MLMD -Chapter 308 The Gifted Watches Incident

The atmosphere grew slightly awkward. Yue Yang glanced outside at the torrential rain and the windows rattling under the downpour, suddenly unsure of what to say.

But as the host, he naturally couldn’t appear awkward for long. At the side, Mao Xiang and Fang Yizhi quickly stood up when they saw this. Mao Xiang spoke first: “The rain is heavy now, and it won’t stop for a while. It seems you and Miss Xiangjun and Miss Xiaowan are enjoying each other’s company. Why don’t you continue talking while we go back first? We’ll return tomorrow to pick you up.”

Without waiting for Yue Yang’s response, the two opened the door and left, completely disregarding the downpour outside…

“Damn… they just left like that. Are these two trying to set me up or what?” Yue Yang muttered. When he glanced at the two women beside him, Li Xiangjun’s white hair was almost falling to her chest, while Dong Xiaowan’s face was flushed red. Yue Yang immediately felt flustered.

Clearing his throat twice, he stammered: “Uh… Miss Xiangjun, Miss Xiaowan… it’s getting late, I… I should probably head back first.”

Pushing open the door, a cold gust of wind mixed with icy raindrops swept into the cabin, making Yue Yang sneeze involuntarily.

“Pffft!”

A soft giggle came from behind. It was Li Xiangjun and Dong Xiaowan, who couldn’t help covering their mouths and laughing at Yue Yang’s embarrassed state. Li Xiangjun said coquettishly, “Young Master Yue, didn’t Miss Xiaowan just say that if you like, you could stay here tonight? You’re in such a rush to leave, Miss Xiaowan would be sad.”

Dong Xiaowan immediately panicked and reached toward Li Xiangjun’s armpit, tickling her: “Ah, Xiangjun, you’re so bad! You knew I didn’t mean it earlier! And besides, this is your territory—do you think I could just take over here?”

“You clearly meant it earlier. Are you denying it now?” Li Xiangjun laughed coquettishly while dodging.

It was obvious the two were very close; this kind of playful teasing was nothing new to them. Watching the women playfully wrestle, Yue Yang felt even more awkward.

Fortunately, both were thoughtful and quickly realized Yue Yang wasn’t just an ordinary scholar—they were in the presence of a newly appointed Marquis of the Ming Dynasty. They knew their antics could easily offend him; a man with a shorter temper might have left in anger or even scolded them.

They quickly stopped their play and approached Yue Yang. Li Xiangjun showed a hint of apology on her face: “Young Master Yue, Xiangjun and Miss Xiaowan were unruly just now. Please don’t mind. It’s late now, and Xiangjun will have someone arrange a place for you to rest.”

“It’s fine,” Yue Yang waved his hand. With his cultivation, such a minor thing couldn’t bother him. Smiling, he reached into his pocket and took out two small boxes, handing them to the two women. “Miss Xiangjun, Miss Xiaowan, we’ve just met, and I have little to offer, but here are two little trinkets made by Westerners. I hope you won’t refuse them.”

“Western trinkets?” The two women opened the boxes to find square little containers made of a material that was neither wood nor metal but had a soft, beautiful sheen.

Hesitant, Li Xiangjun asked, “Young Master, may we open them?”

Yue Yang smiled and gestured politely.

When they gently opened the boxes, two soft, dazzling glimmers appeared in the candlelight. Inside were delicate, small wristwatches.

The watches were round ladies’ watches, the rims surrounded by three rows of tiny synthetic diamonds, with floral silver patterns encircling the edges and matching watch straps. In the center, a slender second hand ticked steadily. Both watches were identical in design; the only difference was that Li Xiangjun’s was emerald green, while Dong Xiaowan’s was black and white. Under the light, both shone with a mesmerizing, multicolored glow.

These were Bulgari women’s mechanical watches that Yue Yang had purchased in the modern world. Each cost around 10,000 yuan even in the present day. When he had visited the modern world previously, he bought over ten of them at once—three for his wives, the rest carried as backups for emergencies. Unexpectedly, they came in handy on his very first day in Jinling.

Seeing the gleam in the women’s eyes at the sight of the watches, Yue Yang couldn’t help recalling a line from an online novel he once read: “Dragons and women are naturally powerless against anything that glitters.” Indeed, it seemed there was truth to that.

After a while, the women finally tore their eyes away from the watches. Dong Xiaowan hesitated: “Young Master Yue, such valuable items… we can’t just accept them. Please take them back.”

“Yes, Young Master. As the saying goes, one shouldn’t accept gifts without merit. We truly cannot accept such precious items; please take them back.” After a moment’s thought, Li Xiangjun also placed her watch back into the box, intending to return it.

“Ha ha ha…”

Yue Yang laughed, lightly tickling the tip of each woman’s nose. “You two silly girls! Don’t think I hand out gifts to just anyone. Besides my three wives, this is the first time I’ve given such a thing to anyone. I’m not giving this to you because you’re famous on the Qinhuai River, nor because of your beauty, but because I respect your noble and upright character. Though your profession is… unconventional, your conduct surpasses many scholars who have studied the classics. That is why I give it to you. Understand?”

After speaking, he noticed the two women staring at him blankly. He cursed inwardly—he had forgotten he wasn’t joking with his wives, Yuling and Yulong, as he usually did. Tickling their noses was normal to him, though often protested by Yulong, but now he realized this habit might make him appear lecherous to the newly acquainted beauties.

Time ticked by in silence. Eventually, Dong Xiaowan squealed and ran out, with Li Xiangjun quickly following her.

“Damn… I’m in trouble!” Yue Yang muttered, holding up his hands that had caused the incident.

Shrugging helplessly, he glanced outside. The rain had lessened but wasn’t stopping anytime soon. He knew Chen Dazhi and the five or six guards were probably waiting on the nearby boat, but he didn’t want to sneak off quietly; that wasn’t his style.

Still, he couldn’t just sleep in the living room. Tickling their noses had hardly warranted being ignored.

Just then, his stomach growled audibly. Despite having drunk and eaten a little with Li Xiangjun and Dong Xiaowan earlier, for a man of Yue Yang’s appetite, it was barely enough.

Rubbing his hollow stomach, he grumbled, “Other people can enjoy wine, food, and girls. I didn’t even get lucky and now I’m hungry. I paid for this, at least feed me!”

Though Yue Yang was a Marquis in Shanxi, ruling over hundreds of thousands, sometimes he was simple and modest—now, all he wanted was a meal.

As he was about to open the door to find food, a young maid in teal clothing entered, bowing: “Young Master Yue, Miss Xiangjun and Miss Xiaowan invite you to dine. Please follow me.”

“Good, these girls have some conscience,” Yue Yang thought, relieved. He followed her through two rooms to a spacious area at the back of the boat, where a round table held a couple of meat dishes, vegetables, a soup, and the boxes with the watches in front of the women.

“Do they not want the gifts?” he muttered, but didn’t hesitate. Sitting down, he addressed the women apologetically: “Ah… ladies, earlier… I didn’t mean to be disrespectful…”

Dong Xiaowan quickly lifted her head: “Young Master Yue, it was unintentional. Let it go…” Her face blushed as she recalled the nose-tickling incident; despite being in the profession, she was still a refined courtesan.

“Good… I’m glad you’re not angry,” Yue Yang sighed in relief. “Now… can we eat? I’m starving!”

“Pffft!” Li Xiangjun couldn’t hold back her laugh, and even Dong Xiaowan, still shy, smiled.

“Eat then, no one’s stopping you!” Li Xiangjun said, embarrassed.

“Then I won’t be polite!” Yue Yang grabbed an empty bowl and spoon, filled it with rice, and dug in, eating with lightning speed. One bowl emptied, he immediately served himself another.

The women watched in disbelief. Most of their clients had been refined gentlemen who ate and drank only in moderation. This man, however, was devouring food like a starving ghost.

After finishing the second bowl, Yue Yang finally set down his chopsticks. Li Xiangjun asked: “Young Master Yue, are you full?”

“Yes! Jiangnan rice is the best—fragrant, sweet, soft, and glutinous. I haven’t had such good rice in a long time!”

Dong Xiaowan couldn’t help laughing: “If it weren’t for Mao Xiang and Fang Yizhi introducing you, I’d think you were a peasant. You don’t look like a noble Marquis at all!”

“Why not? A Marquis is human too!” Yue Yang replied casually. “Five years ago, I was just a common scholar. I’ve fought over a few acres of land, gone bare-chested against enemies, and battled Jiannu soldiers. Being a Marquis is just a title; I feel pain when hurt, hunger when unfed—just like anyone else. Perhaps the only thing I’m better at is eating more than most!”

Li Xiangjun and Dong Xiaowan were stunned. Such modesty and frankness from a Marquis were unheard of in this hierarchical society.

They closely observed Yue Yang, discerning that his words were sincere. Emotion swelled within them. Over the years, many flattered them, but it was all temporary. Youth fades, and once they reached twenty, many courtesans fell from fame to low-ranking brothels or worse. Now, a noble Marquis treated them with such warmth—how could they not be moved?

The simpler-minded Dong Xiaowan first let fall two tears, like scattered pearls. Li Xiangjun’s eyes reddened though she held back tears.

Yue Yang, unaware of the emotional impact of his words, stared at the two flushed women, worried he had spoken incorrectly.

After a while, Li Xiangjun composed herself, gently patting Dong Xiaowan: “Xiaowan, don’t cry like that. Don’t give Young Master Yue reason to laugh. By the way, Young Master, we’ve been looking at the items you gave us, but we don’t know what they’re for. Could you tell us?”

Watches, though introduced to Ming China by Italian missionary Matteo Ricci around 1600, had not yet become common, so it was natural the women didn’t recognize them.

“Of course,” Yue Yang nodded. “These are called watches, used to tell time. Look…”

He explained the functions and usage in detail. The women’s faces were full of shock.

“Such magical items exist!” Watches were still rare, and most had only seen large, cumbersome clocks. These delicate pieces were priceless.

“Young Master, such precious things… we can’t accept them…” Dong Xiaowan hesitated, but Yue Yang was firm:

“Stop talking! I’m serious—if I say they’re yours, they’re yours. Refusing would be an insult. It’s just an object; no matter how valuable, it’s not better than a person. In my eyes, you two are a thousand times more valuable. Here, I’ll put them on for you.”

Without waiting for their response, Yue Yang placed the watches on Dong Xiaowan’s wrist, then Li Xiangjun’s—completely ignoring the flushed faces and the affectionate glances shooting from their eyes…