The Old Steward Was a Good Man

"'The crows cry at sunset, frost blankets the sky; maple trees and fishing lights keep the sorrowful sleeper company. Outside Gusu City stands Cold Mountain Temple; at midnight, the bell's toll reaches the passenger boats.' The scenery of Gusu, its waters, its lovely young women—everything here is beautiful!"

On Taihu Lake in Suzhou, Li Hao lounged on a bed aboard a luxurious boat, with A Zhu and A Bi attending to him at his side.

A Zhu fed him wine, while A Bi fed him grapes and local Gusu delicacies. Two other stunning maids massaged his legs.

A group of musicians played aboard the boat, while a dozen or so graceful women in sheer gauze danced in the middle.

Their enticing curves, graceful figures, and supple movements set Li Hao's heart aflutter.

"Second Young Master, when we reach Mantuo Mountain Villa, please don't wander off! Auntie is terribly fierce." The moment A Bi mentioned Madam Wang, her little face paled.

"What's wrong? Has she bullied you before?" Li Hao looked up and asked.

As he looked up, A Bi happened to lean down to feed him, and their lips met in a kiss.

"Second Young Master, you..." A Bi covered her mouth. Her cheeks instantly turned scarlet, and her eyes grew watery—she looked utterly adorable.

"Haha, Sister A Bi's blushing! Mm..."

"All right, A Bi. You don't have to worry about A Zhu teasing you anymore. Now you're even." Li Hao said shamelessly.

That scoundrel had just planted a French kiss on A Zhu with lightning speed when she teased A Bi.

That feeling, that taste... Li Hao couldn't help licking his lips.

"Ah..." A Zhu and A Bi cried out in unison, scrambling onto Li Hao and pummeling him with their little fists.

But Li Hao's greatest strength was his thick skin. Their punches were weak, so he simply treated them as massages.

Every so often, he even brushed against their forbidden places. The warmth of their soft bodies felt heavenly.

"Second Young Master, Misses, we'll soon reach the dock at Mantuo Mountain Villa."

After the three had been fooling around for a while, a maid came in to report.

The tremble in her voice made it clear that the people here were all terrified of Mantuo Mountain Villa.

"A Bi, you still haven't told me whether my aunt by marriage bullied you." Li Hao put an arm around A Bi's waist.

After their playful tussle, the three of them had grown closer. Now, neither girl objected when Li Hao got affectionate with them—in fact, they even seemed to look forward to it.

Brother Qiao Feng, I'm sorry, little brother. It's all because Miss A Zhu is so captivating and the system is so shameless... Li Hao shamelessly shifted the blame to A Zhu and the system, taking none of it himself.

"Not really. We used to sneak onto the island to deliver news about Young Master Fu to Cousin. A few times, Auntie caught us, so we got a little punishment." A Bi blushed as she spoke.

"What kind of punishment? I'll get revenge for you later. Wherever she hit you, I'll hit you twice as hard." Li Hao asked curiously.

"Really?" A Bi asked happily.

"Really." Li Hao would do anything for a beauty.

That word "do" was the key—circle it, there'll be a test.

"The last time A Zhu delivered a message, Auntie caught her and gave her thirty strokes of the cane. When she got back to Tingxiang Water Pavilion, she couldn't even sit on a stool. She had to sleep on her stomach." A Bi giggled behind her hand.

"Spanked until she was bruised, then had to sleep face-down..." Li Hao was speechless. A Bi was digging a hole for herself here!

"Second Young Master, A Bi was only joking. Auntie doesn't treat us well, but that's just her temperament. Everyone on the island knows us. They hit hard but pull their punches, so we've never been hurt." A Zhu hurried to explain.

This Second Young Master keeps staring at our bottoms. It's so embarrassing!

"Who goes there? Stop the boat! This is private property. Anyone who trespasses will be killed without mercy." Just as the boat was about to reach the dock, a group of women in fitted clothes, armed with weapons, rushed over.

The woman calling out from the front was a short, stocky old matron in her fifties, dark as soot and fierce-looking.

"Old Nanny Hei, it's me, A Bi! On the head steward's orders, I've brought the second young master of the Murong Family to pay his respects to Auntie at Mantuo Mountain Villa." A Bi called out loudly.

Mantuo Mountain Villa's rule was that no one could trespass. Of course, every martial arts sect and family had similar rules, so Li Hao wasn't surprised.

"That dark, sooty-looking woman is Old Nanny Hei. She may look fierce, but she's actually very good to us. She's in charge of Mantuo Mountain Villa's punishments. Whenever Auntie punishes us, she's the one who carries it out, and we've never been hurt." A Zhu explained in a whisper.

"She's that good to you?" Li Hao murmured into A Zhu's ear.

"They say Old Nanny Hei was in love with our old steward when she was young. So she treats everyone connected to him kindly and never makes trouble for anyone from Canhe Manor. But she's very fierce to outsiders." A Zhu blushed. Li Hao's closeness made her feel flustered.

"I see. Then the old steward can't have been much to look at, either!" Li Hao curled his lip. If a woman like that had caught his fancy, the old steward must have been desperate.

"Don't talk nonsense. The old steward was very handsome when he was young. He charmed plenty of young women and married ladies in Suzhou. Even now, in his old age, he's still refined and easygoing. Lots of the maids in the manor have a soft spot for him!" A Zhu hurried to explain.

"Oh, is that so? The old steward devoted himself to the Murong Family until his dying breath. He could even use his charms on someone like Old Nanny Hei."

Li Hao felt genuine admiration for the old steward he had never met. That old man had a strong appetite—he wasn't picky at all.

"Don't talk nonsense. Old Nanny Hei was very beautiful in her youth. She only ended up like this because she was poisoned, and the toxins built up in her body over the years." A Zhu shot Li Hao a sidelong glance. The way that guy talked could make anyone furious.

"You little brat, how dare you glare at me." Walking behind her, Li Hao caught A Zhu's disdainful look and gave her bottom a quick smack.

Damn, what a feel! No wonder she was famous.

Soft and yielding, yet still firm, with a lingering sweetness—he was smitten. At last, Li Hao made up his mind. Forget Qiao Feng—even if his own father showed up, he wouldn't give A Zhu up.

"Bad man!" Startled by the sudden attack, A Zhu's legs went weak, and she fell right into Li Hao's arms.

"Careful, don't fall. I'll steady you." Li Hao said shamelessly.

"Thank you, Second Young Master, but I'm fine." She broke free from Li Hao's embrace and bounced ashore.

"Young Master, A Bi is seasick. My arms and legs feel weak, and I can't walk. What should I do?" A Bi's voice was soft and sweet. It made Li Hao feel as if he'd eaten ice cream in December, sending chills all over him.

"Come on, I'll carry you ashore..."