Chapter 389 What kind of look is that? [21]
“I said, I will not go to Yetu Kingdom with you, much less become your concubine.”
"Qing... no, Third Prince Lan, I admit I have a little crush on you."
"So when you confessed your feelings to me that day, I was happy."
"I also struggled with whether or not to accept and be with you."
"But I've thought it through now."
"I come from a humble background and have no great ambitions. I just want to wait until I'm twenty and regain my freedom, then use the money I've saved to start a small business."
"I don't want to share my husband with other women. If I can meet someone who is devoted to me, I will get married."
"If I don't meet anyone, I'll just stay alone and enjoy my peace and quiet."
"From now on, if you'd like, we can still be friends."
"If you don't want to, that's fine too."
Lan Qingchen understood Fang Lu's words.
But he still couldn't believe it.
He actually... got rejected?!
In fact, Lan Qingchen's deep-rooted beliefs made him look down on Fang Lu.
He liked her cheerfulness and uniqueness, but disliked her background.
He felt that his willingness to become friends with Fang Lu, and even to take her as a concubine, was already an act of charity.
As a result, Fang Lu actually rejected him!
Lan Qingchen skipped over Fang Lu's next words and only heard the refusal.
The smile on his face faded, and for a moment he forgot to pretend.
Lan Qingchen, in this state, appeared somewhat gloomy.
Fang Lu was startled by Lan Qingchen's demeanor and realized that she might not really know the true nature of the man opposite her.
She took a step back and quickly said, "Now that things are clear, I'll be going."
After saying that, Fang Lu turned around and wanted to leave.
But Lan Qingchen suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.
Fang Lu was pulled over, and the basket in her other hand fell to the ground.
She gasped in surprise, and when she came to her senses, she was completely trapped in Lan Qingchen's arms.
"Lan Qingchen, what are you doing! Let me go!"
Fang Lu struggled desperately, but how could her strength possibly match Lan Qingchen's?
"I won't let go! Xiao Lu, I don't believe you would reject me. You like me, don't you?"
"Why did you refuse me? Is it because of Princess Shenghua? She knows about our relationship and threatened you not to agree to my request, right?"
Fang Lu shook her head: "It has nothing to do with her! I was the one who refused you, let go of me! I'm going to call for help! Help—"
When Lan Qingchen saw Fang Lu cry for help, he tried to forcefully kiss her to shut her up.
Fang Lu looked at his face as he approached and found him utterly repulsive.
She struggled even more fiercely.
A forced kiss to shut someone up usually only works if the person is somewhat reluctant.
Lan Qingchen won't succeed so easily against someone as resistant as Fang Lu.
However, the two were far apart in strength. Lan Qingchen had one hand around Fang Lu's waist and the other hand around the back of her head.
Just as Lan Qingchen was about to succeed, Fang Lu prepared to spit on him to disgust him as he was about to kiss her.
Just then, the door to the bamboo house was kicked open from the outside.
A nonchalant voice rang out: "Oh~ I thought it was some lecherous scoundrel harassing a respectable woman, but it turns out to be the Third Prince Ye Tu!"
"What, does the Third Prince Ye Tu have a taste for this?"
Lan Qingchen froze when the door was kicked open.
While the people outside were talking, Fang Lu took the opportunity to break free.
She immediately ran towards the door, not forgetting to pick up the basket on the ground.
She looked up and met the eyes of the man at the door.
The seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy, dressed in a flamboyant red outfit, had a handsome face and a roguish air about him.
Fang Lu recognized him; he was Shangguan Linlang, the current empress's nephew and the heir of the Marquis of Wuyang.
Shangguan Linlang was notorious for being uneducated and idle, spending her days fooling around and playing with cats and dogs.
Unfortunately, the Marquis of Wuyang only had one son, and the old lady of the Marquis of Wuyang doted on him terribly.
Shangguan Linlang clearly recognized Fang Lu as well, and exclaimed, "Aren't you the head palace maid by the Crown Prince's cousin's side? So... you eloped with the Third Prince Ye Tu?"
Fang Lu gave Shangguan Linlang a hasty bow: "Greetings, Young Master Shangguan. I did not elope. I am now a palace maid serving Princess Shenghua. Today I am here on orders to make purchases..."
Shangguan Linlang gave an "oh," then looked at Fang Lu with interest, and then at Lan Qingchen.
Lan Qingchen's expression was very unpleasant at this moment. First, he was rejected by Fang Lu, and then he was caught by Shangguan Linlang.
But he still straightened his clothes and cupped his hands to Shangguan Linlang: "Young Master Shangguan misunderstands. Miss Chenlu almost fell just now, and I helped her up."
Shangguan Linlang raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Is that so?"
Fang Lu didn't want to dwell on it any longer, so she simply nodded and said, "That's how it is."
"This servant still needs to go back to make desserts for Her Highness the Princess, so I'll take my leave now!"
After saying that, Fang Lu picked up the basket and left.
Shangguan Linlang replied, "I'm going to visit my cousin anyway, so I'll come with you to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion!"
Fang Lu was unwilling, but Shangguan Linlang was shameless and dragged her into his fancy carriage.
Inside the bamboo room, Lan Qingchen's expression remained grim.
He didn't linger and left quickly.
Achu was somewhat surprised when she heard that her cousin Shangguan Linlang had come to see her.
Although Shangguan Linlang and the original owner were cousins, their relationship wasn't particularly good.
The main problem was that Shangguan Linlang had a sharp tongue and always made the original owner angry.
But precisely because he was her cousin, she couldn't do anything to him.
With Shangguan Linlang arriving, Achu naturally wouldn't be absent.
Soon, she saw the red-clad boy striding into Fanghua Garden.
And behind him, Fang Lu.
"Cousin, I heard you're pregnant! Congratulations!"
Shangguan Linlang walked into the waterside pavilion and sat down directly on a chair next to it, starting to eat the fruit on the table as if she were no stranger to the place.
Achu didn't mind and looked at Fang Lu: "Did you come back together, or did you just happen to run into each other?"
Before Fang Lu could answer, Shangguan Linlang popped a grape into her mouth and spoke first: "Cousin, you have no idea, you little palace maid have met a lecherous man!"
"It is thanks to my courageous act that her innocence was preserved!"
Achu asked in surprise, "What?"
If it weren't for the difference in their class status, Fang Lu would have loved to roll her eyes at Shangguan Linlang.
You think you're all talk?
Fang Lu lowered her head and replied, "Yes, it's all thanks to Prince Shangguan for saving us."
Seeing that she didn't intend to say more, Achu didn't press the matter.
"Alright, go and wash up first."
Fang Lu bowed and replied, "Yes."
After Fang Lu left, A Chu turned to look at Shangguan Linlang.
He happened to be looking at her too, and their eyes met.
Achu frowned: "What kind of look is that?"
Shangguan Linlang moved closer to Achu: "Cousin, why do you seem like a different person to me? Are you perhaps possessed?"
Achu grabbed a longan from the side and threw it at his head: "You're the one who's possessed! What nonsense are you spouting in broad daylight?"
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