Chapter 18 Chapter 18 “Your concubine has no heart for you.

"How could this happen?" The Fourth Young Master's wife looked at Jasmine apologetically.

Jasmine: "How about we just sit in the carriage and wait?"

The fourth young master's wife asked the driver, "Can we wait in the carriage?"

The driver said, "Fourth Young Master's wife, that won't work."

The Fourth Young Master's wife was furious: "Why can't it be done? Such a wide road, can it be blocked just because of us?"

The driver said, "No, Madam Fourth Young Master. I am alone. If the horse gets spooked, Madam and Madam will be in danger. I cannot bear the responsibility. Madam and Madam, please do not embarrass me."

"It's really not your fault." The Fourth Young Master's wife looked at Jasmine. "Why don't we get out of the carriage? He's right. We're all women, and we don't know how to ride a horse. If something goes wrong, it will be terrible."

Jasmine could only agree. She nervously glanced out both windows to confirm that the Duke was still in the teahouse and not looking outside. She then chose to get off on the right side, avoiding the Duke's presence.

Jasmine got off the cart and took a look. Just as the driver had said, there was a crack in the wooden frame of the wheel and it was no longer a round wheel.

When Jasmine saw that the Fourth Young Master's wife was about to get off the car from the other side, she hurried over from this side to compete with Xizhi for the Fourth Young Master's wife.

"Ma'am, please get off this way!"

Just kidding, if she went down from that side, she might be seen by the Duke. If the Duke saw the Fourth Young Master's wife, he might send someone to greet her, and then she would be exposed.

The Fourth Young Master's wife had no choice but to listen to her.

"Don't worry, the Duke is busy and won't find us."

Jasmine was worried: "It would be terrible if they found out."

The fourth young lady's wife finally got off the carriage and said to the driver, "Go ahead, and come back soon."

"Yes, ma'am."

The driver got back on the carriage, glanced at the wheels, and cracked his whip: "Go!"

"Clang!"

"ah!"

"hiss--"

The carriage suddenly overturned!

The sounds of carriages falling to the ground, the screams of the people, and the neighing of horses made the streets a hundred times more lively than before.

Jasmine just wanted to find a place to hide, but the Fourth Young Master's wife, looking terrified, pulled her away.

"Jasmine, you won't crush anyone, will you?"

"Jasmine, what should we do?"

Jasmine didn't know what to do.

The horse was frightened and started to kick up with all four hooves, dragging the tilted carriage forward.

Seeing this, Shancha subconsciously pulled the carriage rope, and Jasmine pulled her.

"Cha, let go!"

When she uttered the word "let go", Jasmine was thrown out uncontrollably.

She only felt herself being pulled high up by a force and then falling to the ground quickly.

Jasmine felt that she was in dire straits. She might even have several broken bones.

As a result, I didn't feel the severe pain I imagined, but it felt like I had hit a newly built earthen wall on my back.

Jasmine opened her eyes and turned around to see her grandfather's unusually majestic face.

Jasmine thought it would be better to cut her into pieces.

However, perhaps this master, considering her serious injuries, will not bother with her about leaving the house.

"Master, this servant..."

The Duke ignored her and just looked ahead.

Jasmine followed his gaze and saw a man who had subdued the frightened horse and was leading it towards them.

The man seemed to be a subordinate of the Duke's friend. In the tea room, Jasmine saw him standing behind the nobleman.

"Sir, no one was hurt."

"That's good."

Jasmine heard the voice and turned her head sharply, only to find that the nobleman was standing next to her master.

When Jasmine looked at the person, the nobleman seemed to notice and cast an appraising glance at her.

The young man had a pair of compelling phoenix eyes. When he looked at people, he didn't look frivolous, but rather stern, as if... he was looking at a grandson.

Jasmine pretended to be looking at someone behind him and exclaimed, "Wow, beautiful!"

As expected, all men are lustful. Hearing the word "beauty," the nobleman turned his head and went looking for her. Not giving up, he even ran after her!

Jasmine saw the nobleman approach a beautiful woman wearing a veil. Although the beauty's face was obscured, Jasmine was certain that she was a beauty.

The half exposed neck and hands, the skin was as white as cream. Jasmine had never dared to imagine that there would be such a woman in the world, but now she saw it.

"Is Jasmine okay?"

Jasmine came back to her senses when she heard the Fourth Young Master's wife calling her: "I'm fine."

Jasmine then thought of Shancha. She was saved by the Duke, but what about Shancha?

She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Shancha standing behind her safely.

The Fourth Young Master's wife bowed and apologized to the Duke: "Duke, it was my fault for not being considerate enough to bring my concubine out. I hope you will not blame my concubine."

"Let's go to the tea room." The Duke glanced at Jasmine as he raised his foot.

Jasmine followed in a panic.

Since there were two more female relatives, the teahouse owner thoughtfully prepared a private room for the Duke. He also helped the Duke move the items he had purchased from Concubine Liang's clothing shop into the room.

When Jasmine hid in the carriage and peeked, there were only a few pieces of clothing, but now, boxes of various sizes piled up on the table, the scene was quite spectacular.

The Duke was talking to the ladies of the Duke's Mansion. The young master did not avoid them and sat directly next to the Duke, drinking his tea in an orderly manner.

Jasmine didn't see the veiled beauty again. The young man and the beauty had just talked for a long time. The two of them were very close to each other, which showed that they had a very close relationship.

Jasmine had no time to care about others. She sat down below the Fourth Young Master's wife and went to see her grandfather. She thought that since there were outsiders around, her grandfather would not come to settle accounts with her at this time, right?

At this time, the Fourth Young Master's wife spoke up: "It is my fault today. I have disturbed the Duke and the Young Master. I am truly sorry."

The Fourth Young Master's wife stood up and bowed to the Duke and the Young Master.

Jasmine looked at the Fourth Young Master's wife in confusion. Did she actually recognize the noble young master?

Jasmine thought about it and realized that it made sense. The Duke's friend must also be the son of a high-ranking official. Perhaps he himself had become a high-ranking official thanks to his ancestors. It wasn't surprising that the Fourth Young Master's wife recognized him.

"No problem." The young master said these two words and continued to drink his tea.

The Duke asked, "What brings you out?"

The Fourth Young Master's wife said, "I came out to look for the Fourth Master, but we couldn't find him. We were about to return home, but our carriage broke down."

The noble young master said to the Duke in a serious tone, "Sir, I thought they came to see the Duke on purpose."

Jasmine panicked and hurriedly explained, "No, I was really accompanying the Fourth Young Master's wife to visit the Fourth Master. I didn't know he was here, it was just a coincidence."

The noble young master then turned to the Duke and asked, "Could this servant be the Duke's maid?"

The Duke: "She is my concubine."

When the noble young master heard this, he said with a look of sudden realization and certainty, "Even if he really came to see the Duke."

Jasmine thought this young man was mentally ill. Why couldn't he understand what people were saying?

The Duke then asked earnestly, "What do you mean?"

Young Master: "Why are you here today?"

The Duke: "Buying things."

Nobleman: "What are you buying?"

The Duke: "I bought it for the wife of the Luo family."

When the Duke said this, he suddenly turned his eyes to look at Jasmine.

The noble young man continued, "Sir, I am an experienced person. I don't need to tell you what this woman's purpose is."

Jasmine thought anxiously: You haven't even said it clearly yet. You're just short of writing the words "this concubine is quite scheming" on her face!

Jasmine couldn't express her grievances, and she angrily explained, "Master, I really didn't. If you don't believe me, ask the Fourth Young Master's wife."

Jasmine pulled the Fourth Young Master's wife over and explained, "I didn't want to come out. The Fourth Young Master's wife said she was afraid and asked me to accompany her, so I agreed. I have no improper thoughts. I am wronged!"

The fourth young master's wife also explained that this was indeed the case.

After the two of them finished speaking, the Duke said to Jasmine, "I believe you."

Jasmine almost cried with joy.

Nobleman: "Duke, please don't be fooled by a woman's appearance."

The Duke frowned at the noble young master and said, "Sir, you should keep this to yourself."

The noble young master also frowned: "I am thinking about the Duke."

The Duke: "Isn't that enough for you, young master?"

The young master frowned and remained silent.

Jasmine watched the two of them interacting with a confused look on her face. Glancing at the Fourth Young Master's wife, she was surprised.

The fourth young master's wife was seen sitting upright, pretending to be calm, not daring to look directly at the situation in front of her, with sweat oozing from her forehead.

Jasmine knew that the Fourth Young Master's wife wasn't as timid as she'd imagined. So what was she afraid of?

The two men stopped arguing, and the box was silent for a moment.

The Fourth Young Master's wife finally breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Did the Duke select all of these for Madam Luo? I'm sure Madam Luo would be delighted to see them."

The Duke was worried about this and asked, "Are you sure?"

The Fourth Young Master's wife glanced at the noble young master, lowered her eyes, and said, "I am absolutely certain. There is nothing a woman wouldn't like from Noble Concubine Liang's clothing shop. And since it was personally selected by the Duke, it's impossible for Madam Luo to dislike it. If the Duke doesn't believe me, you can ask my concubine. I'm sure my concubine agrees with me."

The Duke looked at Jasmine.

Jasmine stood up and nodded repeatedly, "Yes, the eldest young lady gave me a gift earlier, which was a dress from Concubine Liang's clothing store. I couldn't bear to wear it after seeing it. I'm sure the lady from the Luo family feels the same way."

The Duke nodded, but still worriedly said, "Whether you like it or not, you'll know after you see it. Fourth Sister-in-law, please take a look. If it doesn't suit you, I'll go change it right away."

"No problem." The Fourth Young Master's wife came to pull Jasmine, "Jasmine, come with us."

The Duke watched as the two walked hand in hand to the round table. Xizhi helped open the box, and Shancha followed Xizhi's lead.

There are red lacquer wooden boxes of various sizes with peony patterns. Those that are only as big as a palm contain various exquisite jewelry, those that are two palms big contain handkerchiefs, and those that are larger than that contain clothes.

There were more than twenty pieces of jewelry, more than twenty handkerchiefs embroidered with intricate patterns, and the same went for clothes.

The Fourth Young Master's wife couldn't let it go. Touching the golden embroidery thread with the auspicious dragon and phoenix on the wedding dress, she sighed, "The Duke has good taste. He's so attentive to the Luo family's wife. The embroidery on this wedding dress must have been done by an embroiderer from the palace."

The Fourth Young Master's wife held up the wedding gown and held it before Jasmine. "Feel it, Auntie. We've really learned a lot. The Duke's Mansion has already sent the betrothal gifts to the Luo family, and yet the Duke is still so considerate to the Luo family's wife. I wonder how grand the wedding will be."

Jasmine didn't dare to touch it, just for the sake of gesture. She pointed at the wedding dress with her finger, and with a smile on her face, she cooperated with the Fourth Young Master's wife and said to the Duke, "That's right. Whether it's jewelry, handkerchiefs, or clothes, they are all things girls like. Don't worry, Master. Madam Luo will definitely be happy to see it."

The Duke looked at her. His aunt smiled at him happily, and the Duke subconsciously smiled back: "Well, that's good."

The noble young master glanced at his concubine, then at the fourth young master's wife, and wanted to say something. But this matter seemed to have nothing to do with him. As the Duke said, the young master was too busy with state affairs to worry about other people's family affairs.

Jasmine asked, "When will Master come to the Luo family to present his gifts?"

The Duke: "Early tomorrow morning."

Jasmine: "Then I will help you tomorrow morning."

The Duke nodded: "Yes."

The Fourth Young Master's wife stood behind Jasmine, lowering her head in thought.

It was getting late, and the Duke planned to return home. After sending his female relatives onto his carriage, he went to say goodbye to His Majesty, who was standing in front of Concubine Liang's clothing shop.

"Zi Fu, goodbye."

His Majesty came straight to the point: "Your concubine has no heart for you."

The Duke froze, then slowly lowered his hand and asked, "What do you mean, sir?"

Your Majesty: "The Imperial Concubine said that she has me in her heart and loves me, which is why she won't let other women get close to me. But the Duke's concubine is an exception. Not only is she not sad, she is actually very happy. If she is not pretending, then she must not have the Duke in her heart."

The Duke's face was stern, and he spoke word by word, "This is a perverse theory."

Your Majesty: "You say the Imperial Concubine's words are perverse? Could it be that the Duke understands women better than the Imperial Concubine? I have no doubt that the Imperial Concubine has feelings for me. As for the Duke, I am only kindly reminding you because of our childhood friendship. Believe it or not, it is up to you to decide."

His Majesty said this and turned back into the shop. The imperial concubine had promised him that she would return to the palace before evening. How long had he been waiting?

This is simply outrageous.

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