Finest Servant

Chapter 459 The Battle Robe

"Miss Xu's birthday?" Lin Wanrong exclaimed, "That's an important day indeed! It'll take a birthday cake, roses, a diamond ring, and so on. I don't see how you can manage without spending at least a thousand taels of silver."

"That much?" Xu Wei was taken aback. He had no clue about a birthday cake and a diamond ring, but seeing Lin Wanrong speak so confidently and fluently, he assumed they must be no trifling matters. He pondered for a moment before gritting his teeth. "A thousand taels it is then. As long as Zhiqing smiles, I'd be willing to eat plain cabbage and tofu for a whole year."

Lin Wanrong patted him on the shoulder and gave a thumbs-up, smiling, "Rest assured, Mr. Xu. For others, it might cost a thousand taels, but in my hands, a mere few dozen taels will suffice. Spending dozens of taels on a birthday is extravagant enough."

Xu Wei looked at him skeptically, "Little brother Lin, are you sure a few dozen taels will be enough? Don't cut corners now."

Humans are odd creatures; the more expensive you tell them something is, the happier they are, yet if you quote them a low price, they grow suspicious. Even Xu Wei, despite his scholarly brilliance, was no exception to this rule. Lin Wanrong chuckled, "Since Mr. Xu has doubts, let's stick to the one-thousand-tael rule then. After all, you're not short of money."

Xu Wei hurriedly waved his hands, chuckling apologetically, "I was only joking with you. Please don't take it to heart. My entire fortune isn't worth a thousand taels. Here's a promissory note for fifty taels, my entire stash of private funds. Please accept it."

Carefully, Xu Wei pulled out a piece of red silk from his bosom and unwrapped it. Indeed, it was a well-preserved promissory note for fifty taels. Though he held a position of power, he lived a life of integrity, never forming factions or mingling with the rich and powerful. Fifty taels was not a small sum for him.

"My good Mr. Xu, there's no need for this extravagance." Lin Wanrong smiled as he pushed the note back, "Keep this money and buy some cosmetics to please your new wife. Miss Xu and I are good enough friends to exchange gifts without her father footing the bill. Wouldn't want to become the laughingstock, would I?"

"You truly are a loyal friend, Little brother Lin," Xu Wei said, happily tucking the note back into his pocket. He made a fist and palm salute, "In that case, I'll leave Zhiqing's matters in your capable hands. I look forward to hearing good news soon. By the way—" He looked around furtively and whispered, "My wife has gone to the Grand Prime Minister Temple to pray today. Other than Zhiqing, there's no one else at home, so feel free to make your move."

"W-what do you mean, Mr. Xu? Don't underestimate me; I, Lin San, am not someone to act recklessly." Lin Wanrong thought less of the old man and felt his heart race; he could hardly speak clearly.

Xu Wei nodded with a sly grin, "I'm aware. With so many wives, little brother Lin, how could you be reckless? They were won over by your true capabilities. I entrust Zhiqing to you. I have urgent matters to attend to and must take my leave."

Having wrapped up both official and personal matters, Xu Wei didn't linger. He patted his trousers and made to leave. Lin Wanrong escorted him to the door and watched as he climbed into his carriage. Still a bit uneasy, Lin Wanrong grabbed hold of him and admonished, "Mr. Xu, make sure you find some sharp-witted fellows to keep tabs on that traitor. Should anything suspicious arise, hesitate not—"

He stopped mid-sentence, making a slashing gesture with his hand. Xu Wei, wise beyond his years, understood his meaning perfectly. A flash of intensity glinted in his eyes as he nodded. He signaled the carriage driver to proceed and slowly faded into the distance.

Upon returning to the hall, Lin Wanrong's mind was far from calm. If the old man had chosen this time to act against Prince Cheng, it was a desperate gamble. Qingxuan and Xian'er were both his wives, and he had various grudges against Prince Cheng; both personally and publicly, he had to win this battle so he could set his mind at ease and head to the front lines.

"Husband, what are you thinking about?" A gentle voice broke into his reverie. Qin Xian'er stood there, a hint of a smile on her face, her cheeks faintly flushed. Her body had the enchanting curves of a woman, alluring and irresistible.

"I was thinking about when to dispel another curse for you," Lin Wanrong felt his heart stir. He took his wife's hand and joked, a look of desire unabashedly filling his eyes. "Sweetheart, whenever you have time, why not teach this technique of curse lifting to Qiaoqiao and Yushuang? I really enjoy it, and good things should be shared, haha."

"Husband—" Qin Xian'er's voice trailed off in a tender outcry, her body weak, her face flushed with embarrassment. "Stop talking nonsense, the Eldest Miss is coming."

"Eldest Miss?" Lin Wanrong jumped up as if a monkey had just had its tail stepped on. He looked around frantically, "Where is she? Ah, I remember, Old Xu asked me to take care of an urgent matter, and I can't delay any longer. Sweetheart, I'll step out for a bit. If the Eldest Miss comes, don't tell her you've seen me."

Qin Xian'er stared behind him, a strange look on her face, as if she were fighting hard not to laugh.

Feeling unusually uneasy, as if needles were pricking his back, Lin Wanrong slowly turned around. He found himself face to face with a beautiful yet somewhat pale countenance, the eyes piercing his chest like sharp swords.

"Too close to see clearly. I have urgent matters to attend to, I must take my leave." Lowering his head, he tried to walk past the figure in front of him.

Qin Xian'er chuckled and grabbed his arm, "Husband, are you actually blind? Can't you recognize the Madam of the Xiao family?"

It wasn't that he couldn't recognize her, but that he shouldn't. Lin Wanrong inwardly groaned. With an audible gasp, his face turned a shade paler. He jumped back, eyes widening, "Ma, Ma, Madam? Ah, I was wondering who could be so beautifully divine, transcending the immortals. So it is you, Madam. What brings you here? I was just about to buy some pastries to honor you."

Madam Xiao looked indifferent, her face tinged with annoyance. She stared at him, a cold smirk on her lips, but said nothing.

What Lin Wanrong feared the most was this kind of silence. After a few glib remarks, he saw her gaze sharp as a sword, as if she wished to stab him full of holes. He could only force a few awkward laughs and shut his mouth.

Second Miss followed behind her mother. Seeing him hanging his head in a dejected manner, she couldn't help but chuckle. "You scoundrel, why have you become so meek in front of my mother? Have you done something you shouldn't have?"

"How could I? I've always been honest and upright—" Lin Wanrong was abruptly cut off by a fierce glare from Madam Xiao, as if she wanted to drink his blood and eat his flesh. His forced laughter fizzled out, his voice involuntarily softened, and his face flushed red.

Qin Xian'er observed their expressions and felt that her husband's behavior in front of Madam Xiao was exceedingly strange, a far cry from his usual self. This naturally puzzled her.

"Husband, I have talked to Madam. From now on, I'll be staying with them. I will keep Madam Xiao and Xiao sisters company, and we will all accompany you. What do you think?" Qin Xian'er gently grabbed Madam Xiao's hand, her face flush with affection and her voice sweet as a songbird. Madam Xiao was forthright with Lin San but seemed to get along wonderfully with Qin Xian'er. As Qin Xian'er held her hand, Madam Xiao showed a genuinely warm smile.

"Good, good—wait, what did you say?!" Lin Wanrong, who had been covertly gauging Madam Xiao's expression, was initially not bothered by her words. But upon hearing them clearly, he was somewhat surprised. ‘In just this short amount of time, how did Xian'er become so close with Madam Xiao, almost like a mother and daughter?’ He quickly lowered his voice and said, "Xian'er, you're going to live here? What about Qiaoqiao and Ning'er?"

He was quite the expert at flirting with women and deliberately avoided mentioning Qingxuan to gauge Qin Xian'er's reaction. She pouted and snorted, "If you can't bear to part with that Xiao woman, just say so. Why bring up Qiaoqiao and the others? I get along well with Yushuang and Yuruo, and we're like sisters in the same household. Madam Xiao treats me as warmly as a mother, so this is my home now. Madam Guo, may I become your daughter? Is that alright?"

Madam Xiao smiled softly and affectionately took her hand, her lips lightly parting to say, "You are a princess of royal blood; our humble home may not be worthy of you."

"What are you talking about, Madam?" Qin Xian'er threw herself into Madam Xiao's arms, her eyes brimming with tears. "I'm not some royal princess. In the past, I followed my master across the lands, wandering everywhere and suffering much hardship. Now that I have my husband and you, Madam, I'm truly happy. Where is the suffering? Madam, will you take me or not? Tell me quickly!"

Qin Xian'er was as beautiful as a celestial being; not only men but even women were captivated by her. Madam Xiao was extremely fond of her and gently patted her on the back, showing heartfelt affection as she smiled and said, "How could I refuse? Where would I find another such wonderfully gentle and beautiful young woman?"

"Good, good." The Second Miss eagerly clapped her hands, overjoyed. "Sister Xian'er is like a celestial being and is so educated. Having her as my sister is a wonderful thing indeed. Scoundrel, don't you agree?"

What a mess, Lin Wanrong thought, unable to voice his grievances. Now things had come to this: a handful of wives divided into two factions. One faction was led by Qingxuan, with Ning'er as her accomplice. The other faction was headed by Xian'er, with the Eldest Miss and Second Miss leading the charge. And then there was the cute and obedient Qiaoqiao, who obviously stood neutral. Xian'er's intentions were clear—she sought to unite with the sisters of the Xiao family and use them as a base to counter Qingxuan.

Two princesses, two opposing factions, age-old grudges between their families, rivals in life and love—the situation had all the elements for an intriguing drama. ‘My household could host its own martial arts tournament,’ Lin Wanrong sighed, his face full of worry.

"Husband, do you not want me here?" Xian'er, who loved him deeply, saw the worry on his face and asked softly, looking down.

"How dare he?!" Madam Xiao glared angrily at Lin Wanrong, her face flushed. "Xian'er, don't worry. If he dares to mistreat you, I'll—I'll—"

"What will you do, Madam? Sic the dogs on me?" Lin Wanrong said, half-smiling.

Madam Xiao spat out a contemptuous "Hmph!" Her face was red, her ears burned, and her eyes were ablaze with anger, as if ready to devour him.

"Husband," Qin Xian'er gently tugged at his sleeve and said timidly, "It's not that I want to make things difficult for you. I've been enemies with the Xiao girl and her master for so long; it's not easy to change overnight. Even if we are to be sisters, there should be an order—why should I be the one to ask her for forgiveness? Why doesn't she come to me first?"

Lin Wanrong chuckled at her logic. This was just her nature; if she changed, she wouldn't be Qin Xian'er anymore. "Life is short, and time is fleeting. The most enduring thing is the bond of blood and kinship," he said, taking her small hand gently. "Xian'er, I won't force you to reconcile with Qingxuan. But I must remind you—the blood that flows in both you and Qingxuan is the same. No matter how the world changes, this is an unalterable truth. Do you remember what I told you in Jinling? Wealth, status, glory—all these are fleeting. When you grow old, the only ones who will be there for you, calling your name with love and accompanying you in your final moments, are your kin. Don't be stubborn now and regret it later when it's too late."

His heartfelt words touched Yushuang, who nodded in agreement. Qin Xian'er pondered for a while, then slowly nestled into his arms and said softly, "Husband, you can make people laugh to death when you joke, but you move them deeply when you are serious. The happiest moment of my life was meeting you and becoming your wife."

Madam Xiao sighed. Lin San could infuriate people when he acted improperly, but when he was serious, he seemed like the best man in the world—his words full of deep wisdom, leaving people wanting to hear more.

Seeing Qin Xian'er deep in thought and seemingly moved, Lin Wanrong didn't press her further. He smiled and said, "Since Madam has graciously invited you, Xian'er, why don't you stay here? We are all family, sooner or later. Feel free to ask for whatever you'd like to eat or drink. Don't stand on ceremony!"

After uttering these words, his true colors shone through. Madam Xiao bit her red lips in annoyance but glanced at him less harshly, her eyes softening.

Recalling the words of Xu Wei, Lin Wanrong quickly regained his composure and spoke solemnly, "Madam, and you, Second Miss, there will be some disturbances in the city in the next few days. It would be best if you stayed home and avoided going out."

"How could we do that? Our family business can't be put on hold—" Madam Xiao, being stubborn by nature, was about to argue when she noticed Lin San looking solemn and serious, emanating an aura of authority she had never seen before. It was as if he were a truly extraordinary man! She lowered her head, unable to muster the heart to oppose him any further.

"Xian'er, be extra cautious in the mansion during these days," Lin Wanrong said as he gently held onto Qin Xian'er's hand, making a special point to remind her. Qin Xian'er was originally a seductress from the White Lotus sect, skilled and knowledgeable, so Lin Wanrong was quite at ease with her. Her staying in the Xiao residence would surely prevent any mishaps.

Seeing his serious expression, Qin Xian'er obediently nodded her head, speaking softly, "Husband, what about you?"

"I have some very important things to do," Lin Wanrong nodded gravely. Such a serious matter as romancing women needed to be kept a secret, especially from Xian'er, who was prone to jealousy. The consequences otherwise would be unthinkable.

"You naughty man, come back early; we can't do without you," the Second Miss whispered, setting aside her shyness.

Gazing at her rosy face, Lin Wanrong found it hard to keep a straight face. A roguish smile broke out as he lightly touched her cheek, "Second Miss, I can't do without you either—Ah, Madam, I was just shooing away a mosquito for the Second Miss."

Madam Xiao pulled her daughter back and gave him a sharp look, "Yushuang is young and you're not yet wed. There's plenty of time ahead, don't corrupt her early on."

"Yes, yes!" Lin Wanrong lowered his head, taking the opportunity to size up Madam Xiao's voluptuous figure. Her body was well-proportioned, like a ripe peach. He secretly swallowed his saliva, humming to himself, 'You're not that young yourself. I'd corrupt you if you'd let me!'

Madam Xiao noticed his eyes flickering to her chest. Though irritated, she felt a touch of resignation. She was used to it by now. If anyone could elevate shamelessness to this level, it was Lin San and Lin San alone.

As Lin Wanrong stepped outside burdened with "important tasks," he pondered what sort of gift to bring Xu Zhiqing. Just then, a voice rang out beside him, "Brother Lin, Brother Lin—"

This time, Gao Qiu had learned his lesson. He held something in his hands and called out to Lin San from a few steps away, so as not to startle him.

"Oh, Brother Gao, did you make a new outfit?" Lin Wanrong smiled. Gao Qiu was holding a set of brand new clothes, made of an unknown material that was soft, white, and as light as air.

Gao Qiu shook his head solemnly, saying, "Brother Lin, I've brought you a battle robe."

A battle robe? For womanizing? Intrigued, Lin Wanrong took the garment from him and saw that it was intricately woven from countless strands of silk, light as paper and meticulously crafted by hand.

"This is made from the finest heavenly silk. Wearing it will protect you with divine power; blades and spears will not harm you. It's a gift from the Emperor for your protection," Gao Qiu hastily explained, seeing Lin Wanrong examining it intently.

Lin Wanrong gave a knowing nod, increasingly interested. "What about cannon fire? Would that harm me?"

Gao Qiu hesitated for a moment, "We haven't tested that—the ones who did are all dead."

Lin Wanrong chuckled slyly at the clever response. "Brother Gao, your timing is impeccable. Come with me to take care of some business. We'll test the durability of this battle robe while we're at it."

Gao Qiu extended his arms, shielding him as he asked anxiously, "Brother Lin, is someone trying to kill you?"

Lin Wanrong sighed, "Not trying to kill me, no. I'm just concerned about being bitten to death. Your gift is timely—I could really use this robe for my romantic endeavors!"

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