Throwing His Weight Around

Hearing Shen Shixu thank them, Jiang Bin hurriedly said, "Master, why would you need to thank us? As your disciples, helping you is only right."

An Chengyu chimed in, "Exactly! Junior Brother is right. As your disciples, we ought to honor you."

Seeing how devoted his disciples were, Shen Shixu felt deeply gratified. "You're thoughtful enough to want to honor me, but as your master, I can't just take your help for granted.

"Come on, let's go. I've reserved a table at the Heavenly Fragrance House. We'll all have a good meal together at noon."

"Great!"

"Wonderful!"

Shen Shixu had reserved the Heavenly Character No. 1 private room in advance. But the three of them, along with Datong, had barely arrived at the Heavenly Fragrance House when someone nearly crashed into them.

Datong quickly scooped up An Chengyu and ducked backward. Jiang Bin was a beat too slow. He only saw someone toppling toward him, back first, and had no time to react. If Shen Shixu hadn't yanked him aside, he would probably have ended up cushioning her fall.

Still shaken, Jiang Bin patted his chest, then turned to thank Shen Shixu. "Thank you, Master!"

Shen Shixu nodded and lowered his gaze to the person groaning on the ground. Only then did he realize it was a young woman.

She wore an outdated, pale yellow Huanhua Brocade jacket and skirt, her hair arranged in a maiden's twin hanging buns, with a few silver floral ornaments scattered through it.

Her skin was somewhat rougher than most women's, but her features were well formed, and her eyes shone like cold stars.

On her feet were a pair of mugwort-green cloth shoes. Her clothes and shoes did not match, as though they had been cobbled together from whatever she could find.

As she pushed herself up from the ground, palms pressed against it, Shen Shixu noticed injuries on the backs of her hands as well.

When Xu Qing saw the people behind her, she lowered her head in embarrassment. Jiang Bin had always had a soft spot for women. Seeing the injuries on her hands, he took out the ointment he carried with him and offered it to her.

"Miss, your hands are hurt. Put some ointment on them first."

Xu Qing accepted the ointment and clutched it tightly. Her head remained lowered, but her eyes reddened.

"Thank you!"

This was the first time a young woman had thanked Jiang Bin. All the girls he had dealt with before had been afraid of him. Forget thanking him—it was already a kindness if they refrained from speaking ill of him.

Just then, an angry voice rang out at the entrance. "Xu Qing, I only stepped away to exchange a few words with someone, and you've already started seducing another man. You truly are shameless!"

No sooner had that angry voice fallen silent than a soft, delicate voice followed. "Brother Yan, don't say that about my sister. Perhaps she knows him!"

Shen Shixu and the others saw a man and woman approaching together. The man wore a sapphire-blue brocade robe and a gold crown. His face was full of displeasure, and he glared at Xu Qing as though he wanted to devour her.

The young woman beside him wore a cherry-red, chest-high skirt and jacket of auspicious-patterned brocade, with matching brocade shoes.

Her hair was adorned with elaborate jewelry. The contrast between her and Xu Qing was like night and day; beside her, Xu Qing looked more like a maid.

The young man in fine clothes was Yan Weixuan, the Minister of War's son. The lavishly dressed young woman beside him was Xu Zhen, a daughter of the Earl of Everlasting Prosperity.

Xu Qing was also the Earl of Everlasting Prosperity's daughter, but one look at their clothing made it clear that, despite both being his daughters, the treatment they received was worlds apart.

When Xu Zhen emerged and saw that the person speaking to Xu Qing was Jiang Bin, she affected surprise and covered her mouth. "Oh! Sister, how did you get involved with the Eldest Princess's son? Everyone in the Capital knows he's an incorrigible rogue who loves entangling himself with all sorts of women.

"Why would you be foolish enough to get involved with him? If word gets out, what will become of the reputation of the women of the Earl of Everlasting Prosperity's Residence?

"You already have an ideal husband-to-be in Brother Yan, but I and our other sisters are still unmarried!

"Are you trying to make us stay at home as old maids for the rest of our lives?"

As she spoke, Xu Zhen lifted her handkerchief to dab at the corners of her eyes, looking utterly aggrieved.

Shen Shixu quietly tugged Datong's sleeve, signaling him to retreat a little farther with An Chengyu in his arms, then gave Jiang Bin a meaningful look.

Someone was clearly using Jiang Bin as a weapon—and doing it right in front of him, too.

Shen Shixu's look told him not to hold back, and certainly not to let himself be mistreated.

Jiang Bin had originally wanted no part in this romantic squabble and intended to act as though it had nothing to do with him so he could slip away. But after Shen Shixu's signal, he immediately straightened his back.

Before Xu Qing could explain, he retorted, "So getting involved with me means the young ladies of the Earl of Everlasting Prosperity's Residence won't be able to marry? In that case, I'll have my mother visit your residence tomorrow to propose a match. Though I don't think much of you, taking you home as a concubine wouldn't be a bad idea.

"The Princess's Residence is enormous, after all. We can certainly afford another mouth to feed."

Xu Zhen's pretty face flushed scarlet with anger, but she could not get a word out. What she had said earlier was already out of line. If she said anything more now...

She might truly find herself entangled with this fellow. She was going to marry Brother Yan someday. How could she let this man ruin her future?

Seeing Xu Zhen humiliated, Yan Weixuan instinctively stepped in to protect her. "Young Master Jiang, isn't it going too far to speak of a woman like that? You treat her chastity as a joke. Is that what the Eldest Princess taught you? Or are you trying to use her influence to bully a defenseless woman?"

Jiang Bin nearly laughed at the absurdity. Pointing at his own nose, he shot back, "You're accusing me of throwing my weight around? Get your facts straight. I've been nothing but a passerby from start to finish. This brainless, blind woman dragged me into it herself.

"But when I fight back, I'm throwing my weight around? What do you call what she did, then? Asking for it?"

Xu Qing watched Yan Weixuan, whom Jiang Bin had rendered speechless, and Xu Zhen, who hid behind him with a flushed face. Her eyes were full of satisfaction.

Just as she was thinking how wonderful it would be if Jiang Bin could put the two of them in their place for her, she felt a cold gaze fixed on her.

Xu Qing looked over and met a pair of eyes that seemed to see through everything. Instantly, she took an involuntary step back, panic rising within her. The feeling of being seen through was terrifying.

When Xu Zhen saw that Yan Weixuan had stopped speaking up for her, she felt both hurt and disdainful. She despised him for being unable to win an argument against even a wastrel.

"I didn't do it on purpose, and you weren't the one I was targeting. Do you really have to nitpick like this? Are you even a man? Can't you be a little more magnanimous?"

Jiang Bin rolled his eyes, looking so angry he could laugh. "You want me to go easy on you? Who do you think you are, that you deserve that from me? We're not related by blood, we're not related by marriage, and we're certainly not husband and wife.

"What, just because you're weak, I have to give way to you? How can you be so shameless?"