After seeing off Young Master Wenyuan, Zhou Changlin immediately went to a friend’s house to procure soap.
Unfortunately, his friend had only bought one box of each scent, all of which had been opened and used, making them unsuitable as gifts.
Leaving his friend’s house, Zhou Changlin hurried to the next without delay.
This friend had purchased two boxes of each scent, but nearly all the unopened ones had been given away, leaving only one box.
Zhou Changlin did not mind, instructing a servant to carefully wrap it up and take it away.
While Zhou Changlin scurried about for soap, Young Master Wenyuan, led by Zhou’s son to a brothel, was also troubled by the soap shortage.
Despite the efforts of the girls to liven the atmosphere, Young Master Wenyuan wore a worried frown.
Zhou Dewu, sharp since childhood, noticed Young Master Wenyuan’s lack of interest and waved the accompanying girls away.
“Young Master Wenyuan, are you troubled about the soap?” Zhou Dewu asked, pouring him a cup of wine.
“Indeed, it’s about that,” Young Master Wenyuan admitted without denial.
This was the first task his father had entrusted to him, and his aunts and sisters back home were eagerly awaiting the soap. Failing would harm his future prospects.
“It’s all that wretch Tang Xiaobei’s fault!” Zhou Dewu said through gritted teeth. “Young Master Wenyuan, you may not know, but Tang Xiaobei used to be a girl for sale at Chunfeng House. Now she acts all high and mighty. Earlier, she didn’t even acknowledge me. Back when I visited for tea gatherings…”
Young Master Wenyuan, who had a good impression of Tang Xiaobei, felt displeased hearing Zhou Dewu insult her. Cutting him off, he said, “Third Young Master, let’s drink and avoid these unhappy topics.”
“Right, we’re here for fun, not to talk about that wretch Tang Xiaobei,” Zhou Dewu said with a laugh. “You must have seen many beauties in the capital and find Guangyuan’s common girls lacking. How about I take you to Zilin Mountain in the suburbs? There’s a river there that changes colour.”
Young Master Wenyuan, feeling stifled indoors, stood up and said, “A walk sounds good. Thank you, Third Young Master.”
“My pleasure,” Zhou Dewu replied, quickly standing to lead the way.
As they left Xiaoxiang House and prepared to board a carriage, they saw Tang Xiaobei stepping down from a carriage at the entrance of Chunfeng House nearby.
Young Master Wenyuan’s eyes lit up, and he quickly walked over with his guards.
Tang Xiaobei had few acquaintances in Guangyuan and often visited Chunfeng House to pass the time with Sister Ting and Xiaoru.
The madam, though displeased, feared Tang Xiaobei might cut off their soap supply and tolerated her visits.
After Zhou Changlin left, Tang Xiaobei, feeling melancholic and missing her family, came to talk with Sister Ting.
But just as she stepped off the carriage, before entering, she saw Zhou Dewu and Young Master Wenyuan approaching with several servants.
“Miss Xiaobei, what a coincidence. We meet again so soon,” Young Master Wenyuan said with a smile.
“Indeed, quite a coincidence,” Tang Xiaobei replied perfunctorily, lowering her head to leave with Alan.
She thought Young Master Wenyuan would take the hint and leave, but to her surprise, he followed her into Chunfeng House.
“Since fate has brought us together, would you honour me with a cup of tea?” he asked.
“No need. I have some matters to attend to. If you wish to have tea, find another girl,” Tang Xiaobei declined politely.
With that, she started upstairs with Alan to find Sister Ting.
Zhou Dewu, already irked by Tang Xiaobei ignoring him earlier, was further provoked by her treating him as invisible again.
How could the esteemed Third Young Master of the Zhou family tolerate such humiliation?
His anger flared.
Having drunk heavily, the alcohol, stirred by the breeze, went to his head.
Stumbling forward, he blocked Tang Xiaobei’s path and shouted, “Tang Xiaobei, think you’re somebody now? Just because you’ve latched onto Jin Feng’s thigh, you act like a lady and dare ignore me! Let me tell you, a wretch will always be a wretch. Once Jin Feng tires of you, I’ll deal with you myself!”
Tang Xiaobei, already in a foul mood, could not tolerate such public insults, despite her usual composure.
Coldly, she ordered, “Alan, slap him!”
“Ha, you dare hit me? Try it!” Zhou Dewu sneered. “I’ll…”
Before he could finish, a slap loomed large.
Smack!
Alan struck with full force, sending Zhou Dewu spinning and crashing to the ground.
“You dare hit me?!” Zhou Dewu, clutching his cheek, roared at his servants, “Are you all dead? Can’t you see someone hit me? Kill her!”
The servants, familiar with Tang Xiaobei and aware of Jin Feng’s support for her, hesitated, exchanging glances, none daring to act first.
Zhou Dewu, who had never been slapped in his life, was now livid with rage.
Eyes red, he shouted at the servants, “Are you deaf? Anyone who doesn’t act, I’ll have them whipped to death!”
In Dakang, masters could execute servants at will.
Though fearful, the servants had no choice but to charge at Alan menacingly.
The burly man behind Young Master Wenyuan quickly pulled him back a few steps to avoid the fray.
Tang Xiaobei always travelled with at least four veteran soldiers and four female guards.
The male soldiers stayed outside with the carriage, but the four female guards had followed her in.
Without needing Tang Xiaobei’s command, the other three female guards joined Alan, forming a protective formation around her.
“No killing!” Tang Xiaobei said coldly.
Though less formidable than male soldiers, Alan and the three female guards were on loan from Qing Mulian’s personal guard, all of whom had fought bandits. They far outmatched the timid servants.
In less than a minute, the Zhou family servants were writhing on the floor, groaning from blows delivered by the guards’ scabbards.
Had Tang Xiaobei not forbidden killing, the servants would likely be corpses.
The burly man behind Young Master Wenyuan narrowed his eyes slightly, quietly pulling him back a few more steps.
Young Master Wenyuan glanced at the man in surprise.
Every major family trained deathsworn. Amei was one from Qing Mulian’s household.
For Young Master Wenyuan’s safety, his father had assigned a skilled expert to protect him.
The expert’s retreat suggested he had noticed something.
Though curious, Young Master Wenyuan knew it was not the time to ask and followed cooperatively.
Unfortunately, Zhou Dewu lacked such sense. Blinded by rage, seeing his servants defeated, he shouted furiously, “So many of you, and you can’t even beat a few women! Are you all Tang Xiaobei’s lovers? Tang Xiaobei, is Jin Feng not enough for you? If so, don’t go for servants next time. Come to me. I have a steppe warhorse!”
Tang Xiaobei, about to leave, turned red with fury at his words.
