Chapter 99 – We Must Be Elegant While Being Tainted (Part Four)
Feng Jin’s eyelids twitched; Xian De was his father’s courtesy name. Although he was of the younger generation, he had heard about Liu Zhi being familiar with his father, Feng Ren.
The phrase “having a daughter under your knee” caught Feng Jin off guard, making him feel like a startled bird.
Yet, being clever as he was, he understood that Jiang Pengji’s identity as a woman was a secret known to very few, and Liu Zhi clearly had no intention of revealing it, thus Liu Zhi only had a “son,” and his illegitimate daughter was not worthy of Feng Jin’s status, so that remark was merely polite banter.
Therefore, Feng Jin didn’t need to worry about his future being as imposing as Jiang Pengji’s, a woman akin to a warrior.
Although he had no expectations of a marriage blooming into a fiery romance, he certainly didn’t want to be the one constantly getting beaten up in a martial arts showdown.
“Uncle, your kind words are much appreciated. Even if we can’t become kin through marriage, my bond with Lan Ting is deeper than that of brothers.”
After saying this, Feng Jin secretly cast a pleading look at Jiang Pengji, hoping his partner could draw some heat away from him.
“I often hear Xian De praise you three brothers, all possessing the talents of a royal assistant. If my useless son could have even a fraction of your abilities, I would no longer need to worry,” Liu Zhi spoke while deprecating Jiang Pengji but his expression told a different story.
Though Feng Jin wasn’t as sweet-tongued as his younger brother at home, he wasn’t oblivious to others’ facial expressions.
“Uncle, you’re being overly gracious. Just the other day, my father reprimanded me for being foolish and unadaptable. Where could I possibly have the talents of a royal assistant? As for Lan Ting, despite our short acquaintance, I can see she possesses profound intelligence, far from the mediocrity you speak of.”
By downplaying himself and praising Jiang Pengji, Feng Jin was secretly wiping the sweat from his brow, hoping this troublesome Liu uncle would let him off easy.
Getting bullied was minor, but he feared that one day, during correspondence with his father, this incident would be brought up.
Jiang Pengji observed the interaction between the two with cold eyes, letting out a soft scoff before turning to the visibly awkward Wu Ma Jun.
“Did Young Master Wu come here seeking pleasure, too?”
Wu Ma Jun initially felt pleased that Jiang Pengji was conversing with him, easing his embarrassment of being ignored. However, when she posed such an embarrassing question, he regretted it; he would rather remain a nameless background character.
No matter how he answered, it felt like he would be in trouble.
To admit to seeking pleasure would tarnish his reputation, causing Liu Zhongqing to think poorly of him on first impressions.
Denying it would be worse.
A man should dare to take responsibility; how could he not admit to something so minor?
What kind of big things could he achieve with such cowardice?
With both responses spinning in his mind, Wu Ma Jun chose to remain silent, as a direct answer was bound to be incorrect.
“I came here with Huai Yu; then, how did Lan Ting end up here?”
After saying this, his gaze involuntarily swept over the two women, a wave of displeasure rising within him.
It wasn’t about how much he valued these two wandering women; he was simply unhappy that people acted without his consent.
Even if the person was Liu Zhongqing’s son, he still didn’t like it. However, Wu Ma Jun wouldn’t show such emotions, burying them deeper so no one could see. Of course, that didn’t include Jiang Pengji.
“Naturally, I was brought here by my father,” she answered honestly, deliberately ignoring Wu Ma Jun’s awkward expression. “He worried that my curiosity would get piqued and lead me astray, so it’s better he personally brings me here to broaden my horizons.”
The more one tries to prevent something, the more they incite rebellious feelings.
Being openly accommodating makes one lose interest, thus treating the matter with indifference.
Wu Ma Jun’s head was spinning; was there any direct link between these two ideas?
“Even so, with the Liu Residence’s power, what kind of woman could they not have? Why come to such a chaotic place for entertainment?”
Wu Ma Jun couldn’t understand. To him, a proper family head would indicate their legitimate wife to take care of children, arranging them with knowledgeable maidservants. Where would a father directly bring his son to a brothel? That was simply unheard of.
Jiang Pengji suddenly smiled. “This question shouldn’t be directed at me; Young Master Wu should ask those who are immersed in pleasure and frequent brothels. If we’re talking about wealth and power, they far exceed mine; why do they still enjoy this place?”
Wu Ma Jun’s expression froze.
At that moment, the beautiful young woman leaning on Jiang Pengji’s shoulder giggled, “Why do you think, Young Master?”
“Naturally, it’s because home flowers are not as fragrant as wild ones. A legitimate wife, and a properly taken concubine—those are all possessions with seals on them. One could enjoy them anytime, but outside women are different. It’s the unattainable that truly lingers in the heart.”
Jiang Pengji spoke calmly, her smile fading, while her gaze toward Wu Ma Jun held a hint of mockery.
If the two women by her side weren’t in this room but rather waiting obediently for Wu Ma Jun, they would probably be forgotten in no time. His persistence outside the door was mainly due to his pride being stepped on, and had nothing to do with the two women.
“Does Young Master Wu not think I speak sense?”
Liu Zhi had been observing the scene and chuckled, “What sense? It’s all a heap of nonsense.”
“Nonsense is still nonsense; it’s just not as straightforward as other arguments.”
After saying this, she leaned in and whispered something to the young woman beside her, and the latter’s cheeks suddenly flushed a shade of red.
“Please follow me, Young Master.”
Jiang Pengji stood up, brushed off her sleeves, and casually turned to Liu Zhi. “Father is engrossed in discussion; I shall not linger any longer.”
After finishing, she left the elegant room with the two young women, heading to one of their boudoirs.
Liu Zhi: “…”
Not only was Liu Zhi stunned, but Feng Jin was also utterly dumbfounded. Although Jiang Pengji did not explicitly state it, they understood the implications behind her actions. Was she planning to share a bed with the two girls? Three girls together?
As Feng Jin’s nerves twitched at the corners of his mouth, he subtly observed Liu Zhi’s expression.
However, Jiang was indeed cunning; if Liu Zhi were the kind who outwardly displayed emotions to the point that the younger generation could notice, he wouldn’t be in the Eastern Qing officials’ circle. Feng Jin couldn’t read even a hint of discomfort from Liu Zhi’s face, causing his heart to fill with doubt.
Could it be that Liu Uncle was unaware that Lan Ting was a woman?
Feng Jin suddenly felt troubled.
If Liu Zhi was truly oblivious, then informing him would make him appear underhanded.
Besides, he had no way to explain why he knew that Liu Xi was a woman. He certainly couldn’t say that one dark night, Liu’s daughter narrowly escaped from bandits, her clothing in disarray, revealing a hint of her chest while her hair was a mess, exposing signs of her femininity, could he?
If he said that, he would be courting death. What if Liu Zhi then demanded he take responsibility for Liu Xi’s reputation?
If Liu Zhi was aware but still allowed his daughter to meet with two women… was this for the sake of further concealing the truth?
