Chapter 14 You're Unwilling

Mo Jian reported, "Master, Miss Qing'er has arrived."

He led Meng Qingci into the study, then withdrew and quietly closed the door.

That night, the candlelight was dim, and she left in a hurry, without taking a close look at the furnishings of Fu Heng's study.

At this moment, however, one could see that the room was filled with the faint scent of ink and the aroma of inkstones. A row of bookshelves was filled with blue silk, while the antique display shelves were sparsely furnished, with only a few pieces of celadon standing quietly.

A soft couch covered with dark blue brocade sits by the window, and beside the rosewood desk, a landscape painting screen stands silently—the ink flows across the mountains, and the white space reveals the shimmering water, all just like the furnishings in the room, simple and unpretentious, without a trace of extravagance.

Meng Qingci looked around but couldn't find Fu Heng. She took out the belt she had embroidered earlier for Fu Yan'an from her sleeve and placed it in a corner of the rosewood desk.

From behind the screen, Fu Heng's voice suddenly rang out: "Come here."

Meng Qingci hesitated for a moment, then finally turned around the screen. Only then did she realize that the study and bedroom were connected, separated only by this screen.

Fu Heng had just emerged from his bath, wearing only his undergarment, the collar slightly open, his dark hair damp and steamy. His slender fingers were tying the ties of his undergarment, revealing glimpses of his firm and defined muscles beneath.

Meng Qingci immediately turned around and quickly reported, "Reporting to Third Master, the Eldest Miss asked me to bring you some precious medicinal herbs to thank you for your protection at the Grand Princess's residence. I also put the belt I made for you on the table."

"This servant will go to the outer room to wait for Third Master." After saying that, she lifted her foot to go out. She wasn't afraid of seeing this, after all, it was not uncommon for her to be even more exposed before she transmigrated. She just didn't want to cause any more trouble and secretly blamed herself for coming at the wrong time.

Fu Heng: "What are you hiding for? Come over here and help me dry my hair."

Meng Qingci stopped in her tracks, her back to Fu Heng, her gaze fixed on the landscape screen. She bit her lower lip lightly, unsure of his thoughts. Last time at the teahouse, the way he looked at her was clearly unpleasant; he must have been extremely annoyed with her. Why then did he allow her to get close?

Fu Heng had already sat down in front of the bronze mirror, watching her back as he lightly tapped the table with his knuckles: "What, you don't want to? You've become unmanageable so quickly?"

Judging from Fu Heng's tone when he was demanding repayment, Meng Qingci steadied herself. There was really no need to be coy. Having used him so many times, she couldn't very well turn her back on him.

"That's not what I meant. It's just that I've only ever served the eldest young lady before, so I'm not quite used to it." Meng Qingci put on a smile, found a cloth, and walked behind Fu Heng. Without any hesitation, she deftly started to stir his hair.

For some reason, Fu Heng smiled slightly, his slender eyelids lowered, his neck tilted back, quietly letting Meng Qingci stir his long, black hair.

Seeing that he truly only wanted her to stir her hair, Meng Qingci quietly breathed a sigh of relief. With that, she became even more careful and attentive in her movements.

After a moment, Fu Heng asked in a detached voice, as if chatting casually, "I heard that you don't remember anything from your childhood?"

"Reporting to Third Master, I truly cannot remember anything that happened before I entered the Marquis's residence." Meng Qingci had not expected him to ask this question, and assumed he was just making small talk, so he answered truthfully.

Fu Heng: "Didn't you ever think about looking for your parents after you left the manor? Judging from your attire when you entered the manor, your family must be at least a well-off family with some standing."

Meng Qingci replied half-jokingly, "Since it was lost and we didn't look for it back then, it's not like we cared much about it. Now that I'm all grown up, maybe they won't even remember it. Looking for it back might just be asking for trouble."

She thought to herself: Deep down, she was no longer the person she once was, and had no kinship with the original owner's family. In this world, parents, whether they marry off or sell their daughters, it's just a matter of a word, and they never ask the people involved.

She finally managed to leave the Marquis's mansion, and she's of marriageable age. Why would she rush to find a living father to put pressure on her? Why would she want to make herself miserable?

Fu Heng glanced at her in the bronze mirror and, seeing that her expression seemed genuine, said, "If we find your family, they might be from a powerful and influential family, or a wealthy and influential clan. If you wish to acknowledge your ancestors, I can help you."

"Thank you for your kindness, Third Master, but I had no such intention." She declined, wondering what his true motives were behind his "kindness."

High-ranking and powerful families? Doesn't she know that? She's just offering herself up for marriage alliances, not like she's lost her mind and offered herself up for no reason.

Fu Heng, fearing she might not understand the benefits, patiently explained, "When you are recognized by your ancestors, you will no longer be a slave, and you will be a good match for my eldest nephew. Or perhaps Gu Huaixu from that day would also be a suitable match. Aren't you tempted?"

Meng Qingci frowned in annoyance upon hearing this, and even glanced at her lips with a hint of disdain, but remained unmoved: "Thank you for your trouble, Third Master, but I have no such intentions. I have already bid farewell to the Eldest Miss and will be leaving the manor in a couple of days."

Fu Heng lowered his eyes and asked, "What are your plans after you leave the manor? Are you going to find Song Bojian?"

Meng Qingci took a deep breath, thinking that Fu Heng was indeed in the next room at the teahouse that day.

I wonder what he was doing next door at the time. Judging from the mountain of official documents on his rosewood desk, he must have been exhausted from his work. Yet he still had the leisure to gossip about her. You really can't judge a book by its cover.

Meng Qingci replied perfunctorily, "Perhaps, after all, he's more reliable."

Fu Heng sneered, surprised that she had such a naive side, believing that there were still reliable men in the world.

Meng Qingci was skilled at manipulating Fu Heng's hair, and it dried in no time. Fu Heng didn't ask her to do anything more, and his words were even more 'understanding': "Go now. Considering our past relationship, if you ever encounter difficulties in the future, you can come to me."

Meng Qingci was taken aback when she realized that he was not only not annoyed with her, but also so easy to talk to, promising to help her in the future. She felt a rare sense of shame: perhaps she had been prejudiced against the people of the Marquis's mansion and was too wary. She did not expect that this seemingly dignified and aloof Third Master was actually kind-hearted despite his cold exterior.

She smiled affectionately at Fu Heng and curtsied, saying, "Thank you for your care, Third Master. It is truly a blessing for me. If you need anything else, please don't hesitate to ask. I will do my best to help."

Fu Heng chuckled lightly, watching her departing figure, and said, "I hope you truly think this way, then my good intentions will not have been in vain."

With his long hair loose, he turned around the screen, picked up the belt from the corner of the rosewood table, rubbed it, and sneered: "Cunning girl, always so glib, she dares to fool me with anything."

With a cold face, he threw the belt into the copper basin for burning, poured in lamp oil, and was about to light it when he thought for a moment and withdrew his hand. He then called out to the outside world, "Mo Jian."

Mo Jian entered cautiously. When Qing'er left, she seemed perfectly fine, so he wondered why his master was now unhappy.

Fu Heng pointed to the belt in the copper basin: "Put it away carefully, somewhere I can't see it."

Mo Jian was baffled and dared not ask any more questions. He quickly picked up the belt soaked in lamp oil and turned to leave.

Meng Qingci was unaware that Fu Heng had seen through her trick. Reflecting on it, she realized that giving Fu Heng a spare belt for Fu Yan'an seemed too perfunctory. However, she didn't have much of a conscience to begin with, so she quickly put the matter out of her mind.

Now, Madam Lin, having received instructions from the eldest master Fu Chenghuai, disregarded the fact that the old lady Wang was still ill, and the very next day she swiftly and decisively began arranging a marriage for her son Fu Yan'an in the mansion.

A note from the author:

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