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What kind of lie was this girl going to spin now? Wei Tingyu was quite intrigued, so he didn't stop Kangning, letting her continue her tale.
"That Marquis of Jining is a ruthless, shameless scoundrel!"
"Your humble servant deeply resents how he used his power to force our five Li family sisters into marriage!"
"So I devised a trick to swindle him out of a huge sum of silver! I secretly found a place to hide it! I haven't dared to touch it since!"
"If Your Majesty can spare your humble servant and my sister, consider it our ransom!"
"A full three thousand eight hundred taels! How about it?"
Good heavens! This girl really dares to exaggerate! How could she even utter a number like three thousand eight hundred taels? But then again, if she wanted to impress this mountain bandit, she naturally had to make the number as enticing as possible. Yet, he, the dignified Marquis of Jining, had become a ruthless, black-hearted villain in her mouth! However, wasn't he also deceiving her right now? Scaring this girl half to death, a few curses from her were only fair!
"Are you not trying to trick me to find an opportunity to escape?" Wei Tingyu thought this but didn't immediately agree to Kangning's terms. Instead, he asked.
"What do you mean?" Kangning was startled, then continued, "I was afraid Your Majesty would be suspicious, so I haven't dared to speak of it until now!"
"That Marquis of Jining, distressed by his financial loss, vented his anger everywhere. These past two days, he even offended that famous Young Master Yang!"
"This matter is well-known throughout the capital's streets and alleys; you can just inquire about it!"
"How could it be a trick?"
Wei Tingyu was even more speechless after hearing Kangning's words. This girl was truly clever! She even used real-life events as supporting evidence for her lies. Yang Xian's affair had nothing to do with today's events, yet in her mouth, it became the result of the dignified Marquis of Jining venting his frustration after being swindled out of money! And it even seemed to make perfect sense! If he were a simple-minded mountain bandit, he might truly have been fooled by this girl!
"Besides, this area is all desolate wilderness and forest. Even if I ran out and called for help, there wouldn't be a soul around!"
"How would I dare deceive you? Am I not afraid of becoming a headless ghost tonight?"
Kangning heard Wei Tingyu stop speaking and immediately thought he had taken the bait, so she quickly added.
"Where is the silver hidden? I'll send someone to retrieve it!" Wei Tingyu said. He wanted to see how far this girl would stretch her lie.
"That place is too secretive and very hard to find!" Kangning's eyes darted, and she continued, "Your Majesty, please release your humble servant first, and I will draw a map for Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty, don't overthink it. Your humble servant just wants to use this money to buy back my life! I would certainly not dare to play tricks!" Seeing that the person behind her had no intention of releasing her, Kangning pleaded again. At the same time, her tone softened significantly, sounding almost like she was cooing.
Wei Tingyu, at this point, gently loosened the arms that had been embracing Kangning. Kangning's body was instantly freed. She exhaled softly, then slowly rose, making as if to walk to the table for paper and brush to draw the map. However, she had only taken a small half-step forward when she suddenly spun around, pulling another hairpin from her head and fiercely lunging it towards Wei Tingyu. So, all that meekness, even the cooing in her voice, was all in preparation for this moment! As expected, it was the personality of the Third Lady of the Li family! If she hadn't done this, it would have been strange!
Of course, after this second hairpin was pulled out, Kangning's hair ornaments could no longer hold, and her beautiful hair cascaded down like a waterfall. But at this moment, she naturally couldn't care about such things; her only target was the man before her! This time, Wei Tingyu didn't directly stop her, letting the girl rush recklessly into his embrace. He even went along with it, falling back, allowing Kangning to directly straddle him on the bed. Kangning hadn't expected things to go so smoothly. Without a word, she raised the hairpin in her hand and thrust it towards Wei Tingyu! But her aim was a little off, too far to the side. Even if Wei Tingyu didn't dodge, this thrust definitely wouldn't hit his face. Of course, he was worried about the hairpin shattering against the hard bed frame and cutting her tender hands, so he quickly gripped her attacking wrist again.
"Third Lady, it's me!" Of course, given the dim light, Kangning couldn't clearly see his face. Even with their closeness, Wei Tingyu still spoke.
"It's you I'm stabbing, youā¦" However, Kangning didn't stop upon hearing Wei Tingyu's true voice. Instead, she shrieked! At the same time, her small hands struggled desperately, as if wanting to continue fiercely poking the man beneath her with the hairpin.
"Me, the ruthless, shameless scoundrel?!" Wei Tingyu, however, completed her sentence, uttering the insults she was about to use against him.
"Hooā¦ hooā¦" That single pounce and stab seemed to have drained all of Third Lady Kangning's strength! She was now straddling Wei Tingyu, staring blankly at the man beneath her, her gaze somewhat vacant! Although the light was still dim, she had now confirmed that the man before her was indeed Wei Tingyu! It seemed her guess hadn't been wrong!
At the same time, a sense of immense relief at finally being saved spread through Kangning's heart. Of course, all the reasons she had hated him moments ago no longer existed! After all, sleeping with Second Sister Fuhuiā¦ he was Fuhui's legitimate husband, so what was wrong with that? The only thing that still displeased Kangning was this deception! After all, before she confirmed that this so-called mountain bandit was Wei Tingyu, she had truly been terrified half to death!
However, Wei Tingyu didn't say anything, just looked straight into her eyes. Kangning also realized that she was currently sitting on Wei Tingyu's waist; this posture seemed a littleā¦ intimate?
"Isn't this just deliberately toying with someone?" She said, struggling to get up. Of course, the hairpin in her hand was no longer needed, so she tossed it aside. However, Wei Tingyu naturally wouldn't let Kangning go now. He directly wrapped his large hands around her waist and pulled her down. Losing her balance, Kangning collapsed into Wei Tingyu's embrace, her small mouth coincidentally close to his! Though there was no direct contact yet, Kangning could clearly feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek. In that instant, her cheeks flushed rapidly! Her heart rate also quickened dramatically, feeling even faster than when she had first come in, intending to assassinate this "mountain bandit"!
"Marquisā¦" Kangning's breathing grew heavy. She awkwardly averted her gaze, saying, "And my Second Sisterā¦" She certainly wasn't worried about Fuhui's safety now, since it was Wei Tingyu, but she asked to break the awkward silence. However, without waiting for Wei Tingyu's answer, Kangning's eyes simply glanced to the side and she spotted Second Sister Fuhui.
That's right! I clearly saw two figures on the bed just now. Fuhui was lying on the inner side, still embraced by Wei Tingyu's arm! And now, Second Sister was of course awake, staring at her with bright, round eyes and a knowing, secretly amused expression! Good heavens! So, all of this wasn't just the Marquis's plan; Second Sister was in on it too! Throughout the entire process, she hadn't uttered a sound, surely stifling her laughter to avoid alerting her. To see her make a fool of herself, Second Sister had truly gone all out! It must have been difficult for someone who loved to laugh so much to hold it in?!
"Second Sister, youā¦" Thinking this, Kangning pouted, feeling a little wronged, and wanted to demand an explanation from Fuhui.
"I'm sorry, Third Sister!" Fuhui blinked her innocent, big eyes and smiled, saying, "The Marquis told me to do this; I couldn't help itā¦"
Good heavens! You're just pushing all the responsibility onto the social rule of a married woman obeying her husband, aren't you? Of course, even though Second Sister was annoying, the main culprit was still this Wei Tingyu! Thinking this, Kangning angrily raised her small fist, wanting to punch him hard on the chest twice. However, as her small fist was just raised, Wei Tingyu slightly raised his head and gently kissed her cherry lips!
This was like lightning and flint, an indescribable tingling sensation rapidly spreading throughout Kangning's body from her lips. So much so that, even without Wei Tingyu sealing her pressure points, her entire body was still unable to move! Because for her, this was her first kiss! Although she had secretly watched Wei Tingyu kiss her two sisters before, when it was her turn, Kangning couldn't help but feel her heart race uncontrollably. And Wei Tingyu, seeing the cute sight of the girl frozen there, her face flushed, naturally couldn't resist! He directly reached out and pulled her entire body into his embrace! At the same time, his lips met hers again, and the two passionately embraced and kissed! Kangning offered no resistance, gradually evolving from initial passivity and awkwardness to a fervent response!
Approximately another half an hour later, the storm in the room ceased once more! Why say "once more"? Because this was from Fuhui's perspective! After all, how could she remain unaffected by Wei Tingyu and Third Lady's intimate encounter right next to her? She naturally had to get involved! However, at this moment, she had yielded Wei Tingyu's chest to Third Sister, while she herself rested obediently on the Marquis's right shoulder.
"When did you realize?" Wei Tingyu's large hand gently stroked the beautiful woman's back in his arms, as he looked at Kangning and asked. Kangning was now quietly resting against his left chest, listening to his strong, steady heartbeat, unable to pull herself away! Suddenly hearing Wei Tingyu's words, she raised her face, looking at him with her bright eyes. After staring for a moment, she smiled and said, "What kind of bandit uses 'Sihexiang'?"
Wei Tingyu was startled, then chuckled quietly. He fully agreed with her answer. Sihexiang wasn't a particularly rare incense, it just had a fresh and elegant scent, so many literati and refined individuals enjoyed using it. As a Marquis, he couldn't possibly spray himself with strong perfumes like his wives and concubines; that would be too effeminate!
So, his wives and concubines at home would take his clothes off daily, hang them on a screen, and lightly infuse them with Sihexiang overnight. He never expected that his cover would be blown today precisely because his wives and concubines were too virtuous. Wei Tingyu found the irony amusing! Looking at it this way, she must have noticed from the moment he had embraced her from behind. Now that he thought about it, Kangning had suddenly become quiet then, and her words had been filled with sarcasm and mockery towards him, the Marquis of Jiningā¦ No doubt, she must have already known who the enemy embracing her from behind was! She was indeed a clever young lady!
"So, Third Lady knew early on that this mountain bandit was an impersonation by meā¦" Thinking this, Wei Tingyu smiled again and said, "So you didn't struggle when you were sitting in my arms?"
"Hmph!" Third Lady Kangning was startled by his words, then her cheeks flushed again. How was she supposed to answer that question? If she nodded and agreed, wouldn't that make Wei Tingyu incredibly smug? And Second Sister Fuhui would definitely mock her! Who knows, after tonight's events, she might even tell their other sisters, and then how could she ever show her face again?! But if she said no, that wouldn't be right either! Wouldn't that mean she willingly sat in another man's arms? Not only might Wei Tingyu overthink things, but she herself would feel wronged! Because she had only stopped struggling when she had clearly guessed it was Wei Tingyu. She couldn't possibly willingly take on an unwarranted blame and carry it on her back, could she?
"Alright, alright!" Fuhui, seeing her Third Sister's playfully annoyed and slightly wronged expression, couldn't help but let out a giggle. She quickly interjected, "Third Sister is so clever, she must have guessed it long ago. Otherwise, why would she give that so-called mountain bandit an easy time?"
Upon hearing her Second Sister's words, Kangning's small face couldn't help but redden another two shades, but those words did help answer Wei Tingyu's question for her. Thinking this, she looked at her Second Sister with considerable gratitude. Seeing the other party also smiling sweetly at her, her previously awkward heart finally settled down. Two women serving one husband was, of course, quite normal. After all, wasn't that how Eldest Sister's and Second Sister's bridal chambers had been in the Li family's backyard? And she and the other two Li family sisters were also destined to be noble concubines in the Marquis's estate; this day would come sooner or later! It was just that this night's bridal chamber seemed a bit too hasty! For a woman, this was naturally a source of regret.
"Don't worry!" Wei Tingyu saw the expression on Kangning's face, especially the slight disappointment and dimness in her eyes, and immediately understood what the girl was thinking. Of course, he fully understood. He had given perfect wedding ceremonies to the other women in his estate, and Kangning certainly couldn't be an exception! Thinking this, Wei Tingyu slowly reached out and hooked Kangning's chin, then lowered his head and gently kissed her lips, saying, "Third Lady, don't worry! I will definitely give you a proper wedding ceremony later!"
"Really?" Kangning's face immediately brightened. Logically, as a noble concubine, she wasn't really entitled to demand such things. But having personally witnessed Eldest Sister's and Second Sister's wedding ceremonies, as a sister from the same Li family, she naturally didn't want to be treated differently! Hearing Wei Tingyu's promise now, her heart immediately blossomed with joy!
"Of course it's true!" At this moment, Second Sister Fuhui also nodded firmly, then surprisingly reached out her soft hand and took Kangning's small hand, saying, "Don't worry, if the Marquis doesn't agree to you, the other sisters in the Marquis's estate and I won't agree either!"
"Fine! You're all sisters!" Wei Tingyu rolled his eyes helplessly, then grumbled, "I'm the only outsider here!"
"Pfft!" Third Lady Kangning couldn't help but laugh out loud upon seeing Wei Tingyu's expression, as if he had just swallowed a fly. At the same time, she subtly closed her eyes, enjoying this quiet and peaceful moment, slowly drifting into sleep.
The next morning, Wei Tingyu stood casually in the middle of the room, just like any other morning, while Fuhui and Kangning bustled around him, helping him dress! Second Lady Fuhui was already quite adept at this, while Third Lady Kangning was a bit clumsy. Fortunately, this girl was eager to learn, so with Second Sister's help, she quickly got the hang of it. Wei Tingyu looked at the two busy Li sisters before him, feeling quite emotional. His responsibilities now felt a bit heavier!
"Marquis, why do you seem so preoccupied?" Fuhui knelt before Wei Tingyu, adjusting his belt, then looked up at his serious face and couldn't help but ask.
"Did I do something wrong?" Third Lady Kangning, surprisingly, showed a rare nervous expression in her eyes.