Chapter 33.3: Forget It

"As vices rises in one foot, virtues rises in ten. [1] I don't believe I can't discipline that brazen child," Count Jin laughed. "Just wait, he'll pull his hairs out finding himself unable to recite the 50,000 words. It'll take him 50 days at minimum at least… maybe more."

"Not necessarily," the Countess chimed in. "Everyone speak of his illiteracy but during the wedding that evening, he spoke eloquently and even stumped Zhang Bo in his tracks. Maybe he'll memorize them in less than a month; maybe even better than yours."

"No way," Count Jin chuckled. "It took me 33 days. Even if Shen Lang isn't as stupid as he looks, it'll take him a month and a half. How can he outsmart me?"

"I'm sure he has his ways. He's very clever. Maybe he'll end up beating your records. I can read people well," the Countess said. "How about making a bet?"

The Countess' starry eyes gazed into sharp eyes of her husband. While her true age was almost forty, she looked young and elegant—a true beauty despite the aging times.

Her charming eyes reignited their youthful memories of when they were in their twenties, young wild and free. It caused the Count's heart to beat.

"Husband, if Shen Lang wins… when we make love in the future, I will be above and you below," she said firmly.

Caught off guard, the Count's lips quivered and his cheeks flushed a rosy wine. He immediately covered his wife's mouth.

Wife, how can you say such presumptuous thing? How indecent is it for someone of your status to say?!

"My lady is beautiful and elegant. Such things must not be spoken from your lips," he said. "It's… it's… it's embarra.s.sing!"

"Hmmph!" the Countess harrumphed. "There's nothing unspeakable in bed between a husband and wife when we're alone. So, won't you agree to it? Only when a woman is on top can she take the initiate and lead a more fulfilling and happier life."

The Count blushed. "Nonsense! The yin and yang is not reversed! It's not upside down! This is nonsense!"

"In a month's time, if Shen Lang recites the Golden Manual, we'll know whether I win or lose and same goes to you. If he recites one day in advance, I will be on top once; two days in advance, two times I'll be on top; three days in advance, three times…"

"Nonsense… nonsense…" the old fas.h.i.+oned Count blushed a deep red.

"Husband, the man enters the woman's garden. What's wrong with a lady taking the lead?"

"The woman can't enter the man. This is not the right interpretation. This…" he blushed profusely.

"Husband, you show off too much. Your reading has gotten you so uptight. Let me show you what I can do."

"No, you don't need to do it for me…"

The Countess smiled and rose straight out of bed. She put on her outerwear and headed straight toward the door.

Seeing her leave, the Count blurted, "Where are you going?"

He'd just grown attached to the touch of his wife, both soft and plump.

"My son, Shen Lang, must be studying hard all night. I'll cook a bowl of walnut lotus seed soup to keep his brain energized."

After an hour, the walnut lotus seed soup was fully cooked. The aromatic fragrance roamed the kitchen as she happily packed the food in a box before delivering it to Shen Lang herself.

For the sake of her future happiness, she'll have to make the first move.

When she came to the hallway, she saw the lights from the bottom s.p.a.ce of the door still on.

She smiled inwardly, thinking how she had a good son-in-law studying hard late at night.

Shen Lang is ignorant and lazy? Preposterous!

Jing Zhong bowed immediately, his face full of dismay and solemness. "Jin Zhong greets the Countess."

"Looks like the lights are still on. My son is studying really hard," she smiled. "I will go and send him this bowl of walnut lotus seed soup to relieve his hunger."

What a good mother-in-law.

"Mad'am, the young master has already fallen asleep."

All of a sudden, the Countess grew embarra.s.sed. Her cheeks seemed hotter, more read like a rosy wine.

"When did he sleep?" she asked curiously.

"Before 'nine, Mad'am."

So… he's lazier than her own son she gave birth too. Least her fat son reads late into the night every day.

"Hmmph! The fool has no conscience. Sure enough, the rumors are not false; lazy and ignorant!" the Countess whispered angrily and turned away.

Seems like she'll lose the bet with her husband.

[1] As vices rises in one foot, virtues rises in ten… a figurative language stating that justice always prevails over evil.