"This seventh-rank official is pitifully lowly, with meager pay but endless, annoying tasks." Li Fan slowly walked out of a small alley, complaining with dissatisfaction, shrugging his shoulders, stretching, and turning his neck to loosen his muscles.
He sat stiffly for half a day, exhausted, and listened to those lowly commoners chattering about their grievances. It was so annoying! If he had known being an official was this boring, he would never have become a seventh-rank county magistrate. He could have been the eldest grandson of the prime minister, eating, drinking, and having fun every day. How wonderful that would have been!
“Young master, this seventh-rank county magistrate position is only temporary. Didn’t the Prime Minister say that if you sit in the office more often and work hard to serve the people, he will find a way to give you an easier position?”
A servant hurried to Li Fan's side, beaming with a fawning smile, fanning him obsequiously: "With your intelligence, young master, it's too much of a waste for you to be a seventh-rank county magistrate. The Prime Minister and Prince Zhan both know of your talent and will promote you soon..."
Listening to the servant's flattery, Li Fan's gloom and impatience vanished. He felt the dark sky brighten up, and the noisy voices around him became much more pleasant. He coughed a few times, cleared his throat, and blurted out, "It's getting dark."
The servant's eyes lit up, and he understood Li Fan's meaning. He smiled obsequiously and said, "I heard that two virgins have come to the Yihong Courtyard. They haven't been deflowered yet. Would you like to go and have a taste?"
Of course he'd go! How could he possibly miss such a great opportunity?
Li Fan's small eyes gleamed with lust as he strode forward with a wicked smile. "Two virgins," he thought, "they must be so fair and tender. Tsk tsk, I'm in for a treat tonight."
Suddenly, a light blue figure came into view. A gentle breeze blew, her dark hair fluttered, her skirt swayed, and her graceful figure was captivating. Her beautiful profile was bathed in a golden halo under the sunlight, like a fairy descending to earth.
Li Fan was stunned for a moment. So beautiful, so captivating, that was Shen Lixue!
Shen Lixue placed her small hands on her chest, her wide sleeves concealing her protruding belly. At first glance, one could not tell that she was pregnant. Her every move was elegant and noble, yet exuded an indescribable freshness and grace, making it impossible to look away. Compared to her, even the fair and tender young women of the Yihong Courtyard paled in comparison.
"Young Master, this way!"
The servant's fawning voice rang out, but Li Fan waved his hand to interrupt him: "Don't make a sound, this young master is admiring a beauty."
A beauty? The servant followed Li Fan's gaze and saw Shen Lixue. He paused for a moment and said, "Young master, that's the Princess Consort of Anjun. She's pregnant."
"I'm not blind, do I need you to remind me?" Li Fan glared at the servant with displeasure, straightened his clothes and hair ornament, and strode towards Shen Lixue, his small eyes gleaming with lust.
"Young Master, she is the principal wife of Prince An, you can't mess with her." The servant hurriedly reminded him, following closely behind him. Everyone in Qingyan knew that Prince An doted on his wife, and if Li Fan dared to flirt with her, he would be courting death.
"I know what's important. I'm just talking to her; I won't do anything else." With such a stunning beauty so close, he felt uncomfortable if he didn't strike up a conversation and take advantage of her.
The servant scratched his head in confusion. Didn't his young master like slender, petite young women? Why was he suddenly interested in pregnant women?
The carriage of the Holy Prince's Mansion was parked further away. Zi Mo took Yun Lingjin and went to drive the carriage. Shen Lixue, supporting Qiu He's hand, walked slowly. Suddenly, a voice called out from the side: "Princess Consort."
Shen Lixue turned her head and saw Li Fan walking out of the alley, looking energetic and bright, with a glint of lust in his eyes, clearly indicating that he had ill intentions: "Young Master Li, is there something you need?"
"It's nothing." Li Fan gave what he thought was a dashing smile: "I was passing by on my way to investigate a case and came to greet the Princess Consort."
"Young Master Li, you're too kind. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave." Li Fan was a womanizer and a good-for-nothing, so Shen Lixue didn't bother to say anything more to him.
"Princess Consort, Princess Consort..." Li Fan hurriedly stepped forward, blocking Shen Lixue's path. Looking at her fresh and beautiful face, he couldn't hide the lust in his eyes.
"What are you doing?" Shen Lixue frowned and looked coldly at Li Fan.
"Princess Consort, please don't misunderstand. You're several months pregnant, it must be tiring for you to walk back to the manor. My sedan chair is just ahead, how about I take you back?" Li Fan knew that Shen Lixue was clever and proud. If he acted unreasonably, she would scold him. But if he appealed to her emotions and reasoned with her, letting her know that he cared about her, she would definitely not refuse his kindness.
"The carriage from the Holy King's Mansion is just ahead. I'm used to taking the carriage back to the manor, so there's no need to trouble Young Master Li." Shen Lixue's tone was slightly cold, implying that she wanted to dismiss him.
Li Fan pretended not to understand, and looked ahead with a grin: "There's no sign of a carriage at the end of the street. The Princess Consort will probably have to walk a long way to get one. Why don't you take my sedan chair to the carriage... Look, my sedan chair is right there..."
Shen Lixue glanced to the side and saw a small sedan chair carried by four men slowly walking out of the alley. The four sedan chair carriers were all burly and strong, so the sedan chair must be carried very steadily.
"Princess Consort, you are pregnant, so please don't overexert yourself. Get in the sedan chair!" Li Fan said with a smile, his outstretched hand cleverly changing direction, from pulling her wrist to touching her face.
Tsk tsk, her face is as delicate as porcelain, it must be fragrant, soft and smooth, and it must feel very comfortable to touch. If Shen Lixue gets angry, I can just say that I touched her by mistake. No matter how angry she is, she can't beat up this kind person. Hehe!
A faint smell of sweat wafted through the air. Shen Lixue's delicate brows furrowed slightly, and her slender white hand suddenly rose up, tightly gripping the foul-smelling wrist that was so close to hers. With a clench of her fingers, Li Fan let out a pig-like scream: "Aaaaaah... Princess Consort, be gentle, be gentle... my wrist is going to break..."
"You dare to flirt with me?" Shen Lixue's deep voice was as cold as ice, sending chills down one's spine.
"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding, I was just about to invite you to a sedan chair... I raised my hand too high..." Li Fan struggled, but couldn't break free from Shen Lixue's grip. Sharp pain shot through his wrist, as if it would break at any moment. He begged for mercy repeatedly in pain.
"Is that really all?" Shen Lixue frowned, still doubtful.
"Of course, of course... How could I lie to you..." Li Fan said softly, but in his heart he cursed Shen Lixue a thousand times. Damn it, she looks so delicate and frail, but I didn't expect her to be such a shrew. She is ruthless and merciless, and her martial arts seem to be better than his.
He was caught off guard and that's why he fell for her trick. Next time he sees her, he'll definitely teach her a lesson.
"I see." Shen Lixue smiled sweetly, like a hundred flowers blooming, as she watched Li Fan's constantly changing expression. In the instant that Li Fan's lecherous little eyes were glazed over, she kicked him hard.
"Ouch...it hurts...it hurts so much..." Li Fan clutched his lower body, howling in pain, his body throbbing, and a fine layer of sweat appeared on his forehead.
"Young master, young master..." The servants and sedan bearers were startled and all gathered around Li Fan, who was frowning and in great pain. They wanted to help, but they didn't know how.
"Shen Lixue, you shrew... I was trying to help you, and you're so ruthless... Aww..." Li Fan clutched his groin, glaring hatefully at Shen Lixue. His little brother was definitely badly injured, and he wouldn't be able to touch a woman again for a while. His happy life for the past month or two had been ruined by Shen Lixue.
Shen Lixue glanced at him and said casually, "I wanted to loosen up my muscles, but I didn't expect to lift my foot too high and kick Young Master Li. I'm really sorry."
"You...you..." Li Fan pointed at Shen Lixue, too angry to speak. He had lied and raised his hand, but hadn't touched anything. Shen Lixue imitated his lie, but kicked him hard and injured him. He hadn't gained any advantage and had suffered a great loss. He was furious.
"Young Master Li is seriously injured, so it would be best if you went to the clinic as soon as possible. I won't disturb your treatment any longer. Farewell." Under Li Fan's furious gaze, Shen Lixue took Qiu He's hand and walked forward slowly. She had controlled the force of her kick and kicked it skillfully. Li Fan wouldn't be able to return to the brothel for at least three to five months.
A gust of wind swept past, and a thin figure darted past her, shoving aside the servants and sedan bearers surrounding her, and began to frantically attack Li Fan: "You corrupt official, you treacherous official, give me back my daughter, give me back my daughter..."
The sharp cry, filled with boundless pain and anger, startled Shen Lixue, who stopped and turned to look. It was a middle-aged woman in her forties, dressed in coarse cloth, with a haggard face, sunken eyes, and dry, yellow hair that fluttered in the wind, somewhat disheveled. She was thin, as if malnourished, and tear tracks slid down her cheeks, a sight that broke one's heart.
Li Fan was severely injured and in excruciating pain, unable to pay attention to anything else. The middle-aged woman was holding his clothes tightly, and he could only defend himself, having no power to fight back. He protected his head with one hand and his lower body with the other, and roared, "Are you all dead? Quickly pull her away!"
The stunned servants and sedan chair bearers, as if waking from a dream, hurriedly stepped forward, grabbed the middle-aged woman, and dragged her aside forcefully.
The middle-aged woman struggled desperately, her eyes bloodshot, glaring hatefully at Li Fan, and roared angrily, "You corrupt official, you incompetent official, give me back my daughter's life..."
"Young Master, slow down!" Li Fan slowly stood up with the help of the servant. His official hat was askew, his clothes were torn in several places, one eye was black and blue, half of his face was swollen, and there were several bloody scratches on his neck.
A sharp pain shot through him, and he couldn't help but gasp. Looking at the screaming middle-aged woman, he was furious. He strode forward and slapped her twice across the face: "You lowly commoner, how dare you hit a government official! You're asking for trouble..."