Chapter 11 Mistakes
◎Do you dare to kill now?◎
Mu Jiaojiao’s plan was simple: as long as Chen Xing’er believed her cousin had a bright future, she would wholeheartedly pursue this marriage.
This was all easy to arrange.
Based on her understanding of the Chen family, what they valued most was whether the prospective son-in-law was capable.
Obviously, her Brother Zhan was a prodigy.
The pretty girl in the carriage fanned herself, already imagining Brother Zhan and her cousin living together happily.
Unfortunately, while the mantis stalks the cicada, the oriole is behind; there was also a sneaky cousin who wanted to live with his cousin.
He had scouted the location and had his servant book a room in advance. Qin Fenghang thought the two girls were just going to chat somewhere and didn’t care who they were.
A Liu waited nearby and saw Shan Cha and her young mistress arrive.
Remembering his master’s instructions, A Liu immediately boarded the carriage and greeted Shan Cha.
“Our master wants me to take you somewhere.”
Only a few days had passed, and the originally somewhat childish fourteen-year-old boy’s side profile had become more angular, and he had grown half a head taller than Shan Cha.
However, Shan Cha was already familiar with A Liu. She pursed her lips and said, “I’ll go with you, but my young mistress has something to do.”
A Liu hesitated, “Our master said they must all go together.”
The bright young woman in the carriage narrowed her eyes, suddenly understanding something. She tapped Shan Cha with her fan, signaling her to come closer.
“You don’t understand. Brother Zhan definitely wants to whisper to his cousin.”
Her oval face was so beautiful when she smiled that it was captivating. A Liu couldn’t help but look at the future young mistress, thinking she would never escape the master’s grasp.
He couldn’t bear to look.
Mu Jiaojiao still went with A Liu in the carriage, but she left a note for Chen Xing’er, arranging a meeting in a room at the Tianzi Inn.
The note quickly fell into Qin Fenghang’s hands. He raised an eyebrow, self-assured and smug.
His two servants quickly altered the note’s contents, so Chen Xing’er went to the wrong place.
Today, Chen Xing’er wore a pink and purple gauze dress, with a golden hairpin in her hair, looking very elegant.
Holding the note, she hesitated at the door, too shy to go in.
Just as she was feeling shy, a male voice came from inside.
For fear she couldn’t hear clearly, the two men spoke almost at the door.
“Master, you’re definitely going to be a high-ranking official in the capital this time.”
“I’ve warned you, keep this low-key.”
Both voices fell into Chen Xing’er’s ears, and her heart pounded.
Compared to marrying a handsome man, becoming an official’s wife was far more appealing to her.
And the next words from inside were the key to her life’s peak.
“Master, what are your plans regarding your cousin?”
“My heart for my cousin is known to heaven and earth, I will marry none other than her in this life! I must marry her with a proper wedding!”
The man’s voice inside was like a drum, making Chen Xing’er forget her shyness. She called out sweetly, “Cousin~”
As she pushed the door open, a cloud of white powder scattered in the air, and Chen Xing’er and her maid instantly fainted.
Qin Fenghang didn’t bother to examine them, fearing a delay, he carried the woman to the bed.
The other two servants in the room were also busy, carrying the unconscious maid to the next room.
A white corner of clothing appeared from a window diagonally opposite. Zhan Qiyu slowly closed the window, his expression unchanged, as if he had seen nothing.
At this time, Guan Zeyang, the great scholar, was reading the book “Folklore Miscellany,” clapping his leg in appreciation.
In front of his students, he revealed a lot of his true nature, frankly expressing his admiration.
“Jingyun, you say this was written by your friend?”
This was the new style name Guan Zeyang gave Zhan Qiyu, these two words suited his calm and composed student.
“Yes, teacher, my friend likes to travel the world and wrote this book.”
Guan Zeyang liked the book because it was written from the perspective of an outsider, which was interesting.
The unique local customs were written in a simple and unadorned way, which he found quite interesting.
He nodded, closed the book, and said to his newly accepted student: “I accept this gift, Master. However, the exam is imminent, so I can only give you a brief guidance. When the imperial examination comes, I will help you further.”
The refined young man smiled in gratitude, listening attentively to his teacher’s teachings.
He knew his unfamiliar cousin must have encountered someone, but it was none of his business.
Zhan Qiyu only felt comfortable in his heart, as long as his cousin didn’t appear again. He didn’t want Mu Jiaojiao to misunderstand him again.
As for what she would encounter, it had nothing to do with him.
Chen Xing’er was indeed not doing well. At the crucial moment, Qin Fenghang discovered something was wrong, but since he had already used the drug and spent a lot of money, he decided to continue.
The woman on the bed wasn’t completely unresponsive, and she went along with it, half-heartedly. To prove her modesty, she didn’t open her eyes the whole time.
Qin Fenghang sensed her cooperation and became even more unrestrained, spending more than an hour before patting the woman’s naked back.
When he left, Chen Xing’er couldn’t get up from the bed. She could only wait for her maid to help her.
As for Mu Jiaojiao, A Liu took her on a long detour through the city before returning to the inn, but she did not participate in the cousin’s meeting.
She ordered a few small dishes downstairs for lunch.
When Qin the cousin saw his real cousin eating in the lobby with her maid, he felt somewhat regretful. His energy was already depleted, so he could only make plans for another day.
After Mu Jiaojiao finished her meal, she packed a braised pig’s trotters in yellow wine to take back for Madam Zhan.
When she returned to the Zhan family, she entered the house carrying the food box. Madam Zhan was simply eating porridge.
“Madam, why aren’t you eating properly again?”
The always frugal middle-aged woman felt happy seeing the young girl. She didn’t understand what “a feast for the eyes” meant, only that she felt happy.
“It’s just me at home, I’ll just make do.”
But Mu Jiaojiao didn’t listen to this. She took out the still warm pig’s trotters and asked Madam Zhan to eat them while they were hot.
While chatting with Madam Zhan, she kept serving her pig’s trotters.
“Madam, Brother Zhan went smoothly today, don’t worry.”
Her beautiful eyes were shining, as if she was even happier than about her own affairs.
She was very beautiful, not an unattainable beauty, but a comforting beauty that people of all ages could appreciate.
“And, Madam,” she suddenly whispered mysteriously, stopping her nut-cracking, and leaning in to say, “I feel like Brother Zhan’s wedding is coming soon.”
The young girl’s innocent smile made Madam Zhan speechless with joy, her eyes starting to water.
Mu Jiaojiao quickly stopped talking, only saying, “Madam, your good days are ahead, this is what you and Brother Zhan deserve.”
Shan Cha quickly handed over a handkerchief for Madam Zhan to wipe her eyes.
Actually, Mu Jiaojiao wanted to say more, but it wasn’t the right time yet, so she let Madam Zhan be happy first.
After watching Madam Zhan finish her meal, she went out with Shan Cha to see the vegetables growing in the yard.
The Mu family’s yard was full of flowers and plants; she had never seen such down-to-earth vegetables.
When she lived in the palace, sometimes she wouldn’t have food for many days, even eating salted stir-fried cabbage was a luxury, so now, seeing the sprouting vegetables, she had a sense of satisfaction in life.
“When they grow up, Madam will stir-fry them for you.”
Madam Zhan looked at the delicate young girl and smiled, wanting to give her the freshest vegetables with soil still on them.
But Mu Jiaojiao’s eyes darkened when she looked at the seedlings, she probably wouldn’t have the chance, as her time to enter the palace was near.
She wouldn’t be able to eat the vegetables cooked by Madam anymore.
Seeing that it was getting late, she left with Shan Cha through a small hole in the wall to return to the Mu family. After she left, Madam Zhan began to worry.
After living there for a few days, she had learned about the Mu family’s situation. Although the status of merchants was not high, wealthy merchants might not necessarily look down upon poor scholars.
The older generation knew even more about the importance of matching social standing; she was afraid that her son might be looked down upon by the Mu family.
Therefore, every day when she saw Mu Jiaojiao helping her son wholeheartedly, she was happy from the bottom of her heart, but also heartbroken, as she feared the final result would not be as she wished.
Madam Zhan clasped her hands together, devoutly kneeling towards the east, hoping that her son would one day get his wish.
Zhan Qiyu, who was being carefully taught, felt a tickle in his nose. He rubbed his tall nose bridge and continued listening to Master Guan’s lecture.
Today, he benefited greatly. The previously obscure passages seemed to have gained new insights.
But Guan Zeyang not only taught him the principles in the books, but also occasionally interspersed some ways of governing, he was sure that this student was intelligent, teaching him earlier would make him grow faster.
It was not until dusk that Zhan Qiyu took his leave with A Liu. The tall young man in white clothes walked down the stairs from the third floor. His refined back made the female guests nearby involuntarily take a second look.
It was at this time that Chen Xing’er was helped out of the room by her maid.
The maid had also suffered inhuman treatment, but she had done a lot of hard work, so her physical condition was better, and she recovered a bit earlier.
Her eyes were swollen from crying. Although she struggled, the strength of the two men was no match for her.
When she found her equally dishevelled young mistress, she hugged her young mistress and cried, shouting to report to the officials. But Chen Xing’er was calm and said, “If we report to the officials, we’ll both be finished. After I marry my cousin, I’ll give you to that man.”
The maid was incredulous, but she was the maid sold to the young mistress, and dared not disobey. She could only slowly help her young mistress walk out.
Therefore, they happened to see Zhan Qiyu and A Liu. Although A Liu was still thin, he looked like a handsome young man from behind.
Chen Xing’er wanted to ask her cousin to send her home, but she was too shy to call out. She was only helped by her maid to walk slowly, her legs weak and clearly uncomfortable.
The maid was also uncomfortable, but she didn’t dare cry anymore, and could only take her young mistress back to the Chen family first.
By the time they walked out, Zhan Qiyu and A Liu were already far away.
On their way back, A Liu said, “That Qin Gongzi is not a good person, and the two servants he brought with him are not good people either.”
He had heard some stories about this Qin cousin’s debauchery today, and he also accidentally learned that he would use despicable means to bully girls.
Zhan Qiyu’s face was cold, and a trace of killing intent flashed in his eyes. He couldn’t let him get near Mu Jiaojiao again.
This kind of scum should be thrown where he belongs.
He continued walking, already calculating how to make him disappear.
Or a better way would be to keep her firmly by his side.
If things went well, next year he would have the ability to give her shelter from the wind and rain. Before that, he didn’t want anyone to distract him.
“A Liu, do you dare to kill now?”
The man’s words on this hot summer night were like a chilling gust of wind, leaving A Liu stunned.