Misty Rain of the Old Times

In the courtyard, Du Juan looked at Chen Xuan, who had returned to the ground, with a strange expression on her face, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.

Noticing her expression, Chen Xuan said speechlessly, "Why is Sister Juan looking at me like that? Is there something wrong?"

She shook her head at first, then hesitated for a moment before truthfully saying, "Sir, why did I feel like you weren't acting just now?"

She had witnessed the entire process of scaring Guo Qingxue away, and felt that her master was acting too naturally, which made her feel a little strange.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan calmly replied, "Does this kind of thing need to be acted out? I've already been very restrained."

Hearing him say that, Dujuan was a little dumbfounded. What did the master mean by that?
Seeing her astonished expression, Chen Xuan laughed and said, "It's just your true nature showing. Is it hard for you to understand, Sister Juan? Actually, I've wanted to try flirting with respectable women for a long time, but I've always restrained myself because of societal norms. But Guo Qingxue created this opportunity for me, and I must say, it felt pretty good. No wonder so many people like this kind of thing. I often say that no man is a good man, and it's not just a saying. Many times, they're just bound by rules and regulations and don't show it."

Du Juan was both amused and exasperated. Before cooperating with her master, he had let himself go. Even after he had restrained himself, he still managed to scare away Guo Qingxue, who was so devoted to him. What would he be like if he had completely let go?
Having spent time together, Dujuan knew that her husband never deliberately hid his true self. In other words, behind his usual lazy and casual demeanor, there really was such a side to him, but he had never revealed it to others.

Seeing her expression, which seemed to have completely changed her perception of him, Chen Xuan said with a smile, "This is the real me. So, Sister Juan, are you very disappointed?"

Du Juan shook her head with a smile and said, "Not at all. On the contrary, I feel that this version of Master is more down-to-earth. In the past, when I thought of Master, I thought more about his earth-shattering cultivation, as if there was an invisible distance between us. Now, he feels much more approachable."

Chen Xuan was stunned. What kind of logic was this? Shouldn't he be disappointed? After all, the contrast was too great. Could it be because of his mindset that every time he discovered a new side of himself, it felt like he was exploring and solving a mystery, giving him a unique sense of accomplishment?
At this moment, a hint of expectation flashed in Dujuan's eyes. She lowered her head slightly and said softly, "Master, actually, I can do it too."

"What? You can do that too?" Chen Xuan asked, confused and not understanding her meaning.

She didn't dare look at Chen Xuan, and said in a evasive tone, "Just like Miss Guo did just now, I can cooperate with you, Master. I'm fine with anything, as long as you're happy, that's my blessing."

Chen Xuan's lips twitched. What was going on? Did they really think he was a lecher?

They actually cooperated unconditionally to please me, letting me do whatever I wanted. It sounds pretty exciting, and I'm actually a little tempted.

These kinds of things require the right atmosphere. Putting aside his distractions, Chen Xuan decisively changed the subject, saying, "Let's talk about it later. Who knows when I might end up eating the grass near my own nest? After all, I'm not exactly a saint or a bad guy. And Sister Juan, why don't you go and check on her? The young girl has suffered such a blow; she might do something drastic. I'm a little worried."

The master is kind-hearted after all. He may not care much about Guo Qingxue and He Hongyi at the moment, but he would never do anything to truly harm them, since they are only in love with him and have no ill intentions.

I wonder if they'll have that kind of luck, especially Guo Qingxue. She's smart enough, but too naive. She failed to see through the master's true intentions. Otherwise, if she had gone with the flow, she probably would have gotten what she wanted. The master would probably be the one dumbfounded then. Don't be fooled by how bad the master seems; he can really torment your young virginity.

With a flicker of thought, Du Juan nodded solemnly and said, "Yes, sir, I'll go and see for myself. And that's settled then."

After saying that, she flashed and headed in the direction Guo Qingxue had left. Perhaps her cultivation level couldn't compare to Chen Xuan's, but when it came to tracking skills, even Chen Xuan couldn't catch up. She was a professional. After all, she had been an assassin for so many years. Guo Qingxue had only been gone for a short while, so finding her was no difficulty for her.

Watching the direction she left in, Chen Xuan scratched his butt. What? He had already made a deal with Sister Juan?

Realizing what was happening, he immediately shook his head. "Sister Juan wouldn't take this seriously, would she? Want to play something exciting with me? That's a good idea, cough cough, let's talk about it later."

'Finally, things have calmed down. Sometimes I don't even understand myself. To a certain extent, I can do whatever I want, so why is life so bland? Even my childhood friend Xiao Gao, at eighteen, is already sleeping with Xiao Ye and Xiao Cai. I'm still a bit reserved. It's not like I don't have the means. I've always wanted to be a bad guy, but I haven't quite managed to be. Maybe I'm the kind of repressed pervert I despise? No, I have to be a bad guy. I need to broaden my horizons, sleep with multiple partners, have two women on each side, enjoy the bliss of having multiple wives, be promiscuous, and do whatever I want. I'm feeling a bit sleepy, I'll lie down for a while.'

With his mind wandering to all sorts of random thoughts, Chen Xuan's laziness kicked in again. He walked to the pavilion, slumped onto a recliner, and continued his slumber.

Lying down is so comfortable. Hmm, there's a delicate fragrance of a young girl, like the faint scent of orchids. Speaking of which, Guo Qingxue is quite the fragrant beauty. At first, I just wanted to scare her away, but it seems that her true nature did show later...

Chen Xuan had just lain down and dozed off for a few seconds when he stood up again, patted his forehead, and walked to the back of the house. He was almost forgotten about the important matter because Guo Qingxue and He Hongyi had come to visit him from afar. How could he leave them aside? Since it was still early, he would take them to tour Yang County.

Previously, Zhou Xiaomiao and her brother had been sent to the back of the house and did not see Chen Xuan scare Guo Qingxue. Otherwise, Chen Xuan would never have done such a thing in front of them. He could only think of another way to send Guo Qingxue away and would not show his shameful side to the people he cared about.

Turning to the back of the house, Chen Xuan saw Zhou Xiaomiao and her brother riding horses. The horse that Madam Gao had given them was always kept in the stable behind the house. Even when Chen Xuan and his family were often away, people from the Gao family would come to take care of it.

The siblings rode together on horseback, their eyes brimming with excitement and joy. Clearly, they had never ridden such a tall and magnificent horse before. Coming from a poor background, this horse was no less valuable than the luxury sports car Chen Xuan had in his previous life, and being able to ride it was a rare experience.

Su Roujia led their horses around in the backyard. The horses were very docile, and they chatted and laughed together, creating a warm and harmonious scene under the setting sun.

Seeing this, Chen Xuan did not disturb them. He leaned against the pillar and watched silently. Both Su Roujia and Zhou Xiaomiao came from poor backgrounds. In the past, they faced the question of how to survive every day and rarely had real time for entertainment. Now, they didn't know if they could make up for the regrets of their childhood. But no matter what, they could never go back to their childhood.

At fourteen or fifteen years old, it's impossible to be as carefree as when you were a child, but life is getting better after all, isn't it?

If Zhou Xiaomiao and her brother had come on a horse, they wouldn't have worn their feet raw, with blisters and blood, and wouldn't have been so careful to hide them from their own eyes.

If you're coming to wish me a Happy New Year, why don't you send a letter in advance? That way, I could come and pick you up.

While Chen Xuan was lost in thought, Su Roujia noticed him first after a while and quickly asked, "When did you arrive, Master? Are you done with your work? Is there anything I can do for you?"

Waving his hand, Chen Xuan smiled and said, "Don't worry about me. There's nothing wrong right now. You guys have fun."

"Brother Chen, I saw that you have horses at home, and I wanted to ride one. I didn't tell you beforehand, so I hope you don't mind," Zhou Xiaomiao said, noticing Chen Xuan. She looked happy but also nervous, and then started to get off the horse.

Chen Xuan waved and laughed, "No need to get off. Ride as long as you like. Don't be shy in my house. I haven't bothered you, have I?"

"No, no, Brother Chen had guests earlier, and he was worried that the horse would get in the way," Zhou Xiaomiao said with a sweet smile. She still intended to get off, but the horse was a bit too high for her, and besides, Zhou Fugui was blocking her way from behind.

Zhou Fugui, after all, was quite skilled in martial arts. He flipped over and landed on his feet. He looked at the horse with a dazed expression, as if he hadn't had enough.

Seeing this, Chen Xuan's heart stirred, and he walked over and said, "Alright, Xiao Miao, don't get down. While it's still early, I'll take you to see the county town. Didn't you say you wanted to see where I live? We'll ride horses; the higher you sit, the better you can see."

"Really? But what will you do if I ride a horse, Brother Chen?" Zhou Xiaomiao asked, both happy and conflicted.

Reaching the side, Chen Xuan took the reins from Su Roujia and said, "How about I lead the horse for you?"

"How can that be? Why don't you ride the horse, Brother Chen, and I'll lead it for you?" Zhou Xiaomiao said with a conflicted expression.

Chen Xuan led the horse outside, not giving Zhou Xiaomiao a chance to refuse, and said with a smile, "It's settled then. Xiaomiao, you're a guest, you know the principle of 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do,' right? Fugui will come along, you'll walk with me. You're a man, let your sister ride the horse, we'll protect her. You can wear soft armor too, consider it a stroll to digest your food."

Riding on horseback, Zhou Xiaomiao looked at Chen Xuan leading the horse ahead and felt a warmth in her heart. From childhood to adulthood, only her grandfather had ever been so kind to them, and Chen Xuan, the older brother she had known since childhood, was just as good. She subconsciously said, "Brother Chen, you're so kind."

Chen Xuan smiled but didn't say anything, secretly feeling ashamed. He realized he hadn't done enough. He knew that the two siblings treated him like their only family in the world and often thought of him, but he hadn't visited them often enough. In the end, he hadn't done enough.

"Master, where is Sister Juan?" Su Roujia couldn't help but ask when she arrived at the front of the house and didn't see Du Juan. She kept to her duty and didn't bring up Guo Qingxue and He Hongyi's affairs. That was not something a little maid like her could ask about. Even if she knew their purpose beforehand, if they were really taken into the master's room, she would just have to serve two more people.

Leading the horse outside, Chen Xuan said, "I asked Sister Juan to take care of something; she'll be back soon."

Su Roujia said no more, but Zhou Xiaomiao, still curious, asked, "Brother Chen, those two ladies were so beautiful! I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation, but I heard them say they wanted to marry you while I was washing up. Could they be your wives?" "Your wife is in the capital. It's been a while since I've seen her, and I miss her quite a bit. As for the others, I don't know. We'll see how things go. I know their feelings, but for now, we can only be friends. If one day I fall for them, I'll fight them for me," Chen Xuan said frankly.

Not quite understanding these things, Zhou Xiaomiao thought for a moment and said, "Brother Chen, you're such a good person, you should take many wives and concubines in the future, so that the house will be lively, and many children bring many blessings."

"Haha, Xiao Miao, do you think so too?" Chen Xuan laughed immediately. Why does everyone think they should have a harem? Even his unmarried wife doesn't object to his philandering and even has the intention to help him find wives.

As they walked out of the grove of trees around the house amidst laughter and conversation, Chen Xuan's relaxed smile faded slightly, and Zhou Xiaomiao and the others fell silent, looking somewhat puzzled.

Outside Taoyuan Residence, Steward He and a young man in fine clothes were waiting quietly. The young man looked quite uneasy and conflicted, clearly wanting to visit Chen Xuan, but seemingly lacking the courage.

Before they could speak, Chen Xuan bowed and said, "Greetings, Young Master Jinghao, Steward He. Why didn't you give us any advance notice? We apologize for any neglect."

Even though Chen Xuan has already established his own household and left the Gao family, he had spent more than ten years there and had never suffered any hardship since he was a child. It can be said that without the Gao family, he would not be where he is today. No matter what his current situation is, he still maintains a very proper attitude.

Perhaps even a son like Gao Jinghao, born out of wedlock, would have to treat Butler He with utmost respect in the Gao family, but for him, there is a distinction between primary and secondary matters. He doesn't care about Gao Jinghao's reputation, but he does care about the family's. If he doesn't respect Gao Jinghao, what will Madam Gao and the others think?

Seeing that Chen Xuan and the others were about to leave, Butler He laughed and said, "They're not outsiders, Xuan-ge'er, you're joking. Did we disturb you?"

"No, that's not true, Young Master Jinghao. Butler He invites you. It's a rare treat to come all this way. Please sit down and have a cup of tea," Chen Xuan said, already having a general idea of ​​their purpose.

Butler He quickly said, "No, no, Xuan-ge'er, you're busy with your own things. Young Master Hao and I came to talk to you about something and hear your opinion. In just a few words, Madam and the others went to the eldest young master's place. There's no one to look after the house, there's a lot of work waiting for us. We can't be as leisurely as Xuan-ge'er, it's enviable."

"Don't be so formal. What brings Steward He here?" Chen Xuan asked, feigning curiosity.

It's definitely because Gao Jinghao went to Butler He for help because of what happened with Zhou Xiaomiao and the others; otherwise, Gao Jinghao probably wouldn't have had the courage to come and face Chen Xuan alone.

As the saying goes, the eldest brother is like a father, and Chen Xuan and Gao Jingming grew up together since childhood, and their relationship is like that of brothers. Moreover, now that he has a special status, to put it bluntly, because of that incident, Chen Xuan broke Gao Jinghao's leg and he had to accept it. If he dared to go to Madam Gao and the others to stand up for him, the outcome would only be worse.

Knowing that Chen Xuan was saving face, Butler He secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Let Young Master Jinghao speak instead."

In fact, Butler He was also worried. After all, it was Gao Jinghao's men who offended Chen Xuan. If Chen Xuan had taken swift action at the time, it would have been fine, proving that the problem was not serious. But he just brushed it off with a few words, which made the matter much bigger. If it was not handled properly, and Chen Xuan developed a grudge against the Gao family, no one could bear the consequences. Madam Gao and the others would be furious when they found out, and there was even a possibility that Gao Jinghao would be beaten to death.

As people who were close to Chen Xuan in those years, how could they not know that Chen Xuan valued relationships the most? They had also heard how much he took care of Zhou Xiaomiao and her brother during his years in Mocheng. But just when Zhou Xiaomiao and her brother arrived, Gao Jinghao's men tried to do something improper. If they didn't take a stand, the matter would be neither too big nor too small.

During the conversation, Gao Jinghao hid half of his body behind Steward He, feeling uneasy. He was almost scared to death when he learned that the people below had offended Chen Xuan. Although Chen Xuan was just a pageboy and companion at first, who in the Gao family dared to truly treat him as a servant? Let alone now.

Even knowing the whole story, Gao Jinghao didn't dare to meet alone and had to beg Butler He to come along before he dared to come.

Butler He was extremely unwilling, but he couldn't resist Gao Jinghao's repeated pleas. Even so, he still gave Gao Jinghao a severe scolding, and because of his status, he was almost about to hit him.

At this moment, Gao Jinghao stepped forward cautiously and said, "How have you been lately, Xuan-ge'er? It's been a while. Come visit me sometime. I happen to have a few jars of good wine that I'm reluctant to drink. Um, this is what happened. Some of my men offended you by using my name. I didn't know about this at first, but that's not an excuse for me. After learning about it, based on their actions, and as you said, Xuan-ge'er, I've already made them turn themselves in to the authorities. They will be dealt with severely, strictly, and quickly. I've also spoken with Magistrate Shu to make sure they are severely punished. I've also asked the people in prison to take care of them. I wonder if Xuan-ge'er is satisfied with this arrangement?"

After saying all that in one breath, Gao Jinghao looked at Chen Xuan with a tense expression, as if he were waiting for a verdict. He was clearly the young master of the Gao family, while Chen Xuan had only ever been a page or servant.

Let's say someone took the initiative to handle this matter. Chen Xuan still had to give face to the Gao family, and Gao Jinghao had already shown his attitude, so Chen Xuan was very satisfied with the result.

So there's no need to dwell on such trivial matters. Chen Xuan smiled and said, "I thought it was something important. I had already forgotten about it. Why bother Young Master Jinghao with such a small matter? It's not worth it for him. It's beneath his dignity. Besides, why did Young Master Jinghao have to make the trip himself? Just send someone to deliver the message."

Judging from Chen Xuan's tone, he didn't seem to care, and Gao Jinghao's anxiety finally subsided. He quickly said, "Although it's not a big deal, it's best for family members not to cause misunderstandings. Come over and explain, so as not to become a laughing stock."

"Young Master Jinghao, you're too kind," Chen Xuan nodded casually.

When things were out in the open, Gao Jinghao always felt a lot of pressure when facing Chen Xuan. It wasn't because of his close relationship with his elder brother, nor because Madam Gao treated him like her own son, but because of something else entirely. For example, Chen Xuan's cultivation level as a Grandmaster, and the fact that Princess Fuyao was going to marry him. In front of Chen Xuan, he felt like a floating creature looking at the blue sky, and he didn't dare to stay any longer.

So he smiled and said, "Now that we've talked things out, it seems Xuan-ge'er has other matters to attend to, so we won't disturb you any longer. We'll take our leave now and meet again another day when we're free."

"Young Master Jinghao, you're being too polite. We're already at the door, why rush to leave?" Chen Xuan shook his head and smiled, clearly not treating the Gao family as outsiders.

Gao Jinghao waved his hand and said, "No, no, Xuan-ge has guests to attend to. Taking good care of them is the most important thing."

At this moment, Butler He also spoke up, "In that case, Xuan-ge'er, then Young Master Jinghao and I will take our leave now. Please come and visit often when you have time. Madam and the others often talk about you. Now that you've gone to the eldest young master's place, they'll surely be happy to know that you treat it like home."

"Of course! If I can't afford to eat, I'll just go and freeload. Young Master promised me back then that he'd let me eat and drink well for the rest of my life. I remember that perfectly well," Chen Xuan said matter-of-factly.

Back then, it was Butler He who accompanied Madam Gao on her outing that brought Chen Xuan back. Time has passed, the young master has achieved great success, and Chen Xuan has also reached a height that countless people can only look up to. As a witness, Butler He felt that his life was complete.

Seeing that Chen Xuan was still the same as usual, he felt relieved and said with a smile, "Alright, we'll be going now. Xuan-ge'er, come visit often when you have time."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Butler He led Gao Jinghao away.

Watching their retreating figures, Chen Xuan hesitated for a moment before saying, "Young Master Jinghao, there's something I'm not really qualified to say, but I still want to remind you. Our Gao family is no longer what it used to be; countless people are watching us, especially the eldest young master. His Majesty has personally appointed him as a model scholar, and he cannot tolerate the slightest blemish. We fear that some malicious individuals might try to smear and attack him. Therefore, you should be careful with your words and actions, especially avoiding contact with those who commit crimes. It might be fine normally, but we fear that someone might use it against you at a crucial moment. As the saying goes, a thousand-mile dike can be destroyed by an ant hole. That's all I have to say; I hope you don't mind."

Upon hearing this, Gao Jinghao paused, a warmth spreading through his heart. He felt as if he wanted to slap himself. Chen Xuan had referred to the Gao family as "our Gao family," not "your Gao family." He truly didn't consider himself an outsider. As for himself, with his family's prosperity, he had become quite arrogant after being flattered. He even felt proud when people used his name to act outside.

If he were a stranger, would Chen Xuan have said these heartfelt words to him?
He turned and bowed sincerely, saying, "Jinghao is ashamed. Thank you for reminding me, Xuan-ge'er. I will be more careful."

"Just kidding, Young Master Jinghao, don't take it seriously," Chen Xuan said with a smile.

Because of what happened before, he was reminded that Chen Xuan had already done more than enough. He didn't care about many people in the Gao family. If something happened to someone like Gao Jinghao in the future, unless Gao Jingming or Madam Gao intervened, he wouldn't bother with it.

The minor incident didn't waste much time. After they left, Chen Xuan turned back and said, "Let's go, let's continue. There's still about an hour and a half until dark, enough time to tour the entire Yang County."

"Brother Chen, was that young master Gao Jingming's younger brother? Is he here because of those scoundrels?" Zhou Xiaomiao asked cautiously from her horse.

Chen Xuan smiled and said, "Little Miao, don't think too much about it, just be happy."

Zhou Xiaomiao nodded and said no more, feeling a little uneasy. She wondered if she had caused trouble for Brother Chen. If he hadn't come, none of this would have happened. After all, even Young Master Gao Jingming's younger brother had come to apologize in person. Would this create a rift between them?

Unaware of what Xiao Miao was thinking, Chen Xuan suddenly realized something. Xiao Miao had grown up in Mo City, which was a big city. Now he was taking her to visit a small county town.

...(End of chapter)