Chapter 716

Chapter 723: First Moves (Part 1)

"I think it's better not to tell the madam," Huang Xiaomao, who was usually steady, was losing his composure. "Since the Marquis has already said so, telling the madam would only cause unhappiness between the Marquis and her. How about this: we do as we did in Jiayu Pass—rent a place near Pingyi Station and pretend to meet the Sixth Young Master by chance. That way, if anything happens to him, we can still look out for him.

There’s strength in numbers, after all!"

"That’s a great idea!" Liu Erwu said. "With you away, we’ll have nothing to do here anyway. Why not go to Pingyi with you?"

"Let’s just follow the Sixth Young Master’s arrangements," Chang'an, as usual, was the last to speak. "The Sixth Young Master has made many friends these days. Once he leaves, those connections will likely fade. Yanjing is the capital region, a place of great importance, while Guizhou is remote. Having friends in Yanjing means having people to help with small matters. If we stay here, we can deliver festival gifts on the Sixth Young Master’s behalf during holidays, pay respects to the various officials—it wouldn’t be a bad thing."

Sui Feng, Huang Xiaomao, and Liu Erwu looked at each other, taken aback—they had never considered this.

"But if the Sixth Young Master isn’t home, we won’t have anyone to serve. We can’t just go pay respects to the officials every day, can we?" Huang Xiaomao still felt uneasy. "What would we do in our free time? Guard the house? That’s A Jin and the others’ job. Sweeping and mopping? That’s Wan Mama and her team. Night watch? That’s the guards’ duty. Are we just supposed to eat and sleep all day like young masters? I’d still rather follow the Sixth Young Master to Guizhou!"

Liu Erwu felt the same: "I also think it’d be more reassuring to go with the Sixth Young Master to Guizhou..."

They all came from farming families, and no one kept idle hands. If there was no work, it meant this place didn’t need them, and they’d have to return to the farmlands. Over the years, they had followed Xu Sijin in studying and practicing martial arts—they had long forgotten how to farm and were no longer accustomed to a life of toiling under the sun. They feared being sent back.

Sui Feng hesitated, then said, "We could socialize more with the personal attendants of the various officials. Relationships grow through interaction. Otherwise, how did that Xie Laosan end up as a gatekeeper at Shuntian Prefecture? It shows that showing up around the young masters now and then doesn’t hurt. Besides, someone needs to take care of the birds and dogs the young master left behind..."

Xie Laosan was from the same hometown as Xie Yan’s father. He barely scraped by on two meager acres of land. By chance, he met Xie Yan’s father and insisted on claiming distant kinship, addressing him as uncle. During festivals or family events, he would bring local products to the Xie family. Xie’s father, feeling obliged, recommended him for a gatekeeper position at Shuntian Prefecture when an opening arose. Within a few years, Xie Laosan had acquired land and property. Some of Xie’s actual distant relatives grew envious, but Xie Yan scoffed, "They never show up normally, can’t even remember their names, let alone help them secure a job."

Huang Xiaomao and Liu Erwu fell silent upon hearing this.

A young servant entered and reported, "Sixth Young Master, the steward from Princess Suiping’s residence is here on the orders of the Consort to present you with farewell gifts!"

"I haven’t even left yet!" Xu Sijin chuckled and went to the reception hall.

The steward from Princess Suiping’s residence was tall and thin, someone he recognized—a very shrewd man.

He bowed respectfully and, with a smiling face, presented a red lacquered box containing the gift list with both hands. "Just a small token of respect," he said. "The Consort also said that once you’ve settled on a departure date, he will prepare a banquet to see you off personally."

Chang'an hurriedly took the box. Xu Sijin expressed his thanks, then took a sip of tea. Chang'an accompanied the steward out, gave him a tip on Xu Sijin’s behalf, and went to inventory the gifts. Xu Sijin returned to his room and continued the earlier conversation with Sui Feng and the others: "Mother said she’ll be releasing A Jin this year. Since I won’t be living at home, we really will need someone to manage things here..."

A Jin hadn’t been betrothed yet. Having grown up together, the three were surprised to hear this.

Chang'an hurried back in.

"Sixth Young Master," even someone as composed as him looked somewhat uneasy, "Consort Suiping not only sent you stationery supplies but also... also two attractive maidservants!"

"Attractive maidservants?" Xu Sijin was stunned.

"I was afraid the Fourth Madam would be angry if she found out, but the steward said if these two maidservants aren’t pretty enough, he’d send two more tomorrow. These two are ours to handle as we please..." Beads of sweat formed on Chang'an’s forehead. "I... I saw that the two maidservants were only twelve or thirteen years old. When the steward said that, they turned pale with fright... I didn’t dare ask you, so I had to accept them!" He knelt on the ground. "Sixth Young Master, this is all my fault. Punish me as you see fit!"

That day, when Eleven Miss subtly asked Xu Sijin if he had been following his master’s advice about abstaining from women while practicing internal martial arts, Chang'an had sensed her intention, especially since all the maidservants serving Xu Sijin had been with him since childhood. Now, the Consort of Princess Suiping had sent two attractive maidservants, and he was the one who had accepted them—how could he not be terrified?

Xu Sijin could also sense his mother’s stance on this matter.

Many families less prominent than theirs had numerous concubines and maidservants. His older brothers were no exception, but even his father only had two elderly concubines...

He scratched his head and said, "Then... then take those two maidservants to my mother. Since I’m leaving anyway, she can handle them as she sees fit."

Chang'an breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said, "I’ll have someone take the two young women to the madam right away..."

Eleven Miss was in the side room accompanying Yingniang, who was in labor. When she heard that someone had sent two attractive maidservants to Xu Sijin, even Yingniang, despite her painful moans, couldn’t help but smile.

"Have Amber take them in and settle them first. I’ll deal with it after I’m done with Fifth Young Mistress’s matters."

Mother was best at settling accounts after the fact.

At this thought, Xu Sijin went to see Lord Xu. "Father, I've decided to take Chang'an with me. I'll leave Sui Feng at home to handle daily affairs for me. Huang Xiaomao and Liu Erwu will go to Guizhou with Master Pang and find a place to stay in Chengfan Prefecture. They can assist with my matters when needed, and I can continue learning martial arts from Master Pang..." Lord Xu didn't ask why he made those arrangements but nodded with trust. "Then I'll help get Chang'an enlisted in the military first."

Xu Sijin's eyes lit up. "Father, does that mean you can also help Huang Xiaomao, Liu Erwu, and Sui Feng get military status?" "Some matters should not be rushed," Lord Xu replied indirectly. "You need to learn to keep your cool."

"Great, great!" Xu Sijin grinned, showing no intention of being patient. "This way, I can offer them a tangible future they can see and touch—way better than handing out silver or women as rewards!" He then mentioned the two pretty maids sent by Princess Suiping's consort.

"You called them pretty maids, so they must be quite attractive?" Lord Xu remarked casually with a smile. "How old are they?"

"I haven't even seen them!" Xu Sijin felt his father was too casual and didn't understand his anxiety. He raised his voice, "I had them sent straight to Mother..." He muttered, "She even asked me point-blank if I've been abstaining from women..."

"You're still young; it's reasonable for your mother to ask such questions." Lord Xu patted his son's shoulder with a laugh. "Focus on your martial arts training. Once you've made some progress, I'll give you two pretty maids too!"

Xu Sijin recalled the seemingly elegant but flirtatious singing girls on the painted boats and curled his lip in disdain. "I don't want them!"

Lord Xu was taken aback, then burst into laughter.

Feeling that his father was of no help, Xu Sijin left in a huff.

Halfway, he detoured to visit the Elder Madam.

"Two pretty maids?" The Elder Madam signaled the young maid reading Buddhist scriptures to her to leave. She took Xu Sijin's hand and said softly, "Think about it—how could Princess Suiping's consort casually give away girls from respectable families? They're likely from brothels, trained since they were kids in ways to please men. Such women know nothing beyond bedroom matters. They may appear pretty and speak softly, but when it comes to serious matters, their ignorance shows—they wouldn't even know the difference between the Palace Administration and the Imperial Wardrobe, let alone offer you sound advice. They're all gold and jade on the outside, but rubbish on the inside. You're destined for great things; if you lack the discernment and self-discipline to see through this, how will you manage virtuous and talented subordinates? Remember, those with true ability respect people of upright character the most!" She then smiled and put an arm around Xu Sijin's shoulders. "Sending them to your mother was the right thing to do. Filial piety comes first in all matters. Knowing you honor your mother brings me joy too!" She looked at him with a beaming smile. "If you really want someone to attend to you, our family has plenty. Not to look far, A Jin in your room seems quite suitable. How about I arrange for you to take her as your bedmaid before you leave for Guizhou?"

A Jin?

Xu Sijin was stunned. "She... she's served me since childhood and is several years older than me!"

"Older is better—she knows how to care for people," the Elder Madam said dismissively with a smile. "Having served you since childhood, she understands your temperament clearly and knows how to look after you!"

"No way!" Xu Sijin shook his head like a rattle-drum. "I need to focus on martial arts. I don't want a bedmaid..." The Elder Madam chuckled, thinking it was just an excuse. "If you don't fancy her, what about Luzhu, who recently came to serve by my side? She's only two years older than you. I think she's quite pretty..."

That little maid who’s as fair and plump as a steamed bun!

Xu Sijin felt a headache coming on.

It seemed that coming to see the elder madam had been a mistake too! He needed to find a way to escape.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, a young maid rushed in, panting: “Elder Madam, Elder Madam! Fifth Young Mistress has given birth—to a young master!”

“Oh my!” The elder madam straightened up. “What wonderful news! Quickly, go and inform the second madam, copying scriptures in the Buddhist hall, and ask her to accompany me to see Fifth Young Mistress.”

The kid came at the perfect time! Xu Sijin’s eyebrows curved into a smile as he hurriedly supported the elder madam. “Grandmother, let me help you over!”