Chapter 102◇
◎Her eyes have lost their light◎
Although Xiuer did not accept Xiong Qi's marriage proposal, she was in a completely different state now. When she returned home that night, she told Feng Ran that she would definitely serve Feng Ran diligently, work hard to earn money, and become a top-notch head maid who could be presentable in public, good at cooking, support her husband, and have excellent work skills.
Regarding Xiuer's ambitions, Fengran could only say that she was a useless person supported by her husband, and could only offer Xiuer spiritual encouragement.
Duan Jingchuan was still worried about Feng Ran's health. He consulted several doctors, but to no avail, so he invited Shi Fusheng over.
"Is there something wrong with her health?" Duan Jingchuan frowned, and the veins on his arms betrayed his unease.
Seeing Duan Jingchuan's expression, Shi Fusheng thought Feng Ran had contracted an incurable disease, and his heart trembled with shock. When he saw Feng Ran afterward, he was so angry that he almost died on the spot.
Pointing at Feng Ran with a trembling finger, she asked incredulously, "You feel there's something wrong with her?"
Upon hearing this, Feng Ran gave Shi Fusheng a cool look, then turned back to eating grapes without saying a word.
Indeed, Xiu'er's slender hands were constantly feeding Feng Ran. In Shi Fusheng's eyes, Feng Ran was comfortably squinting her eyes, enjoying the beauty's service, feeling quite content. Duan Jingchuan actually called this "sick," which he found unacceptable.
Duan Jingchuan stroked Feng Ran's head worriedly and muttered, "These past few days, apart from eating some cool things, she doesn't care about anything. I wanted to take her out for a walk, but she has no energy. Look, I'm standing next to her, and there's no light in her eyes."
Shi Fusheng felt as if his neck had been pressed down and his stomach had been stuffed with sugar, and he could cough up sugar particles with every cough.
He doesn't know if Feng Ran has any health problems, but Duan Jingchuan definitely does. He's mocking him for not having a wife, isn't he? Isn't he?
His stiff gaze fell on Feng Ran's face, trying to discern Duan Jingchuan's joking intent from her expression. However, he found nothing; the frequency with which she had her mouth wiped after eating grapes remained unchanged.
Shi Fusheng took a deep breath, trying not to let his sourness escape, but his words still sounded somewhat sarcastic, "Is it possible that you've lost interest in these things?"
Not interested? Could it be that she's not interested in him anymore? Has Madam grown tired of him? Duan Jingchuan stiffened his neck, his chest pounding, somewhat hesitant to ask Feng Ran for confirmation.
Duan Jingchuan's insecurities always left Feng Ran feeling helpless. She believed she had given him plenty of security, not just favoritism, but all her love. Yet he would still get stuck on things from time to time. But there was nothing she could do; she loved her husband even more when he got stuck on things.
With a blank expression, Feng Ran grabbed Duan Jingchuan's hand and poked it hard. "Is it possible that I was too happy at night, so I can't be happy during the day?"
After the slight pain in his fingertips subsided, what remained was an endless itch. Duan Jingchuan instantly snapped back to reality, his ears turning red, and he lowered his head to gently return the kiss.
"Ouch! My eyes!" As an onlooker, Shi Fusheng just wanted to gouge his own eyes out. Why didn't he learn Xiuer's self-awareness? He just stared at his toes and squinted, pretending to be a wooden doll!
He turned and left; this place was not suitable for him. He should return to the deep mountains and forests to sleep.
"Brother Shi, please wait." Seeing that Shi Fusheng was about to leave, Duan Jingchuan first comforted Feng Ran before chasing after him.
As soon as Duan Jingchuan left, Feng Ran's eyelids drooped again, and she said weakly, "Men are all dogs, Xiu'er, remember to have two beds at home from now on."
Her eyes still had a light in them. She was always sleepy and didn't get enough rest. Only a ghost could have light in his eyes. She just wanted to see him worry about her. Feng Ran thought wickedly.
Xiuer could only continue staring at the toes of the shoes, pretending not to hear.
Chased by Duan Jingchuan, Shi Fusheng wished he could grow two more legs, but the person behind him kept calling out, so he couldn't pretend to be stupid. He had no choice but to turn around and say fiercely, "What, is it not enough to poison my eyes, do you also want to covet my ears?"
Duan Jingchuan, no longer the shy and timid man he was in front of Feng Ran, said in a clear and gentle voice, "Brother Shi is too kind. I would like to invite Brother Shi to my home in the capital."
Oh my, what a two-faced man! I wish Feng Ran could see him, so she wouldn't think her man is the most delicate and fragile man in the world, someone you can't even touch.
"What's the benefit of going with you? Is it delicious?" He wasn't so easily fooled. He knew that little rascal Huang Que well. It was only here that he could stick to him all the time. Who knew what might happen if they went to the capital? He didn't want to abandon his home in Ancheng.
Duan Jingchuan naturally knew what "fragrant" referred to. Although he couldn't sense it, it didn't stop him from knowing who it was. "Yes, I have a close friend in the capital whose sister is deeply loved by my wife. I think you will like her too."
At the same time, Chunyu Zhu received a letter asking whether his sister was married and whether she cared about social status.
Chunyu Zhu was somewhat moved, feeling grateful that his good brother was so far away and cared about him. Since he had separated from his family, his sister's marriage had indeed become difficult. He didn't want to marry his sister off to someone wealthy; he only wanted to find someone who truly loved Chunyu Lan. If he couldn't find such a person, he would support his sister for the rest of his life.
Based on his understanding of Duan Jingchuan, he was always true to his word. Could it be that he had encountered suitable soldiers in Ancheng? Wasn't Ancheng a bit too far away? It was all his fault for being incompetent; he was just a lowly fifth-rank official who couldn't help his sister.
Chunyu Zhu never imagined that his good brother would betray him for the sake of beauty.
With the return date set and only three days left before departure, Feng Ran was neither pleased nor surprised that Shi Fusheng, her tagalong, would continue to follow her.
She's now completely embraced her life as a freeloader. Since coming to Ancheng, Duan Jingchuan has been even busier every day, and you can no longer see the socially awkward person she used to be. Instead, she seems to be doing nothing.
Upon hearing that they were leaving, the people of Ancheng specially prepared a farewell banquet, scheduled for the evening. Feng Ran idly flipped through Duan Jingchuan's desk, hoping to find some new storybooks.
The desk was neat and tidy. Feng Ran's favorite books were placed on the left, while Duan Jingchuan's usual reading place was on the right, with several letters pressed on top.
Feng Ran's curious gaze swept over the wooden box that Duan Jingchuan carried with him. The box wasn't big, but Duan Jingchuan had treasured it and brought it all the way from the capital to Ancheng.
She wasn't one to pry into other people's privacy, but she was genuinely a tiny bit curious. Her fingers lightly brushed across the surface, and with just a little pressure, the unlocked box would open its arms to her.
"No, if it's in a box and covered, it means the contents are important. We can't just look at it carelessly." Feng Ran reluctantly withdrew her gaze, constantly guessing what was inside the box.
"Could it be his secret stash of money?" She couldn't guess anywhere else.
But it didn't quite seem like it. Several times she had seen Duan Jingchuan secretly putting letters into the box, and when he saw her questioning look, he quickened his pace.
Fine, fine, she decided not to look anymore. In a fit of pique, she casually opened a letter on the table, treating it as a way to quench her thirst with a mirage.
"Return immediately, an imperial edict has arrived." This was a letter my father sent a few days ago, pitifully short.
"The last imperial edict was to grant a marriage, could this one be to grant Father a marriage?" Feng Ran couldn't think of any imperial edict that would force the two of them to return.
Finding it uninteresting, Feng Ran simply opened another letter, this one much thicker.
Huh? Feng Ran looked at the envelope with suspicion. It was Chunyu Zhu's letter, but why was it full of flattery? Is it fashionable for people to start their letters with mutual praise these days?
Why would her husband want to play matchmaker for Lanlan?
Feng Ran used the few cells in her brain to carefully pick and choose the people around Duan Jingchuan. Suddenly, she felt a chill down her spine. Could it be that he was going to marry Lanlan to that old man surnamed Chen?
No, no, General Chen may be a good person, but he's not handsome enough! He's not a good match for Lanlan.
She wanted to strike first and find Lanlan a handsome, obedient, and adorable husband.
Wait a minute, when it comes to beauty, besides Duan Jingchuan who is by her side, who can compare to Shi Fusheng?
Having made up her mind, Feng Ran casually slammed the letter on the table and went to find Shi Fusheng.
"What did you say? You want to introduce me to a wife, someone as greedy, lazy, and lecherous as you?" Shi Fusheng hadn't met many normal couples, and this one in front of him was so realistic that he had no intention of getting married. He didn't hold back in his criticism, making no attempt to hide his disdain for Feng Ran.
It's fine for an outsider to just watch the show, but if he were in Duan Jingchuan's shoes, with a wife like Feng Ran, he would probably want to become a monk on the spot rather than spend every day trying to coax this pretentious wife.
Feng Ran scoffed and said sarcastically, "I wouldn't even look at a pretty boy like you."
"Then why did you still introduce this girl to me? What grudge do you hold against me?" Shi Fusheng retorted.
Feng Ran was not to be outdone, "Don't worry, Lanlan comes from a very good family and has a loving older brother. With your qualifications, you'd be a good son-in-law, even if you're just a pretty face. Lanlan would definitely like you."
"Heh, I say, fake sister, have you been spoiled rotten by Duan Jingchuan? What kind of celestial being is she? You think I'll marry her just because you tell me to?" Although he didn't mind getting married, he did mind being casual.
"You're overthinking it, fake brother. Lanlan might not even be interested in you. If it weren't for your decent looks, do you think I would have acted as a matchmaker?"
"So, I should thank you then?" Shi Fusheng's logic of actually kneeling down to thank Feng Ran was baffling; why was he so foolish as to acknowledge this fake sister?
Feng Ran nodded seriously, "You really should thank me, after all, Lanlan is someone who has done good deeds for over ten lifetimes."
"Good deeds bring good fortune!" Shi Fusheng immediately became enthusiastic, his expression instantly turning extremely obsequious as he fawned, "This young master will certainly cherish those who have performed good deeds. You're a pretty boy who'll become a live-in son-in-law, right? Who else but me?"
Feng Ran twitched the corners of her mouth, wondering if she had acted impulsively. This guy didn't look like the ideal husband at all, and he wasn't good enough for Lanlan. She needed to look for someone else.
In the evening, the people of Ancheng prepared a bonfire party. Before she even arrived, Feng Ran could smell the aroma of roasted meat, which made her stomach rumble.
The boys and girls all changed into bright clothes, and with jingling and clanging, they sang and danced around the bonfire.
Also invited were General Chen and several soldiers, as well as Sister Song Si and Sister Song Liu, whom we hadn't seen for many days, and Brother Wu and Brother Wu Er.
As soon as the Song sisters arrived, they surrounded Feng Ran. The lively fourth sister said regretfully, "Princess Consort, you're going back already. We haven't had a chance to get to know you better yet."
Of course, it wasn't that the siblings didn't have time to be close to Feng Ran, but rather that one of them was extremely jealous and kept them running around like headless chickens. The four siblings didn't even have time to chat, let alone appear in front of Feng Ran.
Feng Ran asked in confusion, "Aren't the four of you coming back with us? The disaster in Ancheng has been resolved."
A note from the author:
As I write this, my stomach is growling. I'm so hungry, but unfortunately, there's nothing at home except nuts. It's just past midnight. What a difficult night.
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