Ah Jiu returned home, his face clouded with unease. Xiao Li, Yuan Ye, and others exchanged puzzled looks. Everything had been fine at Wufu’s home, hadn’t it? They had all seemed to be enjoying themselves, so why had dark clouds gathered upon his return?
If you were to ask Ah Jiu, even he couldn’t say for certain. He just felt a sense of constriction in his heart, especially when the topic of making a living came up. Why on earth had he come up with such a proposal?
It was just too embarrassing!
And Miss Wufu had looked somewhat uneasy as well. Could it be because of his proposal that she was unhappy?
Xiao Li offered a cup of tea, asking, "My lord, have you encountered some difficulty? Perhaps your servants can think of a solution?"
Ah Jiu took the tea and sipped it, remaining silent for a long while.
"My lord, could it be because of Miss Wufu?" Xiao Li ventured again.
Ah Jiu glanced at him.
With a heh, Xiao Li laughed pleasingly, saying, "Master, please don’t blame Xiao Li for presuming to understand your thoughts. You didn’t avoid us when you spoke with Miss Wufu, so we servants heard everything."
"Speak," Ah Jiu said indifferently as he looked at the red plum on the lid of the cup.
"To put it bluntly, my lord, your expression was just not right," Xiao Li said. "You must understand that girls need to be coaxed. Your tone was both rigid and stinky. Honestly, a girl is not like us rough men; how can you treat her the same as you would your fellows?"
Yuan Ye stood to one side, his mouth twitching upon hearing Xiao Li’s words. Miss Wufu, a girl to be coaxed? In his opinion, treating her like one of the fellows was precisely the wrong approach. Anyway, one must not regard her as a delicate damsel.
"If my lord wishes to keep the young lady by your side, you should let her feel your genuine feelings, rather than carrying yourself with a philanthropic air," Xiao Li continued.
Yuan Ye’s eyes narrowed as he glanced at him. You’re asking for death with that talk, philanthropy?
"Philanthropy?" A storm gathered in Ah Jiu’s eyes as he looked at Xiao Li with a chilling stare.
Feeling his hair stand on end, Xiao Li forced a chuckle, "My lord. Xiao Li is just rambling nonsense."
Seeing he didn’t respond, Xiao Li considered for a moment before saying, "My lord, in fact, you don’t have to say anything to the young lady. Affection is something one gains by sharing experiences. As long as Miss Wufu feels your sincerity, you don’t need to say a thing; she’ll want to stay by your side willingly."
In Xiao Li’s eyes, Ah Jiu was the best, the most decisive—his master, who had both family background and status, supreme in his honor. Miss Wufu had no reason not to cling to such a golden thigh.
"She is not an ordinary woman," Ah Jiu said. "It is I who have used the wrong method."
To have Wufu willingly stay by his side, what he needed to offer was surely more than mere protection. Did that girl need his shelter?
His audacious and stubborn nature had made him underestimate her. No wonder she was caught off guard for a moment.
His tone carried a tinge of desolation and self-reproach that made one feel uncomfortable to listen to.
Yuan Ye shot a look at Xiao Li, blaming him for his reckless words, which had displeased their lord.
Noticing that Ah Jiu’s mood was growing more somber, Xiao Li quickly changed the subject, "My lord. I don’t think Miss Wufu is the type to take things lightly. Surely, she wouldn’t stay angry with you. Why not personally choose a gift, and I will deliver it to the young lady as an apology on your behalf?"
Ah Jiu paused, then said, "Let’s do as you say."
With a grin, Xiao Li withdrew, while Yuan Ye followed him and pulled him aside, asking, "What kind of bad idea are you giving now?"
"How is that? It’s rare for our master to take a lady to heart. Naturally, we should cater to his wishes," Xiao Li replied.
Yuan Ye snorted coldly, "Don’t forget our master’s status, and what is Miss Wufu’s status? What is her nature? Be careful not to lift a rock only to drop it on your own foot."
Given our master’s status, Miss Wufu would hardly qualify even as a concubine, let alone as the Main Consort. If something did happen between them, constricted by status, how would they cope?