Daily Life of a Powerful Official Supporting His Wife

Chapter 40

Chapter
Wu Cuizhan came to acknowledge her daughter, not to be lectured. As expected of a daughter raised by the Fu family, she now spoke with the demeanor and aura of a young lady from an official family. Who would believe her if she were told she came from a peasant background?

Wu Cuizhan naturally cannot lose her momentum. She is Cheng Lingyan's mother. No matter what, she is the flesh and blood of her belly. What can she do to Wu Cuizhan?

Therefore, Wu Cuizhan sneered and said to Cheng Lingyan, "Son, I know exactly where you have moles and scars on your body. If you don't believe that we are mother and daughter, you can shout it out. Master Fu knows about this matter. If you let it slip, your bloodline will be questioned, and no one can protect you!"

Hearing this, Cheng Lingyan was shocked. She stammered, "What nonsense are you talking about?! Are you saying... that grandpa also knows about this?"

"Hey, don't disbelieve it! Look, what is this?" Wu Cuizhan took out a piece of Hetian jade from her waist. It was engraved with the Fu family's seal. It was the treasure of the Fu family.

Upon seeing the jade, Cheng Lingyan was already 70% convinced. Master Fu wouldn't give a Fu family item to a family like this unless he truly had something to ask for. But since she wasn't a child of the Cheng family, why did he bring her back to the Fu family? Cheng Lingyan thought of her parents, who had died tragically in Tongzhou, and a chilling thought occurred to her. Could it be that Master Fu had summoned her to impersonate the deceased Cheng Lingyan to appease Madam Su?
So was Mrs. Su's granddaughter really dead or was she faking her death? Cheng Lingyan was in a state of confusion. She wanted to ask Mr. Fu, but she didn't dare to speak.

If what Wu Cuizan said was true, wouldn't she have fallen into the mire and been trampled upon by everyone? Then Fu Wan from the Second House would definitely sneer at her for being so shameless and relying on the Fu family for so many years! Cheng Lingyan couldn't afford to lose face like that!
She wanted to refute Wu Cuizhan, but was also afraid that she would tell the truth, so she decided to calm her down first! Cheng Lingyan gritted her teeth and asked Wu Cuizhan, "What do you want from me?"

After all, Cheng Lingyan was just a child, so it was normal for her to be so flustered. Wu Cuizhan was afraid she would panic and spill the beans back home, so she tried to comfort her, saying, "I don't mean to be hard on you. You've had such a great opportunity, so naturally I prioritize your future. It's just that I've had a hard time these past few years. You don't know how hard life is for people like us, who come from ordinary backgrounds!"

As she spoke, she began to wail in a mock manner. Cheng Lingyan was annoyed and asked, "What do you want?"

Seeing that she wasn't buying it, Wu Cuizhan figured there was no emotional connection between them, and that the acting was a bit fake. So she tucked her eyes in with her sleeves and said softly, "Mom, money is a little tight. We can't even afford to eat. I'd like you to help out your family."

OK, it turns out he’s a debt collector!

When had Cheng Lingyan ever been manipulated like this? She was furious, but she could do nothing about it. She took two deep breaths and asked angrily, "How much do you want?"

Wu Cuizan immediately smiled brightly and said, "Not much, not much, just five hundred taels!"

"Five hundred taels?! Why don't you just go and rob it?!" Cheng Lingyan's monthly allowance was only seventy or eighty taels of silver. It was only because Old Madam Su loved her that she gave such a large amount of money as a personal allowance to an unmarried girl.

You have to know that when an ordinary official's daughter gets married, the dowry at the bottom of the box is only two or three thousand taels of silver. It can be seen how black-hearted Wu Cuizhan is!
Seeing that she was determined not to give it to him, Wu Cuizan muttered, "I saw that you had already picked out two sets of jeweled head ornaments. One of them would cost about a hundred taels of silver, right?"

It turned out that she had seen everything and was coveting Cheng Lingyan's jewelry! That was Cheng Lingyan's private money that she had saved for a long time, and today she came to buy some jewelry to please herself. Cheng Lingyan was furious and gritted her teeth, saying, "Five hundred taels, I don't have it! One hundred taels is barely enough, it's up to you whether you want it or not!"

She had thought this would scare the scoundrel, but Wu Cuizhan had walked more roads than she had eaten meals, and she immediately shouted, "Great, my daughter is enjoying herself out there, and doesn't need her mother anymore! I'm going to the government office to file a complaint, and I want the Fu family to return my daughter to me!"

Wu Cuizhan's words scared Cheng Lingyan half to death. She quickly grabbed Cheng Lingyan and said with a sullen face, "Okay, you want some silver, right? I'll give it to you! Just wait behind the screen. If you make any noise, your silver will be gone!"

Seeing that she was willing to give the money, Wu Cuizan was overjoyed. She clapped her hands and said yes repeatedly, then quickly hid behind the screen.

Cheng Lingyan called the maid into the private room, her face flushed as if blood could drip out. She asked, "Go and call the shopkeeper over quickly and tell him to stop bunning my hair. I don't want to buy it anymore."

"Miss?! But this jewelry box is already stamped with the seal of the Jinyu Pavilion. It doesn't seem right to let anyone open it again." The maid was also embarrassed. She had just borrowed Cheng Lingyan's prestige to show off in front of the waiter and asked him to pack the jewelry properly! If she said she didn't want to buy it now, she would definitely be accused of pretending to be rich and had no shame.

"Sure you're such a talker! Hurry up and go!" Cheng Lingyan shouted angrily.

How could the maid dare to disobey her master's wishes? She could only go downstairs to find the shopkeeper. Interestingly, the two headpieces chosen by Cheng Lingyan were all bid for by the ladies of various families. The shopkeeper originally wanted to reduce the price and sell them to other ladies, but today he met Cheng Lingyan, a wealthy master. He even said to the official lady in a haughty manner, "A few days ago, my lady took a fancy to the red agate and kingfisher-inlaid headpiece with flowers and fruits. I told her that the price was not lowered, but you insisted on holding on to it. Today, Miss Cheng from the Fu family came and bought both headpieces at the original price. This is what real connoisseurs do!"

The shopkeeper sold the item, and only then did he have the nerve to confront the lady who had bargained for the price. But Cheng Lingyan said she didn't want it anymore, and she didn't even exchange it for a headpiece; she simply didn't want to buy it. Now, if the shopkeeper wanted to sell it to someone else, he probably wouldn't want it.

Isn't Cheng Lingyan just wasting people's time doing business?
The shopkeeper has been running the business in Kyoto for many years and has some family background and connections.

He was furious and went straight upstairs to Cheng Lingyan, saying, "Miss Cheng, this thing has already been paid for and stamped. You can just return it if you want. Isn't that unreasonable? Who can I sell it to now? Which lady would want it?"

Cheng Lingyan hadn't expected the shopkeeper to come to her door. She was so embarrassed she wished she could crawl into a hole. She coughed lightly and feigned composure, saying, "That's your business! The shopkeeper runs such a big shop, can't you possibly forbid people from returning a hairpin they haven't bought yet? If I don't like it, then I don't want it! Are you planning to argue with me and refuse to return my money? If you continue to cause trouble, I'll have to call my grandmother, the Princess of Qingping County, to the court to judge the case!"

Hearing Cheng Lingyan's sharp words, the shopkeeper, adhering to the principle that the people should not fight against the government, decided not to argue. He felt it was bad luck, and before leaving the private room, he coldly said, "If Miss Cheng doesn't want to buy hair ornaments in the future, don't let me go in and out to pick them for you. I have to run a business, too, and I have to find buyers to serve me!"

"You!" Even though Cheng Lingyan was furious, she had to admit that the shopkeeper was right. You had to buy something before the shopkeeper would be so attentive and attentive.

After the waiter returned the banknotes, Cheng Lingyan counted them and gave them to Wu Cuizan behind her maid's back. After Wu Cuizan left, she suddenly told the maid, "Go follow this woman and find out where she lives. I'm going back home and will wait for your news."

The maid was confused: "Miss?"

"Don't ask too many questions and don't talk too much, or I'll cut off your tongue!" Cheng Lingyan's eyes were fierce. The maid shrank her head and could only quietly follow Wu Cuizan.

In the carriage, Cheng Lingyan closed her eyes and took a nap. A daring thought suddenly struck her. If she got rid of Wu Cuizhan, wouldn't anyone know her identity? Wouldn't Wu Cuizhan come to her again and again to ask for money?

This is a great idea. Cheng Lingyan has a very cold heart. She doesn't care at all whether Wu Cuizhan is her biological mother or not. Anyone who stands in her way will die!
Cheng Lingyan learned Wu Cuizan's whereabouts from a maid. She secretly sought out bandits, paid them money, and had them set fire to Wu Cuizan and then loot her house. Wu Cuizan was not originally from Kyoto, so she had few relatives to seek justice for her. Everyone simply attributed her death to the rampant bandits. After a few days of panic, the matter was forgotten.

***
Days passed, and in the blink of an eye it was Mid-Autumn Festival. Three days before the festival, Lu Baoer sent people to Xie's house to buy a batch of fruits and other sacrificial offerings for the festival. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, people could set up small incense burners at home to worship their ancestors.

Mooncakes are eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival in Kyoto, just like in the countryside. However, they are different from those in rural towns. Unlike those in remote areas where mooncakes are all steamed into round shapes for convenience, they are pinched into diamond shapes with date paste or sour plum and walnut fillings in the middle. These mooncakes are used to offer sacrifices to the moon god, praying for peace and family reunion in the coming year.

Xie Junling was not of high rank, but all ministers of the fifth rank and above were required to attend the palace banquet to show His Majesty's love and respect for the court officials. For people like Xie Junling, His Majesty sent them a few jars of imperial wine, then let them go home and gave them a day off.

Xie Junling spent the Mid-Autumn Festival at his residence with Lu Baoer. He was used to getting up early, and when he opened his eyes, he saw Lu Baoer, huddled to one side like a cat, still asleep. His initial desire to get up faded. If he moved, it would be bad if he disturbed Lu Baoer.

Xie Junling looked at Lu Bao'er, who was sleeping on her side. He saw that the little girl had thick black eyelashes, a straight nose like a jade jewel, and red lips as red as blood, with a hint of red in her pink, which made him feel pity and love. He didn't know why, but he stretched out his finger and tried to touch Lu Bao'er.

When the slender fingertips were halfway there, Lu Baoer suddenly opened her eyes.

Xie Junling was quite embarrassed, but he was a shrewd man and would never show his joy on his face, so he slowly retracted his finger and pretended nothing had happened.

Seeing Xie Junling wake up, Lu Baoer forced a smile and called softly, "My husband, you're awake? Why didn't you call me? Oh, could it be that you were amazed by my charming sleeping face, so you took a closer look at me while I was sleeping?" Of course, this was a lie made up by Lu Baoer to tease Xie Junling.

Xie Junling, however, felt a tinge of guilt. Carefully avoiding Lu Baoer's gaze, he lowered his thick lashes, cupped his fist, and covered his lips with his hand. He coughed softly, "How could that be? I was simply surprised by how ugly you looked in your sleep. So, I laughed inwardly and forgot to call you."

"..." Lu Baoer was a little dissatisfied. She really wanted to break the rules and beat up Xie Junling!
"All right, get up. It's getting late. I'll call Nanny to get you dressed." As he spoke, Xie Junling had already leisurely gotten out of bed. Clearly having just woken, he still looked handsome and unrestrained, his clothes not wrinkled or disheveled at all. He always had this effortless manner, like a perfect, modest gentleman, seemingly unfazed by anything, much to Lu Baoer's annoyance.

Had Xie Junling ever panicked? Lu Baoer thought about it and realized she had never seen him panic. It was as if he had been adept at dealing with the ways of the world since birth, never once failing or miscalculating.

Xie Junling was washing up in the next room. As soon as he left, the old nanny and several maids filed in. Today was Mid-Autumn Festival, and the old nanny had picked some fresh osmanthus flowers early in the morning. She used copper wire to wrap the flowers into a hairpin and placed it in Lu Baoer's bun. She also added two balls of white rabbit fur with pearl tassels. She looked like a rabbit fairy who had sneaked down to the mortal world to eat the osmanthus mooncakes of the mortal world.

After Lu Baoer finished dressing, she picked up her red maple-patterned moonlit skirt and ran towards Xie Junling. She ran without any rules, fast and anxious, with a dazzling smile on her face, calling out, "Husband! Husband! Look!"

Xie Junling turned slowly, wanting to scold Lu Baoer for her impolite behavior. But when she smiled brightly and ran towards him without hesitation, Xie Junling, for some reason, seemed to be under a spell and opened his arms. A faint sense of anticipation welled up in his heart, as if he knew that the next moment he would be able to hold tightly in his arms the little person who had come all the way here.

He thought so and did so. Lu Baoer suddenly rushed into the warmest embrace, grabbed Xie Junling's clothes, and said to him in a soft voice: "Husband, do I look good like this?"

She turned around like she was presenting a treasure, showing Xie Junling the pearl flowers on the toes of her embroidered shoes and the elegant white hair on her head.

Seeing how much the little girl was looking forward to it, Xie Junling wanted to mock her for being as reckless as a wild monkey, but he swallowed it back. He said in a rare soft voice, "It looks good."

Lu Baoer was extremely happy. She clapped her hands repeatedly and said, "That would be great. Tonight, I'm going out with my husband to watch the fireworks and lanterns. Wearing this will not embarrass him."

Was it just to go out and show it to outsiders? Xie Junling felt a little dissatisfied.

He said in a cold voice, "After taking a closer look, I don't think it's very good. Especially the osmanthus hairpin on her head, which is a bit crude and too ordinary."

"Ah?" Lu Bao'er was stunned by Xie Junling's attitude of giving a sweet date and hitting with a stick. She was completely confused and whispered for a moment, "Husband, don't you like it? I originally wanted to pretend to be the Jade Rabbit to show him!"

Lu Baoer was really a little disappointed. She lowered her head, and her bright face suddenly became listless. She struggled listlessly from Xie Junling's arms, intending to go back to the inner room and ask the old nanny to change her clothes.

Seeing her about to leave, Xie Junling's remaining conscience pricked and he stopped her: "Wait a moment."

"Hmm?" Lu Baoer turned around and gave him a dead look.

Xie Junling frowned and said unnaturally, "Actually, this crude osmanthus also has some wild charm. There's no need to change it."

"Didn't my husband say he didn't like it?"

"No."

"What?" Lu Baoer's eyes suddenly lit up, and the corners of her mouth curled up like a crescent moon.

"I say..." Xie Junling raised his sleeve to slightly cover his Adam's apple and thin lower lip, pretending to be nonchalant, "I like it."

Lu Baoer was so excited that she almost danced on the spot after hearing Xie Junling's praise. She took Xie Junling's hand and said as they walked, "I was saying, with my looks, there's no hair ornament I can't wear to look beautiful. My husband is just too cautious. He thinks I'm pretty, but he doesn't dare to praise me out loud. This isn't good. We need to change it!"

"..." Hearing this, Xie Junling held his forehead with his hands, his head was as big as a bucket. He shouldn't have been soft-hearted!

Lu Baoer pulled Xie Junling into the living room, where breakfast was already set. Lu Baoer, impatient, had suddenly craved mooncakes, and for breakfast, the dishes were filled with a variety of different flavors of rhombus-shaped mooncakes.

Xie Junling poured himself a bowl of eight-treasure porridge. He didn't like sweets, so he didn't add sugar to it. There wasn't even a side dish to go with the porridge, which made it a little hard to swallow. But Xie Junling looked at Lu Baoer, who was picking at the mooncakes, and decided to forget it, so as not to spoil the fun.

Lu Baoer believed that sharing happiness is worse than enjoying it alone. She took a bite of the egg yolk mooncake and handed it to Xie Junling's lips, saying, "Husband, this is delicious. Try it!"

Xie Junling glanced at the mooncake in Lu Baoer's hand. A sharp corner had been eaten from it, and only a small bite of the egg yolk filling had been taken. It was obvious that she had tasted the filling and thought it was delicious, so she immediately brought it to his lips. However, with the maids watching from the side, it was not proper to eat with one's hands like this.

Xie Junling then glanced coldly around. The maids standing nearby, already afraid to look at the two masters at the table, now noticed the venomous, fierce gaze of a venomous python, spitting its venomous tongue to chase them away! In an instant, the maids tactfully retreated one by one.

There was no one around, so Xie Junling saved his dignity and face. He lowered his head with satisfaction and took a bite of the sweet mooncake that his little wife smiled and offered to him.

Only Lu Baoer belatedly realized and asked, "Eh? Where are all the maids?"

Xie Junling said slowly, "Maybe he's gone to serve cakes? Never mind. Is there anything else you want me to try? While I'm still in the mood for sweet cakes, I'll reluctantly have a couple of bites with you."

The implication is, what else do you want to feed? For my sake, feed me if you want to, just do it quickly.

Lu Baoer knew that Xie Junling didn't like sweets. When she thought that he agreed to try it just to avoid spoiling her fun, her heart felt like it was filled with honey, so sweet that she was infatuated.

Seeing Lu Baoer smiling, Xie Junling asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing. I just think my husband is a good man and treats me kindly."

"Oh." Xie Junling responded lightly, but in the dark, unknown to others, the corners of his lips slightly curled up.

Was it interesting to be praised by her as a good person?

Outside, the maids gathered in the corner to listen in, trembling in fear, eager to serve their master promptly, said, "How can they be kind? They're clearly wolves in sheep's clothing!"

After nightfall, Lu Baoer insisted on going out for a stroll on the bustling streets. She initially considered sending a maid from the mansion to accompany them, but Lu Baoer felt something was missing. After much persuasion, she finally convinced Xie Junling to go out with her. Xie Junling glanced at Zhu Sheng, who was perched on the eaves not far away, and figured that with Zhu Sheng's presence protecting them, nothing would go wrong, so he agreed.

In reality, Xie Junling was so easygoing because Lu Baoer had said, "Since we're going to see the lanterns, I naturally want to go with the person I love most. After much thought, my husband is the only person I have in mind."

She spoke so beautifully that Xie Junling couldn't refuse in any way, so he agreed.

However, the reason Lu Baoer said this was, of course, because Xie Junling was the head of the family! If she wanted to go out late at night, she naturally had to ask Xie Junling for permission. As the saying goes, you should flatter the horse on the butt, isn't that the truth?

As for whether he loved her deeply or not... Lu Baoer didn't figure it out either, but she knew that Xie Junling was like a girl who loved to hear sweet words, so she just lied to him.

Lu Baoer took Xie Junling's hand and went out with him. The streets outside the mansion were dark, requiring people to carry lanterns to light the way. Fortunately, today was Mid-Autumn Festival, and the streets were crowded with people. Everyone held a lantern with a flickering candle, illuminating the entire street as brightly as day, so it wasn't too dark.

Street vendors of all kinds took the opportunity to set up stalls to make money. There were stalls selling flower cakes, wonton stalls with boiling water pots on the roadside, and jewelry stalls selling handmade beads. There were all kinds of life and a dazzling array of things to see.

Lu Baoer pointed to a koi carp stall with a copper basin not far away and said to Xie Junling, "Husband, I want a koi carp. Please catch one for me."

Xie Junling glanced at her and asked, "Don't you feed the wild cats in your backyard? Aren't you afraid that the koi will be eaten if you keep them there?"

This question made Lu Baoer feel a little conflicted. She loved both cats and koi fish. If she couldn't have both, which one should she give up?
Xie Junling had long wanted to drive away the litter of wild cats that Lu Baoer had attracted with the dried fish, and he took this opportunity to let her break up with the old cat.

So, he patiently said, "Koi bring wealth and prosperity to your home. If you miss this opportunity, you'll miss it forever. Think carefully about whether you want to keep a wild cat or not."

Unexpectedly, Lu Baoer shook her head firmly: "Then let's not have the koi."

"Oh? You're a girl who cherishes old times." Xie Junling's words were either a mockery or a compliment. Lu Baoer couldn't tell, so she didn't ask. Lu Baoer smiled awkwardly, "I originally bought the koi to feed the cat, but my husband said it was a lucky thing that would bring wealth and fortune. If I gave it to the cat, I was afraid that killing it would bring bad luck and harm my husband, so I gave up."

Xie Junling snorted twice: "In your heart, I am slightly better than the wild cat?"

"My husband is naturally more important than a wild cat!" Lu Baoer thought that these words pleased Xie Junling, and she said with more certainty.

Xie Junling's face darkened, and he said coldly, "You are so good, Lu Baoer, comparing my husband to a wild cat of unknown origin?"

Lu Baoer shook her head in panic: "Husband, you are wrong!"

"Oh?"

"It's not just one...it's a whole nest!"

Xie Junling was so angry that he almost exploded. He clapped his hands and said, "Good, very good."

"..." Lu Baoer originally wanted to say "thank you", but seeing that Xie Junling's expression was not right, she didn't dare to say it.

Is Xie Junling suffering from autumn dryness today? Why is he so irritable all day? Lu Baoer thought she would definitely feed him a bowl of autumn pear soup to cool him down.

Xie Junling was sulking and walked for a quarter of an hour without paying any attention to Lu Baoer, let alone holding her hand.

Lu Baoer was feeling uneasy, but when she passed by a shop, she caught a glimpse of someone selling autumn pear soup and was overjoyed.

She said to Xie Junling, "Husband, please wait for me for a moment, I will be back soon!"

Although Xie Junling was angry, he didn't want Lu Bao'er to stay under his watch. Seeing her nimbly squeeze into the crowd like a loach, he immediately panicked: "Bao'er?! Where are you going? Come back here!"

But there were too many people here, and he couldn't see Lu Baoer at all. He hoped that the little girl was serious about her promise to come back soon, and that she wouldn't go too far.

Xie Junling stayed where he was, not daring to move. He was afraid that if he moved, Lu Baoer would have trouble finding him. He whistled and called Zhu Sheng, "Go find my wife for me."

"Yes!" Zhu Sheng leaped to the top of the roof in a few seconds and followed Xie Junling's order to look for Lu Baoer.

About a quarter of an hour later, Zhu Sheng came to report: "Master, I am incompetent and cannot find the lady."

“What?!” Even Zhu Sheng couldn’t find anyone?

Xie Junling panicked, his back sweat soaking through his shirt almost instantly. He closed his eyes and thought back to the time when Lu Baoer had just arrived in Kyoto and the Gu family had ambushed her carriage, leaving him unable to find her. Back then, he'd been heartbroken, wandering the cliffs in despair. The thought of the little girl he'd raised, perhaps dying alone somewhere, tore through his heart.

Xie Junling had sworn long ago that he would never give Lu Baoer the chance to leave him again, not even in this lifetime.

Xie Junling was furious and kept shouting Lu Baoer's name along the way: "Baoer?! Where are you! Come out quickly!"

At this moment, Lu Bao'er, desperately sought after by Xie Junling, was being dragged into a dark alley. She had originally intended to buy Xie Junling a bowl of autumn pear soup to reduce internal heat, but someone suddenly held a handkerchief smeared with knockout drug to her lips. The scent of the drug made her legs and feet go weak, and they took advantage of the situation and abducted her into this dark alley where no one could help her.

Lu Baoer was startled. She stumbled to her feet and walked all the way inside. She was most afraid of the dark and would always call Xie Junling when she got up at night. But today, in order to escape, she was no longer afraid of the dark.

The man behind him looked fat and strong, a muscular man. He grinned and said, "Whose young lady is this? I just happened to run into her. Judging from her delicate skin and tender flesh, she will definitely fetch a good price!"

Lu Baoer bit her lower lip and said loudly, "If you dare to touch a hair on my head, my husband will definitely tear you into pieces!"

The man was stunned for a moment, then laughed out loud. "Do you think I'm afraid of you? No matter which family you are from, you'll be sold far away from Kyoto. If you don't behave, you'll be beaten and starved. If you still don't obey, all you have to do is pull out your tongue. Why should I be afraid of you? If your family knows you've been abducted, they'll definitely be afraid that you'll lose your innocence! If they can't find you privately, they'll definitely say you died of illness. Who will care whether you live or die?! The adults in Kyoto value face more than life. You're just a girl. If you're gone, you're gone."

This was indeed the case for ordinary families. Every household had daughters, and no matter how much they loved them, they wouldn't let a girl bring disgrace to the family name. Some, even as this man had said, would eliminate her to avoid disaster. It seemed this man had done this more than once, and countless decent women had perished at his hands.

Lu Baoer was at her wit's end. She could only yell, "Husband! Save me! Husband! Where are you?!"

Although everyone was on the main lantern road tonight and no one paid attention to these minor details, the man was still afraid of unnecessary complications, so he stepped forward, roughly covered Lu Baoer's mouth, and yelled at her: "If you shout again, I'll break your neck!"

Lu Baoer refused to comply. Despite her young age, she was a fierce warrior. She pulled out her hairpin and stabbed it into the man's arm. In an instant, blood splattered everywhere, and the smell of blood almost blinded the man's eyes.

The man let go in pain, and Lu Baoer took the opportunity to escape and ran towards the bright road. Halfway through her run, she suddenly ran into a warm embrace. Lu Baoer suddenly looked up and saw that it was Xie Junling, and she immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing Lu Bao'er covered in blood and her hair disheveled, Xie Junling was instantly enraged. He called Zhu Sheng over coldly and said, "This fellow is so audacious! How dare he touch my people? Beat him until he is paralyzed, and then find a reason to send him to the authorities."

Xie Junling's words were cold and unkind, and it was the first time Zhu Sheng had seen him so violent. Zhu Sheng had a plan in mind, and after receiving the order, he pulled a dagger from his boot and had a good fight with the man.

Xie Junling gripped Lu Baoer's hand tightly, squeezing her wrist until it hurt. Lu Baoer frowned and snorted softly, startling Xie Junling so much that he asked anxiously, "Are you hurt anywhere?"

Lu Baoer shook her head: "No, it was my husband who pinched me and hurt me."

Hearing this, Xie Junling immediately let go. He pursed his lips and said nothing, pulling out a handkerchief from his sleeve and carefully wiping the blood off Lu Baoer's cheeks and neck. He wiped with extreme care, as if he didn't want Lu Baoer to have even a hint of someone else's scent on her.

"I'm glad you're not hurt." Xie Junling wiped his lips for a long time before speaking softly. He seemed to have just come to his senses, still in shock.

Seeing Xie Junling like this, Lu Baoer was also a little scared. She forced a smile, turned around in front of Xie Junling, and said, "Husband, look, I'm fine everywhere."

At this moment, Xie Junling suddenly reached out and held her in his arms, pressing Lu Baoer's head tightly. The girl's body was fragrant and soft, and only after he actually hugged her did Xie Junling feel a sense of peace in his heart.

Lu Baoer was startled by Xie Junling's unexpected embrace. Her cheeks burned, and she felt a bit bewildered as she felt Xie Junling's warm chest. What was wrong with him? He hadn't said a word just now, and now he was holding her in his arms again.

Lu Baoer carefully climbed onto Xie Junling's back. Through his clothes, she could actually notice that Xie Junling's usually straight back was trembling slightly.

Is he trembling? Is he afraid? Lu Baoer was incredulous and asked Xie Junling carefully: "Husband?"

Xie Junling held her for a long time before pretending to be calm and speaking: "I almost... lost you."

Lu Baoer's heart trembled as she suddenly remembered what happened this morning. She had always thought Xie Junling was a steady person, unperturbed by difficulties and obstacles. It turned out that this was not the case. Xie Junling also had moments of anxiety, especially when it came to things related to her.

Does this mean that Xie Junling particularly loves and values her? Lu Baoer chuckled softly and asked proudly, "Does my husband think highly of me?"

Despite encountering such a situation, it was a blessing that Lu Bao'er could still smile. Xie Junling was a little angry and said coldly, "No, I am just worried that my original wife has disappeared and I need to pay a betrothal gift to remarry. Nowadays, all the masters want money to bribe people. I am penniless and I am afraid I can't afford to marry another one."

"Oh..." Lu Baoer pouted, feeling very angry!
However, despite Xie Junling's words, he held her tighter and tighter, and even when they returned home, he did not loosen his arms around her waist. Lu Baoer was so embarrassed that she wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into!

Just as the two were about to return home, fireworks erupted outside. A tiny speck of starlight exploded in mid-air, shattering into a dazzling display of fireworks, like clusters of hydrangeas. The dazzling light illuminated everyone's heart and drove away the demons and monsters lurking in the dark alleys.

Lu Baoer wanted to see farther away, but she was short and couldn't see even after jumping several times.

Tonight has been ridiculous and lawless enough, one more thing is nothing.

Xie Junling suddenly stretched out his hand towards her and said, "Come here."

"Huh?" Lu Baoer was puzzled.

Xie Junling, however, took her up without permission, held her on his shoulders, and said, "Sit here and watch."

She took advantage of Xie Junling's power, sat high up, and could see far away, taking in the fireworks not far away.

Lu Bao'er had originally thought that Xie Junling was a flower on a mountaintop, sacred and inviolable. But seeing his miserable state today, she felt like a fallen immortal, fallen to earth. It turned out that Xie Junling, like her, had his own joys and sorrows, anger and happiness, and was just an ordinary person.

He was not born with a good temper, but he had to suffer a lot to develop the skills of being a cold-blooded devil who is unyielding and unyielding.

Tonight was like a dream, which made Lu Baoer stunned for a moment, not knowing what to do.

Did she become closer to Xie Junling? Yes and no?

Was Xie Junling really afraid of losing her? Seeing Lu Baoer being bullied, he revealed such a cruel look, a look she had never seen before.

Lu Baoer always felt...that she didn't seem to fully understand Xie Junling, and that her husband seemed to be hiding some secret that he hadn't told her yet.

But she really wanted to tell Xie Junling that she would not leave him easily.

After all, this world is not friendly to remarried women. Her husband is so good, she should cherish her first marriage. How could she think of leaving Xie Junling?

Thinking of this, Lu Baoer curled up the corners of her mouth and smiled.

She suddenly asked Xie Junling, "Husband, if I tell Mammy that you carried me on her shoulders, will she scold me for being rude?"

Xie Junling coughed lightly and said, "Private matters between husband and wife cannot be disclosed to outsiders."

"Oh, this is something only we two know?"

"Well," Xie Junling added, "Don't tell anyone about what happened tonight." No one would know that Lu Baoer had been captured by the criminals; he didn't want to attract any gossip. Fortunately, the man didn't do anything. If he had, Xie Junling and his family would have been killed as well.

Lu Baoer listened to Xie Junling's words and returned to the mansion. The old nanny saw that her clothes were disheveled and asked, "What happened to Madam?"

Lu Baoer looked in the direction of Xie Junling, smiled shyly, and said, "This is a private matter between my husband and me, and I can't tell anyone else."

A private matter between husband and wife? Old Mammy and Qiu Ju, after lifting Lu Baoer's sleeve and seeing the five finger marks left by someone's clenching fist, suddenly realized what was happening. They looked at Xie Junling with a cold, almost murderous gaze. They hadn't expected Xie Junling, a gentleman, to handle such a thing at home. He had to find a deserted place outside to do whatever he wanted. He was a complete beast!

The old nanny originally thought that Xie Junling was a gentleman and would at least wait until Lu Baoer was older before having sex. However, she didn't expect that he was a hypocritical man who seduced the little girl out to do evil things tonight!
The poor little girl was taken advantage of and had to help others count money. She was so easy to cheat!
Xie Junling frowned slightly at the unfriendly expressions on their faces. He recalled Lu Baoer's words and sighed deeply, unable to utter a word. What else could he do? He could only acquiesce.

At night, Lu Baoer and Xie Junling washed and changed their clothes, then lay down on the bed side by side. Lu Baoer thought about what happened before, and now she was a little scared after returning home. She whispered, "Husband, can I sleep on the same quilt with you tonight?"

Xie Junling was stunned, not knowing whether he should refuse out loud. But when he turned his head, he saw Lu Baoer with long black hair, looking at him pitifully, and his heart softened.

He closed his eyes and said calmly, "It's up to you."

Lu Baoer cheered and squeezed into Xie Junling's quilt, hugging him tightly.

She rarely gets this close to people, so if she likes someone, she will naturally hold them tightly in her arms!

Xie Junling felt a little uncomfortable being hugged so suddenly by her. He coughed lightly and scolded, "Let go and lie down obediently."

Lu Baoer was surprisingly stubborn, stiffening her neck and saying, "I won't!"

"Huh?" Dare you contradict him?

"I like my husband, so naturally I want to hug him." Lu Baoer said softly with a smile.

Xie Junling was shocked to hear Lu Baoer confess her feelings for the first time. He spoke slowly and hoarsely, "What did you say? You... like me?"

"Hmm!" Lu Baoer said proudly, "Yes, just like I like Abai, I will hug him every day!"

"Abai?" Xie Junling asked through gritted teeth. Where did this wild man come from?
"It's the most beautiful white cat in the litter of wild cats in my backyard!"

Xie Junling was furious and sneered, "Lu! Bao! Er!! In your eyes, liking me is the same as liking a cat? Hugging me is the same as hugging a cat?"

"That's not the case!"

"Ah."

"Cats are all fur, so they're more comfortable to hold."

As soon as Lu Baoer finished speaking, Xie Junling shook the quilt and shook her to the inside of the bed. He said coldly: "Go sleep on your own bedding. I'm not used to sleeping with you."

"..." Lu Baoer was stunned! Why did her husband, who had been so kind just a moment ago, suddenly turn so ruthless? It was obvious that all men were bad guys!

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(End of this chapter)