Chapter 22: The Peak of Deliciousness (V-Day Notice)

Meng Qingci didn't know how many times she had been soaked through last night. She even suspected that she was dehydrated. Without refusing, she drank the whole cup from Fu Heng's hand.

She had never been so unguarded with him when she was sober, and Fu Heng chuckled lightly, in a good mood: "Drink slowly."

He poured her another glass and fed it to her. After she finished drinking it, he asked, "Is there anything that's bothering you?"

Meng Qingci glanced at him and said listlessly, "I feel weak all over."

She lowered her eyes to hide her emotions. She wondered if it was just her imagination, but when she got close to him, she felt a faint tremor in her bones, as if the effects of the drug hadn't worn off yet.

Like birth control pills, being unable to leave one's heart may disrupt hormones in the short term, causing cognitive illusions.

Fu Heng smiled and said, "You whined all night and didn't stop until dawn, so of course you're exhausted."

Meng Qingci couldn't remember anything after that. Her face flushed red from his words, and she pushed him away in embarrassment and anger. She propped herself up on the bed with her hands, her voice hoarse like sandpaper: "Who wants you to listen? Didn't I tell you to get out?"

Fu Heng let out a low chuckle, his gaze deep and unfathomable, tinged with aggression: "You don't remember anything at all?"

"I don't remember." Meng Qingci paused for a moment before nodding slightly.

He had just driven his biological mother to the brink of madness outside, and then ruthlessly killed his own brother, yet he could turn around and joke with her as if nothing had happened. Meng Qingci couldn't help but feel a strong sense of distortion, an extreme absurdity, and a profound sense of disconnect.

Fu Heng was not as solemn and brooding as usual, maintaining his official demeanor. With his good temper, he smiled and didn't take it to heart. Instead, he took the thin bed sheet from the small table beside the bed and handed it to her: "Keep this for yourself. Go to this house and recuperate for a few days. After Yu-jie and the Crown Prince are married, you can come south with me."

Meng Qingci took the book and looked at the signature of the landlord, which had been changed from Song Bojian to her own name. She stroked the three characters "Meng Qingci" with her index finger, as if it were her, but not entirely her.

If the same words were said to her again, what wouldn't Meng Qingci understand?

Fu Heng never consulted her. He had been navigating the officialdom for over a decade and was no young upstart like Fu Yan'an, nor was he a mediocre good-for-nothing like Fu Hongxuan. He was a powerful regional official in Fujian and Guangdong, whose word was law and whose opinions were not open to questioning. Her scheming was simply no match for him.

"I am truly grateful for your protection, Third Master. I have no way to repay you." This time, Meng Qingci readily nodded in agreement, carefully folded the room wedge, and put it into her personal purse.

She had to get out of the Marquis's mansion first. Without Fu Heng's help, even with her good status, it would be as difficult as climbing to heaven to step out of the prison of the Marquis of Anyi's mansion. Old Madam Fu would not let her go, Fu Yan'an would not let her go, and Fu Jingyu would not let her go either.

“You are now of good birth, so there’s no need for you to call yourself a servant anymore.” Fu Heng always felt that her use of the word “servant” was a reminder that she was his niece’s servant. He added meaningfully, “There will always be a time for you to repay my kindness; there’s no need to rush.”

Meng Qingci didn't want to argue with him, so she pretended not to have listened carefully. She turned her face away and almost imperceptibly pursed her lips, her awkwardness tinged with a hint of shyness: "I want to take a bath."

"Okay, tell them to serve you." Her obedient yet petulant demeanor pleased Fu Heng, dispelling some of the gloom in his heart. He then gently pressed her slender shoulder.

Meng Qingci grabbed his arm and pleaded earnestly, "Second Madam has had a hard life. She's been kept out of all trouble. Could you... could you please ask Third Master to let her leave the manor?"

With the second branch of the family in disgrace, Madam Jiang, the second wife, will only find herself in an awkward position and struggling to make a living in the Marquis's mansion. It would be better for her to take this opportunity to collect her private savings and leave. With Fu Heng's approval, the first branch of the family won't make things too ugly.

Meng Qingci pleaded for Jiang's sake partly to repay a favor to Jiang, and partly to test Fu Heng.

"As you wish." Fu Heng knew that her pleading might not be entirely sincere, but his heart still ached and swelled. He then stood up nimbly and strode out.

Watching Fu Heng's departing figure, Meng Qingci realized that he hadn't taken advantage of her yesterday, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him a paragon of virtue. If he was as rumored to be averse to women, given the vast difference in their social status, his excessive intimacy with her, even offering her his own bed, left her somewhat bewildered.

She smoothed out the wrinkles in her clothes and was about to get up when someone entered from the outer room and bowed respectfully to her: "Would you like to have your meal first, or take a bath first, young lady?"

Hearing the voice, Meng Qingci looked up in surprise: "Xia Guang? How could it be you?"

"I'm sorry, we were on opposing sides before." A look of shame immediately appeared on Xia Guang's face. She raised her hand and tucked her hair behind her ear to hide her embarrassment.

"Take a bath first!" Meng Qingci nodded in sudden understanding. The servants in the Marquis's mansion were all related by blood, their relationships were intricate and intertwined. Xia Guang was all alone and helpless in the mansion. It was not surprising that she sought refuge with Fu Heng.

Outside the Wuheng Mountain House, Fu Yan'an was blocked by Mo Yu and Mo Wen, unable to go any further. His eyes were sharp, and he suddenly sneered, his words laced with sarcasm: "Heh, what? Third Uncle has detained my people, and now he won't even let me see them. What kind of logic is this? Don't forget, Qing'er is still my sister's maid!"

"Young Master, please forgive us. We have no right to interfere with our master's actions. His orders are strict, so we can only ask you to make do today." Mo Yu spoke respectfully, but his hand remained firmly on the hilt of his sword at his waist, and his body did not move an inch.

Fu Yan'an frowned, displeased: "So what if I insist on barging in today?"

Mo Wen was not good with words. When he saw that the servants behind Fu Yan'an were about to force their way in, his sword was even faster. It rang out with a clear and sharp sound. The blade was drawn an inch from its sheath, and its sharp and cold light was intimidating.

Fu Yan'an's face was cold and sinister, his eyes flashing with a chilling light and surging with murderous intent. He pressed his thin lips together, remaining silent, only raising his hand to wave behind him, signaling the servants to leave.

Third Uncle's men are all fierce soldiers trained in the army, and his servants are no match for them. He cannot afford to have a conflict with his elders' confidants in the mansion over a woman, or he will get into a fight. If that happens, Father will be the first to punish Qing'er.

After weighing all the options, he had no choice but to swallow his anger, abruptly flick his sleeves, and strode away.

Fu Yan'an moved with the speed of the wind, passing through the garden and strode into Biqiong Garden. He did not conceal his sharp edge at all, his whole body was cold and sinister. Without waiting for the maid to announce his arrival, he suddenly lifted the beaded curtain and flung it in.

Fu Jingyu was looking at the account books with Yun Jian when she glanced up and saw his unfriendly expression. She subtly gave Yun Jian a meaningful look. Yun Jian understood and quietly withdrew to prepare tea. The others were also dismissed and kept watch at a distance outside the door.

She then slowly closed the ledger in her hand, her jade-like fingers lightly pressing the pages. She looked up at Fu Yan'an and asked, "What has caused my brother such fury?"

Fu Yan'an sat in the armchair opposite Fu Jingyu, giving her a disapproving look. He quickly finished explaining what had just happened and got straight to the point: "He won't refuse you. You should send someone over immediately to get Qing'er back for me!"

Fu Jingyu took a sip of tea, her gaze slightly lifting as she swept over Fu Yan'an's tense face: "How discerning and intelligent is Qing'er? Yesterday, I stood by her coldly and did not offer any help for her sake, which completely offended her. Our master-servant relationship is now over."

"Not to mention that I, as his niece, shouldn't embarrass my third uncle, even if Tianyan went, Qing'er, now of good birth, would never return after my betrayal."

She put down her teacup, sighed softly, and said with a hint of helplessness, "Back then, you sent her here. All these years, she has lived a life of luxury, sharing meals and learning from me. Her comprehension is even superior to mine, yet she always knows how to conceal her shortcomings and save face for me. How could such a resourceful woman be willing to be confined to the inner quarters, at your mercy? Now, you have made one careless move, and everything has fallen apart. Furthermore, Uncle San is determined to interfere, and there is no room for maneuver. Brother, listen to me, let go. Right now, the eldest branch of the family relies heavily on Uncle San; it is not advisable to create any further complications."

Fu Jingyu had one more thing she didn't say to him, but thought to herself: With Qing'er's fiery temper, after what happened yesterday, being betrayed by someone she trusted, it would be a miracle if she didn't provoke her third uncle.

Fu Yan'an was rendered speechless by this argument, but he was unwilling to give up. He lowered his head in silence, his eyelids lowered, casting a heavy shadow, and his knuckles clenched silently in his sleeve.

Fu Jingyu didn't urge her. She picked up the account book and traced lines of ink with her fingertips, leaving only the soft rustling of the pages in the room.

Just then, Fu Heng's servant hurried to the door and reported: "Young Master, someone from the Ministry of Justice has arrived. They say they have urgent business to attend to and cannot delay. Please come immediately! They are waiting outside the mansion."

Fu Yan'an's Adam's apple bobbed, his tightly pursed lips revealing a cold hardness. He suddenly stood up, and without a word, turned and left. At that time, he did not know that this departure would mean he would not be able to return to the manor until the eve of his sister's wedding.

Inside the Wuheng Mountain House, Xia Guang had already prepared a room filled with steaming hot water. She helped Meng Qingci into the bathing room, intending to stay and serve her, but Meng Qingci gently raised her hand to stop her.

"Go out." Meng Qingci's voice was soft, but it carried an undeniable distance.

Xia Guang paused slightly, her lips parted as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she silently lowered her head and followed her instructions to leave, gently closing the door behind her.

She lay in the bathtub, her body feeling as if her bones had been broken apart. Her skin was sensitive after her hormones were disrupted. Soaking in the water, the gentle waves washing over her sensitive, tingling peak relieved the pain of her period.

She let her long, black hair down, closed her eyes, and lay back, her cheeks flushed from the heat. She felt a gentle, flowing sensation, a tender and lingering affection that was incredibly irritating. She cursed Fu Hongxuan in her heart, wishing she could stab him three or six times to vent her anger.

A note from the author:

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No update on the 19th, but will be available for purchase at midnight on the 20th with a 10,000-word update. For the first three days, 20 lucky winners will be randomly selected from comments by all subscribers.

From now on, updates will mostly be in the early morning. Thank you for your support and companionship; I will work hard! [heart emoji]

Remark

1: We're about to leave the Marquis's residence and change maps.

2: At this point, the female lead falls into the male lead's hands. He coldly observes and seizes the opportunity to take her away, all while maintaining a facade of good character. His true colors are revealed in the next chapter.

3: This story has a happy ending. The male lead is not forced into marriage and his self-esteem is not the main focus. He is feudal and psychologically abnormal.