"Don't joke with me, old steward." Zhang Fan wiped his sweat. "I'm here today to see the Marquis as arranged. I came alone, so I'll leave alone. I won't take anyone else with me."
“The Marquis did not request an audience with you, General.” Ralph shook his head in disappointment.
“I have a letter written by the Marquis himself!” Zhang Fan was taken aback for a moment, then took the letter out of his pocket.
“The letter is fake,” Ralph said without even glancing at it.
“Impossible, it has the Marquis’s personal seal on it,” Zhang Fan retorted.
“The seal is real, but the letter is fake.” Ralph sighed. “I copied the Marquis’s handwriting, and it’s hard for outsiders to tell the difference, so it’s not your fault. As for the personal seal, Princess Alice secretly affixed it.”
“Uh…” Zhang Fan stood there, stunned.
What is all this nonsense?!
The situation is completely different now. It means that I came uninvited this time, and in such a sensitive situation, I really shouldn't have rashly met with Marquis Charles.
While it was still early, Zhang Fan got up to take his leave. A servant in a hurry ran through the back garden to the pavilion.
"Lord Ralph! The Marquis has returned ahead of schedule and is now outside the gate."
Zhang Fan suddenly stood up. He wasn't ready and really didn't want to suddenly run into Marquis Charles.
"Take the general to a guest room in the side courtyard and settle him in," Ralph instructed. "If anyone asks, just say he's the young lady's guest."
"yes."
Zhang Fan followed the servant and left first. This servant must be one of Ralph's men, otherwise he wouldn't have secretly come to inform him.
The side courtyard, located on one side of the Marquis's mansion, was specifically for visiting guests. Staying in the side courtyard would prevent them from encountering Marquis Charles on his return to the mansion.
The side courtyard has three floors, with twenty rooms on each floor. Each room is about 30 square meters. At the entrance, there is a bathroom and a small living room for showering. Behind that is the bedroom, which is similar to the layout of a typical hotel room.
There is a corridor in front of the door, and a balcony with floor-to-ceiling windows at the back. Beyond the balcony is a small garden, and further back is the beach, and then the azure Manchester Bay.
It was still early, and Zhang Fan didn't want to stay in the room. Since there were buildings blocking the way, he decided to walk through the small garden at the back and take a stroll on the beach.
This small beach is crescent-shaped, nestled between two shorelines. The sand is coarse, and the sea is full of reefs, making it unsuitable for swimming.
The Marquis's mansion has not held any banquets recently, so there are not many guests staying in the side courtyard.
Zhang Fan originally thought he would be the only person strolling on this wild beach, but he saw a girl in front of him who seemed to be dressed in Hanfu, picking up seashells by lifting her skirt.
Zhang Fan rubbed his eyes to make sure he hadn't mistaken the person for someone else, then went up to greet him.
"Butler Yu, I never expected to run into you here."
Yu Yingnan looked up and, upon recognizing Zhang Fan, froze for a moment. The seashells in her hand fell to the sand and were swallowed by the rising waves.
Zhang Fan smiled and bent down to help pick up the fallen seashells one by one. At that moment, he seemed to suddenly understand many things, and many questions found their answers.
It seems this trip to Moonlight Island was worthwhile.
"How did you end up here?" Yu Yingnan asked, somewhat flustered, as she took the seashell Zhang Fan handed her.
"As a member of the Ryan National Army, isn't it normal for me to be here?" Zhang Fan smiled and tilted his head to look at the other person. "On the contrary, Butler Yu, is the Qiu family of Xiliang having some free time lately? So you've come here for a vacation?"
"Where's my second aunt?" Zhang Fan looked around but didn't see Qiu Wanlan, the second young lady of the Qiu family. "Did you come alone?"
“I…” Yu Yingnan opened her mouth, unable to speak for a moment.
Yu Yingnan stood there, stunned, staring at Zhang Fan. She clearly hadn't expected to run into him here, and her mind went completely blank.
The two stood on the beach, looking at each other without saying a word.
Zhang Fan smiled. He wasn't in a hurry; he was eager to see how the other party would try to argue their way out of it.
The sea breeze blew Yu Yingnan's long hair onto her face. Yu Yingnan brushed the hair away from her lips, lowered her head to think for a moment, and then raised her head and smiled.
"Yes, I told the Marquis about the young master's visit to the Tang King's Mausoleum."
“Uh…” Now it was Zhang Fan’s turn to be stunned. He didn’t expect the other party to admit it so directly.
"Was it Second Aunt's idea? Or Madam Qiu's?" Zhang Fan asked curiously, "Or perhaps...Old Mr. Qiu?"
"Neither," Yu Yingnan smiled sheepishly. "It was my own idea."
"I took the opportunity of visiting the young lady to tell the young master all this."
"Why?" Zhang Fan wondered. He didn't think he had ever offended the other party.
“Because of you.” Yu Yingnan stared at Zhang Fan.
"Because of me?" Zhang Fan was stunned, even more confused. "Why? You have to give me a reason!"
“In Xiliang, in the Qiu family, don’t you think you’ve gotten too close to the Second Miss?” Yu Yingnan said leisurely, glancing at the white clouds in the sky before turning back and saying sternly, “The Second Miss belongs to me!”
"Ah, this..."
Zhang Fan covered his forehead with his hand, feeling both annoyed and amused.
"What nonsense is this? I never thought of competing with you for the Second Miss, and I already call her Second Aunt..."
“After you left Xiliang, the Second Miss mentioned you to me several times.” Yu Yingnan’s gaze was sharp. “I can tell that you have already taken a place in the Second Miss’s heart.”
"It's not that exaggerated!" Zhang Fan didn't think he was handsome enough to make people fall in love at first sight. "Second Aunt only mentioned the younger generation a few times. Even if we take a step back and say that I occupy even the slightest position, it's not as deep as the relationship between you, Butler Yu, and her, which you spend every day with."
"No, not even a tiny bit!" Butler Yu glared at Zhang Fan. "I'm a germaphobe, especially when it comes to relationships. I won't allow her to have anyone else in her heart!"
"I'm speechless..." Zhang Fan was completely dumbfounded.
Never mind, I'm not angry.
I've warned myself countless times never to mess with women, especially the prettiest ones, or I won't even know how I died. How could I still make such a stupid mistake?
It's truly impossible to guard against!
"Alright, I've finished speaking." Yu Yingnan looked at Zhang Fan with sparkling eyes. "What do you plan to do with me now, young master?"
"What should I do? I want to slap myself right now." Zhang Fan sighed helplessly, as if deflated. "What's past is past, and from your perspective, I don't think you did anything wrong."
Yu Yingnan stared at Zhang Fan for a long time.
"What? Is there something dirty on my face?" Zhang Fan touched his face.
“You’re a good person.” Yu Yingnan suddenly laughed. “You’re quite good.”
Oh my god! Don't just hand out cards randomly.
Zhang Fan turned and walked towards the beach.
"Where are you going?" Yu Yingnan asked from behind.
"Go meet your future father-in-law," Zhang Fan joked.
He felt that he had no choice but to avoid it now. Actually, there was no need to hide. He had never been good at scheming. It was better to lay everything out in the open and use a transparent approach.
Just like in Dou Dizhu (a popular Chinese card game), you have to show your cards to completely overwhelm your opponent.
"I'll go with you."
Yu Yingnan caught up and walked with Zhang Fan.
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