VIII. Yang Lianghan, Who Keeps His Distance from Women

To be fair, the canteen before him wasn’t particularly large. Especially to Ouyang Rong, who had been bombarded with countless photos of living Bodhisattvas preaching in person. Yet, despite its modest size, it was right there, just within reach, impossible to ignore.

So, when he opened his eyes for the first time, it indeed dominated most of his vision, causing even a man of upright character to fall into brief contemplation before he sternly asked, “What are you doing?”

Startled, the girl—her chest rising and falling with a tremor—shrunk back and knelt obediently. “My lord, I have come to bring you a hot water bag to warm your bed. I saw you had fallen asleep leaning against your pillow and thought to help you lie down more comfortably.”

“What is your name?”

“Ban… Xi.”

The personal maid’s accent sounded a bit unusual to him. Ouyang Rong looked down at her from above. The maid wore a cyan chest-high ruqun, tied at the waist with a pale red sash. Although called Ban Xi, she was well-formed rather than slender. Yet now, kneeling meekly at his feet with downcast eyes, her delicate and pitiful face framed by finely painted brows, her elegant name did not seem misplaced.

“Where are you from?”

“Silla.”

Ouyang Rong immediately understood. She was a Silla maid, and his aunt was truly willing to spend money to keep up with fashion.

Though the imperial succession struggle within the Great Zhou was fierce, and the capital’s court was never at peace, Luoyang presented an image of flourishing prosperity, welcoming envoys from all nations.

This was the confidence of the Great Zhou Dynasty: after centuries of struggle between the Northern and Southern Dynasties and the great fusion of Han and barbarian cultures, this rising unified empire boasted power that dwarfed neighboring barbarian states. Its culture, military, and economy dominated, embodying the unquestioned heavenly kingdom that governed all under heaven.

Moreover, it was an outwardly expansionist universal empire, radiating powerful Huaxia culture abroad. It should rightly be called an empire, with its vigorous border armies always at the forefront of expansion.

Thus came the Silla maids.

During the reign of the third emperor of Great Qian, Emperor Qian Gaozong, the current Empress Wei had not yet assumed power but was then the Empress of Great Qian. The couple, known as the “Two Sages,” jointly governed. When Emperor Qian Gaozong fell ill, court affairs gradually passed into Empress Wei’s hands.

At that time, the eastern barbarians consisted of the three kingdoms Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla—people of the same language and ethnicity, locked in endless warfare. The weakest, Silla, pursued distant alliances and near attacks, allying with Great Qian. Though aging, Empress Wei was ambitious and strong-willed. Where she pointed, Great Qian’s iron cavalry and flying swords of the Qi cultivators crushed Goguryeo and Baekje, establishing the Protectorate of Andong and supporting Silla’s unification of the eastern barbarians.

Countless women from Goguryeo and Baekje became slaves of the Qian people. Even from Silla, a vassal state paying tribute, many women left their desolate homeland to serve and survive in the admired prosperous Great Qian.

These women, called Silla maids or Goryeo beauties, were influenced by Confucian culture due to the proximity of the eastern barbarians to the Central Plains. Silla maids were gentle, obedient, hardworking, with fair skin and round faces, quickly winning favor among the upper echelons of Great Qian and Great Zhou’s elite families, becoming highly sought after.

Alongside Bodhisattva Maids, Kunlun slaves, and Western Domain beauties, Silla maids became one of the “Four Treasures of Wealth” for Luoyang’s nobility.

Ouyang Rong couldn’t help but glance at her again. No wonder she looked familiar—this was a Korean girl. Apologies for meeting you offline for the first time under such circumstances…

“Where is my aunt?”

“She went to burn incense for you. Madam said the incense at Donglin Temple is efficacious and wanted to pray more blessings for you.”

“Stand up. Since your aunt isn’t here, you don’t need to kneel.”

Ban Xi rose lightly and presented the hot water bag she was holding with both hands, still bowing her head. The exposed skin of her neck beneath the slanting collar of her ruqun flushed a delicate red.

Ouyang Rong took it and casually slipped it under the quilt. Seeing Ban Xi lingering without leaving, he glanced toward the door.

Knowing his aunt’s character, her maid wouldn’t dare disturb him behind her back or linger unnecessarily.

Trying to challenge his weakness? Hmph. If it weren’t for the Merit Tower, he might really lose completely.

Ouyang Rong sighed deeply, preparing to give her a lesson in what the morally upright scholars called “a man untouched by lust,” using his noble righteousness to repel her.

But just as the words left his mouth, he changed his mind and said instead, “Hold out your hand.”

Ban Xi’s shoulder trembled. She quickly glanced at the gloomy-faced “Master Tan” resting on the bed but shyly extended her hand, whispering, “My lord…”

Ouyang Rong wasted no time and grabbed her hand. He held the soft hand, waiting silently for three breaths, raising an eyebrow.

No sound of the wooden fish (prayer beads).

He looked up and caught his little maid peeking at him, quickly turning her head away, though the admiration and hope in her eyes did not escape him.

He furrowed his brow, seeming to deliberate, then said seriously, “Next… I need you to cooperate.”

Ban Xi nodded immediately but then shook her head twice, as if she had agreed too quickly. Yet, thinking she shouldn’t be reserved, she nodded again.

“Which is it, nod or shake your head?”

She nodded.

Ouyang Rong frowned. “Then you Silla people’s nodding means the same as ours in Great Qian, right?”

She nodded again.

Ouyang Rong sighed in resignation. “Speak.”

Blushing, she whispered, “It’s the same.”

Clenching her hand, Ouyang Rong said gravely, “Alright, next, you’ll listen to me. We’re going to play a somewhat special game. Don’t be too afraid; it’s just a game. Afterwards, we’ll pretend nothing happened…”

Ban Xi nodded like a little chick pecking grain. She felt as if she couldn’t hold her breath, her head spinning… She was still the scheming maid who seduced the household master, sobbing inwardly. But why… did she not feel sad at all? In fact, she felt a little happy! Surely it was because the lord’s face was too handsome, especially now, with this scholarly aura mixed with that perpetual melancholy of a sickly beauty… Oh, she was about to collapse, wanting to pull him into her arms… Why wasn’t he coming?

Ouyang Rong looked at her expectantly. “Can you try, in your heart, to reject me completely—hate me, find me disgusting, see me as a villain trying to defile your purity, and swear never to submit—while I tie you up so you cannot move, then reach out to touch you…”

Ban Xi: “…”

Outside the door, a certain woman eavesdropping: “???”

What kind of special fetish is this for Master Tan? Used to being a gentleman, he wants to experience the thrill of a bad boy forcing himself on a virtuous girl, right?!

At this moment, both women inside and outside felt their brains nearly short-circuiting.

Ouyang Rong saw Ban Xi’s mouth slightly open, staring at him in deep shock. “Uh, why aren’t you speaking? Why are you staring at me like that… Hey, I’m not a pervert.”

Actually, he only wanted to test whether touching a woman without her consent would deduct merit, and to probe the underlying logic of the Merit Tower.

“Ah, forget it, you may leave. I want… some peace and quiet.”

Ouyang Rong sighed, releasing her hand and lying back under the covers, his face etched with boredom.

Unexpectedly, seeing his despondent expression, Ban Xi only became more convinced of her earlier judgment. The Silla maid, hesitating before the bed, seemed to want to say, “Master, if you want to play the role of a rogue forcing a virtuous girl, that’s not impossible, but please don’t gag me, don’t tie me up, don’t spank me…”

But Ouyang Rong had no interest in listening. With a wave of his hand, he dismissed the reluctant, regretful Ban Xi.

…

Outside the Sanhui Courtyard, once some distance from the house, Lady Zhen and Ban Xi stood beneath the eaves, exchanging glances.

Ban Xi couldn’t help but speak first: “Madam, did you hear what the lord asked? It scared me a bit.”

Lady Zhen’s face hardened. “What is there to be afraid of? Master Tan was teasing you; you took it seriously? Don’t you think about the possibility? Master Tan simply doesn’t like your fragile nature but is kind-hearted and unwilling to refuse, so he made up an excuse. If a man doesn’t like a woman, he can find countless excuses. Alright, you may leave now.”

Ban Xi’s eyes reddened slightly. She bowed her head and softly said “Oh,” fidgeting with her fingers before retreating.

“Remember!” Lady Zhen suddenly called after her coldly without turning back, “I'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.