The Soldier of the Red Mansion

Chapter 143 Surprising
The weather in April was warm and comfortable. Wang Xin came back from the military camp covered in sweat. Qingwen asked him to take off his coat and change into new clothes. New clothes were hung on the clothes rack. Wang Xin was wearing a white jacket and trousers, sitting at the table drinking tea.

When I heard footsteps outside, I thought it was Qingwen coming back, but after she entered the room, there was no sound. I turned around and saw Ping'er standing under the curtain in a daze.

She wore a light green skirt with dark peony patterns, a green silk jacket, and a gold belt around her waist, which made her figure look slim.

Why is it Ping'er?

Wang Xin reacted, stood up and said with a smile: "Miss Ping'er, why are you here?"

When Ping'er saw Mr. Xin's appearance, a hint of blush appeared on her face. Although Ping'er always had a lot of ideas, she was actually much more timid than Qingwen. She mustered up the courage to step forward and put the food box she was holding on the edge of the table.

I wanted to remain calm, but the words I spoke came out in a muffled and unnatural voice.

"Grandma asked me to bring food to Master Xin."

Before he could finish his words, they became slurred and incomplete, and he felt more and more ashamed the more he spoke.

Wang Xin was a head taller than Ping'er. He saw that Ping'er's black hair was tied up with a silver hairpin, which was made into an exquisite willow leaf hairpin and a magnolia was pinned on it. She looked fresh, beautiful and elegant.

As Ping'er's mouth opened and closed, her earlobes swayed, and the pair of silver butterfly earrings swayed.

The attracted gaze gradually moves downwards.

Delicate facial features, cherry lips that were pure and red, and a small nose that seemed to have the fragrance of orchids. It seemed as if he could smell the faint fragrance of Miss Ping'er. Because of its faint fragrance, Wang Xin couldn't help but sniff.

Ping'er didn't dare to continue speaking, for fear of appearing timid. She pretended to be calm and opened the lid of the food box. She took out the snacks in the food box with her delicate hands, arranged them neatly, and just took out a plate of pastries.

The room was quiet at this time. She could clearly hear a man's breathing next to her ear. Ping'er felt a sudden tingling in her earlobe, which scared her so much that her hand slipped and the plate in her hand was about to tilt.

"How embarrassing."

Wang Xin was quick-witted and quick-handed. He subconsciously reached out and just held Ping'er's hand, so that the plate did not fall and none of the white pastries inside fell out. He just felt the softness in his hand and couldn't help but pinch it.

Although Ping'er was a maid, she had lived a life of luxury since childhood and was Wang Xifeng's personal maid, so she had never done any work.

Her little hands were so tender and smooth that they seemed boneless. How could she withstand Wang Xin's grip? She tilted in pain and fell into Wang Xin's arms. Not knowing why this happened, Ping'er blushed with shame.

Wang Xin looked inside her collar and saw that Ping'er's neck was red.

He quickly supported Miss Ping'er, making sure she was standing firmly, and placed the plate on the table. Then he let go of her hand and took a step back. The faint fragrance and subtle warmth also disappeared with her.

"Is everything okay?"

Wang Xin pretended to be calm, otherwise, Miss Ping'er might not be able to remain calm either.

Ping'er forced a smile, the small white teeth between her red lips licking her beauty, and her voice trembled slightly, almost inaudibly, "This is the Jade Bean Cake that Grandma specially asked someone to make. There's also chestnut cake underneath. Although the name is ordinary, it's very complicated to make, with many steps."

She was so absorbed in introducing the food that she seemed to be paralyzed herself, unlike the clever and skillful girl Ping'er in the past.

I originally thought it was not such a coincidence. How could I have come here when Mr. Xin was there? If Mr. Xin was not there, and I had completed my mission, grandma might have changed her mind in a few days. I didn't expect it to be such a coincidence.

Ping'er was at a loss, her head was in a mess, and she didn't know what to do.

Like a peeled egg, it breaks at the touch of a finger, yet hides endless tenderness.

Wang Xin thought about it, then suddenly reached out and pressed Ping'er's tender shoulders. Ping'er shuddered and stared at Wang Xin blankly, as if she understood nothing and let others manipulate her.

Pressing Miss Ping'er onto the chair, Wang Xin took two steps back.

"Miss Ping'er, what happened today?"

Wang Xin asked with a smile.

As he spoke, he picked up the teapot on the table, poured a cup of warm tea into the cup, and then placed it in front of Ping'er.

Ping'er subconsciously held up the teacup with both hands and took a sip gently. She seemed to have thought of something: where she came from, what she was doing here, and where she was going. Ping'er slowly put the teacup back.

"Lord Xin."

Like a kitten, so pitiful and heartbreaking.

Wang Xin waved his hand and said with a smile, "Nothing's wrong. What could possibly happen? Why are you so panicked today? You look as if the sky is falling. Even if the sky falls outside, there are still men to hold it up. Why are you so worried?"

Wang Xin asked himself if he was a bootlicker.

Love women.

Be fair.

But in today's era where men work outside and women work inside, it is only natural that men take care of the outside affairs and women take care of the inside affairs.

Besides, this is an era that values ​​family over individual. Everyone holds the concept of family in their hearts. Wang Xin also benefited from the blessing of his family. The word "Wang" has brought him some conveniences, so there is no need to deny it.

Whether it is Mrs. Wang, Aunt Xue, or even Aunt Zhao.

Everyone regards their mother’s family as their own country.

As long as it didn't cross the bottom line, Wang Xin didn't think it would be a big deal, so he spoke out to comfort her.

It's also a coincidence.

Even a proper young lady from a wealthy family like Wang Xifeng doesn't feel safe, let alone maids like Ping'er and Qingwen. No matter how good their status and treatment are, they are still maids. Ping'er was already confused and helpless, otherwise she wouldn't have humiliated herself like this.

I didn't want to be the second master's concubine back then.

It was my grandma who made me do it. And now it’s me again.

Ping'er was frightened at first, then panicked, and then shy. But after hearing what Mr. Xin said, she was moved. Although she was still trembling, she was not so panicked and actually cried.

Crying means that your emotions have recovered.

"Master Xinxin, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cry."

When things came to this point, Ping'er knew that she had messed up and was afraid that Mr. Xin would be unhappy, but she couldn't control her tears. She apologized with tears in her eyes, looking pitiful.

"Go ahead and cry. It's not wrong to cry."

Wang Xin rarely carried a handkerchief with him, so he went to the box next door to find one, then walked over to Ping'er and handed it to her.

Ping'er wanted to say that she had it, but after hesitating for a moment, she took it silently.

Only after Ping'er calmed down did Wang Xin ask what happened.

Ping'er choked with sobs and finally explained everything to Wang Xin.

It turned out to be Wang Xifeng's beauty trap.

"This Feng girl is really brave." Wang Xin sighed.

"Master Xin, please don't blame Grandma. Grandma has no other choice." Ping'er complained to Jia Lian, explained, and said bitterly: "If Second Master had cared about people, Grandma would not have done this."

Seeing Ping'er's appearance, Wang Xin stopped talking about Wang Xifeng.

Ping'er is clearly the victim, but she speaks for Wang Xifeng. It is not a simple matter of good or evil. People are complicated. It is not that simple to say that Wang Xifeng has no feelings for Ping'er, or that Ping'er has no feelings for Wang Xifeng.

"Go back and tell Feng girl that there is no need to worry about the Wang family. As long as you don't do anything wrong and you are right, you don't have to be afraid of others." Wang Xin instructed.

Ping'er asked, "Can Master Xin support Grandma?"

"I don't cause trouble, but I'm not afraid of trouble either. But make it clear to me, don't come to me if you do anything that is against the law." Wang Xin warned.

After he finished speaking, the room became quiet again.

After talking about what happened just now, the atmosphere not only did not ease, but became more ambiguous. Ping'er was sitting at the table, and Wang Xin stood up in front of her. Her eyes fell on Wang Xin's belt, and she wanted to look up at him.

Wang Xin also felt that it was inappropriate and moved to the side.

Both of them obviously noticed each other's thoughts. Ping'er couldn't help feeling shy, lowering her head and staying there for a moment until Qingwen came back. Qingwen was also shocked to see Ping'er in the room.

Ping'er hurriedly left a few words and fled away.

Seeing the cakes on the table, Qingwen couldn't help but sniff and asked curiously, "Why did grandma ask Miss Ping'er to bring cakes for no reason?"

Wang Xin spread his hands and said, "I don't know."

Qingwen snorted, then laughed, "Second Madam is so kind to her family."

At this time, it was already evening. Qingwen thought of something and took out a lantern from the house and sent it out.

Ping'er was walking alone in the garden with a lantern.

The Grand View Garden was very large. When we arrived at the garden gate, we saw that the corner door was ajar and not yet bolted.

At this time, there was no one coming and going in the garden. Only the lights in the class's room were dim, and the moon was shining brightly.

Ping'er had no one to accompany her. She was alone, holding only a lantern, and her steps were light, so no one in the class paid any attention to her.

As it happened, he had been nervous for a long time and needed to urinate, so he went down the path and looked for a place with some grass. He walked to a lake and rocks and hid under the shade of a big osmanthus tree.

Just after turning the stone, I heard the sound of clothes, which scared me a lot.

Looking closely, he saw two people there. When they saw Ping'er coming, they tried to hide in the bushes behind a rock.

Ping'er was sharp-eyed and took advantage of the moonlight to spot a tall and sturdy woman wearing a red skirt and with a bun. It was Siqi from Yingchun's room.

Ping Er thought she and the other girls were also there to relieve themselves, and that they were hiding and trying to scare her when she saw her coming. So she laughed and called out, "Siqi, if you don't come out quickly and scare me, I'll cry out and pretend to be a thief. You're such a grown-up girl, and you can't get enough of playing around all day and night."

This was Ping'er's joke, asking her to come out.

But the thief was too timid to believe that Ping'er had seen her from head to toe. She was afraid that if she cried out, it would make the situation worse. Moreover, Ping'er was a kind person, and she was also familiar with her. So she ran out from behind the tree, grabbed Ping'er, knelt on her knees, and said, "Sister, please don't cry!"

Ping'er didn't know why, so she hurriedly pulled her up and asked with a smile, "What do you mean?"

Siqi's face flushed and tears began to flow again.

Ping'er thought again and realized that the figure looked vaguely like a servant. She guessed about 80% of the answer. She thought about her own experience. Although it was not like that, it was also like that. After all, it was something she could not tell anyone.

Ping'er blushed with shame and remained speechless for a long time.

Ping'er didn't say anything, and Siqi just kept crying. If someone saw them, she was afraid that Ping'er would tell others.

Another moment passed.

Ping'er was sobered by the cold wind and asked quietly, "Who is that?"

(End of this chapter)