Chapter 27 Despicable and Shameless

Fu Heng occasionally passed by, but never disembarked. However, this time, Yao Ruhai, the prefect of Zhejiang, still prepared a banquet with singing and dancing, and specially selected several beauties from Jiangnan. Jiangnan women are known for their beauty and charm, and even though the teacher was not interested in such things, his entourage still needed to be rewarded and entertained.

Seeing that his master was accompanied by a beautiful woman, Yao Ruhai feared that it would be disrespectful and spoil the mood, so he removed all the singing and dancing beauties and instead prepared rare treasures, which he handed over to Mo Jian to send onto the official ship as a tribute.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the two held a private meeting in Yao Ruhai's study. Fu Heng sat at the head of the table, while Yao Ruhai bowed and reported in detail: "The tax revenue from the second half of last year has been fully collected, an increase of ten million taels of silver compared to the previous year. I have already sent people to escort it to Guangzhou. When you set off for Beijing, I sent people to escort it to Guangzhou. It should have arrived by now. The accounts in Beijing are clear and detailed, and the Ministry of Revenue has no objections. Please rest assured, teacher."

Fu Heng nodded slightly and praised, "You did very well. Just remember not to be impatient for quick success and instant benefits, lest you harm the fundamental interests of the people. However, you have always been an official who cares for the people and loves them like his own children, so I am very reassured."

Upon hearing this, Yao Ruhai bowed even more deeply, his tone becoming increasingly respectful: "It is all thanks to your guidance and cultivation, teacher. I will always keep your teachings in mind. The stability and prosperity of the three provinces and prefectures today are all thanks to your great talent and strategy."

Fu Heng was even more pleased to see his piety.

Yao Ruhai asked cautiously in a low voice, "I heard that you returned early, teacher. Is it to oversee the rebellion in Fujian and Guangdong and quell the uprising in Minzhou?"

Fu Heng's gaze was deep, and a barely perceptible smile flickered across his lips. He said slowly, "It's just a matter of praising by first criticizing."

Upon hearing this, Yao Ruhai immediately understood: the rebellion was a ruse, the real purpose was to demand payment. He figured the ships following his teacher's official vessel must contain the funds the Emperor had allocated to quell the rebellion. He looked up at Fu Heng, only to see the man calm and collected, seemingly having the entire situation under control.

Just then, a maid's urgent report came from outside the study. Upon hearing that it concerned Miss Meng, Mo Jian knew it was urgent and dared not delay for a moment, immediately leading the maid inside.

The maid knelt before Fu Heng, trembling slightly. She dared not be disrespectful in the slightest, and replied in a strained voice, "The young lady was initially in high spirits, enjoying some tea and snacks, and chatting happily with Madam Yao… who knew… who knew she would suddenly faint, and… and…"

Fu Heng's brows furrowed sharply, his tone turning cold: "And what?"

The maid was so frightened by him that she almost collapsed. Forgetting Yao Ruhai's presence, she stammered, "Miss...there's blood..."

Before the maid could finish speaking, Fu Heng abruptly stood up, his face ashen and his eyes icy cold. Without uttering a word, he strode out.

Yao Ruhai was startled upon hearing this. He and his wife had the same thought: this "bleeding" could be a big deal or a small one. He clearly saw how much his master treated this young mistress. If she was indeed pregnant but something was wrong, given his master's age and this being his first child, he would likely be held responsible to the death!

Yao Ruhai snapped out of his daze, a cold sweat instantly soaking his back. He dared not think any further and hurriedly chased after her. He thought to himself: His wife is always so considerate; there's no way she would neglect his young master's wife. Yet, he's currently frantic with worry, unaware of the true situation.

Fu Heng's aura suddenly plummeted, startling his servants along the way into kneeling and bowing their heads, not daring to look up.

When Meng Qingci woke up again, she was on Fu Heng's official boat. Liu Taiyi's apprentice, Zhang He, was on board and had just examined her pulse. He was writing a prescription through the beaded curtain.

Zhang He, who had a penchant for pedantry, shook his head and muttered as he wrote: "The young lady was already suffering from yang deficiency and yin excess due to the medication that stimulated her kidney water, resulting in an internal imbalance. Later, she mistakenly took cinnabar and other substances to force her menstrual period, which greatly depleted her essence and blood, leading to the risk of metrorrhagia and fainting. Fortunately, the previous dose of conditioning medicine protected her foundation and prevented it from being completely damaged. From now on, she must take good care of herself and nourish herself, otherwise, if she depletes her foundation at such a young age, premature aging is inevitable."

Her gaze was icy and sharp, cold yet tinged with mockery, as if a silent accusation. After boarding the ship, she found some red dye containing cinnabar in Fu Heng's study and consumed it; he and Fu Heng were equally incompetent.

Fu Heng felt a pang of unease at the undisguised condemnation and disdain in her eyes, and for a moment he could not meet her gaze. Then, a surge of anger overwhelmed the slight guilt he felt.

"Dr. Zhang, come outside with me and we'll talk in detail." Seeing the awkward atmosphere between the two, Xia Guang quickly pulled Zhang He out and sent the rest of the group away as well.

Fu Heng's slender eyes were red with anger. His thin lips were pressed tightly together, and his fists were clenched in his sleeves. He asked her with a sliver of reason, "I think I have treated you well and properly. What do I lack that makes you hate me so much? Are you so cruel that you would rather swallow cinnabar and harm yourself than bear my child?"

Supporting her weak body, Meng Qingci clutched her aching abdomen with one hand, feeling a warm surge within her. She sneered, "You admit it. You're nothing but a despicable and shameless person who only knows how to achieve your goals through dishonest means. I have absolutely no respect for you."

These words were like sharp thorns, leaving Fu Heng speechless for a moment. Before he could retort, Meng Qingci coldly added, "You're disrespectful to your age. If you were a few years older, you could be my father. What would I have to be thinking to fall for a man ten years older than me?"

These words struck a nerve with Fu Heng. His eyes darkened, and his tone turned icy. "So you've finally spoken your mind? If I hadn't used some tricks, how could you have been willing to follow me? Don't forget how you begged me in the first place. I never forced you in the slightest. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have been able to escape Fu Hongxuan's schemes."

"What difference is there between you and him? Besides, I only asked you for that one time. If it weren't you, any other man would have been fine!" Meng Qingci became angrier as she spoke, her voice filled with grievance. How could this old lecher have the nerve to say that? Since things had already come to a head, she didn't care anymore, her voice filled with disdain: "Who would want to like a deep and gloomy old man? Young men are considerate and gentle, they are far better than you! Besides, you are not young, but your skills are terrible."

Meng Qingci had suppressed her true nature for ten years in the Marquis's mansion, dealing with all sorts of people. She finally left the mansion thinking she could be herself again. Now, with Fu Heng keeping her under his thumb, her ten years of expectations had come to naught. She couldn't bear it any longer. For the sake of her breast health and to feel at ease, she decided to go all out.

A surge of violent energy welled up in Fu Heng's chest. If he hadn't been certain that she was following him for the first time, he would never have let her off so recklessly.

His resentment at being hurt by her words and his almost insane possessiveness spread like wildfire, instantly burning away his last shred of reason.

With a sudden flick of his sleeve, he swept all the items on the table to the ground, including priceless porcelain, beaded curtains, and ornaments, the sound of shattering was piercing and alarming.

Outside the door, Mo Jian listened with trepidation, fearing that his master would lose control and strangle Miss Meng at any moment. He had never seen such a outspoken girl.

Mo Jian shuddered at the thought of the phrase "his kung fu is terrible," fearing that his master might come out and, upon seeing him outside, kill him in a fit of rage.

After venting his anger, Fu Heng stood in front of the bed again, looking down at Meng Qingci. Fu Heng suddenly gave a sinister sneer: "Do you think I'm like Fu Yan'an, a greenhorn who can be summoned and dismissed at will, and manipulated at will? You're too naive. There's never been such an easy thing."

He looked down at her arrogantly, his voice low yet intimidating: "I advise you to give up on this idea as soon as possible. What I want, I have never failed to obtain, including you."

Seeing that no amount of provocation could make him dislike her, Meng Qingci simply turned around and lay down facing the inside of the bed, ignoring him completely.

Seeing that she was unmoved by reason, Fu Heng roared, "Guards! Drag all the people serving her onto the deck and beat them severely! Beat them until they admit their mistake!"

Meng Qingci didn't even turn her head, only coldly scoffing: "I don't even care about my own life, so what makes you think you can control me with the lives of a few servants? I'm not some self-sacrificing good person. This whole ship of people can't keep an eye on me. Even if you throw them all into the sea, I won't even blink."

Fu Heng's fingers trembled with anger, unsure whether to respond or not. Seeing her so weak and barely breathing, lying down and enduring the pain, he couldn't bring himself to lash out at her.

A surge of anger welled up in his chest, and with a sudden flick of his sleeve, he stormed off. The door slammed shut with a loud bang.

Mo Jian's forehead was covered in a fine layer of cold sweat. He walked quietly and almost silently behind Fu Heng.

Fu Heng took two quick steps, then abruptly stopped and turned around, staring at Mo Jian and asking in a deep voice, "Am I really... that old?"

Mo Jian's face turned pale instantly, and he cried out in his heart: Miss Meng is only sixteen, and you are already twenty-six. How can you not be old?

But on the surface, he hurriedly and respectfully said, "Master is in his prime, full of vigor and vitality. Countless noble ladies in Fujian and Guangdong admire you." He swallowed hard, then forced himself to persuade her, "Miss Meng is still young and inevitably hot-tempered. She was wronged before and can't get over it right away. Why hold a grudge against her? Right now, she is weak and needs tender care. Young ladies are soft-hearted. If you say a few kind words to comfort her, she will most likely change her mind. How can you take words spoken in anger seriously?"

"You certainly know a lot." Fu Heng thought again about the phrase "still young," which only confirmed his advanced age. His face instantly darkened, and he coldly ordered, "Call Xia Guang over!"

Fu Heng's gaze was sharp as he slowly scanned Xia Guang kneeling before him, his voice low and deep: "I've heard that you and she grew up together in the old Marquis's mansion since childhood?"

Xia Guang had expected to be punished, but to her surprise, it was just a question. She felt a little relieved but still dared not relax, and answered tremblingly, "Yes."

Fu Heng suddenly remembered the name that Meng Qingci had whispered when she was in a daze in the back of the Yao residence. It was clearly a man's name.

A dark fire suddenly ignited in his usually composed eyes, and his tone grew increasingly cold: "Has she ever had a man she admired since childhood?"

Xia Guang paused slightly, pondered for a moment, and cautiously shook her head: "The young lady has lived in the inner quarters of the mansion with the eldest young lady since childhood. She usually only studies with her female tutor and rarely sees outsiders. Moreover, she longs to leave the mansion and be free, and has no emotional ties with anyone in the mansion."

Fu Heng didn't let it go and immediately pressed on, "What about the people outside the mansion?"

Xia Guang pondered for a while before finally replying respectfully, "This servant has never heard of any dealings between you and men outside."

Fu Heng's expression remained grim. Seeing that he could not get any more information from her, he waved his hand to dismiss the rosy light.

He then summoned Mo Jian and ordered him to thoroughly investigate all the people Meng Qingci had come into contact with and the things she had done in the Marquis's mansion over the years, reporting everything in detail, and also to thoroughly investigate her background before she was sold into the mansion.

Sitting alone in the armchair in his study, Fu Heng once again saw Meng Qingci's delirious state that day. She had mistaken him for someone else, and her obedient and extremely dependent manner towards that person was a gentle and docile sight he had never seen before.

At this thought, he could hardly suppress the surge of anger rising in his chest. After a long while, he suddenly let out a low, cold laugh.

So what if she falls for someone else? Since she's already with him, her heart will belong to him sooner or later.

Ha, calling him despicable and shameless? She's never seen him truly despicable, and she even dares to complain about his incompetence! Incompetence?

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Author's Note: No time-traveling woman could tolerate the ways of the ancients for ten years.

Especially when there was no hope in sight, the female lead's spoiled temper exploded!

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Fu Heng: Goodness, I'm not really a pervert yet, you've probably misunderstood.

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Locking the Golden Branch

1v2

Wang Yuanzhen saved Xiao Yan's life, but Xiao Yan repaid kindness with enmity, forcibly seizing his property.

As Xiao Yan lay dying from his severe injuries, he saw a woman, graceful in the light and shadow, wearing a jade lotus headdress with two flowing ribbons, and a Guanyin mole between her brows, like a celestial maiden descended to earth.

He should have repaid the debt of saving his life, but instead he committed despicable acts.

1v2

Mine clearance:

1. Classic melodramatic plot, SC (sexual infidelity), male lead is a stalker, female lead is delicate, size difference, age difference.

2. A fictional, chaotic medley of events, with numerous warlords vying for power.

3. The trope of forcibly taking or seizing property.