xymnovel Chapter 89 Ping'er: Bah, a pair of adulterers!
Chapter 89 Ping'er: Bah, a pair of adulterers!
Chapter 89 Ping'er: Bah, what a pair of adulterers!
When people are happy, they are in high spirits. Even the way Lin Daiyu spoke was cheerful. She had completely lost her usual aloofness and chattered and laughed with Liu Feng.
Wang Xifeng's gaze kept shifting between the two of them, and even Wang Mama and Ping'er noticed something unusual and subtle.
The two chatted enthusiastically, completely forgetting that there were several "third wheels" around them.
Lin Daiyu was somewhat better off, but Liu Feng's spittle flew everywhere, even landing on Wang Xifeng.
Wang Xifeng rolled her eyes in anger, wiping them repeatedly with a handkerchief, clearly disgusted.
As they chatted, the conversation drifted to Jia Zheng. Liu Feng suddenly remembered the story Jia Zheng told in the original novel about being afraid of his wife, so he embellished it and told it to Liu Feng.
Lin Daiyu immediately understood that he was making fun of her uncle, and she glared at him reproachfully.
Wang Xifeng also tasted the flavor, rolled her eyes, and sent it over.
Wang Mama and Ping'er are both shrewd people; how could they not understand?
Only Xueyan, that carefree girl, took it all as a joke and kept giggling.
This laugh was enough for the group to burst into uncontrollable laughter, causing them to double over with mirth.
Wang Xifeng was the most exaggerated; she laughed so hard she fell face-first onto the coffee table, her head lurching forward and bumping into Liu Feng.
Liu Feng was so startled that he quickly leaned back. Even if he had wicked intentions, he had to avoid people, especially since Lin Daiyu was still there!
Just then, Yuanyang, the head maidservant of Grandmother Jia, came in from the back room. She first gave Liu Feng a slight bow before speaking, "Miss Shi has arrived. She's been looking everywhere for Miss Lin."
They're not fools. Even if Shi Xiangyun is naive, she wouldn't have heard that Lin Daiyu was looking for people while receiving guests.
This was clearly a pretext used by Grandmother Jia to call Lin Daiyu back, since Liu Feng was an outsider and staying too long might cause gossip.
Despite her deep reluctance, Lin Daiyu had no choice but to obey Grandmother Jia's words. She slowly stood up, head bowed, twisting her handkerchief incessantly, and whispered, "I... I have to go back."
Liu Feng also stood up, looked at her and smiled, "I'll come see you again in a few days. If there's anything you'd like to eat, just tell me and I'll bring it to you."
Lin Daiyu gave a soft "hmm".
Liu Feng added, "I'll go back and pack my things, and wait for you to come home."
This statement is somewhat ambiguous.
Lin Daiyu's face flushed slightly. She didn't reply, but gave him a slight bow and walked away quickly with her head down.
Granny Wang led Zijuan and Xueyan and followed.
Wang Xifeng remained seated, which puzzled Yuanyang.
Wang Xifeng smiled and said, "I have something to tell Lord Liu. It was instructed by Second Master Lian."
Yuanyang turned to look at Ping'er, who had no choice but to nod reluctantly.
Yuanyang didn't think much of it, curtsied to Liu Feng, and quickly walked into the back hall.
Only Liu Feng, Wang Xifeng, and Ping'er remained in the room, along with the steward's wife and old women who stood outside the door with their heads bowed and hands at their sides.
Liu Feng sat down sideways, finally able to openly enjoy the view.
No wonder Jia Zhen kept calling her "big sister," she's probably not much different from Qingwen.
Thinking of that girl, Liu Feng clicked his tongue. He wasn't exactly a gentleman, and besides, Qingwen was originally a maid given to him by the brothers Jia Zhen and Jia Lian. Those two nights Qingwen warmed his bed, aside from not being truly beastly, he'd done everything he could to her.
Wang Xifeng felt uneasy under his gaze, as if she were completely naked, and immediately regretted wearing this outfit.
Ping'er cursed under her breath, "You scoundrel!" and quickly came to Wang Xifeng's rescue: "Madam, didn't Second Master just take the wrong gift list?"
Wang Xifeng then remembered her business and suppressed her displeasure. But then she was amused. "Looking at it a few times won't make you lose weight. You'll be so eager to eat it, it'll drive you crazy!"
Thinking about it this way, I felt much more at ease, so I straightened up and sat up straight.
Wang Xifeng pulled a gift list from her sleeve, handed it over, and said with a smile, "You know what Second Master Lian is like, he's muddle-headed and clumsy..."
'
Liu Feng took it, glanced at it, and then looked up at Wang Xifeng.
Wang Xifeng seemed a little hot, and gently fanned her cheeks with a handkerchief: "Didn't Uncle Baoyu get promoted to Governor of Nine Provinces...? I also prepared a gift, which was all purchased with my own dowry money, without using a single copper coin from the Jia family."
Liu Feng was taken aback: "Did you take the wrong one?"
Wang Xifeng nodded, but ultimately didn't dare to ask for it directly. She and Ping'er devised this plan, betting that Liu Feng wouldn't be so shameless as to confront Jia Lian.
You took the wrong one? You're kidding me!
Liu Feng pulled out his own gift list from his sleeve, and compared the two. Wow, the difference was like night and day!
He suddenly realized, could it be that they never even sent him a congratulatory gift? Are you two, trying to outsmart each other and make fun of me?!
Liu Feng was immediately enraged and was about to speak when he glanced up and saw Wang Xifeng staring intently at the gift list in his hand, her face ashen. He turned his head to look at Ping'er, who was also staring at the list.
Suddenly, I recalled Ping'er's comment about Jia Lian in the original novel: "He still wants to find the money in the oil pot and spend it."
Could it be that Jia Lian secretly wrote another gift list and pocketed Wang Xifeng's money?
Liu Feng blinked and handed over the gift list.
Wang Xifeng snatched it away, and after only glancing at it a couple of times, she was so angry that she clenched her teeth and her chest heaved.
Liu Feng's eyes lit up. Had he really guessed right?
Ping'er leaned over and glanced at it, her expression immediately changing. Her eyes darted between Wang Xifeng and the gift list, and she softly called out, "Grandma..."
Wang Xifeng didn't answer, but her hand loosened, and the gift list fluttered to the ground.
Seeing Wang Xifeng's eyes glazed over, Liu Feng's heart skipped a beat. Had this woman lost her mind in anger? He quickly said to Ping'er:
Quick, pinch his philtrum!
"what?"
"Huh? You're too scared to let me do it..."
Wang Xifeng snapped out of her daze, glared at Liu Feng, bent down to pick up the gift list, and said, "I didn't take the wrong one, I was just too busy to think straight."
Liu Feng was slightly taken aback. Had this woman lost her mind in anger?
Ping'er looked at her with a puzzled expression.
Wang Xifeng smiled faintly, but her eyes revealed a hint of desolation, a mixture of disappointment at her son's lack of ambition and a complex emotion that was hard to describe.
Liu Feng blurted out, almost as if possessed, "You two are truly sleeping in the same bed but dreaming different dreams."
Wang Xifeng was taken aback at first, then looked at him with a half-smile.
"Um, slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue..."
'
As Liu Fengyue explained, Wang Xifeng's smile grew even wider.
Seeing that Ping'er was also staring at him strangely, Liu Feng quickly changed the subject: "Take both gift lists back. I won't mention a word about them... Consider it a thank you for speaking well of me to the old lady."
Wang Xifeng leaned back in her chair, picked up a piece of candied fruit, took a small bite, and laughed, "Is this all our Miss Lin means to you?"
Is this woman trying to use the emperor to command the feudal lords?
Liu Feng was so angry he laughed. "Your courage is commendable, but you need to have the ability to back it up!"
He folded the two gift lists, tucked them into his sleeve, and began unhurriedly, "I heard that Second Madam's nephew killed someone in Jinling. Someone advised Second Madam to have Jia Yucun cover up the case..."
'
Then, turning his gaze to Wang Xifeng, he asked, "Does sister-in-law know who this person is?"
"I... how would I know..." Wang Xifeng immediately lost her previous arrogance.
Ping'er, who was standing to the side, realized that it was Wang Xifeng.
"What do you think will happen if the master finds out?" Liu Feng also reached for the candied fruit.
Wang Xifeng panicked. Although this matter wasn't among the "Seven Grounds for Divorce," it was far more fatal. Interfering with the judiciary and violating imperial laws would, if it escalated, bring disaster to the entire Jia family. Even if Jia She didn't order Jia Lian to divorce her, she would still face severe punishment.
At this point, she didn't care about saving face anymore. She grabbed Liu Feng's hand and pleaded in a soft voice, "Good brother, please have pity on your sister-in-law and spare her this time."
This handshake startled Liu Feng, who hurriedly withdrew his hand and glanced furtively at the servants outside the door. He immediately regretted it, realizing he should have touched it a couple of times before pulling his hand back.
Wang Xifeng panicked even more, her voice changing: "Good brother, if you just help your sister-in-law this once..." She gritted her teeth, "Name your terms." She glanced at Ping'er, "As long as your sister-in-law can make the decision, I'll do whatever you say."
Ping'er's face turned pale instantly.
Upon hearing this, Liu Feng found it rather pointless.
Just as Wang Xifeng was gritting her teeth, ready to go all out, Liu Feng spoke up: "Let's settle this matter today. Neither of us owes the other anything, okay?"
Wang Xifeng never expected Liu Feng to let her go so easily. She was stunned and couldn't believe it: "Really?"
"If you're willing to go all out, there's nothing I wouldn't dare to do." Liu Feng deliberately tried to scare her, his eyes leering at her.
Wang Xifeng instinctively clutched her chest, then quickly realized what she had done and gracefully lowered her hands, smiling as she said, "It's settled then. I'll remember your kindness for the rest of my life."
Liu Feng was extremely pleased. Although he didn't gain any advantage, he was still very happy to see Feng Lazi get the short end of the stick.
Ping'er had just breathed a sigh of relief when Wang Xifeng suddenly blinked her beautiful eyes: "Good brother, you've really helped your sister-in-law a lot this time. If you're willing to keep those two gift lists, your sister-in-law will give you a surprise..." As she spoke, she glanced at Ping'er again, her smile meaningful.
Liu Feng rolled his eyes. "I'm not that desperate. She's just a secondhand concubine!" He was annoyed, so he retorted, "If it were you, sister-in-law, I'd be willing to give up everything I own."
Wang Xifeng was so embarrassed that her face turned red. She couldn't help but feel uneasy. Could it be that this damned man really had evil intentions towards her?
Suddenly noticing Liu Feng glancing guiltily towards the door, she immediately perked up, puffed out her chest, and stared straight at Liu Feng.
Liu Feng felt uneasy under her gaze; this woman was incredibly bold.
He hurriedly pulled out the two gift lists and slammed them on the coffee table: "Take good care of Miss Lin for me, and say good things about her."
After saying that, he got up and left as if a ghost was supporting him from behind.
Wang Xifeng chuckled, then laughed so hard she almost fell over, her body shaking with laughter. Finally, patting her chest triumphantly, she said, "He has the desire to steal, but not the guts!"
Ping'er curled her lip and spat, "What a pair of adulterers!"
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