The Fox

The contents of the letter were simple, for Han Li had read them over several times already. It stated that Han Li, the bearer of the letter, was Doctor Mo’s final personal disciple and could be trusted completely. Should the Mo estate face any trouble, Han Li was to be entrusted with its resolution. As a reward for ensuring the safety of the household, Madam Yan was to select one of her three daughters to be betrothed to Han Li as his wife, with the dowry explicitly designated as that "Warm Yang Jade." As for the Doctor himself, the letter claimed he was detained by important affairs and could not yet return to reunite with his wife and daughters, instructing them not to worry.

Although Han Li could find nothing overtly disadvantageous to him in the letter, he knew that the Doctor must have doctored it; it could not be as simple as it appeared on the surface.

But since he could not discern the letter’s hidden secrets, and he urgently needed to gain the trust of the Mo household, he had no choice but to steel himself and deliver the letter to Madam Yan. Accordingly, he paid extra close attention to her every move, fervently hoping that this Fourth Madame would not suddenly find some clue in the letter and immediately turn on him, attempting to capture him to avenge the Doctor.

Fortunately, the worst-case scenario he had imagined did not occur. When the beautiful woman Madam Yan finished reading the letter, she only furrowed her brow. Her expression then grew worried and preoccupied, as if she were facing a difficult decision.

"Huan’er, go summon your Second Mother, Third Mother, and Fifth Mother. Tell them there is news of your father," Madam Yan said, turning to Mo Caihuan with a tone that brooked no argument.

"Understood, Mother! I’ll go right away." Mo Caihuan knew the gravity of the situation. She dutifully obeyed and walked out, though just before leaving the room, she turned back and gave Han Li a restrained smile, seemingly quite interested in him.

"Your name is Han Li?" Madam Yan raised her head, her demeanor once again becoming dignified and graceful.

"Yes, Master’s Wife," Han Li answered honestly.

"Could you tell me how my husband took you on as his disciple?" Madam Yan asked with a gentle smile.

"Of course," Han Li hesitated for a moment, but then decided that the process of Doctor Mo taking him as a disciple was nothing worth hiding. He selectively began to recount the story to Madam Yan in a slow, deliberate manner.

"Eight years ago, Master Mo was living in seclusion on Caixia Mountain in the Seven Mysteries Sect of Yue Province, nursing an old injury. That was when I first entered the mountains..." Han Li naturally wove a tale that was seventy percent truth and thirty percent falsehood. Any information that could not be revealed to Madam Yan was either completely altered or glossed over lightly. Even so, Madam Yan listened with full attention, utterly engrossed.

"...And so, three months ago, Master Mo was detained by urgent matters and could not return. But fearing that too long an absence from the Mo estate would allow some enemy to trouble my Masters’ Wives, he ordered me to descend the mountain first, to come to the Mo estate and place myself at their disposal."

"What urgent matter could my husband have, that he would not even return home first?" Madam Yan sighed after hearing Han Li’s half-truthful account of his discipleship. Her voice carried a hint of resentment.

Return home! The Doctor has been dead for nearly two years. The skeleton buried under the tree is all that’s left! Han Li thought wryly to himself, but his face remained a mask of fearful respect as he replied.

"What matter? Master Mo did not tell this junior, but it must be something of utmost importance!" Han Li’s answer was deliberately vague.

"Hmph! Did your master order you to keep it a secret from us?" Madam Yan gave a knowing, half-smile, though her words carried a note of displeasure.

"There is absolutely nothing of the sort!" Han Li said aloud, but inwardly he gave a bitter smile. This Madam Yan truly is too suspicious!

Madam Yan seemed unwilling to let the matter drop. She opened her mouth as if to ask something else.

Just then, the sound of messy footsteps came from outside the room. Before anyone had even entered, a voice, enchanting to the extreme, floated in from outside.

"Fourth Sister, is it true? News of our husband? That wretched man, running off for over a decade! Does he want us sisters to live as widows?"

Startled by the silky, seductive voice, Han Li was taken aback. But then the content of the words made him jump.

This lady is far too bold! he thought, stunned.

"Third Sister, mind your words. There are others in the room," a slightly husky female voice said, with a hint of suppressed anger.

"I know! But I hear the messenger is another fine disciple of my husband’s. I hope he’s not another impostor! What do you think, Fifth Sister?" The charming voice laughed lightly.

"That’s impossible. Since Fourth Sister called for us, it means this person is at least seventy or eighty percent trustworthy," said an icy voice.

"True enough. I have always admired Fourth Sister’s judgment," the enchanting voice tittered. It was unclear whether she was being sarcastic or genuinely praising Madam Yan.

Hearing this, Han Li stole a glance at Madam Yan. He saw her pressing her brow with one hand, a look of helplessness on her face. It seemed that she found the owner of that enchanting voice a considerable headache.

Finally, the door was pushed open. Several beautiful women filed in from outside. Mo Caihuan followed close behind, entering last. Her red lips were pouted in a clear sign of annoyance.

The woman at the front was around thirty-one or thirty-two years old, with a beautiful and dignified appearance. Her features were delicate, and her brow held a scholarly air, suggesting she had been a talented woman of letters in her youth.

Han Li nodded to himself, then let his gaze fall on the middle woman, a young matron of about twenty-three or twenty-four.

The moment Han Li clearly saw her face, he felt his mind go blank. He lost himself for a split second, utterly entranced by a vision of breathtaking beauty he could not escape from. This woman was far too stunning and captivating, even three-tenths more beautiful than Mo Yuzhu, whom he had seen earlier that day. And the amorous charm of a married woman was something Mo Yuzhu could never possess. If fox spirits truly existed in the world, Han Li was absolutely certain this woman must be one of them.

As Han Li’s head spun, his thoughts scattering, a surge of cold energy suddenly shot up from his lower abdomen. It traveled through his meridians, circled his brain once, and immediately cleared his senses.

Regaining his composure, Han Li was greatly alarmed. He dared not look at the woman again and hastily averted his gaze, lowering his head.

This young woman is a national calamity, capable of bewitching anyone who sees her! Is it the inherent magic of her peerless beauty, or does she practice some soul-enchanting technique? Han Li thought, horrified.

When the young woman saw that Han Li, after his initial infatuation, quickly regained his wits and actively avoided her gaze, a flicker of surprise passed through her eyes.