Chapter Twenty-Two: Have you lost weight?!
Xuan...lang?
Are they calling him?
Pei Xuanmu's face remained expressionless, his heart completely unmoved, even feeling somewhat disgusted.
He didn't know what kind of trouble Chen Jiao was up to this time, but he didn't want to be called that by her.
She quickly took two steps back to create some distance, her face expressionless: "Third Miss, you flatter me. Eldest Miss treats me extremely well."
He spoke solemnly, as if afraid that Chen Jiao wouldn't understand his sincerity.
In this world, besides his deceased grandfather, only Chen Jiao treated him well.
Chen Jiao's face stiffened. She hadn't expected Pei Xuan to not take the bait. She raised her head, her lips slightly pouting, her expression mournful.
"Xuanlang, are you still blaming me?"
In her past life, whenever she made this expression, Pei Xuan would beg for forgiveness and indulgently accept everything about her.
Chen Jiao was still immersed in her memories of her past life and didn't notice Pei Xuan's expression as if he was about to vomit.
"Third Miss, please have some self-respect!" Pei Xuan wanted to run away. Was Chen Jiao possessed by something evil?
Chen Jiao hadn't yet grasped the gravity of his tone. She swayed her hips seductively forward, saying sweetly, "Xuan Lang, I was just so worried about you, you..."
"Third Miss!"
As Chen Jiao got closer, her heavily powdered face was suffocating to look at. As she got closer, the white powder on her face fell off in a flurry, like peeling paint off a wall. Not to mention, after the white powder fell off, her face, which was bruised and swollen from being beaten, was revealed, making it even more horrifying!
Pei Xuan couldn't bear to watch and quickly called for a stop.
"If there's nothing else, Miss, I'll be leaving now!"
"Hey! Don't go!"
Pei Xuan ignored him completely and ran away in a flash.
Watching the boy's departing figure, Chen Jiao was somewhat annoyed, stomping her feet angrily: "You're really throwing your eyelashes at a blind man!"
"Zhu Yue, do you think I'm not beautiful?"
"This Empress?" Zhu Yue's brain went blank. What kind of address is that?! Did someone damage the Third Miss's brain?
Chen Jiao carefully touched her face, "Ouch!"
The pain made her gasp.
No wonder Pei Xuan ran away; could it be that he was worried about her being injured?
"Zhuyue, do I look pretty?" Chen Jiao asked again, somewhat uncertainly.
Zhu Yue lowered her head and said, "Yes, it looks good!"
"Compared to that ugly woman, Chen Qing?"
"Of course, the Third Miss is prettier!"
Chen Jiao was extremely proud. Watching Pei Xuan's departing figure, she muttered, "I never imagined that His Majesty was so handsome and dashing in his youth. What a handsome young man!"
Pei Xuan ran back to Chen Qing's courtyard in a panic, as if a ghost was chasing him. Chen Qing was teaching Xiao Wu to read in the courtyard. Seeing him panting heavily and unable to speak, she quickly asked, "What's wrong? What happened?"
"Something terrible...something terrible has happened!" Pei Xuan gasped for breath, slowly adjusting his breathing, his eyes filled with terror. "Sister Qing, Chen Jiao seems to be possessed by a ghost!"
...
"What, she called you Xuanlang?"
When Pei Xuan recounted everything that happened when he met Chen Jiao, not only Chen Qing couldn't help but laugh, but Xiao Wu also burst into laughter and started mocking Pei Xuan.
"Brother Pei, does she consider you her sweetheart?"
Pei Xuan was furious and embarrassed: "I'm not her sweetheart! She's humiliated me more than once, I hate her!"
Chen Qing laughed until tears streamed down her face. Pei Xuan was only fifteen years old and had been struggling to survive on the brink of death before meeting her. He probably had no interest in romantic relationships.
The mere mention of the possibility of being liked by Chen Jiao made him feel utterly disgusted, as if he had swallowed a fly.
After all, Chen Jiao had insulted him in front of everyone and even tried to drive him away. Pei Xuan was a very vengeful person.
Pei Xuan was initially a little angry, but when he saw Chen Qing laughing heartily, he also laughed and scratched his head sheepishly, saying, "That's strange. She's definitely up to no good again. Sister Qing, you'd better be careful."
Pei Xuan was most concerned about Chen Qing.
Chen Qing felt a slight warmth in her heart and smiled, "Okay, I understand."
Why did Chen Jiao suddenly call Pei Xuanxuan "Lang"?
Chen Qing did have a guess, but she still needed to meet Chen Jiao to confirm it.
Just when you're about to fall asleep, someone brings you a pillow. Wang Zhong suddenly comes to find Chen Qing, bringing with him Chen Zhenyan's orders.
"Miss, the master requests that you come to his study. He has something to discuss with you."
Wang Zhong looked worried, and his gaze towards Chen Qing flickered.
"Uncle Zhong, what does Father want with me?"
Chen Qing asked casually.
“Young Miss…” Wang Zhong shouldn’t have said it, but he felt that the Master had really gone too far!
They actually believed the Third Miss's nonsense again and wanted the Eldest Miss to take the blame for everything!
Wang Zhong, unable to bear it any longer and feeling sympathy for Chen Qing, recounted the whole story.
"Alright! I knew she was trying to get me to beg Sister Qing!"
Pei Xuan's clever little brain immediately guessed most of it.
He could never have imagined that Chen Jiao's desire for his help was genuine, but her desire to seduce him was even more so.
"Sister Qing, you mustn't be soft-hearted! Why does he always push you into the fire pit? Master is so biased!"
Pei Xuan was indignant.
Chen Qing's face held a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, and he remained expressionless after listening to Wang Zhong's words.
She lowered her eyes, her gaze devoid of joy or sorrow, as she pondered her next move.
After waking up, Chen Jiao did not cry or make a fuss. Instead, she asked Chen Zhenyan to give her this desperate measure: to have Chen Qing deal with Liu Shoubei.
Why was she so certain that Chen Qing would be able to persuade Liu Shoubei?
Chen Qing's suspicion seemed to have been confirmed once again.
“Things seem to be getting interesting,” Chen Qing said with a smile. If it was really as she thought, then she really wanted to go and see for herself.
"Uncle Zhong, please lead the way for me. I'm going to see my father."
"Sister Qing!"
"Young Miss!"
Pei Xuan and Xiao Wu both wanted to speak up and stop them.
Chen Qing raised his hand slightly to silence them, "Shh, I have my own decision."
No matter how unwilling Pei Xuan and Xiao Wu were, they had no choice but to listen to Chen Qing.
They will consider Chen Qing's feelings, but they will not stop her from doing things; they will only support her.
"Young Miss, are you really going to see Commander Liu?"
Wang Zhong was also very worried about Chen Qing's safety.
Now Chen Zhenyan is almost at odds with Liu Wei. Liu Wei is insatiable and has asked the family head for many benefits. Now, even the third young lady, who married into the Liu family, was beaten and sent back, which can be described as a slap in the face to Chen Zhenyan. As a result, when the family head came to the door, not only did he not get justice for the third young lady, but he also lost a lot of money.
Even Wang Zhong could see that this Liu Shoubei was extremely greedy and probably wanted to devour the Chen family alive.
No matter who goes to him, it won't end well.
Unfortunately, the master listened to slander and sent his eldest daughter to persuade Commander Liu.
Chen Qing could see that Wang Zhong's worries were genuine, and said with a smile, "Uncle Zhong, there's no need to say more, just take me there."
Chen Zhenyan was waiting for Chen Qing in his study when Chen Qing pushed open the door and entered. There wasn't even a charcoal fire lit in the room.
Chen Zhenyan looks more than ten years older, and he no longer has the vigor he used to have.
But in front of Chen Qing, he still put on a show of fatherly authority.
Rather than compassion.
"Qing'er, I have a task for you."
Chen Qing watched coldly, wondering just how much Chen Zhenyan disliked her. He could be so kind and gentle to those vile women like the Zhang mother and daughter, showing some leniency, so why did he only show her a smile?
She wasn't the original owner of this body, and she wasn't hurt by Chen Zhenyan's cold attitude. She was just curious.
Moreover, Chen Zhenyan's attitude towards her was somewhat good; at least Chen Qing wouldn't go easy on him.
"Does Father want me to go see Commander Liu and persuade him to let us go home?"
Chen Qing lowered his eyes and asked coldly.
Chen Zhenyan was taken aback. He was still wondering how to bring it up himself when Chen Qing took the initiative to say it.
"Yes, do you blame your father for being heartless?"
"What your parents say is perfectly reasonable, I don't blame you." Chen Qing remained calm and composed, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
Chen Zhenyan, on the contrary, felt somewhat guilty.
He looked closely at his eldest daughter standing in front of him and blurted out, "Qing'er, have you lost weight?"
Chen Qing raised an eyebrow almost imperceptibly. "Maybe."
Chen Zhenyan stared at her face, his expression somewhat dazed, before a flash of disgust crossed his eyes. The disgust was fleeting, and if Chen Qing hadn't possessed the Eye of Insight, he might not have noticed it.
“You look too much like your mother,” Chen Zhenyan said with certainty, turning his face away from Chen Qing, his tone wistful, “It would be better if you were a little fatter.”
Chen Qing frowned, wondering why Chen Zhenyan said that.
However, she sensed something was amiss from Chen Zhenyan's reaction.
There must be more to this story than meets the eye.
Chen Qing had no interest in dwelling on these matters, nor did she want to beat around the bush with Chen Zhenyan. She said directly, "Father wants me to meet Commander Liu. Coincidentally, I am also willing to meet him. Please recommend me to him."
Liu Shoubei is not someone Chen Qing can meet whenever he wants.
At the very least, someone needs to be sent to relay the message, and permission must be obtained from Commander Liu.
Chen Zhenyan hadn't expected Chen Qing to agree so readily. He said absentmindedly, "Alright, I'll have the steward announce your arrival in a bit. Tell him you're willing to offer up your family's valuables, and he'll definitely see you."
This Commander Liu was like a greedy dragon, extremely fond of money.
They certainly wouldn't refuse Chen Qing's request to see them.
"Alright, you can go now. Seeing you always reminds me of your mother."
Chen Zhenyan didn't want to give Chen Qing any more looks and turned his back.
Chen Qing didn't linger and turned to leave.
She opened the door, and a figure outside suddenly fell in.
"oops!"
The person who came in was Chen Jiao. She was eavesdropping outside the door and never expected Chen Qing to open the door suddenly. As a result, she tumbled in and fell right at Chen Qing's feet.
What is your sister doing here?
Chen Qing looked her over with great interest.
Chen Jiao's face was swollen like a pig's head, covered in bruises and looked terrible; she was no longer as beautiful as before.
Chen Jiao quickly got up from the ground and explained to Chen Zhenyan, "Father, I just wanted to bring you ginseng soup, I didn't expect..."
"Idiot! Where's the ginseng soup?" Chen Zhenyan was speechless. He didn't know who his daughter took after, how could she be so stupid that she couldn't even lie?
Chen Jiao fidgeted with her fingers, glared fiercely at Chen Qing, and mumbled, "My daughter forgot to take it."
"Sister, you should worry less about Father and take better care of yourself. Your face... it's really badly injured."
Chen Qing reached out and gently touched her swollen face, his voice filled with worry.
As if bitten by a venomous snake, Chen Jiao jumped up abruptly and angrily said, "Don't touch me!"
"Little sister, I was just worried about you, do you hate me that much?"
In the past, Chen Jiao always pretended to be a green tea bitch, but Chen Qing learned all her tricks and put on a show for Chen Zhenyan.
As expected, Chen Zhenyan angrily said to Chen Jiao, "Jiao'er! Why are you throwing a tantrum with your eldest sister again? She's already had a hard time going to see Commander Liu!"
Chen Jiao was truly suffering in silence, unable to express her grievances.
She could only glare at Chen Qing, and glare at Chen Qing again. If looks could kill, she would have killed Chen Qing a thousand times over.
Chen Qing had no idea why she hated him so much.
It might be jealousy.
Chen Qing didn't want to give that clown any more attention. She glanced at Chen Jiao, ignored her, and prepared to leave.
Chen Jiao's eyes were sore from staring, but Chen Qing didn't even look at her.
As she brushed past Chen Jiao and they were completely apart, Chen Jiao finally noticed, "Wait! Have you lost weight?!"
Her tone was terrified, as if she had seen something frightening.
Chen Qing replied nonchalantly, "Maybe, who knows?"
She has indeed lost weight, by 27 pounds.
In less than half a month, she lost 27 pounds, but still weighed 289 pounds. If it were someone with a lower starting weight, it would have been obvious by now.
Unfortunately, Chen Qing was already quite heavy, and losing nearly 30 pounds made no difference.
But Chen Jiao accurately noticed this tiny change. She also discovered that Chen Qing had not only lost weight, but her skin had also improved!
How is that possible!
Chen Qing's skin was like a peeled egg, white, tender, and smooth, with no visible pores!
She's still fat! But she's not ugly at all!
How could Chen Jiao not be jealous?
Chen Qing had no interest in getting entangled with Chen Jiao. She had originally come here specifically to check on Chen Jiao, wondering if she had awakened or if a different soul had entered her body.
Who knew she would still be so foolish.
Even after Chen Qing had walked away, Chen Jiao was still distraught and couldn't believe it.
"How is this possible? How could she possibly lose weight? Mother... Mother!"
Chen Jiao hurriedly found Zhang Shi and pleaded in a panic, "Mother, Chen Qing has lost weight! Didn't you say the medicine you gave her would make her fatter and fatter? How could she lose weight!"
There are other people in this room!
Zhang quickly covered her daughter's mouth, "Shh, my dear, this must not be told!"
Chen Jiao then noticed and quickly lowered her voice to tell him what she had just seen.
Madam Zhang thought for a moment and said, "Has she been lacking food and clothing lately and is starving? It's alright, it's normal for her to lose weight. If you're worried, when we get back to the manor, I'll give her some medicine, and I don't believe she can lose weight!"
Commander Liu agreed to let Chen Qing go to the garrison headquarters to see him.
Wang Zhong had already prepared valuables for Chen Qing. This was probably the last treasure the Chen family could offer. If Chen Qing couldn't persuade Commander Liu to release the people, the Chen family might really face certain death.
Chen Qing left the mansion and boarded a heavily guarded carriage.
Qibao Town was becoming increasingly chaotic. Commander Liu cherished his life and rarely saw outsiders. Only his most trusted confidants were allowed to enter his courtyard.
Therefore, Chen Qing went alone.
Sitting in the carriage, Chen Qing twirled the kagune in his hand, a smile playing on his lips.
She finally got the chance to be alone with Liu Wei!
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