Chapter 107
A branch of red apricot blossoms peeks over the wall.
After all, he doesn't have lofty ambitions and won't have much power. He's just living a more respectable life now, but his two brothers are still young and may have better options.
Chunyu Zhu patted Duan Jingchuan on the shoulder, "If we're brothers, we don't need to say that. We're not brainless. Choosing to follow you is something we've thought through carefully."
Ever since Duan Jingchuan stopped objecting to physical interaction with them, Zhao Yue seemed to have opened the door to a new world. He would often sneak up to Duan Jingchuan's nose, and this time he put his face close to him again, with his arm restlessly draped over Duan Jingchuan's shoulder.
"If you feel bad for us, then introduce us to some young ladies! We're both older than you, but we're still single."
Duan Jingchuan pushed Zhao Yue away with disdain and flicked his shoulder, "Stay away from me, your ostentatious attitude is getting on me."
Zhao Yue shouted indignantly, "You've gone too far! I'm completely untouched by any petals, and you dare call me a show-off!"
Duan Jingchuan paused, realizing he had inadvertently blurted out Feng Ran's description of Zhao Yue.
Chunyu Zhu suddenly asked from the side, "Jingchuan, are you the one you said you'd introduce to my sister? Is your surname Shi?"
Duan Jingchuan raised an eyebrow, surprised, and asked, "What? He came to us on his own initiative?"
Chunyu Zhu frowned in disdain. "Why do I find this Young Master Shi a bit frivolous?"
Upon seeing his sister, he was like a mouse smelling fish. Although he maintained a gentlemanly distance of two feet, his eyes were practically glued to her. If Duan Jingchuan hadn't written him a letter mentioning this person, he would have wanted to beat him out with a stick.
Duan Jingchuan's lips twitched. He roughly knew why Shi Fusheng had taken the initiative to come to his door; it must have been something Feng Ran had said to him.
However, since this involved his friend's sister, he couldn't give Shi Fusheng any assurances. He could only say, "Don't worry about me. If your sister likes him, she can try dating him. If not, just kick him out of the manor. If he doesn't comply, I will personally take him away."
With Duan Jingchuan's words, Chunyu Zhu was able to better gauge how to treat Shi Fusheng.
What is Shi Fusheng doing now? He is climbing over the wall of Chunyu's house.
To escape the sordid affairs of the Chunyu family, Chunyu Zhu and his younger sister Chunyu Lan moved out and set up their own household. Although it was a small courtyard, it was still quite cozy.
After sending Huang Que to a safe place, Shi Fusheng had nowhere to go, so he remembered that Feng Ran and Duan Jingchuan had both said that the Chunyu family girl was a good person, so he decided to come and see her.
However, being new to society, he was unfamiliar with etiquette and was ridiculed by Chunyu Zhu when he visited her home. Only then did he realize that one should prepare gifts when visiting a girl's home to propose marriage.
So he searched high and low in the mountains around the capital, found many rare medicinal herbs, wrapped them in a rag, and went to their door.
This time, he did manage to make the kind-hearted girl smile, but the brother who blocked his way showed no mercy, kicking him out and repeatedly forbidding him from entering the Chunyu residence again.
With the meat buns right in front of him, how could he not eat them? There's always a way to overcome difficulties, so Shi Fusheng, taking advantage of Chunyu Zhu's absence today, began climbing the wall.
Chunyu Zhu bought a small house, only three courtyards in total. During the day, Chunyu Lan was left to quietly read books in the backyard.
She suddenly heard a sparse sound above her head. Chunyu Lan was so frightened that her back stiffened. She thought it was some fearless rat taking advantage of the daytime to steal something.
She shushed him, gripped Xue Dong's hand tightly, and whispered, "Look at the wall behind me, isn't there a mouse?"
Xue Dong was also a little scared, but she still dutifully stood in front of Chunyu Lan. The layers of osmanthus trees made it impossible to see the true appearance of the top of the wall, and one could only vaguely see the hem of her royal blue dress.
Xue Dong's throat tightened, and she was about to call for help when Shi Fusheng appeared just in time, squatting on the wall and apologetically saying, "Miss Xue Dong, please calm down. I won't come down and won't damage your reputation."
Why is it him again? Chunyu Lan frowned. She couldn't figure out what Shi Fusheng wanted. Although he didn't seem to have any ill intentions, it was definitely not because he liked her that he was always trying to get close to her.
Her brother was not home, and although there were servants guarding the door, they clearly couldn't stop the man on the wall. If he really wanted to do something, she was powerless to stop him.
“Young Master Shi, if you have something to say, you might as well come down and talk.” Chunyu Lan said, feigning composure.
It wasn't that Chunyu Lan didn't care about her reputation, but if Shi Fusheng was squatting on the wall and someone saw him, she would be in deep trouble. It was better to explain things clearly in her own courtyard. If Shi Fusheng had no ill intentions, she could naturally live in peace.
Shi Fusheng realized he was in the wrong, as he seemed to have offended the young lady. He obediently jumped down from the wall and stood properly three feet away from Chunyu Lan, clasping his hands in apology: "Miss Chunyu, I have offended you greatly. It was my oversight. I will not do it again."
Although he didn't know much about the strict separation of men and women, he did know that young women valued their reputation. Chunyu Lan's worries wouldn't come true; he assured that no one had ever seen him climbing over a young woman's wall.
Seeing Shi Fusheng's reaction, Chunyu Lan felt much more at ease and said softly, "I wonder why Young Master Shi has been paying so much attention to me? Perhaps I have unintentionally offended you."
Shi Fusheng touched his nose, looking rather awkward, and said, "I initially intended to propose to you."
Upon hearing this, Chunyu Lan took a step back in fright, clutching Xue Dong's sleeve tightly, her lips turning pale with fright.
Having frightened the young lady again, Shi Fusheng was extremely annoyed and blurted out the rest of his words in one go, "Don't worry, young lady, I was foolish before. Now I want to get to know you and get along with you seriously, and I will never offend you."
This was the first time a man had shown her such affection. Chunyu Lan blushed slightly, trying her best to maintain the demeanor of a well-bred young lady. She said softly, "Thank you for your kindness, Young Master Shi. Marriage is a major event, and it is the decision of parents and the words of matchmakers. It is inappropriate for a young lady to meet men outside the family. I hope that Young Master Shi will not come again in the future."
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Shi Fusheng scoffed, but seeing the rabbit-like girl opposite him, he couldn't help but feel pity for her.
It seems a bit unfair to propose to someone just because they smell nice, but he really couldn't bear to part with the fragrant woman in front of him.
Suddenly his eyes lit up, and he said excitedly, "Miss doesn't even have a capable guard by her side. How about I become your guard? I don't need money, just let me stay in this mansion."
Chunyu Lan's face turned bright red with anger, and she said angrily, "You can talk to your brother! If there's nothing else, please ask Young Master Shi to leave as soon as possible."
Seeing Chunyu Lan's eyes red with anger, Shi Fusheng opened his mouth, then closed it again, and with a light tap of his toes, flew away.
Seeing Shi Fusheng easily climb over the wall, Chunyu Lan stamped her foot in anger, "How can this person be so...shameless!"
Perhaps knowing that the last three words weren't pleasant, she only moved her lips, without uttering a sound.
Chunyu Zhu, who was pondering how to cook Shi Fusheng, obviously had no idea that the lecher in his mind had already climbed over the wall of his house and almost made his precious younger sister cry.
Where did Shi Fusheng go? Shi Fusheng got lost.
He was able to reach the Chunyu family's door not because he had a good sense of direction or a keen sense of smell, but because he happened to run into Chunyu Zhu and followed him there.
But the capital city is so big, where can he find his fake sister? Oh, maybe he can't even mention Feng Ran's name directly in the capital, so he'll have to find his fake brother-in-law.
He sniffed the air carefully, coughed twice from the stench, and muttered, "Where there are many people, there is trouble. This filth is really torturous."
He felt so uncomfortable that he needed to find a quiet place.
After several twists and turns, Shi Fusheng suddenly spotted a carriage ahead. He took a sniff and was immediately struck by its refreshing aroma. He shouted at the approaching carriage, "Brother-in-law, brother-in-law, wait for me!"
Xiong Qi paused, turning around in disbelief. Before he could even greet Shi Fusheng, Shi Fusheng darted into the carriage and gave Duan Jingchuan a bear hug.
"Brother-in-law, I'm going to suffocate if I don't see you again."
Relying on his quick reflexes, Shi Fusheng sniffed Duan Jingchuan thoroughly, finally dispelling the irritating scent that filled his nostrils.
The car was spacious, and Zhao Yue and Chunyu Zhu, who were sitting next to each other, almost had their eyes pop out of their sockets.
They either didn't hear clearly when Shi Fusheng called him "brother-in-law," or perhaps they did hear it but didn't connect the dots.
Zhao Yue had never seen Shi Fusheng before, but he saw an androgynous person who lunged directly into Duan Jingchuan's arms, nearly biting his own tongue.
He kept thinking to himself, "Could it be that his brother is having an affair?"
Chunyu Zhu was able to remain calmer, after all, he had seen Shi Fusheng's face before, but he really couldn't bear to see two grown men embracing each other.
Meanwhile, Duan Jingchuan was suddenly caught off guard and had his throat gripped tightly by Shi Fusheng, almost losing his breath.
Pushing Shi Fusheng along, he even had the leisure to think that if his wife hugged him with all her might, she might crush his shoulder blades. It seemed that his wife was really extremely gentle with him.
Shi Fusheng didn't intend to hold him any longer. He knew it would be awkward for two grown men to be hugging each other. After catching his breath, he let go, chuckled sheepishly, and patted Duan Jingchuan's shoulder, saying ingratiatingly, "I didn't stop myself just now and accidentally bumped into you. Don't tell your sister!"
Their clan has a strong sense of territory, and they would fly into a rage if they found out that someone had taken a bite out of their property. Shi Fusheng didn't want to come all this way to fight.
Duan Jingchuan's lips twitched, and he couldn't help but shift his position, trying to stay as far away from Shi Fusheng as possible, afraid that Shi Fusheng's silliness would infect him.
Shi Fusheng wasn't ashamed at being rejected, and only then did he notice that there were two other people in the carriage.
He didn't recognize Zhao Yue, but he was familiar with Chunyu Zhu's face. He reached out to greet him in a very friendly manner, "Brother Chunyu, you look radiant today too."
Chunyu Zhu's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. "Who's your older brother?"
Shi Fusheng grinned and said, "Duan Jingchuan calls me Big Brother, and I call you Big Brother. If you do the math, he can call you Big Brother. Isn't that a great deal for you, Big Brother?"
Chunyu Zhu was led astray by his thoughts and actually started thinking that it would be good to take advantage of Duan Jingchuan. However, after seeing Duan Jingchuan's cold gaze, he immediately came to his senses.
On the way back, Shi Fusheng expressed his deep longing for his younger sister and explained his predicament of being penniless and homeless, trying his best to persuade Duan Jingchuan or Chunyu Zhu to take him in.
In the end, Shi Fusheng did not go back with anyone, but moved directly into Duan Jingchuan's new residence, the Marquis of Le'an's mansion.
It wasn't that Duan Jingchuan insisted on letting Shi Fusheng live alone, but rather that the Dingbei Marquis's residence was about to hold a wedding, with people coming and going, which was not suitable for Shi Fusheng, who disliked crowds. It would be better for him to live in the Le'an Marquis's residence, where he could find some peace and quiet.
Looking at the red silk filling the mansion, Feng Ran asked curiously, "Husband, was it this festive when I married you? I don't remember."
Duan Jingchuan shook his head regretfully, "I don't remember either, how about we hold another wedding ceremony?"
Feng Ran shook her head repeatedly, "You can hold two more wedding nights, but we can skip the formalities and humiliation."
Although Duan Yuze was the eldest son of the Marquis's family, he was born out of wedlock and did not need Duan Jingchuan to help him. However, Feng Ran could not get away from him.
The invitations and gift lists were prepared by the head maid. Qin Shi acted as if nothing had happened, getting along harmoniously with Feng Ran and occasionally giving her pointers on how to manage the household affairs.
Feng Ran had no idea what she was up to. She accepted all of Qin's overtures, but whether or not she would reciprocate was another matter.
Forget about it. She's like a bottomless pit; she just keeps eating and never gets full.
There were many servants in the mansion. Whether it was Qin Shi or Feng Ran, they were just using their brains and talking. Most of the time, they could sit quietly in the back.
Taking advantage of the commotion in the front and back courtyards, Qin Shi pulled Feng Ran aside, trying to be friendly, "From now on, this mansion will be in your hands. Don't be as willful as before. Although the inner quarters are not like the imperial court, the necessary social interactions are still important. You should know that sometimes the words of the women in the inner quarters are sharper than the knives of the imperial court. Since you and Jing Chuan are so in love, you should be even more united."
Qin Shi rarely said anything pleasing to the ear, and Feng Ran did not retort, but lowered her head and said meekly, "Mother's words are right, I will remember them."
Madam Qin sighed, then pleaded, "Hua'er will be entering the manor soon. If I am not in the manor in the future, I hope you will take care of her."
Qin Lianhua? Feng Ran frowned, somewhat reluctant, but considering Qin's kind words, she couldn't bear to refuse.
Well, we don't live in the same courtyard, so Qin Lianhua probably won't ask her for help. So whether she agrees or not doesn't really matter.
Qin seemed extremely worried and insisted that Feng Ran make a promise: "Hua'er is indeed not very sensible. I have spoiled her. If she makes a big mistake in the future, could you please be lenient for the sake of your mother and let her live a peaceful life?"
Feng Ran's brow twitched, and she instinctively felt that she couldn't agree to this. So she said, "Mother is overthinking it. If it is a crime, the law will punish it. If it is just a matter of words, as long as it doesn't involve me, I won't hold it against you."
Qin looked at Feng Ran's face, seemingly reassured yet uneasy.
Finally, he sighed, "Well, it's all up to fate. Yu Ze is getting married tomorrow, and this backyard won't be peaceful for long. I've prepared the room next door, so you can make do here for the night. Later, have your maid pass on a message to Jing Chuan."
Feng Ran nodded. This request wasn't unreasonable. She had already informed Duan Jingchuan beforehand that he might be left alone in his room tonight.
However, no one expected what would happen on the night of their separation.
A note from the author:
Can anyone guess it?
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