Boss-gege Excessive Spoiling - Chapter 133

 

Arc 2: Part 54

"Thirteen, you're all alone. You should consider starting a family of your own. A household with no lady of the house is bound to feel empty. Don't you think a complete family is essential?"

Faced with Xiao Lingchen's earnest advice, Little Thirteen could only maintain a smile that was equal parts awkward and polite.

With a roar in his mind like a thousand rampaging horses and a thousand words yearning to be spilled out, in the end, only a single word could be formed and it lingered on the tip of his tongue, reflected in his gaze.

Bah!

He dryly responded, "Master, as the saying goes, 'establish a career before starting a family'. I haven't yet done anything noteworthy or brought honor to our name, so I don't wish to start a family just yet."

"What do you mean you don't want to start a family! Look at yourself. This is the result of you not settling down! You're a grown man, yet lacking in maturity!"

Xiao Lingchen ignored Little Thirteen's awkward smile. Displaying the demeanor of a successful elder, he imparted long-winded wisdom unto him.

He continued until he saw Little Thirteen's face twitch involuntarily before finally deciding to wrap up, "Nevermind, I can see you aren't taking this in. You'll regret it one day, mark my words. Now, you're dismissed. Also, arrange a meeting for me with the ministers of the Department of Rites. I have some important issues to discuss with them tomorrow."

Little Thirteen grunted his agreement, his mind filled with complaints about his master.

At the same time, he felt a bit of schadenfreude. Starting tomorrow, the officials would surely be the ones to be bothered, which meant a couple of days of respite for himself.

________________________

Xiao Thirteen's brief schadenfreude quickly became reality the next day. After his official conversation, Xiao Lingchen seemingly casually mentioned, "Lord Wang, I hear you've come to the winter hunt without your wife, but have brought two beautiful concubines?"

Caught off guard at being directly named, Lord Wang nervously replied, "Ah, yes... yes indeed. Master, if you're interested, I could have them sent to you immediately—"

Among the privileged, gifting concubines to each other had been a popular practice in previous eras. However, with Xiao Taifu's current governance, which eliminated waste and encouraged frugality, such extravagant practices had ceased. Still, it hadn't stopped people from desiring such gifts; they simply weren't as free to voice it.

This Lord Wang was quite competent in matters of state, save for his weakness for beauty. His decision to bring along beautiful maidservants to the winter hunt was purely for indulgence.

Upon hearing Xiao Lingchen's question, he thought Lord Xiao had indeed asked for his beautiful servants. His hurried response concealed his inner reluctance and embarrassment.

His reluctance arose from the attachment he felt towards his concubines; his embarrassment stemmed from Xiao Lingchen bringing up such private matters in front of everyone else. The conservative Lord Wang was finding it hard to contain his mortification.

However, what Lord Wang hadn't expected was Xiao Lingchen's subsequent reaction.

Despite him agreeing, Xiao Lingchen suddenly changed his expression!

"Such audacity, Lord Wang! Do you take me for a philanderer? I explicitly forbade such extravagant practices years ago, and here you are bringing it up again. What exactly is your intention?"

Both Lord Wang and those present were left with mouths agape and eyes wide, stunned at Xiao Lingchen's outburst.

With an icy expression, Xiao Lingchen heavily berated Lord Wang until he had the latter kneeling and begging for mercy, sweat pouring down his forehead.

Even in the end, Xiao Lingchen added, "A harmonious home promotes prosperity in everything. His Majesty instructed us to bring our relatives to the winter hunt. Instead of bringing your wife, you chose to bring maidservants. Isn’t this favoring concubines over your own wife? I simply cannot stand such licentious behavior!"

Throughout the process, Lord Wang was perplexingly admitting his mistake, constantly saying, "I won't dare to do it again!"

Xiao Lingchen didn’t just scold him either. Turning around with a calm and aloof expression, he started to sermonize to the crowd.

"As husbands, you must not treat your wives in this manner. To marry your wives is a blessing that comes from centuries of good karma and you should cherish and protect her. Should there be disputes in your everyday life, it's most likely that you, the husbands, are the ones who erred first, and you should sincerely repent..."

The entire assembly of ministers was left speechless.

Little Thirteen, has your master skipped his medication and is having an episode?

He himself was still unmarried, what right did he have to instruct us, men who were raising a generation of children and grandchildren, on how to behave in a marriage?!

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