The items that Chen Qian casually took out were probably all high-quality pieces from the second floor or above.
“You have fair skin, this will definitely look good on you.” Chen Qian opened the box, not just to show off. He took out the red gold and ruby hairpin and gently placed it in Xu Hui’s hair.
As he spoke, Chen Qian handed the target mirror to Xu Hui so that she could see herself in the mirror more clearly.
Although she knew Chen Qian was a seasoned womanizer, Xu Hui couldn't help but feel a surge of attraction to his gentleness and thoughtfulness. Her gaze shifted to the mirror, where a handsome face was reflected.
Wearing this ruby hairpin, Xu Hui immediately gained a touch of elegance.
"Indeed, it doesn't hide your beauty," Chen Qian praised at the opportune moment. "You're really beautiful."
Xu Hui blushed slightly and glanced shyly at Chen Qian.
“These may not suit your taste, but please bear with them for now.” Chen Qian said gently and affectionately, “We will go to the Treasure Pavilion another day to pick out some jewelry that you like, and then go to the silk shop to have some clothes remade.”
Chen Qian naturally didn't care about such a small amount of money, but Xu Hui couldn't help but be tempted.
But she was, after all, a daughter of an official's family, and still retained a certain reserve. She politely declined several times, but Chen Qian's attitude was gentle yet persistent, so she reluctantly accepted.
After Xu Hui drank the medicine and had her maid apply the plaster to the affected area, she stood up straight with the maid's help.
Although she was injured today, it could be considered a blessing in disguise. Not only did she find Chen Qian, but she also had further contact with him. Chen Qian treated her very well, and seemed to have some feelings for her as well.
Xu Hui thought with a touch of smugness that with such a smooth start, she would surely be invincible in the future.
Chen Qian instructed Changqing to arrange for Xu Hui to leave, saying that his presence might cause misunderstandings with Xu Hui's family, which would be detrimental to Xu Hui's reputation. In reality, he feared that word would leak out and the Marquis of Nan'an's residence would find out too early, which would not benefit him.
Changqing couldn't show himself, so he arranged for someone else to take Xu Hui back.
Xu Hui left satisfied, but she forgot that from beginning to end, Chen Qian hadn't even asked her name. In Chen Qian's eyes, she was nothing more than someone he could use.
After she left, Chen Qian smiled, but his eyes were devoid of any warmth.
Those who oppose him will not have a good ending.
"Sir, aren't you afraid that the Marquis of Nan'an's mansion will be unhappy if they find out about this?" Changqing asked worriedly from the side.
Chen Qian sneered and said, "Do you really think it was my gifts that moved the Marquis of Nan'an? And that the Grand Madam and the Madam of the Marquis's Mansion also gave their approval? It's just that An Liu Niang committed such a shameful act. To the Marquis of Nan'an's Mansion, she is already a discarded pawn."
“Only illegitimate daughters like An Jiuniang are valued by the Marquis’s mansion!” A complex light flashed in Chen Qian’s eyes, and his seemingly calm voice seemed to contain a suppressed madness. “She married the Marquis of Pingyuan and became a Marquis’s wife of the highest rank…”
Knowing that his master still harbored feelings for the Ninth Miss of the Nan'an Marquis's Mansion, now the Lady of Pingyuan Marquis, Changqing couldn't help but feel very worried.
"I know what I'm doing." Chen Qian knew what Changqing wanted to say. He composed himself and his expression returned to normal. He said in a calm tone, "An Liu Niang is not one to stay put. I won't let her scheme against me."
Even though Chen Qian made a firm guarantee, Changqing was still uneasy.
“When you get married, your master and mistress will also be there. It’s best to be on the safe side. If you take a liking to this girl today, why not arrange a small house for her? If we leave her here, and the sixth young lady makes a scene, I’m afraid your master and mistress won’t be on your side.”
Chen Qian shook his head, refusing to agree. "Do you think that person is someone to be trifled with? You think she'll just stay there obediently and do nothing after I've settled her in?"
"It's better to keep her under my watchful eye. If she resorts to any tricks, I can't let her catch me off guard."
What their master said seemed to make some sense. Changqing had always been loyal to Chen Qian and carried out his orders in everything.
I just hope nothing goes wrong!
******
The Marquis of Pingyuan's residence.
The night before, Anran had already agreed to sleep with Nian-ge'er. The problem was whether to ask Lord Lu to leave or for her and Nian-ge'er to move into the same room.
She glanced apologetically at Lu Mingxiu, then hesitantly revealed her thoughts. However, before she could finish, Lu Mingxiu decisively rejected her idea.
“Perhaps Nian-ge’er was just acting on a whim, and he may have already changed his mind,” said Lord Lu, his face righteous and his expression stern.
It's just that she personally led people to search through two trunks, how could Nian-ge'er change his mind?
An Ran refused to believe it. She called Nian Ge'er to her side and asked him seriously, "Nian Ge'er, tell your mother, do you want to sleep with your mother?"
She felt that Nian-ge'er's answer was definitely correct.
Unexpectedly, a look of struggle flashed in Nian Ge'er's eyes. After a long while, he shook his head and said, "I don't want to sleep with Mother anymore."
An Ran was taken aback.
After saying that, he obediently took Biluo's hand and walked towards the suite where his little bed was, being very docile and well-behaved. He didn't need anyone to worry about him at all.
"My lord, did you say something to Nian-ge'er?" Nian-ge'er's change was so drastic that An Ran's suspicious gaze was already fixed on the mastermind behind it all. "Not long ago, we were talking about sleeping together, and now he's changed his mind so quickly."
Seeing this, Lu Mingxiu nodded readily. He said righteously, "You yourself said that to raise Nian'er to be a good man, he naturally can't rely too much on his mother. As the saying goes, a doting mother spoils her son..."
Little did she know, Lord Lu could also argue quite vehemently.
An Ran was too lazy to argue with him.
"Get some rest, you have to go to court tomorrow." Putting Nian-ge'er's matter aside for the time being, An Ran started to worry about Lu Mingxiu. "I've already put your court robes away, they're in the rosewood cabinet by the wall. Let me make this clear, you're not allowed to bring Nian-ge'er over to fool me again."
Every time Anran was about to send Lu Mingxiu off, Lu Mingxiu would have Biluo or Taoye bring Niange'er, who was still asleep, over and put him on their big bed so that Anran could take another nap.
We can't let him succeed this time.
“I noticed your official robes were a bit thin, so I took the liberty of adding an extra layer underneath,” An Ran said, rambling on. “And all the cloaks have been turned out and aired; you can take one with you tomorrow.”
Seeing that his wife was about to start rambling on and on, Lu Mingxiu chose the simplest and quickest way to shut her up.
He lightly kissed her, like a dragonfly skimming the water, silencing her with a kiss that made her cheeks flush.