[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful":3,"chapter-even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-16":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Even a Gentleman Must Be Careful",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2268636,4429,"Chapter 16: Sixteen: Yue Girl Aqing","even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-16",16,"\u003Cp>Sixteen: Yue Girl Aqing\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Father.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Ling hesitated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Xun sat at his desk, laying out paper, his leisurely headband hanging down onto the table; he did not look up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grind the ink for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Xun picked up a small wolf-hair brush, lowered his gaze in thought for a moment, then dipped it in ink and began writing. It was a letter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside him, Xie Ling ground ink, watched her father’s focused figure for a while, then turned to close the window—the outside seemed about to rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t close the window,” Xie Xun paused. “Rain is a good thing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Ling stopped, speaking directly: “Father, Ouyang Lianghan is not what I imagined.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did you imagine?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I thought he’d be a kindred spirit, someone I could talk to easily.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And in reality?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In reality… he’s strange—serious, yet somehow not serious. Nothing like what you described.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Xun paused his brush. “People change. Especially someone so young who’s endured such dramatic ups and downs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Ling hesitated, then recounted the “misunderstanding” she’d had that afternoon at Sanhui Courtyard, concluding:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He lied—even if it was to flatter. But I dislike this kind of social maneuvering.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, she frowned and turned back—only to find her father had stopped writing, watching her with keen interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Earlier I thought it unsuitable—how could two upright gentlemen possibly live together? Stiffly bowing in unison, maintaining propriety? But now, hearing you say this, I think it suits them well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Xun smiled lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What ‘living together’? What ‘suits them well’? What are you talking about, Father?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing. I’ll tell you when I return tonight.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Xun set down his brush, placed the letter by the window to dry, then pulled out a pale gray paper umbrella:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come, I’ll take you down the mountain to meet a ‘family friend.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Family friend? We are a sixth-generation noble clan. In this tiny Longcheng County, even in Jiangzhou City, is there anyone who can claim to be our family friend?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Xun nodded calmly. “If not for this ‘family friend,’ how would I have built the Buddha Tower in this county, in this temple?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Ling was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First, I didn’t provoke any of you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong spoke with solemn logic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second, the marriage my aunt forced upon me—I never gave any sign of support. Even if, by some remote chance, my little junior sister became infatuated with my face and agreed to marry me, tomorrow I would firmly refuse. I’m going home. I won’t waste a talented young lady’s time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third, the child bride my aunt mentioned—the one who poked me with needles… I think her name was Xiuniang. I never meant harm. I do recall her poking me—it didn’t look like acupuncture to save a life. Could it have been a misunderstanding? I can only guess she suffered from some illness. Otherwise, why would she try to murder her husband?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the churning clouds of the Merit Hall, Ouyang Rong paused, then pleaded softly to the small wooden fish before him: “Can you return my merit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, then added a slight threat:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re arbitrarily deducting. Aren’t you afraid the Buddha will revoke your business license? Just give it back—or add fifty more V. Let’s pretend nothing happened, okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After pleading earnestly, both softly and firmly, Ouyang Rong waited expectantly for a long while—but inside the Merit Tower, silence reigned; the golden-green characters above the wooden fish remained utterly unchanged:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Merit: Ninety】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong flung his sleeve and stormed out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He left the corrupt Merit Tower with a grim face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mood was terrible. An adult’s collapse often comes in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t even begun earning merit, yet so much had already been deducted—and no appeal for mistaken deductions… He couldn’t go on like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As evening approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Liulang returned to Donglin Temple and delivered a bundle of herbs to Ouyang Rong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After bidding him farewell, Ouyang Rong opened the package to inspect it:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cicada slough, whole scorpion, dan nan xing—all matched the prescription. Also included: a flask of yellow wine and wormwood for disinfection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This remedy for tetanus was something Ouyang Rong had learned as a child during summer vacation in his hometown village, from a barefoot doctor. He had witnessed firsthand the horrific condition of a relative who contracted tetanus—the memory remained vivid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the time, the mischievous Ouyang Rong had a similar wound on his arm. The old barefoot doctor had frightened him, saying he’d get the same disease. Terrified, he memorized the prescription and rushed to buy the medicine. Naturally, his relatives had laughed at him afterward…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So the memory ran deep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like how you might forget your first love’s face, yet vividly recall the plaid long skirt she wore the day you met…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong brought the herbs to Liu Ashan’s home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again, the same sealed, dim room. Again, one standing, one lying, two kneeling. Again, the oppressive silence when he said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Ouyang Rong wasted no words. He carefully examined Liu Ashan’s condition. To his slight relief, the tetanus infection appeared still in its early stage—just beginning to show symptoms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Intervention at this point offered some hope. But honestly, his survival ultimately depended on how strong his will was—whether he could endure it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong had no certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he hesitated, wondering how to explain to Liu’s mother that a young county magistrate knew how to treat this illness—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRACK—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunder rolled. The rain and clouds that had pressed overhead all day now poured down like a waterfall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong could not leave for the moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu’s mother, Mrs. Liu, came over and invited him to stay for dinner. Ouyang Rong didn’t refuse outright—he politely declined once, then accepted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guest rooms provided by Donglin Temple for pilgrims were decent. The Liu family lived in a spacious courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dining area was a half-open room facing the courtyard, somewhat like a living room in his past life without floor-to-ceiling windows. Inside, people sat cross-legged on mats, living on the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rain streamed down the eaves, forming a water curtain that separated the inside from the outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mrs. Liu led Ouyang Rong inside, where he sat alone for a while, waiting for the meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To save resources, no lamps were lit. He turned to gaze at the rain curtain outside and the distant dark peaks, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this era of material scarcity, night was simply dull—once darkness fell, everything vanished into blackness, and insects and mosquitoes were plentiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oddly, Ouyang Rong noticed he no longer felt as strongly homesick at night as before. Perhaps he was getting used to it…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Squeak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone cautiously pushed open the door. Ouyang Rong turned and saw the girl named Aqing, holding a serving tray and a small lantern, “squeezing” herself in through the doorway. Since her hands were full, she used her slender shoulder to push.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong stepped forward to help open the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aqing bowed her head, whispered softly, placed the lantern on the small tea table, knelt on the mat, and deftly arranged bowls, chopsticks, and dishes before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong noticed her black hair was damp and clumped together—he wondered if she had stepped outside and been caught in the rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t your mother coming to eat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aqing lowered her head as she handed him rice, shook her head slightly, and said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong thought for a moment—he realized Mrs. Liu was probably tending to Ashan’s meal. He’d asked a foolish question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cleared his throat, took the rice, and ate a mouthful—only to find Aqing sat motionless beside him, not touching her bowl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh… aren’t you eating? Have some too. Let’s not be formal.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aqing hesitated, then, under the young magistrate’s concerned gaze, scooped a small portion of rice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room was very dark; the oil lamp on the tea table glowed brightly, illuminating only the two kneeling figures eating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only now, by the lamplight, did Ouyang Rong truly see the girl before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like her brother, she bore a facial tattoo—the ink punishment. In the Great Zhou, this marked one as a slave: characters branded onto the face or body to assert the master’s authority, irremovable even after redemption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On Aqing’s forehead was a small character: “Yue.” Yet it did not mar her delicate features; instead, it made her seem even more pitiable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was thin. At the age of puberty, she was technically old enough to marry in the Great Zhou—but poor nutrition had stunted her growth. Her arms and legs were slender as bamboo stalks, and her loose coarse linen dress made her appear dull and listless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Aqing had large, intelligent eyes—her irises and sclera were as sharply divided as black and white Go stones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But those dark eyes had, since the first moment Ouyang Rong met her, always been veiled in sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your brother will recover.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aqing, lost in some sorrowful thought, chewed her chopsticks and stared blankly at the floor. Ouyang Rong couldn’t help but offer comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Master,” she murmured again, face still lowered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong finished eating. He set down his chopsticks and began pondering how to explain his treatment plan to Aqing and Mrs. Liu. Many principles he took for granted would be incomprehensible to them—they could only obey blindly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he considered how to persuade Mrs. Liu and Aqing, he didn’t notice the girl beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he finally realized what was happening, Ouyang Rong was stunned: Aqing had not taken her bowls away. Instead, she moved them aside, clearing space between them. Then, head bowed, she stood before him. One hand lifted, pulling out the wooden hairpin from her hair—wet but glossy, jet-black tresses cascaded down. The other hand, without pause, undid her slender waistband and tossed it aside. Her slender shoulders hunched, and her dress slipped completely off—naked, she was as thin and pale as peeled sugarcane, too frail to hold any garment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“!!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his reaction was half a beat late, Ouyang Rong’s hand moved swiftly—he shoved the lamp on the tea table beneath the low table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The light vanished. The room plunged into near-darkness. The sound of the rain outside grew louder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dim orange glow, crushed beneath the table, illuminated only a pair of bare teenage girls' ankles and a long, trembling hand pressed against the floor in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aqing, what are you doing?” he whispered, voice thick with disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the dim light, Aqing had not yet stopped; she softly called, “Master,” then stepped forward and drew near Ouyang Rong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He, startled, leapt up and retreated, then snatched off his outer robe, spread it out, caught the girl rushing at him, and wrapped her tightly, leaving only a dazed, foolish little head exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong pressed down on that little head, took a deep breath, and finally asked: “Why did you take off your clothes for no reason?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked again: “Did someone force you?” The twenty-year-old County Magistrate felt a fire begin to rise in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No one forced Aqing. Our family is poor and has nothing to offer Master.” Aqing shook her head blankly. “My mother and brother sent me. Aqing volunteered too… as long as Master can have his fill of pleasure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ouyang Rong fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the one who had been forcing Aqing and her family…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had been him.\u003C\u002Fp>",1899,"2026-06-19T21:28:25.445Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d219f5e4bae19b3ffddfcad5a51ab18109205c90a47aaf6b14319d5839c64b49","even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-17","even-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-chapter-15",864,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feven-a-gentleman-must-be-careful-cover.jpg"]