, change into some fine clothes, and present yourself well before going to the young master’s room." Xichun’s tone was somewhat subdued, and she looked at Plum Blossom with a trace of envy in her eyes.

It wasn’t until she had bathed, changed into new garments, and was sent to the young master’s courtyard that Plum Blossom could finally believe all of this was real.

Night had fallen. Peach Blossom took Li Doukou to the side room to sleep.

Inside the room, only Su Yang and Plum Blossom remained. Her delicate body was soft and tender, and her beautiful eyes gazed at him with deep affection.

"You didn’t get a grand bridal ceremony. Do you regret it?"

"To serve the young master, I have no regrets. I will never regret it, no matter what."

"We must still drink the wedding wine together."

Plum Blossom sat at the edge of the bed, took the wine cup Su Yang handed her, and they interlocked arms. The fragrance of the young girl brushed against his face; the wine was sweet and strong, emptied in a single draught.

Embroidered slippers dropped to the side of the bed, revealing jade-like feet, smooth and warm. Her black hair cascaded down, and her slender, supple form could be held in a single hand.

A gentle breeze swept outside. The plum blossoms trembled, scattering a few crimson petals.

Peach Blossom and Li Doukou exchanged glances and giggled, their cheeks flushing as if they had been up to some mischief.

Midnight.

A jade-like foot rested on the edge of the bed, half-revealed outside the covers. A large, powerful hand pulled it back beneath the quilt.

...

The next morning.

Su Yang instructed Plum Blossom to rest well and not get out of bed for the day. Peach Blossom and Li Doukou eagerly volunteered to look after her.

Li Doukou had been performing admirably during this time, showing none of the airs of a pampered young lady. She was now well-mannered and approachable. If only she had the strength, he would truly have considered sending her back home.

Meanwhile, the search for Li Doukou within the city had ceased, likely because the county magistrate had accepted his daughter’s disappearance. For a girl as beautiful as a flower to go missing, things rarely ended well. Even if she were found, she would probably be too ashamed to continue living in the world.

"Peach Blossom, do you think I’ll be able to bear the young master’s child?" Plum Blossom, lying on the bed, touched her soft belly as she asked.

"Plum Blossom, you’d best not get pregnant too soon," Peach Blossom replied. "Otherwise, the young lady will have to find another handmaid for the young master. Wait until I’ve had his child, then you can try. That way, I’ll get to serve him too."

"When you’ve given birth and I’m with child, you can serve him again, and when I’ve given birth, you can try for another... That would be best!" Peach Blossom mused about the future.

"Can’t you two talk about something proper?" Li Doukou, inexperienced in such matters, blushed and protested.

...

As usual, breakfast was in Liu Wenxiang’s room, where the mother-in-law announced the events of the previous day. The most important news: there was no more grain for sale in the city.

Indeed, this was no longer a matter of price increases—there simply was none to be found. No one knew how long the chaos of war would last. If the rebels continued to besiege the city and grain could not be brought in, people would starve to death.

Fearing unrest, the county magistrate ordered all remaining constables to patrol the streets instead of hiding at home—otherwise, they would be sent to fight on the city walls.

Yanggu County also issued a new decree.

Every day a soldier guarded the city walls, they would receive rations for that day. This would prevent citizens from starving in the morning and keep the city’s defenders strong—a solution that killed two birds with one stone.

"How did Plum Blossom serve you last night?" In the room, Wang Chunxiao suddenly turned her cold gaze to Su Yang, a hint of jealousy in her voice.

"Industrious and without complaint."

"Hmph. Don’t strain your back." Wang Chunxiao snorted, stood up, and left. Watching her retreating figure, Su Yang shook his head in helpless silence. What’s wrong with this woman? You were the one who asked, yet now you curse me.

"Miss, why not just stop pretending in front of the young master? If he saw your beauty, he’d surely be devoted to you," Xichun said, seeing her mistress’s jealousy.

"That mere scholar, a ninth-rank nobody, is not worthy," Wang Chunxiao replied through gritted teeth.

After bidding farewell to Liu Wenxiang, Su Yang returned to the courtyard just in time to see Little Plum coming to visit her sister. He was delighted. He had been considering whom to use as bait, and here she was.

...

In a filthy, chaotic alley, the stench from the open sewer was overwhelming. Black-furred rats with terrifying fangs and claws still stained with bits of flesh scurried among the piles of garbage.

Two masked thugs brandished kitchen knives, blocking the path of a pretty young girl. Their eyes gleamed with greed. "She must be a servant girl from a wealthy family—such delicate skin."

"She’s probably only fifteen or sixteen. Girls that age are the freshest. Tonight we have to enjoy ourselves properly. That woman last night reeked of rotten fish."

"Little girl, be a good girl and please the two of us. You might get to keep your life. Otherwise... we’ll chop you into mincemeat and feed you to the dogs," one thug threatened, advancing step by step, his face lecherous and vile.

"In broad daylight, committing evil—do you not fear retribution?" Su Yang’s voice sounded at the entrance of the alley. He walked forward, shielding Little Plum behind him with a stern expression.

Little Plum, still a bit shy, hid behind Su Yang. Her panic subsided; ever since the young master had rescued her from the flames of the brothel, she had developed a special dependence on him. Only when she was near him did she feel at peace.

So, after finishing her chores in the second young lady’s room, she would sneak to the edge of the young master’s courtyard and watch from afar—sometimes for an hour at a time. Only near the young master did she feel safe.

The thugs were fierce, but with the young master beside her, Little Plum was utterly at ease.

"Boy, you want to meddle?"

"Where did this dandy come from? We mind our own business—don’t get involved."

"Get lost."

The two knife-wielding thugs glared at Su Yang with ferocity.

"You two pieces of trash, come kill me if you dare, you bastards..." Su Yang sneered, lifting his chin in disdain.

"You’re looking for death!"

They had never been so insulted before. Especially with the city in chaos, with the rebels outside and lawlessness within, putting on masks and becoming bandits made them feel like gods of fate.

Two rusty kitchen knives slashed through the air, stained with blood, exuding murderous intent!

Moments later, two miserable screams echoed down the alley, while the numbers on the panel leapt:

Ordinary enemies: 4/9

Ninth-rank enemies: 1/1

An hour later, Su Yang checked the panel again:

Name: Su Yang (Quasi-Immortal)
Incense Value: 105
Level: Eighth-rank, Tempered Skin
Techniques: [Incense Division] [Qi Vision] [Heart Control Parasite]
Lifespan: 100+
Family Progress: The family is progressing smoothly. You have proven yourself ruthless and capable of obtaining resources, better able to nurture outstanding descendants and build a lineage to last through the ages.
In the future, due to resource competition, you will inevitably clash with certain families. The loser will vanish into history. You must adapt to the law of survival of the fittest. Destroy one enemy family, eradicate them, and gain 50 incense points.
Daily tip: Secret techniques are highly effective in battle.

The previous mission had been completed; he had gained forty incense points. Now a new family task appeared: destroy a local family. The first that came to Su Yang’s mind—

The Main Wang Family.

Master Wang Shangfu, an ordinary man who relied on government and order to maintain his large household.

The eldest son, Wang Hewen, was rumored to practice martial arts but had yet to break through to the ninth rank.

Four ninth-rank martial masters; one was already killed by Su Yang at the City God Temple, three remained.

If he used his eighth-rank strength to take them down one by one, there would be no problem. After wiping them out, no one would suspect him; his true strength would not be exposed.

First, outsiders believed the two branches of the Wang family were on good terms—at Wang Shangfu’s birthday banquet, the second branch attended, and when they left in a hurry, they claimed it was due to family matters, not open conflict.

Second, he was only known to be ninth-rank, not eighth. Killing three ninth-rank masters in a single night was not something he should be able to do. When eliminating them, he’d need to make it look like a head-on fight, not assassination, poisoning, or ambush.

The Main Wang Family was indeed the right target. After all, Wang Shangfu had long wanted to swallow up the second branch. Since they wanted him dead, there was no need to show mercy.

Schemes and plots abounded, but with order in chaos and no official support, strength was all that mattered.

"Young master, how did I do today?" Little Plum looked up at Su Yang, seeking praise.

"You did very well. What reward would you like? How about candied hawthorn?"

"No, my sister says I’m too old for that. Only children eat candied hawthorn. I’m an adult now."

"In some wealthy families, girls my age are already married."

Little Plum’s eyes sparkled as she looked at Su Yang, patting her chest with all her might, though she was still a bit childish.

"Oh? Then what reward do you want?"

"Young master, may I give you a kiss?"

"No...!"

...

*Smack!*

"Don’t make such requests again."

"Mm-hmm...!" Little Plum nodded contentedly, holding onto Su Yang’s sleeve as they headed toward the Wang household.

In the courtyard—

Li Doukou was cooking. This young lady was looking more and more like a maid. Peach Blossom was studying the pipa.

Plum Blossom, still flushed from her recent ordeal, lay on a bamboo recliner, her hair falling like silk, eyes brimming with delicate charm. Her slender waist was as willowy as a young poplar, her body soft and light, adding to her allure.

Her curves were graceful, like a snake spirit greedy for human essence.

"Plum Blossom, why are you up? Are you feeling better?" Su Yang asked.

"Young master..."

Plum Blossom pushed herself up from the recliner, but her body was sore, and it took her a while to stand and walk over, happiness and satisfaction shining in her eyes.

"Sore all over?"

"Mm!"

"It’s nothing. Peach Blossom was the same at first—give it a day and you’ll be lively again, just like a little fairy."

"Young master, you’re teasing me again."

"Come, back to the room. Let me massage you—it’ll ease the soreness..."

"Oh, young master...!"

...

Outside the courtyard.

Wang Chunxiao, separated by a single wall, could still hear the sounds of revelry within, night after night, with the wind and rain raging. She gritted her silver teeth and clenched her tiny fists.

"Miss, in truth the young master is a good man. If he truly became your husband, it would be fitting. Why not consider it? No need to sulk out here," Xichun counseled softly. "After all, where in the world does the wife let the handmaids sleep with her husband before she does? If you let this go on, there may soon be a third or fourth handmaid... Wouldn’t that vex you even more?"

Wang Chunxiao only snorted and stormed off, leaving Xichun to sigh helplessly. If the young master had truly been as useless as the rumors before the marriage, it wouldn’t matter to distance herself from him. But now he’d proven himself a man who could uphold the household—why was the young lady still so stubborn? She could only hope to persuade her in time.

...

Time passed quickly. After another hour of fun in the little courtyard, a maid arrived with a message for Su Yang—he was needed elsewhere. With a lingering kiss, he dressed and went out.

Beyond the courtyard—

In white robes, skin as pale as snow, a figure whose lofty curves nearly rivaled Liu Wenxiang, though barely twenty. Her soft, warm body seemed carved from jade.

Xue Yuan.

"What is it?" Su Yang asked.

"A family has come to our door, insisting on selling their daughter to us. The mistress wants you to handle it."

Su Yang, having heard from Plum Blossom and Peach Blossom that Xue Yuan was not talkative, walked in silence with her to the Wang family’s main gate.

An old woman, clutching a thin girl about thirteen or fourteen, stood outside. The girl was frail but her eyes were bright, and her oval face hinted at future beauty.

"Master, master... please buy my granddaughter, I beg you! We can’t survive anymore... My son died on the city walls, my daughter-in-law starved to death, now only my granddaughter is left... Please, have mercy and take her in!" The old woman rushed forward as soon as the gates opened, clutching Su Yang’s ankle and wailing.

"Our family just dismissed a number of servants recently. One more mouth is one more ration and another wage. In chaotic times, you must understand this," Su Yang replied.

"We don’t want wages or silver. Just a bite to eat will do. For a single copper coin, I’ll sign the death contract."

"Master, we really have no food left. We can’t survive..."

...

Looking at the old woman kneeling before him, Su Yang couldn’t help but sigh deeply. Had the world truly come to this? More and more people would find it impossible to survive. Selling sons and daughters would become common, even giving them away for free, just to preserve the family line and give them a chance to live—even as slaves.

For in chaotic times, a great household was a kind of protection.

He bought the girl.

For a single copper coin.

Her name: Rui’er

...................................

PS: Celebrating Plum Blossom’s wedding night—shamelessly asking for a wave of support to hit the new releases chart!