Chapter 48
In the end, neither of them managed to complain. Xie Qinghong clung to Pei Du's arm, refusing to let anyone move, and Pei Du really didn't dare to go out like that. Then, relying on his good arm strength, he carried the girl around the room slowly with one hand, and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
I feel like I'll be spending every morning like this from now on, it's so interesting.
Xie Qinghong was tired of hanging up the crab, so she jumped down to look at his face. She still thought her drawing skills were really good, and took the opportunity to look down on the other party: "My crab is so lifelike, but I wonder what some people will draw me as. Will they draw me as a ball?"
Pei Du's smile vanished instantly. He narrowed his eyes, intending to probe, "What do you mean?"
Xie Qinghong chuckled: "You still want to ask me? You're feeling guilty. You're not a good painter, you made me look ugly, and then you put the painting in your study. You're finished."
Pei Du cleared his throat, reluctant to admit it, while wondering if Pei An had leaked the news. No, it shouldn't be. No one else had opened those scrolls except him. There was probably no other way for him to leak them.
Did I get drunk and talk nonsense last night?
He replied cautiously, "I've been practicing my drawing skills, but you're so beautiful, you'll look good no matter how I draw you."
Xie Qinghong tilted her head to look at him, watching until his gaze shifted back and his cheeks flushed slightly. Then she chuckled and said, "Some people don't say that when they're drunk. And it's not just about this. I didn't want to hold it against you because I saw your sincere attitude in admitting your mistake, but who told you to complain about me? Pei Du, let me tell you, I have something on you. If you complain to my father, I'll tell him you didn't study well and urgently need exam papers."
Pei Du's mind raced. He wondered what leverage Xie A'yao could have against him while he was drunk. Had he said something outrageous—revealing his scheme against Xie Qingke and his role in facilitating the marriage between the Xie family and the Southern Prince's Mansion? Or had he revealed that he deliberately bumped into her carriage with his horse? Or perhaps he had confessed to stealing the Yue King's sword?
Putting everything else aside, since meeting Xie Ayao, he has done a whole bunch of bad things, and it's really hard to tell which one is the real culprit.
However, it was best to admit his mistake at this moment. He immediately took a step back and said sincerely, "I was wrong. My drawing skills are too poor, not even one ten-thousandth as good as yours, so I couldn't bear to erase this crab."
Seeing his ability to be flexible, Xie Qinghong stopped chasing him. She took a hot cloth and wiped the red crab-like marks off his face in a few strokes, but she used a little too much force. When she put her hand down, she realized that her hand had made his face red.
Feeling a little guilty, she quickly put her hands behind her back and pretended to be concerned: "Oh dear, is the water too hot? It looks like it's all red. Do you need some burn ointment?"
Pei Du's eyes flickered, avoiding her gaze. He coughed lightly and said, "It's nothing, I'm used to it. You should go back now. It wouldn't be good if Master Xie found out you came so early. I'll go back later too."
Xie Qinghong then remembered that she had come early to destroy the evidence, and that if she lingered for so long, her mother and the others might notice. She left the guest courtyard in a hurry, saying, "Then I'm leaving."
Seeing Miss Xie leave, Pei An, the attendant, hurried inside to check on the young master. He was relieved to see that the young master's face was clean and clear, but why was his face so red? He asked curiously, "Young master, would you like another basin of water?"
Pei Du turned to the side and instructed, "No need, you go and have your breakfast first. Close the door, I'll be out in a bit."
Confirming that no one would disturb him for the time being, Pei Du leaned on the table and let out a long sigh of relief. This was truly terrifying; thankfully, he hadn't shown any weakness. After a long while, he sighed softly. Thankfully, it would be soon. It shouldn't be like this after the middle of next month, right? It should… be… right?
——
The wedding date was moved up by four months, and because they had to travel from Wangjing to the south at the end of the month, some things became urgent. Xie Qinghong was given extra lessons by her mother every day. Because she was intelligent, she didn't need to be taught much about Liang Yu's other things. Instead, she was taught more about the clan relationships in the south.
After listening to this for two or three days, Liang Yu quietly took out a small book and handed it to Xie Qinghong, telling her to read it herself. Xie Qinghong thought it was a handwritten notebook and opened it without paying attention, only to be so shocked that she almost threw it away.
She looked around to make sure no one was there, then quickly stuffed the small book under her pillow. But then she felt it wasn't safe, since Ah Xing and Ah Yue made her bed every day. After thinking it over, she decided to put it in the locked bookcase first and lock it up.
Her mother gave her this without warning, and she actually opened it and read it in broad daylight! Luckily, no one was around. It's truly an insult to her refinement. But how could she do something like this, especially with Pei Du? The two of them don't seem to be that close.
Xie Qinghong finally understood the troubles of a young woman getting married. Why does she have to do this kind of thing as soon as she gets married? Can't she wait until they are more familiar with each other?
She sighed softly, then picked up a poetry collection to cultivate her mind. Before she had even finished reading a single poem, A-Yue rushed into the room excitedly and whispered to her the exciting news she had just heard: "Miss, there's some excitement outside! The third young master of the Qin family has actually taken a mistress. Zheng Qiniang saw it with her own eyes and cornered him at the estate."
Xie Qinghong wasn't surprised; she was the one who gave Zheng Yingluo the news. She just hadn't expected Zheng Yingluo to be so decisive in going to the manor to confront him. She already knew about Qin Heng keeping people on his manor. When he deliberately lured her to stay at his manor, she saw his despicable nature and secretly inquired. Sure enough, Qin Heng had acquired several manors and rescued several girls in distress.
With his personality, how could he resist the urge to steal food? Especially when he discovers something he thought was within easy reach but couldn't have.
A-Yue sighed deeply: "Who would have thought that Qin Sanlang was so devoted to Zheng Qi-guniang back then? Zheng Qi-guniang initially ignored him, but was moved by his devotion and got engaged to him. So many people said it was a match made in heaven. And now, how long has it been? Qin Sanlang is keeping a mistress. I don't know how this engagement will continue. Are all those beautiful stories of match made in heaven in the plays just lies?"
Xie Qinghong sighed, but in his heart he thought that if he found out that Pei Du was keeping a mistress, he would definitely kill him.
"Most plays are just fantasies written by down-on-his-luck scholars. The idea of a match made in heaven is a lie." She curled her lip. "It can only fool naive young girls. However, the marriage agreement between the Qin and Zheng families should continue. You will hear that the elders of the Qin and Zheng families will come out to persuade Zheng Qiniang that all men are like that. What's the big deal about keeping a mistress? She doesn't have any children and she doesn't threaten the position of the mistress."
A-Yue's eyes widened as she said, "It really is true. I heard that Qin Sanlang's mother was also there. She immediately told Zheng Qi that it was a small matter and that the mistress was at Zheng Qi's disposal. After the marriage, Zheng Qi would be in charge of the household. I wonder what Zheng Qi is thinking."
Xie Qinghong silently closed the poetry collection. Zheng Yingluo was reborn for only the sake of love. She was not a person who thought long-term. When she was chasing after Qin Zheng, she gave him her whole heart without reservation. She was reborn and opened her eyes wide. But who knew that Qin Sanlang, whom she thought was a good gentleman, was also a scumbag.
She wondered to herself, why didn't Zheng Yingluo scratch Qin Sanlang's face when she cornered him? That would have kept him quiet for a few days, preventing him from going out and having affairs, wouldn't it?
The matter of Qin Sanlang having a mistress didn't cause a big stir, because he now has some influence with His Majesty, and no one dares to publicize his romantic affairs. Those who heard about it only sighed for Zheng Yingluo, saying that she had misjudged people twice, and that the people in the Qin family were really not good men.
After all, Qin Zheng, the second son of the Qin family, was a womanizer who broke Zheng Yingluo's heart. He regretted it when she turned away, which was despicable. As for Qin Yu, the younger sister of the second son of the Qin family, she was almost engaged to the Prince of Nan's family. However, because of her arrogance, she had an affair with Xie Qingke, the son of the Marquis of Pingning. As a result, her family was reprimanded by the Emperor. After marrying Xie Qingke, she disliked his lack of ambition and quarreled with him every day. As for Qin Heng, the third son of the Qin family, there is no need to say more.
Xie Qinghong has been unable to concentrate on any other books these past few days, and can only continue to cultivate his character by reciting poetry every day. After reciting "The foolishness of the common people," A-Yue came in and interrupted again: "Seventh Miss Zheng is visiting, should we let her in?"
Xie Qinghong was surprised. Surely she wouldn't come looking for trouble at a time like this? She grabbed the poetry collection and went to the flower hall to meet the guests. However, Zheng Yingluo looked much more haggard than at the last chrysanthemum appreciation banquet, as if she had just been sick.
Xie Qinghong looked away, thinking to herself that she was hard-hearted and wouldn't lose an argument even if it was like this.
Zheng Yinglu coughed before speaking, and only after taking a sip of water did she finally speak: "I came here today to express my gratitude. Thank you for helping me to regain my senses."
Such a calm and composed conversation was rare between the two of them, even considering the past sixteen years. Xie Qinghong frowned, shook her head, and replied, "No need to thank me. I only told you this to spite you. You know that yourself."
“Yes, I will.” Zheng Yingluo looked at her deeply. “I thought I had seen the light once, but it turns out that was just self-deception. Now I have finally woken up. I am here today to apologize. It was my fault for dragging you into this mess at the beginning of the year. I’m sorry.”
After thanking her and apologizing, Zheng Yingluo didn't linger and quickly took her leave, leaving Xie Qinghong feeling frustrated. He hadn't even had a chance to ask her what she thought of Qin Heng or what her plans were for the future. He hoped she had truly come to her senses and wouldn't give that scumbag Qin Heng a second chance!
No sooner had Zheng Yingluo left than Pei Du arrived. Having just brushed past Zheng Yingluo, he was somewhat puzzled: "Why is she here? Did she come to argue with you? Did she bully you?"
Xie Qinghong deliberately stared at him intently until his earlobes turned bright red, but she still wondered, "Why do you blush so easily now? Usually, when I look at you like this, you don't blush at all. Were you particularly thick-skinned before?"
Unlike her, even though she had read such little books, she remained calm and composed in front of Pei Du, showing that she had cultivated her character well.
When she asked him that question, the redness on Pei Du's earlobe almost spread to his face. He felt so hot that his head felt like it was about to smoke. He didn't want to, but he was a young and impetuous man. He had been dreaming about his sweetheart for several nights in a row. How could he be calm and collected when he saw her in reality?
One glance and he immediately thought of seductive eyes; two glances and he thought of clouds over Wushan and rain over Yuehu Lake. And being stared at like that for so long, he started thinking of all sorts of inappropriate things. He even stammered, "N-nothing, it's just that it's hot when I came in."
How could Xie Qinghong be fooled by such words? She scoffed disdainfully, "It's almost the end of September, if you're going to lie, at least come up with something plausible. Fine, I'll recite a couple of lines of poetry to cool you down—'The simple-minded man, carrying cloth to trade for silk… A man's infatuation, though he may escape, a woman's, though she may be infatuated, cannot be escaped…'"
Pei Du: Take off...can't take off? Take off what?!
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