The marriage had been settled, and two days later, Second Madam and Li Zhenting arrived at Du Bin’s home bearing lavish gifts.
Du Bin was displeased by their arrival. In his eyes, even if Marshal Li could not come in person, the proper person to represent the Li family should have been the First Madam. How could a concubine overstep her position and negotiate the marriage of one of the family’s sons?
Looking at the table piled high with gifts, Du Bin said pointedly, “Shiru has been back for quite some time now. She’s been waiting to be married all this while, yet she hasn’t had the chance to pay her respects to Madam Marshal. I wonder what Madam has been busy with lately?”
A trace of embarrassment flashed across Second Madam’s face. She awkwardly raised her handkerchief to cover her mouth and gave a couple of light, nervous laughs before replying, “Madam has devoted herself to praying and studying Buddhism. She has entrusted Zhenting and Shiru’s marriage to me. Commander Du, rest assured, the Li family will never mistreat Shiru. She has always been as close to my daughter Baozhu as sisters. After this marriage, our families will become even more closely related.”
Du Bin took a sip of tea without responding. Later, he simply got up and left, leaving Du Shiru’s stepmother to entertain the two guests with an ingratiating smile.
After leaving the Du residence, Li Zhenting’s face was frighteningly grim.
Second Madam tried to console him. “Don’t be upset. Once you climb to the highest position, no one will dare look down on you again. Your mother apologizes to you. I couldn’t give you a respectable status, so you’ve had to rely on yourself and climb your way up step by step.”
Li Zhenting glanced at her. “Mother, I’ve never blamed you. Whatever I want, I’ll fight for myself. There’s nothing for Du Bin to be so arrogant about. Once I become Young Marshal, won’t he have to watch my mood and act accordingly? I’ve waited so many years already. I can afford to wait a little longer. Go home and make the wedding arrangements. I have something else to take care of, so I’ll leave first.”
Second Madam grabbed his arm and reminded him again, “Your father has ordered all of you to return home tonight. He said he has something to announce. You absolutely mustn’t be late and anger him!”
After leaving, Li Zhenting went straight to a street in the southern part of the city.
Nine out of ten establishments on this street were engaged in the flesh trade. Thinly dressed young women stood along both sides of the street, leaning against the railings and waving colorful silk handkerchiefs as they beckoned to passing customers.
Li Zhenting headed directly to a modest house at the end of the street. Dressed in an immaculate suit, he looked completely out of place here.
Before long, two women who looked exactly alike emerged from inside.
Both wore heavy makeup, their lips painted a seductive crimson and their slender brows shaped like willow leaves. Every movement radiated a mature, alluring charm, especially their slender waists, which swayed with captivating grace.
“You’re here?”
One of the women greeted him with a dazzling smile and immediately leaned into his arms. The other refused to be outdone. She walked over, hooked a finger around Li Zhenting’s belt, and tugged him toward the room.
Xiulian and Xiuyun were twin sisters. Their parents had died during the war, and they had been picked up by a trafficker and sold to a brothel in the southern part of the city. Li Zhenting had happened to encounter them and, after visiting them several times, had arranged for them to live here.
Whenever he was troubled, he came to this place. The sisters always knew how to give him some unexpected “surprises.”
Once inside, Xiuyun reached for his belt while Xiulian eagerly helped him out of his suit.
“You haven’t come to see us for such a long time. We sisters have missed you terribly!”
Li Zhenting looked at their heavily made-up faces, but suddenly found himself losing interest.
His mind kept drifting back to the young woman he’d seen at the Paramount that night—the delicate face untouched by cosmetics. She had looked so innocent and obedient that any man who saw her would instinctively feel an inexplicable urge to protect and possess her.
Xiulian and Xiuyun exchanged a timid glance before asking, “Sir, are you in a bad mood today?”
Li Zhenting came back to his senses. Expressionless, he nodded.
He lifted his head and slowly swept his gaze over the two women. Seeing how nervous and cautious they had become in front of him, his heart softened.
Women were nothing more than companions he kept for his pleasure. No matter how breathtakingly beautiful they were, if they couldn’t make him feel satisfied, then their beauty was nothing but an empty shell.
It was simply too boring.
He had no time for love. As long as they could help him relieve his pent-up desires, that was enough.
Once he had thought it through, the tension in Li Zhenting’s handsome face finally eased somewhat, and a faint smile appeared.
Encouraged by his expression, the sisters immediately became bolder…
Preparations for the military parade were nearly complete. In another five days, Marshal Shen from the south and Marshal Meng from the west would arrive in Beiping. Li Juechen had been busy at the military camp throughout this period, and every detail had already been taken care of.
Ever since their trip to the Paramount together, he hadn’t found the time to visit that heartless little woman for several days.
He missed her terribly. Even in his dreams, all he could see was her smiling at him.
Yet that little white-eyed wolf hadn’t asked about him even once.
Feng An sent someone to report on her every day. Apart from reading, painting, and practicing calligraphy, the little woman apparently didn’t feel like saying a single extra word.
Li Yuanzhou appeared out of nowhere behind Li Juechen and suddenly slapped him hard on the shoulder.
“Third Brother, what are you spacing out for?”
Li Juechen was startled. He immediately lifted his foot to kick him.
Li Yuanzhou dodged and scampered away, shouting as he ran, “You were the one spacing out and didn’t notice me! How can you blame me for startling you? It’s getting late. Father sent someone to call us home!”
“Got it.”
The Li family had not been this lively in a long time.
At Marshal Li’s command, every member of the Li family gathered around the dining table for dinner.
There were many children in the family, so the dining table was exceptionally long. A pristine white lace tablecloth covered it, with an exquisite glass vase placed in the center. Each place setting contained both Chinese and Western tableware.
Li Xiao sat at the head of the table. To his left sat First Madam Xiao Wanyong, and to his right was Li Juechen. The others sat in order along the table.
Second Madam sat beside First Madam, followed by Third Madam, Fourth Madam, and Fifth Madam.
Li Zhenting sat beside Li Juechen. After indulging himself for half the day, the consequences were obvious—his legs were still trembling. Those two women had been like seductive spirits draining every last bit of his energy, refusing to let him leave until they had thoroughly exhausted him.
The women of the Li family sat at the far end of the table. However, if Second Miss Li Yuzhu were home, she would sit beside Li Juechen. After all, there was a strict distinction between legitimate and concubine-born children, and although Li Xiao favored sons over daughters, he still placed great importance on his only legitimate daughter.
Tonight, Second Miss was not home, so the person sitting beside Li Juechen was the fourth son, Li Zhenting.
Dinner was Western food: fresh steak served with golden fried eggs, broccoli and carrots for vegetables, and spaghetti as the main course.
Li Xiao frequently dealt with Westerners, and over time, he had developed something of an admiration for Western customs. Under ordinary circumstances, the family usually ate Western food.
After finishing his meal, Li Xiao set down his knife and fork and picked up his napkin to wipe the corners of his mouth.
Seeing this, everyone else put down their utensils as well and waited for the head of the family to speak.