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Previous chapter: The Way of Favors Chapter 7\n
: The Way of Favors Chapter 9\n
Fu Chen woke up early to practice his fist fighting skills. His body was covered in sweat, and after wiping the sweat off, went to take a stroll around the guest room.\n
At the same time, Xu Jia came out of the room and closed the door. Seeing him, he hurriedly made a silencing gesture, explaining as he speed-walked, âChilde Fu, my childe didnât sleep very well last night and is still tired. I estimate that weâll have to wait until noon to leave, Iâm truly sorry.â\n
It was a trivial matter, so Fu Chen waved it away leisurely, âHe is sick, so he should rest. It wonât be late if you leave after you have lunch. Noble guest, youâre taking care of him, so you should tell him about the medicine and food he should be careful around, and heâll tell the kitchen himself.â That person seemed delicate and from a noble family, so he perhaps had never lived in this kind of mansion. After all, his family only came here occasionally, and the furnishings in the mansion were relatively simple.\n
Xu Jia gave continuous thank yous.\n
Fu Chen turned and went to the back courtyard. His sisterâs health was much better, and because she no longer abstained herself from eating at the same table with others, he wanted to accompany her.\n
He didnât predict that in the back courtyard, no maids could be seen outside. It was so quiet that it was strange. Fu Chen was filled with suspicion and walked into the room with large steps. He heard the anxious voices of Nanny Sun and Lan Xiang as if they were begging for something. Fu Chen panicked immediately, pushing the curtains aside as he went in, âWhat happened?â\n
Lan Xiang was so anxious that she started crying. She plopped down onto her knees, bowing her head to admit her mistake, âSecond Master is punishing me. I was guarding Lady last night. She was heartbroken to see me staying up late and persuaded me to go back and sleep. I saw that Ladyâs blisters were almost all gone and I became lazy because of her kindness and actually left, but who knew that when Lady woke up this morning, she discovered that the blister had fallen off. It didnât fall off by itself, and left a âŚâŚ little pit.â\n
She didnât dare say the word pockmark. She couldnât say it no matter what. If she said it and the lady inside heard it, it would be like rubbing salt into the wound.\n
Little pit?\n
Fu Chen has seen the blister on his younger sisterâs forehead. It was the size of a bean. If there really was a pit, how could it be considered a little pit?\n
âGo kneel outside.â\n
Fu Chenâs face was as cold as frost.\n
Lan Xiang went willingly and took the initiative to kneel in the middle of the courtyard where the sun shone on her.\n
It was Lan Xiang who served Fu Rong in the morning, but she was kicked out before long, so Nanny Sun also didnât get to see the situation on her forehead. Now, Fu Chen was furious. She was also heartbroken, and took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, âItâs all because of me. I didnât teach the little girl well and caused Lady to sufferâŚâŚâ Girls took most importance in their appearance. If they had a pockmark, the word might spread to others, and her reputation would be damaged.\n
Besides his own younger sister, Fu Chen hated to see women cry the most, but thinking that it was Nanny Sun who had been working hard to protect his sister, resisted the sudden burst of irritability and said, âNanny, just donât say anything for now. No one knew that this was going to happen before it did. Nanny, go back first, Iâll go persuade younger sister.â\n
Nanny Sun left with her bloodshot eyes. It was no use even if she really wanted to stay here.\n
When the room had quieted down, Fu Chen knocked on the door softly, âNong Nong, open the door. If you have any miseries, you can tell them to older brother, donât keep them to yourself.â\n
Fu Rong was sitting in front of the mirror, looking as if she had heard nothing and was only staring at herself in the mirror.\n
She saw her in the previous life. She didnât eat or drink because this little pit reminded her that it was herself who had killed her little brother. Her mother failed to comfort her even when she had rubbed off the skin of her lips, and her father had imprisoned her inside her room in a rage, only giving her three meals daily. She gave up at noon on the first day and finished all the food on the table, then went to think of ideas of how she could get rid of the pit.\n
If she couldnât get rid of it, the pit didnât really distract her. She married the first son-in-law of Jizhou, the future prince.\n
Fu Rong believed, as long as she wanted to, she wouldnât lose to others in this life just because of this pit.\n
But she simply didnât like it, it was her only flaw. She was tired of always worrying about her flower ornament falling off and everyone discovering the pockmark on her forehead. She was tired of having to check whether the flower ornament was still there before going to bed, afraid of being seen by the man beside her. She didnât want this lifeâs man to be like Xu Jin, forcing her to show him her ugliness.\n
But she still picked it off herself, and it was when she was sleeping.\n
The anger she had accumulated in the morning suddenly erupted. Fu Rong threw the mirror onto the ground, then leaned onto the table, crying miserably.\n
This harsh sound startled Fu Chen. Afraid that his younger sister would do something stupid, Fu Chen shouted for his younger sister to go to the side, then backed up a few steps and slammed into the door to get inside.\n
With a loud thump, the doorâŚâŚdidnât open.\n
Fu Rong heard her older brother curse, complaining that the door frame was too sturdy.\n
She didnât know why she laughed.\n
Turning her head to take a look, another sound came from over there, which obviously showed how frantic Fu Chen was. Fu Rong suddenly felt heartbroken, and persuaded hurriedly, âOlder brother, stop slamming, Iâm going to open the door now.â She had caused her parents to worry so much in the previous life, so she at least shouldnât go back to the past.\n
In front of the door and sure that he wouldnât slam anymore, Fu Rong quickly took off the latch and climbed onto the bedside as Fu Chen came in.\n
She wanted to hide under the covers to slowly get rid of her depression, but Fu Chen didnât give her the opportunity and forcibly turned her around before she could lift up the quilt, âHow are you, are you hurt?â He looked at the mirror fragment covered floor, becoming more and more frightened, checking his younger sisterâs hand first.\n
Fu Rong lowered her head and said with her messy and undone hair, âIâm fine, just very angry.â \n
Her forehead was covered up by her hair, and Fu Chen could only see a small pouty mouth.\n
âLet me see.â He reached out to pull his sisterâs hair.\n
Fu Rong turned away, not allowing him to look at it, but Fu Chen insisted. Fu Rong became more and more miserable as she thought about it and collapsed into her eldest brotherâs arms, crying, âSo ugly, so ugly!â\n
Fu Chen let her vent her anger and took the opportunity to check his sisterâs forehead carefully. Seeing that the pit was much smaller than he had imagined it to be and probably couldnât even be seen from a distance, he felt much more relieved. He then looked at his younger sisterâs angry and beautiful appearance, smiling as he said, âItâs not ugly at all, donât exaggerate. This little pit isnât even considered a pockmark, is it worth it to be like this?â\n
âYou are forbidden to say that word!â Fu Rong hit him with her fist, angry.\n
âOkay, okay, okay, I wonât say it.â Fu Chen obediently admitted defeat and took out a handkerchief to wipe his younger sisterâs tears, âItâs really not ugly. In fact, itâs kind of cute. Everyone will want to touch it if they see it. If you donât believe me, when we go back home, younger brother will definitely touch the pit on your forehead.â\n
âShut up!â\n
He didnât even know how to comfort her, so Fu Rong simply wanted to ignore him. She pointed towards the door, driving him away, âGo back to your front courtyard and donât come unless I say so. And, Lan Xiang is my maid. You have no right to punish her. Call her over now!â\n
âFine fine fine, letâs just say that Iâm not minding my own business, my little grandma!â Fu Chen rubbed her head, smiling as he walked out.\n
Lan Xiang anxiously walked in.\n
Fu Rong shook her head, and said with a sigh before she could open her mouth, âI wasnât careful, it has nothing to do with you. Go prepare the water, I want to take a bath.â\n
She wanted to go outside for some fresh air. She understood it, but still felt terrible.\n
She didnât let Nanny Sun tell her eldest brother. Fu Rong put on her weimao (1) and held a willow stick in one hand, walking behind the two little yellow geese. They perhaps also know that the grass at the forest edge is delicious, as they ran over with small twists. Nanny Sun and Lan Xiang wanted to accompany her, but Fu Rong was in a bad mood, âYou guys can just stay here and watch, I want to be alone for a while.â\n
She looked delicate, but she was actually the most persistent of the three sisters. Nanny Sun and Lan Xiang didnât dare persuade any more, and fortunately, the forest wasnât far away and could be seen from here, let her go without any worries.\n
~\n
The sun was just peeking over the trees, and the wind was gentle and cool. Fu Rong sat on the ground, watching the two little geese disappear and appear in the grass.\n
Thinking carefully, she wasnât even as good as a goose. They could eat when they wanted to eat, sleep when they wanted to sleep, and didnât have to worry about their appearance. So simple, so good.\n
She touched the pit on her forehead unwillingly. As she touched it, she became angrier and angrier and picked up a dirt clump, throwing it into the grass.\n
The two little geese ran over, looking around, then drilled into the grass again.\n
So dumb.\n
Fu Rong felt better. Fortunately, she was smarter than them and wouldnât start peeing when she heard the slightest movement. \n
The thought just came when a silhouette was seen through the light, walking out of the forest. The shadow was big and tall, so it was clearly a man. Fu Rong only thought that he was a villager from a nearby village and looked over casually, but when she clearly saw the personâs appearance, she froze like a wooden chicken, her back suddenly feeling cold.\n
Xu Jin?\n
Prince Su, Xu Jin?\n
Were her eyes not looking at things properly or was she dreaming? Xu Jin, how could Xu Jin be here?\n
The man she was looking at, who looked very much like Xu Jin but didnât look as cold and strict as she remembered, walked towards her. Fu Rongâs palms started to sweat. In fact, when she had looked clearly at the personâs eyesFu Rong confirmed his identity, but she just didnât know how to react. This Xu Jin, was he a human or a ghost? Could it be that he blamed her for not remaining a widow and is now coming to take her life?\n
The more she thought of it, the more afraid she was. The more afraid she was, the more she didnât want to move.\n
She wore a draped hat, so Xu Jin couldnât see her appearance and only thought that a young girl was too mesmerized, like the noble ladies from the capital that he would occasionally meet.\n
This idea made him feel decently good.\n
âYou are the goose-releasing maid of the Fu family?â He glanced at the geese in the grass, asking in a low voice.\n
Fu Rong heard it, but also didnât seem to have heard it. She discovered that something on the ground was moving and looking over, it was the manâs shadow.\n
He had a shadowâŚâŚ\n
So heâs not a ghost, right?\n
Her frozen mind slowly started to recover. Fu Rong wanted to stand up, but her legs were too soft and she gave up on the idea, trying her best to ask back calmly, âYou are?â She turned her head towards the back door of the mansion. No one could be seen, which caused her to frown. Where were Nanny Sun and the others?\n
In Xu Jinâs eyes, the little girl was sitting there anxiously. He didnât know it was that she could care less about him or that she was showing him that she was special, so he said plainly, âI am a merchant who is passing by. I came here last night for a place to stay.â\n
Fu Rong blinked her eyes, finally understanding that the person who had come to stay for the night yesterday was him.\n
He had also come to her familyâs mansion in the previous life?\n
Fu Rong didnât know, so she asked with uncertainty, âSo itâs you, what do you, what do you need me for?â From her memory, Xu Jin was definitely not a person who would talk to a maid without a reason.\n
Xu Jin was silent for a moment, then suddenly threw a piece of a silver ingot at her feet, âTwelve taels of silver for an answer.â\n
Fu Rong looked at the ingot, thought for some time, but didnât pick it up, âYou speak first.â\n
âAfter entering the Jizhou Manor, I heard that the magistrate indulged the officers beneath him to break the laws and commit crimes. You are a maid of his family, have you discovered anything? If you can say any evidence, I will set you free, as well as give you a hundred taels.â\n
Fu Rong understood.\n
Xu Jin was passing through Jizhou and was inquiring about the peopleâs living conditions along the way.\n
At the end of next year, it was time for the officials to take a test analyzing their political performance over the past three years. In the previous life, her father had ordinary skills and had failed to become an officer in the capital and rather stayed in Jizhou to be a magistrate. Could it because of the nonsense rumors? Her father was innocent and couldnât stop people from slandering him. If any servants in the family gave false evidence because of their greed for money, it would inevitably be a hindrance.\n
Thinking of this, Fu Rong stood up. She kicked the ingot away, saying fiercely to Xu Jin, âNonsense, my, our master is a clean official. He has done many good deeds for the people of Jizhou and is praised by everyone. Who exactly are you, you actually want to bribe me into framing my familyâs master!â\n
People who didnât know had no fault. Since Xu Jin hid his identity from her, he couldnât become angry at her offensive words. Rather, the more she scolded him, the more it showed that her father was a good official. Even a servant of the family didnât like to hear slandering words.\n
Xu Jin stared at her in surprise.\n
It was the first time he had seen her lose her temper.\n
No, he still hasnât seen it.\n
Looking at the mansion and knowing that there was still a little bit of time left, Xu Jin suddenly walked forward and before Fu Rong could turn around and run away grabbed her arm, dragging her into his arms. He then threw off the draped hat and covered her mouth, all in one go.\n
Her waist was clamped tightly by the man. Fu Rongâs eyes widened in horror. What was he going to do!\n
(1)â Weimao: A hat worn by people of ancient China to cover up their faces. (copy and paste 帡帽 to see what it is)\n
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