Chapter 72 World Three (End)
The deep lake had never been fed with fish or shrimp, so the water was as clear and limpid as the surface, without the slightest odor. Baoshan was soaked by the water, which brought a slightly cool chill. Xiao Yujing lifted her up by the waist and removed her embroidered shoes, revealing her pale, jade-white feet.
The stickiness all over her body made her feel uncomfortable, and only the warm water in the hot spring pool could quickly dispel the cold and bring warmth. Therefore, Xiao Yujing considerately took off all her clothes.
When a flower soaked in moisture rests in the palm of your hand, you peel open the soft, pinkish-white petals, revealing the delicate pistil. A body as bright as moonlight, shimmering with silver light, gradually sinks into the hot spring water, gradually warming every inch of your skin.
The treasured fan was still tightly clasped around Xiao Yujing's shoulders. His originally clear consciousness was disturbed by the gentle spring water and gradually became blurred.
Tiny, gentle pecks landed on the tip of Baoshan's ear. She didn't know if it was the steam from the hot springs, or perhaps a hint of shyness. The tip of her ear, as soft as jade, was tinged with a faint crimson. The water seemed controlled, patiently and tenderly flowing over her fragile body, lingering at the waist before climbing upwards. Amidst the winter snowscape, the white snow and the crimson plum blossoms were a breathtaking sight.
A cool and refreshing voice rang in Baoshan's ears, as if it was intertwined with the mist in the hot spring pool, like a dream, making it difficult to discern its intention.
"Since you entered the mansion, you must have heard about my past."
Baoshan's body trembled slightly, and her feet felt a little weak. She could only lean on Xiao Yujing's chest to barely support herself standing.
"I have heard of it."
Xiao Yujing looked at the beautiful woman in his arms who was as soft as boneless and extremely obedient. His eyes gradually deepened. His seemingly calm eyes seemed to have black waves rolling and roaring.
He seemed to be coaxing, yet also doubting, his voice ethereal: "If you and I could meet as children, would you, like Madam Luo, give me a meal?"
Even if Xiao Yujing tried to forget, he had to admit today that he was in a miserable state when he was young.
Only the steamed buns given to him by Mrs. Luo became the little warmth he had in his dark life.
Xiao Yujing was not completely unaware of the tricks and schemes played by Madam Luo and the old nanny beside her, and the rumors they spread that were enough to bring discredit to him.
No one taught him how to read and write, so he could only sneak into a private school, hide in the corner, and listen to the teacher's lectures. When he was discovered by the people in the private school, they looked at him with mocking disdain, muttered "bad luck", and drove him out with sticks in their hands - Xiao Yujing recognized that they were sticks used to drive away stray cats and dogs.
Xiao Yujing treats Lady Luo with an almost indulgent tolerance, as if he wants to prove to someone that he remembers the saying "A drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring of water."
But who is worthy of him going to such great lengths to prove himself? Xiao Yujing has always been puzzled.
It was not until the precious fan fell into the lake today that the confusion lingering in Xiao Yujing's heart was dispelled. When he was alone, he also believed in the so-called legend of mermaids.
But no matter how sincere his promises were, he never received any response.
It seemed that even the most soft-hearted mermaid had abandoned him.
Xiao Yujing was tolerant and understanding of Luo Niangzi. No matter what inappropriate behavior she did, he never frowned.
It wasn't until Madam Luo deliberately spilled the tea and tried to get close to him that Xiao Yujing began to feel a little irritated. He would rather keep Madam Luo on a pedestal and let her remain kind and pure from beginning to end than see her like this.
Because of the lack of guidance in one's heart, one does all kinds of filthy things.
But the treasure fan is different.
She was born beautiful, but had no ability to protect herself and could only rely on others to survive.
Just like flower petals dumped on the lake, without thorns or roots, they can only drift with the flow.
If someone could be tougher and take her under his control, she would have no choice but to endure it.
But there was still one thing that was still on Xiao Yujing's mind, and he needed to ask it in person to feel at ease.
If Baoshan had seen the dirty little beggar instead of the current Xiao Yujing, would she have been soft-hearted for a moment and given him food to fill his stomach like Madam Luo did?
Baoshan raised her porcelain-white face, and her misty and wet eyes looked into Xiao Yujing's eyes.
The steam from the hot spring pool had completely removed the coolness from her body, and the rising heat made Baoshan's cheeks blush.
Round water droplets were still hanging on her straight eyelashes. As her red lips and sandalwood mouth opened slightly, the water droplets trembled and fell into the spring water.
She shook her head slightly, as if she hadn't noticed Xiao Yujing's momentary dark look and slightly stiff body.
"If I had met Xiao Lang when he was young, I would have ended up in the same situation as him. I couldn't even afford to eat, so how could I possibly save him...
But it was also good that I was able to meet Xiao Lang when I was young. At that time, I could neither play the pipa nor sing.
Even if you beg others for money, I'm afraid no one will be kind enough.
But I have Xiao Lang by my side, so no matter how hard the days are, I feel at peace."
She leaned gently against Xiao Yujing's chest, her soft hair playing tricks on Xiao Yujing's heart, stirring up a tingling sensation.
Xiao Yujing's hard heart seemed to be softened a little by the warm water of the hot spring pool.
The confusion that had been lingering in his heart seemed to be completely dispelled.
The precious fan is so fragile that it must have been very small when it was young, making it very lovable.
Whenever Xiao Yujing thought about the precious fan accompanying him and enduring the predicament of wearing thin winter clothes and suffering from hunger and cold, he would frown.
In such a bleak day, he alone is enough, so he should not involve the precious fan.
Xiao Yujing's palm gently stroked Baoshan's white neck. His movements were so gentle that Baoshan couldn't help but close her eyes.
But after a moment, Bao Shan felt a cool touch on her red lips, like snowflakes, which were icy at first, then melted into water, as if to envelop her.
Grind carefully, savor it carefully, and it will make your lips and teeth linger.
It was unknown how long it took before the two inseparable people finally let go of each other, and there was still a hint of red in the corners of Baoshan's eyes.
Bao Shan raised her head, wanting to see Xiao Yujing's expression at the moment. However, Xiao Yujing held her in his arms, and she could only hear the muffled beating of her chest.
Xiao Yujing gently kissed Baoshan's soft hair, as if he regarded the hair as Baoshan's skin, savoring it gently and tenderly.
In the hot spring pool, the spring water tumbled from time to time, covering up the tiny sounds. Bao Shan was immersed in the gentle water and heard Xiao Yujing's slightly suppressed voice.
"It's possible now."
He has already regarded the treasure fan as his own little mermaid.
Since he had missed out on these decades, he could no longer let the precious fan leave his reach.
Xiao Yujing didn't need, nor did he want Baoshan to go through his miserable childhood with him.
It was enough for him alone to know the bitterness of that kind. But now, the situation required the treasure fan.
Perhaps because the hot spring water was too comfortable and relaxing, Baoshan slowly fell asleep in the water.
After Xiao Yujing changed Baoshan's clothes, he carried her back to the house.
Although Baoshan looked fine, Xiao Yujing still called the court doctor to take Baoshan's pulse.
The court doctor's brows were furrowed, and his expression became more solemn. After a moment, he stood up straight and bowed to Xiao Yujing, saying, "Master Xiao, the young lady is pregnant."
For the first time, confusion flashed across Xiao Yujing's face. He moved his lips slightly and repeated the doctor's words: "Pregnant......"
"Is your body in danger?"
The court doctor thought Xiao Yujing was asking about the baby in Baoshan's belly, and hurriedly explained, "It's only a little over a month old, so it needs careful care.
I checked the young lady's pulse and found she fell into the water and has a slight chill. I'll just mix some nourishing medicine into the soup and the child will be fine..."
Xiao Yujing's brows furrowed slightly, his expression showing impatience: "How about the treasure fan?"
The court doctor was slightly stunned and said quickly, "The young lady is fine."
Upon learning that he had a child, Xiao Yujing couldn't explain the feeling. When he first heard the news, he was surprised and astonished. But he didn't feel the ecstasy that ordinary people would. Although he had promised to have an heir, when it came true, he felt an inexplicable sense of disappointment.
Xiao Yujing's broad palm stroked Baoshan's flat abdomen. His eyes narrowed slightly, and a soft hand covered Xiao Yujing's palm.
Xiao Yujing looked up and saw Baoshan sleeping, his eyelashes trembling restlessly.
Xiao Yujing turned over his palms and clasped his fingers together, trying to soothe Baoshan's inner uneasiness.
Wang looked at the divorce agreement in front of her, and a crack appeared on her dignified and solemn face.
Especially when Wang Shi learned that the palace doctor had taken Bao Shan's pulse and diagnosed her with pregnancy, she almost collapsed. Her eyes trembled, filled with accusation and resentment: "I'm just a skinny Yangzhou horse, and you actually want to divorce me?"
Wang was filled with deep regret. She had brought the precious fan into the house in order to preserve her own status.
He planned step by step to pit Baoshan against Luo Niangzi, hoping to let them fight each other and leave her alone to enjoy the benefits.
Unexpectedly, Luo Niang's arrogance and domineering behavior did not make Xiao Yujing want to divorce. However, the fragile and delicate treasure fan made Xiao Yujing harden his heart.
She was truly filled with regret. She had thought that the person she had welcomed into her house was a little lamb that was easy to control, but she had not expected that he was actually a delicate flower with soft thorns.
So what if he sent Madam Luo away? In the end, the treasure fan occupied Xiao Yujing's entire mind.
Wang's words were tinged with sarcasm as she said coldly, "She's just pregnant, but she's trying to gain status by having a child. It's clear she's restless.
Is Mr. Xiao really going to break off all ties with me for a woman like this?
Such a woman can only confuse a man's mind, manage household affairs, and deal with interpersonal relationships. I'm afraid she knows nothing about it. Is Mr. Xiao really confident in handing over this huge Xiao Mansion to such a young lady?"
Xiao Yujing's face was as cold as ice, and the furrows between his brows were clearly visible: "Divorce between you and me is a matter of time. It has nothing to do with the treasured fan."
As for the rest, Xiao Yujing did not explain to Wang. His thoughts and feelings were solely on the precious fan, and had nothing to do with the unborn child.
As for the matter of managing the household expenses, Xiao Yujing will make the decision himself.
But there is no need to bother to explain these private matters to Wang.
His engagement with Wang was originally due to his biological mother's calculations.
Xiao Yujing was not surprised by Wang's indignation. He had already noted everything in the divorce agreement. All the dowry shops that Wang had brought with her, as well as the jewelry items she had purchased in the mansion, were taken back, and he added a few more shops to the list.
Xiao Yujing unfolded the divorce letter, and Wang read it carefully, and she felt relieved.
When she raised her eyes and looked at Xiao Yujing again, she was no longer filled with resentment, but with confusion and bewilderment: she thought Xiao Yujing didn't know her preferences, but she never thought that he actually knew what kind of objects could most touch her heart.
It turned out that Xiao Yujing was not unaware of her past feelings, but he had never accepted them.
Wang finally nodded and went to the government to return the engagement letter.
Since then, we have no relationship anymore and we are all free.
When Wang left, she took her usual maids and servants with her. Sitting in the carriage, she kept looking back. But the man she was waiting for didn't show up, and she couldn't help feeling disappointed: a man like him was always extremely cold and indifferent to others, and she had known that for a long time.
The carriage moved slowly forward. Wang seemed to have thought of something and asked Liu Fang, who was driving the carriage.
"Do you know where Madam Luo is?"
Liu Fang lowered his voice and said, "Xiao Yujing and Madam Luo have severed their relationship. They were never close to each other. It was only to repay the kindness of the past that Xiao Langjun rescued Madam Luo and raised her in another courtyard.
Xiao Langjun left everything in the villa to Luo Niangzi, leaving only one sentence.
Wang's heart trembled, and she asked, "What did you say?"
"Xiao Yujing said that he had never kept a concubine, and hoped that Madam Luo would take care of herself and control her mouth.
The old nanny beside Madam Luo wanted to continue pestering, but was stopped by the doorman and could not even enter the mansion.
I don't know what the doorman said to the old nanny, but she left with a pale face and never came to the Xiao Mansion again."
Upon hearing this, Wang's frown finally relaxed.
That villa looked luxurious and wealthy, but in fact, it was already empty. If Lady Luo could live a simple life, relying on just a house, it would be natural for her to live a worry-free life for half her life.
But how could Madam Luo endure such a dull life? What awaited her then was destitution and helplessness.
The scene of being humiliated by Madam Luo always lingered in Wang's mind.
Now that I can finally breathe a sigh of relief, the best news I hear is that my former enemy is about to live a miserable life.
After Baoshan became pregnant, she followed the advice of the court doctor and drank nourishing soup every day. The day she gave birth was also extremely smooth.
Even the midwife who delivered the baby was secretly amazed. She had thought that Baoshan, with such a fragile body, would have to go through a lot of pain and torture, but she never expected it to happen so naturally.
From the moment the baby was born, he was wrapped in a brocade quilt and taken away to be carefully raised.
There was a wet nurse at the mansion to take care of the child, but Bao Shan was determined to feed the baby herself. Firstly, she wanted to be close to the child, and secondly, she felt sore and swollen, which she couldn't express, so this was the only way to relieve it.
But this day, only halfway through the usual hour, the nurse spoke up to dissuade him, saying, "The palace doctor said that the young master has been eating too much these days and has food accumulation in his stomach."
Bao Shan understood and handed the baby, who was waving his fists and refusing to leave, to the nurse. Seeing Bao Shan's reluctance, the nurse hurriedly said, "If the little boy is hungry again, I will definitely bring him back to you. Don't worry."
Baoshan responded softly, "Okay."
After a while, footsteps were heard, and the sound became clearer and clearer.
Baoshan thought it was the wet nurse holding the child and coming back, so she quickly reached out to unbutton her clothes. Her snow-white and smooth skin was dazzling.
The curtain was lifted, and Xiao Yujing walked in, gazing at the treasure fan with deep eyes.
His voice tightened, with a hint of bitterness.
Snow forms peaks, fragrance turns into dew, and the fragrance is like jade.
Baoshan stood there in a daze for a moment, forgetting even to fasten the buttons on his lapel.
Xiao Yujing's voice was a little hoarse: "How is it?"
Bao Shan's face was flushed with shyness: "It's just a slight pain in my body, it's nothing, Xiao Lang, don't worry about it."
Xiao Yujing said in a deep voice: "I have learned about this from the female doctor, and I also learned the method of unblocking it from what is written in the book."
It is nothing more than the method of kneading dough in the kitchen, and then stroking it, tasting it...using hands and mouth together will be effective.
Baoshan completely trusts Xiao Yujing, so naturally there is nothing wrong with it.
She gently stroked Xiao Yujing's hair, her eyes hazy.
As if suddenly remembering something, Bao Shan straightened her toes and said in a trembling voice, "In a few days, there will be a gathering for the ladies. All the people who will be there are Xiao Lang's colleagues and relatives. I am afraid that I will lose face for Xiao Lang..."
Baoshan is no longer an unknown young lady, so she naturally doesn't need to call herself a concubine anymore. She is now Xiao Yujing's legitimate wife.
Xiao Yujing's voice was a little unclear: "If you don't like it... then you don't have to go... In a few days, I will be sent to serve as an official in a remote area... to Yangzhou City... Are you happy..."
Bao Shan held Xiao Yujing tightly, her heart leaping with joy: "Xiao Lang..."
She likes Yangzhou City, a gentle water town where songs often linger in her ears.
Xiao Yujing raised his eyes, his eyes were slightly gloomy, and a few drops of water hung at the corners of his lips.
"That's good."
Baoshan is frail and taking charge of household affairs is quite stressful for her.
Besides, Baoshan is soft-hearted and will inevitably be deceived by servants, or bullied by them because of her seniority.
Xiao Yujing then devoted his energy to personally managing the financial transactions of the mansion. With him around, even if the servants in the mansion had ulterior motives, they would not dare to act recklessly, and they could only treat the precious fan with respect and not dare to have any second thoughts.
Xiao Yujing has no relatives or elders, and only interacts with colleagues. Once he arrives in Yangzhou City, he will have more free time.
In the past, Xiao Yujing was a drifting ship, with no fixed place to live and could only drift with the wind.
Now that I have the treasure fan by my side, it seems that the monotonous days have finally become lively.
Xiao Yujing leaned over and gently covered her soft lips, and the juice with a sweet scent flowed into Baoshan's mouth.
The two are entangled and deeply in love.
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