Chapter 3 Beauty Trap

Mingxi took a short nap after digesting her food and regained her energy. She stood up and looked at the sun outside the window. Seeing that the sun was already setting slightly in the west, she asked the people waiting outside, "Who is outside? What time is it now?"

"My dear, I am Zhuli. It is just past the hour of Shen. Do you want to get up?"

"I want to get up and wash up. Please fetch me some water!"

"Yes, I will call someone now."

Not long after, Luluo and Yingwu came in with a handkerchief and a washbasin. The two of them carefully helped Mingxi wash up.

After washing up, Mingxi said, "You all go out and wait!" Several people left quietly.

After Mingxi waited for them to go out, she began to look for Wei Xiaoniang's dressing box. This is a vermilion lacquered dressing box with gilded lotus-shaped figures and floral patterns. The lid is carefully carved with a picture of a lady enjoying the summer. The dressing box is very delicate. The first layer is equipped with a bronze mirror and a wooden comb. The layer below is a powder box containing makeup and rouge. The bottom layer has a piece of indigo and a bottle of scented oil. It really has everything.

Mingxi used these cosmetics to put on a light makeup. Mingxi only dared to apply a light layer of powder. She was not sure whether the powder was made of any minerals and whether it would be harmful to pregnant women, so she did not dare to use it too much. Then she drew eyebrows. In fact, Wei Xiaoniang's eyebrows were very beautiful, curved willow-leaf eyebrows, very soft and beautiful. With her high nose bridge, she showed a little heroic spirit. Maybe it was because the inner core was replaced by Mingxi, and her eyes were more resolute, showing a bit of stubbornness. In order to highlight the softness of Wei Xiaoniang's face, Mingxi put on some blush, lightly applied some lip balm, and made her expression more gentle, just like a weak beauty!

After Mingxi finished dressing up, she sat in front of the bronze mirror and admired the face that now belonged to her. She also practiced various charming expressions in front of the mirror, trying to make people feel pity for her. Today, Mingxi was going to be a pitiful little white flower.

"Little girl!" Mingxi heard a soft and cute voice, and when she turned around, she saw Xiaotao poking her head out of the door, blinking her round eyes at her. Mingxi called her in. Xiaotao walked up to her and whispered to her, "My dear, the master has returned. When I came, the master had just come out of the old lady's courtyard and said he was going to the study." "My dear Xiaotao, I know. Go back and accompany your daughter."

After Xiaotao left, Mingxi called Zhuli and the parrot into the house, "I'm going to the study in the front yard. You two accompany me!" After saying that, she looked at the two people and carefully observed their expressions. Zhuli's face did not change much and she just answered yes. The parrot should be more lively. She asked worriedly, "What about Zhulou and Lulu? Should we leave someone to watch them?"

"Don't worry about them. When I get to the front yard, the news will be out. Just make sure they don't pass the news on." In order to prevent any complications, Mingxi and the other two hurried to the front yard.

In the study, Sheng Hong was handling official business, and Dong Rong was waiting outside the door.

Zhuli and Yingwu helped Mingxi approach the study when Dong Rong saw her. From a distance, he thought that Wei Xiaoniang was particularly beautiful today, but her clothes were not much different from what he had seen before. Dong Rong did not dare to look at her more closely. He was also surprised that Wei Xiaoniang would come to the study. She had never come here on her own initiative before. Thinking of this, Dong Rong moved slowly.

In the eyes of Mingxi and his companions, Brother Dongrong was obviously stunned when he saw them, but Dongrong was worthy of being an old man following Sheng Hong. He calmed down after a moment of stunnedness. He came to his senses and hurriedly walked to Mingxi and asked, "Aunt, how did you find the study? Is there something you need me to report to you, master?"

Mingxi knew how powerful Dongrong was and did not dare to show off in front of him. He nodded and said, "Brother Dongrong!" Then he stated the purpose of his visit, "I came to see the master today to tell him something important. I'd like to trouble you, Brother Dongrong, to report it." Dongrong lowered his head and raised his eyebrows when he heard what Aunt Wei said. He did not say anything and turned to the study and knocked on the door to report.

Let's talk about Sheng Hong in the study. He first heard footsteps and knew someone was coming. Then he heard Dong Rong calling "Auntie" and thought it was Lin Qinshuang who came to look for him. He wanted to call Dong Rong to let the person in, but then he heard Wei Shuyi's voice. This really surprised him. Wei Shuyi never took the initiative to look for him. Every time he went to her room, she always tried to make him leave, and acted reluctantly, which made him very bored. Did the sun rise from the west today? She actually came to look for him. Did something happen? Just as she was about to call for help, she heard Dong Rong knock on the door, "Please come in!"

As Mingxi stepped into the study, she saw Sheng Hong sitting at the desk looking at her leisurely. Mingxi looked into his eyes without dodging, staring at him, her heart blossoming with joy. Sheng Hong indeed had the genes of a third place winner in the imperial examination. He was very handsome and had a bit of bookish air. It seemed that he had been an official for many years and still had a sense of majesty. He looked handsome no matter how you looked at him. Mingxi had had many boyfriends in the modern world, but she had never had one as good as this. She immediately felt that this time travel was worthy of her. The more she thought about it, the more beautiful her heart became, and pink bubbles seemed to be popping out of her eyes.

Sheng Hong sat at the desk and wanted to wait for Wei Shuyi to come forward and explain her purpose. Unexpectedly, the young lady stared at him as soon as she entered the room. Her eyes seemed to want to eat him up. Sheng Hong felt a little scared and embarrassed. He waved his hand to let others go out. Dong Rong even closed the door after leaving.

This movement also brought Mingxi back to his senses. Mingxi retracted her gaze, lowered her head, and called out "Master~" tenderly. The voice was melodious and seemed to be able to seduce people's souls.

It was already dusk, and the room was dim. To facilitate Sheng Hong's work, the lights were turned on in the study early. The beauty looked more and more beautiful under the lights. Mingxi dressed up specially. Sheng Hong felt pity for her and wanted to hold her in his arms and love her. The more Sheng Hong looked at her, the hotter his face became, and he couldn't help but soften his voice. "Why did you come to see me?"

As soon as Sheng Hong asked, Mingxi raised her eyes with tears in her eyes and looked at him. Sheng Hong was immediately at a loss. He was a sentimental man and couldn't bear to see a woman cry, not to mention that Wei Shuyi, who used to be so rude in front of him, was now standing in front of him like a blooming white lotus.

Sheng Hong stood up and walked to Mingxi, holding her shoulders and whispering comforting words, and couldn't help but curiously asking her why she was crying. Mingxi took the opportunity to throw herself into Sheng Hong's arms, and said "Master~" more tenderly. Sheng Hong also hugged her tightly and stroked her back. Mingxi slowly raised her head in Sheng Hong's arms and looked at him affectionately with eyes full of tears.

"My Lord, I had a dream yesterday. I still feel scared when I think about it now. I am afraid that if the things in the dream come true, there will be no future. There are some things in my heart that I must tell you."

Sheng Hong thought that his daughter was so worried that she was so scared of a dream. But seeing that she was relying on him, he felt more pity in his heart and comforted her: "It's just a dream, don't panic, how can you say there is no future."

"My lord, you don't know, that dream was very real. I dreamed that I was giving birth to a boy, but I was too anxious to raise the child before the birth, so I had a difficult birth! I was in so much pain, no matter how I called out to my lord, he was not there. I also heard Minglan's crying, and I was in so much pain that I lost my strength and died. When I arrived there, I learned that my lord had gone to his wife's hometown in Runzhou to resign. I never saw my lord again until my death. I regret it so much!"

Sheng Hong's heart skipped a beat after hearing this. He was planning to go to his mother-in-law's home in Runzhou to resign after he had tidied his house in a few days! Shuyi's dream didn't seem to be a groundless fantasy. When she heard her say that this baby was a boy, Sheng Hong felt a little sympathetic when he thought of Shuyi's difficult birth, but he still comforted Mingxi, "Yier, don't scare yourself. Don't worry, I will find a midwife for you as soon as possible. I will find the best midwife in Yangzhou City, who will ensure your safe delivery."

"Master, I didn't come here today to cry a dream with you. I'm really scared. I hate myself when I think that I can't see you again before I die."

"Why do you say that, Yi'er!" Mingxi propped herself up in Sheng Hong's arms and caressed his face lovingly. Her words were so gentle that they could drip water. "Master, since I entered the mansion, I have never dared to approach you. I am so happy that you came to see me, but I can't show it. I know very well that I am just a purchased concubine. It is rare for the master to be favored for a while. I can't expect more. I restrained myself from sinking. The master is the husband of the eldest lady, and the master is Lin Xiao. My mother's childhood sweetheart, the master can't be Wei Shuyi! I've also been educated and understand some truths. I also have my own persistence in my heart. I will never allow myself to complain about everything like other consorts!"

Sheng Hong listened to Wei Shuyi's words with surging emotions. He always felt that Wei Shuyi had no self in her heart, so she always pushed him elsewhere. After listening to her words today, he realized that she was afraid that he was just impulsive about her, and she was afraid that she would become a consort who complained about everything after losing her favor.

Mingxi saw that Sheng Hong was deeply moved, and knew that he had taken her words to heart, so she continued, "I originally wanted to be with the master in this life, to give birth to children for the master, and to know that the master and I lived in the same world would be regret-free. But I never thought that I would have that dream yesterday. I was scared. My feelings have not yet been made known to the master. I must tell the master that the master is my sweetheart, and I dare not touch his heart. Master."

Sheng Hong looked at the beautiful face under the candlelight, his heart was full of emotion. He didn't know that this beauty loved him so deeply. She didn't dare to say it because she loved him deeply. In addition to Wei Shuyi, he also had a wife and a concubine. The eldest lady was also inseparable from him, but her temperament was not very gentle. After having Shuang'er, she became more alienated from him. Shuang'er was in love with him, gentle and lovely, and he always kept her in his heart. But they were different from Shuyi. When Shuyi first entered the mansion, he felt very fresh for a long time, but Shuyi never smiled at him at that time. After a long time, he felt bored and let it go. Now, after listening to Shuyi's statement, Sheng Hong seemed to have found a lost treasure, and the hand holding Wei Shuyi tightened again.

"Master, has anyone ever told you that you are good-looking?" Wei Shuyi suddenly asked.

Sheng Hong paused, "Yier, do you think I am good-looking?"

"Master is the most handsome man I have ever seen. I was deeply attracted to you the first time I saw you. I was too shy to raise my head!" Sheng Hong recalled the first time he saw Wei Shuyi. At that time, she had indeed kept her head down. It turned out that she was shy.

The two talked about their innermost feelings in the study until the evening. Dong Rong reminded them three times outside the door that it was time for dinner, but the two just stayed in the study and ignored Dong Rong. Finally, Wei Shuyi felt a little hungry. Sheng Hong ordered people to serve the meal because he was afraid that the baby in her belly would be hungry. The two of them had dinner in the study.

After the meal, Sheng Hong personally sent Wei Shuyi home, and talked with her for a long time. Seeing that she was a little tired, he went back.

By this time, the news that Wei Yi stayed in the master's study for an hour had spread throughout the mansion. When they heard that the master personally sent Wei Yi back to the courtyard, many servants who were smart and quick-witted felt the change in the wind direction in the mansion, and they were secretly alerted that they would have to serve Wei Yi carefully in the courtyard in the future.