Red Coral Jade

Fang Yunhua no longer paid attention to those rumors and slanders.

He trusted Hua Zhenzhen and the others to keep the situation firmly under control.

After another night of conquest, the appointed time for Fang Yunhua to visit Second Master Jin arrived.

After four days of watering, Jin Lingzhi radiated a captivating femininity from head to toe. Clearly treating this as a rehearsal for meeting the family, she carefully chose an outfit for Fang Yunhua in the style of the white-robed noble young gentlemen currently fashionable in the Capital City.

She, too, changed into her favorite red dress, her alluring beauty making her look like a red rose in full bloom.

As the saying went, loving someone was like tending a flower.

Second Master Jin had held quite a few grievances against this Amorous Young Master. But when he saw the complete transformation in his little niece, especially the heartfelt smile of someone steeped in happiness, he could only let his deliberately stern expression soften a little.

His gaze at Fang Yunhua still carried the hostility reserved for some punk who had stolen his girl, but it was a considerable improvement over the icy reception when they first entered the Jin residence.

Fang Yunhua seized that opening to demonstrate his sincere respect for his elders.

"Madam Jin, I heard you enjoy collecting unusual treasures. I happened to acquire this piece of Red Coral Jade. As the saying goes, a thousand years nurture a beautiful tree, a hundred million forge coral jade. Displaying it in the home can ward off misfortune and evil.

"If cut into ornaments worn against the skin, it can also nourish the complexion, promote health, improve circulation, and brighten the eyes."

Second Master Jin's wife did not immediately accept it. As the wife of a high-ranking official in the Capital City, she received an endless stream of gift-bearers every day. Knowing which gifts to accept and which to refuse was itself a profound subject requiring careful study.

Thus, she first needed to ascertain her husband's wishes.

Although Second Master Jin's gaze at Fang Yunhua still held some displeasure, he gave her a meaningful look.

Madam Jin understood instantly. After ordering a servant to open the Jade Box, she caught sight of the Red Coral Jade, with its myriad charms, brilliant luster, crystalline clarity, and pleasing warmth. A gleam of fondness flashed through her eyes.

As a connoisseur, she naturally knew how rare this treasure was. Most importantly, Red Coral Jade symbolized good fortune and prosperity, which suited her wishes perfectly.

After instructing the servant to put the Red Coral Jade away carefully, she stepped forward to ease the atmosphere, making the relationship between Second Master Jin and Fang Yunhua appear less strained.

As for Jin Lingzhi, she maintained the courtesy and reserve of a young lady from a distinguished family throughout.

By rights, she should have been the first to smooth things over. But she understood her position all too well. If she openly took Fang Yunhua's side, she would only be more likely to anger her second uncle and spoil her lover's business.

Most of her family opposed her relationship with Fang Yunhua. Although Fourth Master Jin, for instance, had often praised his abilities, the title of Amorous Young Master remained a stain in the eyes of her family.

Besides, who could know what such a seasoned veteran of romance truly felt?

With the backing and strength of the Ten Thousand Blessings and Longevity Garden, they had no need to fear Fang Yunhua would squeeze Jin Lingzhi dry and then kick her aside. But if one party was sincere while the other merely feigned affection, a hidden mine was bound to explode eventually, and the person who invested the most feeling would always be the one hurt.

Jin Lingzhi had argued her case fiercely. Just as the dispute threatened to bring the roof down, Madam Jin delivered the final verdict: they would simply treat it as their little granddaughter having some fun with a man.

The wiser old matriarch understood perfectly well that, if the arguing continued, there was no telling what rebellious act her little granddaughter might commit. Better to go along with her for now. After all, Jin Lingzhi had just admitted she had already given herself to him, so they might as well let her have her fun.

Once she grew tired of him, finding a suitable man willing to take over would hardly be difficult for the Ten Thousand Blessings and Longevity Garden.

One only had a single youth to enjoy.

With Madam Jin having set the tone, the others could only turn a blind eye. But that did not mean they would greet him with smiles when he came knocking to ask for help.

After they finished a family meal in a rather solemn atmosphere,

Second Master Jin took Fang Yunhua to his study.

Once inside, he was actually less cold toward Fang Yunhua than he had been outside.

Still, he began by making the necessary warning clear.

"That little niece of mine has been bewitched by you. But she seems to be doing fairly well right now. Whether your feelings are sincere or not, keep it that way until she kicks you aside."

"And if she never does?"

Fang Yunhua was not deliberately trying to be clever. When discussing business, he would naturally lower his head, since he needed a favor. But private matters were another story. Although Jin Lingzhi had never told him what her multitude of relatives at the Ten Thousand Blessings and Longevity Garden thought of him,

he only had to consider his own reputation to understand that her continued freedom to come out and meet him whenever she wished must have cost her tremendous effort behind the scenes.

His feelings for Jin Lingzhi were undoubtedly sincere.

Naturally, then, he could not leave her to shoulder everything alone. When the occasion called for it, he needed to make his own stance clear.

"Oh?" Second Master Jin became interested in that answer. "I've investigated you. Or rather, our family has analyzed your circumstances thoroughly, inside and out. As for the purpose of your visit, the letter my little niece sent me earlier already explained the broad outline.

"You should be asking me for a favor now. And you aren't some impulsive brat who doesn't know which way the wind blows.

"So, knowing you only needed to agree to my warning just now for us to move past it, why did you question me instead?"

"I simply feel that quite a few people may have misunderstood me."

"Misunderstood?" Second Master Jin sneered. "If not for Lingzhi, do you think a man of the martial world like you could even meet me? Only through your connection to Lingzhi do you barely qualify to enter this room!"

Fang Yunhua spread his hands and spoke frankly.

"Then I certainly owe Lingzhi my thanks for her affection. But I explained all the stakes and reasons to her beforehand, and I never concealed my intention to draw on her connections. I will never harm her, nor will I harm her family.

"In fact, I could say I'm helping you."

Second Master Jin narrowed his eyes slightly. He suddenly felt that the intelligence reports' assessment of this spirited young sect leader's character contained quite a few errors and omissions.

"Tell me your real reason for approaching me."

Fang Yunhua cleared his throat. Now that they had turned to business, his expression became much more serious.

"The martial world and the imperial court seem to exist in separate worlds. Yet in truth, all beneath heaven is the sovereign's land. The two are therefore nowhere near as separate as they appear. Behind the scenes, the court still maintains control over the martial world.

"Only its means and methods are entirely different from those used to govern ordinary people.

"This has created a delicate sort of stability.

"But with the emergence of countless ambitious figures and supremely powerful martial artists, that balance has begun to change. As the saying goes, warriors use martial might to defy the law. A blade that cannot be bound within its sheath is beyond control.

"No system can remain unchanged forever. The imperial court, too, needs reform, and that is where you come in.

"Second Master Jin of the renowned Ten Thousand Blessings and Longevity Garden abandoned martial pursuits for civil service, yet rose to the highest ranks of officialdom. Your brother, Seventh Master Jin, also became the General of Majestic Might, with the most distinguished military achievements of the present reign.

"I don't deny your abilities or Seventh Master Jin's. But in this world, beyond ability itself, a platform and opportunity to exercise it are even harder to come by.

"From this, we can already glimpse some of His Majesty's intentions.

"It has also made the standing of the Ten Thousand Blessings and Longevity Garden increasingly exceptional.

"Especially after Fourth Master Jin became the foremost figure in Jiangnan's martial world.

"The Ten Thousand Blessings and Longevity Garden has surely become a new model deliberately established by the imperial court.

"It is also the inevitable course by which that thick barrier between the martial world and the imperial court begins to blur."