Taking a concubine to welcome good fortune

Chapter 1

"Sir, why don't you take a concubine?"

The morning wind chilled his face, and few pedestrians ventured out on the street, seeking shelter from the cold. Beneath a fortune-telling banner

swaying , a fortune teller, eyes wide with seriousness, offered advice to a customer who had come to his door. However,

the fortune teller's words were clearly unappealing.

"No interest!" came a low, slightly angry voice.

"I know you only love your wife at home, and even after years of infertility, you refuse to take a concubine or

divorce her." The fortune teller raised a hand to quell the customer's anger, a smile playing on his lips. "Do you know who I am?" The man

in fine clothes raised an eyebrow, asking with a hint of disbelief. "Master Feng's name

is known to everyone here." The fortune teller merely nodded. "Then why are you advising me to take a concubine? Which matchmaker bribed

you?" Feng Jinghuai roared.

He had no concubines, yet was incredibly wealthy—this was common knowledge. Many families of Sui dynasty daughters

desperately sought to forge a marriage alliance with him. But unlike typical wealthy merchants who spent lavishly on women or

kept numerous courtesans and concubines, he only wanted a woman he truly loved by his side. "This is just a

fortune telling for Master Feng, and a well-intentioned reminder," the fortune teller denied, shaking his head without a trace of anger at being misunderstood. "

A reminder ?" Feng Jinghuai narrowed his eyes. "A reminder about what?"

He had originally come to the fortune teller seeking advice because of his distinguished bearing, to see if his wife had a chance of conceiving and bearing children.

He hadn't expected that the fortune teller would advise him to take a concubine. "For your sake in this life?" The fortune teller smiled calmly,

his tone uneventful, yet profoundly insightful. "My sake in this life?" Feng Jinghuai truly

didn't understand . He considered himself to have no complaints about his life except for the regret that his wife couldn't bear children. But what if he took

a concubine and had her bear children? In the future, there's no guarantee that his concubines or illegitimate sons won't become ruthless in their pursuit of the family fortune.

Therefore

, he insists on not taking a concubine, firstly because he loves his wife and doesn't want to hurt her feelings; secondly, he doesn't want to marry a woman he doesn't love just to have a son to continue the family line. That would hurt two people at once. "Master Feng,

taking this concubine can prolong your life and bring you good fortune, even ensuring your lifelong peace and happiness.

" The fortune teller said, not caring whether Feng Jinghuai accepted the suggestion, and took out a brush,

wrote , and then pushed it in front of Feng Jinghuai. "What is this?" Feng Jinghuai glanced at the birth date on the paper

, puzzled. "Born on the sixth day of the month, at noon, turning seventeen next year, living in the east." The fortune teller pointed to the direction of sunrise and smiled

. "I don't need it." Feng Jinghuai pushed the paper back, his tone quite dissatisfied. "This is a good match." The fortune

teller shook his head and advised, "You don't have to believe me, but this match is good for her and for you." "If you truly are

a fortune teller, then come again when my son with this woman is a month old! At that time, I, Feng, will certainly offer a generous

gift and three cups of wine to express my gratitude!" Feng Jinghuai snorted heavily, then put down half a silver ingot and turned

to leave. Hmph! As expected of a fortune teller, spouting nonsense, not a single word he says can be believed! Feng Jinghuai stepped into his carriage and

drove away in the cold wind. The fortune teller watched him leave, a smile merely playing on his lips... "See you in

two years , Master Feng." The soft sound quickly faded into the wind, just like Feng Jinghuai's carriage,

gone forever ...

The cold wind howled, and the winter snow grew thicker. The end of the year was approaching, and the number of people shopping for New Year's goods on the streets increased accordingly.

Feng Jinghuai, accompanied by two attendants, went to a distant village to personally select goods needed for the coming spring. He had originally planned a three-day

round trip , but unexpectedly encountered a snowstorm, trapping them in the town, unable to move. "It seems this snowstorm

won't stop anytime soon!" Looking at the heavy snow falling outside the window, the homeowner, An Qing, who was over fifty, simply shook his head. "This is

troublesome ." Feng Jinghuai swallowed a mouthful of hot tea and looked outside. "I told my wife I would be home tonight." "

But walking in the snowstorm is even more dangerous!" An Qing advised, "I think you should stay here tonight, Master Feng. I have a few

empty rooms." "I'm too kind to bother you." Feng Jinghuai gave a slight bow, acknowledging his agreement.

“No need to be so polite. It’s only right that you’re so kind to my business, Mr. Feng.” An Qing smiled with relief and cupped her hands

in response. “Then I’ll have my daughter clean up a bit. Please wait a moment, Mr. Feng.” “You have a daughter?” Feng Jinghuai

couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. He had been doing business with An Qing for over three years, and he had never heard of her having a daughter. Unexpectedly,

the slightly apologetic look in his wife’s eyes would reappear in his mind. Every time, she would express her

regret at not being able to bear him children, and when he recalled this, he felt a pang of sadness. “She and my wife have been living in

their old home in the neighboring town. Business has been busy this year, so we had them come to the shop to help out,” An Qing explained. “It’s good for the family

to be together , even if it’s a little busy,” Feng Jinghuai nodded.

“That’s true. But she’ll be seventeen after the sixth day of the lunar new year, and if she doesn’t get married soon, she’ll be too old. So I’m

planning to find her a husband.” An Qing’s face lit up with joy, and she smiled contentedly. "The sixth day?" Feng Jinghuai's tea-

sipping motion suddenly froze. "That time sounds so familiar. The sixth, the seventeenth... This must be what that

fortune teller, who talks nonsense, told him..." Yes, my daughter was born at noon on the sixth day: that year, my business

was doing poorly , but then I remembered that after my daughter was born, everything went smoothly, whether it was the harvest from the fields or business dealings. So

, I really can't bear to let her get married!" An Qing spoke with great joy about the good fortune her daughter brought,

her eyebrows dancing , revealing her love for her daughter in every way. "It really is hard to part with her..." Feng Jinghuai's expression

stiffened.

He hadn't expected the fortune teller to be right; there really was a girl born at that time. And the An family's location

was indeed to the east of his Feng family's...

Was this just a coincidence? Or was it as the fortune teller said, that this girl could truly ensure his lifelong peace and happiness,

and even prolong his life and bring him good fortune? "Isn't An Qing the best example?" " This daughter brought him

a lifetime of good fortune from the moment she was born." "Yes, her mother and I are very reluctant to part with her; after all, she's our only daughter..." An Qing

gave a bitter laugh, then added, "But for her happiness, we still need to find her a good match as soon as possible... Master Feng

knows many people; I wonder if you have any candidates you can introduce?" Among the neighboring towns, the Feng family's

business is the largest, including tea shops, salt shops, and cloth shops, dealing with wealthy merchants, landlords, and even officials.

If they could ask Feng Jinghuai to introduce a good match, their daughter wouldn't have to worry about the rest of her life. "Aren't you afraid that after your daughter marries,

she'll bring her good fortune to her husband's family?" Feng Jinghuai asked indifferently. He was supposed to find her a good match? If they followed the fortune teller's words...

"An Qing's daughter should be my concubine. Would An Qing allow such a marriage? Who wouldn't want their daughter to be a favored

wife, rather than a concubine who might offend the wife and be bullied or sold off?" "I'm not worried about that. As long as my

daughter is happy, that's all that matters. As for luck, I believe that as long as I'm honest and reliable, the business will still go smoothly.

" An Qing smiled and waved his hand. Now over fifty, he had long since become indifferent to these worldly matters. "That's true." Feng

Jinghuai responded calmly, but the words of the wicked fortune teller still echoed in his mind, making him curious about An Qing's daughter

. Although he didn't believe in fortune tellers, so many coincidences made him somewhat suspicious. "Then I'll go and

call my daughter out so she can greet Master Feng." Seeing that Feng Jinghuai didn't refuse, An Qing assumed he tacitly agreed to help find

a partner , so he asked happily. "Alright." Feng Jinghuai couldn't hide the surging emotions in his heart,

but his face remained expressionless. This woman, destined to be his concubine…

what kind of woman was she? Why could she extend his life and bring him good fortune?

Ordinary.

This was Feng Jinghuai's first impression of An Rouchun. She wasn't beautiful; in fact, she was like an

ordinary girl next door.

If it weren't for the fortune teller's words bewitching him, he might never have noticed An Rouchun, much

less seen her. An Rouchun had a clean and delicate face, with small, dark eyes that shone

with a hint of curiosity and a touch of doubt. She was petite, only reaching his chest,

so she had to tilt her head back to see his expression.

The soft pink dress on her slender figure gave her a touch of springtime beauty. Feng

Jinghuai recognized the fabric; it was the New Year's gift he had given to the An family last year. Seeing An Rouchun wearing the satin

from his own fabric shop, Feng Jinghuai felt a strange sense of satisfaction. It was almost as if he were commenting on

his own woman, and he couldn't help but nod in approval in his heart, thinking she was suitable... This strange mentality made Feng Jinghuai

feel somewhat uncomfortable. An Rouchun wasn't even his woman, not his concubine, yet he was looking

at her with such eyes; it was really inappropriate. Moreover, he really couldn't find any qualities in this woman that could make

him happy or prolong his life. In terms of appearance, she lost to his charming and beautiful wife at home; in terms of temperament, she

was even less able to match his wife's virtuous charm. Such a young girl...

why was she his destined concubine? "Rouchun, say hello! This is the famous

Master Feng." An Qing was afraid that her daughter would be impolite, so she quickly reminded her. "Greetings, Master Feng." "An Rouchun uttered a soft

, sweet voice, like spring snow melting away the winter's chill. In an instant, Feng Jinghuai seemed to understand

.

Hearing An Rouchun's delicate, sweet voice, though somewhat offensive, he had to admit that such

a tender voice would surely be intoxicating during lovemaking. It would make one feel weak and limp.

However, this shouldn't have anything to do with prolonging life and welcoming good fortune! Unless the fortune teller was implying that his life

lacked the pleasures of the boudoir and that he should practice more yin-yang remedies... "If that's the case, then he can only utter one

absurd conclusion!" "No need for formalities. Your father has already mentioned it to me in a general way, but I don't know what kind of

man ? If you can tell me, it will give me some basis." Feng Jinghuai's thoughts shifted, and he decided to

throw the fortune teller's nonsense to the back of his mind. What about taking a concubine or not, or fate? It's all nonsense! "What kind..." An

Rouchun opened her somewhat naive and silly eyes, revealing a faint smile, "Like Master Feng, I suppose."

Her nagged in her ear, hoping to find her a man as good as Feng Jinghuai—he didn't take concubines,

and he was upright; he was truly a rare find. So, if you asked this naive girl to answer,

besides finding a good man like Feng Jinghuai, she really didn't know how to choose! "What..." Feng Jinghuai

was momentarily speechless. This little girl, could it be that he had misjudged her? Could it be that she seemed innocent, but was actually a shrewd

girl ? What a clever phrase, "like Master Feng"—to someone with a discerning eye, wouldn't that be an implication that he

wanted to take her as a concubine? "Rouchun, what nonsense are you talking about! Besides Master Feng, where else can we find someone as good as Master Feng?"

An Qing panicked and quickly turned to Feng Jinghuai to apologize, "Master Feng, I'm so sorry, my Rouchun

is not good manners, please forgive her..." "It's alright." Feng Jinghuai raised his hand to stop An Qing's apology.

This little girl had piqued his interest.

Even if she was silly, under An Qing's tutelage as a businesswoman, she should have learned some manners of keeping quiet,

but An Rouchun responded so generously. Either she really hadn't thought of anything, or she was pretending to be silly to get attention.

But which one was it? Her smile was sweet, yet it didn't diminish her innocence at all.

"Thank you, Master Feng." An Qing gave a bitter laugh, then urged her daughter to go inside and prepare the guest room.

An Rouchun didn't say much, just smiled and nodded in acknowledgment before turning and going back to the back room.

Feng Jinghuai watched An Rouchun leave, her petite and graceful figure imprinted in his mind,

lingering there for a long time. He wasn't truly a man devoid of desire; otherwise, he wouldn't be

so intimate with his still beautiful and charming wife. As for the faces of the courtesans and

matchmakers , he had seen too many, and had long since lost interest. But An Rouchun's frankness was excessively honest, catching him

off guard as her words struck his heart. In the past... The girls who wanted to marry into his family were

always hesitant and coy, never daring to say a word, unlike An Rouchun's straightforwardness. Even his wife of many years,

because she strictly adhered to etiquette, always spoke softly, and even during intimate moments at night, she

was always shy

. Was it because of this difference that the fortune teller suggested he take An Rouchun as a concubine? He couldn't figure it out, but he wanted to

know the answer. And ultimately, it had always been his nature. In an instant, he even had the idea of bringing An Rouchun

home as a concubine. However, it wasn't for love, but for investigation... "Master Feng, please come

this way , let me pour some warm wine to warm you up." Seeing Feng Jinghuai standing there in a daze, An Qing

greeted him apologetically. "Boss An, have you mentioned me to your daughter before?" Feng Jinghuai sat down at the table, took a few sips of the wine

, and finally voiced his doubts. Otherwise, why would An Rouchun have blurted out that he was a good

match ? "This…it's really embarrassing to say, but I truly believe from the bottom of my heart that Master Feng is worthy of a young lady's trust."

The person she was to spend her life with also thought that Master Feng was upright and decisive, so she often mentioned

him . An Qing scratched her head awkwardly and smiled. Although Feng Jinghuai was his junior in terms of age,

respect never knows age, and An Qing sincerely believed in Feng Jinghuai's goodness. "So that's why your daughter

thinks she should marry a man like me?" Feng Jinghuai smiled.

He wondered if An Rouchun was thinking such a cute reason. "Perhaps!" An Qing

said apologetically , "I'm sorry to have troubled you, Master Feng." "No, but..." Even if I intended to take her as a concubine, I'm afraid Boss An

wouldn't agree. Feng Jinghuai replied calmly. He spoke naturally, as if he were discussing a business deal, but he was talking about

a major life event.

"Wh...what?!" An Qing's eyes widened, her expression filled with astonishment. Taking Rouchun as a concubine?

This Feng Jinghuai who never mentioned taking concubines? He...he...he...could he be seeing a ghost, or having a nightmare?

"I will treat her well." This was sincerity, and also a form of compensation.

He didn't guarantee he would love this concubine, but he wanted to gamble on the fortune teller's words. And

the main reason was that he wanted to find out what kind of girl An Rouchun really was...

"This...this is too sudden..." An Qing stammered, almost spilling the wine in his hand.

"I know this is too sudden," Feng Jinghuai said with a still indifferent expression, "but I'm not joking." "

But Master Feng, didn't you say you wouldn't take a concubine..." An Qing's mouth opened and closed, barely able to utter a complete sentence.

"That was before I met your daughter," Feng Jinghuai replied directly.

Originally, he indeed didn't plan to take a concubine, and he dismissed the fortune teller's words as nonsense.

But now he had changed his mind. "This...so you've taken a liking to my daughter?" An Qing felt

as if her mind had suddenly gone blank.

Feng Jinghuai was indeed a good candidate to entrust her daughter's life to; regardless of his family background or personality, he was an excellent

choice. But… this marriage means becoming a concubine, not a wife! Will my daughter be happy? Although

he believed that, given Feng Jinghuai's personality, he would take good care of his daughter, the difference in their social status was still too great.

“I’ll leave tomorrow when the snow stops, Mr. An can take his time to consider it.” Feng Jinghuai said this, but he had already

made up his mind. “This… to be honest, Mr. Feng is indeed an impeccable prospect, but… this

ultimately concerns my daughter’s future, let me ask her.” An Qing thought carefully, and this marriage was indeed

entirely advantageous. Even setting aside the benefits, Feng Jinghuai could offer her daughter

far more than she could receive as a wife in another family, so there was really no reason to refuse. Therefore, the only remaining option was her daughter’s

opinion .

Because he didn’t care about status, he only wanted his daughter to be happy.

“That’s only right.” Feng Jinghuai nodded. “

I’ll go and find out what my wife and daughter think, please wait a moment, Mr. Feng.” After saying goodbye to Feng Jinghuai, An Qing

hurriedly went to the backyard. Feng Jinghuai watched An Qing's figure disappear behind the curtain, his thoughts drifting far away.

Had he been too impulsive? For such a vague emotion, and out of curiosity to probe An Rouchun's

thoughts , he had rashly made such a momentous decision. He hadn't even discussed it with his wife.

Would she be heartbroken? After all, their relationship was deep, and he had repeatedly declared he wouldn't

remarry. Now, suddenly bringing a concubine home—he believed his virtuous wife would listen to his explanation. Because, no matter what

, his true love was his wife, not An Rouchun. She was just a

young girl . So he would take good care of An Rouchun, not treat her as a concubine, and even

marry her off as his sister in the future—that was all possible. But now, he really wanted to know—how

much of true? And what kind of thoughts lay hidden beneath An Rouchun's soft, sweet voice?

Chapter Two

: The marriage came suddenly, almost as if it were impatient.

As the snow fell heavily, the crimson hue, a symbol of joy, added a touch of embellishment to the silvery expanse.

An Rouchun readily agreed to Feng Jinghuai's marriage proposal, simply because her father greatly admired him

. To her, there was no difference between wife and concubine, for both could be loved

or not. What mattered was having a man she could entrust herself to, wasn't it? Since her father admired Feng

Jinghuai, marrying him was undoubtedly the best choice.

Otherwise, with her limited perspective as a sheltered young girl who had never left her home and had only ever helped with accounting, how

could she possibly distinguish between suitable and unsuitable marriage partners? The answer was simple: "No."

Therefore, she had no other choice. Feng Jinghuai's willingness to ask her opinion... Was that considered respecting her?

Looking at the bright red wedding dress delivered by fast horse, a thousand thoughts flashed through An Rouchun's mind. But no matter how she thought about it,

she couldn't figure out how to be a "concubine." She knew she was getting married, to a

wealthy merchant named Feng Jinghuai, a man rumored to be the envy and hope of every unmarried woman. However, after marrying him, besides serving Feng

Jinghuai, she would also have to take care of her elder sister, the principal wife. For her, this wasn't too terrible. Although

her mother repeatedly warned her to serve him well, she really didn't understand what her mother was so worried about. Anyway, she

was just doing her duty, helping when she needed to, and being considerate when she needed to, wasn't she? "Honestly, she really

didn't know why he took her as a concubine, because they had only met once, and he had only asked her one question. With

just that short conversation, why did this man take a liking to her? She wasn't a particularly pretty girl

!" Even if she wanted to take a young concubine, at seventeen, she seemed a bit too old. So… she

really didn’t understand many things. She wondered if, as a concubine, she could ask Feng Jinghuai these questions? At least, he

should tell her how a concubine should behave. But would he tell her? That seemingly silent

man, with a somewhat cold expression… shook his head, his hair fluttering. An Rouchun put on her wedding dress and stood before the mirror. Without

the embellishment of her makeup, the bright red color seemed out of place on her. Only her fair skin was enhanced by the wedding dress

, further emphasizing her youthful appearance. She didn’t consider herself a talented woman; besides knowing a little to read and do accounting, she

wasn’t even very good at needlework, and her cooking skills were limited to preparing medicine and soup. Wasn’t it strange for a girl like her to be with Feng Jinghuai

? Did Feng Jinghuai even know what kind of girl he wanted to take as a concubine? Her delicate brows furrowed slightly, An Rou…

An Rouchun put down her wedding dress and stepped outside. This was really inappropriate… That day, although she had promised the marriage, it

was because she didn't want her parents to be angry and wanted to put their minds at ease. However, she had forgotten to consider Feng Jinghuai's situation. She had

to ask him. She had to get to the bottom of things before the wedding ceremony… “This isn’t quite right.”

Looking at An Rouchun, who was staring at him with wide, dark eyes, Feng Jinghuai simply responded in a deep voice.

The wedding was in two days, and it was inappropriate for a bride like her to suddenly come to see him. “I just want to ask

Master Feng a few things.” An Rouchun stared intently into Feng Jinghuai’s eyes, trying to read his emotions from his gaze,

but she couldn’t find the slightest fluctuation. Although her father said that Feng Jinghuai had fallen for her at first sight, which was why he

wanted to marry her, no matter how she looked at it, she couldn’t see any signs of Feng Jinghuai being moved by her! What was the problem? Feng Jinghuai put down

the long list of gifts he was halfway through organizing and sat down patiently. He had originally wanted to find out more about An Rouchun,

but the busy wedding preparations had kept him traveling back and forth between two places. He had finally managed to get his wife's understanding, and then he had to rush to the wedding. He

had to juggle work and taking a concubine, leaving him almost no time to pay attention to An Rouchun. Now that she had come to him of her own accord, he naturally

wanted to listen carefully. "I don't quite understand why Master Feng wants to take me as a concubine." An Rouchun blinked, her

soft voice gentle. "How can you not understand?" Feng Jinghuai raised an eyebrow, not expecting An Rouchun to ask

this question. "A concubine is a concubine. What's there to understand or not understand?" I'm seventeen. Although I'm younger than Master Feng's wife,

I'm not a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl. An Rouchun said, her pink lips parted. "I know." Feng Jinghuai nodded

, puzzled.

Did he really need to explain such a small matter to him? "Although I manage the accounts for my father, I only know a little to read and write;

I can't compose poetry or essays,"

An Rouchun continued softly. "I'm not good at needlework. As for cooking, I only know how to make simple home-style dishes."

These were, he'd heard, the selection criteria men usually used when choosing wives and concubines. If judged by these criteria, she

was quite ordinary and would never be the first choice. "So?" Feng Jinghuai was even more confused. Was

she telling him all this to get him to break off the engagement? Otherwise, wouldn't bringing up a bunch of things she wasn't good at

before the wedding have already ruined her image? "Besides, I don't know how to be a concubine." An Rouchun shook her head, voicing what she

couldn't understand no matter how hard she tried. Feng Jinghuai couldn't help but frown. An Rouchun's thoughts were truly

different from those of ordinary girls. How to be a concubine—shouldn't she be asking him about that? It was practically a protest against him, saying she

didn't want to be a concubine.

But if you said she was cunning, she was also exposing her weaknesses, not hiding her true nature.

It was truly contradictory… "You're just moving from this house to another," Feng Jinghuai decided to remain calm and

simply respond. "Just that?" An Rouchun frowned slightly. "But I'm probably not a good match,

while you're the kind of person Father speaks of. Is it alright for you to take me as a concubine? This marriage seems like it's unfair to

him!" Feng Jinghuai stared, not responding. Was An Rouchun rejecting his proposal? Or was this a strategic retreat

, using her vulnerability to attract his attention before slowly winning his heart? "Do you mean

a , charming, young woman with both looks and talent?" Feng Jinghuai countered. This was indeed

the standard for choosing a partner in ordinary families, but he had never intended to take a concubine, so he naturally overlooked this. Besides,

he wasn't taking An Rouchun as a concubine for her looks or talent.

"That's what the neighbor ladies say," An Rouchun blinked.

"I don't need to pay attention to them. I'm the one taking a concubine." Feng Jinghuai frowned.

Hearing her list her flaws so readily, he wondered if she'd never been praised before. Otherwise, why would she only point out

her shortcomings? Although he wasn't interested in An Rouchun, he always valued talent above all else and believed that people with

good could achieve great things and possess unique abilities. Therefore, he didn't think An Rouchun

was as ordinary as she described. "At most, you could say her appearance isn't particularly attractive.

When you meet someone, you first see their thin skin; that's unavoidable. But with time, you'll

naturally discover their true feelings." He was planning to do just that—to find out

why the fortune teller said An Rouchun was his destined woman. However, An Rouchun clearly had no such intention.

"So, Mr. Feng, you like me?" "An Rouchun looked up and asked.

To disregard her shortcomings and still want to take her as a concubine must mean Feng Jinghuai really likes her

, right?" "This…" Feng Jinghuai's expression froze.

For once, he showed a strange look of embarrassment. He never liked lying, and taking An Rouchun as a concubine

had already broken his moral boundaries. Even when speaking to An Qing, he was careful, repeatedly choosing his words. But when it

came to liking… in his entire life, he had only loved his parents and wife. For An Rouchun, he only felt curiosity,

not love. How could he answer in this situation? What embarrassed him most was that even with his wife, he

rarely, if ever, expressed such affection to her face, yet An Rouchun asked so openly! "Isn't that right?"

Seeing Feng Jinghuai's silence and lack of change in expression, An Rouchun couldn't guess what he was thinking and

could only repeat the question. "I don't use words of love on my lips." This wasn't a lie.

"Why?" “An Rouchun doesn’t understand. Is it so hard to say?” “No need.” Feng Jinghuai

thought seriously for a moment and replied succinctly.

In his view, actual acts of love for his wife were far more important than empty words. “Oh.” An Rouchun

nodded, indicating that she understood. So, Feng Jinghuai didn’t mention these things… No wonder he only

told his father that he had taken a liking to her, but not that he loved or liked her. “Any more questions?” Feng Jinghuai felt a slight sense of guilt

as he watched An Rouchun easily accept his words. He hadn’t lied; he had just

skillfully avoided An Rouchun’s question. But seeing her unquestioning expression, he felt

uneasy . “Yes.” An Rouchun nodded. “Master Feng still hasn’t answered. Whether you like her or

not, just say yes or no. There’s no need to say you like her. That shouldn’t be taboo, right?” She knew that everyone spoke

differently , and she could accept Feng Jinghuai’s habits, but questions were questions, and she still wanted to know the answer. Feng Jinghuai frowned

slightly. He thought she had forgotten the initial question, but it turned out she remembered it perfectly. "Is this

taboo ?" An Rouchun didn't like to force people; if even this kind of answer made Feng Jinghuai feel awkward,

She could choose not to ask. The marriage was already arranged, and she wouldn't go back on her word; she just wanted to ask. She didn't want to

be unable to answer her parents' questions about her happiness, her husband's affection, or his love for her, causing

them worry. "If Feng Jinghuai loves her, then she can

answer with confidence when her parents ask. But if Feng Jinghuai doesn't love her, then she'll have to keep asking to see why her future husband

married her without loving her. After all, having questions stuck in your throat is very painful." No, that's not it. Feng Jinghuai

shook his head . Actually, he could have simply not answered. After all,

it was rather strange to have a concubine—or perhaps this betrothed concubine—interrogate her husband. But perhaps it was his nature, he

could brush An Rouchun off.

Or perhaps it was because An Rouchun's gaze was so earnest that he felt it was wrong to deceive her

. So, how should he answer? "Then, Master Feng, can you answer me?" An Rouchun blinked again.

Sure enough, Feng Jinghuai certainly didn't use words of love and affection often. Otherwise, why would he take so long to answer a simple

question ? "If you want to know… then I will answer you with a 'yes'." Feng

Jinghuai hesitated for a moment before giving An Rouchun the answer she wanted. He wouldn't lie; having answered "yes," he

had to cherish and love her.

However, this feeling wasn't romantic love. He was confident he treated An Rouchun like a younger sister, so cherishing

and loving her was perfectly justified and wouldn't be considered deceiving her. This wasn't lying to her, was it...?

For some reason, Feng Jinghuai asked himself this question.

"Thank you, Master Feng." An Rouchun bowed to Feng Jinghuai.

Raising herself, her smile was gentle and sweet, not as vibrant as blooming spring flowers, but like a pleasant

dessert, irresistible yet not cloying. "Thank me for what?" "Feng

Jinghuai was puzzled. From the very beginning, An Rouchun's behavior and speech had been shrouded in mystery, and this thank you

only made Feng Jinghuai more confused. After all, she would be his concubine, and asking about such trivial matters was really

no big deal; it was her right. "If Master Feng likes me, then I won't wrong Master Feng," An Rouchun

replied with a faint smile. "That way, my parents will be at ease." "She doesn't like anyone being wronged; it's too painful,

so she hopes everyone can be happy."

"You—" Feng Jinghuai felt a sharp pain in his chest.

Instantly, the aches spread like vines from his chest, making him

extremely . He thought An Rouchun was asking for a reason, but who knew she was doing it for him.

He hadn't even formally welcomed her into the family yet, and he didn't love her at all…

So why was she so worried about him? Worried he was being wronged, so she came specifically to ask how he felt? So,

all those things An Rouchun said were because she didn't want him to suffer any injustice? "I'm sorry to bother you, Master Feng. I'll go back to my room now

." An Rouchun smiled faintly and nodded to Feng Jinghuai. "Wait, wait a minute." Feng Jinghuai reflexively

reached out and pulled An Rouchun back. His reaction was so quick he didn't even have time to think about why. His hand was already

gripping An Rouchun's arm. The seemingly

awkward , but the next words fell silent. "Is there something you need, Master Feng?" An Rouchun

looked up at Feng Jinghuai, noticing

a hint of which intrigued her. Why had this man suddenly changed his usual aloof demeanor?

Wasn't he always so composed? That was precisely why her father and the others praised him so highly.

"I..." Feng Jinghuai found himself speechless. Facing this girl more than ten years his junior,

he couldn't utter a word. His usual rational demeanor when speaking to shop owners

seemed vanish in an instant, leaving him opening his mouth several times, but his voice choked in his throat. "Do you need my help?

" An Rouchun remembered that Feng Jinghuai had been checking the gift list earlier.

Although she didn't think he would need her help, otherwise he wouldn't have told her

it was inappropriate to meet privately at this time when he first saw her; but seeing his slightly troubled expression, he must have something to tell her but

couldn't say it. "Help?" Feng Jinghuai's mind was still racing. "If it's about checking the gift list, I can help

a little." She was used to keeping accounts for her father and was quite confident in her ability to check quantities and names. "This..."

Feng Jinghuai glanced back at the gift list on the table, which was only two-thirds checked, and his mind finally cleared up a bit. "Alright."

He didn't know why he had impulsively grabbed An Rouchun, but he knew that remaining silent would feel

even more strange. Since An Rouchun had given him an excuse, he might as well go with it.

"Then I'll go get a chair." Knowing that she could help, An Rouchun only showed a happy smile,

and then turned around to get a chair. Feng Jinghuai watched as An Rouchun moved a round chair to sit beside him, picked up the gift list, and

began checking the items. Her earnest expression made him somewhat lost in thought. In his memory, his wife had accompanied him in this way before,

but she always left after only a quarter of an hour, giving the same excuse each time: either she didn't understand these business matters, or she

didn't want to interfere too much with her husband, so she didn't want to bother him. These words were indeed heartwarming, but they also carried a

sense of distance, though he had never thought about them too deeply. But now, this An Rouchun, who was about to become his concubine,

was offering to help him with these gift lists. Watching An Rouchun diligently and carefully check the items, Feng Jinghuai felt

a warmth rise in his heart. Unlike his wife, she wouldn't leave him just because she didn't understand these things.

An Rouchun chose to sit down and help him.

Even just looking at her expression, he knew that she was still struggling a bit, but she still wanted to help.

Putting aside the issues of affection and love, the feeling of having someone by his side was truly quite nice. Perhaps… An Rouchun

really is a good match for him in some ways.

Perhaps what the fortune teller said was somewhat believable.

As for how he should treat An Rouchun afterward…

he would think about it carefully later.

But right now, he just wanted to review that tedious gift list with An Rouchun. For no other reason than

wanting to sit with her… “Master Feng, aren’t you going to sit?” An Rouchun suddenly looked up, wondering why Feng

Jinghuai hadn’t moved for so long, only to see him standing still. Wasn’t he tired? “Yes.” Feng Jinghuai responded and sat down,

watching An Rouchun’s petite figure sitting on the bench, half her body leaning against the coffee table beside her. He unconsciously revealed…

A slight smile appeared on her face. An Rouchun had her own pace, her own unique temperament.

She seemed ordinary, yet there was something extraordinary hidden within her.

And he seemed to be increasingly fascinated by the feeling of uncovering her uniqueness. "Master Feng, would you like some tea?"

An Rouchun asked as Feng Jinghuai sat down. "It would be good to rest for a while." He was thirsty after chatting with An Rouchun for a while

.

"I'll pour it, you wait a moment." An Roumu said, jumping off the round chair and walking to the table, pouring two cups of warm tea before

returning to Feng Jinghuai's side. "Here, let's each have a little, warm our hands and bodies before we drink." An Rouchun smiled and

handed him the tea. Feng Jinghuai took the teacup; it should have been warm, but it felt a little hot.

In the past, his wife would always bring hot tea, say a few words, and then leave his study. But An Rouchun

drank … “Are you cold? I noticed you came here without wearing a warm coat.” Feng Jinghuai stood up and

draped the trench coat he had been holding over An Rouchun. “Thank you. It’s so warm.” An Rouchun smiled, her eyes crinkling. Just like

her father had said, Feng Jinghuai was truly a good match. Look at him, he wasn’t even married yet, and he was already worried about her.

This trench coat not only warmed her body, but it seemed to warm her heart as well… “Let’s have some tea first.

I’ll check this list.” Feng Jinghuai took the gift list from An Rouchun’s hand and started checking it himself. Normally, this trivial matter would have been boring and

unpleasant, but today, it was unusually infused with a touch of ease and laughter. It was because he had company. He

had An Rouchun as his companion.

Whether drinking tea or working, his days will likely be filled with less, if

not less, boredom, replaced by An Rouchun's smiles...

Chapter 3

"Greetings, sister."

Looking at Yang Fanglan, the good wife Feng Jinghuai spoke of, An Rouchun respectfully bowed. Yang Fanglan appeared to be around twenty-

six or twenty-seven, with a gentle smile in her eyes. She was a little taller than An Rouchun and much fuller-figured.

"You must be Rouchun? My husband said you'll be by my side often from now on, so I

won't be lonely when he travels far away." Yang Fanglan gently patted An Rouchun's hand, smiling warmly and kindly.

Hearing Yang Fanglan's words, An Rouchun turned to look at Feng Jinghuai. "Sister and I can keep each other company, but what about Master Feng?

" Who will accompany Feng Jinghuai when he travels far away? "This..." A fleeting awkwardness

crossed .

These words seemed to be a reproach to her, the legal wife, for not keeping her husband company.

"I have attendants with me,"

Feng Jinghuai replied calmly, knowing An Rouchun meant no harm, just spoke her mind and

often "Like I said before, you should stay home and keep Fanglan company."

Before taking this concubine, Feng Jinghuai had already planned An Rouchun's arrangements.

Because he often traveled for business, Yang Fanglan was often left alone at home, so he planned to bring An Rouchun

in as a younger sister to keep Yang Fanglan company. Yang Fanglan readily accepted. She

had already regretted her inability to have children, and now that her husband was finally willing to take a concubine and prioritized her

, she was content. "Yes, when my husband is home, we'll keep him company;

when he goes out, we'll go to the temple to pray for his safety," Yang Fanglan said with a gentle smile.

“Yes, I understand, sister, Master Feng.” An Rouchun nodded obediently. “Why are you still calling him Master Feng?

It sounds like a stranger.” Yang Fanglan glanced at Feng Jinghuai, her voice soft with a hint of doubt. “Aren’t we all

family now?” “If not Master Feng, what should we call him?” An Rouchun blinked. She was used to her father

calling her “Master Feng” all the time, and now that it was suddenly changed, she really didn’t know

what call him. “At least I should call

him husband!” Yang Fanglan chuckled, took An Rouchun’s hand, and led her towards the inner courtyard. “Come on, let me show you the new house, see if you like it.” “What about Master Feng?”

An Rouchun didn’t move, her gaze fixed on Feng Jinghuai. She was married into the family by Feng Jinghuai;

without his promise, shouldn’t she obediently stay by his side? "...Just call me Jinghuai!" Feng

Jinghuai, seeing An Rouchun's unwavering gaze, gently patted her head, as if doting on a younger sister.

"Let's go see your new house first. If there's anything lacking, have the servants take care of it." "Okay, Jinghuai." An Rouchun

readily agreed, then followed Yang Fanglan into the inner courtyard without lingering. Feng Jinghuai watched his wife

and concubine's harmonious figures disappear into the long corridor, his feelings becoming somewhat complicated. An Rouchun called him "Jinghuai,"

while his wife called him "Husband."

Husband, it sounded polite, but also carried a hint of distance. It was a pity that he, the law-abiding wife, couldn't bring himself to

call Jinghuai. An Rouchun, on the other hand, was generous; that "Jinghuai," coupled with her sweet and soft voice, almost

enveloped his heart, warming him. Such a straightforward girl, if she were to marry into a wealthy family, would probably

be suffocated by a long list of rules and regulations. But he didn't care.

It was that sweet, affectionate call that stirred something within him.

Was it really as the fortune teller had said, that he was destined to have a lifelong bond with this concubine? He really

couldn't figure it out...

But now that he had brought her home, there seemed to be no point in thinking about it anymore. He might as well take a good look at what was so special about An Rouchun

. "Sister Rouchun, after you married your husband back home, have you consummated your marriage?"

Yang Fanglan asked, while having a maid bring tea and snacks, as she watched An Rouchun curiously looking around the bridal chamber. “No,

because Jinghuai rushed back to see his sister.” An Rouchun heard Yang Fanglan’s question, so she went back to the table and sat down, replying

with a smile , “Jinghuai said he was afraid you would be lonely and overthink things.” She knew that Feng Jinghuai doted on his wife. Her father

had once said that, apart from Feng Jinghuai, probably no other man in the world was as devoted as him,

able to love only one woman and remain loyal for so many years. Even though Yang Fanglan had not given birth to any children, Feng Jinghuai

did not care at all. In An Rouchun’s opinion, this was a good thing, because being able to love his wife well meant that

Feng Jinghuai was truly a good man. “She really didn’t understand why her mother was worried about this.” This… her husband

really was something, wouldn’t this make her sister feel wronged? Yang Fanglan just frowned slightly. “Wronged?” An Rouchun

asked, puzzled, “Wronged about what?” “You’ve already married him, but your husband hasn’t consummated the marriage with you…” Yang Fanglan said

A blush crept onto her cheeks. "Good sister, you don't know what consummating the marriage means, do you?" She noticed that An Rouchun seemed unconcerned

, and when she brought up the matter, she didn't shy away from it at all, as if she knew nothing about matters between men and women. "I know,

it's the first night after marriage, when husband and wife share a bed, right?" An Rouchun nodded. Her mother had already briefly

mentioned this to her. "Since you know, sister... don't you care at all?" Yang Fanglan asked softly, her face

flushed . "If Jinghuai is too busy, it's understandable that he can't share a bed." An Rouchun didn't understand; it was just

a man and woman sleeping together, why should she care? "It's rare to see such consideration from you, sister." Yang Fanglan showed a relieved

expression. She touched An Rouchun's hand with a hint of guilt and said softly, "But no matter what, since we're

husband and wife , and you call me sister, I should take good care of you." "I will take good care of you, sister.

Jinghuai said he worries about you every time he goes on a long trip." An Rouchun replied with a smile. "Thank you. To express my gratitude,

I'll give you a small gift." Yang Fanglan waved her hand, called over her maid Xiaoling, and whispered a few

instructions . "A small gift?" An Rouchun watched Xiaoling walk out of the room with curiosity, and replied with a smile, "Sister is just

as Jinghuai said, so kind and polite." "Husband, you really are something, why do you always praise me in front of you?"

Yang Fanglan covered her mouth and chuckled shyly. "Sister is really kind to me, isn't it good to praise you?" An Rouchun

countered.

"Husband, praising me like this makes me embarrassed." Yang Fanglan shook her head, revealing a blush on her face.

"I don't understand... Being praised means Jinghuai likes sister, doesn't it?" An Rouchun blinked, completely

unaware of what Yang Fanglan was thinking. "You'll understand when you're older." Yang Fanglan just

smiled.

Seeing Xiaoling enter the room, she quickly greeted her and had her place the brocade box on the table.

"What's this?" An Rouchun looked at the exquisite brocade box, temporarily putting aside her previous question. "A gift

for meeting you ," Yang Fanglan smiled mysteriously. "Later I'll persuade my husband to consummate our marriage with you soon.

As for this gift... you can open it after dinner." "Wait until dinner, can't I open it now?" An Rouchun looked left and

right, unable to guess what was inside. "Later. We might have to entertain your husband's

guests later, so please look at it later, okay?" Yang Fanglan patiently reassured her. "Okay." An Rouchun thought this

made sense and readily agreed.

Seeing that An Rouchun had agreed, Yang Fanglan had Xiao Qian carry the brocade box to the bedside table and continued chatting and laughing with An Rouchun

. It wasn't until a maid came from outside the room to call them that it was time for dinner that An Rouchun left with

Yang ... "So you're the little girl who broke the hearts of so many young ladies?" A straightforward and cheerful voice

came from a young man sitting at the table.

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