Chapter 5

When Qin Feng slowed his steps at the door, he saw a young girl approaching like a butterfly. Her cheeks were as white as jade, her small nose was delicate and straight, her red lips were bright and lustrous, and her white teeth shone like pearls. Her long black hair, not tied up, fell to her waist, smooth and glossy. She wore a pure white dress, beautiful as if she had stepped out of a painting.

"Ah!" The girl who arrived was Cai Yan. Not expecting anyone to be at the door, she almost bumped into Qin Feng. Her face turned red as she quickly steadied herself, her long eyelashes fluttering as she looked at Qin Feng with a shy and innocent gaze. "Wow, this person is really handsome."

Goddess, my goodness, this is a real goddess. Those online are all rubbish. Qin Feng was amazed. Seeing an ancient beauty for the first time, he was momentarily entranced.

Seeing him staring at her without blinking, Cai Yan's heart raced, pounding wildly. She lowered her head in shyness, covering her mouth with a light laugh and ran into the room.

A pretty maid followed in, and upon seeing Qin Feng's attire, she scolded, "What are you looking at? If you keep staring, I'll gouge out your eyes."

"Having eyes is for looking, and I'm not looking at you. What's it got to do with you?" Qin Feng retorted.

"You, you are so rude," the maid said angrily.

Qin Feng, who often bantered with drama school girls in modern times, was not upset. He smiled and countered, "Would you not be rude if you were going to gouge out my eyes? You're just brutal, and you're a girl."

"You, you..." The maid couldn't find words to retort and her face turned pale with anger.

"Lan'er, don't be impolite," Cai Yan said shyly from inside.

"Hmph! Miss is kind. If it weren't for Miss, I would definitely deal with you!" The maid Lan'er walked in, and as she approached Qin Feng, she suddenly stomped her foot.

Puff...

Fortunately, Qin Feng was quick to dodge, breaking out in a cold sweat. He thought this girl was really wild.

"I'm also here for Miss's sake..." Qin Feng, who didn't like to lose, had to walk out, often looking back, hoping to catch another glimpse of the beauty.

"Cough, cough..." The steward Cai Lin coughed lightly and said, "Zijin, the one you just saw is the only beloved daughter of the master, Miss Cai Yan, whose courtesy name is Wenji. In the future, be more careful with your words and actions."

Only first-class stewards could enter the inner quarters, and Qin Feng didn't expect to get the position so quickly. In his view, he would not only need to be cautious with Cai Yan but also pay extra attention. He planned to visit the inner quarters the next day.

However, he couldn't say this outright, so he politely replied, "Yes! In the future, I will seek your guidance in everything, please give me more advice."

A teachable young man, seeing Qin Feng willing to seek his guidance, Cai Lin felt more favorably towards him and said, "In the future, you don't need to seek advice for everything. You can make decisions on some matters yourself, but remember not to overdo it."

"Not to overdo it, oh, you're reminding me not to be greedy!" Qin Feng, coming from modern times, couldn't miss the naive riddle. He said, "Zijin understands the importance of balance."

"Balance, a good word." Cai Lin truly looked at Qin Feng with new eyes. This person was not just an ordinary scholar but likely from a fallen noble family. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but sigh. The Cai family had only one daughter in this generation, and if they couldn't find a good son-in-law, they would also decline.

In just one day, Qin Feng was promoted to a first-class steward, and the news spread like wildfire among the servants of the Cai household. Envy and resentment filled the air, and it took several days for things to calm down.

The next day, as soon as it was light, Qin Feng woke up in his own steward's room and changed into a silk robe for a first-class steward. "Silk is indeed much softer and more comfortable than rough hemp." It was the first time Qin Feng had worn such fabric, but no matter how fine the fabric, it couldn't match the smoothness of a beauty's skin.

He carefully wrapped and stored his modern jeans and T-shirt, tidied himself up in front of the bronze mirror, and walked out.

"Good morning, Steward Qin!"

"Good morning, Steward Qin!" The servants, who were working and cleaning, all bowed to Qin Feng.

"Good morning, Steward Qin!" The maids curtsied, blushing as they saw Qin Feng in his new, crisp steward's uniform, which made him look more handsome and elegant than any other steward. They shyly ran away.

Why are these girls blushing! Qin Feng touched his chin and walked towards the inner quarters.

"Hey, Steward Qin isn't going to the accounting office, why is he heading to the inner quarters?"

"Maybe he's going to see the master." The servants were all watching Qin Feng's movements, and no one would have thought that the new steward would not first attend to the accounting office but would head straight to the master's beloved daughter.

At the entrance to the inner quarters.

"Stop!" It was the same tall guard from before.

"Ah! It's Steward Qin!" The short guard, who was well-informed, quickly bowed and secretly signaled his companion.

"Steward... Steward Qin!" The tall guard noticed Qin Feng's steward's uniform and was startled. My goodness, this person has been promoted so quickly. My family has served the Cai household for three generations, and none of us have become stewards, let alone first-class stewards. He hurriedly bowed.

Qin Feng smiled slightly and said, "Can I go in this time?"

"Steward Qin, we were disrespectful yesterday. Please, please go in!" The two guards quickly stepped aside, feeling embarrassed as they remembered the previous day.

"No problem, no problem. The inner quarters are for the family, and they must be strictly guarded to prevent any riffraff from entering." Qin Feng said and slipped in. Hehe, inner quarters, here I come!

Steward Qin is indeed a capable and ambitious person, thinking of the Cai household. The two guards were delighted by Qin Feng's praise and guarded the entrance even more diligently, determined not to let any "unrelated people" sneak in.

The inner quarters were where the family lived, and ordinary people couldn't enter. However, Qin Feng did, so the Cai household's inner quarters were destined to see some events.

"Good morning, Steward Qin!" The maids in the inner quarters were of higher quality than those in the outer quarters, but they still blushed and curtsied when they saw the young and newly promoted steward.

"Good morning, good morning!" Gentlemen's manners were the best way to gain trust. Qin Feng, with his drama school background, maintained a dignified and upright demeanor, making it easy for him to respond while discreetly looking around.

He couldn't reveal his true purpose, and though he didn't know the exact location, his status as a steward meant no one dared to question him. He smoothly searched his way in.

The inner quarters of a wealthy family were indeed impressive, with pavilions, terraces, flower beds, and water pavilions. It was early summer in April, and the plants were lush and fragrant. Qin Feng realized the air was particularly fresh, something he couldn't even experience in the mountains in modern times.

(Simple ancient months: 1-3 are spring, 4-6 are summer, 10-12 are winter.)

Qin Feng was momentarily immersed in the bird songs, flower fragrances, and fresh air, wandering through the classical garden, feeling a myriad of emotions, gradually losing himself in the beauty.

"Ha ha..." The maids around him didn't dare to disturb him and hid to watch.

"Steward Qin is so handsome, surpassing all other stewards."

"You little girl, are you smitten?"

"So what if I am? Steward Qin is talented, becoming a first-class steward in just one day. His future is boundless. Aren't you smitten?"

"..."

As maids in a wealthy household, the best outcome was to find a good man. Clearly, the single Qin Feng was an excellent choice.

"Go, do your own work." An older female steward scolded.

"Yes!" The maids curtsied and giggled, dispersing.

Qin Feng didn't notice any of this. He was lost in thought. The late Eastern Han dynasty was a time of great turmoil, a time when heroes emerged. With knowledge nearly two thousand years ahead of his time, "I must at least make a name for myself." Thinking this, he subconsciously plucked a beautiful flower, held it in his palm, and let the petals fall when he opened his hand.

Dong dong... Ding ding...

A gentle and melodious zither tune drifted through the air, giving a sense of grace and freshness.

Hey! Someone is playing the zither! Qin Feng, remembering his purpose for entering the inner quarters, thought, "Hehe, it's probably Cai Wenji." He smiled enticingly, his lips curling, and followed the sound.