Chapter Four: Sister-in-law, You Need Not Be Like This
At that moment—
A middle-aged man with a square face strode briskly out of the Chang’an Escort Agency.
“Ying’er, stop!”
“Father!”
Yang Ying’er, as if finding her anchor, called out and the oppressive aura around her dissipated. She threw herself into the middle-aged man’s arms, sobbing,
“Father, that scoundrel molested me!”
The square-faced man’s eyes grew cold as he turned to look at Chen Xuan. Upon recognizing his face, he was momentarily stunned.
“Master Thirteen?”
Seeing an old acquaintance, Chen Xuan scratched his head awkwardly.
“About what happened just now…”
Yang Xun, chief escort of the Ping’an Escort Agency, was a formidable warrior who had already reached the rank of Martial Master. The Chen family had once specifically invited him to instruct the younger generation in martial arts.
Chen Xuan was one of his students, which was how they knew each other.
As for the unfamiliar Yang Ying’er, Chen Xuan guessed she was likely the young mistress of the Chang’an Escort Agency, Yang Xun’s only daughter.
Yang Xun’s pupils contracted slightly. As Chen Xuan’s mentor and a Martial Master himself, he quickly noticed Chen Xuan’s unusual aura.
At this moment, Chen Xuan had already attained the rank of Martial Practitioner at Stage Five!
Hissing, wasn’t he supposed to have blocked meridians and be unable to cultivate? Could it be that Chen Xuan had encountered some rare opportunity?
Yang Xun kept silent.
“Master Thirteen, come inside and talk.”
Chen Xuan was the thirteenth ranked among the new generation of the Chen family, so addressing him as Master Thirteen was fitting.
...
In the conference hall,
Chen Xuan explained the entire incident in detail. Yang Xun’s expression softened somewhat, though he remained exasperated by his daughter’s recklessness.
“Hurry up and apologize to Master Thirteen!”
“He’s a noble scion of the Chen family; there’s no way he would behave indecently,” Yang Ying’er muttered reluctantly, pouting.
“Who says having wealth and status means you don’t appreciate beauty?”
Yang Xun’s face darkened as he awkwardly addressed Chen Xuan:
“Master Thirteen, my daughter is used to being arrogant and overbearing. Please forgive her.”
Chen Xuan nodded and took the opportunity to bring up the matter of hiring escorts.
The atmosphere in the room grew somewhat tense upon hearing this.
Yang Xun lowered his head to sip tea and remained silent for a long moment.
Chen Xuan furrowed his brow and asked, “Uncle Yang, are you worried about the recent rumors in the city concerning the Empress Li Xiuning of the Great Tang, and those women sentenced among the criminals?”
Li Xiuning’s identity was extraordinarily special.
A princess of a great nation, yet the Chen family had reduced her to a prisoner, even sentencing her to exile with the clan’s younger members to the borderlands.
From any perspective, the Great Tang would retaliate fiercely upon learning this; those involved would either die or be gravely injured.
Furthermore, Chen Xuan was not favored within the Chen family, so enemies would certainly want him dead. This escort mission was fraught with peril.
Yang Xun’s face showed reluctance.
“Master Thirteen, it’s not that I don’t want to help. It’s just that there are some unsettled elements around you, and I don’t want my escort guards to die senselessly.”
Chen Xuan understood and nodded.
“Would offering more money help?”
“It’s not about the money.”
“One hundred taels.”
“Silver? Our household has no shortage.”
“Gold.”
Yang Xun was stunned, stammering, “Master Thirteen, do you mean… one hundred taels of gold?”
Converted, that was a full thousand taels of silver.
He felt he had underestimated Chen Xuan. Someone who could casually offer such a sum was rare even in the entire capital, except among the most prominent families.
Chen Xuan pondered for a moment and added, “If that’s not enough, I’ll add another hundred taels.”
“That’s enough! Enough!” Yang Xun’s breathing quickened but he quickly suppressed his excitement.
“One hundred taels of gold to escort to the border is a bit difficult, but our Chang’an Escort Agency can escort you out of the capital, past the three hundred li of Bandit Mountain. Crossing Bandit Mountain is the most dangerous part, but after that, the path is easier. Traveling with your family, it’s hard to avoid trouble, so perhaps you can find another agency to continue from there.”
Yang Xun watched Chen Xuan cautiously.
“What do you think?”
Chen Xuan silently calculated.
From the capital to the border was a total distance of twelve hundred li.
The first three hundred li was the most perilous, especially Bandit Mountain, notorious for its pillaging bandits. Having taken Chen Tian from them, the bandits would certainly not let it go.
Chances were high that mercenaries were already waiting at Bandit Mountain for him.
Yang Xun’s willingness to take on the most dangerous segment was a huge risk, so there was no need to insist on the latter half.
“Agreed!”
Yang Xun breathed a sigh of relief.
He had indeed worried that Chen Xuan would demand escort all the way to the border. With such a sum at stake, even if the risk was great, he had to consider carefully.
They brought out documents for signatures.
Chen Xuan paid twenty taels of gold on the spot as a deposit, and Yang Xun promised to lead fifty highly skilled escorts the next day.
...
Leaving the Ping’an Escort Agency,
By the time Chen Xuan returned to his secluded courtyard, dusk was settling.
He had not yet stepped inside when he saw the courtyard filled with various supplies, and several large horse-drawn carts parked at the entrance—the items he had purchased earlier had all arrived.
Inside, Li Xiuning and six other sentenced women had finished washing and dressing, now wearing clean dresses.
Each was fair-skinned and beautiful, with bright eyes and gleaming teeth.
Because of them, the once neglected courtyard now bore an uncanny resemblance to the Spider Cave from Journey to the West.
Chen Xuan clicked his tongue silently.
Having women around really made a difference.
More than a dozen convicted women gathered around to bow and thank him. He politely declined each time.
The woman who was about to give birth rolled her eyes and loudly declared,
“Young Master Chen saved our lives and bought us new clothes. We owe him more children. I propose we consummate tonight!”
“Who goes first?” “Th-this is too soon.”
“I’m not ready…”
“So shy!”
A group of girls around eighteen or nineteen blushed and lowered their heads shyly at the mention of consummation, though their curious eyes peeked at Chen Xuan.
Most had already accepted their role as Chen Xuan’s concubines.
[Li Xuanyuan: Affection +1]
[Affection level increased by 1 point, reward: 50 taels of silver]
[Lu Qiqi: Affection +1]
[Affection level increased by 1 point, reward: 200 taels of silver]
[An Ruxue: Affection -10]
[Warning: An Ruxue’s affection has reached -20 points, high probability of hostility toward the host; please avoid]
“Have I done something to offend you?” Chen Xuan felt deeply vexed as he glanced toward the unmoved An Ruxue at the back of the crowd.
This woman seemed indifferent on the surface but was clearly scheming inside!
At that moment—
The earlier woman licked her red lips greedily and said,
“Young Master, since none of the sisters wish to serve tonight, I will attend to you. I have experience and can ensure a good start for the others, as well as guarantee you a comfortable and enjoyable night!”
Chen Xuan shuddered all over.
This won’t do!
Though this woman still possessed charm, her age was somewhat inappropriate.
...