High-class Spring Joy

"It's rice, noodles, and oil all at once. Thank goodness the young master instructed us not to let Miss Mango find out easily. That's why the young master didn't let us send everything over at once. If you had sent all those things over together, it would have been a miracle if Miss Mango hadn't found out."

As Zheji spoke, he rubbed his shoulder and sighed. Chensha, who was beside him, listened and pondered, "Why do you think the young master is so worried about Miss Mango? He's prepared so many things for her. I thought that although it's fine for Miss Mango to leave the manor, how could someone as smart and virtuous as her not take good care of herself? Besides, the rice, flour, and cooking oil that the young master sent can be bought anywhere. Why bother?"

Zheji, standing beside him, raised an eyebrow, glanced at the person next to him, and sighed, "There are some things that people like you can't understand, so don't bother trying to understand them. You'll never figure them out no matter how much you think about it."

Chen Sha scratched his head, not dwelling on it, but sighed, "Back in the day, when we were wielding knives and guns, we weren't exactly guarding the frontier, but we were still doing things involving knives and guns. When we infiltrated the palace, we completely outmaneuvered all the imperial guards. And yet, with skills like ours, you've assigned us to carry rice, flour, vegetables, and meat? Doesn't the young master think that's a waste of our talents and an overreaction?"

Zheji rolled his eyes at him: "You can say that yourself. Carrying rice, flour, vegetables, and meat, as long as it's for Mango Girl, I'm happy to do it. I wish I could do this every day. I'd love to. You're willing to get your hands dirty and use weapons. You don't even realize how important Mango Girl is to you."

"Ah... I understand... You mean, Mango Girl..." Chen Sha seemed to suddenly understand after hearing Zhe Ji's words, raising her hand and looking at Zhe Ji in front of her: "Mango Girl is your sweetheart??"

Zheji, who had been looking forward to it, rolled his eyes so hard he wanted to slap him right then and there.

At this point, would Chen Sha rather say that she likes Mango Girl than speculate about the young master?

He was momentarily unsure whether to say that the person in front of him was hopeless, or that his young master's feelings were not being expressed clearly enough.

Mango Girl didn't know that it was a case of being blinded by a leaf, but Chen Sha didn't know that, so it was simply that Chen Sha was foolish.

-

Mango slept soundly through the night, without a single dream. It's rare for a day out of 365 days a year to be completely dreamless and sleep so peacefully until the morning.

At dawn, pheasants crow, and pedestrians and vehicles on the road gradually awaken.

Mango's idea for today is to go to Hongxiuzhao and discuss the specific plan with Hu Shisi Niang after she finishes packing. After all, although she mentioned it yesterday, it was only a general idea, and the details of its execution still need to be discussed carefully.

Mango wasn't in a hurry. As soon as she finished washing up, she went into the kitchen to see what kind of food was left. Because she had been busy cleaning the house yesterday, she hadn't bought much food, just enough for a few days. She had already eaten yesterday, so she didn't know what was left. Mango wanted to go in and take a look.

Mango was just thinking when she reached the rice bin and noticed something was wrong. What was going on with the vegetable storage area next to the rice bin...?

Why is there such a huge pile of all kinds of green vegetables? There are even various kinds of meat on the table, beef, pork, and mutton. Although it's not a lot, it's enough for her to eat for more than ten days.

Mango was stunned. She didn't remember buying so many groceries.

The vegetables were not only plentiful, but also incredibly diverse, including common vegetables like potatoes, radishes, cucumbers, and bok choy. Mango felt like she was having a memory lapse; she didn't remember seeing so many things when she cleaned the kitchen yesterday, nor did she buy so much stuff. Where did all these vegetables and meat come from? Did they just appear out of thin air?

Could it be that she's pregnant and has a bad memory, and she remembered it wrong?

That can't be. Even if she misremembered, she couldn't possibly misremember such a large dish and such a large piece of meat, let alone...

These days, I wouldn't buy so many mangoes at once. I'd buy enough for a few days at most, and then buy more when I've finished them. It's a waste to leave too many on the shelf.

Mango, not believing in superstition, hesitantly went to look at the rice bin next to her. As soon as the lid was opened, the rice inside immediately spilled out. Mango looked at the rice bin full of rice...

Mango was really deep in thought. Had she really misremembered? Or was there something wrong with her eyes? Was she still half asleep?

Mango turned and walked out of the kitchen, wandering around her small house. She found that apart from a bunch of extra things in the kitchen, there was nothing else wrong.

Mango went to check the back door again. It was locked very tightly. Mango kicked it with all her might, but the door only moved twice.

The door is very sturdy; there are no signs of it being opened from the outside and locked from the inside. So even if it was forcibly opened from the outside, why would it be locked from the inside when you went out?

Mango couldn't understand it. She wandered around the house several times, but couldn't find anything suspicious.

Mango suddenly remembered what the servant had said before: there might be something wrong with this house, otherwise Peach Blossom wouldn't have sold it for such a low price. Although this location isn't exactly prime real estate, it shouldn't be worth one tael of silver for 12 months.

Mango couldn't understand it at first. Could it be that the house was haunted, something was wrong with it, it was dangerous, there was something wrong with it, something strange about it, which was why no one could rent it out...

Peach Blossom saw that she wanted to rent it, so... she quickly sold it?

Mango stood there, bewildered, in front of her overflowing rice bin, unable to understand what was happening. Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Peach Blossom's voice called out, "Miss, Miss!!"

As soon as Mango recognized Peach Blossom, she immediately turned around and ran to open the door for her, then took her hand and led her to the kitchen.

"Look at this house, it's so strange. I didn't buy this much groceries, meat, or rice yesterday. Why did I wake up this morning to find the kitchen overflowing with stuff? Where did all this food, meat, and rice come from? I checked the doors and windows and there's no sign of damage, so I can rule out someone breaking in. Could it be that this kitchen is spewing things out of the house on its own?"

Mango brought up the idea, and she felt it was absurd as soon as she said it. The problem was that Mango couldn't think of any other possibilities right now, so she could only turn to look at the peach blossoms next to her.

Peach Blossom stared at the vegetables, meat, and rice container in front of her, stunned for a moment, almost overwhelmed by the overflowing rice.

This house belongs to the Third Young Master, so he naturally has the key to it. But surely the Third Young Master wouldn't do something like this?

wrong.

Peach Blossom is a broker, and one of the biggest businesses of brokers is matchmaking. The more matchmakers do, the more sensitive they become to certain things.

Including...romantic relationships.

When the Third Young Master entrusted her to rent the house to Miss Mango, Peach Blossom had already sensed something was wrong.

Peach Blossom had handled many commissions under the Third Young Master, but this was the first time she had seen him so attentive to a girl, so attentive that he wanted to give her a house and even considered whether she would feel any pressure.

Peach Blossom keenly sensed the difference, and the Third Young Master treated Mango Girl very differently.

Even with this understanding, Peach Blossom was still stunned when she saw the kitchen in front of her filled with vegetables, eggs, meat, and rice.

no…

Why can't the Third Young Master give it openly and honestly?

Because the Third Young Master didn't want Miss Mango to know that it was he who gave it to her?

And why? Was it because the Third Young Master didn't want to put pressure on the Mongolian girl, or did he know that the girl wouldn't accept the gift if she knew it was from him?

This is the first time I've ever seen someone try to be nice to a girl in such a roundabout and indirect way.

The Third Young Master was clearly worried about Mango Girl living alone. He was concerned that she wouldn't eat well or stay warm, that she wouldn't dare to buy him good food, and that she wouldn't be willing to buy him some good vegetables and meat.

Although these things don't cost too much money, the amount of silver spent is just a pittance for the Third Young Master. Judging from the sentiment behind this action, the Third Young Master already cares extremely much about Miss Mango.

no…

The biggest problem is how she's going to explain this to Miss Mango, since the Third Young Master doesn't want her to know.

As an intermediary, Peach Blossom naturally couldn't proactively reveal information about the Third Young Master, her client, but neither could she simply deceive or cheat Mango Girl.

But who was Peach Blossom? She was the best broker in Bianjing City. After a moment of stunned silence, Peach Blossom, who had weathered many storms, immediately came up with an explanation. She frowned, looking at the mango in front of her with a puzzled yet astonished expression:

"Mango Girl, what are you showing me? What's so interesting about the kitchen? I don't see anything strange or unusual, and I don't see any of those meat, vegetables, or rice you mentioned?"

Upon hearing Peach Blossom's words, Mango was stunned. "How is that possible? There are so many vegetables and meat in front of us, and the rice in the rice jar has all spilled out. How could you not see all that white rice?!"

Mango was dumbfounded. In front of her were a wide variety of vegetables, all kinds of meat that looked very fresh, and rice in the rice jar. Mango didn't need to say anything more.

To her surprise, Peach Blossom looked at her with a serious expression, then turned to carefully examine the place Mango had described. Finally, she looked at her again with a serious face and replied, "No, there's no such thing as vegetables, meat, or rice. Miss Mango, are you seeing things? Is it because you haven't rested well for a long time, so your eyes are blurry, or are you a little dazed and hallucinating? Did you not sleep well last night? Or do you have some kind of illness, Miss Mango? Should I take you to see a doctor now?"

Looking at the peach blossom in front of her with such a serious expression, as if Mango had really misjudged it and the peach blossom had really not seen anything at all.

Looking at Peach Blossom's serious expression, Mango began to doubt whether she had really seen wrong or was hallucinating. One reason was that Peach Blossom was too serious and didn't seem to have anything wrong with her. The other reason was that Mango really couldn't think of any reason why there were still these vegetables in the jar, plus this pile of meat, which appeared out of nowhere.

Mango thought for a moment, then nodded honestly: "I am indeed feeling a little unwell right now... but I don't think I've reached the point of... hallucinations, right?"

Peach Blossom, recalling her previous failed attempt, was immediately overjoyed upon hearing Mango's words, as if she had found a new job. She excitedly grabbed Mango's wrist and enthusiastically pulled her out, saying, "Come, come, young lady, you should have said so earlier! If you were feeling unwell, just tell me. Although I, Peach Blossom, don't often see doctors, it's still within my scope of business. If you need me, I will definitely do my best. After all, I, Peach Blossom, am the number one broker in Bianjing. You can ask around and find out who the top broker in Bianjing is. Who else but me, Peach Blossom, is the best?"

Peach Blossom explained that the reason she was so enthusiastic in pulling Mango along was twofold: firstly, because of Zheji's instructions, and secondly, because she wanted to divert Mango's attention from the pile of vegetables and meat in the kitchen. If Mango did something wrong, Peach Blossom would have failed in her mission.

Unable to refuse Peach Blossom's hospitality, Mango reluctantly agreed to be taken to the clinic to see a doctor. Mango genuinely wanted to check on her health, or more precisely, the condition of the baby in her womb, given the somewhat dangerous experience she had at Xiangguo Temple last time.

Mango was pulled into the clinic by Peach Blossom and made to sit down in front of the doctor. If she hesitated, because there were many patients in the clinic and many doctors around, it would be inevitable that the news of her pregnancy would spread to the neighbors.

Although Mango is no longer a maid, she is still a single woman. In Bianjing, a single woman getting pregnant is not a good thing. Moreover, if word gets out, it will be extremely bad for Mango's reputation, and countless people will probably gossip about her and curse her behind her back.

Mango didn't care much about reputation or anything like that. Her ten years in the Marquis's mansion had taught her one thing: in the end, only life and death mattered. But that was only true for Mango alone. Now, Mango was no longer alone. She was pregnant, and she couldn't let her child grow up amidst the gossip and pointing fingers of the neighbors right after birth.

Mango withdrew her hand and turned to look at Peach Blossom beside her: "Hey, Peach Blossom girl, you shouldn't worry about me anymore. I know my own body very well."

In the dimly lit cell, the musty smell wafted into my nostrils like a hook, and straw covered the cold stone bed.

"Young master, please give me a child..."

The deathly silent prison cell was shattered by the woman's sweet voice.

After Qingyuan finished speaking, she dared not look at the tall and slender figure.

Chu Jingxian thought there was something wrong with his ears, which he was so proud of, and that he had misheard.

Unexpectedly, that charming voice rang out again: "Please, young master, please give me a child!"

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. When she was little, her sister had taught her to swim; the lake looked scary, but it wasn't too deep, and she was confident she could find it.

However, for some reason, the two Jiang sisters insisted on having tea and conversation with Chu Jingyu at the lakeside pavilion. It wasn't until nightfall that Qingyuan finally got her chance.

-

Dark as ink.

"Shen Sha, have you found the person I asked you to find?"

Chu Jingxian sat in a wooden wheelchair, being pushed by Chen Sha, with a long, thin, dark scarf tied around his eyebrows, as they passed through the back garden.

Chen Sha spoke with some difficulty: "Young Master, it's not that we subordinates are incompetent, it's just that... there are over a million people in the entire Bianjing city, including the surrounding villages and farmers, and there are as many as twenty-eight people of the right age named Qinghe, but not a single one of them has a birthmark on their lower back."

"Keep searching"

As Chu Jingxian spoke, the burning memories of last night uncontrollably flooded his mind—

Her soft and warm body was truly addictive.

Qinghe… Qinghe…

These two words kept rolling from his lips; she only uttered them when she had completely lost control as she reached the summit.

"Who's there!" Chen Sha noticed something strange happening in the lake beside him.

Chu Jingxian hid in the night, saying, "Go closer and take a look."

Chen Sha nodded and walked to the lakeside, his gaze icy as he looked at the turbulent water: "This is the Marquis of Zhenguo's residence. Are you coming out on your own, or am I going to drag you out?"

Qingyuan was startled by the sound and quickly floated to the lakeside. Seeing Chen Sha display the Marquis's token, she explained:

"Brother Guard, please don't misunderstand, I'm not a thief! I'm Qingyuan, a maid from the Fifth Young Master's courtyard!"

Chu Jingxian hid in the night, saying, "Go closer and take a look."

Chen Sha nodded and walked to the lakeside, his gaze icy as he looked at the turbulent water: "This is the Marquis of Zhenguo's residence. Are you coming out on your own, or am I going to drag you out?"

Qingyuan was startled by the sound and quickly floated to the lakeside. Seeing Chen Sha display the Marquis's token, she explained:

"Brother Guard, please don't misunderstand, I'm not a thief! I'm Qingyuan, a maid from the Fifth Young Master's courtyard!"