Xuanqing Guard

Entering mid-April, the climate of the Imperial City was now warm and blossoming—harsh winter gone, all things awakening.

Many elite families in Tea Mountain Manor were preparing to move back to the city.

The Xu Family on the western side of the manor was no exception.

The Xu Family were not natives of the Imperial City; their business was in the Jingxi Territory. They’d come hoping to soak up some "noble air" at Tea Mountain Manor. Now that spring had come and the nobles were getting ready to return to the city, the Xu Family would also set off back to Jingxi.

But on this day, the Xu Family received an invitation, and on the cover it said: Respectfully presented by Bai Changqing.

Who was Bai Changqing? There wasn’t a single resident of Tea Mountain Manor who didn’t know him; the Xu Family had long been clear he was a high-ranking official in the Temple Hall, now Minister of Revenue—one of the Jingjiu Dynasty’s uppermost figures, a true boss among men.

In the past, not to mention receiving an invitation from such a big shot—even bumping into him on the road and being qualified to exchange greetings was something the Xu Family would have been immensely proud of.

Let alone the fact that this invitation was personally written by Bai Changqing himself, and contained the courteous phrase "respectfully presented" to show his regard.

Why would this happen? Had Bai Changqing gone silly?

Bai Changqing certainly wasn’t silly—idiots couldn’t serve as Minister of Revenue.

As the private talk among other households in Tea Mountain Manor went: The Xu Family was lucky, brought in two young ladies, who just happened to strike Bai Changqing’s fancy.

What’s that saying? When luck comes, you can’t block it even if you want to!

This story isn’t something that can be summed up in just a few words. At first, no one in the manor connected the Xu Family with Bai Changqing. They were simply worlds apart—not even on the same level.

Instead, it was the two newly arrived young ladies of the Xu Family who were lively and adorable, always seen around the manor.

But somehow, the pair of sisters from the Xu Family ended up bumping into Bai Changqing, and apparently there was mutual attraction. No, actually—Bai Changqing had set his eyes on the sisters.

Fishing together, hiking and sightseeing—and people even saw Bai Changqing put aside his dignity to build snowmen and have snowball fights with the Xu Family sisters. It seemed a real psychological return to youth.

The observant had already noticed something was off then, because Bai Changqing seemed to truly get closer and closer to the two sisters.

At first, someone threatened the Xu Family, saying, "You Xu Family are mere merchants—your little bit of money makes you forget your place? Daring to push women right next to the grand Minister of Revenue? That’s flattery, courting death!"

The Xu Family was terrified. They really only had a modest fortune, with no strong backing; after suffering warning and harsh words from their neighbors, they shrank back, wanted to escape, and stopped dreaming big.

But somehow Bai Changqing got wind of it, and, without even sending a lower emissary, rushed directly from the Imperial City to Tea Mountain Manor, using neighborly visits as an excuse to invite all the Xu Family to dinner. During the meal, he hinted: If anyone dares kick you out, just tell me—I’ll stand up for you!

The next day, those few households who had threatened the Xu Family brought generous gifts and came to apologize.

By then, anyone with eyes and sense saw Bai Changqing’s intentions—and this wasn’t "just for fun." He truly meant business.

So from that day on, the Xu Family started receiving invitations they could never have hoped for before—all from the great houses of Tea Mountain Manor.

Of course, according to the servants’ gossip, the Xu Family sisters seemed not to have such thoughts, since Bai Changqing’s age was far above theirs. To say they were honestly willing to spend their days with an old man was simply too fake. And though the Xu Family was anxious, they never forced the two girls; they never confirmed any rumors from outside.

After that, things seemed to stall. No one in the manor saw the Xu Family sisters hanging out with Bai Changqing anymore. Everyone murmured: Looks like Bai Changqing couldn’t win over the sisters after all. Well, it makes sense—old ox eating young grass hardly fits, being disliked is normal. Young girls, after all, prefer handsome beaux—who cares if you’re a big-shot official?

Furthermore, it was said that after Bai Changqing learned the Xu Family ladies only saw him as a playmate, or an "interesting uncle," his mood turned sour. Anyone with a keen eye could see what was happening.

It baffled him!

Put yourself in Bai Changqing’s shoes: usually surrounded by flatterers, with plenty who’d crawl at his word; women came and went, never short supply—when had he ever met resistance?

To become an "unrequited lover" in old age?

And really, Bai Changqing found himself with all the flavors of unrequited love. He was troubled, and amused—at his age, how could he catch feelings for two young girls? Worse, his feelings frightened them, and now they wouldn’t even show their faces.

There were plenty watching for a laugh, some nearly cackling themselves silly. After all, to see the grand Minister of Revenue get snubbed by two girls was rare indeed.

The rumor of Bai Changqing trying to court young girls and being rejected even spread outside Tea Mountain Manor.

To be honest, Bai Changqing’s pride was rather badly bruised. Some hot-headed Bai Family scions even wanted to storm the Xu Family and teach them a lesson for not appreciating favors, but Bai Changqing stopped them and scolded them thoroughly. Truly, blaming the Xu Family would have been the real embarrassment.

So Bai Changqing could only sulk and brood, drowning his sorrows in drink, sighing over wasted youth and wishing he could enjoy the blessings of beauty once more.

But heaven has eyes, and would not let the passionate suffer in vain.

Soon after, a frightening event happened at Tea Mountain Manor: The Xu Family’s business rivals hired a few loose cultivators to wipe out the Xu Family’s key figures, then use the chaos to undermine their business across various regions. Many Xu Family members were killed, and if it hadn’t been for their Defense Array barely holding out, they’d have never lasted until rescue.

Who saved them? Bai Changqing, who happened to be heading home and, halfway to Tea Mountain Manor, heard the news and personally risked his life to save them.

Of course, the guards at Bai Changqing’s side did more of the heavy lifting, but Bai Changqing was the star. The guards would never dare snatch the "heroic rescue" spotlight from their lord.

The timing was perfect, the opportunity rare, and his performance outstanding.

So—what reason remained to stand in the way of burning love?

None! Even the huge age gap could no longer be an obstacle. Because the rescued Xu Family sisters, tearfully, flung themselves into Bai Changqing—the hero’s—arms. Two little faces, wet with tears, moved Bai Changqing’s heart almost to breaking. Having faced rivals all his life, Bai Changqing had thought himself old, but now felt truly young again.

"I will never let you suffer even the slightest hurt again!" Bai Changqing said resolutely, his arms tightening instinctively as he embraced the two young women.

What used to be ridicule—a running joke—was now praised as a fine tale.

Rescued by a hero, silver hair matched with beauty—this was romantic stuff for scholars, worthy of a song. Some familiar colleagues even teased Bai Changqing about it on the road to court.