Chapter 001: The Rogue on the Public Stage

  "Daring and cunning commoner, why did you sneak a peek at the girl washing up in the middle of the night?" The county magistrate ascended to the hall to handle the case, but he was actually puzzled in his heart. Huo Hai was a well-known scholar in the local area, known for being knowledgeable and reasonable, with a good reputation. Why did someone suddenly accuse him of sneaking a peek at a girl washing up in the middle of the night today?

  On both sides, the officials were standing in a row. Outside the gate, people's voices were buzzing. In between, there were two people, one standing and one kneeling. The one kneeling was a crying woman who accused the standing man of peeking at her while she was bathing at night.

  The man standing there was indeed Huo Lie, he stood there shaking his head and swinging his tail, without a bit of scholarly air about him, with an idle and dismissive attitude and eyes that looked down on others.

  "Lin Shuang'er, are you mistaken? He Xiucai doesn't seem like that kind of person! His poetry and painting skills are well-known in our county, he's a refined and elegant man, there's no reason for him to do something so scandalous!" The county yamen's instructor helped to argue on his behalf.

  "Reporting to the master and teacher, the female folk really didn't lie. Last night in the deep of night, when the female folk was taking a bath, she suddenly saw a black shadow appear outside the window. At that time, the female folk was... completely naked! When I chased out, I found that person was actually He Xiucai. Please, master, do justice for the female folk!" Lin Shuang'er knelt down and wept with shame.

  On the other side, Huo Lie thought to laugh out loud, as for this matter he didn't want to explain much, no, he admitted that he indeed sneaked a peek at Lin Shuang'er taking a bath, and what's more, he took a good look at her.

  But he felt that the real responsibility for what happened did not lie with himself. On the one hand, he thought it was heaven's intention to give him an opportunity when he passed by Lin Shuang'er's boudoir window and she was taking a bath. Heaven intentionally gave away a beauty after bathing, if you don't take a look, who would be at a loss?

  In addition, in the 21st century where he lived, even if it was just teasing, it would only be condemned morally and could not reach the point of being unforgivable. I didn't expect that after coming here, I would be interrogated for just a simple *** and felt a bit unadapted.

  But he thought the main reason was that his 'desire' control measures were not good, he used to be the leader of *** and every day he would "flirt" with the girls there, finally one day he exhausted himself to death, when he woke up he found himself transported to the Tang Dynasty.

  What's even more exaggerated is that he shuttled here and actually became a show-off, the name of the show-off was exactly the same as his previous name, both were called Huo He.

  "Huo Lie, the county magistrate is asking you a question. Why did you sneak a peek at Lin Shuang'er while she was bathing in the middle of the night?" The county magistrate had spoken, and although the person standing before him was a scholar, this matter could be either big or small.

  In this era of male chauvinism and female inferiority, how can a girl who has been ***ed still get married? *** is especially important in this era.

  "Good heavens, I'm so dead! But honestly, it wasn't intentional. As I was passing by Lin's boudoir, I heard an unusual noise inside and peeked in to take a look. Who would have thought that I'd see the most beautiful sight I've ever laid eyes on?!" Huo Hai also knew the gravity of the situation and thus found an excuse to extricate himself.

  Lin Shuang'er on the other side heard the county town girl's favorite scholar praising herself, and her anger unconsciously dissipated by three points, and her small face also began to blush.

  The county magistrate was also shocked, although he wasn't a good official, but he knew that Huo Xiao shouldn't have done something like this. With his talent and his family background which is above average, it's easy for him to find a decent wife, let alone take in a few concubines, why would he do something so lowly!

  "But you still saw Lin Shuang'er after all, and this official naturally has to give her a statement. You've read no less books than I have, what do you think is the right thing to do?" The county magistrate 'entrusted' this difficult problem to Huo Xiao himself.

  To know that Huo Qi's father, Huo Qing, was a well-known merchant in Shuyuan County. In this era of heavy agriculture and light commerce, it is naturally somewhat capable to stand out in the business world. Moreover, there are also subtle relationships with official families.

  That is to say, it was also a common occurrence for County Magistrate He to enter wine houses and other entertainment venues, so the county magistrate did not want to sentence Huo Qi.

  But he still had to give the girl in front of him an explanation, so he thought of letting Huo Xiao sentence himself, as long as he made sense and Lin Shuang'er could accept it, then this matter would be settled.

  I have been both a good official and a devoted public servant, why wouldn't I be delighted to continue doing so?

  The people outside and the steward of the Huo family, as well as Lin Shuang'er's parents, were all waiting for this elegant and refined scholar to give an answer that would satisfy everyone.

  Actually, Lin Shuang'er's parents, Old Man Lin and Aunt Lin, didn't have any ill intentions towards this scholar. After all, he was a renowned scholar in these parts. Instead, they thought that if their 'daughter' really did get involved with this handsome scholar, then they would consider themselves blessed by their ancestors.

  He mentioned this handsome, Huo Hai had something to say, he felt that this was the most satisfying thing after his rebirth. His previous self was elegant and refined, but not good-looking, but after rebirth, he became a cultured and refined gentleman!

  The steward of the Huo family came over, but he wasn't worried at all. Not only did the Huo family have good connections here, but he also believed that his young master wouldn't easily do something like this. After all, he had watched him grow up, and from a young age, he was well-behaved and ambitious, so how could he possibly do something that would bring shame to the family?

  All this is evident from his appearance, he stood there and smiled secretly, before he was always called "托" by others, every day 'mixing' in *** with the lowest level of society's "chicken" and whoremongers 'mixing' together, but it can be said that they were abandoned by society.

  But coming here has actually become a respected show talent, *** others 'female' children taking baths will not be despised, it's really cool!

  "Sir, I deeply know that I have hurt Miss Lin. I don't know what to use to make up for it. If Miss Lin is willing, I am willing to apply to my father to let Miss Lin work at my house without any contract, with freedom to come and go, and the monthly salary will be paid as usual. In addition, I will also give some compensation money to the Lin family!" Huo Hai said with a pretended apologetic tone.

  He knew that the Lin family was poor and going to work for the Huo family was a dream come true for many people, so the Lin family would not refuse.

  Furthermore, when the Tang Dynasty developed to this point, although it was said that national strength had increased, internal and external troubles were still very serious, and the people's lives were not very prosperous. At this time, being able to get a sum of compensation money was truly like sending charcoal in snowy weather!

  Does Huo Rong really want to make amends with the Lin family? Of course not, if so, he wouldn't have looked at them so carefully last night.

  Lin Shuang'er, although born into a farming family, had a slender figure and a pretty face that made her a standout. Keeping her at home not only brought *** opportunities but also led to even more wonderful things happening.

  Thinking of this, Huo Hai couldn't help but laugh, as if he had recalled his past life in *** where he always thought about how to get the pretty girls there into his room.

  But he couldn't show it, after all, he's now a scholar and has to maintain his image!

  It seems that the county magistrate has seen through the cleverness of the young scholar in front of him, not only taking advantage of others but also wanting to continue taking advantage of them by 'dealing' with them again!

  However, after weighing the pros and cons, he just smiled secretly and then said seriously: "Lin Shuang'er, can you accept He Xiuzai's conditions? It is indeed a case that offends heaven and reason. If you still want to continue accusing He Xiuzai, this official will immediately give him thirty heavy slaps and then detain him for trial!"

  The county magistrate's words shocked everyone present except for Huo, and outside the gate there was also a commotion. Someone said: "Although Huo Xiuzai is not right, he is not intentionally so. As the son of a wealthy family, he is not arrogant or domineering, but rather talented and ambitious, really one of our county's rare talents! It's a pity that he has been punished for this matter!"

  "Yes! He has already proposed superior conditions for redemption, it can be seen that he was not sincere at the time, I think Lin Shuang'er should be content with that!"

  "That's right!"

  ……

  Lin Shuang'er didn't actually intend to severely punish the handsome and talented young man in front of her, she was just acting on impulse when she struck the drum to cry out for justice. In fact, she was still secretly smiling about it last night, and being flirted with by the most outstanding talent in the city wasn't anything embarrassing at all.

  A prodigy in this era is very respected by people, the common people admire him, and a 'girl' is moved by him, just like some of today's stars.

  Lin Shuang'er is now extremely nervous, because she's afraid that County Magistrate will really punish Huo Ruo, but he doesn't know what to do either, having been *** by him, and now still has to plead for him, this isn't quite right, is it?

  She thought of this and her neck turned red halfway, so she 'pulled' herself out and ran away!

  Actually, everyone knew she didn't mean to keep pursuing it, because when she ran away, she wasn't crying, but rather seemed to have a hint of a smile.

  "Ho Xiuzai, I thought you weren't that kind of person. It's rare for you to not look down on letting Shuang'er go to the Ho family as a servant. I'm grateful to you here, tomorrow I'll send Shuang'er over!" Lin Lao Han smiled and welcomed him, knowing that his 'daughter' would have no worries about food and clothing at the Ho family, and who knows, maybe even other good things would happen."

  The old man thought to himself, "Huo Xiucai actually *** his own daughter, which means he has a liking for his own daughter. If that's the case, sending his own daughter over and having them live together day and night will surely lead to something happening. When the time comes, the two families will be united in marriage, what a joyous occasion it would be for the Lin family!"

  Hu Ke's heart was filled with a burst of sneers, these days' common people are really going crazy, 'girls' being *** by others, they actually still willingly send their 'daughters' to work for others, aren't they afraid something will happen again?

  "What happened last night was really embarrassing, our two families are very close, so when I went out for a walk at night... Oh, if you want Lin to visit her anytime, she can also go home anytime!" The Ho family didn't lack servants, but Ho wanted Lin Shuang'er to go there with another purpose.

  He knew that since Old Man Lin and his wife had promised to let their daughter work for the Ho family, Lin Shuang'er would not be able to return home at will. In this era, it was most important to follow rules, even a married-out daughter could not return home at will!

  The county magistrate saw that things had basically come to an end, so he smiled secretly and announced his withdrawal from the court.