A night of heavy snow cloaked Xiongshan County in silver.
When the snow first stopped, the sky was still dark.
Li Xuan snuggled into his warm bed; beside him lay Rose, the maidservant who slept with him tonight.
Rose was the same age as Li Xuan, seventeen.
She was originally the courtesan of Ruan Yu Building in Xiongshan County, but was bought home by Eldest Young Master Li for a fortune.
However, the Li family is the leading family among the three major families in Xiongshan County.
As the eldest son of the Patriarch of the Li family, Li Xuan could certainly redeem a courtesan, but he couldn't grant her any status, at most she could be taken in as a concubine after he marries.
Moreover, Eldest Young Master Li doesn't have just one maidservant.
The other is called "Yaohua."
Yaohua is a martial artist, three years older than Li Xuan, skilled with spear techniques. Her relatives were murdered by bandits on Red Flower Mountain to the north, and Yaohua sought revenge through the Li family.
Coincidentally, the Li family had insider information, knowing that the county soldiers were ordered to crush the bandits, so they agreed without hesitation, later sending masters to eradicate the bandits together with the county soldiers, thus avenging Yaohua.
Yaohua, deeply valuing friendships and righteous acts, naturally felt gratitude and joined the Li family.
After catching the eye of Eldest Young Master Li, she was tricked from being a personal guard into becoming a maidservant.
...
Cock-a-doodle-doo~~~
In the distance, the crow of a rooster marked the dawn.
Li Xuan yawned and opened his eyes.
His movement awakened Rose, who snuggled into his arms like a clingy kitten, casting him a coquettish glance and teasing, "The young master is indeed formidable."
Li Xuan laughed heartily.
He knew that, unlike Yaohua the martial artist, who was solitary and straightforward, this courtesan was well-versed in the art of palace intrigues, a beauty full of charm.
If it were Yaohua this morning, she might have directly gotten up and coldly stated, "A martial artist must tirelessly train; the morning is the best time, I'm off to practice my spear."
Seeing him laugh, Rose rolled her almond eyes and playfully tapped his chest, coquettishly saying, "Teasing me again, the young master is truly annoying."
Despite saying she was annoyed, she snuggled even closer, and reminded, "Your elder sister is returning today; she left Chiyue County two days ago, according to time, she should enter the city at the latest by noon today."
His elder sister had been very kind to him before she got married.
Li Xuan reluctantly responded, "Guess I have to get up then."
Rose covered her mouth with a smile and in her sweet voice said, "Then... shall I assist the young master in dressing?"
...
A moment later.
Li Xuan sat quietly before a bronze mirror, behind him stood the petite beauty arranging his hair, and then brought out a lavish, cloud-patterned black robe to put on him.
Li Xuan gazed at the boy in the mirror, a mix of elegance and sturdiness, but mostly a hint of "decadence" blinded by luxury.
Seventeen years have passed since the transmigration; initially, Li Xuan harbored the thought of "since I've transmigrated, I must achieve greatness."
Yet as time passed, he gave up on this notion.
Xiongshan County is under the Great Yin dynasty in the east, but this dynasty is a world of low martial power.
Even the renowned martial artists in the dynasty could at most fight ten people at once.
As for immortals promising longevity, there have never been any.
Instead of wasting time fighting, it's better to securely inherit vast wealth and enjoy a luxurious life.
Hence, Li Xuan quickly "decayed," indulging in good food, good clothes, and when women were needed, he wouldn't hold back, taking whichever he fancied as a personal maidservant and slowly turning them into bedchamber maidservants.
As for the main wife, he awaited a family-arranged marriage.
It's almost like opening a blind box; before the arranged marriage, one never knows who the bride will be.
He has no demands for "free love," and doesn't understand why one would want to break free from "family arrangements."
He is the eldest son of the Li family, having benefited so much from the family since birth, naturally, he needs to fulfill strong alliances through marriage, thereby strengthening the family.
Quickly, Li Xuan was fully dressed, and Rose swiftly finished styling him like magic, following him out of the room.
This was a large courtyard, with the inner courtyard being Li Xuan's residence and the outer one where the maidservants stayed, including Rose and Yaohua.
At that moment, in the outer courtyard, a spirited woman was practicing spear techniques.
It was a long spear with a cane shaft.
The spearhead spun, stirring up countless silver speckles.
Yaohua's moves were without flourish, yet advanced and retreated like a nimble monkey, thrusting the spear with precision, seamlessly continuous.
Li Xuan couldn't discern the level of his woman's skills, though the family martial artist said it was excellent, yet he believed, being unable to conquer even a bandit den, what good were the skills?
Nonetheless, he still applauded, showing a gentle smile, and praised, "Well done!!"
Yaohua didn't spare him a glance, focused solely on her training.
Rose leaned to Li Xuan's ear, and muttered, "Xiaoyao really doesn't know how to behave, it's too much watching her like this."
Li Xuan smacked her heavily, eliciting a playful squeal, and said, "Let's go for breakfast."
Saying so, he bypassed the area where Yaohua practiced, walked along the wall to the gate of the outer courtyard, then stepped out, walked a few steps and turned back, called, "Xiaoyao, come eat after practice, I'll have someone save you a warm meal."
Yaohua ignored him.
But as Li Xuan left, she cast a quick glance at his departing figure, her expression complex.
...
"Master."
"Good morning, Eldest Young Master."
"Eldest Young Master is in great spirits today!"
Along the way, as the servants saw Li Xuan, they greeted him respectfully.
Soon, the prepared meals in the dining hall were presented to Li Xuan.
Rose followed closely by his side, afraid someone might take her spot.
Only when seeing Li Xuan sit did she follow suit, then used long chopsticks to pick up a translucent soup dumpling, placing it on a delicate porcelain dish, and smiled, "Today it's the truffle soup dumpling you like, Master."
After setting it down, she took some peanuts from a nearby steamer, and with her harp-playing hands, peeled the peanuts, timing just right to feed them to Li Xuan, saying, "These are winter peanuts sent by the tenants, they're very tasty."
Li Xuan opened his mouth, bit the peanuts, chewed twice, discovering them indeed delicious.
Rose continued to serve him.
Li Xuan felt himself becoming more decadent.
This life...
Transmigrating here, it was truly worth it.
...
Li Xuan spent half an hour having breakfast.
Then, he began his day "laboriously."
This labor involved inspecting his family businesses, visiting the Li family's cloth shops, martial halls, and smithies to have the managers become more acquainted with him, and letting outsiders recognize Li family's future master.
During the meal, the capable Rose rushed her breakfast and seeing him almost finished, went to prompt the coachman to prepare the carriage.
But was there any need for her to prompt?
The coachman's carriage was already parked outside the dining hall as the hour approached.
Rose, full of charm and play, naturally acted for Li Xuan to see.
Li Xuan allowed the maiden's performance.
...
After touring, Li Xuan returned to the Li family at noon, but his elder sister was still absent.
"Perhaps she was delayed on the road, the heavy snow yesterday could've blocked the path?" Rose tried to explain.
Li Xuan nodded.
His elder sister was married to another county, located north of Xiongshan County, normally it's only a day and a half's journey.
Rose had factored in the weather earlier by estimating two days, but didn't expect further delay.
"Then, let's visit the cloth shop in the afternoon." Li Xuan suggested.
Rose praised, "The master is truly diligent."
...
As night fell.
Li Xuan returned home.
But his elder sister had yet to arrive.
...
The next day, at noon.
His elder sister still hadn't arrived.
The Li family dispatched martial artists to search.
The martial artist hurried back the next day, immediately entering the patriarch's study to secretly report, but was stopped by Li Xuan upon leaving.
Li Xuan directly asked, "Uncle Zhao, where is my elder sister?"
The martial artist addressed as Uncle Zhao saluted, "Eldest Young Master, the eldest young lady she... she..."
Uncle Zhao seemed to deliberate.
Li Xuan sternly demanded, "What exactly happened? Can't I know?"
Uncle Zhao quickly shook his hand, repeatedly denying, then sighed, "Many died on the northern official road, the authorities are investigating, but we couldn't find the eldest young lady's body."
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