Water Margin: I am Zhu Biao

Chapter 117 Biaozi's Coming-of-Age Ceremony

Zhu Chaofeng wanted to slaughter pigs and sheep to hold a grand ancestral worship ceremony.

However, Zhu Biao dissuaded him from this idea.

In the end, only the father and son went to the ancestral hall. After dismissing everyone else, they lit some incense for the ancestral tablets and murmured a few words.

Zhu Biao didn't want the matter of wiping out White Tiger Stronghold to become common knowledge.

He issued strict orders to the local militia, and on the cart drivers' side, he gave all the cart drivers three times their usual wage, which served as both hush money and a way to keep quiet.

To put it simply, he didn't want to alarm the bandits entrenched at the other end of Tiger Sorrow Gorge, or the Hu and Li families.

Looking further ahead, he didn't want to alarm the martial arts world of Qing and Ji prefectures. Even if White Tiger Mountain was gone, there were still Erlong Mountain, Qingfeng Mountain, and Duiying Mountain.

And Liangshan Marsh.

However, after leaving the ancestral hall, Zhu Chaofeng's attitude towards Zhu Biao escalated again, and he no longer insisted on having a family reunion dinner at home on New Year's Day.

"My little one, you've grown up!"

He patted Zhu Biao on the shoulder and said with emotion, "Now you are the undisputed commander of the army. Having just returned from a great victory, you should celebrate with your soldiers!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao was slightly taken aback, then joked, "Dad, aren't you afraid people will talk about you behind your back if I don't go back to the old house for the New Year?"

Zhu Chaofeng smiled slyly: "Let them make up stories, what's the big deal? It won't cost me a piece of my flesh."

"When my youngest son wipes out the bandits of Qingzhou and is promoted to high office, I will be an official. Let's see who dares to say a word then!"

"Hahaha!"

Zhu Biao burst into laughter and then hugged him tightly.

"Father, just wait. Your son will earn you a marquis-level official position one day."

Zhu Chaofeng also smiled.

"Alright, Father will live a long and prosperous life, just waiting for the day when he brings glory to our ancestors!"

As he was laughing, he suddenly remembered something, his smile vanished, and he grabbed Zhu Biao's arm.

"My youngest son, though your elder brothers are unworthy..."

Zhu Biao patted his hand: "Don't worry, Dad. We can't write two 'Zhu' characters in one stroke. No matter what, I won't make things difficult for them. If I can help them, I will."

"well!"

After seeing Zhu Chaofeng off, Zhu Biao did not immediately return to Huchoujian. He was only human; after a night of fighting, he was exhausted and needed to rest.

Besides, the tavern needs time to prepare the celebration banquet, doesn't it?

"My lord! You're back?"

By the time we returned to the inn, it was already getting dark.

Ruyi had been waiting at the door. When she saw him, she quickly came out to greet him.

"The water is boiled, and the food is prepared. Would you like to bathe first, or eat first, my lord?"

Her tone was noticeably more enthusiastic than usual.

How could I not be eager? The guest house is almost empty tonight, especially since Pang Qiutang, that tagalong, isn't here either. It's a godsend.

"Hmm~," Zhu Biao raised an eyebrow, deliberately dragging out the sound, and glanced at her with a half-smile.

"I smell too strong, so I'll take a shower first."

"it is good."

Ruyi blushed and lowered her head.

Then, Zhu Biao gave instructions to Su Fang.

"Go tell Uncle Tang and Second Brother to have separate meals tonight to celebrate the New Year, and then go to Tiger Sorrow Gorge tomorrow to celebrate together."

"yes!"

Just as Su Fang was about to turn around, Zhu Biao grabbed him.

"After you finish your errand, go find Zhu Jiu. Stay with him tonight and don't come back looking for me."

"oh."

Su Fang scratched his head, seemingly understanding but not quite, and subconsciously glanced at Ruyi.

Her face was flushed red, her eyes darting around, but she bit her lip tightly and refused to leave her side.

"Huh~"

A moment later, as Zhu Biao submerged himself in the bathtub, a layer of dark red sludge almost instantly rose to the surface of the water, which he brushed away with some disgust.

After all, tonight's bath is destined to be one that I won't be taking alone.

"My lord, would you like some more hot water?"

Outside the door, Ruyi's shy and timid voice rang out, and Zhu Biao couldn't help but smile.

His first encounter with Ruyi was while he was bathing her, and they went through many similar experiences afterward. Only today are they finally going to break through this barrier.

Thinking of this, he suddenly felt a surge of heat rising in his lower abdomen.

"Ruyi, come in."

Yes~

Ruyi responded in a trembling voice, and then the door opened slightly, and a cold breeze carrying the scent of jasmine blew in.

Zhu Biao turned his head to look and saw Ruyi dressed in a moon-white undergarment, her pretty face without any makeup, her cheeks flushed, and her long, flowing hair cascading down her back.

Zhu Biao's gaze was full of aggression. Ruyi felt her skin crawl under his stare, but she gritted her teeth, took off her embroidered shoes, and walked barefoot to the tub.

"My lord, my love, I will help you bathe."

"ha!"

Zhu Biao grinned mischievously.

"What do you mean, 'serve'? Ruyi, come and bathe with me!"

Before he finished speaking, he wrapped his arms around the Ruyi and twisted it with force, pulling it into the bathtub.

"ah!"

Water splashed everywhere, and Ruyi exclaimed in surprise, but in the next instant, her cherry lips were covered, and her mind went blank.

Stab it!

Before she could react, her inner garment and undergarment were ripped open by a large hand. The next day, before dawn, Zhu Biao woke up.

After a night of dancing and revelry, Biaozi completed his coming-of-age ceremony and felt refreshed, but his stomach betrayed him; he was woken up by hunger.

Last night I was so focused on our pleasure that I didn't eat a single bite, and now I'm practically glued to my back.

Hearing the noise, Ruyi, wrapped in the blanket, sat up with some difficulty.

"My lord, you're awake. Are you hungry? I'll heat up some food for you right away."

Her voice, languid yet satisfied, soft yet joyful, tugged at Zhu Biao's heartstrings like a feather, instantly stirring a restless desire within him.

There was no way around it; his body was only seventeen—no, he turned eighteen yesterday, a time when he was full of vigor and vitality.

But Zhu Biao managed to suppress his anger and was heading to Tiger Sorrow Gorge early this morning, where all his brothers were waiting to celebrate their victory.

He nimbly slipped on his boots, put on his coat, and left the land of pleasure.

"No need, I'll just have two cold steamed buns."

"How can that be? I'll cool off quickly."

As she spoke, Ruyi quickly put on her clothes.

But a complex look flashed in his eyes—a mixture of relief, admiration, and melancholy.

My lord is indeed a man destined for great things. He takes a very detached view of romantic love and bedroom pleasures. If he ever faces a choice in the future, he will never let love cloud his judgment.

Seeing that she had already struggled to get out of bed, Zhu Biao didn't refuse anymore: "Alright, just make some food, I'll go to the bathroom."

As soon as he pushed open the door and stepped out, he saw Pan Jinlian, dressed in a new ochre dress, gracefully walking in from outside the courtyard.

"My lord, Happy New Year! I wish you a Happy New Year."

"Today is the second day of the Lunar New Year. We should eat glutinous rice balls. We just made some at home, with two kinds of fillings: glutinous rice and red bean. Would you like to try some, my lord?"

""

She stopped tactfully at the gate of the courtyard, bowed slightly to Zhu Biao, and spoke in a gentle tone, but her eyes glanced intentionally or unintentionally at the window of the north room.

At this time, the sky was just before dawn. The lights were on in the house, and shadowy figures could be vaguely seen moving around. It was Ruyi busy in the inner room.

The woman's gaze was meaningful, making Zhu Biao feel extremely uncomfortable, as if he had been caught in adultery.

Happy Chinese New Year!

He cupped his hands in a gesture of respect and said in a nonchalant tone, "Thank you for your kindness, Madam Pan, but I have never liked sweet things, and Ruyi is making breakfast for me right now, so I won't bother you any further."

Pan Jinlian's eyes flickered slightly as she tentatively asked, "I didn't expect Miss Ruyi to be not only talented but also diligent, coming so early to serve her husband?"

Zhu Biao made no attempt to hide his feelings and said bluntly, "Ruyi didn't get up early; I kept her in the room overnight last night."

Clang!

The sound of plates and bowls shattering echoed from inside the room.

Ruyi had been eavesdropping on the conversation outside, and she was surprised to hear Zhu Biao so bluntly give her a formal title.

My heart was instantly filled with surprise and joy. I trembled like a leaf, my legs went weak, and I knelt down with a thud.

Zhu Biao understood this matter clearly; it couldn't be kept secret!

The inn is so small, you'll run into each other all the time. Instructor Zhang, Lin Chong, and Wu Song are all seasoned veterans with sharp ears and eyes, so they probably already knew about it.

Besides, since he had already done it, he couldn't let Ruyi secretly become his mistress.

We must at least give her a title, even if it's just being a concubine, it's better than having no title or status at all.

Upon hearing this, Pan Jinlian was also astonished, and then an undisguised envy and jealousy flashed in her eyes.

"In that case, I have been presumptuous."

When she turned around, her pretty face was already distorted beyond recognition.

At this time, she didn't really have any feelings for Zhu Biao, and she never thought about having an affair with him or climbing into his bed.

She was just jealous of Ruyi's good fortune.

A woman who had been married before and had even worked in a brothel was first promoted to counselor by Zhu Biao, and now she has been taken as a concubine. It's like she's risen to the top in one step!

And what about her?

She accepted being married to this short, ugly man from Wuhan University! Now, all she wants is to climb higher, but that path has been blocked.

In this life, I can only be the wife of a pancake vendor, kneading dough, cooking soup, and collecting money every day.

On what grounds?

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