High-class Spring Joy

Just as Qinghe finished speaking, Chensha and Zheji, who were guarding the rooftop, sneezed together.

Okay, okay, those two aren't here. They're just air.

The two of them are best suited to look around.

"Zheji, you say the scenery looks nice, right? I think it's actually quite nice. I never thought there was anything special about this house before. Young Master wants us to come here every day, I don't know why. Is it to see the scenery? Or is it to protect Miss Qinghe? But Miss Qinghe seems to be very well-behaved, and there aren't any villains around. Besides, Young Master doesn't need to come here by himself."

Chen Sha said, "If it weren't for the fact that the young master deliberately revealed the news that Qinghe was living here to the fifth young master a few days ago, the fifth young master would probably still be in the dark. But I don't understand why the young master would reveal this news to the fifth young master. Does the young master want the fifth young master to know where Qinghe is living? It doesn't seem like it. The young master kept the news of where Qinghe was living and the news that Qinghe had left the Marquis's mansion a secret. The fifth young master didn't know. So why would the young master suddenly want the fifth young master to know? Does the young master have some kind of plan or scheme? My brain is really not very good. I can't figure it out. Can you figure it out? You're so smart, you can definitely figure it out. Explain it to me. We've been brothers for so many years. You've known for a long time that my brain isn't working properly. Just explain it to me. What if I ruin the young master's plans if you don't explain?"

Zheji didn't speak, only glanced at him, and after sighing three times, finally patiently explained: "First of all, we know that Miss Qinghe and the Third Young Master had no relationship before, right? But before, many people knew about Miss Qinghe and the Fifth Young Master. All the maids and servants in the entire Marquis's mansion knew that the relationship between Miss Qinghe and the Fifth Young Master was not simply that of master and servant. Miss Qinghe's identity was special. The special thing is that Miss Qinghe was bought from outside by the Old Madam. What was the purpose of buying her? To bring good luck to the Fifth Young Master. You should understand the meaning of 'bringing good luck,' right? You still can't figure it out, and you know how to write the words 'bringing good luck,' right? You know what it means, right?"

The young master's concern for Qinghe from the beginning was indeed due to his relationship with the Fifth Young Master; he felt he was acting as her elder brother. While Qinghe and the Fifth Young Master were engaged—though not a formal engagement—it was still an agreement. Regardless, Qinghe was at least a concubine in the Fifth Young Master's household, and the young master felt it was his duty as her brother to take care of her, since they were family.

But even you later realized that the young master had feelings for Qinghe, that he liked her, cared about her, and was interested in her. As for Qinghe... Although we don't know what Qinghe truly felt, we can now be certain that since she chose to leave the Marquis's mansion and no longer become the fifth young master's bride, we can know that Qinghe had given up on the fifth young master.

But the Fifth Young Master didn't see it that way. Perhaps he could indeed use his methods to keep Qinghe's whereabouts a secret forever, but if by chance he saw her or they met, something unexpected could happen. The reason the Fifth Young Master revealed Qinghe's residence to him was because he was certain the Fifth Young Master would come to her for a talk. If Qinghe still had feelings for the Fifth Young Master, there was still a chance to win her back. But if she no longer cared for him at all, she would definitely be upfront with him without hesitation. Therefore, hiding and concealing things was less effective than letting the Fifth Young Master and Qinghe talk face-to-face. This way, both the Fifth Young Master's and Qinghe's attitudes would be clear to each other, and the Fifth Young Master would know that he only wanted to confirm whether Qinghe truly had no feelings for him anymore.

At this point, Zheji chuckled, "As for why we were sent here, isn't it simple? Although Young Master was certain that Fifth Young Master wouldn't lay a hand on Miss Qinghe, especially not in front of so many people, we still wanted a foolproof plan. The most important goal is to protect Miss Qinghe from injury, so there can't be any risk. That's why we're here. As for other times, Miss Qinghe is still alone, living in this house, in this house so close to the city center. Would you feel at ease if you were in her shoes?"

As Zheji spoke, seeing Chensha deep in thought, struggling to understand, he shook his head helplessly and concluded:

"In short, from now on, whenever you see Miss Qinghe, you should bow properly and listen to her respectfully. Sometimes, you don't have to listen to what the young master says, but you must listen to what Miss Qinghe says. This is my best and most honest advice to you. Maybe you won't call her Miss Qinghe anymore in the future."

Chen Sha nodded, only having a vague understanding.

While the two were talking, Qinghe had already led Chu Jingxian to the kitchen.

"Young master, please sit down for a while and wait a bit. I'll cook another dish, it'll be ready soon."

After saying that, Qinghe started cooking. The clear, bright yellow rapeseed oil was poured in, and under the high temperature and the action of the iron wok, it gradually made a sizzling sound, with many small bubbles rising from it.

The plate in Qinghe's hand contained the vegetables he had washed. Seeing that the oil was hot enough, Qinghe poured the vegetables in, and a cloud of white steam immediately rose into the kitchen. The sizzling sound grew louder, as if it had exploded.

But the sound quickly subsided. After Qinghe added the simple seasonings and stirred it a couple of times, a very fragrant aroma wafted out.

In no time, Qinghe quickly finished stir-frying the vegetables, placed the plate on the table, and then served each of them a large bowl of rice.

The rice was plump and white. It was sent over by the Third Young Master. Qinghe fell in love with it after eating it once. She found that the rice was really good. Not only were the grains plump, but the cooked rice was also very soft, sticky and sweet. Qinghe could eat a whole bowl of it with just a plate of pickled vegetables.

The aroma of fresh vegetables mingled with the savory fragrance of roast chicken, and the sweet scent of rice wafted in front of them, filling the entire kitchen with a heartwarming and inviting atmosphere.

And there was the lively and vibrant little girl in front of me.

Sitting next to him, Chu Jingxian was indeed tempted and took the chopsticks that Qinghe handed him without even turning away.

Sold into the Prime Minister's mansion as a slave for ten years, Qingyuan took on a job to produce an heir for a death row inmate in order to redeem herself.

"Miss, please read the contents of this booklet carefully. Remember the tips for serving men. I'll also take this opportunity to talk to you about the rules."

"My young master is aloof and arrogant. No matter how he reacts, you don't need to concern yourself with it. Just do your best to serve him well."

"Just spend one night with the young master and you will receive one hundred taels of silver. If you can truly bear a child for my young master, you will receive one thousand taels of gold."

"..."

After reciting a long list of rules, Granny Jiang's gaze fell on Qing Yuan in front of her.

Qingyuan was chosen by Granny Jiang from a dozen or so girls with innocent backgrounds.

Her appearance could only be described as that of a girl from a modest family, but she was delicate in the right places and had a full figure in the right places, making her look like she was good at bearing children.

Most importantly, she has a personality that allows her to go all out.

Qingyuan responded with a "yes," then looked down at the booklet in her hand, which was filled with drawings of bedroom scenes.

Her pretty face flushed red, and even her fingertips turned red as she looked at it, but her gaze never left her, as she wanted to write down as much as possible.

Soon, night fell.

Qingyuan was taken to the prison with her face covered. Only after she was pushed through the door were the black cloths pulled off her face.

Inside the cell, only a single, finger-thick white candle burned, making it very dim. In the corner, a broad figure sat in the shadows.

Before Qingyuan could even stand still, a cold, deep voice came from the corner—

"go out."

Being kicked out as soon as you enter is really not a good start.

Qingyuan wouldn't leave easily without paying that hundred taels of silver.

Qingyuan, clutching the handkerchief in her hand, moved a little closer to the corner. Although she still couldn't make out the face clearly, she should be able to hear the voice:

"Young master, please don't misunderstand, I am not a bad person."

The tall figure in the corner remained silent, and the cell fell into complete silence.

That's a bit awkward.

After a long silence, Qingyuan touched her nose and sat down on the ground next to her. It wasn't the cold stone slab she had imagined; it was just the right firmness and not cold at all.

She reached out and touched it, only to find that it was padded with a thin, soft cushion.

When Qingyuan was a child, she went to prison with her mother to visit her father who had been sentenced to prison. She remembered that the prison was dark and gloomy, with the smell of blood mixed with various rotten and damp odors.

It was completely different from what she saw before her.

In this world, the rich and powerful even have to go to jail in such an unusual way.

As Qingyuan was thinking, that cold, sharp voice rang in her ear again: "Get out!"

Qingyuan snapped out of her daze and looked at the corner: "I was sent here to carry on the young master's lineage. I can't leave until my mission is completed."

The person in the corner seemed taken aback by her directness, their tone tinged with surprise: "You?"

Qingyuan continued to look at him, seemingly unconcerned: "Did I say something wrong?"

The man was silent for a moment, his tone still cold and somewhat unnatural: "You... how can a young lady who hasn't even married yet... how can you so casually utter those four words?"

Which four characters?

Qingyuan paused for a moment before realizing that he meant the phrase "to carry on the family line".

She not only has to talk about it, but she also has to do it later.

She didn't argue with him: "If you don't like it, young master, I won't say anything."

As a maid, you should talk less and do more; just do your job well and get paid.

The man seemed to sense her disapproval: "You seem to have an objection?"

"I dare not."

I dare not…

The woman's gentle and soft voice reached Chu Jingxian's ears, and he effortlessly caught the numbness and calmness in those three words.

He muttered, "Speak if you have any objections."

Qingyuan: ...Is it important to talk now?

Seeing that she didn't speak, his voice turned colder: "Speak."

Unable to resist, Qingyuan finally spoke up: "Why can't we talk about carrying on the family line? In this city of Hangzhou, from lowly servants and commoners like myself to all the young masters and ladies, even you, sir, of noble status, are all carrying on the family line. It's a very common thing, and I've never said it in public. Since I've taken on this job, I naturally have to make it clear to my employer. I don't think there's anything I can't say."

After she finished speaking, Qingyuan noticed that the corner had fallen silent, and she couldn't tell what their reaction was.

That's perfect, she wasn't just there to keep people company.

The contents of the pamphlet she had just read came to her mind like a flood.

Since she had accepted the job, she had to do her best to live up to the money the client had given her. Qingyuan naturally understood this principle.

Ultimately, it was the first time this young woman had ever been in a sedan chair.

Qingyuan cautiously turned around and looked at that corner, bit her lip, and moved towards it step by step.

Before she even reached him, just as she touched the hem of his clothes, her hand was suddenly gone, brushed back by someone.

Qingyuan tried to remind him, "Young master, this is my job..."

The man seemed to scoff, "A fine job... for money?"

Qingyuan thought to herself, what else could it be for?

I may think about it, but I won't say it outright.

"What you say is true, young master." Qingyuan moved two steps closer to him and tugged at his clothes, even harder than before.

The next moment, he was pulled away again.

She was clearly just going through the motions, and he threatened, "If you don't tell me, I'll throw you out like a thief."

Qingyuan's hands were empty: "I work for money, and I take on jobs for money too."

"You don't shy away from it at all."

Chu Jingxian snorted coldly. The women who had been sent in before were full of admiration and willingness, but she was a little more frank.

Qingyuan stared straight ahead, but her hands didn't touch the pizza. She grabbed the hem of her shirt again and tried to touch it little by little: "A taboo? What's there to be taboo about? In this world, how many people, rich or poor, can remain unmoved by money? The rich may be rich, but they are also thinking about how to earn more money. Human desires are endless. The poor work, farm, or do all sorts of jobs, repeating the same routine day and night, year after year, all just to earn some money to make a living. I am no exception. I need money, I want money. I earn money through my own legitimate means, and there's nothing shameful about it."

The woman's voice remained soft and gentle, her tone calm and composed, without the slightest hesitation or reluctance, like a still stream, flowing gently and quietly.

These words were somewhat unexpected for Chu Jingxian.

He was surprised by her argument; he hadn't expected this woman to have her own insights, which was quite rare.

Chu Jingxian was stunned. He felt someone tugging at his sleeve. He instinctively tried to brush it away, but his palm felt cold. He touched a piece of cool, delicate skin, like a woman's hand.

Qingyuan noticed it too, her hand trembled, and just as she was about to grasp it, the warm hand became even hotter, as if it had been burned by fire, and she hurriedly withdrew it!

How come he shrank back faster than her?

Chu Jingxian frowned in annoyance, still ignoring the owner of the voice.

Another woman sent in by the Marquis's mansion to carry on the family line!

Did he really think Chu Jingxian was going to die here?

This is utterly absurd!

He assumed she would send the same things as before, and realizing he had made a fool of himself, he left dejectedly.

Unfortunately, the one sent in this time seems to be incredibly stubborn.

For every moment he remained silent, she would repeat that sentence as many times as he remained silent.

He's really stubborn.

The figure in the corner remained unresponsive.

Qingyuan remembered that the nanny had said she could get a hundred taels of silver, and she was unwilling to give up easily. She looked up at the man and said, "I just turned 18 this year. Although I come from a humble background, I am absolutely virgin. Before I came, the nanny had a doctor take my pulse. I am healthy and have no hidden illnesses... I have also learned a lot of ways to serve men... Please, young master..."

Chu Jingxian frowned even more deeply. After a moment's pause, his voice was low, hoarse, and cold: "How much money did the Marquis's mansion give you?"

What could possibly make a young, innocent woman so devoted to begging him to have a death row inmate carry on her family line?

Silence fell before her, and she remained silent for a long time, as if she were feeling guilty and nervous, or perhaps frightened by his agitation.

Chu Jingxian snorted coldly, his tone mocking: "One hundred taels? One thousand taels? Or ten thousand taels?!"

He thought the woman would be scared away by his barbed and irritating words, but she only remained silent for a moment…

There was a soft rustling sound, followed by a "thud," which sounded like a heavy object hitting the ground.

"This money may not mean much to you, young master, but I really need it. Please, young master, give me a chance. Please grant my request!"

It was still the familiar female voice, but it was mixed with sobs that hadn't been there before. She seemed to be trembling uncontrollably as she spoke, due to her emotional excitement and nervousness.

This emotion is very similar to that of the refugees who, when Chu Jingxian went to provide relief to the disaster victims, had lost their families and had no hope of survival, and could only kneel at people's feet begging for alms. The same despair, the same urgency, the same sincerity.

Chu Jingxian never considered himself a soft-hearted person, but the woman's soft, trembling sobs sounded like a newborn kitten scratching at his heart with its tiny paws.

Chu Jingxian was annoyed by her crying.

Qingyuan was truly at her wit's end and was about to try again when that low, husky voice exploded in her ear:

"come over!"

Qingyuan immediately stopped crying and rushed forward, and he came into full view of her.

His face was pale and handsome, with deep features, a high and straight nose, and thick, red lips. His eyes and eyebrows were covered by a long, dark scarf. Even in prison clothes, he could not hide his arrogant and noble temperament.

Yes.

In the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion, the third young master, Chu Jingxian.

The next second, Qingyuan was pulled by the wrist and fell into his arms.

Qingyuan was somewhat flustered, but he had clearly given her a chance, and she wouldn't let it go easily. She reached out to unbutton his clothes.

She had studied it before, but it was her first time, so she was inevitably nervous and made a few mistakes while unbuttoning her clothes.

Chu Jingxian seemed to notice her nervousness and chuckled, "Didn't you say you had studied it?"

"Yes... I learned it from the old lady." Qingyuan couldn't help but blush.

Her hands continued moving downwards until they touched his burning hot abdomen, at which point she subconsciously withdrew them.

Immediately, he grabbed her wrist and said mockingly, "What, scared?"

The man's aggressive aura enveloped her completely, his hot breath brushing against her forehead. Though he was only holding her wrist, it felt as if he had her completely imprisoned, unable to escape.

Qingyuan swallowed nervously.

As if sensing her embarrassment, he, like a hunter teasing his prey, couldn't help but chuckle at her clumsy antics, and a hearty, unrestrained laugh rang out:

You still have a chance to back out.

Qingyuan, her blood boiling from his laughter, felt a surge of anger. She touched his lips with her fingertip and said, "I will never go back on my word."

Her slender arms wrapped around his shoulders like water snakes, and she pressed her ear to his ear, giving him a light kiss...

Chu Jingxian was never a pushover, nor did he possess that much overflowing kindness, but—

She was too soft, too warm, and ultimately, she completely awakened the beast hidden within Chu Jingxian. Chu Jingxian was furious, his jawline tightened, and his features became even sharper and deeper. Although a long, thin, dark scarf was tied around his eyebrows, it could not conceal the murderous aura emanating from him.

If he were blind, he would have found the woman long ago to vent his anger.

"Yes."

Chen Sha agreed, his shoulders shaking as he suppressed a laugh. They had protected His Highness the Crown Prince all night as the young master had instructed, but who would have thought that when they returned in the morning, the young master would be lying in the prison, his clothes disheveled.

The place was a complete mess, with the straw covered in sticky white residue. It looked as if the person had been thoroughly molested.

Having been drugged and raped by a woman, it's no wonder the young master wanted to kill her.

They fell silent.

Qingyuan's heart jumped to the top of her lungs!

No, we shouldn't stay here any longer; the longer we stay, the more dangerous it will become.

Before she could move, a strong force grabbed her shoulder and pulled her out from behind the artificial hill!

"Speak, who are you?!"

Those who have trained in martial arts are incredibly strong; it felt like they were about to crush her shoulder blades.

Qingyuan winced in pain. "I am... a maid in the Fifth Young Master's courtyard. I couldn't see clearly at night and got lost, which is why I ended up here..."

Chen Sha turned her head: "Young Master, she said she's from the Fifth Young Master's courtyard?"

"Oh?" Chu Jingxian chuckled, seemingly intrigued, and casually said, "Bring it over."

Qingyuan was brought before Chu Jingxian by Chensha, and she didn't dare to look up at him.

"Chu Jingyu's people?"

Little did she know, Qingyuan's chin was suddenly and gently pinched and lifted.

Rough, hot fingertips caressed her face, from her chin to her lips, nose, and then to her cheeks and forehead, giving Qingyuan goosebumps.

Even though he couldn't see her, his fingertips licked her like a snake's tongue, easily scrutinizing her entire being.

Qingyuan tensed up completely, her blood seemed to freeze, and she didn't dare to breathe.

Chu Jingxian seemed to sense her nervousness and chuckled, "You seem... afraid of me?"

Qingyuan froze completely.

I'm scared, I'm so scared!

One wrong move and you're torn to pieces. Who else are you afraid of but him?!