Chapter 32: I am no delicate queen; I have plenty of strength and means at my disposal.

"In that case, I shall not decline!"

Fan Jin flicked his sleeves slightly. "It is not for the sake of beauty, but simply because I cannot bear to see Miss Qinghe left helpless and alone."

Fan Jin had come to terms with the situation; at most, it was just one more woman to provide for. Besides, he was a traveler from another world and a legitimate scholar of the imperial examinations—surely he could afford to support a young lady from a respectable family? With his own wit and talent for writing brilliant essays, was there any reason to fear he wouldn't prosper? Even if he didn't reach the rank of marquis or prime minister, securing a high-ranking official post should be a simple matter. With charming wives and concubines, beautiful scenery, and a life of leisure—such a lifestyle would be truly comfortable and carefree!

"Haha, that is the spirit!" Magistrate Tang stroked his beard and laughed. "Do not take offense, Miss Qinghe. My student has always been honest and steady, content with a simple life. It is not that he does not appreciate your charms; he is merely a bit overly cautious."

Upon hearing this, Qinghe’s brow relaxed. She offered a graceful bow to Fan Jin and slowly retreated. Soon after, Fan Jin and his party presented their farewells and boarded their carriages to return to Nanhai County.

...

"The Master has returned?" Old Fu ordered someone to place a wooden stool by the carriage and stepped forward to assist.

Fan Jin gently pushed his hand aside. After stepping down, he reached into the carriage, and a pair of delicate, jade-like hands reached out from behind the curtain.

"Qinghe, be careful not to trip."

Fan Jin had intended to help her down, but on an impulse, he braced himself and swept her up into his arms, causing her to gasp in surprise.

"Take good care of my father-in-law!"

With that, Fan Jin did not put Qinghe down. The beauty buried her face against his chest, her expression flushed with shyness. Old Fu was stunned for a moment, then quickly shouted his acknowledgment.

When Old Hu pulled back the curtain, he revealed a pale, round face bruised and battered. As he stepped out, he was unsteady on his feet and swayed. Just as Old Fu reached out to help him, Old Hu suddenly spun around and vomited onto the ground—a mess of green and red.

After a long moment, he cursed, "Damn it! This carriage nearly shook my heart, liver, spleen, and lungs out. I truly have no fate to enjoy such luxury."

...

"Let me handle this."

Monk Hui jumped down from the carriage shaft. Seeing how much Old Fu was struggling to support the burly Butcher Hu, he immediately stepped forward to take over. Old Fu did not decline; given Butcher Hu’s immense weight, he was indeed too old to manage such a task.

Just as they returned to the manor, a young maid trotted out to meet them, looking timid. "Master, the Mistress asks that you first rest in the front courtyard..."

"The front courtyard?" Fan Jin frowned. "What has happened in the rear courtyard?"

He had a premonition that while he was away, the household had not been at peace. The cause was likely those seven or eight concubines causing trouble, leading to a conflict with Hu Yingying, the legitimate wife. Three women make a play; with so many concubines, it would be a miracle if there were peace.

"Go to the kitchen and have them boil some water. Miss Qinghe will need to wash up; she will be living in the manor from now on," Fan Jin instructed. "As for her quarters, go report to the Old Mistress and let her make the arrangements."

The maid nodded vigorously and scurried off. Before long, she returned, clutching two bolts of fine fabric. "M-Master, the Old Mistress says... since Miss Qinghe has moved into the manor, she is one of us. These two bolts of silk were a gift from the Magistrate’s wife the other day. They are of excellent quality and vibrant color, meant for Miss Qinghe to have some clothes made..."

The maid looked around and placed the silk on the pear-wood table beside the ornate screen, panting for breath. Fan Jin took a look and touched the material, confirming it was indeed top-tier.

"Since it is a gift from my mother, you may accept it," Fan Jin said, patting Qinghe’s shoulder. "Rest well today. Tomorrow, I will take you to offer tea and pay your respects to my mother."

After giving a few more instructions, he turned to the maid. "From now on, you shall serve Mistress Qinghe."

With that, Fan Jin lifted the curtain and walked straight toward the rear courtyard. He had decided to take Qinghe as a secondary wife and give her a formal status, ensuring her security so the servants would not look down on her or act out of line. Along the way, the servants and errand boys bowed to him, but Fan Jin did not slow his pace, for even from a distance, he could hear the commotion in the rear courtyard clearly.

Perhaps it was the great benefit the influx of destiny had brought to his body, or perhaps the roar of the "shrew" in the rear courtyard was simply terrifying enough.

"Could something have happened?"

Fan Jin quickened his pace, passing through the long corridors and along the path by the pavilion in the center of the lake. At the corner of the garden, he finally saw the "crime scene."

The atmosphere in the courtyard was chilly. Hu Yingying, dressed in finery and adorned with pearl hairpins, stood with her hands on her hips beside a stone table, holding a handkerchief and lecturing the few young women who had recently been brought into the manor. Before her, the beautiful women dared not even breathe, listening obediently to the reprimand.

"Unruly things! You don't know your place, and you want to ride over my head?" Hu Yingying sneered. "I have shared life and death with the Master from the very beginning. Let alone the fact that you haven't borne a son or daughter for the Fan family, even if you do, they will have to be registered under my name and raised by me. I am the only legitimate mistress here."

"Yes, yes..." one concubine smiled weakly, trying to be clever.

Unexpectedly, Hu Yingying gave her a sharp look. "Don't play dumb with me. I know exactly what kind of schemes you have in mind."

After lecturing for a long time, Hu Yingying felt her throat dry. The maid beside her deftly served a cup of hot tea. Hu Yingying took a sip, spat the red date back into the cup, and waved her hand impatiently for it to be taken away.

"I warn you, I am not some delicate queen from *Journey to the West*. If anyone wants to challenge my authority as the lady of this house, I have plenty of strength and means to deal with you!"

With that, she brought her hand down heavily on the stone table.

Feeling that it had gone on long enough, Fan Jin coughed lightly and walked over quickly. "Who has displeased the Mistress?"

Hu Yingying’s stern expression froze. Fearing that her husband would think her lacking in grace, she forced a smile onto her stiff face. "The Master has returned."

The concubines felt a surge of joy at the familiar voice, followed immediately by a sense of trepidation. Fan Jin ignored them and waved his hand impatiently. "All of you, leave."

Once they were alone, he said to Hu Yingying, "They are all daughters of ordinary families and do not know the rules of a great household. It was wrong of them to offend you. Perhaps tomorrow, you should hire a few experienced housekeepers to teach them the rules and properly train them..."