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: The Way of Favors Chapter 14\n
: The Way of Favors Chapter 16\n
At sunset, the Qi mansion finally calmed down.\n
After changing into his normal attire, Qi Ce went to the main hall, âMother, you were looking for me?â\n
Madam Qi motioned for him to sit down and drink tea, then dismissed the maids. She asked about some random matters, then suddenly lowered her voice, âSo many girls of the right age came today. When you went to the backyard, did any of them interest you?â\n
Qi Ce put down his teacup, asking quite jokingly, âI shouldnât look. What person does mother think of me as?â\n
Madam Qi scoffed, but she also knew her sonâs temperament well. Nothing could be hidden from her, and it was easy to guess, so she said it straight to the point, âYouâre not that young anymore. Your grandmother and I both agree that the second lady of the Fu family is good in looks and personality. She and you are a good match, what do you think? If you are satisfied, we should prepare, in case someone else takes the first step.â Such a gentle flower is what many want.\n
So mother also took interest in Fu Wan.\n
Qi Ce looked down at the tea, pretending to recall, âI havenât looked at her closely, but since mother and grandmother both have taken interest in her, we can invite the sisters over for tea using younger sisterâs name. Mother can use this opportunity to analyze her personality carefully, and if she is a good match, your son will listen to all of motherâs arrangements.â\n
It was good for Fu Wan to be dignified, but she was too polite and didnât even try to look at him, making him unable to understand her. Qi Ce wanted to impress Fu Wan, make her like himself because marriage is happy if only both sides are happy. If Fu Wan still didnât fall in love with him after interacting, he naturally would give up.\n
Hearing him say this, Madam Qi was delighted, âOkay, Iâll tell your younger sister later.â Her son had high preferences. He had rejected many of the candidates in the paintings before and finally relaxed a bit today, which really lessened her worries.\n
âWhat does mother want to tell me?â\n
The doorway suddenly darkened, and Qi Zhu entered the room with a smile, sitting next to Madam Qi affectionately, her gaze changing between her mother and older brother, âYouâre whispering secrets, but why did you mention me?â\n
Qi Ce lowered his head and drank his tea.\n
The matter wasnât completely settled, and her daughter was still young, so it wouldnât be easy to explain everything, so Madam Qi made up a temporary excuse, âYour grandmother likes the three daughters of the Fu family. She complimented them when she saw them today. AâZhu, youâre close with them, and the peonies in our garden are still blooming, so you should invite the sisters over to our house to play in a few days. Itâll make your grandmother happy.â\n
Qi Zhu pursed her mouth, her eyes flashing with displeasure, âHow would she have any time to play with me? I heard Fu Rong say that sheâs going to Purple Wei Mountain with Yingfang at the end of the month, and Older Sister Wan and Xuan Xuan will definitely go with them. Itâs the Dragon Boat Festival when they come back, and everyone will be busy celebrating. If mother really wants to invite them, choose a day after the festival.â\n
Qi Ce looked at his sister, puzzled.\n
If his younger sister really liked Fu Rong, then she would call her by her pet name in private. She would always say âNongâ instead of âRongâ when she was younger, instead of saying her real name.\n
Is she mad at Fu Rong?\n
Fu Rong was beautiful but untalented, frivolous and superficial, so it was no wonder that his younger sister was unhappy. Fortunately, the one he wanted to marry was Fu Wan, and there was no need to worry about his relationship with his sister-in-law.\n
When there were people thinking about obtaining a daughter-in-law, there were naturally others thinking about their daughterâs marriage.\n
As night fell, Qiao Shi got into bed and leaned into her husbandâs arms, telling him about her experience in the Qi mansion, âListening to her, I think she has taken interest in our Wan Wan, what do you think?â\n
Fu Pinyan carefully thought of the words of Old Madam Qi, then thought of Qi Ceâs solicitousness in the morning. He was already seventy percent sure, âMost likely.â\n
âThen do you approve?â Qiao Shi was a bit surprised, âIâve seen Qi Ce a few times, and he is the best candidate for a son-in-law, but, after the results of the evaluation next year are announced, if you enter the capital for your job, wouldnât we have to separate from Wan Wan?â Although Xindu and the capital were very close, Qiao Shiâs eyes became sore thinking that she would have to leave her daughter here.\n
Fu Pinyan patted her back, thought for a moment, then persuaded, âWe are helpless in this situation. Even if I will go to the capital, it will happen at the end of next year. If Wan doesnât marry now, then sheâll be seventeen next year. Weâve left the capital for many years, and weâll have to familiarize ourselves with the people again. The ones with higher status will look down on us, but weâll look down on the ones with lower status. With all this choosing, weâll accidentally delay one of the most important events of Wanâs life. You donât need to worry, because Qi Ce is talented and will definitely go to the capital after he takes the test. Then wouldnât our family reunite? And besides, Iâm not completely sure about the test next year. In caseâŚâŚâ\n
âThere is no in case!â Qiao Shi hurriedly covered up her husbandâs mouth, forbidding him to say the inauspicious words. âYou have the ability, you will be able to achieve anything you strive for!â As the years passed, she watched him grow from a young scholar to an officer, and she believed in him.\n
She raised her head, the tears in her eyes about to flow with love and respect, enough to melt any manâs heart.\n
Being stared at by his wife in this manner, a strong desire was suddenly aroused before his heart melted into water. He wanted her, wanted her to know that all her love was not in vain, wanted her to know how powerful her man was, no matter if it was the government or body.\n
Moving his eyes down the small white chin, his hands moved into her inner clothing. Fu Pinyanâs throat was tight, and he turned over and murmured into her ear, âDo you still remember that I was also seventeen when I married you? You were so beautiful that nightâŚâŚâ\n
Qiao Shiâs face had already started blushing from his skillful teasing, and she pressed down on his hand through her clothing, âAre you saying that Iâm not beautiful anymore?â Her eyebrows were slightly raised, her beautiful eyes widening. She was truly beautiful and glamorous.\n
Fu Pinyan laughed, and moved her hand, âBeautiful, even more beautiful. You are a flower that your husband waters every night, how could you not be beautiful?â\n
The romantic words came in casually, cursing her heart to willingly cater to his absurdity and to bloom freely in the silk tent.\n
The night was tender and sweet, and it was easy to talk in the daytime. Being pestered by Fu Rong for the entire morning, Qiao Shi finally gave in, âYou can go, but you have to wait until the day your older brother rests. Iâll only be relieved if he goes with you.â\n
âThis is what I originally planned to do.â Fu Rong said obediently, then turned around to pester Fu Wan, âOlder sister, go with me. Bring younger sister as well. We three havenât played together in such a long time.â The Qi family had proposed soon in the previous life, and she was worried to leave her older sister at home.\n
Fu Wan didnât want to go. She glanced at the shining sun outside, frowning, âWhy go soak in a hot spring in the strong sun?â\n
Fu Rong had expected her to say this, and explain cheerfully, âYou donât understand this. When I was recuperating in bed, Mr. Ge had mentioned soaking in a hot spring. He said it was better to soak in the summer than in the winter because you sweat more when itâs hot, which will make it easier to get rid of all the poison in the body. Older sister should soak more, and your face will be more tender!â She then reached out to touch her older sisterâs face.\n
âDonât fool around.â\n
Fu Wan pushed her hand away. Looking at her younger sisterâs expecting eyes, she agreed reluctantly, âJust this time, donât do this in the future.â\n
Fu Rong leaped into her arms.\n
After Fu Xuan came back from her classes, Fu Rong asked her whether she wanted to go or not, and Fu Xuan refused without hesitation. Fu Rong rubbed her head as she called her a âbookwormâ, but it didnât work. This younger sister was quite amazing, so she had nothing to worry about.\n
On this day at the end of the month, Fu Rong woke early to dress up. She deliberately added two slender red silks to her clothes to wipe her forehead and to use in the water. The flower ornament would fall easily when wet, and she had used a forehead band in the previous life when she went over.\n
When the two sisters went out, Fu Pinyan and Qiao Shi had gone to send them off, repeatedly reminding Fu Rong to stay at her older sisterâs side and to not mess around, then told Fu Chen to supervise her even more carefully. After all, it wasnât their own mansion, and who knew if all the servants were obedient?â\n
âFather, rest assured, I understand.â Fu Chenâs tone had a hint of harshness. Before the two sisters went into the pool, he would personally check the safety of the surroundings. If someone dared to peep, he would personally dig the personâs eyes out.\n
Fu Pinyan trusted his eldest son, âCome back sooner the day after tomorrow, donât delay out there for too long.â\n
Fu Chen nodded his head. After bidding farewell to Qiao Shi, he set off on his horse.\n
Fu Rong and Liang Yingfang had agreed to meet at the South Gate.\n
After they had left the city, Fu Rong quietly looked outside. Seeing a horse carriage under a popular tree in the distance, she turned her head to say to the person next to her, âOlder sister, look, I told you that Yingfang would arrive earlier than us.â\n
Fu Wan didnât move, but grabbed her younger sisterâs arm and pulled her back, âYou shouldnât be seen.â\n
Fu Rong defended in a low voice, âThere are not many people hereâŚâŚâ\n
âThe main hall!â\n
A loud voice suddenly came from outside, calling Fu Chenâs name.\n
Fu Rong had heard this voice a few times, and she kindly explained to her sister, âItâs Yingfangâs older brother.â\n
Fu Wan frowned slightly, and looked at her suspiciously, âHow do you know that itâs the eldest son of the Liang family? Youâve met when you went to the Liang family to play?â\n
Fu Rong leaned back, her head hurting. She closed her eyes, pretending to feel uncomfortable, âOlder sister, donât think too much, okay? I can naturally tell that itâs his voice after bumping into him a few times. Is there anything strange about this?â Her older sister was good in all aspects, but she supervised her too closely. If not for being afraid of her older sister going to the Qi family as a guest alone, she wouldnât invite her sister to come along with her.\n
Fu Wan also realized that she was worrying excessively, and apologized gently, âI didnât mean that, but Nong Nong is beautiful, and Iâm just afraid that someone will have evil intentions.â\n
âEven if Iâm so good it doesnât mean that all men will like me, right?â Fu Rong leaned into her older sisterâs shoulder, smiling secretly at her sisterâs messy worries. Liang Tong deserved to be her older brotherâs good senior brother. They were guards together, were beaten up together, and he was also two years older than her brother. Before she was reborn, she had never heard that Liang Tong had married.\n
The sisters whispered and murmured, and Fu Chen, who was outside, was also shouting to Liang Tong, âSenior brother is also here?â\n
Liang Tong raised his chin at his younger sister, who had already run over to the Fu familyâs carriage, âIâve come with her. Why go soak in spring on a hot day, sheâs so spoiled by the two old men of our family.â The sons of other families were treasures, but in their family, the sons and grandsons grew up being beaten, the daughters were treasured more.\n
Fu Chen laughed understandingly, urged the horse to trot to the side, then looked towards the carriage.\n
Fu Rong just opened the curtain to greet Liang Yingfang. Liang Yingfang knew some martial arts, so she didnât need a bench to get off the carriage. She would simply step down, which made Fu Rong admire her, but she had heard that it was hard practicing martial arts. She would just admire, and not want to learn it at all.\n
âYingfang, sit here.â Knowing that the two girls had a strong friendship, Fu Wan thoughtfully gave up her place to Liang Yingfang and sat on the side. It just so happened that the curtain hadnât fallen yet, which allowed the two men to be able to look inside.\n
Liang Tong was mesmerized.\n
He had seen Fu Rong before and also thought that Fu Rong was beautiful, but Fu Rong was like a younger sister to him, a playful child, unlike this one in front of him, with beautiful eyebrows and a pretty nose, like a blooming begonia branch.\n
Liang Tong suddenly felt a little dizzy. He raised his hand to cover his chest, his heart beating wildly.\n
With this raising of his arm, Fu Wan looked out from the movement to see a man with bronze skin staring at herself in a daze, which seemed abrupt and rude.\n
Her face flushing, Fu Wan lowered her head and quickly pulled the curtain down.\n
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