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"My heart has been growing more and more unsettled these past two days; the more I think about it, the more I fear!"
Of course, Chai An was utterly disgusted by his cousin's behavior and immediately wanted to flick his sleeves and leave, no longer bothering with him. However, his peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a red skirt's hem peeking out from under the bamboo curtain in the side hall opposite! Clearly, a woman was currently hiding behind the bamboo curtain, observing the situation in the hall...
Fan Lianghan, seeing Chai An frozen in place, immediately pulled him back to his seat. After pressing him down, he said anxiously, "Brother! You give me an idea! Should I take this concubine or not?"
"Which one do you like?" Chai An carefully looked at the red skirt under the bamboo curtain again, then blinked, turning to Fan Lianghan and asking.
"Me?" Fan Lianghan was startled, then turned to look at the three prospective girls, then secretly glanced at Fu Hui, who was sitting in the main seat, calmly fanning herself. For a moment, he seemed to be in a difficult position, afraid to speak, frozen there.
However, Fu Hui caught a glimpse of Fan Lianghan from the corner of her eye, seeing him sizing her up, and she couldn't help but roll her eyes inwardly. As if I care which one you like, according to the plan Kang Ning brought back after meeting the Marquis yesterday, she just needed to keep acting, completely unconcerned with what Fan Lianghan was thinking.
"Anyway, none of them are as pretty as my wife!" Fan Lianghan frowned, then mumbled softly. Fu Hui couldn't help but let out a cold snort upon hearing this! What's the use of praising me now? That blind effeminate man was already like trash in her heart!
Chai An was startled, then also rolled his eyes in exasperation. So his cousin wasn't blind after all? After all, even Chai An himself had been taken aback when he first saw Fu Hui's appearance. That's why he had never understood what was going on in this guy's head, given Fan Lianghan's subsequent dismissive attitude towards Fu Hui. And now that Fu Hui's heart had clearly been captured by another man, he suddenly became energetic and remembered his wife was beautiful? Too bad it was too late!
"But Mother also said!" However, Fan Lianghan didn't notice the changes in Fu Hui and Chai An's expressions, still speaking to himself, "This matter concerns a man's dignity! If the husband's authority is not upheld, it will invite ridicule!"
"This time, she has to exert herself to suppress my wife's arrogance!"
Chai An was even more speechless upon hearing this. You two, mother and son, just keep acting! Such a beautiful daughter-in-law is about to be gone, and you're still oblivious!
"I'm afraid..." Thinking of this, Chai An spoke again, but his words were interrupted after only two words by his cousin. "You're afraid too?" Fan Lianghan was startled. In his mind, his cousin was a fearless man who feared nothing! This was the first time he'd heard that he also had something to fear!
"I'm afraid he's invited you to a Hongmen banquet! And you're walking into the gates of hell!" Fan Lianghan was completely stunned upon hearing Chai An's words. It took him a few seconds to react, then he said, "No, no! My wife never goes back on her word!"
"Fan Lianghan! Just look!" Chai An pouted, glaring at his cousin speechlessly, and said, "Is your wife today the same as your wife yesterday?"
"She does seem different!" Even if Fan Lianghan was a blockhead, he should have indeed noticed Fu Hui's change by now. He blinked and said, "My wife hasn't been as fierce with me or controlled me as much these past two days!"
Chai An nodded repeatedly after hearing this, thinking to himself, this kid actually understands after all. Previously, Fu Hui was only forced to manage Fan Lianghan because her in-laws pressured her. Now, her heart had long flown to another man; how could she have the time to bother with him? Thinking of this, Chai An became even more convinced that there must be some conspiracy brewing behind Fu Hui and the Li family. He immediately flicked his sleeve and stood up.
"What does your private life have to do with me?" He said loudly as he walked straight out, no longer bothering with his cousin's tugging, and at the same time, he said, "If you dare to deceive me again, I'll break your legs!"
"Cousin, cousin!" Seeing Chai An ignore him and leave directly, Fan Lianghan hesitated for a moment, then also ran out after him.
"Master Fan! Master Fan!" The matchmaker immediately grew anxious and chased after him a few steps, shouting, "I've brought the girls to you, how can you say you won't take them? How can you just leave like that?"
"That means he's not interested!" Fu Hui scoffed upon seeing this, directly saying to the maidservant beside her, "Xiu'er! Take them out to collect their reward, and see them off properly!" Although the matchmaker didn't earn the commission for arranging the match, upon hearing that there was an additional reward, she immediately beamed with joy and led the three equally delighted girls out of the main hall.
After everyone in the hall dispersed, the bamboo curtain was suddenly pulled back, and Third Daughter Kang Ning of the Li family emerged.
"That fellow surnamed Chai is so annoying! He almost ruined everything!" Kang Ning picked up a teacup, sipping tea and saying.
"But things really are just as the Marquis said, not a single detail is off!" Fu Hui nodded and said, and as soon as she mentioned Wei Tingyu, stars appeared in her eyes again.
"Good sister, now you will get your wish!" Kang Ning happily put down her teacup, leaned close to Fu Hui's ear, and whispered, "The people arranged over there are already in position, and you're about to escape this hellhole of the Fan family!"
"Mm!" Fu Hui immediately nodded happily upon hearing this! Nothing else mattered; this was her most anticipated event right now!
"Everything's done, why are you still clinging to me?" In Pan Lou, Fan Lianghan followed closely behind Chai An like a shadow, and Chai An was utterly helpless.
"Brother, you still haven't told me what kind of trap it is?" Fan Lianghan's IQ was at most that of an eight or nine-year-old. He trailed behind Chai An, asking, "If you don't tell me, my heart won't settle back in my chest!"
"With your few straightforward thoughts, telling you would only add to your troubles!" Chai An frowned, turned to glare at Fan Lianghan, then continued to walk forward. After all, topics like being cuckolded were simply too heavy for a childish person like Fan Lianghan. It was better to let him remain a silly little kid; at least he wouldn't have so many worries!
Fan Lianghan was scolded by his cousin and felt very indignant! Standing on the second-floor corridor, he glanced downwards and just happened to see a woman playing the pipa and singing in the hall on the first floor. And this little brat's playful mind was immediately drawn to her; he directly shrugged off his cousin Chai An and leaned directly over the railing.
"Who is she?" Fan Lianghan's eyes were practically glued to the woman playing the pipa.
"Business has been good in the building recently; many new faces have come to sit. They're all strangers! Shall I go and ask for you?" The Pan Lou attendant next to him glanced at the woman downstairs and replied.
"Go quickly, go quickly!" Fan Lianghan immediately waved his hand, signaling the attendant to quickly inquire about the woman's origins!
"Brother, you come and go every day, haven't you noticed that there's a three-tenths resemblance to my wife in that woman's eyes?" Fan Lianghan asked, staring at the singing woman below. However, at this moment, his gaze was completely captivated by the woman below; he didn't even look up at Chai An as he spoke. Chai An, behind him, rolled his eyes helplessly. Even if there was a three-tenths resemblance to Fu Hui, what then? Her heart had already flown to Marquis Jining, Wei Tingyu! Are you only interested in women who look like her now? This is truly putting the cart before the horse, buying the casket and returning the pearls! Chai An was also quite puzzled at this moment, why was his cousin so foolish?
"Get up!" Thinking of this, Chai An stepped forward and fiercely kicked Fan Lianghan's backside.
"Brother! With your temper, even if you married a wife, you'd freeze her to death with just a few words! Ten coffins wouldn't be enough to hold her!" Fan Lianghan took a kick to the backside but still showed no intention of getting up. Instead, he stared blankly at the singing woman below and said.
"Master, it's all clear!" After night fell, the attendant reported to Chai An.
"That True Lady lives on Nan Xie Street in front."
"She originally went to Guang Prefecture to seek refuge with relatives, but got separated from her family halfway."
"She was abducted by a scoundrel and thus fell into a life of depravity!"
"Master Fan was anxious upon hearing this, and with tears in his eyes, helped her pay for her redemption."
"Both sides have even agreed; tomorrow, a palanquin will pick her up to bring her into the household!"
Upon hearing the attendant's words, Chai An frowned directly, thought for a few seconds, and blurted out, "No!"
"Master is suspicious?" The attendant was startled, then quickly asked.
"I don't know! I just have a gut feeling that something is off!" Chai An's eyes darted around, but he still couldn't figure out the trick behind it. He said directly, "This reckless fool, who knows what big mistake he's about to make!"
"Then shall this lowly one go and investigate further?" The attendant quickly asked again.
"She's entering the residence tomorrow; how would there be time to investigate now?" Chai An frowned, feeling that at this moment, besides praying to the gods and Buddhas for protection, there was no other way. He only hoped that he was overthinking, otherwise, his blockheaded cousin, Fan Lianghan, would truly be in big trouble.
At this moment, in the closed front hall of Si Fu Cha Shi, three figures were gathered, examining a small plate of pastries in front of them. It was precisely Eldest Daughter Shou Hua, Third Daughter Kang Ning, and the adopted daughter of the family, Qiong Nu. As for Lady Li Niang, Second Daughter Fu Hui, Fourth Daughter Hao De, and Fifth Daughter Le Shan, they had already retired for the night.
Just as the three girls were whispering quietly, the outer door suddenly knocked from outside.
"Who is it?" Third Daughter Kang Ning was the most alert. She quickly glanced towards the door, seeing the faint outline of a person standing in front of the door through the window.
"So late... who could it be?" Eldest Daughter Shou Hua also frowned slightly.
"It wouldn't be some ruffian, would it?" Qiong Nu was the adopted daughter of the Li family and felt the least secure. She subconsciously hugged herself tightly, her eyes showing a hint of nervousness and fear.
"This is the capital; what ruffian would dare to be so bold?" However, Third Daughter Kang Ning thought for a moment, then heard a low whistle from outside the door. Then she smiled. And under the watchful eyes of Shou Hua and Qiong Nu, she walked straight to the door and opened it. This scene left the two girls dumbfounded. They didn't even know who it was, yet she just opened the door directly? Even if the security in the capital was good, it was already dark after all! Opening the door to a stranger at this hour was always a very risky thing! Moreover, the entire Li family household consisted of women; there wasn't even a single man!
However, as the door gradually opened, Shou Hua and Qiong Nu were stunned in place! Because what appeared before their eyes was a young master wearing a jade-faced fox mask! The most shocking thing was that after Kang Ning opened the door, she actually moved aside, inviting this jade-faced fox young master inside. Could this person be Third Sister's friend? Impossible! When did her third sister ever have friends in the capital?
Eldest Daughter Shou Hua's brows furrowed tightly; she felt this matter was increasingly strange! Especially when she saw that after this jade-faced fox young master entered the room, her third sister actually closed the door behind him, which startled her even more. Good heavens! This Li family courtyard is full of women; letting an outsider in so late, if anyone saw it, it really couldn't be explained clearly! Moreover, the five daughters of the Li family had already become betrothed to the Marquis; if this matter reached the ears of the Marquis of Jining's Residence, what then?! Thinking of this, Shou Hua's face changed. She quickly walked forward and grabbed her third sister, then, disregarding her fear of the suddenly arrived jade-faced fox young master, she pulled her a few steps away.
"Eldest Sister..." Kang Ning was startled, then looked at the anxious Shou Hua with a bewildered expression and asked, "What are you doing?"
"I should be asking you what you're doing!" Shou Hua frowned directly, then put on the air of an elder sister and scolded Kang Ning, "Do you know what you're doing?"
"Letting an outsider into our courtyard so late, if the Marquis finds out, what will happen?"
"The Marquis?" Kang Ning was startled, then her small mouth opened in surprise, but seeing her eldest sister's anxious expression, she immediately understood. That's right! She had gone to the Marquis's Residence to find Wei Tingyu during the day today, and they had agreed to meet tonight, with him whistling as a signal for her to open the door. But Eldest Sister and Qiong Nu didn't know about this, no wonder they were so nervous right now. However, at this moment, Kang Ning was amused and wanted to tease her usually serious eldest sister. She smiled and said, "What's there to be afraid of? If the Marquis doesn't want us anymore, at worst, we can just break off the engagement..."
"What are you saying?" Eldest Daughter Shou Hua almost fainted upon hearing this, thinking to herself, how could her third sister be so thoughtless today? The Marquis's Residence had even sent the betrothal gifts in the afternoon! This matter was already set in stone; although not publicly announced, it was absolutely impossible to easily break off the engagement now!
"No matter who this person is, quickly drive him away!" Thinking of this, Shou Hua quickly frowned and said to Kang Ning, "Don't be willful and harm Mother and your sisters!"
"Eldest Sister! Am I that kind of person?" Kang Ning smiled even more exasperatedly, so this was what 'concern leads to confusion' meant! Eldest Sister suddenly saw an outsider being brought into the Li family courtyard by herself, and directly worried herself to forgetfulness!
"..." And Kang Ning's words indeed made Shou Hua freeze for a moment. That's right! Kang Ning's love for their mother and sisters was no less than her own! And she had never done anything to tarnish the Li family's reputation! Moreover, meeting an outsider privately after becoming betrothed to the Marquis... how could Kang Ning be so foolish?!
"Marquis..." Kang Ning smiled upon seeing her eldest sister Shou Hua's bewildered expression, then turned to the jade-faced fox young master and said, "If you don't reveal your true face, I'll be wronged to death!"
"Perhaps Eldest Sister will even tie me up and throw me into a pig cage!"
"Mar... Marquis..." Shou Hua was stunned upon hearing Kang Ning's words. It took her a few seconds to react, and her mouth even rarely stuttered slightly.
"This is... the Marquis?" Shou Hua blinked, looked at her third sister, then turned her gaze to the jade-faced fox young master. And indeed, his figure was exactly the same as the Wei Tingyu in Shou Hua's memory! But at this moment, he was wearing a mask, so Shou Hua couldn't be sure...
Wei Tingyu stood aside, enjoying the show, but his heart ached even more for Shou Hua. And looking at Kang Ning's pitiful expression, as if she had been wronged, he shook his head helplessly, then reached up and removed the mask from his face.
"Marquis!" Eldest Daughter Shou Hua finally let out a heavy sigh of relief after seeing Wei Tingyu's face with her own eyes. It was clear that her previous nervous emotions had instantly vanished from her body! However, she still gave her sister Kang Ning a glare, then slowly walked forward and bowed slightly to Wei Tingyu, saying, "Your concubine greets Your Lordship!" Now that the betrothal gifts had been accepted, all that was left was to write the concubine contract, so Kang Ning and Shou Hua's status was the same; they could both now be considered Wei Tingyu's fiancées... no, strictly speaking, they should be his future concubines...