Chapter 7

◎Want to take Xue Lingyu as a concubine◎

After much persuasion, Jiang He was finally invited. Jiang's father wanted to ask her about the man who had been staying in her study, but with so many people around, he had to focus on choosing a concubine first and would talk to Jiang He about it later.

The three respectable young women stood in a line in the center of the room, all with their heads bowed and eyes lowered. Although they were dressed brightly, they were not ostentatious. Moreover, the marks on their arms were intact, indicating that they were genuine virgins. They were all carefully selected by Father Jiang.

Father Jiang was very satisfied. He then beckoned Yang Tao over and asked her to fill the fourth spot. Yang Tao glanced shyly at Jiang He and walked over with small, hesitant steps.

Jiang He tapped the pear blossom chair with her index finger. "Yang Tao is the most beloved little servant by Father's side. His judgment must be just like Father's. With him taking the lead, I don't need to worry."

Upon hearing this, Yang Tao's expression changed, and she couldn't help but look at Jiang's father.

Father Jiang gave Yang Tao a reassuring look and said, "He'er, you've grown up. Yang Tao is the person I trust the most. With him by your side, you can have more children for the Jiang family soon. There are some things you don't understand, and Yang Tao can teach you step by step."

"Which of the remaining three do you like best? If you don't like any of them, you can keep only Yang Tao." Jiang's father had gone to great lengths to keep Yang Tao by Jiang He's side.

Jiang He seemed to understand her father's meaning. She glanced at the three people below, but didn't take it to heart. Then, she smiled and asked Yang Tao,

"Those three all showed their virginity marks earlier. I wonder if I could take a look at Brother Yangtao's virginity mark?"

Yang Tao readily agreed, "If Miss wants to see it, of course she can."

He rolled up his sleeve, revealing a bright red mark on his arm, a mark that all men are born with and that disappears after they lose their virginity.

Jiang He leaned back casually in her chair, her expression nonchalant. "Brother Yang Tao, come closer to me."

This time, Yangtao didn't immediately obey; instead, she hesitated for a moment.

Seeing that there was a chance, Jiang's father urged, "Yangtao, He'er is calling you. Why don't you come over and let her take a closer look?"

Yang Tao stepped forward step by step, his eyes filled with hesitation. Finally, he stopped a meter away from Jiang He, his head down, his breathing shallow and unsteady.

"Miss..."

Jiang He put on his usual suave and dissolute demeanor again, and said in a teasing tone, "Brother Yangtao, why do you seem a little afraid of me? Could it be that you don't want to become my concubine?"

Yang Tao hurriedly said, "No, that's not it."

Taking advantage of his momentary lapse in attention, Jiang He grabbed his arm and rubbed the virginity mark a few times with her fingertips. The color of the virginity mark seemed to have been blurred and was easily rubbed away.

She looked at the red dye on her fingers and exclaimed in surprise, "Tsk, Brother Yangtao, I've never heard of the virginity mark fading before."

Yang Tao's face turned deathly pale instantly, and she knelt down on the ground with a thud.

As soon as he knelt down, Jiang He knew that she would not be able to choose a concubine today. Jiang's father immediately dismissed everyone in the room, clearly intending to punish Yang Tao.

Jiang He only showed surprise, but her father was different. The usually gentle and polite man pointed at Yang Tao and sneered several times.

"Fine, fine, I thought you were a polite person, but I never expected you to do such a thing behind my back."

If word got out that his servant had committed such a disgraceful act, people would surely think that he, as the master, was lax in his governance and that such a scandalous affair had occurred in the inner quarters, which would also implicate his daughter, He'er.

This peach was something he genuinely wanted to keep for He'er as a concubine. Luckily, he realized it now; otherwise, it would have been an indelible disgrace for a woman.

Few women would be willing to marry a man who has lost his virginity, especially since the most important thing for a concubine is her purity.

Knowing she was in the wrong, Yangtao was terrified, but she still pleaded, "My lord, Yangtao knows she was wrong. I have someone I love, but..."

"Just what? Just because you're after wealth and status, so you abandon your lover and sever all ties?" Jiang He chuckled lightly.

Yang Tao bit her lip, remaining silent, clearly having her thoughts exposed.

With the lord's trust and love, if one could become the young lady's concubine and bear a son or daughter, one would enjoy endless wealth and honor for the rest of one's life.

Yang Tao had clearly hurt Jiang's father's feelings, but she still handled the matter privately to save face for him, without making it public. Jiang's father rubbed his aching temples and said to Jiang He, "He'er, you should go back first. I'll handle this."

This pleased Jiang He, who nodded and left without glancing at the pitiful Yang Tao.

The people closest to him and whom he trusted most had deceived him. Jiang's father also distrusted the three respectable men he had found from outside, so he simply gave them hush money and sent them out of the mansion.

Jiang He's plan to take a concubine was thus put on hold.

After noon, Yuange inquired and reported to Jiang He how Jiang's father had dealt with Yangtao.

“The master, mindful of his master-servant relationship with Yangtao, only banished him from the manor. His lover, who was a guard in the front courtyard, dared not admit it and didn’t utter a word from beginning to end.” Yuange lowered her voice. “Miss, I heard that Yangtao went to the clinic immediately after leaving, and the doctor diagnosed that he was pregnant.”

Seeing that Jiang He had no reaction, Yuan Ge added, "He is handsome. I originally thought he was an honest and upright person, but I never expected him to do such an affair. Luckily, Miss found out. If he had really fooled her and made her Miss's concubine, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

The most taboo thing for the servants in the backyard is having illicit affairs, as it would damage their master's reputation if it got out. Even in the official residence, there are very few as bold as Yang Tao, since not many men dare to forge a virginity mark.

To Yuange's amazement, Jiang He, as a woman, was able to distinguish between real and fake virginity marks, since women usually only get to see a man's virginity mark on his wedding night.

Yuange dared not ask aloud, so only Jiang He knew the answer. But when she thought of the handsome brother that Ji Xue had mentioned last night, she feared that the young lady might really have some kind of relationship with him.

I wonder what kind of beauty she is that could be kept in the study by the young lady.

Xue Lingyu suddenly left the Xue residence without saying a word. Xue's father was worried sick all night, fearing that Xue Lingyu might do something foolish. He was weak and couldn't stay awake for long. When he asked the servants in the middle of the night, they lied and said that Xue Lingyu had returned and nothing had happened. Only then did he finally close his eyes and fall asleep.

When Xue Lingyu returned to the mansion, she glanced at her father and saw that he looked haggard and pale as paper, and a sense of helplessness welled up all over him.

"Young Master, the Lord was so worried about you that he didn't go to sleep until midnight. Where did you go all night?" the servant couldn't help but ask.

"I... went to Aunt Kang again to beg her to save my mother, but even after I pleaded all night, she still wouldn't agree," Xue Lingyu said, pursing her lips, as she was not good at lying.

The servant looked at him with pity and said indignantly, "Young Master, you shouldn't have asked Lord Kang for help. She's heartless and will definitely not help the Xue family. She'll even push all the blame onto the head of the family."

The phrase "heartless" suddenly reminded Xue Lingyu of what he had heard others say about the Jiang family. They said that the Jiang family had driven away a servant who had served their master for many years, showing that they were heartless and ungrateful.

Jiang He is a member of the Jiang family. Is she heartless?

Xue Lingyu's hand was tightly clutching a key in his sleeve. The letter Jiang He had left him had been opened, and it contained the address of a house located on the most bustling street in the capital, a house that was priceless.

Last night, Jiang He did not personally agree to let him save his mother, and the virginity mark on his arm remained intact.

After yesterday, he was unsure whether Jiang He still had feelings for him.

This is probably an agreement, giving him a final time to consider, Xue Lingyu guessed.

Perhaps due to excessive worry, Xue's father suddenly developed a high fever. Xue Lingyu took care of him without changing his clothes for two days before his fever finally subsided, and only then did he have time to decide whether or not to keep the appointment.

It would be one thing to give Jiang He this once, but the intention of this mansion is likely to continue in the long run. Xue Lingyu still remembers that the Jiang family intends to find a proper husband for Jiang He.

Despite being nothing more than a physical body, Xue Lingyu still possessed the dignity of a noble young master at heart.

He memorized the location of the house and wanted to burn the letter, but the characters on it were vigorous and powerful, showing considerable skill. It was likely that the person had studied under a famous master. He, who had always loved calligraphy, hesitated and finally hid it in a private place.

The autumn air was a bit chilly, so it was perfectly normal to wear a cloak. As Xue Lingyu was getting dressed, he remembered that Jiang He's cloak was still with him, so he thought he would take this opportunity to return it to her.

As soon as Xue Lingyu left the Xue residence, someone secretly went to inform Jiang He.

Jiang He had selected a few of the guards from the Jiang family who had escorted Xue Lingyu back to the mansion last time to monitor the Xue family's movements, and they came in handy now.

When Xue Lingyu arrived at Jinghua Street, she found the house without much effort. The neighbors all knew that it was the Jiang family's house. The location was priceless and the decorations were magnificent, making it hard not to attract attention.

He took out his key and opened the door. As soon as he went in, he saw Jiang He's figure.

Jiang He seemed to have been waiting for him for a long time before turning around when she heard the door close. All her emotions were hidden in her deep eyes.

A blue and white cloak hung over Xue Lingyu's shoulders. His fair complexion and red lips made him look exceptionally endearing. As he walked, his collar had become somewhat loose, and his slender fingers were slightly bent due to nervousness. His long, bright eyes were filled with evasiveness.

He dared not look Jiang He in the eye.

"Young Master Xue, you've considered it for two days. Have you decided to come with me?"

"You can do whatever you want with this body, but I don't want to be a concubine. It would dishonor the Xue family, and if Mother found out, she would..."

Xue Lingyu held onto a sliver of hope, wanting Jiang He to change her mind.

"I heard that the Xue family head fell ill in prison." Jiang He just smiled, but Xue Lingyu found it very cruel. "A mistress is indeed an insult to the Xue family's status. Given your current status, you would be a suitable concubine in the Jiang family."

Xue Lingyu couldn't help but take a few steps back, looking at Jiang He in disbelief.

So, she wanted to take me as a concubine...?

Three years ago, she asked him to marry her as her legal husband, but he refused. Now, he can only be her concubine.

◎Latest Comments:

If the male lead were really that easy to seduce, and the female lead was already grateful that he was willing to be her concubine, then what would be the point of watching? A noble young master, arrogant yet naive, can only be shattered by power, just as he did to the female lead before. Isn't that interesting?

[Hehe, it's pretty good. The male lead is shrewd and has a lot of personality, and the female lead isn't stupid either.]

[Hahahaha, I'm seriously laughing. Let's not talk about anything else. Doesn't he know his own status now? Back then, he could only be a legal wife, right? He wasn't supposed to be married off as a queen. Now the tables have turned, and he still wants to be a legal wife? Does he really think being a virgin is something special?]

[I wonder how many people in this situation could do what the male lead did—save their mother and care for their father. Why do you think he's lowly? He sacrificed his pride, dignity, and body for his mother and father. It's incredibly difficult for an unmarried man to do that. It's easy for you to talk when you're not in his shoes. Some people in this situation wouldn't even be as good as him. They wouldn't be able to find a solution and wouldn't be willing to sacrifice themselves; they might just give up! It's not that the male lead was right to sell himself, but he only chose the female lead. Not just anyone can do that! In modern times, people can think of more solutions, but in ancient times, how could an unmarried young man save his family? He wasn't given any special advantages! Think about the female leads in historical romance novels. Many of them chose to rely on powerful men in similar situations. Why didn't anyone criticize them then? They were even seen as wronged! But when it comes to the male lead, everyone criticizes him! Actually, aside from gender, their situations are the same! I feel sorry for both the female and male leads in historical romance novels. In my opinion, daughters and sons each have their own perspectives. You might not be able to do what they did, so stop pointing fingers!] The male lead doesn't deserve all this criticism. If you really can't stand him, go read another story. Let's leave each other alone and stop torturing each other. Nobody's forcing you to be disgusted by him! If you find him disgusting, just stay away. I don't know what you're thinking, reading something you dislike on the one hand!

[How funny... Does he genuinely think his virginity is so valuable?]

[What's so great about the male lead? He's so arrogant, hahaha, I also want to see him become the female lead's concubine as soon as possible. Because he's really not worthy.]

[Waaaaah, when will my daughter be able to have some sweet moments? This is so heartbreaking!]

Oh wow, it seems like they're about to accept the offer.

So, was it the concubine or the mistress who had a lower status?

I'm really looking forward to the sweet moments to come!!!

[I'm too old to read angst-filled stories]

[I was just saying Xue has no self-awareness, wasn't I? He looked surprised to be a concubine? How could we possibly let him become the principal husband?]

It just goes to show that fortunes change.

[hahaha, I like it, hurry up!]

I'm really looking forward to living together!

-over-