The next day, Kang He and Fan Jing went to investigate secretly about that Qin lady’s background with Yao Yuan.
Though Kang He and Fan Jing hadn’t mentioned it to him, Yao Yuan also came to inquire. That Qin lady was placed inside the martial arts school; though not openly announced, she was arranged to stay at the female dormitory’s end. But since Yao Yuan was the school director, how could this be hidden from him?
After hearing the full story, Yao Yuan slammed his hand on the table, cursing under his breath. Who in the county was so careless as to let some shady dealings reach his own relatives?
Now that a few close relatives all respected the Fan family, how could they tolerate such scheming?
Yao Yuan immediately agreed to go and investigate.
“You go check on that Qin lady.”
Kang He and Fan Jing stepped out from the escort bureau. Fan Jing casually said with a cold tone.
“What for?”
“If you don’t stabilize her properly, and if they suspect something is wrong and communicate with their backers, how are we supposed to find out who’s behind this?”
Kang He understood the reasoning but refused to move. He looked at Fan Jing and said, “Aren’t you asking me to sell my charm?”
Fan Jing gave him a sidelong glance. “I’m just telling you to talk to her a few words. Where’s the selling charm in that?”
Kang He hung his head. “If you don’t coax me a bit, I won’t go.”
Seeing this, Fan Jing softened his tone a little. “Go then, I’ll keep watch outside.”
“So that’s your coaxing?”
Kang He twitched his eyebrows, snorting, “Good thing I liked you first. If you had liked me first, let’s see what you’d do.”
Fine. Kang He finally went to the Qin lady’s lodgings, acting the part thoroughly—sneaking around, avoiding people.
“Pity I want to help you, Lady Qin, but my family was poor before and married in. Though I have some standing outside, many things I cannot decide. Lady, don’t worry. My husband looks fierce but has a good heart; he won’t harm you. Just rest easy here.”
Lady Qin relaxed visibly upon Kang He’s arrival. She feared Qin was being held tight here and unable to act.
Seeing Kang He bringing food along and coming sneakily like a thief, she knew matters were mostly settled.
Qin spoke softly, “I have no one to rely on, so it’s a blessing to have met such a kind and virtuous man as my husband. I have no way to repay him. Yesterday’s events were sudden; I hope there is no misunderstanding or blame toward my husband. Once I see him, I will explain everything properly.”
“A man like my husband, brave and righteous, is rare in this world. If because of me he grows resentment, I’d rather die than cause him a moment’s trouble.”
“Last night I tossed and turned, worried beyond words. Half in a dream, I recalled yesterday’s encounters on the road—thankfully even in dreams, I saw my husband’s heroic figure, which finally gave me a moment’s peace…”
Her brows and eyes tinged with shy timidity, Lady Qin trailed off, lowering her head to reveal half a blushing cheek—truly heart-tugging.
This lady was fragile but an excellent actress. She praised Kang He thoroughly, alternating between concern and respect, clearly well-versed in how to coax a man.
If it were an ordinary man, seeing such a delicate and beautiful woman treated with worship and subtle signals, few could resist.
Fan Jing watched from the shadows outside, eyes quietly following every move inside.
Every gesture of Lady Qin was captured in his gaze. His brows twitched as he involuntarily reviewed his own past interactions with Kang He.
If he had not known how other women treated Kang He, it would have been fine. But now, comparing the two, he realized how cold and hard he himself had been.
No wonder Kang He said before that he didn’t know how to coax people.
If he had been the one to fancy Kang He first, lacking a silver tongue or sweet words, it would have been hard to win him over.
Then again, it seemed he had been coaxed himself back then.
The door creaked softly, and Kang He came out, spotting Fan Jing standing quietly in the shadows.
Kang He glanced around and quickly walked over.
“What’s with that look? Are you angry again? Speak clearly. I only went because you told me to.”
Fan Jing, caught off guard, shook his head.
“Then why the absentmindedness?”
Fan Jing said nothing but kept walking forward. Kang He followed suit.
Once out of the dormitory, Fan Jing suddenly spoke, “Am I really that bad at coaxing?”
Kang He’s brows twitched. “Why say that all of a sudden? I was just joking with you. Have you been thinking about this too much?”
Fan Jing looked at Kang He. “I just feel you might be right.”
Lately, he’d seen Da Fu, Kang He’s son, growing taller and more lively.
They had walked this life together for over ten years, yet those years weren’t long in the span of a lifetime.
These days he often reflected: raising children meant time with them was longer only in early years.
Once grown, children no longer relied on their parents for everything. They would have their own careers, families, and gradually see their parents less often.
And the one who accompanied him longest was Kang He.
Because of this, he felt he had depended on Kang He a great deal, but perhaps had given him little in return.
In the decades ahead, having Kang He stick with such a dull person might be difficult…
After hearing Fan Jing’s words, Kang He furrowed his brows slightly, feeling touched yet holding back what he truly wanted to say.
“All these years, I have met many kinds of people. None have been better at coaxing than you.
Others might be smooth talkers, but that kind of coaxing is easy and superficial.
It fools some people, but those sharp and calculating see through it at once.
Unless one wants to be fooled willingly, such words feel frivolous.”
Kang He said, “You’re different. You don’t just say what I want to hear but do what truly benefits me.
Sincerity in action is superior; mere words are inferior.”
He grabbed Fan Jing’s hand. “Thank you for changing for me. But I must tell you—you’re already perfect in my heart.
You don’t need to change. Fan Jing is simply Fan Jing.”
Fan Jing’s eyes flickered, and suddenly he opened his arms to embrace Kang He.
He realized he could never find anyone else like Kang He who accepted him so completely.
About two days later, Yao Yuan acted quickly. Upon receiving news, he came to inform Kang He and Fan Jing.
“This lady Qin’s surname is Qin, given name Ying. Her ancestral home is indeed from another county, Fang County, but she came to Luan County years ago, not just a few days back.
She spoke with half-truths—her family fell into ruin, and she came to seek relatives, but they had already moved away, which is true.
Later she met her current lover, who settled her down as a kept woman in the city’s Qin Alley, with two servants looking after her daily.
That’s why my brother-in-law saw her dainty hands, never doing any work; the act wasn’t thorough enough.”
Seeing it was no false accusation, truly the kind of person with ulterior motives.
Kang He couldn’t help but ask, “Who exactly is this lover?”
“Quite a figure. His surname is Qi, given name Ruo. Originally from a merchant family in the city, neither high nor low.
A few years ago, he suddenly struck it rich running a medicinal incense business, earning quite a sum.”
“His husband is also capable and handles most of their business.
Our county government’s official often mingles with this family, gaining influence and smooth business dealings.”
Kang He frowned, uncertain, and asked again, “Is this Qi merchant’s husband surnamed Zou?”
“Exactly. Zou is quite an unlucky fellow.
He once worked hard for the family business, but his husband wasn’t honest, using their money to keep mistresses and courtesans.
From inquiries, there were three or four women just like Ying.”
Kang He had never heard Qi Ruo’s name before and didn’t know Zou’s husband’s surname.
When he heard “medicinal incense,” he guessed most of the story.
Since it was Zou’s family, it confirmed his suspicions.
Seeing Kang He and Fan Jing’s expressions change, Yao Yuan wondered, “Brother, is your husband acquainted with the Qi family? Is there some grudge for Qi to play such dirty tricks?”
Kang He said, “We do know each other, but that was years ago.
Back then, I relied on hunting for a living, getting some honey from the mountains to exchange for money in town.
By chance, I met Zou’s husband.
At that time, Zou and Qi Ruo hadn’t struck it rich. The two families were friendly for two or three years but drifted apart as Qi Ruo rose in status.”
Kang He also recounted the recent incident when Zou’s husband’s steward came to deliver gifts.
Yao Yuan’s face darkened with anger. “How shameless! He looked down on people and cut ties, but now that they’ve gotten rich, he fawns over them. When his advances are rejected, he gets offended and sets traps.
A vile man!
If only he’d seen people’s worth properly before, maybe none of this would have happened.”
Kang He hadn’t expected things to escalate like this.
Though knowing all parties, he never suspected Qi’s family to be behind it.
He was understandably angry but recalled that no matter the present or past, they had once gotten along well.
Even if they broke ties later, they hadn’t torn apart publicly.
Why resort to such dirty tricks?
Yao Yuan said fiercely, “Brother and your husband won’t handle this? I’ll send people to deal with Qi and make him pay.
He’d better not think I’m easy to bully.”
Kang He saw the fierce light in Yao Yuan’s eyes and cautioned, “Don’t resort to violence. If something goes wrong, we’ll suffer in court.”
“Then what? Just take this silent loss? That’d be too easy for that bastard!”
Kang He wasn’t the type to suffer losses quietly.
He never believed in the saying ‘suffering loss is a blessing.’
He only knew that if someone bullies you and you don’t fight back, you give them a chance to kick you when you’re down.
“If he plays dirty, I’m not afraid to play dirty back.”
He whispered a plan to Yao Yuan.
After hearing it, Yao Yuan’s face relaxed. “Brother-in-law has a plan. I’ll send people to act immediately.”
That day, Ying left the martial arts school and secretly sought Qi Ruo, reporting the recent progress.
She heard that Kang He often visited Ying secretly, which stirred some hope in Qi’s heart.
“Don’t be fooled by his humble appearance outside.
Once he has the chance, he’ll be more unfaithful than anyone else.”
Qi Ruo squinted. “I’ll teach him a lesson when I get proof. Let’s see how he pretends then.”
Ying’s body softened as she sat in Qi Ruo’s arms. “In that den of wolves, my heart was restless every day.
If not for your grand cause, how would I have done these things?”
Qi Ruo comforted her, “I know you’ve suffered these days.
Only you and I share these worries, unlike that tiger at home who only knows how to scold.
I’m tired of living with him.
If not for the estate not being fully in hand, I wouldn’t even glance at that face again.
For now, I endure it all to share prosperous days with you.”
Ying’s heart grew sweet at his words, affectionately pressing close.
Qi Ruo smiled, leaning close, “You say your heart is restless? Let me soothe it well.”
Then the two became entangled in each other’s embrace.
Afterwards, Qi Ruo left Ying, cheeks flushed, returning to his residence.
Upon arriving, the steward came to say his husband requested he come over.
Qi Ruo frowned. Seeing the time was late, he guessed his husband wanted to keep him for dinner.
Dinner would be eaten, but staying over meant no peace.
After a heavy meal, Qi Ruo had no mind for such things and was annoyed, refusing to go.
“Tell him I’m too tired from business and went to rest in the study.”
The steward urged, “Sir, you should go. Seems your husband is angry.”
Qi Ruo tightened his brows. “Why is he always angry at night?”
Though speaking like this, he dared not refuse and grumbled as he went to the garden.
Once inside, a stack of ledgers was thrown at him.
“Ugh, you bastard! You make me work hard to earn money and spend it outside keeping one brothel after another.
Don’t you fear venereal diseases will kill you?
You’re so generous—spending a hundred taels a year, just on keeping women!
If the accounts don’t add up, it’s because you moved money to support them!”
Zou’s face turned ugly with anger.
He had long known his husband was unsteady and often went drinking with women.
When they were introduced, the family disapproved of his choice, but he wouldn’t listen.
Within a year or two of marriage, his husband started running off.
At that time, Zou was busy with business and had a child, so he turned a blind eye as long as things stayed quiet.
A few years ago, his medicinal incense trade took off, and his husband was civil for a few years.
Now, the business was declining, and with the Mountain Lord’s appointment looming, he was nervous.
Then news arrived: his husband was keeping mistresses in dark alleys.
Zou checked the rumors and laughed—it was definitely true, and he even uncovered a whole brood!
Another accounting showed missing money went to these women!
Furious, he gathered evidence and confronted his worthless husband.
Qi Ruo was shocked, about to get angry after being struck, but lost momentum under Zou’s yelling.
“You heard nonsense.
Even if it weren’t true, a big business attracts gossip.
This is someone deliberately throwing mud to separate us.”
Zou sneered, “You do bad things but can’t admit them.
Besides making a child, have you ever acted like a man?
I’ve figured out the accounts and won’t tolerate your lies!”
“I give you three days to clean up all those brothels.
From now on, the money you control is yours, but you’re not allowed to take a cent from the business!
If you can’t let go of those women, don’t expect to touch the business funds.
Take your small shop that earns less than a hundred taels a year and use it to support your mistresses!”
Qi Ruo was desperate hearing his husband cut off his funds.
He begged, “When he saw my money, he schemed to coax me.
I was soft-hearted and fell for it.
If you dislike it, I’ll kick him out.
Why be so angry and ruin our marriage?”
Zou looked coldly at the red marks on his collar, spat, “I think you want it.
You don’t need coaxing—just take off your pants.
Can’t stand a little man like you!”
Seeing him truly angry, Zou threw Qi Ruo out.
Qi Ruo was both angry and confused.
He’d been keeping this for two or three years without detection.
How did it get exposed now?
He suspected a subordinate and sent a few men at night to rough them up.
They were beaten and scolded, feeling wronged and resentful.
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