Chapter 24 A Light Touch and a Heavy Twist
Meng Qingci finished drinking the medicine, a dark brown mark still remaining on her lips. Her lips, glistening with moisture, were moist and alluring.
Fu Heng's eyes were deep, and his slender fingers, as delicate as jade bamboo, gently wiped away the stains from her skin, lingering there with a very intimate gesture.
Just then, Xia Guang entered the room carrying a bowl of bird's nest porridge and witnessed this scene. She quickly lowered her eyes to avoid it, but couldn't help but secretly admire: What a perfect match they are, a handsome man and a beautiful woman.
Fu Heng took the bird's nest porridge, personally tested its temperature, and then fed it to her lips with a spoon: "'Inseparable Love' greatly depletes one's vital energy. You just took the medicine; if you don't eat some food, be careful that your stomach and intestines are damaged. If it flares up at night, you won't be able to leave tomorrow, and you can't blame anyone else."
Meng Qingci was most averse to eating at night, and he usually ate little or nothing for dinner. But what he said made sense, so in the end he did not go against his wishes.
Fu Heng may seem gentle and easy to talk to, and he always accommodates her, but in reality, he is not as easy to fool as Fu Yan'an. Once he has spoken, there is no room for disobedience.
If she went against his wishes, if she insisted on disobeying, given his nature, he would use both soft and hard tactics, or proceed step by step, he would never give up until he achieved his goal. She was too lazy to waste her breath on him.
Seeing that Meng Qingci readily complied and finished most of the bowl of bird's nest porridge, Fu Heng was somewhat satisfied. Looking at her obedient appearance with her eyes lowered, he knew perfectly well that the girl was rebellious at heart. Now that he had taken advantage of her, she was probably making a fuss about him in her heart.
If he were to act as tactfully and maneuver as others, it would be impossible. Having witnessed it several times and learned from past mistakes, he fears he would end up like those men, completely bewildered and left in a state of confusion.
Meng Qingci rinsed her mouth, lay down again, and turned her back to him, leaving him with only her cold back, as if she no longer wanted to bother dealing with him.
Inside the room, only the soft rustling of Fu Heng undressing could be heard. After a while, the light gauze curtains were lifted, and Fu Heng climbed onto the bed, deftly turning her around with one arm.
"What are you doing? If you're not going to sleep, then get out." Meng Qingci glared at him, feigning anger. She didn't even mind sharing half the bed with him, yet this old man was still not satisfied. Sure enough, old people have a lot of problems.
Meng Qingci was inherently proud and arrogant, with the temperament of a young lady ingrained in her bones. She could endure hardship but could not tolerate being wronged, and she was not bound by the rules of a young lady in the slightest.
Now that Fu Heng has seen through her, she's become somewhat reckless, revealing her true nature. Ten years of forbearance in the Marquis's mansion has reached her limit. From now on, she doesn't want to wrong herself for even a moment longer.
Fu Heng chuckled, not backing down but with a hint of amusement in his eyes: "You've gotten into my bed, yet you want to kick me out? Don't blame me for your temperament. You insist on redeeming yourself and refusing to be a slave."
In the past, whenever he saw her, she was always cautious and restrained, feigning politeness and dealing with others. But now, seeing her in a fit of anger and tantrums, acting foolishly and dramatically, she seemed like a goddess descended to earth, her features vivid and expressive.
Fu Heng could tell that the young girl now knew that it was useless to pretend with him, so she was too lazy to put on an act with him anymore.
He shook the celadon bottle in his hand and said with a smile, "You worked hard last night. Applying some medicine will make you feel better."
Seeing Fu Heng extend his long fingers and loosen the ties of his inner garment, Meng Qingci immediately understood his meaning.
She thought back to last night, how those hands of his, as supple as bamboo, had so deliberately tormented her, how cruelly they had forced her into such a situation, making it so difficult for her to speak of it, and she didn't want to recall a single detail.
She snatched the celadon vase, propped herself up on the inside of the bed, gathered her loose clothes, and sat on the bed frame, burning hot. She said irritably, "I'll do it myself."
She didn't consider herself a conservative person, but when she met Fu Heng, he always caught her off guard. He wasn't good with his skills, but he had plenty of tricks up his sleeve.
Fu Heng was unlike a young man who knew shame and could easily let things slide with a few words. After he stopped pretending to be a gentleman, he had no bottom line and no restraint, repeatedly pushing her to the brink of madness.
Fu Heng's slender eyes closed slightly, his voice low and gentle like the plucking of a zither: "You can't apply it evenly yourself."
Perhaps the entanglement had truly relieved her pent-up emotions, for Meng Qingci had no such thoughts today and was as refreshed as ever. However, his words caused her delicate body to tremble slightly, and she recalled the events of last night, how he had forced her here, manipulated her, and made things difficult for her, insisting that she say those shameful things.
Enraged, her heart pounded violently. She raised the celadon vase in her hand and smashed it at Fu Heng, overwhelmed with shame and indignation, and rebuked him: "You have no shame, you are a scoundrel."
Fu Heng seemed not to hear, and with a light and steady hand, he caught the jade porcelain bottle that was flying towards him.
He used to think that her beautiful face had an unapproachable divine quality, and that she was cold and heartless, which made him want to climb up to her, to pull her down from her pedestal, and to make her tainted by his aura and branded with his mark.
Now, seeing her flushed cheeks from a hint of anger, her beautiful eyes burning with flames, her alluring beauty captivating him, he was mesmerized and couldn't look away.
Meng Qingci turned her back, her shoulders trembling slightly, and tears streamed down her face.
She has never been a weak person. She has never complained about herself during her ten years in the Marquis's mansion. She did not feel sorry for herself after yesterday's encounter with Fu Heng. But now she feels extremely wronged.
Seeing her upset, Fu Heng sighed, gently squeezed her shoulders, and coaxed, "Alright, it's my fault. Please forgive me for what I did for you."
Meng Qingci was well protected by her family from a young age, and with that person's careful care, she became quite intelligent. She was not an innocent girl, so how could she possibly deal with Fu Heng, a cunning and shrewd old fox in the officialdom?
Despite his concern for her health, he still dragged her into fooling around until the wee hours of the morning. Fu Heng remained calm, yet the feeling of wanting to penetrate her soul left her with no way to escape and made her heart pound with fear.
Meng Qingci was never lazy, and she still woke up a little late the next day. However, Fu Heng had shown mercy last night and did not do anything to her. He really only helped her apply medicine, which can be considered as keeping his word. He was not a gentleman who did not ask for anything in return.
She listlessly put on a kingfisher feather lily hairpin, looking dejected and completely lacking in energy.
She only carefully checked the personal bag she had brought from the Marquis's residence. As for all the other luggage, she left it to Xia Guang to handle, and didn't care about the priceless items.
Fu Heng was preoccupied with official duties before his departure and left early in the morning, only rushing to pick her up around noon. At first glance, he saw Meng Qingci standing there listlessly, looking like a flower that had been hit by frost, utterly dejected.
His eyes flickered slightly, and he turned his head to instruct a servant to bring him a cloak.
Meng Qingci was already feeling frustrated, and seeing this only made her angrier. She raised her hand and brushed away the cloak he was offered: "Stop pretending! Who wants to wear this on such a hot day?"
Fu Heng knew that she was still angry about what happened last night. In front of everyone, he was embarrassed. His usually cold and stern face was slightly taken aback for a moment, but he quickly recovered and carefully tied her cloak. He indulged her helplessly, saying, "It's windy at the dock. Your body can't withstand the wind. Be good and don't hurt yourself."
Beside them, Mo Jian, Mo Bai, and the other servants and maids who usually served Fu Heng closely were already horrified to see the girl refuting the Third Master like this.
Then look at their Third Master, who is usually indifferent to women, cold and aloof, and dignified. Not only does he not mind at all, but he also patiently and tenderly whispers to them, revealing a degree of care and accommodation that is absolutely impossible.
This left them utterly astonished, and they hurriedly turned away, heads bowed, not daring to utter a sound.
Meng Qingci gave him a slightly annoyed look, not wanting to embarrass him too much in front of his confidants and provoke him further, so she turned her face away in a huff.
Fu Heng personally helped her out the door, and the two rode together in a carriage, heading straight for the Jingji Wharf.
Whenever Meng Qingci saw Fu Heng, he always seemed to be surrounded by piles of official documents, either writing furiously at his desk or intently reviewing them. It was clear that holding an important position meant he was constantly burdened by paperwork and numerous official duties.
Seeing that he had just stepped into the carriage, he picked up his books again and became engrossed in his official duties, not having time to bother her. She was quite happy to be at ease, leaning against the carriage window and idly watching the bustling city and the lively street scenes. Before she knew it, the carriage had slowly come to a stop at the dock.
Just as Fu Heng was about to help her board the boat, he suddenly heard a pitiful cry from behind him. Xia Guang reacted quickly and immediately stepped forward to stop the person.
"Qing'er, please, please save me!"
Meng Qingci was startled by the sound and subconsciously pushed away Fu Heng who was blocking her way. Looking in the direction of the sound, she was surprised to see that it was the Second Madam Jiang. She was dressed in plain robes and hats, without any makeup, and her face was haggard and ashen.
Meng Qingci pursed her lips, glancing angrily at Fu Heng beside her. She then quickly stepped forward and gently supported the Second Madam Jiang, who was on the verge of collapsing: "What happened? Tell me slowly."
Second Madam Jiang, her face streaked with tears, gripped Meng Qingci's sleeve tightly with her fingers, and said in a trembling voice, "I didn't want to bother you, I've only added to your troubles for no reason, but they want to send me to the Jingxin Temple." As she spoke, she glanced at Fu Heng, then quickly looked away in fear, "But I'm spineless, I can't bring myself to end it all. If I have to suffer that in the nunnery, I'd rather be given a quick death now."
Meng Qingci frowned upon hearing this. The Jingxin Temple in the capital was a prison specifically for confining powerful and disgraced women; no one who entered it ever came out alive. She suddenly turned around and angrily questioned Fu Heng: "Since you were so determined, why did you agree to my request in the first place? And since you did agree, why are you being so perfunctory with me? Do you just enjoy playing games with me?"
Fu Heng's eyes were indifferent as he coldly swept over Jiang Shi: "Her defilement of the inner quarters is a serious crime. I only spared her from family discipline because you pleaded for her."
Meng Qingci stood on the dock, the river wind whipping her hair. A mocking sneer escaped her lips: "Don't try to fool me with such nonsense. You took me from your own nephew's bed. You know perfectly well that I have illicit relationships with your two nephews and am entangled with other men. You're so righteous, yet you still have the nerve to try and get into my bed? Now you're trying to talk to me about morality and ethics."
Even though Fu Heng had been a seasoned official for over a decade and had seen many storms, he couldn't withstand her unrestrained public speech. His face suddenly darkened, and he stepped forward to grab her wrist, warning her with a sinister look: "Stop talking nonsense! You're just tarnishing your reputation."
The fire that had been burning inside Meng Qingci seemed to burst forth like a raging inferno, and she was not afraid of him at all: "She obeyed her parents' orders and the matchmaker's words and married into the Marquis of Anyi's mansion. What wrong did she do? People say that 'a woman should obey her husband's wishes.' Her husband's family could give her life or death as they wished, and she obeyed. What wrong did she do? She was just a pitiful person who could not control her own life. She was tortured by your Fu family and was neither human nor ghost. Why are you so harsh on her?"
Fu Heng glanced at Jiang Shi with sharp eyes, as if he had caught sight of something disgusting and filthy. The nameless fire in his heart burned brighter and brighter, he was furious that she was arguing and bickering with him because of an outsider, completely disregarding his sincerity towards her.
His lips were tightly pressed together, his jaw taut into a cold, hard line. No matter how she questioned him, he refused to budge an inch. He sneered, "Even if I don't care and let her go, according to the law, she still has to return to her parents' home. A widowed woman sent back to her parents' home, her life may not be any more comfortable than in the nunnery."
A gust of river wind extinguished Meng Qingci's burning passion. He cursed himself for letting his "unbreakable bond" disrupt his mind and cause his emotions to surge.
She took Fu Heng's warm hand in return and softened her tone: "The law is dead, but people are alive. With your power, what difficulty is there in establishing a female household for her?" Her fingertips even caressed his palm: "I was wrong just now and hurt you with my words. In the past few days, have I not complied with you in any way? Please have mercy."
Fu Heng knew she was arrogant to the core, and these two soft words were already difficult for her, but he still kept a cold face and remained silent. He had also experienced her ability to turn her back on him before.
If he easily gives in to her wishes, wouldn't she become incredibly arrogant in his eyes in the future?
Seeing that his attitude seemed to be softening, Meng Qingci held his hand tightly and then turned to Mo Song, who was standing to the side, and instructed him: "Take the Second Madam to the yamen immediately to register her as a female householder. Make sure it is done cleanly and efficiently, so as not to tarnish the Third Master's reputation."
Knowing her importance in his master's heart, Mo Song was afraid of offending her and dared not refuse outright, yet he dared not make a decision on his own. He could only secretly glance at Fu Heng's expression. Seeing that although his master's face was ashen, he did not say anything to stop him, and he immediately understood. He then bowed and clasped his hands, respectfully replying, "Yes, your subordinate understands."
Jiang was already in tears. Upon hearing this, she was about to kneel down and perform a grand ceremony to Meng Qingci, but Meng Qingci was asked to step aside.
Seeing his master's face grow increasingly gloomy and cold, and his impatience growing, Mo Song hurriedly stepped forward and dragged away the eyesore, Jiang Shi.
Fu Heng caught a glimpse of her relieved expression and let out a cold sneer through his teeth: "Are you satisfied now?"
Meng Qingci released his hand, turned around and stepped onto the deck. Her voice drifted lightly in the river breeze: "Everyone says you are self-disciplined and upright, but after hearing this today, I realize that the Third Son of the Fu family is nothing more than that."
Fu Heng had excellent hearing. Upon hearing her words, his face darkened instantly. He was so angry that he almost fell backward. He gritted his teeth and chased after her, determined to teach her a lesson.
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Author's note: My brainstem is about to dry out. Thank you all for your support, I'm so happy! [heart emoji]
The ship then set sail and began its voyage.
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