Transmigrated as a Stepmother: Time to Bring the Family to Prosper!-Chapter 422: The Gentleman Has Returned

Beauty Pan couldn’t keep Wang Mawu.

She was simply shocked, shocked that in Kaiyang County there was someone Wang Mawu was so afraid of.

Afraid enough that the money-loving, pleasure-seeking Wang Mawu abandoned both riches and women.

But Beauty Pan had over two hundred people under her command and couldn’t afford to take a break.

"Madam, should we light the lamps?" Little Ju cautiously asked from outside the house.

The sky was getting dark; unlike other places that opened at dawn and closed at dusk,

the brothel did the opposite, opening near nightfall and resting at dawn.

Lighting the lamps meant preparing to open for business.

Beauty Pan looked at the hazy twilight outside the window. Today was no different from any other day, she walked out of the room and instructed the small, hunched girl: "Light the lamps."

"Yes." The little girl quickly responded, not daring to hesitate.

Today, Madam was clearly in a bad mood. If one were to upset her further, even the leftover kitchen scraps might be off the table.

This glittering establishment, seen by outsiders as a joyful place of extravagance,

was actually a devouring monster that leaves no bones behind to those within.

...

After several days of continuous light rain, it finally stopped.

The red sun rose on the horizon, promising several days of clear skies ahead, dispelling the gloom and invigorating everyone.

However, among those invigorated did not include Liu Ji.

He had been staying up for three consecutive days and nights, and midway through, was sent by Qin Yao to clean the Lotus Courtyard. Today was the day the teacher was coming, so he had to leave the study, change into a presentable outfit, and go to Lower River Village to await the guest.

Before departing, Qin Yao glanced at him. His face was pale, lips dark, and eyes shadowy with red veins beneath.

Honestly, she was taken aback.

But he deserved it.

For how cocky he was two months ago, one could easily imagine today’s sorry state.

"Sigh~" Qin Yao sighed, stood up, and said, "I’ll accompany you."

Should he collapse on the way, she could at least drag him back for a burial.

Liu Ji couldn’t believe it, confirming she really wanted to accompany him to greet Gongliang Liao, and was so moved his eyes turned redder.

"Miss, you’re so kind," Liu Ji said, his hand over his heart, emotionally.

Qin Yao gave a dry laugh, signaled for him to follow, and the couple set off in a cart to Lower River Village.

In a previous letter, Gongliang Liao mentioned he’d come alone to stay for half a month, while Qi Xian remained with the He Family in the Prefecture.

In early April, he planned to take Liu Ji to the Prefecture to partake in the May exam this year.

He didn’t have to come but couldn’t leave Liu Ji’s studies unsupervised, hence came personally.

Gongliang Liao intended for Liu Ji to pass the Prefecture exam, and with Qi Xian, as fellow disciples, head to Yingtian Prefecture in June for the August examination.

Wouldn’t it be quite a tale if two students from the same household passed simultaneously?

Qin Yao did not know Gongliang Liao’s intentions, but if she did, she’d say, "Don’t overestimate your disciples!"

With Liu Ji’s level, she never expected him to double pass in one year.

Even Liu Li, who passed the scholar exam last year, didn’t dare register for the academy exam this year, planning to further his studies for a couple of years before attempting again.

But....

Glancing at the withered-looking, red-eyed but fully confident person, Qin Yao suddenly felt Liu Ji might not be suited for the usual path.

Noticing Qin Yao’s gaze, Liu Ji, lying on the cart to recuperate, turned over, faced her, and tentatively asked, "Miss, what are you looking at?"

While asking, he scrutinized her face, not wanting to miss any expression.

His hand instinctively touched his face; did she find him less handsome today?

Qin Yao flashed him a grin, "Seeing how resilient you are."

Three all-nighters and still going; he might just survive long in an apocalyptic world.

Liu Ji didn’t understand what she meant but sensed praise.

He relaxed and continued lying there.

Suddenly recalling something, Liu Ji pulled out a small copper mirror he’d bought secretly with his stash from his sleeve. Palm-sized, convenient to carry daily for admiring his striking looks.

In the morning rush, he’d forgotten to look. Now that the sun was up, the light was perfect.

Liu Ji eagerly raised his small mirror... "Ah!" and sharply inhaled with fright at the pale face in it. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

In disbelief, he squinted and glanced again at the reflection, held his breath, and quickly hid the copper mirror, mentally convincing himself: That ghostly face isn’t me, Liu Ji! Absolutely not!

Observing the scene, Qin Yao twitched her eyes, looking up at the sky, both bright yet somber.

Ah Qing gave a loud "Moo——", reminding its master to watch the road, almost stepping into a ditch!

The melancholy yet bright Qin Yao snapped back, firmly pulled the left reins, narrowly preventing the ox from crashing into the mountainside.

Both quiet for a few seconds before the cart.

"Miss Qin!"

An excited call from ahead broke the awkwardness on the ox cart.

Assistant under Shi Tou, Ah Gu was leading a convoy carrying Gongliang Liao from the front.

Qin Yao beamed and waved in response.

Liu Ji quickly scrambled from the cart, shouting, "Teacher! I’ve missed you!"

The straightforward confession made Gongliang Liao’s mustache twitch in amusement in the carriage.

The guards escorting him were arranged by the He Family, unfamiliar faces except for guards Ah Gu, the maid, and the attendant student.

Qin Yao halted the ox cart, and turning her head, saw Liu Ji already at Gongliang Liao’s carriage.

Ah Gu dismounted, greeted Qin Yao, and introduced the accompanying He Family house servants.

Six house servants came, along with Ah Gu and two Qi Family guards, a maid, and an attendant student, totaling twelve including Gongliang Liao.

Compared to last time, this was a lighter journey.

"The courtyard is already cleaned, essential supplies like grain, oil are ready. But given the long journey, let’s first rest at my place until Ah Gu arranges the Lotus Courtyard," Qin Yao suggested.

Liu Ji opened the carriage door, Gongliang Liao nodded gently to Qin Yao, "Whatever you decide."

Ah Gu and others responded promptly.

Qin Yao bowed to the old teacher, seeing Liu Ji wasn’t returning to their cart, she drove solo, leading Ah Gu and companions to Liu Family Village.

Gongliang Liao, with both himself and wheelchair, was settled in Qin Yao’s home, while Ah Gu took the others to prepare the Lotus Courtyard.

Anyway, with Liu Ji there, the teacher wouldn’t need anyone else but him to serve.

Gongliang Liao, pushed by Liu Ji, came to the backyard training ground, basking in the sun with his student.

Looking at the neatly arranged vegetable patch tended by Ah Wang, Gongliang Liao exhaled deeply, "I feel free here."

If not for the upcoming supervision of the student’s exams, he’d wish to stay permanently.