Chapter 657: The Lecherous Glutton

"If you have something to say, speak freely." Park Jeong-yang's tone was also quite gentle.

Just at that moment, the sound of a guqin suddenly rang out from behind the curtain.

The melody was melodious, winding up to the rafters—one could tell at once it was not the work of an ordinary hand.

Park Jeong-yang was startled, nearly lost in the music. After drifting off for a moment, he asked, "This is?"

"Our conversation has been a bit too pragmatic and worldly. Let the music wash it away a little." Chen Facai said with a smile.

"I see." Park Jeong-yang stroked his beard, composed himself, and said with a smile, "The melody is archaic and elegant—clearly the player has achieved great mastery in this art. Truly remarkable!"

"I never expected that Lord Park is so accomplished in the way of the qin as well. How admirable. Compared to this Chen, you are more than a cut above." Chen Facai said with a smile.

"Shopkeeper Chen flatters me. It is but a shallow skill." Park Jeong-yang said with a smile.

"I wonder if Lord Park would like to meet the one playing the qin?" Chen Facai suddenly said, "The two of you could also chat. Stuck all day with a rough fellow like me, she must feel it's like playing the qin before a cow—a waste of refinement. If she could meet a true connoisseur like Lord Park, then as a witness to this day, this Chen would be delighted in his heart."

"Would that be convenient?" Park Jeong-yang's face lit up with surprise and delight.

"What inconvenience could there be?" Chen Facai waved his hand and said magnanimously, "I have felt an instant kinship with Lord Park today. We will have many more occasions to interact in the future, and I believe we shall become the closest of friends. What harm is there in meeting the qin player?"

Having said this, Chen Facai clapped his hands, and his gaze also fell behind the curtain.

With the tinkling of jade ornaments, a graceful figure stepped out from behind the curtain.

Dressed in a pale green long gown, her attire was simple and beautiful in an archaic way. A pair of large eyes sparkled brilliantly as they glanced about.

She came to Chen Facai's side and gently curtsied, saying, "Greetings, godfather."

"Good girl." Chen Facai nodded with satisfaction, then turned his head to look at Park Jeong-yang.

By this time, Park Jeong-yang's eyes had gone completely rigid. His gaze at Qingqing was filled entirely with shock. The man seemed frozen in place, unable to tear his eyes away.

Park In-yong beside him was the same.

"Lord Park, Lord Park." Chen Facai waited a moment in silence before calling out to Park Jeong-yang.

Park Jeong-yang suddenly snapped back to his senses and said, "I never imagined the qin player would be such a stunningly beautiful woman—truly beyond imagination. May I ask who she is?"

Seeing Park Jeong-yang in such a frantic state, Chen Facai was speechless.

He had prepared many schemes and tricks, but it seemed they would not be needed. This lecherous glutton—one look at a pretty face and he forgot everything else.

Chen Facai said with a smile, "This is my goddaughter Qingqing, whom I brought from the Great Ming. Her family was originally an official household in Yangzhou, but later misfortune struck—the dead died, the gone went, leaving only this one lonely girl. I was close friends with her father, so I took her in and raised her by my side."

"I have four sons in total, but not a single daughter. After gaining this goddaughter, I keep her by my side day and night. This time when I came to Joseon, I brought her along. I had originally thought to find her a husband here in Joseon, but there has never been a suitable match."

"You know, Qingqing is only my goddaughter, and my status in the Great Ming is rather awkward—I am merely a merchant, of no high standing. And I cannot bear to marry her off to an ordinary merchant household. Being a merchant myself, I understand the hardships of merchants, and I understand even better the hardships of a merchant's wife."

"I thought to find an official family and marry Qingqing off. But how would such families look upon the likes of us?"

"So I thought, I would come to Joseon and find a suitable match for Qingqing. But all this time I have not encountered the right one—truly, there is nothing to be done."

"Father, what are you saying?" Qingqing's voice was clear and soft, carrying a hint of coy reproach, her appearance delicate as if on the verge of tears. Her eyes were slightly red, and her whole bearing exuded a pitiable charm that made one long to gather her into one's arms and cherish her dearly.

Park Jeong-yang's eyes went rigid again, unable to look away. In his heart, he roughly understood now.

I don't mind! I don't mind that your status is low—and besides, she is a woman of the Great Ming!

If I married her into my household, even if it meant being entangled with Chen Facai—what a wonderful opportunity this would be!

Park Jeong-yang was well aware of Chen Facai's abilities.

"Then, Shopkeeper Chen, in summoning me here today—have you found a suitable match and wish for me to act as matchmaker?" Park Jeong-yang looked at Chen Facai and asked cautiously.

Chen Facai did not answer Park Jeong-yang. Instead, he said to Qingqing, "You may withdraw for now."

"Yes, godfather." Qingqing acknowledged, then turned back to look at Park Jeong-yang and said, "Lord Park, Qingqing takes her leave."

"Go slowly, go slowly." Park Jeong-yang said with his eyes fixed straight ahead.

Qingqing left.

Both Park Jeong-yang and Park In-yong stared at Qingqing, unable to tear their gazes away.

Only after Qingqing had disappeared did the two reluctantly retract their eyes.

Park In-yong turned to look at Park Jeong-yang, his gaze filled entirely with anticipation.

In Park In-yong's view, Chen Facai's intention was already quite obvious—he wanted to ally with his uncle, to achieve his goals through a marriage alliance with his uncle. So who would be the suitable candidate?

Naturally, himself.

He and Qingqing were well matched in age and appearance. He could be considered a promising young talent. If he were to be with Qingqing in the future, with Chen Facai's support and his uncle's help, how could he not soar to greatness?

This truly was a wonderful opportunity to gain both wealth and beauty!

When Park In-yong looked at Park Jeong-yang, it was no longer a hint—it was an outright statement.

Park Jeong-yang did not even look at his nephew, thinking the boy was simply indulging in wishful thinking.

The man had already said he wanted an official family—in plain terms, he wanted to marry her to an official. What are you?

A commoner with no rank at all. Don't entertain such daydreams.

"I am ashamed to say it, but having been in Joseon for so long, I have looked at many people. After searching this way and that, I found that Lord Park is the most suitable candidate." Chen Facai said with a smile, "Originally, I did not wish to speak such presumptuous words. But watching my daughter grow up day by day, I, as her father, could no longer care about saving face, so I personally invited Lord Park here to speak face to face."

"If Lord Park is willing, then this matter is settled. If Lord Park is unwilling, then let us treat today as if it never happened. After we leave, I trust Lord Park will not speak of it. I have great faith in Lord Park's character."

Park Jeong-yang nearly jumped up in excitement.

It really is so, it really is so!

Park In-yong's expression on the side immediately turned ugly. He looked at Chen Facai in disbelief, with a hint of anger.

Are you blind?

My uncle is already that old!

"This is hardly appropriate, is it?" Park Jeong-yang frowned and demurred.

Though he spoke words of refusal, his gaze was filled entirely with longing, and the corners of his mouth were nearly split to his ears.

"There is no question of appropriate or inappropriate." Chen Facai said with a smile, "I wish to find a good family for my daughter, and Lord Park is quite suitable—talented, with ample family wealth, holding high position and great power. Moreover, Lord Park's character is universally praised. I believe Lord Park will treat my daughter well."

"As for age, I have also asked my daughter. She too wishes to find someone older. After all, older men are more steady and know how to cherish a person. My daughter lost her father young and was raised by my side, so she is inevitably somewhat pampered. If she were to find a man with a bad temper, I would fear she might be bullied. Lord Park is just right—older is better, more mature."

"No, no." Park Jeong-yang hastily waved his hand with a smile, "I am hardly as good as Shopkeeper Chen makes me out to be."

"Master Piao, there's no need to be modest." Chen Facai waved his hand and said, "I just want to ask you, Master Piao, do you agree? If you do, then let's settle this matter right here."

"Well then, I would be rude to refuse." Piao Zhengyang said with a smile.

"Excellent, excellent!" Chen Facai hurriedly smiled and said, "That puts my mind at ease. Once you marry my daughter, we'll be one family, and you'll be my worthy son-in-law. We're family now — no need for formalities between us."

Although Piao Zhengyang found it somewhat strange to become the son-in-law of Chen Facai, who was the same age as him, in these times an old husband with a young wife was perfectly normal.

He stood up directly and, with complete openness, bowed to Chen Facai and said, "This son-in-law pays his respects to his father-in-law."

"Well done, well done — my worthy son-in-law need not stand on ceremony." Chen Facai smiled and helped Piao Zhengyang up, saying, "Do sit down — let's talk while seated."

After Piao Zhengyang sat down, Chen Facai called out to the side, "Someone, prepare a banquet. I want to drink a few cups with my worthy son-in-law — bring out my treasured Chrysanthemum White."

"Yes, master." A voice from outside acknowledged, evidently going off to make the preparations.

Piao Renyong, standing off to the side, was utterly dumbfounded — the whole world seemed to have turned upside down for him.

What kind of nonsense was this? How had he ended up in such a situation?

Who am I? Where am I?

Piao Zhengyang had no mind at all to spare for his nephew at this moment — his eyes were filled with Chen Facai, his eyes were filled with Chen Qingqing.

Thinking of holding such a charming, alluring woman in his arms, Piao Zhengyang could not suppress his excitement.

Soon enough, the cook had prepared the food and wine and brought it up, and the two took their seats — the meal could be said to have delighted both host and guest alike.

When the wine had warmed them both, Chen Facai smiled and said, "This time the Great Ming is joining you to strike at the Wa nation — it's a fine opportunity to make a fortune. Later I'll take my worthy son-in-law along in business, and we'll rake in a big windfall."

"Mm, excellent, excellent." Piao Zhengyang smiled and nodded.

He had guessed right after all — this was a golden opportunity to gain both wealth and beauty.

"I wonder if my worthy son-in-law has any say in the army being dispatched this time?" Chen Facai looked at Piao Zhengyang with narrowed eyes and asked, "If you do have some influence, then this time we'll be doing far more than just making money."

"Does my father-in-law know something?" Piao Zhengyang looked at Chen Facai with gleaming eyes and asked.

"You don't know, do you?" Chen Facai said with a smug look. "This campaign against the Wa nation is a rare opportunity. As far as I know, our Great Ming side is preparing to reward merit and enfeoff feudal lords in the Wa nation. You know what a feudal lord is, right?"