Finest Servant

Chapter 428 Hard to Guard Against

Lin Wanrong heard and broke into a sweat; his original intention was to flirt with girls, but somehow, he ended up being flirted with. It seemed that next time he faced such a task, he would have to be mentally prepared for this possibility.

"This, Jang Geum Dongsaeng," he shook his head and sighed, modestly saying, "let's not proceed, you know, I am already married. With my honest and upright nature, it's challenging for me to be unfaithful; engaging in an affair a few times has already reached the limit."

Seo Jang Geum embraced him, her cheek against his chest, gently shaking her head: "My Lord, please say no more; I understand everything. You, for your wife's sake, would offend the world. Your true feelings are evident, and Jang Geum wouldn't dare harbor any wild thoughts. I only hope you can hold me, give me some courage, so I can speak my mind, Jang Geum doesn't want to live with lifelong regret."

This request was truly hard to refuse; Lin Wanrong was pleased inside, holding her in his arms, slowly caressing her smooth, jade-like skin, feeling a tingling sensation inside, and sighing, "Alas, Jang Geum Dongsaeng values me so much, I am indeed fortunate. At this moment of parting, my heart aches, and I truly wish to cry out to the heavens."

Taking advantage of Seo Jang Geum's distraction, he covertly pinched his nose, blinked hard, and forced out some tears, sighing deeply, "Returning the precious pearl, with twin tears falling, lamenting we didn't meet before marriage. Jang Geum Dongsaeng, I only regret that we met too late, missing the opportunity. The greatest regret in life is no greater than this; how can we make up for it?"

Seeing Lin Wanrong's eyes slightly red and misty, Seo Jang Geum's heart was torn between joy and sorrow, and tears rolled down her cheeks. Shaking her head forcefully, she said, "My Lord, with these words from you, Jang Geum would have no regrets, even in death."

"Ah, living takes even greater courage than dying," Lord Lin's face was full of melancholy, "So, don't speak so lightly of life and death. At this moment of parting, I have much to tell you. How about this, we find an inn, rent a room, and sit down together for tea, chatting, and heart-to-heart talk. Don't worry, I'm a very upright person; I won't do anything outrageous."

Seo Jang Geum's face turned slightly red, and she held him tightly without saying a word.

‘You're not speaking, so I'll take it as agreement,’ Lin Wanrong thought, chuckling. His big hand gently caressed her smooth back; the young palace maid's skin was warm and smooth like jade, feeling like a piece of fine silk, just incredible.

"My Lord!" His big hand slid inside her robe, moving slowly towards her chest. Seo Jang Geum's face turned crimson, and she quickly raised her head from his embrace, shyly glancing at him, "You cannot do this, Jang Geum is not a casual person."

"I understand, I understand, I'm not very casual either," Lin Wanrong laughed, "Actually, I just wanted to verify a question about the reaction speed of the human hand and brain. After careful exploration, I've proven a truth — sometimes, the human hand is not controlled by the brain."

Seo Jang Geum gave a sound of acknowledgment, her face flushing, "Speaking my mind has made me feel much lighter. My Lord, thank you for your generosity, and sorry for the trouble."

Dealing with the Goryeo girl was truly troublesome; constantly apologizing and expressing trouble. Lin Wanrong felt an itch in his heart but generously laughed, saying, "It's alright, it's alright. I'm not afraid of trouble. Miss Seo, are you really going to return to Goryeo?"

The young palace maid shed tears like rain, "Yes, sir, Jang Geum will soon be returning to Goryeo. I fear that there will be no chance to see you again."

Lin Wanrong simply replied, sighing, "If you must go, then go. It's far better than staying here like a rootless duckweed. Jang Geum Dongsaeng, you've been sincere with me, but I must remind you of something. There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Although Zhao Kangning is of high status, with his ability, he cannot change Goryeo's fate. If you place your bets on him, you may end up greatly mistaken."

Tears floated in Seo Jang Geum's eyes as she softly said, "Wanrong Oppa, thank you. Jang Geum knows the character of Prince Cheng and his son; I will never let them take advantage." She glanced at Lin Wanrong and suddenly sighed softly, "Wanrong Oppa, did you come out to pick flowers today?"

Before Lin Wanrong could speak, she shook her head, a firm look appearing on her face, "Actually, the moment you appeared beside me, I knew why you came."

Seo Jang Geum's gaze became distant as she softly continued, "Between you and Prince Cheng, Jang Geum truly doesn't know how to choose. Although I know Prince Cheng is deceitful, I'd rather face Zhao Kangning than come to you, sir. Because, whenever I see you, all words fail me. In your presence, Jang Geum loses herself. As a daughter of Goryeo, this is a betrayal of the Goryeo people."

She choked softly, tears slowly falling from her beautiful face, lingering on her cheeks for a long time before silently dropping, looking so desolate in the slightly cold spring wind.

‘Ah, being an outstanding man brings many troubles indeed.’ Lin Wanrong dryly grinned, hiding his embarrassment, "Jang Geum, making the right choice at the right time, that's a true wise person. I believe the Goryeo people will eventually understand your hardship."

"Sir, are you free tonight?" Seo Jang Geum wiped her tears, sighed, and her expression turned strong, "I would like to discuss our King's thoughts with you."

Lin Wanrong hurriedly replied, "I'm free, I'm free. Miss Seo, you don't need me to explain the situation in Goryeo; delaying even a moment is dangerous. Can you really make this decision?"

The young palace maid nodded slightly, as if transformed, gentle yet firm, "Please rest assured, sir, the King has authorized me. Just ask your Emperor to obtain the edict. If tonight's discussion goes well, the two countries can directly conclude a treaty."

So it was, Lin Wanrong rejoiced, patting his chest loudly, "Jang Geum Dongsaeng, rest assured, the Emperor has already authorized me to negotiate with Goryeo. Where shall we meet tonight?"

"Sir, do you remember the tavern from a few days ago?" Seo Jang Geum's tone was melancholic, "I'll wait for you in that room tonight. Be there, Wanrong Oppa. Jang Geum takes her leave!" With those words, she gave Lin Wanrong a deep look, turned, and quickly left, disappearing from sight in a blink of an eye.

Seo Jang Geum's expression seemed somewhat unusual, but Lin Wanrong didn't have the luxury to pay too much attention to that. As long as she didn't go to Zhao Kangning, everything would be fine. The Emperor's authorized edict had long been concealed within his clothing; now he was simply waiting to hear what conditions Seo Jang Geum would propose that night.

The day had passed and it was already afternoon. Feeling too lazy to go home, Lin Wanrong decided to wander outside the city and enjoy the beautiful mountains and waters. He picked some wildflowers and weeds, and for a time, his mood was quite pleasant. He didn't return to the city until dusk. As he entered the city gate, he heard the chaotic clattering of hooves behind him, and dozens of fast horses galloped past. The cavalries on horseback brandished their whips and yelled, "Make way, make way, all of you move aside quickly."

‘Who's this? They're even more arrogant than I am!’ he thought, barely stepping aside in time. Several fast horses whipped up a whirlwind as they flew past, splattering him with mud and water.

‘My battle robe! This is the result of several days' hard work by Qiaoqiao!’ Lin Wanrong's heart ached. He was about to curse angrily when he felt a light tug on his sleeve. Someone had grabbed his battle robe.

"Who dares—" he growled, turning his head, but his expression changed instantly and he smiled obsequiously. "I was wondering who would dare to challenge me; turns out it's my wives arriving. Qingxuan, Qiaoqiao, Ning'er, how come you're here?"

Xiao Qingxuan was dressed in a light yellow skirt, overlaid with a white jacket. Her beauty was ethereal and elegant, smiling softly at him. Qiaoqiao was charming and pretty, leaning against Miss Xiao, and Luo Ning, wearing a pink jacket, was voluptuously graceful, looking at him with a flirtatious smile. These three women, whether charming, delicate, or vivacious, all possessed heavenly beauty. Standing side by side, they were like three blooming lotus flowers, dazzling and captivating.

Qiaoqiao giggled, covering her mouth: "Big Brother, what are you doing? Staring at us like this every day, haven't you seen enough?"

"Big Brother is looking at Sister, not us, Qiaoqiao. Don't get it wrong," Luo Ning winked and smiled mischievously.

"You two, always so frivolous!" Xiao Qingxuan blushed, her face turning red, and she glanced reproachfully at her husband before shyly lowering her head.

Lin Wanrong turned around, grabbing Miss Xiao, and laughed heartily: "Qingxuan, what are you doing here? Thankfully you stopped me, or those wild horsemen would have been in serious trouble."

"Why act so rashly?" Xiao Qingxuan smiled at him and gently took his hand, saying softly, "Those are people from Prince Cheng's mansion. I don't know what urgent matter they are attending to. Why would you bother with them?"

"No wonder they were more arrogant than me; they were Zhao Kangning's men," Lin Wanrong chuckled. In the capital, whether it was a duke or a minor prince, they all had to dismount and respectfully call him "Brother San." His triumph was evident in his sinister smile, which caused Luo Ning to twist his arm: "Big Brother, why are you grinning so wickedly? Have you set your eyes on some young lady again?"

"Of course not," Lin Wanrong laughed, "I'm not that kind of person. I wouldn't normally fancy any young lady. Ning'er, why did you all come out?"

Luo Ning replied seriously: "You left home in the morning and didn't return by noon. Sister was worried, so she wanted to come out and look for you. Qiaoqiao and I were concerned about Sister, so we all came out together and also went shopping!"

Lin Wanrong listened, breaking into a sweat. "If you want to go shopping, just say so. Why make up so many reasons? Qingxuan, you're in a delicate condition now. How can you run around? I'm a full-grown man, what could possibly go wrong if I walk around on my own? Could I possibly get lost?" His heart ached, and he casually placed his hand on Miss Xiao's belly, gently caressing it.

Seeing him act so brazenly, regardless of the situation or place, Miss Xiao's face turned red with embarrassment. Fortunately, Qiaoqiao and Ning’Er were clever, and since it was almost evening and the street was not crowded, no one could see their faces. The two girls leaned forward to hide the couple's activities. The four of them huddled together, and nobody could make out what was happening inside the circle.

"You utter rascal!" Miss Xiao scolded angrily, her face aflame. Qiaoqiao and Luo Ning also blushed, having never experienced anything so stimulating.

Lin Wanrong's expression didn't change, and he shamelessly chuckled, "Heh heh, this is a warning, telling you not to run around with my son. If you slip and fall in the mud, what then? You and our child are the most precious things to me. If even a hair were to be harmed, I wouldn't sleep for three years."

Xiao Qingxuan shot him a glance, laughing helplessly, "You always find some reason or another. Just yesterday, you said you would accompany us today. What happened? Did you run into Xu Wei, and then you disappeared?"

"I was busy! Xu Wei dragged me away, and I was gone for hours. I was so tired, dizzy and weak. Ning’Er, find a place to massage me later. I promise I won't take advantage of you," Lin Wanrong said, his eyes roving over Luo Ning's voluptuous figure, leering lasciviously. He wondered whether he should show the imperial edict to Qingxuan or not. It wouldn't make sense to show it without her catching him red-handed.

Luo Ning shook her head, giggling, "Big Brother, you can't fool us. This morning we visited Xu Mansion, and Master Xu was at home. He said you left after discussing politics with the Emperor. We don't know where you went."

Lin Wanrong gritted his teeth, cursing Xu Wei's lack of loyalty. He had promised to vouch for him but instead exposed him.

"Ah, ha ha, actually, this is what happened. Today, after discussing politics with the Emperor, he gave me a secret decree to handle an urgent matter. This affair concerns our great nation's honor for a century. Being a citizen of honor, and the princess's husband, I naturally had to handle it perfectly to report back to the Emperor." His words were a mix of truth and fabrication, grandiose but vague. Miss Luo was already suspicious of him and wrinkled her nose, asking Xiao Qingxuan, "Sister, do you believe what Big Brother is saying?"

Xiao Qingxuan shook her head slightly, smiling but not quite smiling, "In theory, he's my husband, and I should believe him, but—"

Lin Wanrong was taken aback, sensing something off in Qingxuan's words. Fortunately, Qiaoqiao, who cared for Big Brother the most, whispered, "Big Brother, when we went to Xu Mansion today, a maid told us Miss Xu had gone out, and along with you disappearing so early, Sister Ning jokingly said you must have planned this, so we—"

Lin Wanrong was sweating profusely. It turned out that his eldest wife had come with his younger wives to catch him in the act. Unexpectedly, a wrong hit had turned out right. He did have a date today, but they had mistaken Miss Seo for Miss Xu. He had actually arranged to meet with Miss Seo, not Xu Zhiqing. With this reminder, Lin Wanrong suddenly remembered that Xu Zhiqing had arranged for him to visit her mansion today. However, after fondling Jang Geum Dongsaeng's chest twice, he had become so entranced that he had forgotten all about it. Shameful, truly shameful!

"Big Brother," seeing him lower his head, lost in thought, Luo Ning exclaimed with a surprised smile, "Could it be that you really are with Sister Zhiqing?"

Xiao Qingxuan glanced at him indifferently, neither speaking nor smiling. Lin Wanrong hurriedly said, "You must not misunderstand. I have no entanglement with Xu Zhiqing. I really was sent out on imperial orders today. Look at my clothes; do they look like I'm dressed for a date?"

His clothes were covered in mud and grass, and he seemed to have been fooling around somewhere. It indeed did not look like he was dressed for a date. Miss Xiao looked at him with a mixture of amusement and concern, snuggling up to him and carefully wiping his clothes clean, softly saying, "Where did you fall into a mud pit? You're a father now, yet you don't take care of yourself. How can people not worry when they see you like this?"

Qiaoqiao nodded gently, shaking her head tenderly, "Big Brother, your clothes must be uncomfortable. Let's go home quickly, and I'll wash them for you."

"Not now," Lin Wanrong shook his head, his expression resolute, "I still have a very important official matter to deal with. I can't go back yet."

Luo Ning, however, had a keen nose and sniffed him a few times, looking at him with doubt, "It smells like the fragrance of powdered water, Big Brother, you—"

"Oh, I picked some wildflowers while I was out on official business, so there's some scent of pollen. It's nothing strange, nothing strange." Lin Wanrong felt a chill in his heart, glancing at Luo Ning, only to see the fox-like girl smiling mysteriously and seductively, as if she had discovered something. This little vixen really had a way about her. He thought to himself, ‘I'll see how I deal with you tonight,’ and he couldn't help but leer at Ning'er. Luo Ning hugged her chest, softly and timidly saying, "Husband, don't torture Ning'er. I can't bear it."

Qiaoqiao covered her lips and chuckled, her eyes flushed. She had heard this secret language between husband and wife countless times from Sister Ning, and each time it had a different meaning. Lin Wanrong's heart was aflame. ‘Little vixen, if I don't make you clutch the railing and tear the sheets tonight, I'll take my son's surname.’

He rambled on for a bit, unsure if Miss Xiao believed him. Just as he was feeling uneasy, he heard Qingxuan laugh, "Don't randomly pick flowers and branches. Our garden is already full of blooming flowers and can't accommodate any more."

Lin Wanrong wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and quickly nodded in agreement. Miss Xiao took Qiaoqiao and Luo Ning's hands, softly saying, "Since we've found My Dear, and our worries are eased, let's go back quickly and not delay his work."

Qiaoqiao and Luo Ning both looked up to her and obediently agreed. "Don't delay too long. Come back early. The child and I are waiting for you." Miss Xiao glanced at her husband with a myriad of emotions, her face flushed.

"Very well, very well." Lin Wanrong's heart was filled with joy. After carefully instructing them, he watched as the three of them went farther away, gradually disappearing from sight. Only then did he relax and head straight for the Goryeo tavern where he was to meet with Seo Jang Geum.

The place wasn't far from where he was, and he saw it after just a few steps. It was the time for business, but strangely, the tavern was brightly lit, yet there wasn't a single guest inside. Two bright red lanterns were hung at the entrance, standing out in the silence, radiating a charming warmth, and giving off a peculiar ambiance.

"Why light those lanterns today? It's neither New Year's Eve nor the fifteenth of the month. It's as if they're looking for a son-in-law!" Lin Wanrong stepped into the shop, looking around, and almost bumped into someone.

"My lord, you've arrived!" A gentle voice rang out, filled with endless charm...

"Seo Jang Geum?!" From far upstairs, Qiaoqiao and Luoning exclaimed together.

Miss Xiao sat on a stool, her heart both bitter and astringent, muttering to herself, "Hard to guard against, truly hard to guard against!"

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