"Still talking about prospects!" Governor Hong scoffed contemptuously, "Not causing trouble for me would already be a blessing from my ancestors!" Mrs. Hong was taken aback and sighed, "As soon as Master returns, he starts losing his temper. Just what happened? You should at least make it clear to me!" With frustration, Governor Hong exclaimed, "Do you know what that bastard did yesterday? He must have eaten the guts of a leopard, he actually flirted with the Shi family’s young lady! I’ve just been transferred here this latter part of the year, and I haven’t even settled in yet. How could I afford to fall out with the local gentry? The Shi family is a major local taxpayer, and their Third Master is an official at the Imperial Court, not to mention the elder sister of Shi family’s young master is Xie Yuan, and it’s very likely she’ll become a top scholar soon! Even I have to treat the Shi family’s Master and young master with the utmost respect, but he dared to tease an unmarried young lady! Isn’t this courting disaster for me? The letter from Third Master Shi arrived first thing in the morning!" "So it’s about that affair!" Surprisingly, after hearing this, Mrs. Hong’s brows did not furrow, and she said with a light smile, "And here I was wondering why Master was so angry over it! Hong Xi already told me about this matter!" "What did you say?" Governor Hong’s eyes widened in disbelief, "You already knew?" he asked angrily, "If you knew, why didn’t you tell me earlier!" Overwhelmed by fury, he couldn’t help but start cursing again, calling his son good-for-nothing and other insults. Now his heart felt not only anger but also a pang of sourness. This damn son, telling his mother but not informing him! Did he not count for anything in his son’s eyes? Don’t forget who provided everything he has now! "Oh Master, don’t be so fierce! Look at yourself, it’s no wonder the son didn’t dare to tell you!" Mrs. Hong grumbled discontentedly and hastily placated with a smile, "Calm down, Master, and let me finish speaking! Hong Xi told me yesterday, he genuinely quite fancies the Third Miss Shi and asked me to send someone to propose she becomes a concubine in our family!" Mrs. Hong hadn’t finished speaking when Governor Hong interrupted, "What are you thinking? To have a Shi family’s young lady be someone’s concubine!" Mrs. Hong snorted, unconvinced, "Our son is a legitimate firstborn, and that Third Miss is merely a concubine’s daughter; their family are merchants, and we are officials, no dishonor for anyone in terms of status. Entering as an honored concubine, they should have nothing to be discontent about. Besides, isn’t this also settling yesterday’s incident? It’s true our son was at fault yesterday, but if you ask me, it takes two to tango – if that Third Miss Shi was proper, she shouldn’t have been wandering about, meeting our son was fate! Moreover, ’For cultured men to seek the company of chaste women is proper’; our Hong Xi taking a liking to Third Miss Shi at first sight and willing to proudly welcome her into our home, is that not a joy for all parties? Third Miss Shi’s reputation would remain untouched!" For a moment, Governor Hong was stunned, and his heart wavered a bit. Mrs. Hong’s words were indeed not without merit. Observing her husband’s mood and sensing an opportunity, Mrs. Hong was inwardly thrilled and added fuel to the fire, "Think about it, Master. Having just arrived here, forming a tie with the Shi family has only advantages and no disadvantages! Third Miss Shi is a concubine’s daughter, it won’t belittle her to join our son, the Shi family will surely be more than willing – they would probably be overjoyed!" Governor Hong remained silent. "Let’s settle it then!" Mrs. Hong, relieved to have dealt with Hong Xi’s beseeching request, smiled and said, "I’ll have someone prepare and send people over to the Shi family tomorrow! I guarantee it will be settled with one word!" "Enough, enough! Let what will be, be! I can’t be bothered to deal with it!" Governor Hong said, stomping his feet as he got up and left, pondering over how to reply to the letter from Third Master Shi. "Alright, no use hiding, come out!" Mrs. Hong, lounging contentedly on the imperial concubine’s couch, called out with a laugh. A young man dressed in a round-collar gown with a beige floral pattern emerged from behind the screen, sidling up to Mrs. Hong with a sheepish smile, "Mother, you’re truly amazing, it was all settled with just a few words!" "Humph, you should be more careful in the future, don’t be so rash!" Mrs. Hong said, poking his forehead with a finger playfully. "Don’t worry, mother, I’ll remember!" Hong Xi said with a beaming smile. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs NoveIＦire.net Though Hong Xi hadn’t been in Qingzhou for long, his reputation for being lecherous had already spread throughout the city. When a flattering rogue mentioned there was a beauty to behold in the plum forest behind Meihua Temple, how could he resist? He hurried there only to encounter the beauty indeed. What more could one desire than to admire a lady and enjoy the flowers amidst a blossoming garden? He couldn’t resist the impulse to flirt. He regarded it as nothing more than a bit of playful banter, nothing serious, but when the beauty rejected his company after learning his identity, he found it unforgivable! Who would have thought that in the midst of entanglement, the Shi family’s young master would appear, and the beauty was his sister! The attendants who were initially cheering and enjoying the show suddenly didn’t dare to breathe, Shi Fengju threw a wrench in his plans, and Hong Xi felt utterly humiliated. After Shi Fengju and Shi Lian left, he boasted to those around him, "Just you wait and see, I’ll make the Shi family send their daughter over without fail!" And so there was his plea to Mrs. Hong. Claiming he had fallen love at first sight with Third Miss Shi, he begged his mother to help him take her as his concubine. "Once she enters our household, I’ll regain my face, and that little wench thinks too highly of herself. Just wait until she’s in my grasp!" Now that his objective had been achieved and even his fuming father had been pacified by his mother, why would Hong Xi willingly stay put at home? After exchanging a few more jokes with Mrs. Hong, he made an excuse and went back out again. Seeing him go, Mrs. Hong couldn’t help but sigh, "This child truly, he’s like a horse without reins. Master is right, it’s time to find a wife for him to rein him in!"