Huang Hao sat in his carriage as it drove to the family mansion pondering. Looking out the small window he watched as children ran around playing and older children helped their parents. Slowly the carriage passed by the red-light district of their town.
Looking in he caught a glimpse of Min Qiang and a small group of merchants his age hanging around. His eyes widened in shock since if they got caught in that district they would be kicked out of this year's exam and it would be unlikely for them to pass the exam in the future. Then as the carriage almost finished passing he caught a glimpse of his half brother near the group with a girl dress scantily clad clinging to his arm. Huang Hao sat back and looked up, his brain turning with a plan to get back at Min Qiang and maybe make his half brother lose more favor, or even get locked at home.
The carriage pulled to a stop and he jumped out trying to think of how who to use to make his plan work. Entering the mansion he slowly walked past the garden and headed to his personal dwelling.
After walking for a short time he reached the outskirts of the inner yard and caught sight of a run down home with the gate looking like it hadn't been worked on in a long time. He saw his sister walking out weakly with the help of her maid. Suddenly his eyes flashed and he smiled brightly approaching her. They walked together quietly until they reached a small garden that is rarely visited by anyone except for herself.
She sat at a small table with a soft sigh, carefully arranging her clothes before looking up at Huang Hao, her eyes naturally sad.
"First brother," She greeted softly, nodding her head. Huang Hao smiled at her greeting.
"We haven't spoken in a long time, eighth sister." He said his eyes looking her up and down assessing her usefulness.
"The last time the first brother and this sister spoke was when brother Bai visited." She said,
Huang Hao, once assessing her, nods his head in satisfaction before suddenly changing the topic.
"How do you feel about still being in the family at eighteen?"
She froze at his words and looked at him blankly. He just smiled at her without saying a word.
"What do you want?" She asked softly, looking at him with her brows lightly furrowed. Huang Hao glanced at her maid meaningfully before looking back at her. She waved her hand and with a bow her maid stepped away until she was out of earshot of their conversation.
"Well you do this favor for me and I can help you get married." Huang Hao told her smiling,
"What is it?" Huang Shu asked again
"Well I had plans on speaking with father to get you married off to Bai Chun as a concubine but something happened today and as long as this plan works you will be Bai Chun's benefactor and he will be happy to take you as a secondary wife." Huang Hao tried to hype her up a bit before he told her the plan. She just nodded her head slowly.
"You know the Min family right?" He asked not knowing how much she knew of what was happening outside the house. She nodded her head.
"Yes, the head of the house is the assistant of the magistrate." She said, Huang Hao nodded.
"Yes, well I need you to seduce Min Qiang, the fifth son of that family and get him to drink a drugged tea." Huang Hao finally explained. Hearing this, Huang Shu's face went pale and she shook her head.
"I cannot if such a thing gets out my reputation will be ruined." She said, Huang Hao just waved her concerns off.
"You don't need to go too far just kissing him, allowing him to grope you here and there. Then when he is distracted get him to drink the tea at the table. It will be drugged so you just pretend to drink it but don't actually." Huang Hao started going into details making Huang Shu's eyes widen in shock.
"Then once the drug starts to kick in a maid will come in and help you out while helping the magistrate's daughter in."
Hearing his last words Huang Shu gasped in shock.
"Why her?" She asked, Huang Hao just gave her a smile without elaborating.
"Do you wish to stay here as a leftover woman?" He just asked making her get quiet and look at him blankly before she lowered her eyes.
"You don't need to know why about anything. You just need to tell me if you will help or not." Huang Hao said, looking her straight in the eye.
Huang Shu bit her soft lips as she thought deeply about her life in the house and how badly she had been ignored by their parents. She fidgeted with her clothes in her lap before looking up at Huang Hao.
"When?" She asked,
Huang Hao smiled at her words.
"Tonight."
"Where are the dancers!" Min Qiang shouted drunkenly, stumbling as a maid helped him into an inn. He turned his head then smiled at her.
"You're such a pretty maid." He mumbled drunkly and pulled her close to him by her waist. They ended up pressing against the wall as he kissed her neck sloppily.
The maid frowned at him before speaking softly.
"Young master, this is the hallway, let's get to your room." Hearing this Min Qiang stumbled back with a smile.
"Yes, take me to my room." With that she stepped forward and led him to his room. Inside the room Huang Shu lay in the bed wearing light sheer clothing that looked almost see-through in the light of the room.
Min Qiang quickly forgot about the maid and stumbled into the room with a drunk smile. The maid quickly closed the door leaving it slightly cracked open and stood at an angle that she couldn't be seen.
He then stumbled to the bed and fell down laying on her partially.
"You're so pretty," He mumbled laying on his stomach. Huang Shu frowned a bit before a flash of what her brother told her to do and she put on a sweet smile. She then wiggled down a bit then wrapped her arms around her neck and snuggled close.
"Brother Qiang, I like you so much that I had to go this far to be with you." She said sweetly repeating her given lines. Hearing what she said Min Qiang gave a drunkenly lewd laugh before leaning down a bit, latching his mouth to hers giving her a kiss.
Huang Shu furrowed her brows forcing herself to kiss him back shyly. After kissing for a while Min Qiang's hands started slipping into her clothes. She quickly stopped him while acting shy.
"I'm thirsty, let's get some tea." She said trying her hardest to be bashful. Min Qiang groaned into her neck annoyed.
"I don't want to." He groaned. Huang Shu frowned before forcing her eyes to be wet then looking him in the eyes.
"I'm thirsty," She said again in a pouting tone. Min Qiang saw her expression and smiled foolishly after leaning down and giving her a deep kiss again before stumbling up and to the table.
Huang Shu stood up arranging her clothes uncomfortably before pouring two cups of tea. She then pretended to sip at her tea while Min Qiang downed the cup quickly. Seeing this Huang Shu relaxed immediately
Min Qiang sat down and stared at her with a hot gaze waiting for her to finish her tea. She slowly pretended to drink while stalling time.
"You are…. Huang Hao's sister right?" He mumbled. She froze and turned her head away from him.
"No," She said softly and pretended to sip at her drink. He just stared at her before standing, his body swaying heavily.
"Ugh." He groaned, Huang Shu stood and after placing her cup down stepped away from him towards the door.
"Where are you going?" He asked, dazed. Without responding Huang Shu walked out the door. As she left the door she passed by the maid from before helping a girl who looked happy and excited. She wore elegant clothing that seemed to flutter as she rushed inside the room. Then after a second the door shut and a muffled cry was heard.
"Brother Qiang!"
Bai Chun ate a bun as he walked to the office for the day's exam.
"Did you hear?"
"About what?"
"The only daughter of the Magistrate who is engaged to the son of the Shu family in the Imperial capital was found in an inn with Min Qiang the fifth son of the Min family." There was a gasp and Bai Chun looked over shocked.
"They did?"
"Yes I also heard that they are to be married soon."
"They will be targeted by the Shu family."
After listening to all this gossip Bai Chun frowned in thought wondering if all this was because of Huang Hao. He then shook his head deciding he can just ask after today's part of the exam before rushing to the office.