Chapter 73: Taking a Concubine

This is to erase Jiaoran's contribution. Lin Yao, being so shrewd, nodded: "Your subordinate once saved the Young Master."

Whether his rescue was needed need not be said; in short, whenever the Young Master faced danger, Lin Yao would inevitably rush forward. Not just Lin Yao, but all soldiers in the army must protect their commander.

Qin Bi knew Rong Juan, this killing god, better than anyone. As for Rong Juan? It would be strange if he needed anyone to save him. Yet it was no fault for soldiers around him to rush forward when danger arose; this too counted as merit.

Qin Bi then looked at Yan the Guard and others: "What about you? Haven't you done anything for the Young Master? Blocked blades or something?"

Several guards stepped forward, Yan the Guard among them: "We too have saved the Young Master."

Qin Tang breathed a sigh of relief, and Jiang Shi's worried heart settled. Everyone roughly understood Qin Bi's meaning: to erase Jiaoran's merit. Jiaoran had saved the Young Master, and the soldiers had saved the Young Master too.

It would be best to make Jiaoran's efforts worth nothing.

"You see, the soldiers have all saved the Young Master. What you can do, Mr. Lin and the others can do too." Qin Bi spoke without expression yet seriously: "Since you are going to the border, you should not think you are different because you are a woman."

Jiaoran finally grasped the point and angrily said: "You simply do not want the Young Master to marry me."

"Who stipulated that a life-saving debt must be repaid with marriage? If it were as you say, could the Young Master possibly marry them all?" Qin Bi rose, glanced disdainfully at Jiaoran, then looked at Lin Yao: "Mr. Lin, do you also wish to become a concubine for the Young Master?"

Without giving anyone a chance to react, Qin Bi turned to Yan the Guard and others. All had accompanied Young Master Rong into battle; the battlefield is merciless, and bumps and scrapes are unavoidable. A helping hand could count as a life-saving debt.

"And you, Yan the Guard." Qin Bi asked: "Do you, like Jiaoran, all wish to enter the Young Master's harem?"

Qin Bi looked utterly serious, with not a hint of joking.

If Jiaoran had such thoughts, then Lin Yao and the others should have them too. Everyone had saved the Young Master, with no small contribution. Count it bit by bit: serving tea, pouring water, even waiting outside the main tent out of concern counted.

If Jiaoran could become a concubine, there was no reason why Lin Yao and Yan the Guard could not.

Lin Yao and Yan the Guard were the ones who spent every day with Young Master Rong. Qin Bi looked again at Lin Yao and Yan the Guard; her gaze changed. Bringing them all into the harem would not be impossible.

What was that look? Qin Bi's question struck Lin Yao and the others like lightning. Good heavens, what had they just heard? Was the Young Master's wife bullying whom now?

Jiaoran wanted to be a concubine; what did that have to do with them?

What kind of question was that? Who wanted to be a concubine?

Lin Yao was stunned, his face grim: "Young Master's wife, speak cautiously."

"What Jiaoran did for the Young Master, you have all done." Qin Bi's expression remained faint. She intended to sort this out; otherwise, who would give Jiaoran and her a chance to argue? Qin Bi said: "All have life-saving debts. If Jiaoran can be a concubine, how can we not take you as concubines?"

Yan the Guard's face flushed red. Did they care? Only Jiaoran was eager to become a concubine.

"Young Master's wife." The guards grew anxious: "You cannot speak of us this way."

Nowhere to seek justice; a group of grown men were frantic and furious.

"You wish to be concubines." Qin Bi stared firmly at Jiaoran, then looked at Lin Yao, Yan the Guard, and the others.

"Nonsense." Lin Yao truly lost his temper. The chief strategist lost his usual composure, swept his robe sleeve aside: "We do not care."

Lin Yao had no choice but to say he did not care. Qin Bi looked at Jiaoran: "Do you not wish to be a concubine for the Young Master?"

Jiaoran had been utterly bewildered, not understanding how the tone had shifted. When Qin Bi suddenly asked her about becoming a concubine, Jiaoran lifted her chin: "Of course I wish to be a concubine for the Young Master."

You see, that settles it.

Qin Bi looked at Lin Yao and the others, plus Yan the Guard; there were over a dozen guards. All were deputy generals in the army, now serving as guards. Seeing the Young Master's wife's gaze, Lin Yao wished he could slap Jiaoran, this woman, to death.

"You see." Qin Bi said to Lin Yao and the others: "Stop pretending. If you want to be concubines, say it directly; no need to beat around the bush with me."

Oh my goodness! Lin Yao, Yan the Guard, and the others could not catch their breath; they nearly died. Such biased listening was unheard of. Why ask Jiaoran? Ask them!

Some guards with hot tempers were sweating profusely. If she kept angering them like this, they would vomit three pints of blood.

Qin Bi did not intend to stop here. She was seriously arranging concubines for the Young Master. She beckoned Qin Xun; she trusted no one else. For instance, Rong Yan would surely play tricks and not do the job properly.

Qin Xun was dumbfounded, walking over with a blank, confused face.

Qin Bi ordered the dazed maid: "Bring the four treasures of the study."

The maid hurried to fetch them, stumbled at the doorway, and quickly stood up.

Moments later, the maid brought the four treasures of the study, her eyes darting nervously, too afraid to look at Lin Yao, Yan the Guard, and the others. Oh my, this time the Young Master's wife was truly furious; from now on, she must behave.

"Second brother, write this down." Qin Bi sat upright and said to Yan the Guard: "Among you deputy officers, or even among the soldiers, who else has saved the Young Master? Report the numbers. We cannot have you entering the harem while preventing others from becoming concubines."

Only women care about entering the Young Master's harem; who cares about being a concubine!

"You, you..." The burly guards, now forgetting propriety, pointed at Qin Bi: "You are too oppressive. We are men; how can we be compared to a woman like Jiaoran?"

"Who cares!" one guard blurted out.

Do not care? Qin Bi did not believe it. From Jiaoran to Lin Yao and the others, she looked at each in turn and stated firmly: "You have all agreed to become concubines."

"No." Yan the Guard refuted.

Qin Bi said: "You have all agreed."

Then, regardless of the situation, Qin Bi told Qin Xun: "Record them."

Qin Xun jolted. Oh my goodness! Qin Xun suppressed his laughter until his shoulders shook. He took paper and brush and went over to ask each one: "Brother, what is your name? How old are you? Are you betrothed?"

If these men were to be taken as concubines, Qin Xun would throw caution to the wind. He would not let Qin Bi down; he accepted the task.

The guards were so angry they nearly fainted. Jiaoran ran over: "My name is Jiaoran."

As for her name being Jiaoran, Rong Yan and Jiang Xu had watched the spectacle for a long time. Now coming to their senses, they laughed until their stomachs hurt. Rong Yan respected no one, except this Young Master's wife. Awesome! Lin Yao and Yan the Guard, out of regard for their bond with Jiaoran, had now been led into the ditch.

Jiang Shi laughed so hard she lost all composure. A proper young lady could not hold herself together; she leaned on a table and ran outside to laugh. Tears streamed down Jiang Shi's face. The Qin Yan Marquis household had produced a remarkable person.

Before, how had she not realized that Qin Tang's younger half-sister was so formidable!

She had been sitting upright arranging things, never breaking into laughter. Could this possibly be real?!

Oh my! Jiang Shi covered her mouth, holding back her laughter.

If the strategist Lin Yao and Yan the Guard and the others were all taken into the harem, she promised not to call Qin Tang to make a scene. Concubine it would be; Jiang Shi did not mind. Leaning on the doorframe, Jiang Shi nearly laughed herself into convulsions.

Lin Yao, furious, slapped Jiaoran directly. It was all her fault.