Transmigrated As A Scholar Chapter 24 Part 1

Chapter 24

"Young master..."

Qiao Hezhi returned to Xiaotong Courtyard, took off his outer robe and threw it near the clothes rack, kicked off his shoes, rushed onto the bed by himself, and buried himself under the quilt.

"I am not angry, you don't need to persuade me."

Siyu cleaned up the mess on the floor piece by piece. Looking at Qiao Hezhi, who had only his eyes exposed, she said: "If young master isn't angry, then why did you rush back in such a huff."

She advised quietly: "The Master didn't even stay out overnight."

"Most men these days drank and visited prostitutes. If one were to get truly angry about such things, life would have been unbearable. I am just angry... angry that he actually kept something from a prostitute."

"In that case, the Master is truly..." Siyu moved closer to the bed: "If the Master acts like this again in the future, young master, you simply shouldn't wait up for him to return!"

Qiao Hezhi turned his back to her, his cheeks puffed out in anger. He decided he would not cook for Fang Yu tomorrow. No, not the day after tomorrow either. In fact, he wouldn't cook for him for the next three days.

After a while, he turned back and asked Siyu with eager eyes: "Do you know which prostitute in the city's pleasure quarters currently has the character 'Yu (Jade)' in her name?"

"Yuncheng has many pleasure quarters and countless prostitutes, there are probably quite a few with the character 'Yu'. Why does young master ask this?"

"I noticed a silk handkerchief on him embroidered with the character 'Jade'," Qiao Hezhi said gloomily. "If he didn't feel some affection for her, why would he keep a woman's personal belonging? I'm concerned he might act impulsively and bring her into our family. Wouldn't that infuriate mother and father? Furthermore, it could damage his official career prospects."

Thinking of this, he sighed: "If it really comes to that, it would be better to let the young lady from the Yin family enter the family. After all, she is a girl from a respectable family."

Hearing Qiao Hezhi say so much, Siyu said tremulously: "Is young master overthinking this?"

"Have you forgotten? Two years ago, an old Juren took a fancy to a prostitute and insisted on taking her as a concubine. The principal wife objected strongly, and the conflict between the two families became so intense that the old Juren nearly lost his official rank. I'm simply making early preparations for the worst possible outcome."

Speaking of this, Qiao Hezhi added with emotion: "In the past, hearing such things was merely entertainment; now it has actually happened to me."

Qiao Hezhi, troubled in his heart, thought tonight was destined to be a sleepless night of tossing and turning. At this moment, a knocking sound suddenly came from outside the room: "Hezhi, are you in the room?"

"The Master is here!" Siyu got up from the floor, looked at Qiao Hezhi, and said with a smile: "This servant will go open the door for the Master."

"Wait!"

Qiao Hezhi felt a surge of happiness but quickly called out to stop her, instructing Siyu not to open the door.

"He says he cares for me, yet I don't see him keeping any of my things." He muttered gloomily for a moment, then called out to the person outside: "Does Master have business? I have already retired for the night."

"Already resting? Then let me come in and see you."

"I'm fine. Master should return to your room and rest early. I am somewhat tired and wish to sleep."

Fang Yu remained standing at the doorway, the cold wind biting into him. Forcing his way inside wasn't an option. He shot a sideways glance at Xuezhu, thinking how useless his servant was for failing to assist him and showing no awareness of the situation. Would he ever manage to find a wife in the future?

He hugged himself and rubbed his arms for warmth while staring at Xuezhu.

Xuezhu finally understood the hint after a moment and called out loudly: "Master, perhaps you should visit the Zhengfu tomorrow instead? The weather is bitterly cold, the wind is blowing. You're not even wearing your cloak, much less a proper outer robe. It would be disastrous if you caught a chill!"

"Just let me see him briefly, then I'll return."

"Master!" Xuezhu cleverly played along. Realizing he couldn't persuade his master directly, he turned to knock on the door: "Zhengfu, could you please let the Master see you? He's not even wearing an outer robe. If he falls ill from the cold, wouldn't you be the one most distressed?"

Fang Yu nodded with satisfaction, just about to praise his servant, when the door opened with a whoosh. Siyu came out: "The young master invites the Master to enter."

Fang Yu entered the room and saw the bed curtains were already drawn. He cleared his throat lightly: "Really resting?"

Seeing no one answer, he walked over quietly, lifted the corner of the curtain, and saw a figure curled up in a ball, back turned to him, paying him no mind.

"I truly didn't keep that silk handkerchief on purpose," Fang Yu explained. "It was likely slipped into my clothing when I wasn't paying attention, a common trick used in pleasure houses to encourage repeat customers. I'd been drinking and failed to notice it at the time."

He moved closer to Qiao Hezhi and added, "I've already instructed Xuezhu to take it away and dispose of it. I can't stand the scent of jasmine, why would I ever want to keep such a handkerchief?"

Qiao Hezhi slowly turned over at the sound of his voice. Lifting his eyes, he saw Fang Yu had run over in just his inner clothes. He quickly sat up in bed and complained: How could you come outside without your outer robe? The wind in the dead of night is cutting, like a knife. Aren't you worried you'll catch a cold?

"I'm not afraid of the cold. I'm only afraid you wouldn't know that I'm standing outside in the cold."

"All you know is glib talk." Qiao Hezhi pursed his lips: "I'll find you a robe. I bought some cloth a while ago and had new clothes tailor-made. They were finished yesterday but I haven't shown you yet. This is a good time to see if they fit."

As he spoke, he made to get up and find the clothes for him, but Fang Yu lifted the quilt, lay down on the bed, and blocked his way.

"New clothes aren't as warm as this spot right here." He was referring to the already heated bed. He continued without a trace of shame, "Didn't you say you were going to stay in Bicang Small Pavilion? So why did you end up coming back here?"

"It's better if I stay in Xiaotong Courtyard and not disturb the Master's rest."

Fang Yu tilted his head: "I didn't say it was a disturbance."

Qiao Hezhi didn't answer. Fang Yu simply warmly coaxed him, recounting the events of the day in detail, and added: "It was also a sudden occurrence. If I had known it was that kind of drinking party, I wouldn't have gone. How about I never go again from now on?"