Chapter 1008: Chapter 844: Distracted Desires

Her slender waist twisted and turned intensely with the dance, appearing so delicate it seemed it could break with a snap.

Min Feng had just noticed this woman’s figure, supple as if she were boneless. Although her face was covered with a veil, the exposed brows and eyes were quite exquisite.

Especially those autumn-like eyes, which when occasionally glanced over from the corner, had a bewitching allure that could captivate souls.

Now, as she took a gentle bow, her neck exposed a stretch of skin as white as mutton fat jade, causing Min Feng to stare with wide eyes.

What a clever woman she must be! During the dance, she had already noticed Mr. Min staring at her several times.

Now, with his current demeanor, she knew that tonight would be a sleepless night that could change her life forever.

Seeing this, He Zhongkuan couldn’t help but frown, as this woman was merely of low status. If Min Feng really took a liking to her, it wouldn’t be a big deal.

Min Feng was still young, and having a fondness for women was understandable.

However, the words of Yingnan Prefecture Magistrate Li Taixing and his attitude towards Min Feng clearly suggested ulterior motives.

If Min Feng indeed got entangled with this woman, would Li Taixing seize the opportunity to make some unreasonable demands?

In fact, according to his opinion, he didn’t want to meddle in this matter. In his view, although Min Feng had some skills, his willpower was too weak.

If someone deliberately guided him, it wouldn’t cost much to get him on their pirate ship.

Of course, this also had to do with Min Feng’s background. After all, he was just a poor boy from a farming family with limited experience.

Although over the past two years, the Prime Minister treated Min Feng quite well, not only providing for his food and clothing but also giving him a considerable monthly allowance.

As a court official, even if higher-ups’ matters didn’t trouble him, thanks to the Xia Mansion’s efforts, interactions with colleagues were still necessary, right?

This made things somewhat tight financially, didn’t it?

And having arrived in the Capital, Min Feng suddenly witnessed its splendor. Seeing the wealth of the Xia Mansion every day while still living under someone else’s roof and relying on a monthly allowance from the mansion made envy rise in his heart.

Moreover, Mr. Gu Chengyu, although also from a farming background, had considerable abilities, and his family was running a soap business, lacking no money at all.

In such a comparison, how could Min Feng not feel more unjust?

"No need for such formality, Miss!" Min Feng smiled, eventually not rejecting the woman’s companionship.

In fact, he was already married, not an inexperienced boy unaware of conjugal relations.

His wife, however, could only be described as plain-looking, not a tenth as beautiful as this woman.

And he usually had some regard for his wife’s family’s social standing, so he couldn’t be too excessive in matters within the back courtyard.

His wife was the legitimate daughter of Ji Yan, Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Ji Yan was an official nurtured by his teacher. The teacher was the Prime Minister, and regardless of how things might unfold after the new emperor ascends the throne in the future,

at least for now, no official’s influence in court can match theirs.

With the teacher as his backing, at least before the new emperor ascends, he could say his prospects were bright.

Though the Emperor’s health wasn’t the greatest, it might still take several years before the new emperor ascends.

During this period, with his teacher’s support, even if he doesn’t rise swiftly in rank, reaching the Standard Fourth Rank shouldn’t be an issue.

And like Gu Chengyu, his background was quite humble. Therefore, his teacher once said that if he married the legitimate daughters of influential families in the Capital, he might not be able to handle them.

After all, he didn’t need to rely on marriage connections to rise in position, and so his teacher selected for him Ji Yan’s second legitimate daughter.

Ji Yan’s position wasn’t high, only Standard Fifth Rank. But Ji Yan came from a reputable family from Hangtian Prefecture.

Although the family’s glory had faded, and not many family members ventured into officialdom, the name still held prestige.

Min Feng understood his own origins. Even if his teacher was Xia Qing, the true aristocratic families in the Capital wouldn’t regard him highly.

Moreover, many of the aristocratic families in the Capital either maintained neutrality or served different masters. To the once-thriving Prime Minister, many now preferred to maintain a cautious distance.

The main reason was that both his teacher and the Emperor had aged; they feared that once the new emperor ascended, his teacher would lose imperial favor.

He couldn’t aspire to a legitimate daughter, while he found a concubine’s daughter unworthy. So when his teacher proposed Ji Yan’s second legitimate daughter, after much deliberation, he agreed.

Even if he wasn’t entirely satisfied in his heart, what could he do? Those people wouldn’t regard him highly, and he couldn’t resent his teacher.

After all, his teacher had his best interests at heart, and Ms. Ji was already the most suitable choice.

Even if the teacher pressured high-ranking officials to betroth their daughters to him, they wouldn’t be happy about it.

A forced melon isn’t sweet; Min Feng understood this well.

Ms. Ji had a somewhat dull personality, always meticulous and without a hint of amusement, and her looks could only be considered modest.

Compared to the woman before him, she was lacking by quite a bit.

Most men in the world are fond of beauty, and Min Feng was no exception. Currently, he only had one concubine in his chambers and hadn’t taken a concubine wife.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to, but no one had brought it up. His wife wouldn’t arrange it for him, and although the teacher’s wife was an elder, she couldn’t intervene in his private affairs.

Min Feng was still living under someone else’s roof, and even if he fancied a maid in the mansion, he felt it was inappropriate to speak up.

So Min Feng felt that his days were really tough! That’s the trouble of living under someone else’s roof. Now, encountering this woman, he couldn’t help but be moved.

Min Feng now felt a stronger desire for power and wealth; with power, why worry about lacking money and beautiful women?

The woman leaned closer to Min Feng’s body, using the pretext of pouring wine to press tightly against him.

Min Feng felt the fragrant, warm body close in, her breath like orchids, exhaling on his neck, causing fine sweat to appear on his forehead, making him feel hot and dizzy.

"Ahem!" Seeing Min Feng seemingly unable to endure, to prevent him from making a public spectacle of himself, He Zhongkuan couldn’t help but lightly cough.

This was prearranged among them, to guard against Li Taixing; He Zhongkuan suggested that Min Feng didn’t have to respond much during the banquet.

To closely watch his cues, preventing any missteps in speech.

Min Feng had previously agreed, after all, it was his first time handling such an important task.

Who would have thought at this moment, with Min Feng’s slightly flushed face and body seemingly on fire, his mind a bit hazy, he couldn’t remember their previous arrangements?

Sitting at the upper seat, Li Taixing observed Min Feng’s actions and expressions, feeling that the time was ripe.

Min Feng’s current appearance, whether drunk or due to something else, was markedly different from before.

All the officials present were experienced, familiar with such banquets.

At this moment, they could certainly see Min Feng’s restless state of mind, seeing through Li Taixing’s intentions clearly,

The officials all wore smiles without speaking, regarding Min Feng with a touch of mockery.

How inexperienced indeed, just an actor, and Min Feng was already so dazzled? Still too young and lacking in resolve!