Chapter 40◇
◎It hurts, but it won't last long◎
Feng Ran's heart skipped a beat. She took a deep breath and thought to herself, "More enchanting than a fairy. She used to be a quiet porcelain fairy, but now she's a eloquent fox spirit."
Seeing that Duan Jingchuan was still staring at her, Feng Ran changed the subject incoherently, "Husband, can that old pleasure stick cooperate?"
Upon hearing this, Duan Jingchuan's smile cracked.
The person froze.
He recalled his thoughts when he first visited the Prime Minister's residence half a year ago. The reason he was able to barely keep up with his nervousness back then was because of that "happy bang"—it completely shocked him.
Duan Jingchuan really wanted to ask his wife, since she didn't seem to understand human affairs, how could those three words describe her so accurately and aptly, so accurately that he couldn't bring himself to ask how she knew.
Feng Ran looked completely unconcerned, as if it were a perfectly normal question, leaving Duan Jingchuan with no way to explain his doubts.
We had no choice but to skip that and go straight to Feng Ran's question: "It's good that we can cooperate, but we need to see if the Prime Minister will take the initiative to join us."
Upon hearing the mention of joining them, Feng Ran wrinkled her nose. "That's a good thing, husband, he shouldn't join."
Duan Jingchuan's expression was complicated, which confirmed his suspicions. He gave Feng Ran a definite answer: "I'll listen to you, Madam."
Feng Ran knew her words sounded strange, but Duan Jingchuan didn't mind. She didn't know how to make up a lie to explain herself, so she could only smile foolishly.
"Madam, I hope you won't say anything more about 'great things' when we go to the Prime Minister's residence today." Duan Jingchuan thought for a moment and decided to give a word of advice, but ever since he learned the meaning of those three words, he couldn't put them together and could only speak vaguely.
"Is it really that great? It's so easy to do, why won't you let me talk about it? See, I won't talk about yours, since I haven't used it yet."
......
Duan Jingchuan's face instantly turned bright red, his pink lips began to turn purple, and he couldn't help but curl his toes.
"Husband, what's wrong? Are you sick or something? You've turned so dark!" Feng Ran was startled when she saw Duan Jingchuan's flushed face.
Duan Jingchuan pinched his brow twice, realizing a problem he hadn't been aware of. He curled his fingers slightly, but still firmly placed them on Feng Ran's waist and rubbed it a couple of times.
The worst thing happened. Feng Ran just looked at him with a puzzled expression, her face completely unresponsive, showing no sign of being offended.
This... is a big problem.
Duan Jingchuan suddenly realized that he had been flirting with a blind man all along. It turned out that when Feng Ran blushed after he flirted with her, it was all just wishful thinking on his part. She was simply having trouble breathing or feeling hot, and definitely didn't have any feelings for him.
What exactly is the origin of this? Why don't they understand the principle of propriety between men and women?
"Husband, have I gained weight around my waist? No!" Feng Ran saw that Duan Jingchuan remained silent for a long time, and looked like she had been hit hard. She even pinched her stomach in self-doubt, but found no extra fat. She was fine.
Duan Jingchuan took a deep breath and solemnly said to Feng Ran, "Madam, do not let others get close to you easily in front of others."
"Huh?" Feng Ran looked puzzled. "Is someone trying to assassinate me recently?"
......
Is the Marquis of Dingbei's residence in a state of utter chaos?
Duan Jingchuan fell into self-doubt.
But, "Did you offend someone?" Duan Jingchuan's expression turned serious as he suddenly thought of a possibility.
"Offend people? How could I offend people? I'm so harmonious and friendly." Feng Ran replied with a confused look.
He breathed a sigh of relief and gently wiped away the non-existent cold sweat from his forehead.
However, Duan Jingchuan would wholeheartedly support every word Feng Ran said, but this time he didn't give her positive affirmation, he just twitched the corner of his mouth.
Fearing that Feng Ran might not take it seriously, Duan Jingchuan had no choice but to emphasize again, "No matter what, you can't let anyone else get close to you, or you won't get your daily snacks."
As expected, she knew how to manipulate people; Feng Ran was completely outmaneuvered.
Feng Ran disliked being restricted and felt uncomfortable everywhere, but the thought of no more snacks seemed even more unbearable. She tentatively made a deal, "Can't Xiu'er and Lanlan do it either? I'm not very good at styling hair accessories, so I need Xiu'er's help. Lanlan smells so good, but you usually don't let me smell her."
“A maid is certainly acceptable.” As for Chunyu Lan, Duan Jingchuan didn’t want to in his heart, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He could get close to Feng Ran with his own selfish motives before, but now that he knew she didn’t understand the meaning behind it, he was even less willing to casually close the distance between the two of them. “Miss Chunyu is also acceptable.”
Why did Feng Ran speak so reluctantly? After scrutinizing Duan Jingchuan's expression and finding nothing unusual, Feng Ran thought she had misheard.
Nodding in agreement, "What you said makes sense. I remember it. That day, I was so clumsy that I got slapped by Wu Fengqing. That was my face!"
Duan Jingchuan felt a pang of unease when he thought about how Feng Ran had been beaten right under his nose. Then he remembered that her hand was swollen, and his face showed a conflicted expression. He could only say that he felt very sorry for her, but it didn't last long.
However, he now really wants to ask the question that has been nagging at him the most: "Were you very coordinated before?"
Not understanding the underlying meaning of those words, Feng Ran shook her head in distress, "I didn't have any limbs to coordinate before."
? !
Duan Jingchuan felt like he had a hundred cat scratches in his heart, the mystery in his mind growing bigger and bigger, he wished he could just shake Feng Ran's shoulders and ask loudly, "What are you?"
He had unwittingly let slip countless times without Feng Ran noticing, much to Duan Jingchuan's dismay. If an outsider were to ask her anything, everything would come out. Fortunately, she rarely left the manor, so no one had the chance to trick her into revealing anything.
But his body told Duan Jingchuan that he didn't want to do it, so he could only say weakly, "Just enjoy your body right now."
The implication of those words was very strong. Feng Ran truly sensed something was wrong. Thinking back to what she had just casually blurted out, she almost wanted to hit herself with a brick. She awkwardly tried to cover it up, saying, "I meant that I didn't go out much before and didn't have the opportunity to use my body."
Duan Jingchuan concealed the worry and doubt in his eyes well, simply nodding seriously with a smile on his lips, as gentle and harmless as ever.
Feng Ran assumed that Duan Jingchuan's words were just unintentional and not taken to heart, so she happily played with the fluffy cloak beside her.
It had been a long time since Feng Ran had visited the Prime Minister's residence. Her memories of it had almost faded, and the only remaining recollections were of her disgust for the Prime Minister's residence.
Oh, and there's also the karma that Feng Ran herself needs to repay.
This time, Feng Ran was in the mood to observe the cannibalistic Prime Minister's mansion from the perspective of an outsider. Unlike the rugged and magnificent Dingbei Marquis's mansion, the Prime Minister's mansion was much more refined, like a noble person with golden branches and jade leaves, who had never experienced the baptism of wind and frost and had been pampered since childhood.
The Dingbei Marquis's mansion, excluding Jinghua Courtyard, was deserted and desolate, especially in winter. In fact, the original buildings in the mansion were completely demolished in order to expand the martial arts training ground.
The Prime Minister's residence is a completely different scene. Even in winter, you can smell the fragrance of flowers and hear the babbling of streams. The hot springs, which seem to have been introduced from somewhere, create a misty atmosphere, making it feel like a fairyland.
Prime Minister Wu was not too puzzled by Feng Ran and Duan Jingchuan's sudden visit. After all, it was common for married women to return to their parents' home early to give gifts and visit as the end of the year approached.
However, Prime Minister Wu was likely to be disappointed, as Feng Ran had no idea that gifts were expected when visiting her parents' home. Duan Jingchuan did know, but thinking his wife would probably be reluctant, he didn't bring it up, and the two of them came empty-handed.
Oh, he didn't come empty-handed; he also brought a letter from the Marquis of Dingbei.
Prime Minister Wu held the handwritten letter with a complicated expression.
He and the Marquis of Dingbei disliked each other, and the court would not allow the head of the civil officials and the military general to hold power and ally together. If it weren't for Duan Jingchuan's special circumstances, a marriage alliance between the two families would have been impossible.
Looking at the Marquis of Dingbei's fierce handwriting, Prime Minister Wu's brow twitched. He was truly... extremely arrogant.
Look at what he wrote: “I have heard that your loyalty to the emperor and love for the country is unparalleled. You must not be able to bear the suffering of the people from hunger. I have personally witnessed that your family changes a large number of clothes every year, which is truly a great act of kindness. This is an opportunity to accumulate virtue and do good deeds. I have specially ordered my son to come and collect the clothes. Please do not make things difficult for me.”
The inscription is signed by Duan Zhengjin and his army.
This is a threat, a pure threat.
If you say he wasn't extravagant, no one would believe it. Which aristocratic family in the capital doesn't handle their clothes this way?
However, this etiquette for disposing of clothes was passed down from their ancestors. Every year after the Spring Festival, the founding emperor of the Jing Dynasty would burn old clothes to signify bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new. Officials and wealthy people naturally followed suit.
Now they say this method is extravagant and wasteful, isn't that a slap in the face to our ancestors?
But that's not what they said in their letter. Every sentence was for the sake of the people, and every word was about accumulating virtue and doing good deeds. It was truly cunning!
Who says military officers can't be cunning?
Prime Minister Wu was so angry that his fingers trembled. He felt that if he didn't do this, he would be letting down the people. If he set this precedent, he would be a sinner against all the noble families in the capital!
Holding onto the idea of her being his own daughter, Prime Minister Wu looked at Feng Ran with unwavering hope, "Did you come back to pay a New Year's visit?"
Feng Ran's big, bright eyes looked even more innocent as she answered with a half-question, "Do I still need to offer New Year's greetings? I forgot, Father, wishing you a happy new year?"
After finishing his sentence, he performed a half-baked, perfunctory greeting, which was as perfunctory as could be.
As expected, he's not likable!
These were the only words that came to mind when Prime Minister Wu looked at Duan Jingchuan with a threatening gaze, as if trying to use his authority to dispel their thoughts of returning.
Since Duan Jingchuan figured things out, he no longer subconsciously avoided other people's gazes. He was not afraid of the bloody aura emanating from the old Marquis Duan, who had fought his way out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, let alone the angry glare from Prime Minister Wu.
Duan Jingchuan remained expressionless, letting Prime Minister Wu scrutinize him, and added, "Father-in-law, I hope you are well. The New Year's gifts will be sent over later along with the people's letters of thanks."
Prime Minister Wu smiled slightly, but cursed inwardly, "Why isn't he having an attack today? This old fox seems even more difficult to deal with than Marquis Duan."
One was eagerly awaiting the old clothes from his residence, while the other remained expressionless and unreadable. Prime Minister Wu was truly troubled.
If an ordinary person made this request to him, he would probably just send them away. But these are his son-in-law and his own daughter! Isn't this just asking for trouble?
The Marquis of Dingbei's mansion naturally didn't care about reputation. As a military general, if one had too good a reputation among the officials, it would be courting death. Even if the Marquis of Dingbei, who was enjoying a life of luxury, offended many people, no one would dare to gnaw on his tough nut.
He's no good. If he sets this precedent today, who knows how many people will hate him to the core. This unfilial daughter is truly something else; she's definitely not someone you can tame.
Left with no other option, Prime Minister Wu resorted to stalling tactics, saying, "Ran'er, Jingchuan, it's rare for you to come back. Let's not talk about official business for now, let's have a simple meal first."
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