The sister of this troublemaker was married to a high-ranking official. Although the official genuinely doted on this beautiful, sensible, gentle, and attentive concubine, and for her sake, he didn’t mind granting her brother some extra favors—after all, she did serve him quite well—his affection for her didn’t mean he was willing to risk losing his official position for her sake.
After all, the official conducting the undercover inspection was notoriously strict and merciless. If he were to intervene recklessly and ended up in that official’s hands, the consequences would be unthinkable. For someone as selfish as him, how could he possibly be so generous?
Thus, the high-ranking official initially intended to wash his hands of the matter. However, in the end, swayed by his beautiful concubine’s tearful pleas, he reluctantly decided to lend a hand one more time. Still, this incident left a somewhat negative impression of the concubine in his mind.
Though she pleased him greatly, her troublesome brother was an undeniable liability. As a powerful official in the capital, he couldn’t tolerate constantly cleaning up after some insignificant troublemaker from a remote backwater.
The concubine also sensed the subtle shift in the official’s attitude toward her and felt uneasy. But what could she do? Her brother was the only male heir in her family, and as a woman, she had little room to resist.
Regardless of her feelings, the high-ranking official had already begun handling the mess caused by that troublemaking playboy.
And what a mess it was.
As a lecherous, uneducated, and unruly playboy, he had a habit of harassing women. If it were consensual, that would be one thing, but he was also domineering and unreasonable.
To put it simply: If he fancied someone, she had to be his—no objections, no refusals! In his mind, being chosen by him was a stroke of luck, a blessing from her ancestors. The only option was to submit.
His reputation in the region was abysmal. Some families, swayed by his status, wealth, or the benefits he could provide for their sons, willingly handed over their beautiful daughters—after all, girls were seen as financial burdens, and sacrificing them for gain was nothing to regret. But not all families were willing to do so.
Some cherished their daughters dearly and refused to let them be defiled by such a notorious scoundrel. And this was where the playboy’s ruthlessness truly shone.
If he couldn’t get his way willingly, he’d simply take by force.
Countless young women had their chastity violated by his despicable methods, and many, unable to bear the shame, chose suicide, shattering once-happy families.
Yet, his family always managed to suppress these incidents, even turning the blame on the victims—claiming the girls had shamelessly pursued their wealth and status, only to resort to blackmail when their expectations weren’t met.
He was, without a doubt, a malignant tumor in society.
This time, the playboy targeted a beautiful but strong-willed woman, escalating the situation into chaos. Coincidentally, it caught the attention of an incorruptible and stern inspector, forcing the playboy’s family to seek help from their daughter, the high-ranking official’s concubine.
With the official’s influence, the troublemaker was secretly brought to the capital. As for the aftermath, his family had plenty of experience dealing with such scandals.
Of course, even if they couldn’t handle it, the high-ranking official had no intention of further involvement. If the inspector reported him to the emperor, he’d be the one to suffer. He wasn’t foolish enough to wade into that mess for the sake of a concubine’s brother.
The humiliating escape left the arrogant playboy fuming. Though his family had repeatedly warned him to behave, the moment he laid eyes on the capital’s splendor, all restraint vanished.
Back in his small town, he had been a big fish in a small pond, but the capital’s grandeur dwarfed anything he’d ever seen. It was like Liu Laolao entering the Grand View Garden—utterly dazzled.
Soon, the playboy was completely enchanted by the capital’s luxuries and began causing trouble again. This time, he set his sights on the renowned Wonder House—and then, he saw Qiu Liuyue.
Qiu Liuyue’s looks were merely delicate, not stunning like her half-sister Qiu Muxue or the playboy’s own sister, whose beauty and charm had won her the high-ranking official’s favor. But for the playboy, Qiu Liuyue was more than enough.
Coming from a small town, the women there, even if naturally pretty, lacked the means to maintain their beauty under life’s hardships. But in the capital, even a modestly attractive woman like Qiu Liuyue, with her modern grooming skills, stood out as a trendsetter.
Despite his family’s warnings, the playboy, accustomed to getting his way, couldn’t resist harassing Qiu Liuyue in the lively Wonder House.
The capital’s refined young elites, disgusted by this boorish newcomer who disgraced their reputation, quickly dismissed him as a vulgar upstart. Their disdain only grew.
Qiu Liuyue, meanwhile, was furious.
Had her admirer been handsome and refined, she might have been flattered. But this repulsive pig? It felt like an insult.
If not for the crowd, she would have made him regret his actions.
Soon, however, her anger turned to smug satisfaction. After all, hadn’t a dashing, wealthy hero—Yue Hengyan—stepped in to rescue her?
Dressed in luxurious attire and exuding noble charm, Yue Hengyan was everything she admired. Her heart raced as she flirted with him, her lively, unconventional personality piquing his interest.
Yue Hengyan mused: *Rumors claimed Miss Qiu was involved with Lin Jiarui, but clearly, they were baseless. If she were, wouldn’t she be keeping her distance?*
Upstairs, Han Gongzi, witnessing Qiu Liuyue’s lack of restraint, sighed. “So, it seems Jiarui was mistaken. What a shame—the rare time he takes an interest in a woman, only to realize it was one-sided.”
Chi Huai coughed lightly. “Brother Lin is noble, handsome, and talented. He’ll surely find a true match someday. No need to worry.”
Han Gongzi nodded, storing the gossip for later amusement before resuming his conversation with Chi Huai and You Qi.
Love, after all, was full of complexities—this was just one of its many flavors.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage