3: Chapter 3 The Lady's Taste is Really Good

The servant paused for a moment, then revealed a knowing smile.

"Yes, Young Master. I will go right away."

He turned and trotted out of the courtyard.

Chen Fan picked up his teacup and took another sip.

The tea had already gone cold.

He set the cup down, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.

In Zhao Long's memories, Liu Ruyan was a stunning seductress.

Coming from a brothel, she was proficient in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and was even more voluptuous and charming in bed.

Back then, Zhao Long had spent eight hundred taels of silver to redeem her from the Chunfeng House and took her as his second concubine.

But this woman was deep and scheming; on the surface, she was completely submissive to Zhao Long, but in reality, she treated him as an ATM and a stepping stone.

She had been secretly hoarding private money, hoping that one day she could escape the Zhao Residence.

Zhao Long was well aware of this but couldn't be bothered to expose her.

Anyway, as long as she was still in his bed, nothing else mattered.

Chen Fan opened his eyes.

He was Zhao Long now.

Then Zhao Long's women were naturally his as well.

It would be a waste not to sleep with them.

Moreover, he needed to adapt to this identity and integrate into this role as quickly as possible.

And the fastest way was to do what Zhao Long would do.

Hmm, that was it; he didn't really want to sleep with them very much.

Footsteps sounded.

A woman wearing a water-red silk dress walked gracefully into the courtyard.

She had a graceful figure and a slender waist; walking, she swayed like a willow in the wind.

Her oval face was exquisite and charming, and her brows and eyes carried three parts amorousness and seven parts seductiveness.

It was none other than the second concubine, Liu Ruyan.

She walked up to Chen Fan and bowed gracefully.

"This concubine greets the Young Master."

Her voice was soft and sweet, carrying the alluring tone peculiar to brothel women.

Chen Fan looked her over.

The image in his memory perfectly overlapped with the person before him.

This woman was indeed a stunner.

"Come here."

He reached out his hand.

Liu Ruyan smiled slightly, walked forward submissively, and placed her hand in his palm.

Chen Fan gave a gentle tug, and she sat on his lap.

A warm, fragrant, and soft jade-like beauty was in his arms.

Liu Ruyan's body pressed against his chest, her fingers tracing circles on his lapel.

"Young Master, why did you think of this concubine so early today?"

She raised her head, her eyes shifting, carrying doubt and probing.

Chen Fan did not answer.

He just stared at her eyes.

Those eyes were beautiful, but deep within them, calculation and indifference were hidden.

This woman had never treated Zhao Long with sincerity.

But so what?

Chen Fan didn't intend to be sincere with her either.

He lowered his head and kissed her lips.

Liu Ruyan's body stiffened, then softened, and she began to respond.

Her technique was skilled, and every movement was just right.

This was the skill she had learned in the brothel.

Chen Fan picked her up and walked toward the bedroom.

Liu Ruyan wrapped her arms around his neck, a charming smile on her face.

But she was calculating in her heart.

What is wrong with this bastard today?

Usually, he would only summon her to serve him in bed at night; why is he so urgent in broad daylight today?

Could it be that he was provoked by something outside?

Forget it, whatever.

Anyway, as long as she served him well, silver would be continuously delivered to her hands.

In another half a year, she would be able to save up five thousand taels.

By then, she would be able to leave this damn place.

The bedroom door was kicked open.

Then it slammed shut.

...

An hour later.

Chen Fan got dressed and walked out of the bedroom.

On the bed behind him, Liu Ruyan lay on her side, the quilt only covering her waist, revealing her smooth, fragrant shoulders and exquisite collarbone.

Her face was still flushed, and her eyes were unfocused.

Chen Fan looked back at her.

This woman's body was indeed nice.

But that was all.

He felt no attachment and turned to leave the room.

In the courtyard, the little maid immediately served freshly brewed tea.

Chen Fan took it and drank a sip.

The tea was warm, just right.

He sat on the stone bench and began to think about the arrangements for what came next.

He had to go to the Qingyang Taoist Temple tomorrow.

Before that, he had to handle the matters of the Zhao Residence properly.

There were still two more women.

The third concubine, Su Qingyu, and the legitimate wife, Lin Waner.

Su Qingyu was timid and weak; she should be easy to handle.

As for Lin Waner...

A hint of playfulness flashed in Chen Fan's eyes.

That cold, icy woman was the truly interesting one.

"Go and call the third mistress here."

He said to the little maid.

The little maid paused for a moment, then nodded and ran off.

Before long, a woman wearing a pale cyan dress walked timidly into the courtyard.

She had a delicate appearance and a slender figure; she walked with her head down, not daring to look up at anyone.

It was the third concubine, Su Qingyu.

She was the daughter of a modest family, forcibly snatched into the residence after Zhao Long took a liking to her.

From the day she entered the door, she had lived in fear.

"Yo、Young Master..."

She stood before Chen Fan, her voice as small as a mosquito's buzz.

Chen Fan looked up at her.

This woman was completely different from Liu Ruyan.

Liu Ruyan was seductive and charming, while she was pure and weak.

Two completely different styles.

"Come here."

Chen Fan's voice was very calm.

Su Qingyu's body trembled, and she slowly moved in front of him.

Chen Fan reached out and grasped her wrist.

Her hand was very cold and was still trembling slightly.

"Are you afraid of me?"

Chen Fan asked.

Su Qingyu dared not speak, only keeping her head down.

Chen Fan laughed.

He stood up and pulled her toward the bedroom.

Su Qingyu wanted to struggle, but dared not.

She could only let him pull her along, tears swirling in her eyes.

The bedroom door closed once again.

...

Another hour later.

Chen Fan walked out of the bedroom, feeling refreshed.

On the bed behind him, Su Qingyu was curled up in the quilt, her eyes red and swollen, with tear stains still on her face.

Chen Fan did not look back.

He walked to the courtyard, sat down, and picked up the teacup.

The tea had gone cold again.

He frowned and set the cup down.

"Go and invite the first mistress here."

He said to the little maid.

The little maid was completely dumbfounded this time.

What is wrong with the Young Master today?

In one afternoon, he has... with all three concubines...

And now he wants to call the first mistress?

That is the legitimate wife!

And who in the entire residence doesn't know about the relationship between the first mistress and the Young Master?

They are like fire and water!

"What are you standing there for? Go."

Chen Fan's voice had no warmth.

The little maid shuddered and hurriedly ran off.

Chen Fan leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

Lin Waner.

The woman Zhao Long was most obsessed with in his memories.

She was also the only woman whose heart he could not obtain.

Liu Ruyan and Su Qingyu—one was just playing along, the other was forced to submit.

Only Lin Waner had never bowed her head to him from beginning to end.

She hated him.

Hated him to the bone.

But the more it was like this, the more Zhao Long wanted to conquer her.

Unfortunately, until he died, he never got his wish.

And now...

Chen Fan opened his eyes, a smile curling at the corner of his lips.

He was not Zhao Long now.

He was Chen Fan.

A Chen Fan who possessed a modern person's Soul and had no psychological burden whatsoever.

Footsteps sounded.

Very light, very slow, carrying obvious reluctance.

Lin Waner walked into the courtyard.

She was still in that plain-colored dress, her face without any makeup, cold and frosty.

She stood at the entrance of the courtyard, not walking any further.

"You were looking for me?"

Her voice was cold, carrying a tone of questioning.

Chen Fan did not stand up.

He just sat there, looking her over.

Lin Waner's appearance could not be considered the most beautiful among all the women in the Zhao Residence.

But the cold temperament she possessed was unique.

Like a snow lotus blooming on a cliff.

Within sight but beyond reach.

"Come here."

Chen Fan said.

Lin Waner did not move.

"I am not your maid, nor am I your concubine."

Her voice became even colder.

"I am your legitimately wedded wife."

"Whatever you have to say, say it here."

Chen Fan laughed.

As expected, this woman was different from the others.

"Then I will say it here."

He stood up and slowly walked toward her.

Lin Waner subconsciously took a step back.

But Chen Fan was faster.

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her into his embrace.

"What are you doing! Let me go!"

Lin Waner began to struggle, her eyes filled with terror and anger.

Chen Fan did not let go.

He lowered his head and leaned close to her ear.

"I am your husband."

His voice was very soft, yet carried an unquestionable assertiveness.

"You are my legitimately wedded wife."

"Then, is there any problem with doing what a wife should do?"

Lin Waner's face instantly turned deathly pale.

"You... you shameless bastard!"

She used all her strength to push him, but she couldn't move him at all.

Chen Fan carried her and walked toward the bedroom.

"Shameless?"

He laughed.

"I am your husband, after all."

"Between a husband and wife, where does 'shameless' come from?"

Lin Waner was completely panicked.

She struggled desperately, even opening her mouth to try and bite him.

But Chen Fan just exerted a little force and threw her onto the bed.

"You dare!"

Lin Waner scrambled up from the bed, her eyes filled with hatred.

"Although my father is no longer here, I still have my clan!"

"If you dare to touch me, I will go and report you to the officials!"

Chen Fan stood by the bed, looking down at her from a position of superiority.

"Report to the officials?"

His smile deepened.

"Do you know who the magistrate of Qinghe County is?"

Lin Waner was stunned.

"It is my father."

Chen Fan said, word for word.

"Where are you going to report me? To my father?"

Lin Waner's face completely lost all color.

She had forgotten.

She had forgotten this most important fact.

In Qinghe County, the Zhao family was the sky.

And she was just a woman who had been forcibly married in.

No one would help her.

And no one dared to help her.

"You... you animal..."

Her voice was trembling, and tears finally burst forth from her eyes.

Chen Fan looked at her.

This woman had finally revealed her vulnerable side.

But in his heart, there were no ripples.

He was just doing what Zhao Long would do.

Nothing more, nothing less.

He leaned down and kissed her lips.

Lin Waner struggled desperately, but was quickly subdued.

The bedroom door closed for the third time.

...

Night fell.

Chen Fan walked out of the bedroom, wearing only an outer robe.

On the bed behind him, Lin Waner was curled up in the quilt, her eyes vacant, like a broken porcelain doll.

Chen Fan did not look back.

He walked to the courtyard and looked up at the night sky.

The moon was round, and the stars were bright.

Today, he had slept with Zhao Long's three women.

Without any psychological burden.

Because he was Zhao Long now.

And everything that belonged to Zhao Long was now his.

"Young Master, dinner is ready."

The little maid said timidly.

Chen Fan nodded.

"Set it in the main hall."

He turned and walked toward the main hall.

In the bedroom behind him, muffled sobbing could be heard.

Chen Fan's footsteps did not pause.

He walked into the main hall and sat in the main seat.

The table was filled with delicacies.

He picked up his chopsticks and began to eat in a leisurely manner.

The taste was good.

It was countless times better than the chaff and vegetables he ate when he was a woodcarver.

This was the life of a playboy.

This was Zhao Long's life.

And now, all of this was his.

He finished his meal and set down his chopsticks.

"Prepare a carriage for tomorrow morning."

He said to the steward.

"I am going to the Qingyang Taoist Temple."

The steward paused for a moment, then nodded.

"Yes, Young Master."

Chen Fan stood up and walked out of the main hall.

The night wind blew, carrying a hint of chill.

He looked up toward the direction of the West Mountain.

There, the Qingyang Taoist Temple was located.

And there was the Martial Dao!