NOVPUB37: Chapter 30 The Qin Family Isn’t Short of Money
37 -30 The Qin Family Isn’t Short of Money
“Young Master Qin, our lady is getting dressed, please wait for her in the hall!” Xing Niang approached him and politely asked him to step aside with an outstretched hand.
Qin Musheng reluctantly glanced at Ran Yan before following Wan Lu to the hall.
With indignation, Wan Lu said, “The gatekeepers have gone too far, how could they let a man into the Inner Courtyard!”
“Someone must’ve given instructions, otherwise, they wouldn’t dare to be so neglectful of their duties, even if they had the courage of a lion,” Ran Yan adjusted her skirt in front of the mirror.
“Did the madam mention a stepmother?” Wan Lu exclaimed in surprise.
“I didn’t say it,” Ran Yan turned and walked toward the hall.
With a puzzled face, Wan Lu followed her, wondering to herself, if it wasn’t the stepmother, who could it be?
Could it be the young master?
Or maybe the Eighteenth Lady?
In the hall, Qin Musheng was kneeling on the mat, occasionally looking towards the door.
Xing Niang also knew he was the Qin Family’s fourth son and Ran Yan’s future husband, so regardless of what she thought inside, she looked after him with great eagerness, “Young Master Qin, please wait a moment, our lady will be ready soon.”
“Thank you,” Qin Musheng responded, taking the tea that Xing Niang offered with considerable courtesy.
Xing Niang measured him up in secret.
He was clear-cut and handsome, his speech and manners were very appropriate, and he was polite to people.
She thought he did not seem as disgraceful as the rumors suggested.
Men’s lust was their nature; perhaps he was merely a bit more flirtatious.
“Young Master, have you come this early in search of our lady for some urgent matter?” Xing Niang inquired.
Qin Musheng, seeing that Xing Niang was a servant whom Ran Yan highly trusted, did not speak to her as he would to an ordinary slave, “Isn’t Seventeenth Lady attending a tea party today?
I came specially to pick her up.”
As they spoke, the bamboo curtains at the entrance were lifted, and Ran Yan, in a purple gauze, appeared, illuminated by the bright sunshine, her skin so fair and almost translucent, her dazzling radiance forbidding anyone to gaze directly.
Qin Musheng stared at her as she approached, momentarily feeling his eyes were inadequate.
A typical beauty always had her most beautiful aspect, like Qi Liuniang, with her lips fresh and tender as if they had been touched by morning dew, immediately captivating one’s gaze.
Yet Ran Yan seemed beautiful in every aspect.
What was most unforgettable was the dignity that emanated from her, like the depths of a serene pool, cold but incredibly enchanting.
“Let’s go.” Ran Yan had heard Qin Musheng’s words.
Since he had already arrived, even if she sent him away, the gossip that would spread had already done so; it was better to be forthright.
Xing Niang’s lips moved, but she didn’t utter a word, only rising to send Ran Yan out the door.
Wan Lu thought that Qin Musheng’s visit might not be without benefits, at least they wouldn’t need to take the humble carriage from the manor, which could become the subject of ridicule at the hands of those noble ladies at the banquet.
Wan Lu knew those ladies all too well, who, having nothing better to do than enjoying flower viewing and social gatherings, always found pleasure in ridiculing others.
Qin Musheng’s carriage was luxurious and spacious.
The carriage was fitted with bamboo mats and ice basins in the corners.
The moment they climbed aboard, they could feel a cool breeze.
“Madam, it’s very hot today.
In order to preserve your makeup, why don’t you put this ice basin beside you?” Qin Musheng personally placed the ice basin next to Ran Yan, and as he bent over, he deliberately leaned close to her, not expecting to catch a whiff of her faint, medicinal fragrance, which took him aback.
“Young Master, let the Slave take care of the ice basin,” Wan Lu quickly took the ice basin and squeezed herself between the two, keeping Qin Musheng at a distance.
Ran Yan maintained an indifferent expression, acting as if there was no one else around, but she was pondering in her heart.
Qin Musheng had clearly begun to regard himself as her husband already.
Was it necessary to immediately use medicine to render Qin Musheng impotent?
With that thought, Ran Yan glanced at Qin Musheng and saw his peach-blossom smile.
She decided that after the tea party ended, she would return home to make medicine.
Otherwise, considering his demeanor, he might become uncontrollably licentious one day, which would be extremely dangerous.
Observing that Ran Yan had returned his gaze, Qin Musheng’s smile became even more brilliant and handsome.
He resolved to use every trick in the book to make her fall for him.
Confident in his abilities, after all, even a woman as experienced in romance as Cui Mei had truly given herself to him, let alone a sheltered young lady!
Both harboring their thoughts, they traveled in a seemingly peaceful coexistence.
About a half-hour later, the carriage came to a smooth stop. 𝚗o𝚟pub.𝚌𝚘𝚖
Qin Musheng alighted first and reached out to assist Ran Yan, but Wan Lu beat him to it.
If the future son-in-law had been someone else, Wan Lu might have been happy to stand back and let things happen, but she had her own grievances against Qin Musheng.
Although she dared not openly express her displeasure, she certainly wouldn’t make life easy for him.
And such matters could at most be attributed to her, the Maid, lacking discretion.
