Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Anxiety and Unbearable Worry

Late at night, the study of the Governor of Minzhou was brightly lit.

A trusted aide stepped forward and reported: "The new military uniforms that have been allocated recently are lighter and seem to be more durable than before. I've tried them on, and the silk floss is indeed a good material."

A thin old man shook his fan and said indifferently, "There's no need to elaborate on this matter. Just tell me, how well have your soldiers improved their throwing accuracy? The great battle is imminent, and they'll be relying on it to attack the city. You need to know that having a powerful weapon is not enough; you also need a divine weapon."

The trusted general was not good with words, but he only made a casual remark. However, the old man retorted and immediately lost face. He stuck out his neck and said indignantly, "The soldiers under my command are all divine soldiers!"

The old man climbed up the pole and asked, "In that case, when will you invite us to come and take a look?"

The trusted general scoffed disdainfully: "Military secrets are not something you can just look at whenever you want."

Fu Heng sat at the head of the table. Seeing that the important matters had been discussed to a sufficient extent and the servants were beginning to eat, he raised his hand to stop them: "Alright, that's enough for today. Everyone, disperse."

Seeing his solemn expression, no one dared to say anything more. They all stood up and took their leave, disappearing faster than rabbits.

Indeed, the Lord's mind is now unpredictable and his moods are fickle. Most importantly, he is ruthless in punishing people, and no one wants to offend him at this time.

After all the confidants and retainers had left, the study suddenly became empty and silent.

Fu Heng leaned back in his chair, raising his hand to rub his throbbing temples. After a long while, he called out in a low, hoarse voice, "Mo Jian."

Mo Jian, who had been waiting under the eaves, entered silently upon hearing the call: "Master."

Fu Heng slowly exhaled a breath of pent-up frustration, not even raising his eyes, and asked in a gloomy and cold tone, "How is it?"

Mo Jian bowed and reported, "I have followed your instructions and conveyed to Prince Meng the details of how Miss Shen... no, I have conveyed to Prince Meng the details of how Shen Yunxi plotted against Madam, but..."

Fu Heng lifted his eyelids slightly, his eyes as cold as an icy pool: "But what?"

Mo Jian felt a chill run down his spine and quickly said, "But it seems that Prince Meng has no intention of making a move against Shen Yunxi."

"Let's ignore him for now." Fu Heng chuckled coldly, then asked, "Anything else?"

Mo Jian continued, "Lord Gu works at the Maritime Trade Office, specializing in negotiations with foreign countries. He never inquires about anything else and usually lives a secluded life, except for one place..."

Fu Heng tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, his voice deep and cold: "Why are you becoming more and more hesitant in your responses? Are you getting too coy?"

Mo Jian shuddered and dared not hesitate any longer: "Yes! It seems that Lord Gu has a close relationship with an interpreter who works as a broker in Xiaohai. It is said that the man is quite capable, fluent in several foreign languages, and has deep connections with foreign merchants. What's most strange is that the broker is actually the son-in-law of the eldest daughter of the Cen family."

Fu Heng's gaze shifted slightly, as if unconsciously stroking a travelogue with its edges already curled on the desk. After a moment of silence, he said:

"Go check."

Mo Jian bowed deeply and replied, "Yes."

In the rear residence of the Mengwang Mansion in Shu, one side of the main room is a display shelf made of huanghuali wood, filled with a dazzling array of items, including a white-glazed carved plum vase from Ding kiln, a lifelike three-inch-tall red coral and red-glazed Guanyin statue, and a celadon dragon paperweight... all of which are priceless.

On the other side, separated from the inner room, is an eight-panel screen with gold-painted double-sided embroidery, depicting a scene of misty waters and layered peaks in spring dawn with gold and silver threads.

Beyond the screen in the master bedroom, there was a brightly colored velvet carpet with a pattern of intertwined peonies from the Western Regions, a golden nanmu wood canopy bed carved with magnolias, crabapples and osmanthus flowers symbolizing "wealth and honor in the jade hall", and a sky-blue soft gauze curtain loosely draped.

Princess Consort Shen leaned listlessly against the headboard. Prince Meng had just personally fed her the medicine, and the medicine bowl on the small table still held a wisp of warm medicinal aroma.

"Just one piece will make it less bitter." Prince Meng tasted a candied fruit for her with his own hands, and then said, "You look much better today. The doctor said you've been overthinking. Why don't you invite an opera troupe in to entertain you and let the ladies and young misses come over to keep you company?"

Princess Consort Shen leaned against the brocade cushion. Her face was pale, with a hint of illness. A lingering sorrow hung between her brows and eyes, yet her stunning beauty could not be concealed. She was nearly forty, but looked like a beautiful woman in her thirties, graceful and dignified.

"You know I don't like all that noise. You're just flattering them by inviting them over, which only makes them feel uneasy." She sighed softly, as if she had thought of something. Suddenly, she put her hand to her chest, furrowed her brows slightly, and coughed softly twice, making her even more pitiful to behold.

"You are the Princess Consort of Shu, they are their heaven and earth. It is no exaggeration for them to respect you, and serving you is their duty." Prince Meng gently stroked her back and said tenderly, "Why are you still not well? Let me call the doctor to take another look at you?"

Princess Consort Shen stopped coughing, gently grasped Prince Meng's arm with her slender hand, and softly stopped him, saying, "No need, it's nothing serious, just some old ailments, you... you know that."

Upon hearing this, Prince Meng's heart skipped a beat. He lowered his eyes, concealing the surging anger within them, and pulled her into his arms. He gently held her slightly cool hand and coaxed her, "You're always like this, too soft-hearted. You always take everything on yourself without thinking of anyone else. It's not your fault."

His words brought tears to Shen's eyes, and her forced strength crumbled instantly. She rested her forehead weakly on his strong shoulder, her voice choked with sobs, "Don't say anymore."

Just then, a graceful figure circled around the exquisite eight-panel screen. Before she arrived, her voice preceded her, carrying the unique crispness and charm of a young girl: "Aunt, Yunxi has come to visit you! How are you feeling today...?"

Upon hearing the sound, Princess Consort Shen hurriedly pushed Prince Meng away, turned her head away, and hastily wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with the corner of her sleeve.

Shen Yunxi's sudden intrusion ignited Prince Meng's suppressed rage, and he shouted angrily, "How dare you! Who let you in?"

Shen Yunxi never needed to announce her arrival at her aunt's courtyard, and she had never seen her uncle so furious with her before. She immediately stopped in her tracks, her voice trembling, "I... Aunt, Uncle... Yunxi knows she was wrong." As she spoke, her eyes quickly reddened, and tears welled up in them. At this moment, she even bore a resemblance to Princess Shen.

"It's Yunxi." Princess Meng immediately softened her voice and gently comforted her, "Your uncle is not in a good mood today, don't take it to heart."

After saying that, Princess Meng turned her head and gently scolded Prince Meng: "Why did you scare the child for no reason? If Yunxi hadn't been by my side talking to me all the time, I'm afraid my body wouldn't have been able to hold on for so long."

Prince Meng frowned, suppressing his anger, and said in a deep voice, "Don't say such discouraging things. When you came to Shu with me, you said yourself that you would always stay by my side."

Seeing his wife's sorrowful expression, Prince Meng had to soften his expression to comfort her. He turned to Shen Yunxi and said, "Oh, it's Yunxi. I didn't notice you earlier and frightened you. Later, I'll have your aunt choose two pieces of jewelry from my private treasury as a way to calm your nerves."

Shen Yunxi quickly bowed her head and replied respectfully, "Uncle, what are you saying? It was Yunxi who was ignorant of etiquette and barged in. As a junior, how could Yunxi have the right to ask an elder to apologize? Uncle's actions have only made Yunxi feel ashamed."

Under his wife's silent gaze, Prince Meng pursed his lips slightly and spoke again: "I am usually busy with state affairs, and it is thanks to you that your aunt is always by her side. It is only right to reward you."

Shen Yunxi bowed deeply again, graceful and dignified, and said earnestly, "Yunxi grew up by her aunt's side since childhood. Her aunt and uncle treated her like their own daughter. It is Yunxi's duty to be filial to her aunt and respect her uncle. Yunxi dares not take credit for it."

Looking at Shen Yunxi's obedient and submissive appearance, Prince Meng's eyes deepened. He gazed at Shen Yunxi for a long time and said, "You are a sensible and good child. Your aunt did not spoil you in vain."

He gently patted his wife's hand, then said to Shen Yunxi, "Your aunt is tired today. Since you have already paid your respects and shown your sincerity, you may leave." His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of authority.

Shen Yunxi's body swayed almost imperceptibly, like a willow in the wind. She immediately lowered her head and respectfully replied, "Yes, Yunxi will come to pay her respects to Aunt and Uncle another day. Yunxi will take her leave now."

Princess Meng watched Shen Yunxi's dejected and devastated figure disappear behind the screen, and couldn't help but sigh. With a hint of reproach, she gave his arm a light shove and complained, "You're upset, why take it out on her? Look how scared this child is, she's even showing off her princely power in front of me."

"It's my fault." Prince Meng let his wife vent her anger, his tone full of tender remorse. He gently helped her lie down and tucked her in. "You should take a nap. Don't worry about these things anymore."

Princess Meng lay down and let out another almost inaudible sigh. She was indeed struggling to keep up, and the calming ingredients in the medicine were gradually taking effect. Her eyelashes drooped slowly, and within a few breaths, her breathing became even, long, and deep.

Prince Meng pursed his lips, his eyes dark as he looked at his wife. His fists on his knees clenched and unclenched repeatedly. If it weren't for his wife's frail health and fear that she wouldn't be able to withstand the blow, would he have allowed that lowly bastard who harmed her daughter to live to this day?

Thinking of his sweet and obedient little girl, Prince Meng couldn't help but feel a lump in his throat, but he ultimately held back his tears.

As Shen Yunxi left Princess Meng's courtyard, she walked faster and faster, her steps becoming unsteady and disordered. Her hands, hidden in her sleeves, clenched into fists, her nails digging deep into her palms, yet she felt no pain whatsoever.

She practically fled back to her courtyard. Once inside her boudoir, she dismissed all the maids except for Jinxiu. Only then did Shen Yunxi realize that her undergarment was already soaked with cold sweat, clinging icy to her skin.

She couldn't care less about that now, pacing back and forth in the room in a panic, fear spreading through her and making her restless. As she paced, she murmured to herself, "He must know, he must know."

"Miss, what's wrong?" Jinxiu was quite frightened by her young mistress's distraught appearance.

Jin Xiu hadn't followed the servant into the room, but she vaguely heard that Prince Meng seemed to have lost his temper inside, and then seemed to have calmed down. Seeing Shen Yunxi's current state, she was completely bewildered, having no idea what had happened.

Shen Yunxi suddenly turned around and grabbed Jin Xiu's shoulder. Her usually elegant and composed face became ferocious and terrifying. Her voice trembled with fear: "He must know. He knows it was me. What should I do? What should I do?"

Jin Xiu frowned in pain but dared not make a sound. Although she did not know what Shen Yunxi was talking about, she used wine to comfort her, "Miss, don't panic. If you knew, how could you be unharmed? Don't scare yourself."

As if she had taken Jin Xiu's words to heart, Shen Yunxi became a little more sober. She brushed the stray hairs behind her ear, took out a handkerchief to wipe the fine sweat from her forehead, and poured herself a cup of cold tea. She braced her hands on the edge of the table and said in a sinister and deep voice, "She has been dead for two years. There is no way to verify her death. What do I have to be afraid of? Even God is helping me."

Shen Yunxi then looked up and chuckled strangely, "This is her fate, a young lady's body but a maid's life, hehehehe."

Shen Yunxi's somewhat manic expression frightened Jinxiu so much that she bit her lip and dared not make a sound. Ever since her young mistress returned from Minzhou two years ago, she had become eccentric and suspicious. She was still dignified and elegant in public, but her personality had changed drastically in private.

Guangzhou was already hot, and the sun was so scorching that it could bake the bluestone pavement into a hazy heat. The servant ran so hard that the soles of his shoes were almost smoking. He rushed into the Cen residence, panting, and stumbled to Zhu Youyi, saying anxiously, "Madam, Madam, something terrible has happened."

Pearl, who was standing to the side, immediately raised her eyebrows and scolded, "Pah! What nonsense are you spouting! Don't you know any manners? The lady is right here, can't you speak properly?"

Startled by Pearl's shout, the servant was instantly sobered up, most of the summer heat dissipating from his body. He quickly swallowed his parched throat and bowed, urgently reporting, "Madam, please forgive me, Master sent me back to report that he has been taken to a restaurant by Master Chen Qi and asked you to go and greet him immediately."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Youyi, who was checking accounts and fiddling with abacus beads, slammed down her abacus, stood up abruptly, and strode out with a swift and decisive movement, creating a gust of wind with her steps.

"Why didn't you say so sooner after all this nagging!" she complained, then ordered, "Quickly prepare the carriage."

Meanwhile, Meng Qingci boarded Chen Junyan's carriage. Inside the cramped carriage, the heavy curtains blocked out most of the sunlight, leaving only a few rays of light floating in the dim light.

At such close range, Chen Junyan's seemingly casual glances followed Meng Qingci closely. His gaze, though seemingly insignificant, made Meng Qingci extremely wary, and her hand unconsciously tightened its grip in her sleeve.

Chen Junyan asked with feigned concern, "Zimin seems a little nervous?"

Meng Qingci tried to relax, a perfectly timed smile curving his lips as he said, "Seventh Brother found out. I'm quite excited to receive such praise from you."

Chen Junyan was taken aback by his response. He was startled at first, then shook his head slightly, a smile spreading across his eyes. He chuckled and said, "Since you're willing to call me Seventh Brother, why are you talking about such formalities? Isn't that too much?"

Meng Qingci had no choice but to continue rambling, letting out a soft sigh as a hint of melancholy crept into his eyes. He feigned sadness and said, "Alas, how could I not know how the world sees me? Seventh Brother's feelings for me are genuine, and I am deeply grateful for such sincerity..."

Before he could finish speaking, the carriage lurched violently. Caught off guard, Meng Qingci was thrown forward by the momentum. Just as his forehead was about to hit the hard carriage wall, Chen Yanjun swiftly caught him.

Chen Junyan was surprised to find that the waist he touched was unusually slender and soft, and even through the fabric it felt thin and weak. He also felt that this new 'brother's' arms were thin and boneless. He wondered if Miss Cen would find him, her son-in-law, too thin.

Meng Qingci's forehead bumped against Chen Junyan's shoulder, making her cry out in pain. What alarmed her even more was the hand that was wrapped around her waist. Her clothes were thin, and the heat of that hand seemed to burn through her skin.

She hurriedly straightened up, rubbing her reddened temples with one hand, and said jokingly, "Thank you, Seventh Brother. If it weren't for your help, I'm afraid I would have been disfigured. You know, my wife values ​​my face the most. If I had gone back disfigured today, I would have been in big trouble. No matter how much money you bring back, it would have been useless."

Chen Junyan was both amused and exasperated by her words. Seeing that she not only didn't seem offended by her status as a live-in son-in-law, but instead openly mocked herself, he began to look at her in a different light.

"Master, we've arrived." At this moment, the servant said from outside, "A horse was moving too fast just now, and I almost couldn't avoid it in time, which startled you."

Chen Junyan said, "It's alright." He then went into the restaurant with Jin Yunnian.

Meng Qingci was half-invited, half-dragged by Chen Junyan to a private room in the restaurant, thinking that the other party had something important to discuss. Unexpectedly, even after a pot of wine was almost empty, Chen Junyan remained cheerful and didn't mention anything important.

Meng Qingci was increasingly puzzled, unsure of what Chen Junyan was up to. She tried several times to steer the conversation toward the main topic, but Chen Junyan would either change the subject or, whether out of slickness or unintentionally, never give her a chance to speak.

Chen Junyan was completely different from the composed and dignified man he was at the banquet that day; he was now engaged in lively conversation and speaking with great ease.

After another half pot of wine, Meng Qingci's face flushed, and she responded to Chen Junyan's raised cup a few seconds later.

Chen Junyan did not urge Jin Yunnian. He drank a cup of wine by himself, smiled and looked at him for a moment before asking gently, "I wonder where Zimin's hometown is? Judging from Zimin's speech and knowledge, he is by no means an ordinary person who is trapped in worldly affairs. He has his own vision and ambition. A great man should have ambitions for all corners of the world. Why would you have to resort to marrying into a family? Is there some unspeakable secret in your family? If you don't mind, you might as well tell me. Perhaps I can help you make some plans."

Meng Qingci wasn't a big drinker, and today it was just her and Chen Junyan, with him watching her and her drinking too fast. She felt dizzy and wondered: When will Zhu Youyi arrive? She had just hinted to Yan Jiang to send a servant back to report, but so much time had passed and Zhu Youyi still hadn't come to rescue her.

When Chen Junyan asked about her private matters, she suppressed the dizziness surging in her head, lowered her eyelashes, and pretended to be very drunk, supporting herself on the table with one hand and her forehead with the other, playing with the wine glass in her hand, letting the clear wine shimmer and sparkle on the glass.

Meng Qingci displayed a mix of melancholy and dejection, perfectly portraying these traits to Chen Junyan. His voice, slightly hoarse from the alcohol, said, "My humble origins are no secret in Guangzhou. I've only managed to earn a living by the grace of heaven and possess some insignificant tricks. Fortunately, my wife has not abandoned me, which is why I am where I am today."

As he spoke, Meng Qingci raised his eyes, glanced at Chen Junyan, chuckled, and said nonchalantly, "In this world, what are there so many unspeakable secrets? To be honest, Madam's kindness to me is like giving me a second life. If it weren't for her pity back then, someone as insignificant as me would probably be rotting in some quagmire somewhere. How could I have the honor of being here with Seventh Brother, drinking and chatting happily, calling each other brothers? I probably wouldn't even have the chance to carry Seventh Brother's shoes."

Jin Yunnian was introduced by Zhou Jichen, so Chen Junyan naturally wanted to use him. Today's purpose was merely to test Jin Yunnian's abilities, but he didn't expect the kid to be such a poor drinker.

He chuckled to himself. No wonder he had been so eager to call Hongxiao to come along when he heard there was going to be some wine outside the theater. It turned out he couldn't hold his liquor and had already prepared an escape route.

Watching him skillfully manipulate women, and thankfully he didn't shy away from mentioning how he did it, actually revealed a certain arrogance in him. Although his methods weren't particularly sophisticated, his undisguised honesty made him seem both laughable and pathetic.

Jin Yunnian, slightly drunk, had shed all his previous deliberate politeness and formality, revealing an unexpectedly genuine side of himself. His eyes, darting about as he spoke, and the casual glance he gave Chen Junyan, seemed to hold a thousand threads of emotion, all entwined in his once clear eyes, as if they held unspoken words. That single glance inexplicably made Chen Junyan's heart skip a beat.

Upon closer inspection, Jin Yunnian had lowered his eyes again, but his slightly lowered chin seemed a bit too delicate for a man. His long eyelashes seemed to flutter at Chen Junyan's heart, making him feel both tingly and itchy, causing him to feel restless. And his flushed cheeks, Chen Junyan actually detected a hint of allure in them, and he couldn't take his eyes off them.

Chen Junyan didn't want to feed Jin Yunnian any more wine, but he couldn't help but fill Jin Yunnian's cup again, his voice carrying an ambiguous undertone: "A good drink can wash away a thousand sorrows, have another cup."

Looking at the clear wine swirling in his glass, Meng Qingci secretly regretted that he shouldn't have drunk that glass just now for the sake of the effect. One glass after another, when will Madam arrive?

-----------------------

Author's Note: Fu Heng: Why didn't you mention that I miss my wife?

Meng Qingci: Can we not arrange a drinking party?

Author: Yesterday + Today, recently changed to a combined two-part update.

To explain: The female lead's clarity of mind while in the Marquis's mansion stemmed partly from her pre-transmigration idealized image of Gu Yuchen, who rejected her for many years by her closest and most trusted confidant, who was also her savior. She even discovered clues about his actions. The female lead was already somewhat emotionally detached, and after transmigrating, Fu Yan'an wanted her to be his concubine, which she found even more distasteful. Gu Yuchen, at least, was pure in body and soul, and aside from his selfishness, he was incredibly attentive to her both spiritually and practically. The second male lead is a top talent in modern times, but in ancient times, his technical skills alone are insufficient.

As for our feudalistic male protagonist, he represents the forceful acquisition of wealth, but he is pure in body and mind. His original sin is that he is abnormal and has been educated in feudalism, so he is definitely flawed, but he has potential for improvement.

Key point: I've recently seen several comments on various novels where people are criticizing the male lead. I understand that people have high expectations for male leads these days, and most are simply not good enough. However, our novel is a forced marriage story, haha. Our goal is to educate the male lead, have the female lead beat him up, and make him realize the harsh realities of society. Only after he learns his lesson and repents can the story have a happy ending. So, the focus should be on figuring out how to train him.