Chapter 245: Section Two: Ningyuan

Back when he was on Changsheng Island chatting with Li Yunrui, Huang Shi had heard this fellow talk about the social techniques between men and women in this era. In Li Yunrui's words, if you could get a woman to come out alone with you, you were already halfway there, because it meant she was already interested. He also said the first step after meeting was to drop to your knees on the ground and shout: "That I, unworthy as I am, could win the favor of such a young lady — I could never repay it even with my life!" Li Yunrui said that sort of talk would greatly delight a woman who was already interested, and when she came over to help you up, as long as you kept shamelessly kneeling on the ground, acting as if you would rather die than get up, the deed was basically done.

Huang Shi thought Li Yunrui's words were fairly reliable — after all, most women of this era generally had little opportunity to interact with men, nor would they have had the chance to go online and learn what kind of creatures libertines were. But Li Yunrui made it sound so simple that it left Yang Zhiyuan and the others stunned. At the time, He Dingyuan, already a married man, eyed the smug Li Yunrui warily and said in a voice full of doubt: "Commissioner Li certainly tells a good story — he makes it sound just like the real thing."

"What do you mean, tells a story? I always just drop to the ground... no, this humble officer has heard that those lechers generally just drop to their knees on the ground, and the young ladies naturally feel for them..."

Li Yunrui's story made Huang Shi understand: in the late Ming era, privately inviting a woman out was a great challenge to the reputations of both parties. Today, Huang Shi had arranged for his personal guards to secretly bring Miss Zhao Er out. If this matter were discovered by outsiders, he could not expect the censors to let him off.

By the moral standards of this era, even if Huang Shi had feelings for Miss Zhao Er, the most proper course would have been to go propose to her elder brother. However, as someone who had once lived in the twenty-first century, there were some things Huang Shi felt were better said clearly to the person herself. What troubled Huang Shi more was the problem of Miss Wang on Changsheng Island. But he quickly confirmed that his feelings for Miss Zhao Er were completely different from his feelings for Miss Wang, so Huang Shi decided to set that problem aside for the time being.

As Huang Shi walked over, Miss Zhao Er was also pondering her own thoughts. When Huang Shi's personal guard came to invite her today, she decided it was best not to offend this man. Moreover, based on their previous interactions, Miss Zhao Er felt that Huang Shi was basically a gentleman. Besides, Huang Shi had twice saved the Zhao family's lives. Since he wanted to see her, Miss Zhao Er felt she had to come even if it meant taking a risk — otherwise it would be hard to justify. So she stood there quietly, waiting for Huang Shi's performance.

"Miss Zhao, I hope you are well," Huang Shi said as he approached, giving a forthright bow. Then, without waiting for her to return the courtesy, he declared in a clear voice: "I wish to discuss a matter with your esteemed elder brother, and so I would like to ask you about something, Miss Zhao."

Miss Zhao Er replied in a soft, delicate voice: "My lord Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, please speak. This humble maiden will tell you all she knows."

"I wish to ask you, Miss Zhao: are you betrothed to anyone?" Huang Shi saw the person across from him immediately drop her head, but he pressed on regardless: "I have heard that your esteemed brother once drafted a marriage contract with a colleague in front of Ningyuan. However, your elder brother's copy was never written, nor were the formal rituals of betrothal gifts and name-inquiry ever performed. Therefore, Miss Zhao, you currently have no formal marriage engagement. May I ask if what I have heard is correct?"

That marriage contract had not been completed, naturally because of Huang Shi's poor standing. Before coming today, Miss Zhao Er had guessed that Huang Shi would likely raise a similar question. Yet when she faced a man's proposal directly, her heart was suddenly filled to the brim with surging emotion. For a moment, Miss Zhao Er forgot that her face was still tightly veiled and instinctively lowered her head, afraid the person across from her might see the sweet smile on her face.

Fortunately, reason always outlasts emotion. Miss Zhao Er knew that if she broke the engagement, it would likely make things difficult for her elder brother's reputation. Furthermore, in Miss Zhao Er's personal impression, Huang Shi was still a very dangerous man, one who gave her a cold, chilling feeling.

"In this matter, I fear my lord Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent would do better to ask my elder brother directly. For this humble maiden to answer would, I fear, be contrary to propriety." She stole a glance at the person across from her — he stood perfectly still, as if showing no reaction. Miss Zhao Er bit her lower lip and added with emphasis: "It is indeed as my lord Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent says — my elder brother has not yet written the marriage contract. However... in this humble maiden's view, my elder brother has always valued his word and kept his promises."

"Is that so?" Huang Shi responded thoughtfully. The implication in her words seemed negative, but perhaps it was merely an expression of helplessness — he was not yet one hundred percent certain. After a pause, Huang Shi decided to confirm once more: "Does Miss Zhao believe this promise ought to be kept?"

The person across from him said nothing. Huang Shi knew his words had been far too abrupt, but as a modern man, he valued the woman's own opinion more than the opinion of her family elders: "I can promise you, Miss Zhao, that as long as you consider that marriage contract invalid, I will certainly make it invalid!"

This naked expression left Miss Zhao Er both embarrassed and annoyed. Yet this time she hesitated for a long while before steeling her resolve a second time. Head lowered, she said through gritted teeth: "My lord Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, let your discernment be clear. This humble maiden has heard it said: a promise is worth a thousand in gold; without trust, nothing stands."

"So that is how it is." Huang Shi nodded, then gave a light laugh and bowed deeply: "Today I have been presumptuous and rude. I beg you, Miss Zhao, to forgive me."

With that, Huang Shi flicked his cloak and strode away without looking back. When he reached the cordon of his personal guards, he ordered Hong Antong to escort Miss Zhao Er carefully home, and then —

The surveillance operation on the Zhao household could be called off.