Chapter 7

"Master Feng, from now on, you will be the tutor of the Lu family. Miss Lu will come to listen to your lectures every other day for an hour. As for the rules of the manor, you will understand them in due time. I hope you will conduct yourself well."

The chief steward was named Lu Fu, and he was earnestly making arrangements for Hao Fenglou.

"Also, your residence will be in the eastern wing of the outer manor. I have already had it prepared for you. However, you must remember that you cannot enter the inner courtyard without permission. The Lu family has strict rules, and if you violate them, both the master and the lady will punish you severely. Of course, as a tutor, you are different from us servants, so you are free to move around the outer manor. If you need anything, just let Mr. Wu, the accountant, know. He lives next to you, and I'm sure he will take care of you."

Hao Fenglou said, "I have a maid who usually takes care of my daily life. Can she move in as well?"

Lu Fu hesitated for a moment and said, "Alright, but I don't know where she is. The manor will send someone to fetch your belongings, and they can bring her along at the same time."

Hao Fenglou nodded and said, "Thank you."

Lu Fu seemed eager to report back to the lady, so he chatted with Hao Fenglou for a few moments, probing to see if there were any issues. Finding none, he hurried off.

Hao Fenglou's living quarters were quite decent, befitting a tutor. He was given a two-room suite, with an outer room that could serve as a small hall and an inner room for sleeping. The Lu family had also considered the furnishings, providing some calligraphy and paintings, as well as all the necessary writing materials.

Hao Fenglou was satisfied with the arrangement. The food and lodging were free, and the teaching duties were light—just one hour every other day, a relaxed and comfortable life.

Hao Fenglou spent about half an hour in the house when Xiangxiang arrived with a bundle on her back. Although they had only been apart for a few hours, Xiangxiang rushed to Hao Fenglou, tears in her eyes, and said, "I was so scared! I thought you had abandoned me, Master. Master, you really became a tutor?"

Hao Fenglou modestly replied, "I don't deserve such praise. I am too outstanding, and the Lu family has high hopes for me. I couldn't refuse their generous offer... By the way, I have to teach Miss Lu tomorrow, but I don't have any books. What should I do?"

The Lu family likely assumed Hao Fenglou was a scholar and would bring his own books, so they hadn't prepared any for him.

But now, Hao Fenglou tragically realized he couldn't find any books to prepare his lessons. What would he teach tomorrow?

At the mention of books, Xiangxiang's eyes lit up, and she quickly said, "I have some, I have some. When the lady instructed me to follow Master, I brought some books. I found them under Master's pillow, hoping Master would reform and read more. I never thought they would come in handy now."

There really were some...

Hao Fenglou had to look at Xiangxiang with new respect. She was so thoughtful, a model maid, bringing money, warmth, and even books.

Xiangxiang untied the bundle and indeed found a few books. As a young maid, she treated the books with great reverence and said, "Master, read quickly, read quickly."

Hao Fenglou took the books and, seeing Xiangxiang's earnest expression, found it amusing. In this era, only scholars read books, and scholars were revered figures. The act of reading itself symbolized elegance.

However...

The first book was "The Scholar's Elegance."

The second book was "A Multitude of Lovely Wives."

The third book was "The Secret History of Martial Maidens."

Hao Fenglou was shocked.

These were the books that scoundrel read... He flipped open "The Scholar's Elegance" and saw indecent text: "This scholar greatly enjoys daytime activities, watching the beauty to enhance his lust, and nighttime activities..."

Damn! Truly the treasures of a wastrel.

He flipped through "A Multitude of Lovely Wives" and "The Secret History of Martial Maidens," which were also erotic tales. They must have been collected by the previous Hao Fenglou and kept by his pillow. Xiangxiang, being illiterate, considered any book sacred and had brought them along, carefully storing them.

Hao Fenglou felt he was truly in a bind. Using these books to prepare lessons would not only make it hard to sleep but also cause his blood to boil. Would he burst from excitement?

Hao Fenglou put the books down and said, "Hmm, they are all good books, but there's no rush. I'll take a nap first and read them later."

Xiangxiang thought Master was being lazy and immediately said, "It's still early, Master is clearly being lazy." Her eyes welled up with tears, and she continued, "The lady instructed me to ensure that..."

Hao Fenglou's face turned red. Seeing Xiangxiang about to cry, he softened and said, "Alright, alright, alright, I'll read."

Hao Fenglou sat in the small hall, straightened his clothes, and picked up "A Multitude of Lovely Wives." The content was indecent, and Hao Fenglou thought, "Would prolonged exposure turn a gentleman into a beast?"

Xiangxiang was delighted, flitting around like a butterfly between the inner room and the hall, sometimes tidying up and sometimes sneaking out to check if Master was being lazy. Seeing Master become a tutor and start reading made her happy, but she dared not make a sound, fearing she would disturb Hao Fenglou, so she moved quietly.

The night was truly unbearable. Hao Fenglou several times wanted to put the books down, but seeing Xiangxiang's joy, he couldn't bear to. He read until he didn't know when, then looked up and found the house quiet. He put the book down and quietly lifted the curtain to the inner room, only to see Xiangxiang asleep on the table, snoring softly.

"This girl..." Hao Fenglou shook his head. After reading so much, his mind was restless, so he decided to go out for a walk and cool off in the cold night air.

The moon was bright, the silver disk like a glowing gem, casting a soft light on the courtyard. The tree shadows swayed, and the gaps revealed patches of moonlight. The gentle cold breeze calmed Hao Fenglou's body.

He walked around the courtyard, hands behind his back, enjoying the scenery under the moonlight. He thought about teaching Miss Lu the next day, feeling both anxious and excited.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of metal clashing and soft panting nearby. Hao Fenglou became interested and quickened his pace.

Ahead was an open space, a sandy training ground. The Lu family, being a martial family, having a training ground in the outer manor was reasonable.

In the moonlight, a woman was wielding a sword like a whirlwind, her dress fluttering with the sword's movements, like a dance. However, the flying sword was not as graceful as a dance; its sharp edge gleamed in the moonlight, piercing the air with lightning speed.

Hao Fenglou was stunned. He couldn't follow the speed of the sword. How fast was this woman?

This was martial arts... In this era, there were actually martial arts!

Hao Fenglou was shocked again. The figure before him, almost too fast to see, was indeed using martial arts.

The woman seemed to have noticed Hao Fenglou. Her speed suddenly slowed, her eyebrows furrowed, and she swiftly approached like a gust of wind. The tip of her sword, like a star, stopped just below Hao Fenglou's throat.

The woman's voice was cold and crisp, "Get lost!"

"Violent! Savage! But this young master specializes in dealing with all kinds of defiance and problem girls!" This thought flashed through Hao Fenglou's mind.

In the moonlight, Hao Fenglou finally saw the woman's face. Her black hair fluttered in the breeze, sometimes sticking to her fair, smooth skin, and sometimes brushing past her slightly upturned, beautiful lips. Her narrow nose, like snow on a mountain, glowed in the moonlight. Her eyes, under her willow-like eyebrows, were deep and penetrating. She held the sword firmly, the tip steady at Hao Fenglou's throat, her expression cold and deadly.

Are the beauties of the Ming Dynasty all this fierce?

However, under the threat of the sword, although Hao Fenglou was impressed by the woman's beauty and felt a chill down his back, his expression remained calm. He said with a death-defying smile, "This young master has never run away. Could you, sister, teach me how to?"

"You..." The woman's eyebrows furrowed, her expression even colder.

Hao Fenglou sighed and said, "Sister, as a lady, it's not good to be so aggressive. Could you please move your sword a bit?"

The woman pushed the sword tip forward half an inch, almost touching Hao Fenglou's skin.

This was her answer!

Hao Fenglou felt a chill but maintained a calm and composed expression.

Finally, the woman exhaled softly, clearly surprised by Hao Fenglou's boldness. She asked in a low voice, "Are you the new tutor?"

Hao Fenglou smiled and said, "Your servant greets you." (He was sarcastic in his mind.)

The woman sneered, sheathed her sword, and said coldly, "The Lu family is not as simple as you think. As a mere scholar, it's best you don't get involved in this mess."

With that, she gave Hao Fenglou a cold smile and gracefully left.

"Not simple? This young master's穿越 (穿越 means '穿越' in Chinese, which can be translated as 'time travel' or '穿越' in this context) is already quite complex. What could be more complex than finding a wife for this young master?" Hao Fenglou yawned, not taking it seriously.

On the other side, the woman returned to her room. A young maid came forward to wipe the sweat from her forehead with warm water. The woman said coolly, "The new tutor in the manor is a bit strange. Find out as much as you can about him, but don't let it interfere with the Prince of Yan's affairs."

...

The new book has been uploaded for two days, and I have received a lot of feedback from readers. Some dear readers have asked why the protagonist in my books doesn't face setbacks. I need to emphasize that I position myself as a writer of online fantasy literature. What is fantasy literature? In simple terms, it's a novel that provides entertainment and relaxation during tense moments. I don't write about setbacks because readers who are tired and stressed are more drawn to positive and beautiful things. Understanding and catering to readers' desires is the essence of fantasy literature.

So, I strive to ensure that every reader of my books can forget the frustrations of reality and find a moment of joy and laughter in their tired moments. This is my work, and it is the direction I strive for.

Additionally, a new week has started, and it's time to push for the new book rankings. I have high hopes for my fourth book. If my books can bring you joy, please support me with your member clicks, recommendations, and favorites. I would be very grateful.