The boy quietly followed Li Yan through the streets. It’s been five minutes but neither one of them talked.

Unable to bear the silence, Li Yan turned around and asked, “Don’t you want to know where Brother Ouyang went?”

“Back to his sect,” the boy calmly replied.

“He told you?” Li Yan couldn’t understand by Old Man Ouyang would reveal his origins to this boy.

The boy shook his head, “It doesn’t need to be said to be understood. With the things the Elder told me, it’s apparent that he would be from a sect.”

“Really?”

“Really,” the boy nodded. “Most of the things he knew should only be known by someone of the upper-class and the rest of them should only be known by someone from a sect.”

“Like what?” Li Yan kept getting more and more impressed at the boy’s intelligence.

“Like the situation of sects.”

“But can’t he be a eunuch or official from the royal court?” Li Yan asked.

“Then why would he come here?” the boy counter-asked.

“That’s-” Li Yan was tongue-tied and went to deep thought.

The two had been walking through the streets for quite a while. The boy changed the subject, “Master, the Li clan mansion is nearby?”

“Yes,” Li Yan nodded. “We’re in the southwest part of Huangye town.” Then he puffed his chest with pride, “It’s bigger than both the Murong and Wang clan mansion.”

“Then does the Li clan have branches?”

“Of course, boy! What kind of clan would we be if we didn’t have a main family and a branch family?”

“Then, doesn’t this cause internal strife?” the boy was puzzled. Why keep a flawed system knowingly?

“It does,” Li Yan smiled bitterly. Sighing in relief, he added, “At least, there are no doubts about succession in this generation.”

“Really, Master?”

“That is the case.” With a proud expression, Li Yan started to brag, “None of the members can measure up to Chyou`er! So, her position as the next clan head is almost solidified.”

“If that is the case, then won’t she be prone to more danger?” the boy asked worriedly. If her position is solidified, then doesn’t that mean she’s the greatest obstacle towards the position of clan head?

“That’s why I say ‘almost’. All that’s left is for her to safely ascend to the position.”

“It’s a good thing to see Master be so progressive!” the boy praised.

“What do you mean?” Li Yan asked curiously.

“I mean most people wouldn’t want their daughters to inherit the business. So, it’s a good change of pace that Master is willing to support First Young Miss.”

“Ho-ho!” Li Yan looked at the boy with a sly expression. “‘First Young Miss’, huh? You’re adapting to the role quickly!”

The boy was about to reply when his gaze shifted. “Isn’t that the Li clan mansion?”

Li Yan looked forward and calmly said, “We’ve reached it.”

Li Yan and the boy walked forward and entered through the archway into the front courtyard. The guards at the entrance cupped their fists and bowed when they saw Li Yan, “Clan Head!”

Li Yan simply nodded and walked through with the boy. The Li clan mansion was huge, almost 90 mu[1]. The boy followed Li Yan into the main building. Along the way, there were many wearing the same colors as Li Yan which were white inner robes and open yellow outer robes with green stripes on the cuffs. The people would always bow and make way for Li Yan whilst shooting puzzled looks at the boy.

After a bit of walking, Li Yan was greeted by another man who looked to be in his forties. He was wearing closed black robes with a yellow cloth belt. The man had a refined and calm aura. He cupped his fist and bowed to Li Yan, “Master!”

Li Yan nodded. The man looked at the boy with a slightly surprised look. The boy hastily cupped his fist and bowed.

“Master, is this-?” the man looked at Li Yan.

“Indeed, Yu Hao. He’s the child I’ve been talking about!” Li Yan confirmed the man, Yu Hao’s suspicions.

The boy was taken aback by this exchange. Was this already planned?

“Are you sure about this, Master?” Yu Hao was hesitant to ask.

“I am. I don’t think I’ll find someone better than him.”

The boy had many questions but he knew better than to ask now. All that was remaining was his job in the Li clan.

Li Yan looked at the boy, “From today onwards, you are the Chyou`er’s new butler!”

The boy’s eyes widened in shock. He hesitantly asked, “Are you sure about this, Master?”

Hearing the boy’s worried voice, some of the concern in Yu Hao’s expression vanished.

“Of course, boy!” Li Yan smiled. “Don’t you have any confidence?”

“But, what am I supposed to do as a butler?”

“The usual. Wake her up, get her dressed, be by her side and serve her to the best of your capabilities,” Li Yan said casually.

Hearing the first two, the boy felt his vision going dark. The last two are normal but get her dressed? Is this something I should be doing?

“This…” the boy paused and took a deep breath. “But Master, I’m a male!”

“Well, that’s not a problem,” Li Yan dismissed it. “Especially for you,” he then looked at the boy, “Bing Yue from Sleepless Abode came to Cloud Tavern and you didn’t even bat an eye at her. So, you’ll be just fine with Chyou`er.”

The boy felt like he was missing something. Sleepless Abode is a brothel and Ms. Bing is a courtesan! And what do you mean by ‘So, I’ll be fine’? Is this really something you should be counting on?

Looking at the flabbergasted expression on the boy’s face, Yu Hao flashed him a bitter smile. Seeing Yu Hao’s look, the boy finally felt the pieces click. When they said that the Li clan head was dull in the wrong places, I didn’t expect it to be like this!

“And of course,” Li Yan wore a menacing smile, “If you dare to have any thoughts towards my daughter, you understand what’ll happen.”

Looking at Li Yan who was raising a clenched fist, the boy hastily nodded.

Getting the boy’s affirmation, Li Yan nodded in satisfaction. He then looked at Yu Hao, “Take him to Chyou`er. I’ll be in my study.”

“Understood, Master!” Yu Hao nodded and took the boy with him.

Yu Hao passed through the halls of the mansion. In the courtyard, many of those yellow robe-wearing people were practicing martial arts.

“They’re disciples of the Li clan,” Yu Hao explained when he saw the boy looking at them. “They wear yellow on the outside whilst butlers like us wear black with yellow belts,” Yu Hao pointed at his dress.

“Mr. Yu is also a butler?” the boy asked.

Yu Hao chuckled, “No need to call me ‘Mr. Yu’. ‘Butler Yu’ will do.”

“Understood, Butler Yu!” The boy asked again, “Anything else I should know?”

“Yes!” Butler Yu raised a finger, “Firstly, don’t think that you’re higher or lower than disciples of the Li clan. The butler’s status is lower than members of the main family but higher than the normal disciples of the branch family. The main family has three vertical stripes on their cuffs whilst the branch family has two horizontal ones. Our status is roughly on par with the elders on the branch family. Of course, strength is still the deciding factor but you should still act humbly.”

The boy made a mental note as Butler Yu took a deep breath. Many more disciples walked past them as they made their way through the halls.

“Secondly, don’t head to the Clan Repository. It’s situated northwest and where all the clan’s martial arts are stored and going there, even accidentally will spell a death sentence for a new butler like you. It’s the same for some of the other buildings. I’ll speak about them later.”

The two made their way out of the open halls and went into the buildings. The decorations in the buildings were exquisite, fully displaying the wealth of the Li clan.

“And lastly, do not harbor any thoughts about the First Young Miss,” Butler Yu warned grimly.

“Of course! I don’t want my head to fly!” the boy nodded. “Is there a Madam as well?”

“Indeed, Madam Li is a doting parent. She’ll freeze hell over if her daughters suffer any sort of grievance.”

“Is Madam Li powerful?” the boy couldn’t help but ask.

“That’s not something butlers like us should talk about,” Butler Yu shook his head.

“Understood!” Although he did say that, the boy had already got his answer.

After walking a bit, they came in front of a room. The acacia door had carvings of flowers and vines on it.

Butler Yu looked at the boy, “The First Young Miss is in her room. Let’s meet her, shall we?”

Knock! Knock!

Butler Yu calmly knocked on the door.

“Yes?” a melodious and feminine voice came from the other side of the door.

“Young Miss, it’s Butler Yu!” he announced his arrival.

“Come in,” the voice responded.

Butler Yu opened the door and went inside but the boy stayed outside. Since he wasn’t asked to follow, he wouldn’t.

He then laughed mockingly at himself. It seems I’m on top of this butler game…

He heard the Young Miss and Butler Yu from inside.

“So, Butler Yu, did dad come back?”

“Yes, Master is in his study.”

“Then I want to see if he brought any sweets!” the Young Miss’s voice seemed a bit childish and excited.

“Please wait! Master has hired a new butler for you.”

“B-But Aunt Qian was fine,” her voice was full of hesitation.

“Miss, I can’t do anything about this. All future clan heads require a butler. This was the case for Master and now for you.”

“I see…so, where is she?”

There was a pause before Butler Yu said, “…He’s right outside.”

“H-He?” she seemed to be shocked.

Paying no heed to her surprise, Butler Yu addressed the boy, “Greet the Young Miss!”

The boy entered the room and came before the Young Miss, daring not to look up without greeting her.

The sound of her gasping reached his ears. Paying no heed to his impulse to look up, the boy cupped his fists and knelt, “Greetings, Young Miss!”

There was a long pause. The atmosphere felt like a mountain and it suffocated him. After a while, Butler Yu coughed lightly.

That cough seemed to have brought the Young Miss back to reality. “O-Oh, yes! I am Li Chyou. Get up!”

Hearing her order, the boy rose before looking at the Young Miss and his pupils constricted. She had smooth fair skin and flowing long black hair which went down to her back. Willow leaf-like brows, a round face with hints of baby fat around the cheeks, and soft, gentle eyes. Though being twelve this year, she wasn’t all that developed. Wearing a yellow one-piece dress, she sat on a chair near the window. The gentle sunlight highlighted her features.

S-So beautiful! That was the first thought in his mind. But soon he calmed down because this wasn’t the time to be lecherous.

“He will be serving you from tomorrow!” Butler Yu spoke up.

“I see…”

“I’ll be taking him to Qian Yu now. He needs to learn from her so we beg your pardon.”

“Yes, you may leave!” Li Chyou waved dismissively but the boy noticed a bit of agitation in her eyes.

“Very well!” Butler Yu left the room taking the boy with him.

After the two left the room, Li Chyou leaned back in her chair and took deep breaths to calm her beating heart down.

She looked at the door where her new butler had come from. Just where did dad get such a cute boy from?

On the other hand, the boy followed Butler Yu through the halls again. He recalled Li Chyou’s figure. Her beauty resurfaced in his mind but then he became filled with indifference.

So, what if she’s beautiful? That has nothing to do with me. I’ll just have to serve her, no need to harbor any feelings for her.

The boy kept on following Butler Yu throwing Li Chyou’s beauty to the back of his mind.