Chapter 15 World One

Zhang Shang made a fuss about the marriage for a long time. In order to implement his plan smoothly, Lord Zhang made a promise: after the matter was over, Baoshan would be allowed to enter the mansion with Miss Wu, but as concubines.

Naturally, Zhang Shang didn't want Bao Shan to be his concubine, nor did he want to marry a girl from the Wu family.

But Lord Zhang has always been good at understanding people's thoughts and has his own way of speaking.

Now he used this technique on his son, and in just a few words, Zhang Shang was convinced. Marrying the girl from the Wu family as his wife and taking Baoshan as a concubine was the best solution at the moment.

Although the marriage banquet was a cover, Lord Zhang really wanted to marry into the Wu family.

Therefore, although the time was short, the banquet was not perfunctory. Mrs. Zhang invited several experts to prepare the banquet properly and grandly.

As the time for departure approached, Feng Hui had already prepared the gifts in advance, the standard kind, tied together with thin hemp ropes and hung on the horse's back.

Mu Nanxing was about to get up and mount his horse when he heard a voice call out, "Young Marquis." The voice was clear yet a bit timid. He didn't need to turn around to recognize the owner of the voice.

Bao Shan clenched the handkerchief in her hand, and waited until Mu Nanxing turned around before she slowly stepped forward, exerted a little force, supported herself on the ground with her toes, reached out to smooth out the wrinkles on Mu Nanxing's lapel, and unbuttoned the buttons on Mu Nanxing's collar.

Everyone's eyes almost fell to the ground in shock at the scene before them.

But before they could show any teasing expression, they met Mu Nanxing's icy gaze and could only turn sideways.

A soft, boneless hand was placed on Mu Nanxing's chest, and the black and soft hair was just inches away from him.

Bao Shan seemed not to notice the gazes of others and was only concentrating on buttoning the Mu Nan Star System.

After the buttons were fastened, she explained softly.

"This way of tying it won't cause wrinkles on the front."

Baoshan looked serious, and although there was no sunset at this moment, her face seemed to be reflecting the brilliance of light.

Mu Nanxing understood. She had always been extremely cautious about such matters.

The handkerchief tightened and loosened in her hand, like the thoughts of its owner, a tangled mess that could not be untangled. After hesitating for a long time, Baoshan finally spoke and warned, "Young Marquis, please drink less tonight. Don't be too greedy. Drinking will only make things worse. I... I will wait for you in the room."

She spoke these words with great affection, and her earnest exhortation was like a wife exhorting her husband—

Such a comparison flashed through Mu Nanxing's mind, but it was only for a moment, and he returned to normal, his face as calm as water. No one would have thought that such fluctuations flashed through his heart.

The marriage banquet is similar to the wedding banquet. It starts at dusk and is accompanied by drinking, eating, and talking.

After all this, by the time the banquet was over, the moon was probably already hanging high above the willow trees.

If Baoshan waited for them to come back, she would have to wait for several hours.

"You don't have to wait until we get back."

Mu Nanxing was not used to asking a woman to wait for him to come back, so he refused.

Feng Hui on the side also echoed: "Yes, you don't have to wait for us. By the time we come back, the night watchmen on the street will probably have gone home.

You might as well have a good sleep, and when you wake up, we will be back."

Baoshan nodded.

Mu Nanxing pulled the reins, turned around, and rode his horse around. Bao Shan and Feng Hui's words fell behind him.

"Be sure to rest early and don't wait for us."

"Yeah. If I get tired of waiting, I'll rest first."

Feng Hui thought Bao Shan agreed not to wait for them anymore, but Mu Nanxing heard the hidden meaning.

If I'm sleepy, I'll rest first. If I'm not sleepy, I'll still wait. But whether I'm sleepy or not is not definitive.

Mu Nanxing turned sideways and looked back. Bao Shan, who was talking to Feng Hui, seemed to notice him. Her eyes were like crescent moons and she smiled, as bright as peach blossoms in spring.

"Feng Hui, let's go!"

Lord Zhang had already been waiting outside the mansion, and a dazzling array of generous gifts had already filled two wooden tables.

He had a smile on his face, and when he saw Mu Nanxing, Feng Hui and others coming on horseback, the smile deepened.

He left the other guests to the care of the housekeeper and walked over to Mu Nanxing.

"Young Marquis Mu, General Feng... Thank you all for giving me face!"

Feng Hui handed the gift he brought to him. Lord Zhang didn't even look at it, but kept praising it. Then he personally led Mu Nanxing and the others to the seats for distinguished guests.

When everyone was present, the banquet began. The Zhang and Wu families exchanged greetings, while Feng Hui whispered among himself.

"The Wu family girl looks so happy. This Zhang Shang doesn't look like a marriage, but rather like…" He didn't say the word "revenge." Feng Hui's words weren't an exaggeration; Zhang Shang's expression certainly wasn't joyful. Furthermore, as soon as the marriage ceremony was over, he hurried away, as if afraid of being contaminated by the Wu family girl.

Lord Zhang sat in the main seat, accepting everyone's congratulations and flattery. His face was flushed and he looked very proud.

There was a bottle of fine wine on each guest's table, which was mellow and rich in flavor, and paired with delicious meals, which showed how much effort Mr. Zhang put into this banquet.

Mu Nanxing frowned. If it weren't for the memorial instructing him not to alert the enemy, Fuling City is a thousand miles away from the capital, and choosing someone to replace Lord Zhang must be done with extreme caution. He would not have come today.

"Young Marquis Mu looks like he hasn't even had a sip of wine. Why is this wine so bland?"

Mr. Zhang's eyes were vague, as if he was a little drunk.

Mu Nanxing raised his wine cup, but before the wine even touched his lips, he remembered the earnest instructions.

"Don't be greedy for wine."

Mrs. Zhang took the girl from the Wu family in her arms and praised her till her cheeks turned red and her legs became weak.

After seeing the people off, Mrs. Zhang picked up the wet handkerchief and wiped the hand that she had just held with the girl from the Wu family, with a hint of coldness on her face.

"Where's Shang'er? Where did she go?"

Zhang Shang disappeared since the wedding ceremony.

Although Mrs. Zhang was worried about him, she had more important things to do today. After all, Zhang Shang was not young anymore, so nothing serious would happen to him.

Today is Zhang Shang's wedding banquet, but he avoided everyone and came to a place no one expected.

Inside the inn, a graceful figure walked down the steps, holding a few fragrant herbs. Suddenly, she felt someone staring at her from outside the door, so she turned her head to look.

When Baoshan saw that the gaze was directed at Zhang Shang, he immediately felt disgusted.

But seeing that Zhang Shang was so affectionate and seemed to be hesitant to speak, she suppressed her disgust and walked towards him.

Only when she walked in front of Zhang Shang did Bao Shan look surprised and frowned.

"Isn't Uncle Zhang busy preparing for your wedding banquet? Why are you here?"

Zhang Shang saw Bao Shan speaking to him calmly for the first time.

It was as if there had never been any rift between the two of them, and his heart suddenly began to surge with joy.

"Baoshan, I'm here to see you."

"I have things to attend to. Master Zhang, please return home. How can you leave all these people behind when they've been busy preparing for your banquet?"

Seeing Bao Shan about to leave, all Zhang Shang could think about was...

She said this because she was concerned about me and was afraid that if I came out rashly and left guests there, I would be gossiped about.

The fragrance of vanilla lingered at the tip of his nose, and Zhang Shang's legs went weak. His heart was filled with mixed feelings of sweet and sour, and softened into a pool of water.

"What are you busy with?"

Bao Shan waved the fragrant herbs in her hand and replied casually, "I will go and fumigate the young marquis with fragrant herbs."

Zhang Shang suddenly felt that the fragrant smell immediately changed from soft and lovely to hateful and abominable.

His thoughts turned slightly, and he learned that Baoshan was going upstairs, but he thought of Lord Zhang's plan.

If the treasure fan went to the second floor, it would definitely be bad.

Zhang Shang struggled for a while and then tried to persuade him gently.

"It's not too late for you to get infected later."

Baoshan thought he was strange and shook the vanilla intentionally, and suddenly there was a rustling sound.

"But this is the herb I just picked. It will wither soon and I will have to pick it again."

"How long will it take you to be infected?"

Zhang Shang thought that if it were only a quarter of an hour or two, it should be in time.

Usually, half a quarter of an hour is enough to infuse the vanilla. After all, it is just a guest room in the inn, no matter how big it is, it can't be that big.

But Baoshan wanted to test him, so he told the time a little longer.

"This—if it's faster, it'll take an hour, if it's slower, it'll take two hours."

“No!”

Zhang Shang blurted out. Seeing Bao Shan looking at him in confusion, he quickly made up an excuse: "You've fumigated with vanilla now. By the time they return from the banquet, the scent will have dissipated. Why not do it again tomorrow morning?"

Seeing Bao Shan staring at the herbs, a flicker of hesitation in her eyes, Zhang Shang seemed to understand—she was worried about wasting the freshly picked herbs. He quickly assured her, "Sleep well. Tomorrow I'll send someone to pick the freshest herbs for you, the kind with dewdrops still on them. They'll definitely be better than what you usually use."

Baoshan reluctantly agreed. Zhang Shang tested her again and was relieved when he was sure that Baoshan would not go upstairs today.

Although he was reluctant to part with the treasured fan in such a peaceful relationship, he had more pressing matters to attend to, so he reluctantly said goodbye. As he left, Zhang Shang appeared high-spirited. As for finding the morning dew-covered vanilla, he didn't care at all. Once today passed, everything would be settled. His father had already agreed, and he could take the treasured fan back then. Naturally, he wouldn't have to do this kind of incestuous work.

Watching Zhang Shang's figure walking away, Bao Shan thought for a moment, then called the soldiers who stayed at the post station and asked them in detail. He found out that most of the soldiers were downstairs, and only two or three soldiers were upstairs.

Baoshan found an excuse to send the soldiers upstairs away, and they would not be back for a while.

Naturally, she stayed downstairs as well. Thinking of Zhang Shang's weird behavior, every word he said was trying to persuade her not to go upstairs, fearing that something might happen there.

Bao Shan thought carefully for a moment, and after a moment, she seemed to have thought of something. She went upstairs and opened Mu Nanxing's room.

She was originally serving Mu Nanxing, so no one would stop her if she entered his room.

The house was clean and tidy, and all the furnishings were clearly visible. Baoshan didn't have to spend much effort to find what she was looking for.

The sachet lying in her palm seemed to be more worn than last time.

As the night deepened, the post station was quiet, just like any other day.

Nothing strange happened until Baoshan lay on the bed.

It seemed as if all her guesses today were wrong. There was nothing unusual upstairs, everything was normal, and she was just worrying about nothing.

Outside the window, there were a few stars and the leaves rustled. Baoshan only felt a scent wafting away, and suddenly he felt sleepy. For a moment, he felt dizzy and his body felt very uncomfortable.

As soon as her head touched the soft pillow, she felt her eyelids drooping and she couldn't open them. The scene in front of her eyes became blurry and unclear.

When Bao Shan was half asleep and half awake, he felt unusually sleepy, heavier than usual, and his head was dizzy. Suddenly, he heard a loud shout from somewhere.

"The fire is happening!"