Chapter 7 World One
Lord Zhang became suspicious and sent his servants to inquire about Mu Nanxing's whereabouts in recent days.
Upon learning that a new woman had appeared in the post station a few days ago and that it was Mu Nanxing who rescued her personally, Lord Zhang became even more uneasy.
"What does the woman look like and how is she dressed?"
The servants answered one by one, and they all had the same characteristics as the woman on the day Zhang Shang was injured. They must be the same person.
He had always doubted whether anyone in the city would dare to harm his son Zhang Shang.
Fuling City was thousands of miles away from the capital, making it difficult for the common people to see the emperor. Therefore, within the city, Lord Zhang was the leader. And Zhang Shang, as his son, was well-known throughout the city, so no one dared to harm him.
Unless this person is an outsider and doesn't know the inside story of the city.
Although the city was filled with numerous new refugees, their courage had long been shattered by the journey, and their only thought was how to fill their stomachs and avoid harming their son. The only remaining refugee was the relief envoy from the capital. According to the servants, this person was swift and decisive, and had guards with him. Aside from the young Marquis Mu, he had no other plans.
Mr. Zhang's legs were almost powerless, and he sat down on the chair with one hand.
He waved his hand to send the servant away, his whole face tense. After a while, his furrowed brows relaxed slightly.
"Someone come."
Mr. Zhang walked in a hurry and almost fell when he crossed the threshold of the post station because of his anxiety.
When Feng Hui learned that he was coming, he came downstairs with a gloomy face.
He clenched his fists and spoke in a hard tone.
"What can I do for you?"
"I heard that my friend's daughter fled here because of the flood. Now she is staying in the post station, so I came to take her back."
"Your best friend's daughter? Which one?"
"The girl's name is Baoshan."
Feng Hui's eyes, like copper bells, looked at Lord Zhang with a calm expression as if examining him, and he spoke slowly.
He turned around and told the waiter to ask Baoshan to come down. He then pulled out a wooden stool and sat down without asking Lord Zhang to sit down with him.
Baoshan changed into women's clothing, a simple lotus pink skirt, which highlighted her soft waist. Her hair was all hung down, without any decoration, except for a pair of exquisite white jade drop earrings hanging above her ears.
She lifted the hem of her skirt with one hand, and it swept over the steps in a smooth and graceful arc.
"Brother Feng Hui."
As soon as she came down, she stood beside Feng Hui. Bao Shan looked at the people standing around and asked in a low voice, "Who are these people?"
Mr. Zhang immediately stepped forward, tears in his eyes and his tone was earnest.
"Are you the treasure fan?"
Baoshan nodded.
"I am your father's good friend. When you were little, I held you in my arms."
Hearing this, Baoshan was not as surprised and happy as he had expected.
Instead, his face turned a little paler, as if he had remembered something bad.
Lord Zhang took a step forward.
"It's a pity that this damn flood killed your father and mother. But thankfully, you made it here safely. I will definitely protect you in the future."
Seeing Bao Shan's pitiful appearance, Feng Hui stood up to block Lord Zhang's steps, like a stone wall, blocking Lord Zhang's sincere friendship.
"It's been several days since the disaster relief efforts began. If you were really worried about the treasured fan, why did you come looking for it only now?
Should I stay in the mansion and take care of your disappointing son?"
Feng Hui has always been careless and doesn't know how to be roundabout in his speech. Every word he says hits the nail on the head for Master Zhang.
Mr. Zhang raised his sleeves and wiped the tears from his face, his voice full of regret.
"Shang'er was spoiled to a great extent, and with maids and servants around her, she didn't know much about the differences between men and women.
He's already told me about you. When he saw you, he was just delighted and wanted to be close to you. He never imagined...
Alas, the child was filled with remorse after returning home. He was afraid that you would resent him because of this, so he even refused to eat. In just a few days, he became extremely thin.
But he deserves all this. How could he let you be frightened like this?
When I learned about this, I wanted to break his legs and make him apologize to you.
Baoshan, I know you must be a good girl. You have suffered a lot on the road. Come back with me. Your aunt has prepared a soft couch, fragrant pillows, and a table of food for you to enjoy.
In just a few words, he blamed Zhang Shang's behavior as a lack of understanding of human nature. He just wanted to get close to Baoshan, but he didn't know how to handle it.
Moreover, when he came today, he did not mention Zhang Shang's injury at all, and spoke sincerely. If she were a soft-hearted woman, seeing him like this, and seeing that he was so considerate of a good friend's daughter despite his high position, and even disregarded his status and shed tears in public, she would inevitably be deeply moved and followed him back.
But Baoshan didn't have it. She looked hesitant, with her brows furrowed like distant mountains, hinting at confusion, but her heart was extremely cold and hard.
Lord Zhang had some friendship with Baoshan's parents, and Lord Zhang has not yet retired.
Because his family was poor, he was unable to afford the expenses of the imperial examination.
Baoshan's father had saved some money through business at that time, so he generously sponsored Mr. Zhang, who was still a poor student. From the clothes and winter coat he wore to a Duan inkstone and a pen, all the money was spent by Baoshan's father.
Baoshan's mother also took good care of her good friend and cooked soups and dishes in various ways.
They regarded Lord Zhang as a close friend, so they dared to let their daughter go to him.
But what did they get in return? Their only daughter was raped and died miserably, and the culprit turned out to be the son of their best friend.
Baoshan didn't know whether her parents would regret it, but she was grateful to Zhang Shang and the entire family.
Even a stone in the mansion was not spared.
"uncle……"
Seeing Baoshan's attitude soften, Lord Zhang was overjoyed, but he still looked like a kind father.
Bao Shan looked at Feng Hui, then turned and looked at the residence upstairs, his voice low.
"I am already Young Marquis Mu's wife, so forget about returning to the Zhang Mansion."
How could Lord Zhang let her get away like that? As soon as Bao Shan gave in, he would immediately take her back to the Zhang Mansion.
At that time, you can turn big things into small things, and small things into nothing.
As for Zhang Shang's actions at the time, they were merely childish mischief. And Mu Nanxing's assault on his son was completely unreasonable. He could then maneuver a bit more, gain some benefits, and ideally, he could heal Zhang Shang's hand, and this matter would be over.
"Young Marquis Mu is busy all day, so it's not a big deal if someone is missing from his side."
Mr. Zhang made a prompt decision: "I'll pick you up later, pack your things first."
In reality, Lord Zhang wanted to take the treasured fan immediately and return to the palace. That would be his world, and everything would be easy for him. However, doing so would inevitably appear overly eager. If his overeagerness caused others to notice something unusual, his efforts would fail.
Well, just give it a few quarters of an hour. I don't think anything will happen.
After everyone left, Feng Hui still had a cold face. He was waiting for Bao Shan to speak.
Unexpectedly, after waiting for a long time, there was no sound of the treasure fan.
Feng Hui turned around and saw Bao Shan looking at the closed door with a worried look on his face.
Feng Hui asked in a gruff voice, "Do you really want to go back with that guy?"
Bao Shan didn't look at him. She lowered her head and stared at her toes. "I don't know either... My parents told me to look for my uncle when I came to Fuling City. Now my uncle has come looking for me..."
"Forget it, if you want to leave, just leave!"
Today's robes have many ties, including one that needs to be passed around the waist, drawn out from the back and then tied at the waist.
Bao Shan passed her hands through Mu Nanxing's waist, and her head seemed to be resting on Mu Nanxing's chest.
But Bao Shan knew that the two of them were not touching because of their clothes. They were so close that Bao Shan could hear the "thump, thump" sound, which might be her own heartbeat.
White jade earrings with drop beads hung on Baoshan's ears, swaying with her movements.
The cold jade brushed past the tip of the ear, passed over the neck, and hit the cheek several times.
Jade does not make a crisp sound when it touches the skin.
Even if there is no sound at all, if you listen patiently, there will be a "dong" sound that falls into your heart. Those with beautiful ears are especially suitable for earrings, which is true.
When Mu Nanxing saw the white jade beads, a flash of joy flashed through his heart. Few people would be unhappy if someone took what they said to heart.
The material of this jade is not very good. The noble ladies in the capital would not even choose this kind of material, let alone wear it.
But Mu Nanxing feels that it is not people who choose earrings, but earrings that choose people.
The ears are beautiful enough to match the best materials, and those materials become the foil, like the white and tender green leaves that can be held in one hand.
"Young Marquis, Uncle Zhang is here to pick me up today."
Mu Nanxing already knew about this. In his opinion, Lord Zhang was a man who was very busy in the officialdom. Nine out of ten of his thoughts were spent on understanding human nature and learning knowledge.
Today, he even put all his thoughts into scheming against a woman, which is really unbearable.
He must have experienced this kind of situation before when he saved someone. One moment, he was kneeling on the ground, his soul in tatters, and the next moment, he was coaxed to stand up by those gentle words and sweet talk. The two people who had just been like enemies were now supporting each other and living their lives together.
Having seen so many things, Mu Nanxing has no reaction to anything.
"My parents originally wanted me to go, and Uncle Zhang spoke so earnestly today that I think he really meant it.
My parents also said that Uncle Zhang is kind and sincere, and he will definitely treat me well..."
"In that case, you should leave quickly."
Mu Nanxing interrupted Bao Shan.
Bao Shan looked at him coldly, as if he was looking at a stranger. His whole body looked as if he had been hit by rain, snow, wind and frost. His legs trembled and he lowered his head timidly.
"Since I am the young marquis's person, it should be up to him to decide whether to leave or not."
Mu Nanxing's words were as cold as ice, merciless.
"It's up to you to go or stay."
Seeing Bao Shan turning around and leaving, Mu Nanxing felt restless. For the first time, he felt a sense of disappointment in Bao Shan. It was the same again, and he could always forgive her so easily.
Had she forgotten the fear she'd felt back then, the fear that had made her bite him, afraid he'd abandon her? Where had that decisiveness gone now? An elder, with just a few tears and words of persuasion, had made her forget all the embarrassment she'd experienced, trusting in a promise that would secure her safety for the rest of her life.
"come over."
Bao Shan paused slightly, and when he heard Mu Nanxing calling him, he turned and walked towards him.
There was a distance of about seven steps between them. Except when Bao Shan was helping Mu Nanxing undress, they always kept this distance between them, so that Mu Nanxing would not feel annoyed.
There was nothing around, and in Baoshan's sight, there was only a pair of embroidered shoes with plum blossoms and winding branches. Suddenly, a pair of black-soled black boots came into view.
Bao Shan raised his head. This was the first time he was so close to Mu Nanxing, not when he was serving him personally.
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