Liu Hanyun was currently teaching Xi-er how to say some pleasant sounding phrases when she heard Chunpi, who was standing outside, announce Wen Wan's arrival.
After a moment's pause, Liu Hanyun waved her hand to dismiss the servant girls in the room. Chunpi also took Xi-er out of the room too. "What's wrong?"
"This servant came from the western courtyard and saw something that shouldn't have been seen..." Recollecting that scene, Wen Wan felt discomfort in her heart again. "Madam, do you have a good understanding of Teacher Ji?"
At the mention of Teacher Ji, Liu Hanyun's expression wasn't very good either. "How could I possibly have a clear understanding of that person? Since he's entered this household to teach the heir, the marquis is always spending time with them. He barely comes over here to see Xi-er now, and even then, he doesn't stay for long."
Remembering what had happened last time and not being able to let go of that frustration, Liu Hanyun added, "Last time, I was going to ask the marquis if I would be going with him to attend the celebration for Assistant Minister Zhu's mother's birthday. But in the end, he took that teacher with him and didn't even say a single word to me about it."
Listening to these words, Wen Wan's heart chilled even further. Clutching her handkerchief, she quietly asked, "Madam, how long has it been since the marquis has stayed over your place?"
Liu Hanyun glanced at her. "Do you really not know?"
This woman was always poking around to check where the marquis had been. How could she not know that the marquis hadn't entered her room for over half a month? Even if he did come over, he would only stay for a meal and leave right afterwards.
Wen Wan pressed her lips together. Her nose felt a bit sniffly. "Every day, I long for the marquis to come visit me. I keep wondering if I had done something wrong, and I've already done my best to change the parts of me that the marquis doesn't like. Never mind that the marquis isn't willing to come over to see me. But, tonight, by the garden, he and that teacher..."
"What was they were doing by the garden?" Liu Hanyun was somewhat curious as she looked at Wen Wan's expression.
Wen Wan walked to her side and whispered into her ear. Liu Hanyun's eyes widen in shock. Shaking her head, she exclaimed, "Impossible!"
"This servant saw this with my own eyes." With reddening eyes, Wen Wan said, "This servant had though that teacher was just living here to teach the heir, but he's actually a tempter that's seducing the marquis!"
Holding onto the table for support, Liu Hanyun took several breaths before finally saying, "I don't believe that something like this could happen. Go back to your courtyard for now. I'll go over there and clear the issue up with the marquis tomorrow morning."
Since Liu Hanyun was willing to put herself forward, Wen Wan was naturally happy. Kneading her handkerchief, Wen Wan withdrew from the room.
---
On the other side of the western courtyard, Qian Yingchen sneered and pushed Zhu Yurun away. Looking at her in askance, he said, "This one has never met such an outrageously offensive woman like you before. Not only did you drug this one in the inn, you then did that sort of thing to this one."
Half-kneeling on the ground, Zhu Yurun pouted and mumbled, "Cause I like you."
With an a livid expression, Qian Yingchen said, "I like the flowers in someone else's home. Does that mean I have the right to climb over their wall and pick those flowers? I also like the daughter of a farming family when I was passing through their village. Does that mean I can snatch her away from her home and ride away with her on my horse?"
"Taking something without asking is stealing. Stealing is a lowly and vulgar action. I didn't even demand indemnification for what you did to me. How can you have the audacity to come looking for me? You won't even treat yourself like a women, so why I should have to take responsibility for you?"
Miss Zhu was left feeling stunned by his words. She tilted her head and looked at him for a quite a while, then opened her mouth and asked, "What's the name of that farming family's daughter you like?"
Qian Yingchen was almost angered to death by her. He had no idea where this woman was from. That night in Xu Province had troubled him deeply. He had been filled with resentment over it and had nightmares for several nights in a row. He had originally though he could put the matter behind him once he left Xu Province and came to the capital. However, he ended up meeting this crazy woman half a year later.
"I'm going to get marred soon, and who I like has nothing to do with you." Qian Yingchen sneered. Sweeping his gaze over her belly, he said, "Are you going to say that you're pregnant with my child, so I have to marry you? A woman like you should just be tossed into bamboo cage."
Zhu Yurun didn't know what to say. Tugging on the edge of his clothing, she said, "Don't be so angry. Don't marry someone else either. I... did that without asking you... that was wrong of me. But, my dad told me that if I like something, then I should fight for it. I didn't know that doing that thing would get me thrown into a bamboo cage. Besides, I really am pregnant with your child."
Rubbing his temples, Qian Yingchen didn't know what he should say. The thing that had happened half a year ago was a disaster. It wasn't something that he had wanted. He didn't like the feeling of being forced into something.
Miss Zhu thought for a while, then she carefully looked at him and said, "It's okay if you take me as a concubine. You can't just let your child not have a father, right?"
Qian Yingchen stood up and interrupted her, "Excuse this one for speaking bluntly. I refuse to marry a woman that's lacking in manners and had no sense of shame. You were the one that forced yourself onto me. It doesn't matter who the father of your child is. I have no intentions of marrying you. Don't even mention taking you as a concubine. Even if you were to enter my household as a servant girl, I wouldn't dare to accept you."
After saying this, Qian Yingchen walked to the doorway. "Is there anyone here?"
Guibai happened to be coming here with a tray of tea. Hearing Qian Yingchen's voice, he entered the rom and asked, "Sir Qian, what are your orders?"
"Please bring this servant girl away," Qian Yingchen said, "This one doesn't understand why this household would keep such a person."
Guibai froze in surprise for a moment. He lowered his head to look at the woman on the floor.
Zhu Yurun had her head raised and was blankly looking at Qian Yingchen. She wasn't moving at all.
"This..." Guibai put down the tea and scrutinized the young woman. With pursed lips, he said, "She isn't a servant girl from the marquis's household? She looks very unfamiliar to me."
Qian Yingchen was stunned. He turned his head and briefly looked at her with repugnance before saying, "You even dared to pass yourself off as a servant of the marquis's household? Since she's not someone from this estate, then take her away for the local magistrate to deal with."
Zhu Yurun finally returned to her senses. Somewhat panicky, she said, "No, don't. If you send me to the local magistrate, then I'll be bringing shame on my dad again."
"Is he going to be surprised? Haven't you already done plenty of shameful things?" Qian Yingchen snorted.
Guibai had already pulled her up with her hands pressed behind her back.
Zhu Yurun struggled for a bit. She looked at Qian Yingchen and said, "I know that you're just temporarily having a hard time to accept this. I also understand that my actions were a bit outrageous. We just need to spend some time together. You'll come to accept me once we've spent some time together."
Qian Yingchen looked as if he had heard a joke. He regarded her from top to bottom before shaking his head.
---
Taking advantage of the favorable situation from the lovely, romantic mood, Ji Man told Marquis about Zhu Yurun's matter.
Ning Yuxuan looked at her with a strange gaze. "If you want something, why didn't you just talk to me about it? Why sacrifice yourself with marrying a wife?"
Ji Man's eyes brightened. She looked as if she was one step away from wagging a tail. "If I want something, will my lord be willing to give it to me?"
"En." Ning Yuxuan magnanimously nodded. "As long as you're willing to pay with something of an equivalent value."
He might as well not have said anything then. Ji Man twitched her lips. Compared to what Zhu Yurun wanted, Ning Yuxuan would definitely want more. It would be better for her to just take the detour.
"Oh, right. I wonder how things are going between Yurun and Sir Qian." Ji Man patted her head. "Let's go back to look."
In the blink of an eye, Ji Man had already tossed the memory of the recent, soft kiss behind them. Ning Yuxuan felt a bit speechless. There were still so many things that he wanted to say to her, but all of it was clogged up in his throat. In the end, he could only let out a sigh.
It wasn't the right time to say those things yet.
---
When they had almost reached his room, Ji Man saw that Guibai was carefully trying to push a woman out of the room. Although the woman's arms were behind her back, she had a foot hooked on the doorway and was refusing to leaving. Not discouraged at all, she was shouting towards the inside of the room, "I'm serious. I won't give up!"
Ji Man wiped the sweat from her forehead. Miss Zhu really was acting more like a man than a woman. She wasn't even willing to stop her antics while being pregnant or worrying that her actions might harm her baby.
Ji Man hurriedly went over, smiled at Guibai, and said, "She's this one's friend. Please let her off."
Stunned, Guibai let go of his hold on Miss Zhu. As soon as he did so, Zhu Yurun immediately bounced back to Qian Yingchen's side.
"I know how to paint. I can quietly accompany you every day without fussing. I can also give you a child. Wouldn't that be so wonderful?"
Ning Yuxuan slightly raised his eyebrows. When he strode into the room, he saw that Qian Yingchen's expression was especially bad. Even though he knew the answer, he still asked, "What's going on here?"
Qian Yingchen felt as if he was being annoyed to death. Although a man would normally take responsibility under this type of circumstance, Zhu Yurun was simply the living incarnation of his nightmares. He didn't even want to see her again. As soon as Guibai had let her go, this woman clung to him like she was an eight-tentacled octopus.
"Marquis, once an auspicious date is chosen, Yingchen will be sending out his wedding invitations." Qian Yingchen took deep breath before continuing, "As for this woman, marquis, please help me out and have her stay far away from me."
Zhu Yurun pouted. Grasping his arm, she said, "I've already said that you shouldn't be so hasty with getting married, ah. Give us a chance. You'll definitely fall in love with me."
Ning Yuxuan glanced at Ji Man, then he chuckled and said, "Miss Zhu, aren't you getting married to Teacher Ji?"
Zhu Yurun and Qian Yingchen both froze in surprise. Soon after, Qian Yingchen looked at Ji Man with a very sympathetic gaze as he asked, "You're going to marry her?"
Ji Man awkwardly laughed while Zhu Yurun immediately shook her head. "Now that I've found you, my engagement with Teacher Ji can be considered invalid. I'll go home with you right now!"
"I won't bring you back to my home." Qian Yingchen pushed her away again. "Please trouble yourself by showing a woman's reserved manner."
After being pushed away for the third time, Zhu Yurun became a bit more well-behaved. She finally stood in place and didn't try to reach for him again. Still, she kept staring at Qian Yingchen without blinking.
Ning Yuxuan patted Qian Yingchen's shoulder and said, "This is Assistant Minister Zhu's daughter. In a few days, you might have to go to the Ministry of Revenue to discuss some matters with Assistant Minister Zhu."
Qian Yingchen's expression sunk. This troublesome woman was Assistant Minister Zhu's daughter? After he had been transferred back from Xu Province, his position was only a lowly director in the Ministry of Revenue that was subordinate to the assistant minister.
Qian Yingchen had a headache as he saluted Ning Yuxuan and said, "Yingchen won't continue to stay over here then. It'll be better for this one to return home sooner instead."
"It's already so late. Why bother with going home?" Zhu Yurun blinked and said, "Won't it be nicer to just stay over at that marquis's estate for a night?"
Ji Man stealthily tugged on Miss Zhu's sleeve. This girl really didn't treat herself as an outsider. She had clearly snuck into here by climbing over a wall, but now, she dared to invite someone else to stay the night in front of the real owner of this estate. This was simply a guest taking over the owner's authority.
Qian Yingchen didn't look at her. He pretended that he hadn't heard anything she said.
Ning Yuxuan looked at Zhu Yurun for a few moments, then he nodded at Qian Yingchen and said, "Alright then, I'll arrange for a carriage to send you back."
"Thank you, marquis."
Seeing that Zhu Yurun was deeply dissatisfied, Ji Man stretched her hand out to grab onto her sleeve to stop her from following him. Ji Man almost didn't grab onto her in time. This girl only had eyes for Qian Yingchen. Even after a long time had passed, she still hadn't looked away.
With a slight smile, Marquis Moyu said, "Miss Zhu."