Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Old Wang’s Warning, Even Concubines Have a Probationary Period

Tongzhou.

A light morning rain drizzled down, and a gentle breeze rustled the willows.

Outside the city, on the riverbank, Pei Shaoqing and County Magistrate Wang sat side by side, each holding a bamboo fishing rod as they fished.

Ye Hanshuang, dressed in white with her hair in a ponytail, leaned against the carriage in a relaxed posture, a sword cradled in her arms. She idly chewed on a verdant green willow twig, looking utterly bored.

Zhao Zilan, clad in a purple silk dress with her hair done up with a jade pin, was squatting on the ground to brew tea. She fanned the flames with a small fan, her skirt hitched up slightly to reveal her exquisite embroidered slippers and white silk socks. If the hem were to ride up just a little more, her flawless white calves would come into view.

County Magistrate Wang glanced back at his own Scholar, who was also brewing tea, and tutted, "To be flanked by two such extraordinary beauties... Young Master Pei, you are a fortunate man indeed."

He wasn’t a lecher, but an appreciation for beauty is universal, so he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy.

"That’s where you are mistaken, County Magistrate." Pei Shaoqing shook his head, his gaze fixed on the river’s surface. "They are the fortunate ones," he said nonchalantly, "to be able to accompany me."

County Magistrate Wang was rendered speechless.

He had not been prepared for such a blatant flex.

"It seems your injuries have more or less healed. Congratulations," Pei Shaoqing said, turning to him. "But you didn’t invite me out today just to fish, did you?"

County Magistrate Wang’s voice turned grave. "I wanted to give you a warning. The Shaking Light Saintess has decided to personally avenge the Kaiyang Saint Heir. She may already be on her way to Tongzhou. Young Master Pei, you’d best look after yourself."

"Heh heh. Wouldn’t this be considered betraying your own, County Magistrate?" Pei Shaoqing teased with a grin.

County Magistrate Wang’s face darkened. "I’m only giving you this information because you saved my life," he huffed. "It doesn’t mean I’m going to help you deal with the Saintess."

"A life debt can’t be repaid that easily, can it?" Pei Shaoqing smiled faintly. "If you’re going to be a good person, you might as well go all the way. Tell me about this Shaking Light Saintess."

"I don’t know much myself." County Magistrate Wang first shook his head, then slowly began to speak. "I only know that she is the Sect Leader’s sole female disciple and his most favored one. Her talent in Martial Arts is exceptionally high. She normally lives in seclusion and rarely appears in public. As for her personality, she’s extremely proud and looks down on everyone."

"Her Swordsmanship is sublime. She has the kind heart of a Bodhisattva, yet she is also ruthlessly decisive and capable of acting like a wrathful Vajra. She is graceful and exquisitely beautiful."

Based on this description, an image of a cold and arrogant Saintess formed in Pei Shaoqing’s mind. He then asked nonchalantly, "How high is ’exceptionally high talent’? Like, three or four stories high?"

"Two years ago, at the age of twenty, the Shaking Light Saintess became our Holy Sect’s youngest to reach the Wandering Dragon Realm. Although she rarely travels the Jianghu, every time she appears, she stuns all who witness her skill. The Jianghu calls her the Shaking Light Sword Immortal." County Magistrate Wang’s expression was grave, his tone full of admiration and reverence.

Breaking through to the Wandering Dragon Realm at twenty years old.

That was indeed astonishingly brilliant.

Pei Shaoqing’s guard was now raised to its highest.

Catching an odd expression on the magistrate’s face from the corner of his eye, Pei Shaoqing asked suspiciously, "Old Wang, you don’t have a thing for her, do you?"

"Nonsense! That’s not it! I don’t!" County Magistrate Wang, who had been spacing out, suddenly reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, his fur bristling as he fired off a rapid-fire denial.

"Ohoho!" Pei Shaoqing gave him a knowing smile and tutted. "It is a gentleman’s nature to pursue a fair lady. If you like her, you like her. Why hide it?"

"Many people in the sect like her!" County Magistrate Wang raised his voice slightly before taking a deep breath and pursing his lips. "My feelings toward the Saintess are purely those of admiration and appreciation. I have no defiling thoughts. Don’t you project your own filthy ideas onto me."

Pei Shaoqing understood. This Shaking Light Saintess was what many in the Profound Yellow Sect would call their ’white moonlight’—a figure so outstanding that everyone adored her, yet felt too unworthy to even dream of having her.

A wild idea suddenly occurred to him.

’If I turned the Shaking Light Saintess into my personal plaything,’ he mused, ’wouldn’t the entire Profound Yellow Sect go absolutely mad?’

"Alright, alright, just pretend I never said anything." Pei Shaoqing stopped teasing Old Wang and asked, "How about you send word to me again once she arrives in Tongzhou?"

"Absolutely not. Giving you this warning is the absolute limit of what I can do," County Magistrate Wang refused without a moment’s hesitation. He then added, "Of course, business is business. If she tries to kill you and I am present, I will do everything in my power to save you and repay my life debt."

"But if that happens, I’m afraid your Holy Sect will no longer have a place for you," Pei Shaoqing pointed out with a raised eyebrow.

County Magistrate Wang replied calmly, "You need not worry about that. I will report to the main headquarters and accept my punishment."

Though they stood on opposite sides, Pei Shaoqing thought Old Wang was a decent friend. He truly acted on his principles, with an open and honest conscience. A true gentleman.

"Relax. I won’t end up in a situation where I need you to save me. You can just keep on owing me that life debt," Pei Shaoqing laughed. With a flick of his wrist, he pulled a carp from the water.

County Magistrate Wang was about to say something when he felt a sharp tug on his fishing rod. "I’ve got one, too!"

He quickly yanked his rod, pulling a massive black carp out of the water. It was so large that he instantly jumped to his feet.

"Holy crap!" Staring at the huge black carp whose scales glistened magnificently in the sunlight, Pei Shaoqing was so shocked that he cursed aloud. His own carp suddenly felt pathetic. "Old Wang, pull harder!"

"What a huge fish! His Lordship is amazing!" County Magistrate Wang’s little Scholar beamed with joy. Sharing in the glory, he even shot Zhao Zilan a triumphant look.

Zhao Zilan rolled her eyes. ’How childish,’ she thought.

County Magistrate Wang was about to use his Inner Strength to haul in the fish, but the next second, the line snapped. The massive black carp, flailing in the air, crashed back into the river with a LOUD SPLASH, kicking up a ten-foot spray of water.

He stood frozen in place, holding the now-limp rod.

Pei Shaoqing knew that in the days to come, that fish would only grow larger and larger in the magistrate’s memory.

He walked over and patted Old Wang on the shoulder to console him.

County Magistrate Wang stared blankly ahead, ignoring him.

It was a pain only a true fisherman could understand.

After a long silence, County Magistrate Wang said in a flat voice, "Have the shop that sold me this fishing rod shut down."

"Yes, Your Lordship," the Scholar replied gingerly.

"No need for that, really," Pei Shaoqing said, pulling County Magistrate Wang back down into his seat. He waved a hand behind him. "Bring the tea."

Zhao Zilan and the Scholar both stepped forward to serve tea.

"Come on, Old Wang, drink some tea and cool off. It’s just a fish. We can buy one at the market later."

County Magistrate Wang took the cup and had a sip. Normally, the tea had a sweet aftertaste, but today it was just bitter.

...

As the sun began to set, Pei Shaoqing returned to the city with his single trophy, accompanied by a thoroughly skunked Old Wang.

Ye Hanshuang drove the carriage from the outside.

Inside the curtained carriage, Pei Shaoqing was sprawled out languidly. Zhao Zilan was kneeling before him, her back to the carriage door, her head buried in his robes as she searched for something.

From Pei Shaoqing’s point of view, he saw the smooth curve of Zhao Zilan’s back and the full, exquisite curve of her rear. A sliver of her bare calf was visible. Her embroidered slipper had fallen off to the side, and her two small, white-socked feet were pressed against the carriage floor, splayed apart.

Only after the carriage entered the city did Zhao Zilan, having finally found what she was looking for, sit up. With a shy yet pitiable and charming expression, she looked at Pei Shaoqing and cooed, "Young Master~"

"There’s been progress," Pei Shaoqing complimented.

Zhao Zilan’s face flushed beet red. Hearing the noisy crowds outside the carriage, she lowered her head, unable to meet his gaze.

"When will Young Master take me into his household?" she asked softly. From her perspective, having gone this far, Pei Shaoqing should have already taken her as a concubine by now.

Pei Shaoqing replied in a gentle voice, "Countless women want to be my concubine, and I don’t just accept anyone. How about this? We’ll start with a three-month probationary period. If you perform well during these three months and keep me satisfied, I will pick an auspicious day to make you mine."

Even concubines had a probationary period.

However, an internship with him came with a salary—a payout of several hundred million at a time. The more one labored, the more one earned. As long as you were nimble with your hands and quick with your mouth, you could make a fortune.

Zhao Zilan’s chest swelled with anger. She never expected that offering herself up as a concubine would be this humiliating. She could only force a smile. "Lan’Er will be sure to serve you well, Young Master."

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