Jeune Premier ministre, un ermite

Chapitre 52

What is he doing? Li Tianqi suddenly woke up when his hand touched the black hair.

She bounced to the side, her heart pounding wildly. What was wrong? Ever since that erratic heartbeat last night, she had been deliberately avoiding him, thinking it over and over, blaming it on his disheveled black hair. But looking at him now, so perfectly neat, why was her heart still racing? Could it be... that she had developed some kind of peculiar fetish? Impossible, this couldn't be!

"Second Brother, what's wrong? Your face is so red. Did you catch a cold last night?" Noticing his sudden unusual expression, Wei Zijun was a little worried. She stepped forward and reached out to touch his forehead.

"No! No!" Li Tianqi took a step back. "Hehe, Ziju, I'm more used to you having your hair tied up like this. I'm going back to rest." With that, he turned and went into the cabin.

Wei Zijun was puzzled by Li Tianqi's inexplicable words and actions, and couldn't figure out why. Feeling a little listless, she turned around and went into the cabin.

As soon as I entered the cabin, I saw Xinhe. "Xinhe! Are you feeling better?"

"Xinhe thanks Young Master Wei for saving my life!" Xinhe said, kneeling down. Wei Zijun quickly helped Xinhe up, "Get up quickly, it's a small matter, don't worry about it. Why did Xinhe want to jump into the lake? Is there something difficult for you? I wonder if Zijun can help you."

"Young Master Wei's kindness is beyond my ability to repay. Young Master Wei..." Xinhe hesitated, twisting her fingers around the sash of her skirt, unsure how to continue. Finally, as if gathering her courage, she suddenly shouted, "Please, Young Master Wei, accept Xinhe as your concubine!"

"Ah!?" Wei Zijun was startled upon hearing this, unsure of what to do. Should he take her in? What did she mean? Did she want to marry him? Or...?

"This...this..." Faced with this sudden situation, he didn't know how to answer.

“Young Master Wei, Xinhe is still a virgin. Xinhe is willing to follow you for life, whether as a slave or a concubine, Xinhe is willing.” Xinhe knelt down again.

"Xinhe, get up quickly." Wei Zijun helped Xinhe up. "Miss Xinhe, there's no need for this. I only helped her out and didn't expect anything in return. You really don't need to feel burdened, much less entrust your life to me. I would never dare to accept such a thing."

"Fourth brother, Miss Xinhe is in love with you. Otherwise, why would a young lady entrust her life to someone so easily?" Lianwu walked over and said with a smile.

“That’s absolutely right.” Li Tianqi joined in the conversation, “A woman as proud and arrogant as Xinhe would definitely not entrust herself to anyone but someone she truly desires!”

"Second brother, second sister-in-law, you're making fun of me again. Xinhe was just thinking of repaying a debt of gratitude. I don't care about any favors. Let's leave it at that and not talk about it anymore. I... I'm hungry. Let's eat." Wei Zijun was eager to change the subject, afraid that these people would continue to entangle her.

To be her concubine? It seems she's succeeded in disguising herself as a man, so why did Li Tianqi describe her as a woman? It was probably just a sarcastic remark about her thin figure; she's overthinking it.

Seeing that Wei Zijun was about to turn and leave, Xinhe grabbed her sleeve and knelt down again, "Young Master Wei, save me!" Her voice was already trembling with tears.

"Xinhe, get up quickly! What's wrong? Is someone trying to harm you?" Wei Zijun sensed something was wrong, and this must be the main reason she jumped into the lake.

"Young Master Wei, I can no longer stay in the brothel. Please, sir, save me from this place."

"But is someone in the music academy bullying Xinhe?" Wei Zijun asked softly.

“He is the son of Ma Zanfu, the magistrate of Wu County. He has long harbored desires to take me as his own and has harassed me many times. I refused to comply, so he forced himself on me yesterday while we were boating on the lake. I did not want to be humiliated, so I decided to die to prove my innocence.” Perhaps out of pity for her own grief, Xinhe’s tears fell in a downpour.

Wei Zijun, who couldn't bear to see anyone cry, softened completely. "Xinhe, don't cry. I promise you. What's so difficult about that? Just say the word from your second brother, and you'll be free." She turned to Li Tianqi with anticipation. "Second brother? You can help Xinhe, right?"

"Hmm!" Li Tianqi gave a noncommittal "hmm," "How did Miss Xinhe end up in the brothel?"

“Xinhe is a descendant of Du Yuanwailang of the Ministry of Works during the Sui Dynasty. His ancestor was in charge of civil engineering projects and moved his family to Wu County. His ancestor was killed in the war, and all the wives and daughters of the Du family were sent to the brothel to serve as official prostitutes, which greatly burdened the descendants. Even Xinhe’s descendants have to submit to this place. If they want to get out, it is not easy and they need official documents with red seals.”

“That’s easy. I’ll just inform the Emperor. Xinhe, don’t be sad. My fourth brother is soft-hearted. You should ask him for help.” Li Tianqi glanced at Wei Zijun with his deep, sharp eyes and smiled.

"Xinhe is very grateful to Anfu Li and Young Master Wei for saving her. However..." Xinhe hesitated, carefully considering her words, "but... I beg Young Master Wei to take me in. I am willing to serve you as your servant for the rest of my life."

"Huh?" I thought the matter was over, but I didn't expect Xinhe to be so persistent. I hesitated and didn't know how to refuse, so I could only make my words sound more dignified. "Miss Xinhe, you are now free. We will take care of you and help you find a good marriage. Why should you be a slave? Xinhe, you must not degenerate into this state."

“Young Master Wei, even if Xinhe leaves the brothel, she will be harassed and troubled again, and will have nowhere to stay. If that’s the case, it’s better not to save Xinhe.” Xinhe knelt down again, but this time she refused to get up.

"Well...would it be alright if you went with my second brother?" Fearing she might hurt the beauty's feelings, Wei Zijun asked cautiously. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Lianwu beside her and realized she had misspoke. With a pained expression, she turned to Li Tianqi for help, "Well...what should I do, second brother?"

Li Tianqi pondered for a moment without expression, "Xinhe, you can stay with Lianwu. We will treat you like family. When a good family comes along, we will help you find a husband." For some reason, he did not want anyone else to take his fourth brother, not even a woman.

Lianwu stepped forward and pulled Xinhe up, "Good girl, get up quickly, at least someone will keep me company."

Xinhe looked up at Wei Zijun, her eyes filled with disappointment. "Thank you for your help, Madam."

Li Tianqi and Lianwu could both see through Xinhe's eyes and feelings. This woman had already fallen for the fourth brother, but the fourth brother seemed to be ignorant about matters of love and was foolishly oblivious, causing the girl's feelings to go to waste. Her disappointment and heartbreak were inevitable.

[Volume 1, Deer City Chapter: Chapter 47 Handsome Men]

Yuhang City is bustling and lively, and the climate is warmer than that of Wu County. The streets are filled with all kinds of snacks and sundries, and vendors are constantly calling out their wares.

This unique restaurant, named "Zhiwei Xiaolong," is bustling with activity, and it's said that all the most famous local snacks are gathered here.

The four people sitting at a table by the window naturally attracted countless glances.

"Waiter, I clearly ordered shrimp xiaolongbao, why are you giving me chicken and ham xiaolongbao? Change it!" Lianwu said angrily.

"Madam! I'm so sorry!" The waiter, who looked like a novice and still a child, blushed and kept apologizing.

Wei Zijun felt a pang of pity and pushed her shrimp dumplings towards the waiter, saying, "Sister-in-law, please have mine. Let's switch." She then looked up at the waiter and whispered, "Go back to work!"

The waiter looked at Wei Zijun with gratitude and then left.

Lianwu was still somewhat indignant. "Fourth brother, why be like this? They made a mistake. Just tell them to make amends."

Wei Zijun smiled and said, "He's just a child, why should you hold it against him, sister-in-law? If the order of the dishes was wrong, they should probably have to pay for it themselves. What rich family's son would do such a job? And how much money do poor family's children have to pay for it?"

Lianwu sighed, "It's my sister-in-law who's being stingy!"

“Sister-in-law, please don’t say that. You come from a noble family and live a life of luxury. You are not familiar with the lives of these servants. I am often in the marketplace and know how difficult life is for the poor.”

Thinking of those poor people who couldn't bear to eat or wear anything, and who had to stretch every penny to make ends meet, she felt a pang of pain in her heart. Meeting Li Tianqi's gaze, which had been fixed on her, she said softly, "Second brother, if you were to rule the world, you should prioritize the well-being of all people, practice the path of utmost benevolence and goodness, and become a virtuous and wise ruler."

Upon hearing this, Li Tianqi stared at her for a long time without saying a word. He simply took her hand from the table and stroked it repeatedly, remaining silent for a long time.

Seeing her hand being rubbed and caressed by him, Wei Zijun felt quite embarrassed and tried to pull it back, but he held on tightly.

Seeing this, Reigo, who was standing next to him, deliberately coughed twice.