The young master

Rustle, rustle, rustle...

A steady drizzle fell into the silent courtyard.

The room had nothing but four bare walls, and now a leaking roof had met a night of relentless rain. His circumstances were far from promising.

Ye Jingtang opened his oil-paper umbrella to cover the hole in the roof, then lay down with his saber in his arms and turned to look beside his head—the fluffy Niao Niao lay next to his pillow with its little claws in the air and its head cocked. Its sleeping posture was truly a disgrace.

Though the little idiot was usually mischievous and unreliable, it had been taught to keep watch and scout since it was young, and never slacked off when there was real work to do.

Back when they worked escort jobs, Niao Niao had always stood watch, and nothing had ever gone wrong.

But now there was only one man and one bird. Making Niao Niao work both day and night shifts would be rather inhumane, so Ye Jingtang had slept for half the night, then gotten up before dawn to relieve it and let it rest.

This era had no entertainment devices. Lying alone in bed in the dead of night, with everything dark and quiet, was honestly rather lonely.

Ye Jingtang was eighteen or nineteen and had practiced martial arts for years. Given his natural physical urges, something would have been wrong if he did not think about women at a time like this.

So he had barely lain down before the image of Pei Xiangjun leaning out of the window rose unbidden in his mind, along with the heavy curves beneath the front of her robes...

Now that I think about it, they really were huge...

As he drifted between sleep and waking, faint voices came through the curtain of rain:

"Huh? Someone's living here now? How poor must they be?"

"Probably a scholar who's come to the capital for the examinations and can't afford an inn, so he's sheltering here... Yunli, let's go..."

Ye Jingtang snapped alert and listened closely-the voices came from the entrance to the lane, but judging by their position, they were above the houses rather than on the street.

They sounded like two women. One was a girl no older than eighteen; the other had a mature woman's voice, light and softly flowing, making her age difficult to judge. From their manner of speaking, they seemed to be mother and daughter.

Ye Jingtang silently gripped the saber in his arms and waited. The voices soon vanished, followed by the sound of rain striking bamboo hats as they gradually moved away.

Looks like martial wanderers looking for somewhere to stay...

Realization dawned on Ye Jingtang. At last, he understood where the hair he had found while cleaning the bed had come from.

Twin Osmanthus Alley was very secluded and went unvisited year-round, making it a good hiding place. It was hardly strange for martial wanderers to seek lodging somewhere like this.

Now that those two had left, the chances of encountering another group were extremely low. After considering it, he decided not to move.

With that interruption, he naturally could not pick up his earlier fantasy again.

Ye Jingtang rubbed his face to sweep away his stray thoughts. Deciding he simply had too much energy, he got up with the broom and began working through the Red God of Wealth's spear techniques inside the room.

After he had occupied himself for an hour, the sky gradually brightened.

Ye Jingtang gathered his gear, put on his straw rain cape and bamboo hat, tucked the still-sleeping Niao Niao beneath the cape, and led his horse out of the lane.

It was barely light and still raining, so there were very few people on the streets.

After eating a basket of meat buns, Ye Jingtang followed the street for just over two li and arrived at Skywater Bridge.

All the businesses at Skywater Bridge belonged to the Pei family. The shops came in every variety-rice merchants, cloth shops, an escort agency, taverns-and all had already opened.

Ye Jingtang arrived outside the Far-Reaching Escort Agency and was about to greet the escorts washing up when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a maid emerge from a nearby lane with an oil-paper umbrella. She was Third Madam's maid, whom he had met yesterday.

"Young Master Ye, you're here so early!"

Somewhat surprised, Ye Jingtang led his horse over:

"I came to have a look. Why are you waiting here?"

"Escort Chief Yang said last night that you wanted to find some work with the family. Third Madam's waiting at home especially for you. Come, I'll take you over."

As the maid Xiuhe spoke, she took the reins and also tried to hold Niao Niao.

But the sleepy Niao Niao glanced at the front of Xiuhe's robes... and showed no interest whatsoever.

Ye Jingtang handed the little idiot to Xiuhe and headed into the depths of Bluestone Lane. The entire lane was lined by the courtyard wall of a single household, with buildings rising at varying heights inside-a typical wealthy family's residence.

Merchant households tended to keep a low profile, however. The entrance was not grand, merely a small gate set into a high wall, with lanterns bearing the character "Pei."

Ye Jingtang followed Xiuhe inside. As soon as he rounded the spirit screen, he saw a cluster of maids emerge at a corner of the covered walkway, looking him over curiously and chattering:

"That must be Young Master Ye, right?"

"Yes. Young Master Ye isn't just handsome-he's a great fighter, too. I was on the street yesterday and saw him knock Head Escort Chen flat with a single move."

"Compared with the eldest young master, one's in heaven and the other's down on earth..."

"No, no. Sister Xiuhe said Young Master Ye is older, so from now on, the eldest young master will have to be called the second young master..."

Hearing this, Ye Jingtang asked Xiuhe a few questions and learned that his "eldest uncle," Pei Yuanming, had died in an accident while away on business. He had left an only son, Pei Luo, the sole remaining scion of the Pei family, who was currently studying at an academy. There were no other men in the household.

Chatting along the way, they soon reached the reception hall of the Pei Residence.

Pei Xiangjun was already waiting there, but she was not alone. Two men in their fifties sat opposite her, both with tightly furrowed brows, apparently discussing some troublesome matter:

"You simply can't indulge scoundrels like these..."

"Exactly. Give them the slightest taste of sweetness, and they'll take an inch and demand a mile..."

Seeing this, Ye Jingtang stopped in the covered walkway to wait until Pei Xiangjun had finished discussing business.

But the Pei Family had already announced his arrival. The moment he appeared, the two older men rose and cupped their hands in greeting from a distance:

"Young Master Jingtang."

Ye Jingtang was not particularly eager to accept his identity as a young master of the Pei family, but as Pei Yuanfeng's adopted son, he could hardly deny it. He nodded in return:

"You're both too courteous. Third Madam, who are these two gentlemen?"

"They're the family's head managers. Both have been with us for years."

Pei Xiangjun put away the troubled look between her brows:

"You may go back now."

"Yes."

The two managers promptly took their leave.

The big Niao Niao saw the big-breasted lady, and its sleepiness vanished. It flapped its little wings and flew onto Pei Xiangjun's lap, tilting its head up to look adorable with its glossy black eyes.

Only for the front of her robes to block its view.

Niao Niao cocked its head, hopped curiously, and nudged her with its little skull.

Boing~ boing~

The front of her robes trembled and swayed-a truly exquisite sight.

Pei Xiangjun hurriedly held Niao Niao still, gathered it into her arms, and fed it melon seeds:

"Why are you so naughty?"

Ye Jingtang pretended not to have seen any of it. He went over to sit in the tea pavilion and asked:

"Third Madam and the two managers didn't look very happy. Is some trouble at the shops weighing on you?"

"Sigh~"

The dauntless Third Madam, who had been strong enough to uproot a weeping willow last night, had now become Lin Daiyu burying fallen flowers. She gave a soft, mournful sigh:

"Business never sails before a fair wind forever. With no man at home to take charge, the local snakes have decided the Pei family's widow and orphan are easy prey. They're always finding excuses to cause trouble..."

"Oh?"

Sitting on the other side of the tea table, Ye Jingtang frowned:

"What sort of trouble?"

"The thugs at the wharf want to collect 'tribute' from Skywater Bridge. The Pei family runs an honest business beneath the emperor's own feet, so naturally we can't pay. As a result, they cause trouble every few days. Today they claim the food was spoiled and made them ill; tomorrow they accuse the cloth shop of passing inferior goods off as fine ones. Each disturbance lasts all day, leaving the shops unable to do business..."

Ye Jingtang understood immediately. Having worked at an escort agency before, he knew this sort of thing all too well:

"The Pei Family does business in the Capital City. Don't you have any connections with the authorities? Or do the troublemakers have someone backing them?"

"It's the Green Lotus Gang from Jiangan Wharf, and they have connections with the authorities too. For merchants like us, every bit of friendship with the officials is bought with hard silver and gold. Calling on those favors over such a small matter isn't worth it. As for handling it ourselves, you've seen Chief Escort Chen. He can't settle it, so we can only leave things as they are."

Pei Xiangjun rested a hand against her forehead and gazed at Ye Jingtang with mournful resentment:

"Sigh~ At most, they can keep the shops from doing business. They wouldn't dare do anything serious in the Capital City. Your martial aunt will just suffer a little grievance. I'll endure it, and it'll pass. You needn't worry..."

That aggrieved, plaintive little look was practically an outright request.

Ye Jingtang naturally understood. He stood up:

"I'll go have a look. Well... I've only just arrived, and it really is difficult to find opportunities in the Capital City. Once this is settled, I'll work as an escort for the Pei Family. Third Madam, you can set my wages as you see fit..."

Pei Xiangjun had already discussed this with Ye Jingtang last night, so she wasted no words now. She rose, came over, and straightened the front of his robes:

"If a young man wants to earn his own living, of course I won't force money on him. But when you go out on family business, you must still do so as the Pei family's eldest young master. You're my second brother's adopted son to begin with. If I treated you as a hired escort, people would certainly make snide remarks."

Pei Xiangjun drew close, her fragrance brushing his face with tantalizing warmth. Her features were already gorgeous, and she had added vermilion rouge. As her lips moved, her pearly teeth appeared and disappeared. Combined with her gentle, ripe beauty, she was like a red-sleeved blade forged expressly to cut down young men.

Ye Jingtang's self-control was decent, but it had its limits. Unable to withstand Third Madam's "soft blade," he stepped back and straightened his own clothes:

"Understood. I'll go handle it, then."

"Change your clothes first. Dressed like that, you hardly look like a wealthy family's young master. Xiuhe, have someone take the young master to change, and tell Chen Biao and the others to accompany him afterward."

"Of course..."

A short while later, outside the Pei family's gate.

The veteran escort captain Yang Chao stood waiting beside a carriage with two skilled escorts.

Chen Biao had brought two men as well and was chatting with Yang Chao:

"The Green Lotus Gang's leader shares your surname. His name's Yang Guan, and he has a formidable master. Have you heard of the Three-Perfection Immortal Elder?"

"The Three-Perfection Immortal Elder, Guang Hanlin? That martial grandmaster who claims he once received a word of guidance from Fengguancheng?"

"That's right. Him..."

Little Six, the young escort behind Yang Chao, asked curiously:

"Getting a single word of advice is worth bragging about? Are martial grandmasters that cheap?"

"What do you know?"

Yang Chao stroked his beard and explained, "Fengguancheng is universally acknowledged as the greatest under heaven. He was invincible from the moment he emerged into the world, standing in a tier all his own. Never mind receiving a word of guidance from him-anyone who even gets to meet the venerable man is a titan of the martial world..."

As they spoke, the maids' chatter came from inside the gate:

"Wow..."

"Young master, don't walk so fast..."

The escorts turned to look and saw a figure emerge from behind the spirit screen with an umbrella, moving as though he were being chased.

He wore a black young nobleman's robe, with both inner and outer garments in black. The fabric was water-cloud brocade, worth a thousand gold pieces a bolt. As he walked, his robes flowed like rippling water and drifting clouds. Their silky smoothness was visible to the naked eye, and faint shades of dark gold shimmered as the light changed.

His long hair had been combed with meticulous care and secured with a black jade hairpin. He looked spotless, refined, and scholarly. The only flaw was the saber in his hand, which somewhat spoiled that cultured elegance.

The escort Little Six genuinely failed to recognize him. Even the veteran captain Yang Chao froze for a moment before looking him over carefully:

"Young master, that appearance is truly something. If someone said you were a prince traveling incognito, I doubt many people would question it."

Ye Jingtang strode out and jumped straight into the carriage:

"Let's go, let's go. Those women, honestly..."

Barely had he finished speaking when a group of maids chased out, peering around the spirit screen. They were only a breath away from asking whether he needed a maid to accompany him.

Rather amused, Chen Biao climbed onto the carriage and sat outside the cabin to drive, reminding him:

"Young master, speak a little more elegantly. It would spoil the picture if the ladies and young misses heard you."

"Exactly. Dressed like that, you should be carrying a fan, not a saber."

Amid their laughter and chatter, six horses followed the carriage out of Bluestone Lane...