Rui-wang dianxia was rich and powerful, and could not bear to see the little fox spirit defiled by a despicable man. He also raised the bid: “Three hundred gold!”

Su Rongyu glanced at the Wangye with the contemptuous look of someone who “just caught their husband keeping a concubine,” then coldly said, “I offer four hundred gold.”

Seeing her bid so high, the other guests looked at her as if she were crazy. Where did this young woman come from, wanting to learn how men buy courtesans? It was really inexplicable!

Rui-wang dianxia didn’t look at him, but calmly said, “Six hundred gold.”

This bastard, lecherous and shameless!

Su Rongyu gritted her teeth and said, “Eight hundred gold.”

Rui-wang dianxia continued to raise the price, “One thousand gold.”

Su Rongyu was about to raise the bid again but was quickly stopped by Bixia, who anxiously whispered, “Young madam, we didn’t bring that much money with us, we can’t raise it any further.”

Rui-wang dianxia’s face was as calm as ever, but those familiar with him could tell from the slight shaking of his crossed legs that he was undoubtedly quite pleased with himself.

This auction, where people were being treated like objects, was something Su Yunrao had encountered many times since he took the stage.

From behind the scenes to on stage, anyone who wanted something had to give something in return. When enjoying the flowers and applause, naturally, one must also endure insults and scorn.

Su Yunrao had thick skin and took things lightly. Only money was real—his self-respect could be temporarily discarded. Moreover, those who wanted to sleep with him might not even have more gold than he did.

This thought could be said to be quite self-comforting.

A courtesan’s job was only to display talent and charm, the bad guys weren’t for him to deal with. If there was refusal, of course, Madam Liu would speak on his behalf.

In modern times, Madam Liu would be the manager for all the “performers” in Baihua Pavilion

Madam Liu was somewhat protective, smiling kindly on the surface, but when it came to Rui-wang dianxia, she spoke firmly, “It is truly a great honor for the girls to have the favor of a nobleman, but our girls here are rather clumsy. They may not be able to serve such a noble person, so this thousand gold, we dare not accept.”

If they didn’t accept the gold, naturally, they wouldn’t be accompanying him to tour the Qinhuai River. “Not selling their bodies” couldn’t be said out loud. After all, the man had only mentioned traveling together on the Qinhuai River, and had not explicitly asked to “buy their bodies.”

Upon hearing this, Rui-wang dianxia didn’t insist. He just didn’t want to see the pure and beautiful little fox spirit fall into the mud of the mortal world.

Since the madam of Baihua Pavilion was willing to protect the girls, he decided not to interfere further and waste his money.

Little did they know, Su Rongyu was in one of her moods again, speaking in a sharp tone: “Oh, so you’ve fallen to the brothel now and still think you can sell your talent but not your body? Hmph, it’s easy to say the right things, but under the title of courtesan, you’re just waiting for a good offer, aren’t you?”

Madam Liu was sharp-eyed, and even someone as carefully disguised as Su Yunrao couldn’t escape her keen gaze. Let alone Su Rongyu and her servant.

However, most young ladies from ordinary families wouldn’t dare to be so bold and reckless as to cause a scene in a brothel. This young lady, though, was acting so arrogantly, which likely meant her family was of high status. Baihua Pavilion, which dealt in greeting and bidding farewell with smiles, wasn’t one to easily offend someone of her caliber.

The reputation of noble families was more important than life itself, and if Madam Liu revealed her identity and indirectly tarnished her family’s reputation, Baihua Pavilion would likely be dragged down with her.

Madam Liu, holding back her temper, still replied politely: “The guest is joking. A girl who has fallen to the brothel doesn’t have any chastity to protect, but Miss Fengwu is not one of Baihua Pavilion’s girls. She hasn’t signed a contract to sell her body. She’s only performing out of necessity, seeking a way to make a living.”

Before Madam Liu could finish, Su Yunrao played along, putting on a pitiful expression. She was still wearing the moonlit-colored ethereal dress of the little fox spirit, making her look even more delicate and pitiful, causing the guests present to feel sympathy for her.

One person, feeling righteous, spoke up: “She’s just a poor girl. Some people really shouldn’t be so harsh.”

“Coming to a brothel to show off, and thinking she’s so noble.”

But Su Rongyu was not one to back down when criticized. How could she just let it go?

Rui-wang dianxia secretly thought: Things are about to get worse; someone’s about to lose it!

Sure enough, Su Rongyu’s expression twisted into one of fury, her rationality completely lost. She slammed her hand on the table, stood up arrogantly, and said: “Coming to a brothel to seek a living, what kind of living? A high branch to climb, is it? Fine, I’ll give you this opportunity. I’m the third son of the Marquis of Yongyi’s household, and I’m willing to offer eight hundred gold to keep Miss Fengwu for a month. We’ll tour the Qinhuai River together. If you manage to please me, I might even take Miss Fengwu into the Marquis’ house in the future.”

Bixia, who was too late to stop her, was now frozen in shock!

The Marquis of Yongyi’s household was the family of the great lady, the wife of the eldest son of their household. This family didn’t have a third son—only a third daughter, who had a very bad relationship with the young lady of their own family!

The guests in the room were even more astounded.

People familiar with the world of courtesans were often experienced and discerning. They were shocked that Su Rongyu, a woman, was openly claiming to be a “son” of a prestigious family.

They also wondered, if she dared to casually associate herself with the distinguished nobles of the capital, she likely came from an exceptional background as well. Perhaps she was even the daughter of the Marquis of Yongyi himself—it was certainly possible!

Of course, what was even more baffling was why, as a woman, she insisted on competing for the time of a courtesan? Miss Fengwu was simply unlucky to have encountered such a mentally unstable person. This absurd farce was more fantastical than The Little Fox Spirit Descends the Mountain.

Su Yunrao’s right eyelid was twitching intensely. Oh no, right-eye twitching means disaster. I didn’t burn any incense today, and now I’ve run into such an idiot!

Su Yunrao couldn’t help but want to curse, but he was also worried that this woman might truly come from the noble family of the capital. He hadn’t even actively provoked her, and already she was being this harsh. If he truly offended her, there would probably be no good outcome.

In feudal society, the privileged class had power, and the law varied depending on who they were. A single sentence could determine life or death—it wasn’t just something people said.

Back when the Northern City Gate’s famous braised meat shop gained its reputation, there were people who tried to covet its secret recipe. That person wasn’t a major noble but had a sister who was a concubine to a seventh-ranked judge in the Jinling government.

With just that little bit of connection, they dared to abuse their power, openly accusing the Liu family’s braised meat of being Gufuan. They bribed the constables in the government office and had his Gufu thrown in jail for seven or eight days. It was only after their Dage pleaded with the headmaster of the academy and indirectly reached out to the governor that they managed to clear their name.

This woman was clearly looking for trouble on purpose. It seemed today would not end well. Madam Liu had already planned to expose his true identity.

But just then, Rui-wang dianxia stood up boldly, disdainfully saying, “A mere Marquis of Yongyi’s estate, coming all the way to Jiangnan to bully people? I, Rui-wang dianxia, am willing to offer one thousand gold to invite Miss Fengwu to tour the Qinhuai River with me for half a month. I hope the lady will honor me with her company.”

“…What?!”

The crowd was shocked!

Impersonating a noble could be reckless, but impersonating a royal relative was something no one would dare to do—this was a capital crime!

Moreover, didn’t they see that Prefect Shen’s son was still serving nearby? The Wangye’s identity was most likely legitimate.

“This commoner greets the Wangye.”

Someone, quick to react, knelt and saluted.

Others started to kneel as well, but Rui-wang dianxia raised his hand, dismissing their salutation.

Su Yunrao: “…”

Walking down dark alleys at night, you really do run into ghosts. It’s all my fault for being so eager for money. I deserved to walk into this hellish situation.

Everyone could clearly see what the Wangye’s intentions were with the Qinhuai tour. Su Yunrao didn’t dare nod in agreement. It was better to agree to the so-called “fake son” of the Marquis of Yongyi’s estate. At least that person definitely didn’t have that kind of need.

Shen Zhixiao had already been stunned by the twists and turns of this absurd situation. Only now was he beginning to regain his senses.

Thinking about how his father and Madam Liu had connections, Shen Zhixiao had to grit his teeth and say, “If the Wangye likes Miss Fengwu’s performance, he could come to Baihua Pavilion to watch. It would be the same.” Su Yunrao had already noticed Shen Zhixiao, but now she was Fengwu, disguised, so it wasn’t easy to recognize him openly.

Rui-wang dianxia, however, didn’t even glance at Shen Zhixiao, focusing only on Su Yunrao. He jokingly asked, “What’s the matter? Miss Fengwu doesn’t want to? Seems my status isn’t enough.”

What could Su Yunrao say? He could only nod and reply, “To accompany His Highness on a tour is this Fengwu’s fortune.”

Hearing this, Rui-wang dianxia didn’t show any extra emotion and simply said, “I’ll send someone to pick you up at the fourth hour tomorrow,” then left with Yu Jiusi and others.

The Wangye had arrived in Jinling, and the governor’s son was accompanying him—what a spectacular show!

The other guests lost all interest in merrymaking. Those of ordinary backgrounds treated it as a spectacle, while those with powerful families hurried to leave to inform their masters.

As for the furious Su Rongyu, no one was kind to her. It took all of Bixia’s persuasion to finally get her to leave.

Outside Baihua Pavilion, Bixia tightly held onto her lady and pleaded desperately, “My good lady, you can’t keep going like this. If the master finds out you’re competing for the company of a courtesan, I can’t imagine how angry he’ll be.”

Su Rongyu glared, saying, “Do you think I want to compete? I’m just trying to stop that idiot from being even more ridiculous. Look at him—he’s got no good reputation in the capital, and now he’s come to Jiangnan and is sponsoring a flower! It’s a miracle that Gumu still has such high expectations for him. What a hopeless case!”

Bixia thought these words were truly cruel. When the madam said the girls in the house didn’t go out to accompany clients, it was clear the Wangye was already about to back off. It was Miss herself who looked down on Miss Fengwu and had to slander her. Then, when the madam explained that Fengwu was only on stage out of necessity, others felt sympathy and took a jab at Miss. That’s when her temper flared up, and without thinking of the consequences, she directly mentioned the Marquis of Yongyi’s estate to suppress everyone. It ended only when the Wangye revealed his identity and used his higher status to suppress her in return.

Bixia didn’t know what Miss was really thinking but continued to persuade her, “Miss, since you’ve already run away from the marriage, you have no more connection with the Wangye. Whether he’s good or bad, His Majesty and the Empress will take care of it, why bother with it yourself?”

Su Rongyu was momentarily lost in thought, then self-mockingly said, “You’re right, I was confused. If that bastard had even half of the Taizi’s composure, would I have looked down on him?”

“…”

Bixia didn’t know what to say. Previously, when they were on the road, she couldn’t speak freely, but now that they were in Jinling and had settled, she secretly sent a message to the capital. She hoped that someone from the Marquis’s residence would come soon to take Miss back. As for herself, when she had first accompanied Miss in running away from the marriage, she had dared not disobey her orders. Now, she feared she wouldn’t survive it. It was too late to regret it, and all she could do was hope it didn’t endanger her family.

Meanwhile, Shen Zhixiao, still in a daze, followed Rui-wang dianxia out of the Baihua Pavilion. Originally, he was supposed to see the Wangye back in the Northern City Gate’s manor, but the Wangye casually mentioned wanting to take a stroll by himself and dismissed him. Shen Zhixiao was jolted awake by the river breeze and quickly returned to Baihua Pavilion

In the warm back room, Madam Liu and Su Yunrao exchanged glances, both feeling a deep sense of sorrow in their hearts.

Madam Liu sighed, “What kind of bad luck is this? What a coincidence that the very last scene ends up like this!”

Su Yunrao, half-dreaming, responded, “Isn’t it? Why does it have to be so unlucky? Do you think, if I were to confess my true identity as a man to that Wangye tomorrow, he would be magnanimous enough not to pursue it?”

Madam Liu, her face serious, advised, “I strongly recommend you don’t. I’ve been in the Qinhuai River for decades, and I’ve seen all kinds of people. The higher the status, the less they tolerate deceit and tricks. At that time, not only might they pursue you, but they might also involve the Baihua Pavilion and even your family.”

What Madam Liu said was based on her own experiences, blood, and tears. She wasn’t trying to scare Su Yunrao.

“Ah!” The lowly truly had no choice—life or death was determined by others’ words. Both of them sighed deeply in unison, thinking hard for a long time, but couldn’t come up with a good solution.

Su Yunrao thought about having to accompany the Wangye on the Qinhuai River tomorrow and instinctively pulled his collar closer. He felt his disguise would soon be exposed and then thought about returning home. He’d probably have even less of an excuse to explain things to his Dage.

“… I’m going to get beaten, aren’t I?!”

Su Yunrao hugged his arms, shivering slightly.

When Shen Zhixiao entered the room, he saw the two figures, both forlorn and silent.

Madam Liu, though fallen into the world of pleasure, still had a sense of loyalty. In her earlier years, she had done many favors for people, especially helping down-and-out scholars, which was also a form of early investment.

Of course, not many of those investments succeeded. Few were willing to repay kindness, and even fewer remembered their debts.

One of the few who did was the Jinling governor, Shen Wei.

When Shen Wei came to Jinling to take the autumn exams, he was framed and slandered while touring the Qinhuai River and visiting flower houses. Madam Liu happened to lend a hand, helping him escape the situation.

This favor, while not huge, wasn’t small either. Later, when they met again, Shen Wei had already become the Jinling governor, and Madam Liu had redeemed herself and opened the Baihua Pavilion

Most of the girls at Baihua Pavilion sold their talents, not their bodies. Over the years, no one had forced them to, and they had benefited from the governor’s support.

In Jinling, anyone with a bit of influence knew about Madam Liu’s connections with the governor, so there was no need to offend the governor by forcing a girl from a brothel.

Moreover, if someone really liked one of the girls from the house, they just needed to put in more effort and money, and with a little patience, the girl would usually be willing. As long as the girl agreed, Madam Liu wouldn’t stop her, and there was no need for her to do so—after all, she was just a madam, not anyone’s mother.

Though Madam Liu had some connections with Prefect Shen, the relationship was still one of respect for rank. In general, she didn’t dare to exploit this for personal gain or act recklessly.

When Shen Zhixiao entered the room, Madam Liu, still upset, couldn’t help but complain with a touch of playful reproach: “Master Shen, you’re a proper scholar, right? Does the governor know you came to Baihua Pavilion? You could’ve come on your own, but why bring such a big Buddha with you? If you’re going to bring him, you should at least have warned me in advance. If we accidentally offend a Wangye like this, my Baihua Pavilion might not be able to stay open.”

Shen Zhixiao, a rather honest child, turned beet red under Madam Liu’s teasing and stammered, “It was my father’s orders to accompany and serve the Wangye. Coming to Baihua Pavilion was the Wangye’s sudden decision, so I didn’t have time to inform Madam Liu. I truly didn’t expect today’s events to unfold like this.”

At this point, continuing to explain didn’t help much.

Su Yunrao turned to look at Shen Zhixiao and asked seriously, “May I ask, Master Shen, do you know what background the Wangye has, and also, the fake young master from the Marquis of Yongyi’s household—do you know her true identity?”

Su Yunrao wasn’t planning to reveal his true identity to Shen Zhixiao just yet. He was a person who hid things in his heart, and it was easy to see his emotions on his face. If he had learned his secret, the entire Jinling City might have known it before long.

When Su Yunrao disguised himself as Fengwu, he spoke in a high-pitched voice, sweet enough to be sickening. Shen Zhixiao blushed all over, lowering his head, embarrassed and awkward, “Fengwu’s fame precedes you. When I first met you, I thought you looked familiar, as if I had seen you somewhere before.”

“…” Of course, he had seen him before. When he went to the academy to find his brother, he had even treated him to a lamb hotpot outside the academy gates.

Su Yunrao, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, teased, “Perhaps it’s because Master Shen and I were fated in a past life?”

Madam Liu rolled her eyes in private. Teasing an honest kid—this was bound to bring divine retribution!

Shen Zhixiao’s head dipped lower, and he stuttered, “Is… is that so? Oh, by the way, didn’t you ask about the Wangye’s background and the fake young master from the Marquis of Yongyi’s household? I happen to know a little…”

He paused, deep in thought. There wasn’t really anything that couldn’t be said about this—after tonight, everyone in Jinling would probably know.

When Shen Zhixiao shared the identities of Rui-wang dianxia and Su Rongyu, along with their connection, Madam Liu was immediately furious. She exclaimed, “So it turns out they are two quarreling lovers, trying to drag us and Baihua Pavilion into their drama!”

Shen Zhixiao, trying to defend the situation, added, “It’s not entirely like that. The Wangye knows Su Rongyu’s true identity, but she doesn’t seem to know that he knows.”

Madam Liu, unimpressed, waved her hand dismissively, “What’s the difference? In the end, it’s still the Su family’s young lady, too proud to accept her betrothed coming to a brothel. When she couldn’t get her way with him, she turned to take it out on us!”

Shen Zhixiao, somewhat puzzled, asked, “But Su Rongyu has already run away from her marriage, so why would the Wangye coming to the brothel still affect her? Isn’t their engagement null and void by now?”

Madam Liu, rolling her eyes, didn’t have the patience to explain. Women’s emotions were unpredictable—who could guess what was really in their hearts? One moment they might act recklessly, and the next, after facing some hardships, they would reflect and wonder if they had made the right choice. Could Su Rongyu really live her life without marrying again? If she wanted to marry, would she ever find another man as powerful as Rui-wang dianxia?

Madam Liu could easily guess that the young lady was already regretting her decision, though she might not have realized it yet.

Su Yunrao, listening to Shen Zhixiao, had a moment of realization. Her eyes flashed with surprise as she urgently asked, “Is the Wangye’s surname ‘Chai’? What’s his full name? And what’s the name of that Young Lady Su from the Marquis of Changping’s family?”

Shen Zhixiao hesitated for a moment, then answered, “Rui-wang dianxia’s personal name seems to be a single character. As for Young Lady Su, her maiden name isn’t known to outsiders, but I do know that the Su family in Changping gives their sons names in the ‘Rong’ generation and their daughters in the ‘Rong’ generation as well. So, the young lady’s name would likely be Su Rongyu.”

Shen Zhixiao wrote both characters on the table with his finger as he spoke.

Seeing this, Su Yunrao’s heart skipped a beat. It was then that he finally realized—not only had he traveled back in time, but he was also in a novel!

The Runaway Wangyess was an old-fashioned, escape-marriage romance novel. When it was adapted into a drama, Su Yunrao had been invited to help choreograph the dances. Unfortunately, the main leads’ acting was subpar, and the old-fashioned plot failed to attract attention, causing the show to flop.

However, the newcomer actress who played the courtesan gained a large following thanks to her exceptional dancing skills, especially in the two dances Su Yunrao had choreographed, which went viral.

Su Yunrao himself wasn’t fond of ancient romance dramas or older novels, but because of work, he had at least remembered a brief plot summary.

The male lead’s surname is Chai, and his full name is Chai Ran, the current Rui-wang dianxia. His mother is the Empress, and he is the only child of the current emperor.

The female lead’s surname is Su, and her full name is Su Rongyu. She is the only legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Changping, and although her father passed away early, she was doted on by her grandparents and has two overprotective Dages.

To sum it up in one sentence: The male and female leads both have incredibly privileged beginnings!

Both are of noble status and grew up pampered. Although their marriage has been arranged since childhood, neither of them was willing to give in.

The male lead is indifferent to the female lead and has repeatedly threatened to break off their engagement.

The female lead, in turn, looks down on the male lead for being unlearned, unambitious, and for associating with all sorts of lowly people.

On their wedding day, the female lead leaves a letter and runs away.

In a fit of anger, the male lead frequents brothels, and even goes to the Qinhuai River to take on a courtesan as a “mistress.” However, this was just to spite the female lead. Even though he takes the courtesan in, he only listens to music and watches dances—he never sleeps with her, as the male lead has to maintain his virtuous image. If not, the audience and readers wouldn’t buy it.

After fleeing the marriage, the female lead arrives in Jiangnan, disguised as a man, and roams freely. She even competes with the male lead for the same courtesan, leading to many funny and absurd stories. They are clearly a pair of bickering lovers. Eventually, misunderstandings are cleared up, and they end up together. The male lead then disperses all the courtesans he had previously kept, paying them hefty sums.

As the courtesan who had just been fought over by the male and female leads, Su Yunrao suddenly feels less nervous and no longer shivered while hugging his arms.

Su Yunrao focused on the key points of the plot: No intimacy and hefty payments to dismiss the courtesans.

His disguise seemed to be safe again, and he felt a sense of relief. He smiled brightly at Shen Zhixiao, saying, “Tomorrow, during the tour of Qinhuai, Shen San Gongzi will likely accompany the Wangye. If I don’t understand something, I hope Shen San Gongzi can give me some guidance.”

Shen Zhixiao is surprised that Fengwu figured things out so quickly. However, after thinking it through, he understood. Dancing in a brothel like Baihua Pavilion is not a long-term solution. She should take advantage of her beauty while it lasts and find a reliable future.

As for Rui-wang dianxia, his identity, looks, and character—well, his character is actually not bad—are all exemplary. He is a very good potential match.

After agreeing to her request, Shen Zhixiao leaves.

Madam Liu, however, looks confused and asks Su Yunrao if he’d taken some medicine wrong.

Su Yunrao didn’t go into details, simply saying, “Well, it is what it is. Let’s take things one step at a time.”

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

As Su Yunrao left the Baihua Pavilion, the moon was high in the sky.

In Jinling City, there was no curfew, and officers patrol at night. Su Yunrao has gone home alone many times without encountering any danger.

When Su Yunrao walked to a quiet spot not far from Baihua Pavilion, he took off his wooden hairpin and wrapped all his hair in a headscarf. The brim of the hat covered most of his face. He also put on his Gufu’s oversized, old clothes over his dress, instantly transforming from the glamorous courtesan Fengwu into a shabby, boyish figure with the scent of braised meat.

His family had already finished dinner, but no one had gone to bed yet. As soon as they heard the back gate open, they all rushed out.

Liu Wenying was at the front, carefully looking Su Yunrao over from head to toe. When she saw he was in one piece, she finally relaxed and said, “If you’re going to be this late in the future, I’ll come meet you at the street corner. Last month, someone was attacked by thugs in Luoguo Alley and had their legs broken.”

Liu Zhenhai interjected, “I think Sanlang should practice some self-defense moves. If others have them, it’s better to have them yourself.”

Liu Wenying wasn’t happy with that, “Are we still ‘others’ to Sanlang?”

Liu Zhenhai shrugged, “Not now, but in the future, when everyone gets married, then it’ll count.”

Liu Wenying sighed, “So why don’t I just marry Sanlang, and Tingting can marry Dage…”

“Slap!“

Su Chenghui gave her a slap on the back of the head, scolding, “Say something out of line again, and see if I don’t hit you!”

Su Yunrao leisurely walked past his Erjie, casually saying, “Serves you right!”

Liu Wenxuan and Su Yunting both chimed in, “She really does deserve a beating!”

Liu Wenying pouted, “Mom, look, Dalang, Sanlang, and Tingting, they’re all ganging up on me!”

Liu Wenxuan didn’t want to listen to his Erjie’s nonsense and only asked Su Yunrao, “Have you cleared things up with Baihua Pavilion?”

Su Yunrao nodded, “Yes, it’s all clear. I won’t perform on stage anymore, just handle the backstage work. The new musical play we launched today received great feedback. Madam Liu plans to try turning the Baihua Pavilion into a theater. From now on, I’ll just star in musicals, and she’ll probably want me to join her, since the choreography, coordination, and directing of the musicals all depend on me for now.”

Su Yunrao wasn’t lying. Madam Liu did have such plans and had discussed them with Su Yunrao earlier. However, due to the unforeseen circumstances that happened today, she hadn’t had the chance to bring it up.

Liu Wenxuan agreed with this idea, saying, “If that’s the case, it’s a good thing for you.”

This way, his younger brother wouldn’t have to compromise for the sake of his imperial examination future and could freely pursue what he enjoyed.

Su Yunting and Liu Wenying were also delighted and chattered, “So does this mean Tingting and I can go watch the musicals Sanlang arranges in the future?”

“Hmm, what’s a musical? Is it more fun than the Huangmei Opera? I really want to go see it!”

Su Yunrao declared with great enthusiasm, “Go, go, go! Everyone go! Gufu and Gumu, you go too! When the time comes, whatever you like to watch, I’ll arrange it.”

As for the unfortunate mess of being drawn into the old-fashioned plot, Su Yunrao kept it to himself. There was no point in mentioning it. After all, he didn’t want to cause his Dage to act rashly and ruin his future because of it.

Liu Wenxuan appeared calm on the surface, but once family was involved, he could be quite ruthless.

When Su Yunrao was a child, he would often play with his younger sister at the alley entrance, where a chubby boy from the neighbor’s house would bully them. Gumu personally went to speak with the boy’s parents, but they simply said that children should handle their own problems, and they wouldn’t intervene.

His Gufu and Gumu were furious but didn’t want to harm the child themselves. Dage didn’t say anything but made sure to punish the chubby boy every time he saw him.

The chubby boy couldn’t fight back against Liu Wenxuan, so he retaliated by pushing Su Yunrao into the river during the coldest winter, nearly drowning him.

When Dage came back from the academy and learned about this, he went to the chubby boy’s house with a butcher’s knife, and nearly stabbed the boy through.

His Gufu and Gumu were terrified, and the boy’s family ended up moving away in fear.

There was also the time when Gufu was falsely imprisoned. Dage asked the academy’s principal for help, and Gufu was eventually released. The bullies who caused the trouble had to pay a fine, and the corrupt officials who assisted them lost their jobs.

Su Yunrao thought it was over.

But less than two years later, he heard that the mistress of that villain died during childbirth in the backyard. The villain was exiled and forced into military service for illegally occupying someone else’s land.

As for the corrupt officers who assisted him, they also didn’t have a good end.

Su Yunrao carefully noticed that in some way, Dage had played a part in all this. Liu Wenying was all talk and no action, while Liu Wenxuan, though calm and sensible on the surface, was someone who would grab a knife and strike decisively. But now, after reading more books, he has learned to remain composed, hide his true intentions, and leave no trace of his actions.

Su Yunrao only hoped that the matter with Rui-wang dianxia could be kept from his Dage for another two weeks. By then, he would likely have been heavily compensated by Rui-wang dianxia and the matter would quietly pass. He hoped to avoid causing his brother to clash with a respected Wangye—after all, confronting a Wangye wasn’t the same as dealing with the concubine of a seventh-rank official.