Chapter 25 The Romantic Wan'er
Fu Heng achieved the highest rank in the imperial examination at the age of sixteen. His Majesty praised him as a man of great talent and wisdom, a true pillar of the nation.
His career subsequently flourished, eventually rising to the position of Governor-General of Fujian and Guangdong. The Fu family was renowned for its prestige, and His Majesty also relied on their influence to deter local powerful figures. Fu Heng served as the governor of Fujian and Guangdong for many years, demonstrating skill in border defense and particularly adept at managing local chieftains, thus maintaining stability on the frontier. Years ago, to ensure the peace of Fujian and Guangdong, the court granted him a special decree to waive his leave of absence to spare him the grief of losing his grandmother.
Fu Heng's official ship was entirely gilded and painted, with tasseled flags fluttering in the wind. It was a six-masted treasure ship, twenty-four zhang long and nine zhang four chi wide (approximately 80 meters long and 31 meters wide). The majestic vessel sailed swiftly, its momentum as fast as the wind. From afar, one could see its hull towering over the waves and its banners obscuring the sky, a truly magnificent sight.
Once the official ship left the capital region, it sailed south along the river. Wherever it passed, ships on the river, with their tasseled flags fluttering, all gave way and made way.
Seabirds cried out outside the ship, while Fu Heng, buried in official documents, insisted on having Meng Qingci accompany him while he worked.
After several days of sailing, Meng Qingci had grown tired of the monotonous seascape outside the window, so she took some travelogues about mountains and geography from Fu Heng's bookshelf to browse through. Fu Heng's bookshelf was vast, much larger than that of the Fu siblings, and many of the books were classics that she had never been able to see when she lived in the inner quarters of the Marquis's mansion.
During her ten years in the Marquis's mansion, she was like a bird trapped in a cage, knowing very little about the outside world. Now that she has the opportunity, she can fill in the gaps in her knowledge and prepare for leaving the mansion to become independent in the future.
One day, she accidentally came across a small book of interesting stories, and found a map that looked like it was used for navigation, with markings in ancient foreign languages.
She had once browsed the Ming Dynasty maritime collection at the Nanjing Museum and recognized this item at a glance. With great interest, she picked it up and examined it carefully. Then, she found a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone and began to translate and annotate it word by word.
I recall hearing someone say that the reopening of maritime trade in Guangzhou was advocated by Fu Heng, and within a few years, it had become a place where all nations paid tribute and merchants flocked, creating a magnificent scene.
She pondered that if she were to leave in the future and try to make a living on her own, there were not many jobs available to women; they were mostly hard labor such as weaving and embroidery.
Especially her beloved dance, which in this world is merely considered a skill for entertaining people, leading to a lowly status and inevitable contempt and manipulation by the powerful. Becoming a middleman and translator, however, might not be a bad way out for her.
Fu Heng looked up from his desk and saw the young girl claiming the soft couch as her own, leaning against the small table on it. Her waist was as slender as a willow branch, and she was writing something with great concentration, sometimes frowning, sometimes pursing her lips, but she never looked up at him.
He put down his pen, stood up, and slowly walked closer, gently placing his hands on her slender shoulders: "What are you looking at, so engrossed? My bookshelf is mostly filled with dry classics, and I thought you would find them boring. Don't most girls love storybooks and operas? You're quite patient."
Meng Qingci subtly concealed the nautical chart beneath her sleeve, revealing only an ordinary travelogue. Her eyes flickered slightly, and a smile played on her lips as she said, "The book here has a unique charm for me. I was confined to the Marquis's mansion and never traveled far. I didn't know there were so many strange and wonderful things in the world. I've become quite engrossed and can't take my eyes off it."
He had assumed that, given her personality, she would throw a tantrum after being forced to stay by his side, unwilling to be with him. But she seemed perfectly at ease. Yet, he felt his heart was adrift, like sand slipping through his fingers—the tighter he grasped, the faster it slipped away. She was so close, yet seemed separated by a veil of mist, unfathomable and unreliable.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Meng Qingci's smile faded slightly when she saw the scrutiny in his eyes. She casually tossed the travelogue onto the small table. "If you don't want to lend it to me, just say so. Do you expect me to stay here? I'm always dealing with you, either approving documents or having meetings. It's so dull and boring."
Fu Heng hurriedly explained, "I've been busy with official duties and have neglected you. The ship is about to dock today, and the prefect of Zhejiang is my protégé. He has already sent word that he wants to board the ship to pay his respects. I will have him bring his wife to keep you company and chat, which will help pass the time."
Fu Heng was swept over by her gaze, which held a captivating, indescribable charm that seemed to emanate from Wan'er, making his heart itch. It was as if as long as she spared even a fraction of her attention for him, even if it was perfunctory, it would be enough to make his heart flutter. He couldn't help but secretly despise himself for being such a pathetic person.
Not long ago, he had mocked Fu Yan'an for bowing and scraping before her, losing his dignity and composure. Now, facing her, he was no different from that naive Fu Yan'an. He had thrown all the rules and regulations he used to adhere to to the back of his mind, only wanting to indulge in this tenderness. He was truly feeling a bit dazed.
Fu Heng meant well and wanted to please her, but instead he was met with a mocking laugh from the beauty.
“I am but a former servant of a marquis’s household. It’s one thing to be kept by your side now, but what kind of etiquette should I be treated when the wife of the Zhejiang prefect arrives?” Her inherent pride made her eyes redden slightly. She pushed him away, her voice laced with sarcasm: “Do I have to serve your student’s wife after serving you? If you are dissatisfied with me, just say so. Why humiliate me like this!”
Although he was only listening to her talk, the thought of her having to be subservient to someone made Fu Heng feel sullen. A hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes: "What nonsense are you talking about? What is she? How dare she ask you to serve her? I already said that she came to entertain you, so naturally she should serve you and be your master."
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Meng Qingci secretly hid the nautical chart in her sleeve, and pretended to stand up angrily: "Do you want the whole world to know that I am a shameless scoundrel who had an affair with you without a matchmaker? Do you want the wife of the Zhejiang prefect to laugh at me?"
"I didn't mean that." Hearing her self-deprecating words, Fu Heng felt a sudden pang in his heart. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, gently stroking her thin back with his palm. How could he want to wrong her? But with the important matter still unresolved and his marriage involving many schemes, he couldn't bring himself to tell her the truth.
Meng Qingci's words just now were partly provoked by the situation and partly a deliberate test, merely an attempt to gauge Fu Hengrong's bottom line. As for whether he was sincere towards her, she didn't really care. Even though they had been intimate and close, she remained clear-cut in her heart towards him, a cunning and ruthless regional official, and couldn't feel any affection for him whatsoever.
Just then, Mo Jian knocked on the door and announced, "Master, it's time for dinner."
Taking the opportunity, Meng Qingci broke free from his embrace and said in a flat tone, "I'm hungry, let's set the table."
Fu Heng ordered someone to bring the meal to his study. The two sat facing each other. He had thought she would continue her previous questioning, but he saw that she only lowered her eyes and ate in small bites, her posture as quiet as a raccoon grooming its fur, which made him somewhat puzzled.
Halfway through the meal, Meng Qingci suddenly raised her eyes, her voice as cold as shattered jade: "Since you won't send anyone to prepare a contraceptive soup, how am I supposed to avoid having a child? Are you going back on your word?"
She had never truly trusted Fu Heng. Even the contraceptive potion he sent her remained suspicious. After boarding the ship, she secretly took the cinnabar-containing dye from his study and drank it. She absolutely could not allow herself to become pregnant when her life was so precarious.
The thought that she was under the spell of "unbreakable love" and forced into a relationship with him to have a child made her unable to face the child and unable to get past her own conscience.
Fu Heng's chopsticks stopped abruptly. He could clearly feel Meng Qingci's tense resistance, her almost breathless posture, like a cold needle suddenly piercing his heart.
A surge of anger suddenly rose within him. Born into a prestigious family, he held a noble status and wielded power; no one had ever dared to despise him. Although his methods were not honorable, he had carefully nurtured her by his side for some time, treating her with utmost sincerity. Despite several intimate encounters between them, she seemed to have developed no feelings for him whatsoever, and when the topic of offspring came up, she resisted with such vehement resistance.
Meng Qingci lifted her eyelids and saw him staring at her with dark, gloomy eyes. She put down her chopsticks and said softly, "I'm still young. I'm afraid of dying."
"When did I lie to you? I used the contraceptive soup, so you naturally don't need to use it anymore." Fu Heng's anger dissipated with just a few words from her, and he helplessly put some food on her plate: "Eat more, you're so thin it hurts your hands."
Meng Qingci's expression softened a bit, and she pouted in refusal: "I won't eat it, it's not good-looking to get fat."
Fu Heng thought to himself: He hadn't really lied to her. The "Unbreakable Bond" was meant to help a woman conceive, so naturally, he couldn't use a contraceptive potion. If fate decreed that they would have a child after just one time, then that was destiny. In any case, with him there, he would definitely protect her and ensure she gave birth to the child safely.
Each with their own thoughts, Meng Qingci excused himself after the meal, saying he was tired, and returned to his bedroom on the boat.
As evening fell, the treasure ship docked. The prefect of Zhejiang, along with a group of officials of all ranks, had been waiting on the shore since early morning. They had been exposed to the sea breeze for quite some time and were all shivering from the cold.
Meng Qingci was ultimately dragged off the boat by Fu Heng against her will.
"I have met you, teacher. I wonder how you have been? Since you are passing by, I must ask you to do my best to show your filial piety." Yao Ruhai, the prefect of Zhejiang, smiled broadly upon seeing his teacher and led his officials, both high and low, to bow respectfully.
Fu Heng swept his gaze over the crowd with an air of authority and solemnity. Eight or nine out of ten officials from Zhejiang Province had arrived. He nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "You've put your heart into this."
Upon hearing his teacher's praise, Yao Ruhai was immediately... and hurriedly said, "I am flattered and overwhelmed, and hastily bowed, saying, 'My success today is entirely due to your past guidance and cultivation, teacher. I would gladly go through fire and water for you.'"
Yao Ruhai caught a glimpse of a stunningly beautiful woman beside his mentor out of the corner of his eye. He was quite surprised, but pretended not to notice. He wondered to himself: Who is this woman that his usually aloof and reserved mentor, who is not interested in women, values so much and keeps her by his side all the time?
Meng Qingci also looked at Yao Ruhai with curiosity. The position of Prefect of Zhejiang was a truly lucrative post, one that ordinary people would covet. She had originally guessed that Fu Heng's student would be younger, but she did not expect that the person in front of her was a middle-aged official who was over forty years old and had a slightly protruding belly.
Seeing him standing beside Fu Heng, Meng Qingci couldn't help but secretly marvel at his obsequiousness. His respect and attentiveness even surpassed that of serving his own father.
Yao Ruhai never expected to receive such an honor, being able to invite his mentor to his residence, and was overjoyed.
Seeing how attentive and considerate Fu Heng was to the woman, he immediately understood. As soon as he returned to the mansion, he hurriedly summoned his wife and repeatedly and solemnly instructed her: "You must treat her with utmost care later. Do not take advantage of her young age. Judging from the situation, even the teacher had to give that young lady some leeway. You must not neglect this distinguished guest."
Madam Chen, Yao Ruhai's wife, was also quite surprised upon hearing this, and her face showed a troubled expression: "If it is as you say, without any title or status, and if we praise you too much, our mentor values rules the most. If he questions us, won't you be held responsible?"
Yao Ruhai looked at Chen Shi with disappointment and scolded her, "Womanly compassion, long hair and short brains. What do you know about men's affairs? Just do as I say. Based on my understanding of the teacher, the reason he was able to land here was probably for that woman."
-----------------------
Author's note: The book will be available tomorrow, no updates until midnight.
Fu Heng: Although I know I'm not normal, I tried my best, and afterwards no one blamed me.
Meng Qingci: Men with two legs are everywhere; there's never been a shortage of them.
I'm pushing out the pre-order for "The Locked Golden Branch".
Wang Yuanzhen saved Xiao Yan's life, but Xiao Yan repaid kindness with enmity, forcibly seizing his property.
As Xiao Yan lay dying from his severe injuries, he saw a woman, graceful in the light and shadow, wearing a jade lotus headdress with two flowing ribbons, and a Guanyin mole between her brows, like a celestial maiden descended to earth.
He should have repaid the debt of saving his life, but instead he committed despicable acts.
Mine clearance:
1. Classic melodramatic plot, SC (sexual infidelity), male lead is a stalker, female lead is delicate, size difference, age difference.
2. A fictional, chaotic medley of events, with numerous warlords vying for power.
3. The trope of forcibly taking or seizing property.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
