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Fu Hui never expected Wei Tingyu to suddenly pull her into his embrace and then lower his head to kiss her forehead. Yet, there wasn't a hint of resistance in her heart! After all, for this woman, to offer her beauty to Wei Tingyu, she was a thousand times willing. In fact, when Wei Tingyu kissed her forehead, she couldn't help but close her eyes, feeling the warm breath from his mouth and nose spray onto her skin. Even the corners of her lips unconsciously curved into a smile! At least, this showed that the Marquis truly liked her; she wouldn't have to worry about not being doted on in the future!
"Hmm..." This scene, naturally, was entirely witnessed by Third Daughter Kang Ning, who was hiding in the distant flower bushes. She immediately covered her mouth with her hand, preventing herself from crying out in shock! Good heavens! The scene of Wei Tingyu and Second Sister holding hands earlier had already completely stunned Kang Ning! She never expected something even more explosive to follow! They actually embraced each other?! And the Marquis even gently kissed Second Sister's forehead?! Kang Ning had never dreamed that she, merely following her mother's orders to look for Second Sister, would personally witness the "illicit affair" between Second Sister and Marquis Jining?! If this matter were to spread, it would truly be catastrophic!
However, even Kang Ning had to admit that the scene of Wei Tingyu and Fu Hui embracing so intimately now seemed the most perfect and suitable in her eyes! As for that nominal brother-in-law, Fan Lianghan, standing beside Second Sister, Kang Ning always felt that Second Sister was at a great disadvantage! The two of them were not a match at all!
"No wonder Marquis Jining helped our Li family, and even specially brought his un-wed concubine to the banquet today!" Kang Ning whispered to herself at this moment, "So he took a liking to our Second Sister..." As she mumbled, her eyes darted around. Kang Ning roughly analyzed the current situation in her mind, feeling that it wasn't as bad as it seemed! After all, she, her mother, and her sisters all knew what kind of life Second Sister lived in the Fan family. From a sister's selfish perspective, Kang Ning naturally hoped that Second Sister Fu Hui could escape the fiery pit that was the Fan family!
Marquis Jining, Wei Tingyu, certainly had a high status and position, and now he seemed to be a good candidate for a husband! But his household already had a proper wife, so even if her sister were to marry him, she could only be a concubine... Of course, if the Marquis's Residence's inner courtyard was stable, if the wife and concubines could live in harmony, and if the Marquis could indeed dote on her sister... then even being a concubine would be better than living such a humiliating life in the Fan Residence under the title of madam! In this regard, Kang Ning was a pragmatist! She didn't care about empty titles; she only wished for her sister to truly live a smooth and peaceful life! But was this Marquis Jining truly a good son-in-law? Kang Ning couldn't be sure yet. After all, the Marquis Jining had already been proven to be involved with a married woman; in short, he was not a proper gentleman! So, she still needed to thoroughly investigate his character!
"Where is the Marquis going now?" After Wei Tingyu and Fu Hui separated, the young woman, with a flushed face, blinked her innocent, big eyes and asked him.
"Naturally, back to the banquet!" Wei Tingyu, of course, also saw her reluctant expression and smiled, saying, "However, this Fan family's banquet is indeed quite uninteresting!" This wasn't Wei Tingyu deliberately belittling the Fan Residence; it was just that these people immediately started fawning and flattering, which greatly annoyed him. Compared to that, the banquet at the Liu Residence in the Eastern Capital was much more interesting!
"This Fan Residence is merely an ordinary merchant family; the banquet naturally won't catch the Marquis's eye!" Fu Hui smiled faintly, her eyes darting around as she said, "However, why don't you come to our side, Marquis?"
What?! You want me to go to the female guest section?! Is that appropriate?! Wei Tingyu was stunned, and his face also showed a hint of bewilderment. He hadn't expected Fu Hui to make such an invitation.
"The so-called female guest section is just our Li family's mother and daughters, plus younger sister Ming!" Fu Hui saw Wei Tingyu's expression and smiled faintly, saying, "Anyway, there are no outsiders..." However, as she spoke the last part, her voice grew softer and softer, and the words "outsiders" barely made more sound than a buzzing mosquito when they escaped Fu Hui's lips. If Wei Tingyu's hearing wasn't exceptionally keen, he truly wouldn't have heard what this young woman was saying.
However, with a beauty inviting him, Wei Tingyu naturally wouldn't refuse! Especially with so many beauties present! It would truly be a waste of heavenly resources not to go! Besides! As Marquis Jining, even if he did go, the Fan family wouldn't dare to gossip! As for rumors behind his back about him being a lecher or whatever, Wei Tingyu naturally didn't care at all.
"Then I shall trouble Lady Fu Hui to lead the way!" Wei Tingyu smiled slightly, then cupped his hands to Fu Hui, saying with a serious expression.
"Pfft..." When Fu Hui saw Wei Tingyu's demeanor, she couldn't help but burst out laughing, her eyes even curving into crescent moons, which again sent a ripple through Wei Tingyu's heart! However, she also understood why he was acting this way, so she took a deep breath, raised her head, and put on a nonchalant expression as she nodded to Wei Tingyu, "Then please come with this concubine, Marquis!" The place they were going had many people, not to mention they would inevitably run into two or three Fan family servants along the way. Intimate gestures like those just now were naturally inappropriate; it was better to pretend they were complete strangers.
Then, as the two walked one after the other past the flower bushes where Kang Ning was hiding, Wei Tingyu suddenly stopped. "This flower is quite beautiful!" Wei Tingyu could almost hear Kang Ning's heart pounding faster. He smiled faintly, turned, and plucked a pink flower from the very flower bush where Kang Ning was hiding, then turned back and gently placed it in Fu Hui's chignon.
With her beloved husband personally placing a flower in her hair, Fu Hui was overjoyed! The smile on her lips was completely uncontainable! "Does it look good?" Fu Hui touched the flower Wei Tingyu had personally placed in her chignon, asking shyly.
"Naturally, it looks good!" Wei Tingyu smiled and nodded. These weren't just empty compliments! Fu Hui's beauty, coupled with this fresh flower, truly complemented each other beautifully! Upon receiving her lover's praise, Fu Hui smiled contentedly. And this completely unrestrained, free smile directly struck Wei Tingyu's heart! Even Kang Ning, who had been nervous and whose forehead was covered in a thin layer of sweat, was stunned by Fu Hui's expression! Because she had never seen such a vibrant, youthful smile on Second Sister's face before! For a moment, she even forgot her own awkward situation, hiding there, liable to be discovered by Wei Tingyu at any moment! In truth, from Wei Tingyu's angle, Kang Ning's skirt was already visible. However, since he didn't point it out, Fu Hui, completely immersed in love, naturally didn't notice.
Only when the two had slowly walked away did Kang Ning's legs give out, and she plopped down onto the grass. That brief quarter of an hour felt like several hours to Kang Ning! The great ups and downs of life! From the moment she surprisingly discovered the "illicit affair" between Second Sister and the Marquis, Kang Ning's brain had essentially been in a state of chaos!
After sitting behind the flower bushes for about another quarter of an hour, Kang Ning cautiously got up, tidied her hairpins and skirt, and then returned to the veranda where the female guests were seated. Looking from afar, she indeed saw Wei Tingyu present. This Marquis is truly too lecherous at heart, isn't he?! He actually brazenly came to the female guest section?!
At this moment, Kang Ning felt that Wei Tingyu's act of plucking a flower right in front of her and giving it to Second Sister was likely intentional! He probably discovered her long ago! But he deliberately didn't expose her and instead put on a show... What did that mean? Was he warning her not to speak carelessly? But the woman in question was her own Second Sister; even without Wei Tingyu's warning, she certainly wouldn't speak carelessly! So what did he mean by that? Was he deliberately trying to embarrass her?
Kang Ning thought indignantly as she walked into the veranda. It was then that she noticed the seating arrangements had significantly changed since she left! Wei Tingyu was, of course, seated in the center, at the main seat. To his left sat his un-wed sister-in-law, Dou Ming, and to his right sat her sister, Fu Hui. Good heavens! This is a bit too blatant! Not only do you two have an "illicit affair," but you're also sitting next to each other in public?
Meanwhile, Lady Li Niang, seated on Fu Hui's other side, was beaming with delight, offering toast after toast to Wei Tingyu. In her opinion, her second daughter, Fu Hui, had achieved a great merit by actually inviting the Marquis to their side! Among the female guests at the banquet, Dou Ming naturally went without saying; there was no need for any restraint between her and the Marquis. As for herself, a married woman who had lost her husband, there was nothing to worry about! As for her daughters, since she intended to push one of them into the Marquis's Residence, it was only natural to personally bring them out for the Marquis to meet. And Fu Hui, as the Fan family's daughter-in-law and half-hostess of the banquet, personally accompanying a distinguished guest seemed perfectly reasonable...
Wei Tingyu naturally drank every cup of wine Lady Li Niang offered him. After all, he had profound internal energy, so even ten or eight jars of this low-alcohol fruit wine would not affect his consciousness in the slightest. However, what shocked Kang Ning the most was that Second Sister Fu Hui was actually helping Wei Tingyu pour wine cup by cup beside him. This serving duty... how could this be...?
"Third Sister is back!" Kang Ning's appearance naturally drew the attention of everyone present. Fifth Daughter Le Shan was the first to exclaim, and then everyone's gazes simultaneously turned to her.
"I went around in circles and missed your Second Sister!" Lady Li Niang smiled and nodded upon seeing her third daughter return, "But you see, your Second Sister is capable; she even invited the Marquis to our side!" Upon hearing her mother's words, Fu Hui's face immediately flushed. After all, she knew best how she had "invited" the Marquis! This method certainly couldn't be revealed to everyone!
Kang Ning was startled, then nodded mechanically, "I just went around the back courtyard and didn't see Second Sister, so I thought she might have already returned. Now I see that I indeed missed her..." As the only person present besides the direct parties involved who knew about the intimate relationship that had developed between Wei Tingyu and Fu Hui, Kang Ning's acting was quite passable... She didn't reveal any flaws, but her eyes darted between Second Sister and Wei Tingyu a few times.
Fu Hui was originally a bit guilty, and after seeing Third Sister's scrutinizing gaze, her little face immediately flushed again. This scene made Kang Ning inwardly complain helplessly. With your acting skills? If a few intelligent and perceptive people were here, they would see through it in minutes! Fortunately, everyone else in the room, besides Kang Ning, was generally a bit carefree and not so deeply calculating. Eldest Sister Shou Hua was observant, but she clearly wasn't thinking along those lines at the moment!
Thinking of this, Kang Ning inwardly complained about her Second Sister. Just as she was wondering whether to find an opportunity to teach her how to cover up her tracks, she suddenly noticed that Wei Tingyu's gaze toward her was a bit off! Besides scrutiny, there seemed to be a hint of teasing. What does this mean? Did he really realize I was hiding in the flower bushes? Kang Ning grew increasingly suspicious at this moment, but she couldn't directly question Wei Tingyu. So, she suddenly thought of a good indirect method.
"Oh?" Kang Ning returned to her seat, sitting down. She looked at her Second Sister Fu Hui beside her and pretended to be confused, saying, "Second Sister's hairpin flower is quite beautiful; I don't think you were wearing it before?"
As soon as Kang Ning spoke, everyone's eyes simultaneously turned to Fu Hui's chignon. Indeed, the hairpin flower immediately caught their attention!
"I knew Second Sister looked even prettier than before when she returned!" Fifth Daughter Le Shan quickly nodded and said, "But I couldn't figure out why until Third Sister's keen observation!"
"I didn't notice either! But this hairpin flower is indeed lovely and suits you very well, Second Sister!" Eldest Daughter Shou Hua also nodded at this moment, smiling as she spoke to Fu Hui. How could it not suit me? This was personally plucked and placed by the Marquis for me! Fu Hui's heart blossomed with joy upon hearing the praise from her fifth sister and eldest sister. She shyly stole a glance at Wei Tingyu, her heart filled with a sweet feeling!
Meanwhile, Third Daughter Kang Ning carefully observed Wei Tingyu's expression, only to see him smiling meaningfully, even winking at her. In that instant, she was certain! Wei Tingyu absolutely knew that she had been hiding in the flower bushes!
"Each of our daughters is as beautiful as a flower! This hairpin flower would look beautiful on anyone's head!" Lady Li Niang, of course, hadn't forgotten her purpose of praising her daughters in front of the Marquis. She quickly seized the opportunity to speak.
"Second Sister! Let me wear it! Let me wear it!" Fourth Daughter Hao De's eyes were also burning with desire for the hairpin flower in Fu Hui's chignon. She quickly reached out to demand it from her.
"This one, no!" Fu Hui naturally refused immediately! She had a head full of pearls and jewels, which one wasn't more valuable than this hairpin flower? But this particular flower was personally placed by the Marquis for her! Let alone Fourth Sister wanting it, even if the Empress Dowager asked for it, Fu Hui wouldn't part with it!
"Mother! Look how stingy Second Sister is!" Hao De immediately pouted and shook Lady Li Niang's arm, whining, after hearing that Fu Hui was unwilling to let her wear the hairpin flower.
"There are so many flowers in this courtyard; if you like one, just pick it and wear it yourself, no? Why do you insist on snatching your Second Sister's?" Lady Li Niang, having painstakingly raised five daughters, naturally knew the importance of fairness. So, she directly gave her fourth daughter, Hao De, a soft reprimand! Although she didn't know why Fu Hui was so reluctant to part with this one flower, since she refused, there must be her reasons! A mother couldn't favor one child over another, could she!
"Fourth Sister! Don't you understand? This must have been picked by Second Sister's husband for her, that's why she likes it!" Fifth Daughter Le Shan seemed like a little adult, nodding with the expression of someone who had seen it all, "If you like one, when you marry a husband in the future, let your husband pick one for you to wear!"
And Fifth Daughter Le Shan's words, though a wild guess, actually hit the mark! It was just that this "husband" was not Fan Lianghan, whom Fu Hui was nominally married to, but the Wei Tingyu she truly adored! Thinking of this, Fu Hui's little face flushed even redder, and her expression, in everyone's eyes, seemed to confirm this conjecture. At this, Fourth Daughter Hao De no longer acted willfully. From her perspective, this was a flower picked by her brother-in-law for her sister! As a younger sister-in-law, she naturally shouldn't actively demand it! Besides, that brother-in-law Fan Lianghan wasn't all that great! Hao De always felt he was unworthy of Second Sister Fu Hui! The thought that it was his picked flower immediately dampened Hao De's interest in asking for it!