Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Straight ball!
Qin Jueping looked at Zhang Junyi in astonishment.
The Marquis of Pingyang’s Mansion is a place where “brothers fight tigers together, and fathers and sons fight together in battle.” The relationship between family members is quite harmonious, and it is rare to see them getting angry, let alone such vicious insults!
Zhang Junyi's face gradually turned pale.
In fact, she regretted it as soon as she said it.
Not to mention that she really couldn't say bad words in an occasion like today, even on normal days, she would never say such indecent words.
But for some reason, when she saw everyone talking and laughing to Zhang Xiaoman, she felt a pain in her heart and uncontrollably vented all the emotions that had accumulated for many days.
Reason told her that she should apologize to Zhang Xiaoman now, not for her forgiveness, but just to save some face in front of Qin Jue.
However, my mouth seemed to be stuck with glue and I couldn’t open it!
Unable to save face, Zhang Junyi snorted coldly and turned away, as if saying, "I won't bother with you, you think about it carefully."
However, Zhang Xiaoman refused to be scolded for nothing. Her previous sisterly love for Zhang Junyi had completely disappeared due to a series of actions by the mother and daughter.
Since Zhang Junyi has broken up with her in public, there's no need to save her face anymore!
He immediately blocked Zhang Junyi's way with a smile, "I don't know what the 'Yan' in Deyan Ronggong means. Since you know it, why don't you explain it to me?"
Of course Zhang Junyi couldn't say anything, so he evaded the main point and said, "If you don't understand, go ask the wife. It's not my responsibility to teach you. Get out of the way!"
Her words also touched upon Madam Jiang. Zhang Xiaoman's anger, which had originally risen to ten points, sneered, "I just don't have a good concubine. She taught me to act like a little actor, whining and acting coyly to stop men halfway. What's even more regrettable is that she doesn't even look down on you. All your efforts have been in vain!"
"You are slandering me! I didn't do it!" Zhang Junyi was embarrassed and annoyed, her face flushed red and tears were about to fall.
However, Zhang Xiaoman didn't give her a chance to breathe, and kept slapping her with his little mouth.
"See? Liu Jinshu is coming this way. Why don't you ask him if it's true? Otherwise, you can pretend to fall into the water, and even better, pull his sleeve and fall into the water together. In front of everyone, to save the reputation of both families, he might really marry you."
At this time, Qin Jueping interrupted, "That's not necessarily true. Cousin is so smart, how could he not see that someone was setting him up? He must have avoided it. Speaking of which, all the dandies in the city are here today, and there must be many who are willing to be a hero and save the damsel in distress."
Zhang Xiaoman added bluntly, "You dandy fellow, I just don't know whether Fourth Sister entered the main gate in a grand sedan chair carried by eight people, or quietly entered through the back door in a smaller sedan."
"You, you guys... teamed up to bully me." Because Qin Jueping intervened, Zhang Junyi didn't dare to confront him head-on, and couldn't help but burst into tears.
Zhang Xiaoman said coldly, "I'm the one bullying you. There's nothing wrong with sisters bickering, but you shouldn't drag mother into this!"
"I think you've been led astray by your aunt and spoiled by the master. You can't tell the difference between occasions and positions. Do you really think the Marquis' Mansion treats you so well because of the Zhang family's reputation?"
"Without a mother, who in Jinling City would take the Zhang family girl seriously?"
The words were like knives, piercing Zhang Junyi's face, making it pale. It seemed that something she had been proud of for a long time had been shattered and disappeared in an instant.
She was stunned for a moment, then suddenly stomped her feet, covered her face and ran away.
Qin Jueping smacked his lips, and because of his "duty", he reluctantly raised his foot and followed.
Zhang Anyi was dumbfounded. After a while, she timidly said, "Third sister, is it okay for Fourth sister to leave like this?"
"No, she values her life very much! Besides, there are guards everywhere today, who would dare to cause trouble under the emperor's nose?" Zhang Xiaoman let out a long breath and felt much better.
"But," Zhang Anyi whispered as she watched Liu Jinshu approaching, "if word of this gets to Young Master Liu, will he think you're too sarcastic and cold-hearted, disregarding sisterly love?"
Zhang Xiaoman glanced at Zhang Anyi and said, "Just because it might leave a bad impression on others, should we ignore Fourth Sister's disrespect towards Mother?"
Zhang Anyi lowered his head, "But this concerns a matter of a lifetime..."
Zhang Xiaoman's mood became bad again.
At this time, Liu Jinshu also walked up to the two sisters. He was a very smart man and immediately noticed the strange atmosphere. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "My two sisters must be tired from walking. There is a water-pressing pavilion in front. You can rest for a while."
After turning around a flower wall, you will see a section of white causeway protruding from the shore into the lake. At the end is a pavilion with a hip roof pressing on the water surface. Willow branches are like smoke and the blue waves are rippling. The scenery is even more magnificent than the colorful tent where the women rest.
"The shimmering water is beautiful only on a sunny day; the misty mountains are even more wondrous when it rains." Liu Jinshu smiled and said, "These two lines by Su Dongpo are quite apt to describe Houhu Lake. One day when it rains drizzly, we can come here again to appreciate the beauty of the latter line."
Zhang Xiaoman laughed, "If you're going to drag me down with your literary skills, then I won't come."
"As long as you come, everything is up to you." Liu Jinshu said with a smile and glanced at Zhang Anyi lightly.
Zhang Anyi stood there in a daze, looking a little at a loss, until Liu Jinshu clearly said that he had something to say to Zhang Xiaoman alone, and then he realized what was going on and walked away.
Zhang Xiaoman looked at Liu Jinshu quietly, waiting for his next words.
Being stared at by her like this, Liu Jinshu's face felt slightly hot and his heart beat faster for some reason.
He was actually a little nervous.
Liu Jinshu was slightly surprised, and after a few pauses, he slowly said, "I don't want to give up yet."
Zhang Xiaoman was stunned and vaguely guessed what he meant.
"After you left that day, I thought seriously for a whole day and night about what went wrong. I was too confident, no, I should say too arrogant. I thought that with my conditions, there was no reason for you to refuse."
"Even if you refused, it was probably out of shyness, or perhaps a desire to elevate your own profile and make up for your less-than-stellar family background. Although I was disappointed, sad, and a little angry at the time, I didn't lose heart."
"But later..." Liu Jinshu sighed and couldn't continue.
Zhang Xiaoman understood his long sigh: Later, she ate as she should and slept as she should, and even though her family was in an uproar because of this matter, she was not affected at all.
Liu Jinshu must have understood that she really didn't care about this marriage.
But she didn't understand even more. Since he knew everything, why was he still unwilling to give up?
Not really...
"I like you!" Liu Jinshu suddenly said loudly, "Don't ask me why. I don't know why either. I just think you're different from others, and I just want to be with you!"
A gentle breeze blew, ripples appeared on the surface of the lake, and countless fragments of light swayed, shining brightly on Xiaoman's face.
Xiaoman touched her hot cheeks. Besides being surprised, she was a little excited and couldn't help feeling a little proud.
For the first time in her life, she received a bold and passionate confession, and was admired by such an outstanding man. No one could remain indifferent.
"I'm still vain after all." Xiaoman's smile was playful. "For a moment, I felt like I had missed the chance to become incredibly rich!"
Liu Jinshu smiled briefly, then his eyes dimmed and he tried hard to keep the smile on his face.
Xiaoman began to feel guilty, as if he had done something extremely evil.
"I thought you'd probably refuse again." Liu Jinshu coughed twice unnaturally and said with a forced smile, "But I don't want to leave any regrets, so I won't give up until the very end."
Xiaoman didn't know what to say, so she just smiled and remained silent.
Three cannon shots were heard from the distant platform. Liu Jinshu looked back and said, "The emperor is about to arrive. I must go to greet him."
Xiaoman couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief and urged him to go quickly and not miss the mission.
Liu Jinshu looked at her deeply again before moving away.
Zhang Anyi, who had been eavesdropping, could no longer hold back. "Third sister, why don't you agree? Putting aside the Liu family's impressive background, just look at Young Master Liu, a rare figure in the world. He likes you, and if you miss out, you'll never have the chance again."
Xiaoman smiled and said, "Just because he likes me, I must marry him?"
Zhang Anyi was stunned for a long while before muttering, "If someone is willing to like me, then that would be perfect. How can I be picky?"
"A woman who can be loved by her husband is luckier than most women in the world. It's better than... it's much better than you liking him but he doesn't like you."
Xiaoman thought about it carefully for a moment, "This statement seems to be correct, but why not marry someone you like?"
Zhang Anyi whispered, "How could it be so good that I would meet someone I like when I'm about to get married?"
This time Xiaoman was silent for a longer time. "Then I would rather not marry for the rest of my life."
Zhang Anyi was so shocked that her jaw dropped. "How can you not get married?"
"Why not? The grandma who raised me never married and lived a pretty good life. If I'm going to get married anyway, I'd rather marry a man who thinks I'm good and you think I'm better."
Xiaoman took her sister's hand and said, "It's good to have someone like you, but don't lose sight of your own feelings just because you're happy about his liking."
Zhang Anyi nodded, not quite understanding.
Suddenly, she heard someone calling "Third Miss". Xiaoman looked in the direction of the voice and saw a group of noble men in red clothes coming together. The one waving and laughing at her was Zhou Yongchang.
Xiaoman immediately became alert due to the abnormally friendly attitude.
But then he saw a person walking out slowly from behind, it was Chen Ling'an!
These two people actually walked together? Xiaoman was stunned.
Zhou Yongchang seemed quite pleased with the surprised looks from the others. He raised the drumstick in his hand to his shoulder and said smugly, "We are all here to cheer for Mr. Chen's dragon boat team. You never expected that, did you?"
Xiaoman looked at Chen Lingan in disbelief, "You..."
Chen Ling'an pushed away the noisy Zhou Yongchang and motioned Xiaoman to follow him a few steps away.
Xiaoman was startled for a moment, and compared with her hands, wondering, "Why do I feel like you're taller? At least an inch."
Chen Ling'an blushed slightly, but asked her, "What did Liu Jinshu say to you just now?"
There was no emotion in his voice.
The bright sunlight shone from behind him, making Xiaoman squint his eyes.
I couldn't see the expression on his face.
Her head was dizzy. She must have had heatstroke and was unconscious. Otherwise, why would she say -
"He said he liked me."
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