Chapter 133 World 6 (V)
The beaten girl's face was full of humiliation, and she tried to break free from the maid's grip. But how could the maid let her do that? Seeing this, she increased the strength in her hands to prevent the girl from escaping and hurting Qin Fu in an impulsive manner.
Qin Fu lightly threw the handkerchief she had been using to wipe her palms at the girl. Her dignified features revealed arrogance and contempt. Qin Fu glanced at the precious fan behind her and said coldly, "Why don't you leave?"
Bao Shan pulled her outer robe closer to her, appearing docile as she followed Qin Fu closely. Her robe fluttered with her steps, drifting over Xie Guan. Xie Guan instinctively reached out to grasp it, but his hand was empty, nothing in sight. Bao Shan seemed to sense something, turning to look back. Her watery eyes, filled with boundless affection, vanished as she left, leaving Xie Guan in his place, feeling lost.
In front of the Qin Mansion's sedan chair, the maid hesitated. She looked at Bao Shan's dress, which was still dripping with water, and said, "Young lady likes cleanliness. I'm afraid this lake water will stain the soft carpet in the sedan chair."
Bao Shan lowered her eyebrows and said in a weak voice, "I will ride in a separate sedan chair from my elder sister, so as not to disturb her peace and quiet."
Qin Fuliu frowned, and raised her voice: "Do you want everyone outside the Duke's Mansion to know that you fell into the water and something happened?"
Qin Fu looked at the huddled maid, her voice even colder: "Since you know I like cleanliness, you should have thought of a way in advance.
Only now did I remember, maybe you wanted me to give you some advice."
The maid hurriedly said, "I dare not."
Baoshan still got on the sedan chair. The maids and servants accompanying the Qin Mansion were smart and quick-witted. They quickly borrowed a heater and hot soup from the Duke's Mansion to help Baoshan drive away the cold.
At the Qin Mansion, Bao Shan, surrounded by servants, hurried back to her room to bathe and change clothes. Meanwhile, Qin Fu went to the main courtyard to meet Qin's father and mother. After hearing about what had happened at the Duke's Mansion, Qin's father looked thoughtful, while Qin's mother looked hesitant. She asked softly, "Does Prince Lu have any contact with Bao Shan?"
Qin Fu frowned: "How could it be."
The suspicion in Qin's mother's eyes did not dissipate. She muttered to herself, "We don't have much contact, but Master Lu is willing to jump into the water to save someone for a concubine's daughter. It's really strange."
Father Qin waved his hand, stopping Mother Qin's speculation. He stroked his long beard gently and said leisurely, "Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Prince Lu saved the treasured fan and also touched it. Did he say anything else?"
For example, in the future, the precious fan will be brought into the Duke's Mansion.
Qin Fu's eyebrows were full of irritation, and his tone was impatient: "No, Master Lu didn't say anything."
As Qin Fu's biological daughter, she naturally understood what he was planning. She ruthlessly shattered his fantasy, saying in a contemptuous tone, "She's just a concubine's daughter. Father, do you think you can use the name of innocence to let Prince Lu marry Baoshan?"
Father Qin said calmly, "You can be my concubine."
Qin Fu stood up suddenly, her brows furrowed, "Father, you are really worrying too much. Marry a virtuous wife and a beautiful concubine.
Bao Shan looks dull and has a cowardly personality, how could Prince Lu be willing to do that?"
Mother Qin shook her head slightly. Although she did not openly deny Qin Fu's words, her heart was full of disapproval.
Although the precious fan was not born with the charm and beauty it deserved, it was definitely not what Qin Fu described as "bland." Like a lotus emerging from clear water, naturally free of embellishment, it was nothing more than this.
As for her cowardly nature, she didn't know that Baoshan's soft nature could arouse men's desire to manipulate her at will.
Although Lu Wenhe has a high status, he is a man after all, so he will definitely be uneasy.
Mentioning the girl who pushed the treasured fan in the Duke's Mansion, Qin Fu's tone turned cold. "We only hit her twice, which was too easy for her. Father and mother, this person had evil intentions and almost brought disgrace to our family."
Although Qin's father felt that Qin Fu was too impulsive and it was inappropriate to punish him in public, what Qin Fu said made some sense.
The girl who pushed the precious fan, no matter what her purpose was, whether it was intentional to harm others or she acted on impulse, must pay the price for her actions. Being humiliated in public is only a small punishment.
Father Qin said loudly: "You don't need to worry about this matter. I will make the decision myself."
The bathtub was filled with hot water, and the steaming mist drifted around, soon turning the room into a sea of white.
Baoshan unbuttoned her dress, letting the wet fabric drape down beside her legs. Her long, straight legs were drenched in glistening water droplets, which slowly fell down, following the rise of Baoshan's calves.
Two white legs were gently raised and then slowly dropped.
Baoshan's entire body was soaked in the warm water, leaving only her round, white shoulders exposed.
The black hair fell like a waterfall and spread out in the narrow bathtub.
The heat dyed Baoshan's cheeks rosy, and her eyes sparkled with ripples, which was particularly alluring.
The clear water made a gurgling sound. Baoshan turned around and placed her arms on the edge of the bathtub. She rested her chin on her soft arms, closed her eyelids, and fell into a deep sleep.
The warm water flows to the waist of the treasure fan, soft and gentle, with a hint of temptation.
Baoshan opened her lips slightly and called out Lu Wenhe's name: "...It's yours."
Baoshan didn't know what these words meant. Was Lu Wenhe just teasing her on purpose on a whim, or was he being sincere?
Baoshan chuckled softly, believing the former more. After all, if Lu Wenhe really had such a romantic heart, he would have made a promise in public today instead of leaving.
But Baoshan did not focus all her thoughts on Lu Wenhe, but was still involved with Xie Guan.
She knew clearly that Xie Guan had some affection for Bao Shan, and she did not feel guilty about her calculations.
Since Xie Guanneng was willing to take her as his concubine, why couldn't she consider Xie Guan as a second choice?
The hazy mist gradually covered Baoshan's cheeks, which were as white as jade.
After waiting for a few more days, the Qin residence still received no arrival from the Duke's residence. It seemed as if Lu Wenhe had only been moved by the moment, but he was unwilling to take the next step and take the weak woman who had lost her virginity into his room.
Baoshan was calm, but his face showed a gloomy and depressed look.
Although Baoshan was not favored in the Qin Mansion, the maids and servants did not dare to neglect her because she often tried to please Qin Fu.
Even if they wanted to talk, they would not do it in front of Baoshan, but would whisper in the corner.
As soon as Qin Fu appeared, all the servants fell silent, fearing that the little words they had just said would be heard by Qin Fu and make her angry.
But Qin Fu walked in a hurry and didn't even glance at them.
The slaves secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but the old nanny in the mansion walked up to them and, with a tense face, sold out the slaves who had just spoken ill of their master.
The slaves were dragged out before they had time to beg for mercy or apologize.
The old lady spat softly and cursed, "You can't see the situation clearly. It's really unfair."
Qin Fu stepped into the house. When the maid beside her reminded her, Bao Shan stood up softly and called out timidly, "Eldest Sister."
Qin Fu lifted Bao Shan's chin, and the cool nail polish slid across Bao Shan's cheek.
Upon seeing this, the maidservants in the room immediately and quietly left, leaving only the two of them.
Qin Fu was tall, and Bao Shan had to raise his head to see her eyes - cold but filled with anger.
Unable to bear the sight of Bao Shan's weakness and helplessness, Qin Fu let go of Bao Shan in disdain, his voice filled with the prospect of a storm.
"Why are you so sad? Do you think that with your delicate appearance, you can distract Lu Wenhe?"
Bao Shan's face turned pale and he shook his head gently: "I dare not."
Qin Fu didn't even raise her eyes, as if to warn Bao Shan: "It's okay if you don't dare. You must remember your identity. You are worlds apart from Lu Wenhe, and you are ordinary in appearance.
Even if you are the concubine of the Duke and the Crown Prince, you don't have a place.
If someone like you wants to get married, you can only wait until I get married and be welcomed into the palace as a concubine."
Qin Fu did not hide her intentions at all. In her mind, it was normal for a man to have three wives and four concubines.
Instead of giving the maidservant to her husband or looking for a pretty girl from outside, it would be better to marry the precious fan to him directly.
Qin Fu belittled Bao Shan in every possible way, but she knew in her heart that a man would love his concubine's pitiful appearance the most.
With the treasured fan to help her win over her husband, Qin Fu no longer had to worry about her position as mistress and could do whatever she wanted.
These merciless words had already made Baoshan's nose slightly red, and she sobbed softly like a pitiful little animal.
"Eldest sister treats me very well, I feel relieved..."
The air was filled with a sweet fragrance. Such a light and elegant breath gradually calmed Qin Fu's irritable mood. She took out a box decorated with gems and pushed it in front of the treasure fan.
Inside the box, besides the gold, jade, and gemstone butterfly hairpin she had promised, there were also several other pieces of jewelry.
Baoshan's two soft hands could hardly hold the box in their hands.
Qin Fu lowered her head and looked at the empty hair on Bao Shan's temples, her eyebrows slightly knitted. "Wear more jewelry in the future, don't lose face for the Qin family."
Baoshan nodded in agreement.
Lu Wenhe heard that the girl at the Spring Outing Banquet, who was said to be the one who pushed the precious fan into the water, suddenly fell seriously ill.
For the sake of her health, the girl had no choice but to cut her hair and go to the nunnery to pray for blessings and seek refuge.
Lu Wenhe's dark eyes darkened as he carefully stroked the shimmering gemstone in his hand. He asked leisurely, "Whose handwriting is this?"
Without waiting for the secret guard to reply, Lu Wenhe said in a deep voice, "It doesn't seem like hers. A woman who was killed with just a little effort wouldn't have such cruel methods."
The secret guard said: "It was done by the Qin Mansion, but Lord Qin only said that he would punish them. Miss Qin was involved behind the scenes."
Lu Wenhe frowned slightly, as if he couldn't remember who was Miss Qin.
"She is the daughter of the Qin family, Qin Fu. She is well-known in the capital for her dignity and decency, and is quite popular with the elders."
Just by looking at Qin Fu's performance at the Spring Outing Banquet, you will understand why the elders chose Qin Fu as the most suitable candidate for the mistress.
Dignified yet resourceful, acting prudently yet decisively.
Lu Wenhe said nothing.
When he saw the treasured fan again, Lu Wenhe vaguely remembered that more than ten days had passed, and he had not gone to the Qin residence to pick up the treasured fan. And the treasured fan, who should have been anxiously waiting to be married, had also gone silent.
Lu Wenhe watched coldly as Bao Shan took out a box, pawned the jewelry inside, and exchanged them for usable silver bills. Bao Shan then carefully put the silver bills into his sleeve.
Bao Shan did not return to Qin's house immediately, but went to the jewelry store and got the same jewelry from the store owner.
The gold, silver and jewelry, which were merely imitations and not real ones, were put back into the box.
Bao Shan was about to leave when he met the handsome Lu Wenhe.
He seemed to have no idea about the strict rules between men and women. He leaned over and whispered, his thin lips even touching Baoshan's earlobe.
"Why don't you come find me?"
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