Chapter 150 World 6 (Twenty-two)
Before Xie Guan's betrothal gifts were carried to the Qin Mansion, he heard that the Duke's Mansion had proposed to the Qin family, and hundreds of mahogany boxes were carried into the gate of the Qin Mansion in a mighty procession.
Xie Guan, who was considering the style of his wedding dress, wondering whether a scarlet-gold phoenix with outstretched wings or a pair of mandarin ducks and twin flowers would be better, was slightly startled when he heard the news. He quickly recovered, remembering that the Qin family had once wanted Qin Fu and Bao Shan to marry Lu Wenhe, emulating Ehuang and Nvying.
Xie Guan thought to himself that Lu Wenhe must want to marry Qin Fu. After all, their status and personalities made them a perfect match. But Lu Wenhe's desire to marry Qin Fu wasn't solely for her sake. From their previous clashes, Xie Guan knew Lu Wenhe's feelings for the treasure fan weren't entirely pure. He clenched his fists, determined not to let Lu Wenhe get his wish and enjoy the beauty of being surrounded by beautiful women.
Since he wanted to marry Baoshan, Baoshan would not follow the Qin family's original idea and accompany Qin Fu to get married.
Although Xie Guan figured all this out, his mind was in a mess, and his originally clear thoughts gradually became irritable.
Without hesitation, he lightly sketched with his brush, deciding on the design of the wedding dress. Although Xie Guan liked the auspiciousness of the mandarin ducks and twin flowers, marriage was such a significant event for a woman that it must be dazzling. A scarlet golden phoenix with outstretched wings was more appropriate.
In just a few hours, the Qin Mansion welcomed the first man who came to propose marriage within a day.
The smile on Qin's mother's face was a little stiff. Although Xie Guan felt it was strange, he still respectfully told her about his wish to marry the treasured fan.
"If I could marry Baoshan, it would be a blessing in my life."
Hearing this, the smile on Qin's mother's face could no longer be maintained. Qin's mother frowned and sighed softly, "I'm afraid it won't work."
Xie Guan's body stiffened, and he was about to continue asking questions.
Mother Qin spoke up to clear up Xie Guan's doubts: "You are late. Bao Shan's marriage has already been arranged."
Xie Guan looked surprised and asked in a lost voice, "With whom?"
"The Duke's son, Lu Wenhe."
When she learned that Lu Wenhe had come to the Qin residence to propose marriage, Qin's mother was delighted, thinking that her prayers to the gods all day were worth it, as she had finally gotten her wish and found a good marriage for Qin Fu.
The marriage proposal from the now-prosperous Duke's Mansion made her feel proud. She was also highly sought after by the noble ladies. Mother Qin looked at Lu Wenhe standing in the hall. His handsome appearance and bamboo-like figure made him a rare and promising son-in-law.
But when Lu Wenhe asked for marriage, Qin's mother hesitated for a moment, thinking she had misheard the name, and hurriedly asked, "Who do you want to marry?"
Lu Wenhe bowed slightly, making his figure appear more graceful.
"Seeking to marry the concubine of the Qin family."
Lu Wenhe looked calm and composed, as if he had no idea how big a storm these words would cause.
Mother Qin still didn't believe it and couldn't help but murmur, "The Qin family only has one legitimate daughter and one concubine's daughter. Master Lu, are you really asking to marry a concubine's daughter?"
Lu Wenhe's expression remained unchanged as he nodded gently, "It's the Qin family's treasured fan."
Mother Qin was stunned. She had never thought that the precious fan, which she had only used as a foil to please Qin Fu's future husband, would actually be proposed to by Lu Wenhe.
But no matter how surprised she was, Qin's mother would not refuse this marriage.
After all, although Baoshan is just a concubine's daughter, she is still the daughter of the Qin family.
It would only benefit the Qin family if Baoshan could marry into the Duke's Mansion, without any disadvantages.
Lu Wenhe seemed to be extremely concerned about this marriage. Even when Qin's mother asked about many details of the engagement, he could answer them.
This shows how much Lu Wenhe values this marriage.
Not long after sending Lu Wenhe away, Qin's mother learned that Xie Guan came to ask for her hand in marriage.
While Qin's mother asked the maid to welcome Xie Guan in, she secretly wondered in her heart whether Xie Guan had also come to ask for the treasured fan.
The facts were just as Qin's mother had expected, but Xie Guan's wish would certainly not come true.
Mother Qin looked at Xie Guan, whose brows and eyes were dim, completely different from his high spirits just now, and couldn't help but sigh in her heart.
It's just half a day late.
Xie Guan had been engaged before, so he naturally knew the current situation.
If Lu Wenhe is unwilling to cancel the engagement, there will be no chance of turning the situation around.
Xie Guan thought of the way Lu Wenhe looked at the treasure fan, an attitude that did not allow anyone else to see it at all, and knew that it would be impossible for Lu Wenhe to break the contract.
Qin's mother came to Baoshan's boudoir and looked her up and down.
She has a lovely appearance and a gentle posture. With a little education, she can bewitch the hearts of many men.
Baoshan is naturally a beauty, a charming and touching beauty.
If not for this, Qin's mother would not have agreed to Qin Fu's idea of letting Bao Shan be a concubine to win the heart of Qin Fu's husband.
But such beauty is too soft and fragile, and can be plundered, but often does not receive careful care.
Mother Qin was puzzled. Just by relying on such a pretty face, Baoshan could make the prince of the Duke's Mansion come to her house in person to propose marriage, and made Xie Guan, who was always good-tempered, disregard Baoshan's status as a concubine's daughter and voluntarily offer his position as his wife.
After much thought, Mother Qin said softly, "Your engagement with Prince Lu has been finalized."
Qin's mother had already informed Baoshan of the engagement through her maid.
As a concubine's daughter, Baoshan had little choice regarding her marriage and could only obey her stepmother's arrangements.
Therefore, Baoshan was not surprised to hear what Qin's mother said.
But she was still young, an unmarried woman, and her shyness was evident in her words. Baoshan's cheeks flushed red as she said softly, "I'm sorry to trouble you, mother."
The only impression Qin's mother had of this always obedient concubine who never caused any trouble was—
It was beautiful, but soft and utterly harmless. But the fan reminded Qin's mother of a bird whose silent flight is a stunning sight, attracting two simultaneous entreaties. Looking at the delicate, porcelain-white face of the fan, Qin's mother felt a pity and told Xie Guan all about his quest.
"Xie Guan also wanted to marry you, but he was half a day late."
Perhaps influenced by the rumors outside, Qin's mother wanted to see whether Baoshan and Xie Guan were secretly in love as rumored by the outside world, and whether Baoshan would give up the marriage at the Duke's Mansion for Xie Guan.
Bao Shan's beautiful eyes trembled slightly when she heard this, and she looked very surprised. But Bao Shan finally lowered her eyes and said softly, "Master Xie is a rare and good husband, but it's too late."
Mother Qin asked tentatively, "If you like Xie Guan——"
Bao Shan shook her head gently: "People value their promises, how can we break an agreement so easily?"
Bao Shan raised her face, her eyes full of water: "If mother wants me to marry Master Xie, then she can only..."
Seeing that Baoshan had no other feelings for Xie Guan, and even when it came to marriage, she acted as if she was "obeying her mother's arrangements," Qin's mother interrupted Baoshan and said, "Of course, you will marry into the Duke's Mansion."
Watching Qin's mother leave, Baoshan felt a little relieved. It wasn't that she had no feelings for Xie Guan.
After all, before Xie Guan got engaged, Baoshan spent a lot of effort on Xie Guan, which made her love for him even deeper.
However, it is probably impossible for Baoshan to give up the wealth of the Duke's Mansion and choose the so-called true love.
Bao Shan knew in her heart that even if she was willing and insisted on having Xie Guan, Qin's mother would still be unwilling.
The engagement had been hastily arranged, but the Duke's son's marriage was not a matter of perfunctory. The streets stretched ten miles, red silks billowing in the wind. Ten miles of red makeup, countless young ladies were envious.
After learning that Baoshan was a concubine's daughter, many girls had mixed feelings in their hearts. They just thought that Baoshan was very resourceful. She could marry into the prince's consort of the Duke's Mansion with the humble status of a concubine. It was really... enviable.
According to custom, a man with the Qin family's original surname should have walked into the wedding sedan carrying the precious fan.
But after hearing this, Lu Wenhe's dark eyes darkened. He thought that he was not weak and did not need to let anyone else hold the treasure fan.
Mother Qin thought that it was customary for a man with the Qin family's original surname to escort the bride, and it had nothing to do with her husband's health.
But looking at Lu Wenhe's dark and deep eyes, Mother Qin paused for a moment and ultimately said nothing.
Never mind, it was Lu Wenhe getting married anyway. Even the Duke's son didn't care, so she didn't need to make a noise and cause trouble.
The wedding dress she wore was made of gold and silver threads, and it sparkled brightly under the sunlight.
The veil covered Bao Shan's face, and the maid, holding a red silk scarf, led Bao Shan forward. Suddenly, the maid stopped and called out, "Miss."
Bao Shan, who was following behind, heard the voice and said softly, "Elder sister."
Qin Fu had not come to see Bao Shan since she and Lu Wenhe had been engaged. Bao Shan knew that the servants were discussing privately: Qin Fu had thought she was marrying into the Duke's mansion, but she had not expected that Bao Shan, who was of a lower status than her, would marry Lu Wenhe.
In today's situation, Qin Fu might be feeling depressed and angry.
But Baoshan thought otherwise. She had been following Qin Fu and trying to please him for many years, and was familiar with Qin Fu's temper.
If Qin Fu was really angry with her, she would not hide it and would rush into Bao Shan's boudoir to scold and blame her.
What's more, Qin Fu will go to find Qin's mother and destroy the engagement at all costs.
But Qin Fu didn't, which shows that she was not angry because Bao Shan married Lu Wenhe and made her lose face.
On the day of the wedding, the Qin family naturally decorated the house with lights and was very happy.
Although Qin Fu changed into a brightly colored dress, her brows were tense and she did not look happy at all.
After Qin Fu signaled, the maid leaned over gently and left, leaving only Baoshan and Qin Fu there.
Bao Shan spoke first, showing weakness: "Eldest sister, are you tired of me?"
Qin Fu said in a cold and hard tone: "Bored?"
As if she had thought of something, Qin Fu chuckled softly: "It's just like what others said, I'm tired of you stealing my marriage."
Baoshan shook her head gently: "Eldest sister won't."
Qin Fu's eyebrows relaxed, and he asked in return: "How do you know I can't? Master Lu looked at you and me, but in the end he only liked you and ignored me, which made me lose face.
Even if I resent you and dislike you, it is only natural."
The arm with the treasure fan hanging in front of her was slightly folded, her body tensed, and she said softly: "Of course it is as it should be, but elder sister, it should not be judged by ordinary principles.
Just like when I was little, I was bullied by the servants. Most people just watched with indifference. Only my eldest sister acted like a hero and scolded those servants.
When my elder sister mentioned the idea of marrying together, I couldn't describe how I felt.
But I know that as long as my elder sister is here and has her protection, others—
Even my future husband will not let me be bullied.
Therefore, although I have mixed feelings about the engagement, I always feel more at ease when I think of my elder sister by my side.
Qin Fu was silent for a moment, then sighed softly: "Yes, I don't hate you."
The bridal veil was lifted, and Baoshan looked at Qin Fu in a daze.
"The engagement is nothing more than fate and human will. I don't take it to heart. But you should know that all men in the world are unfaithful."
Qin Fu's eyes were heavy. She didn't resent Bao Shan, she just disliked him. A man's favor was fleeting. Her plan was to support each other and live a stable life.
Although the treasure fan went against her plan, Qin Fu did not feel any resentment. She just felt that things were out of control, which made her very upset.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
