MLMD -Chapter 73 The Appointment Arrives

Early on the morning of the third day, Yue Laifu knocked on the door of Yue Yang’s courtyard and informed him that the matter of the residence had already been settled. Yue Yang was quite surprised by this. This time, he was mobilizing the whole family—several hundred people in all. Aside from a few dozen servants who would remain behind to guard Yue Family Manor, everyone else was moving over. The residence required for so many people would by no means be small. That Yue Laifu could get it done so quickly—could his luck really be that good?

Only when Yue Laifu revealed which residence it was did Yue Yang burst out laughing. It turned out to be none other than the former Wang family residence. When Wang Shoucheng and his entire family left Yingzhou City, they had sold the courtyard cheaply to a small salt merchant. Recently, after news spread that Yue Yang intended to buy a residence within Yingzhou City, that small salt merchant had主动 come to him, willing to sell the residence back to Yue Yang at the original price.

“Heh… Uncle Laifu, you’re really something. It’s only been a few days and you’ve already found a place—and at such a low price!” Yue Yang praised Yue Laifu, who had come to report.

Yue Laifu smiled modestly. “Young Master flatters me. I dare not take credit. It’s all because of Young Master’s power and reputation. Otherwise, why would that salt merchant sell us such a fine residence so cheaply? In my view, when one bows so low, there must be something sought in return. That merchant is probably hoping to get some refined salt from you, Young Master.”

“Mmm. When the time comes, Uncle Laifu, sell him some. We’ll consider it repaying the favor,” Yue Yang instructed without hesitation.

During this period, the refined salt Yue Yang had produced had already taken over most of the Shanxi market. This salt—white as snow, fine as sand, and pure in taste—had become the darling of countless households, bringing Yue Yang an unending stream of wealth.

Many salt merchants had been squeezed to the brink of survival by Yue Yang. Yet faced with someone so powerful and backed by armed men, they were completely helpless. Left with no choice, some tried buying refined salt from Yue Yang and reselling it in other provinces at several times the price. To their surprise, they still made enormous profits. However, due to limited supply, many could only sigh in regret. This merchant, having seized the opportunity to do Yue Yang a favor, indeed benefited greatly from it for quite some time afterward.

After finishing his report, Yue Laifu soon took his leave. A gust of cold wind blew in through the doorway, making Yue Yang shiver involuntarily. Only then did he realize he was still wearing thin clothes, and he hurried back into the inner room.

The door was only ajar; with a push, it opened. Winter mornings came late, and the light was dim. A single lamp glimmered faintly in the room. Beneath it lay two flowers of understanding, both wearing silk undergarments, languidly reclining on the bed. The lamplight was hazy, making the colors indistinct. When they saw Yue Yang enter, the sisters leapt into his arms from either side, and at once a faint, sweet fragrance mixed with warmth drifted into his nose.

The Linglong sisters had been sharing his bed for several months now, and Yue Yang’s feelings for them had grown ever deeper. Their bodies still exuded a light, subtle fragrance. Though no longer as pure as when they were maidens, the added richness of married womanhood only made them more alluring.

Taking a deep breath, as if to draw all that fragrance into his heart, Yue Yang gave a firm pat to Yu Ling’s recently fuller, shapely hips and laughed as he said to the sisters, “All right, it’s already the hour of chen, and you’re still lazing about in bed. Could it be that last night this young master still didn’t serve you well enough? Now it’s time for you to serve me, isn’t it?”

“Master, you’re terrible!” Two months earlier, Yue Yang had formally taken the Linglong sisters into his household. They had gone from maids to concubines, and with the change in status came a change in address—the sisters dropped the word “young” from “young master.”

Yue Yang teased, “If I weren’t terrible, would you have fallen for me? Besides, who was it last night that kept clinging to me and wouldn’t let go?”

“Nngh…” As soon as Yue Yang said this, Yu Ling’s pretty face flushed crimson. Nestled in his arms, she kept pounding his chest with her small fists.

Holding the boneless-soft beauty in his arms, Yue Yang sighed faintly to himself. He knew what the sisters were worried about. Spring was approaching, and the time to marry Hailanzhu was drawing near. Although Yue Yang had repeatedly assured them that marrying Hailanzhu would not affect them in any way, the sensitive sisters still harbored an instinctive fear of the future main wife. And in this era, the best way to dispel such fear was to bear a child for their beloved—a belief that status followed the child was deeply ingrained.

After lingering together for a long while, Yu Long finally asked hesitantly, “Master… are we really going to live in the city?”

Yue Yang smiled. “Of course. I’m an official now, after all. Naturally, I have to live in the city. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be a hassle running back and forth every day?”

Yu Long secretly lifted her head to look at her beloved and gathered the courage to ask, “Then… after you marry that Mongolian princess, will you still dote on me and my sister the way you do now?”

The moment he heard this, Yue Yang’s body stiffened. His change was immediately noticed by the sisters in his arms. Yu Ling’s little face turned deathly pale as she quickly sat up and said in panic, “Master, Long’er didn’t mean to offend you. Please don’t blame her!”

Looking down at the sisters’ pale, frightened faces, Yue Yang’s heart ached. In this era, a husband’s authority over his concubines was overwhelming. Unlike a lawful wife, if Yue Yang were displeased, he could punish them severely or even cast them out at any time. It was no exaggeration to say that Yue Yang was their entire world.

Gently pulling Yu Ling back into his arms, Yue Yang patted her fragrant shoulder and comforted her softly, “All right, don’t worry. I understand your concerns, and I don’t blame Long’er at all. Put your hearts at ease. I promise you that in the future, when the opportunity arises, I’ll earn each of you a title by imperial decree, so you can return home in glory to visit your families. Remember, the three of us are husband and wives, and husband and wives are one. You don’t need to be so tense anymore. If there’s anything on your minds, you can tell me. Understand?”

“Mmm… this servant believes you… I won’t be like this again!”

By the time Yue Yang finished speaking, the Linglong sisters were already sobbing uncontrollably in his arms, soaking his clothes with their tears…

Another half month passed. As the first signs of spring began to appear, Yue Yang’s appointment finally arrived. Along with the letter of appointment came his official robe, official seal, and various appointment documents. On that day, the entire Yue Family Manor was abuzz with excitement. All the servants spread the news far and wide—their young master had become an official. In an age where “when one attains the Way, even chickens and dogs ascend to heaven,” this meant that their own status would henceforth be different, with far-reaching implications for their future.

After receiving the appointment documents, Yue Yang began the first task he needed to handle—immediately setting out for the Yingzhou Thousand-Household Garrison, located nearly a hundred li outside Yingzhou City, to select a group of capable men…