Chapter 49#

If You Fancy Men, You Should Take a Obedient, Gentle One—That Kind of Seductive Beauty Is Not to Be Kept#

The next day, Rong Yu woke when the sun was already high in the sky.

His whole body ached as if he’d been beaten, especially his waist, which was so stiff it made cracking sounds like bones resetting with the slightest movement.

Mo Shu massaged him from head to toe before he felt a bit more comfortable.

After being helped to freshen up, breakfast was already set on the table—though it might more aptly be called lunch. The old madam had sent over old hen and ginseng soup, and donkey-hide gelatin stewed lamb, all hearty, nourishing dishes.

But it was too rich. A layer of oil floated atop the soup bowl, and Rong Yu had little appetite, only having Mo Shu ladle him a small bowl of the clear broth underneath.

For a moment, the room was so quiet that only the clinking of the spoon against the bowl’s edge could be heard.

Mo Shu, standing to the side, pressed his lips together, his expression conflicted. He thought, Why hasn’t the Young Master asked where Chu Tan went yet? If he doesn’t ask, should I bring it up?

After hesitating for a while, Mo Shu finally spoke with difficulty, “Young Master, Chu Tan was summoned by the old madam.”

Rong Yu lowered his gaze without comment, continuing to sip the soup in small sips.

Mo Shu bit his lip and continued, “Last night, water was called for the main room twice, with the last time being after the hour of the Rat. The stableboy who boiled the water informed the old madam, and she summoned me this morning to ask some questions.”

What she had naturally needed no explanation. Mo Shu didn’t dare to conceal anything from the old madam, and in truth, there was nothing to conceal. In a noble family like theirs, a young master and a servant bedding down was a perfectly normal occurrence.

The abnormality here lay with Rong Yu—not because of his intersex body, but due to his frail health and crippled legs. He looked like the weak, wronged party in the pairing, so Chu Tan was naturally subjected to a thorough interrogation.

Rong Yu’s expression didn’t change. He pursed his lips slightly to blow on the spoon, “When did he leave?”

“He was summoned by the old madam early this morning and hasn’t returned yet. It’s been over an hour.”

That most likely meant he was being lectured. Rong Yu used his tongue to curl up a small piece of lamb from the spoon, chewing it slowly, and said calmly, “Serves him right.”

Who told Chu Tan not to restrain himself and still act like they were in the Rong manor? In the capital, Rong Xiu Yong couldn’t be bothered with him, and Lady Bai wished only for him to become more and more of a scoundrel—nobody controlled him.

But at the Yang family, the Yang siblings had always doted on their only sister, Lady Yang, and by extension, on him, her frail and sickly nephew. The old madam was even more so. Every time they came to Yangzhou, she had servants report in meticulous detail what he ate for every meal, how much he ate, and how long he slept each day, fearing he might be unwell in any way.

To say nothing of a sudden bed-warming servant appearing by his side, overstepping his bounds. Regardless of whether the master had allowed it, a beating for Chu Tan was unavoidable.

As expected, Chu Tan was at that very moment being punished in the old madam’s courtyard.

He lay prone on a long bench, while a young servant behind him wielded a board to strike his buttocks. After ten strokes, his face was deathly pale, sweat beaded his forehead, and his hands gripped the edge of the bench tightly.

The old madam sat upright in a grand chair, a Buddhist bead bracelet twist in her hand, her eyes closed as she rested.

Chen Mu Mu approached her side and said softly, “Old madam, it’s done.”

The old madam murmured a Buddhist phrase, then lifted her eyelids, “Still conscious?”

Chen Mu Mu: “Still conscious.”

“His backbone is quite hard. Take him away. Find a doctor to look at him afterwards, so as not to trouble Rong Yu.” The old madam gave the instruction, then slowly closed her eyes again, her expression indifferent.

“Yes.” Chen Mu Mu came before Chu Tan, looking down at his sweat-streaked face. Even in his disheveled state, the handsome and profound lines of his features remained undiminished.

Chen Mu Mu thought to herself, He does have some looks, no wonder he could bewitch the Young Master.

“You were originally a sinner slave. My family’s Young Master is kind-hearted and gave you food. You should think about how to serve your master properly, not seduce him and wear him out. The old madam remembers that you saved the Young Master once, so she’s letting you off this time. If there’s a next time, it won’t be just a few board strikes.”

She warned him coldly, “Do you understand?”

Chu Tang lifted his sweat-dampened eyelids and glanced at her. Those black pupils held no emotion, neither sorrow nor joy, a coldness that felt inorganic.

With the weather almost entering the dog days of summer, Chen Mu Mu felt a sudden chill run down her spine, causing goosebumps. She shivered involuntarily on the spot.

However, Chen Mu Mu was someone who had weathered storms alongside the old madam. She quickly regained her composure, though a strong sense of wariness welled up in her heart. She was just thinking of mentioning to the old madam that this fellow seemed a bit eerie when the sound of wheelchair wheels rolling came from not far away.

“The Young Master has arrived.” Chen Mu Mu bowed in greeting, her gaze involuntarily sweeping over the still-prone Chu Tan.

Rong Yu nodded slightly, not granting Chu Tan even a glance. Instead, he looked straight ahead and headed directly for the old madam.

“I’ve come to see Grandmother,” Rong Yu said with a smile.

The old madam smiled lovingly, taking his hand, “Have you eaten?”

“I have. The ginseng soup Grandmother sent was delicious, and the lamb was especially tender.”

The old madam’s smile deepened, “I’m glad you liked it.” Her wrinkled hand caressed Rong Yu’s cheek, “Look, you must not have slept well last night. There are dark circles under your eyes.”

Rong Yu’s face was as still as a placid lake, offering no explanation.

A trace of heartache and a measure of anger surfaced in the old madam’s eyes—the anger naturally directed at Chu Tan. She hinted obliquely, “You must take care of your health.”

The old madam would absolutely not blame her grandson. Everything was due to that lowly servant using his looks to serve and seduce the master. She only feared that if Rong Yu had truly taken a fancy to Chu Tan, it would be quite troublesome.

So she glanced meaningfully at Chu Tan, saying, “You cannot be so easily bewitched.”

Rong Yu lowered his eyes with a faint smile, seeming utterly unconcerned, “Just a pastime.”

The old madam carefully observed his expression. It didn’t seem fake, so she relaxed a little, patting his hand.

“That’s good. Your constitution is frail. In the future, Grandmother will certainly find you a well-born lady from a good family, someone who knows her roots and is gentle and virtuous, to be your wife. If you do fancy men, you should take an obedient, gentle one. That kind of seductive beauty who bewitches her master is not to be kept.”

Rong Yu’s eyelids drooped slightly, “Rong Yu remembers.”

The old madam was also worried that saying too much would annoy Rong Yu, as his temperament was always unpredictable. So she chuckled, “Alright, alright, let’s not talk about this anymore.”

She gave a look, instructing Chen Mu Mu to have the servants carry Chu Tan away.

Grandmother and grandson continued their conversation.

It wasn’t until after noon, after having some refreshments in the Shou’an Hall, that Rong Yu returned to his own courtyard.

Chu Tan had initially been carried by a few servants to a room nearby the main house used by the servants, but he had crawled up and made his way to Rong Yu’s bedroom to lie down there.

As soon as Rong Yu returned, he saw the young man lying on the bed, long arms hanging over the edge of the bed, his bloodless cheek pressed against the snow-white bedding. He was so pale he almost blended in, making his eyes seem even darker and deeper, like black obsidian, staring unblinkingly at him.

He looked like a large dog that had been wronged—quite pitiable.

Rong Yu was iron-hearted; he felt no pity for him. He sipped tea in small sips at the table, his expression perfectly calm.

“Young Master doesn’t love me?” Chu Tan’s hoarse voice sounded.

Rong Yu gave him a cold glance, “You brought this on yourself.”

He was still in pain himself—shoulders, waist, buttocks. And the culprit was still occupying his bed.

“Mo Shu,” Rong Yu set down his teacup, a layer of gloom clouding his face, “Send those two servants back. Just say I prefer quiet. No need to explain further.”

There was no need to say more. The old madam would understand his meaning perfectly.

As expected, that afternoon, the old madam sent two quiet little maids over. They walked without making a sound, and their servant contracts were also handed over to Rong Yu. The implication was that he could use them without worry, and she would no longer interfere with matters in his courtyard.

Of course, this came later. Right now, Rong Yu just wanted to lie down and rest. Sitting in the wheelchair was really taking a toll on his waist.

Chu Tan got out of bed and lifted him onto it.

Seeing his swift movement, Rong Yu raised an eyebrow, “Seems they still went too easy on you.”

Ten board strikes weren’t light. An ordinary man receiving that many would need to lie in bed for ten days to half a month to recover. But Chu Tan was tough and durable, his physical resilience comparable to that young, vigorous lion. This bit of pain wasn’t enough to impair his ability to move.

Chu Tan embraced Rong Yu from behind, his lips nuzzling against his neck, then suddenly said in an ominous tone, “When you said ‘just a pastime’ earlier, what did you mean?”

“Exactly what I said,” Rong Yu answered languidly, eyes half-closed in a lazy sprawl.

Chu Tan narrowed his eyes, revealing snow-white teeth as he gave the delicate neck a light, dangerous nip. His tone was perilous, “Young Master truly sees me as just a pastime?”

Rong Yu lifted his eyelids and said coldly, “If you keep talking nonsense, get off. I’m exhausted.”

Chu Tan held Rong Yu tighter, his displeased expression vanishing completely. He buried his face in the hollow of Rong Yu’s neck, nuzzling, his voice a bit muffled, “I don’t believe it.”

Those words were merely to fool the old madam. Otherwise, if she saw that the Young Master had truly taken a liking to him, a mere servant, she would definitely have him thrown out.

The Young Master had gone to such great lengths to keep him by his side. Chu Tan kissed Rong Yu’s neck several times, and received two more smacks before finally settling down to sleep.

——

The weather in Yangzhou grew hotter with each passing day, and Rong Yu’s mood followed suit, growing irritable. He kept a somber face all day, a persistent gloom between his brows that wouldn’t dissipate.

Yang Huai Ye often wanted to take him out to have fun.

Of all the young people in the Yang family, he was the most idle. The eldest brother was busy with business, the second brother with his studies, and even Yang Qing Ling was being supervised by the second aunt to learn needlework.

Only Yang Huai Ye spent his days eating, drinking, and playing, a notorious dandy in Yangzhou City.

This was his third time coming to invite Rong Yu out. Rong Yu had refused the first two times, but this time he agreed. Chu Tan also followed along without a word.

Yang Huai Ye looked at Chu Tan in surprise. In just six days, he was moving freely again. He raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He knew about the day Chu Tan was beaten by the old madam and understood the cause and effect.

This was entirely within Yang Huai Ye’s expectations. To be honest, at their first meeting at the dock, he had sensed a strange atmosphere between his cousin and this servant. However, his nature had always been free and easy, and he never meddled in others’ affairs.

Yangzhou was an extremely wealthy and prosperous place, attracting merchants from all over the world, even blond-haired, green-eyed Westerners who had crossed vast oceans to reach it.

Yang Huai Ye took them to the Tingyu Tower. Its name was elegantly chosen, but it was essentially a restaurant.

The manager immediately came out to greet them and led them to a private room on the third floor. In the spacious center of the third floor, a young woman wearing a veil was playing the pipa.

The melody was elegant and soothing, very pleasant to the ear. Yang Huai Ye casually tossed her a piece of silver. The woman was flattered but, since the song wasn’t finished, she couldn’t stand to thank him, only nodding in acknowledgment.

The manager thanked him on her behalf, “Young Master Yang is as considerate and cherishing of beauties as ever.”

Yang Huai Ye laughed, “Is she new? Wasn’t there a woman playing the guqin before?”

“The patrons said they grew tired of hearing the guqin all the time, so we changed it for something fresh. This woman is also quite pitiful…” The manager trailed off, and Yang Huai Ye didn’t ask further.

Halfway through the meal, a commotion arose, and the sound of music also stopped abruptly.

The so-called private rooms weren’t entirely enclosed booths; they were separated by screens. So, with a slight lean of the head, one could see what was happening outside.

It turned out a middle-aged man had gotten into a scuffle with the pipa-playing musician from earlier. His language was exceptionally crude.

“You have to give me money today, or I’m not leaving!”

“Father, I really have no money. Please go quickly, don’t disturb the patrons’ meal.”

“How can you have no money? You play the pipa here every day, smile at those rich men, and isn’t everything settled!”

During the dispute, the man spotted the reward Yang Huai Ye had given the woman earlier. His eyes immediately lit up, and he lunged to grab it.

The woman hurriedly blocked him, saying angrily, “Father! You sold me here, and the debt to the restaurant isn’t even paid off. This money cannot be given to you!”

The middle-aged man’s expression was very strange. His face was flushed red, he panted like a bull, and his eyes were bloodshot. He looked utterly crazed.

He alternately shouted at the woman and then knelt on the ground crying, “Please, give the money to your father. If I can’t get another drink of Divine Intoxication, I’ll die!”

Just then, the manager arrived with people and had the man dragged away.

Shortly after, the manager returned with the musician to apologize.

The manager explained, “That man just now was her father. Half a month ago, he sold her here to cover a fifty-tael debt. Our owner, pitying her as a weak woman, let her play the pipa to earn wages to pay off the debt. Once she’s earned enough, her contract will be returned to her. But her unreliable father keeps coming to demand money. This is already the third time. If this disturbance to the patrons continues, the owner might not keep you.”

The last sentence was naturally directed at the musician.

The musician burst into tears. As a woman, if she were sold again, the best outcome would be to become a servant in a wealthy household; the worst, she might be forced into a life of vice.

Rong Yu listened with his cheek propped in his hand for a long while, then suddenly asked, “What was that ‘Divine Intoxication’ your father mentioned earlier?”

The musician was stunned for a moment, then a deep, venomous hatred surfaced in her eyes, “What Divine Intoxication! It’s the most hateful thing in the world! If it weren’t for it, how could my father have become like this!”

Chu Tan’s eyes flickered slightly, his emotion passing in a flash.

The manager was deeply reticent about the subject, “I think it’s better for you not to inquire further, young master. That’s not a good thing.”

The manager led the musician away. Rong Yu was still curious. He asked Yang Huai Ye, “Cousin Ye, do you know about it?”

Yang Huai Ye stroked his chin, pondering, “I’ve heard of it. It seems to have appeared only about half a year ago. Within Yangzhou City, only one gambling den sells it.”

Rong Yu’s eyes brightened slightly, “A gambling den?”

“Don’t even think about getting involved in that,” Yang Huai Ye crossed one leg over the other, swaying his wine glass, saying casually, “Our Yang family’s ancestral rule is that no descendant of the Yang family is ever allowed to gamble. If the old madam finds out, even though you’re her precious darling, you’ll still get a beating.”

Rong Yu’s lips curved faintly, “Cousin Ye forgets, my surname is Rong.”

【Author’s Note:】

Better late than never! kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss