Chapter 131: Wu Er is Dead

  The main hall was resplendent with lights and gold decorations, presenting a magnificent and luxurious scene.

  Qin Dai Xin glanced down at the handmade woven camel-hair rug with a rich peony pattern under her feet, and then quietly looked up at the silk lanterns hanging from the ceiling with pictures of beautiful women. In the corner of the wall stood a pair of large, rounded cabinets made of purple sandalwood, with red copper handles plated in gold, which were extremely luxurious and eye-catching. The tables, chairs, and shelves inside had all been replaced with high-quality Huang Hua Li wood, only waxed without any paint, showing clear grain patterns that looked even more precious. Qin Dai Xin held a five-color tea cup with the designs of Fu Lu Shou (good fortune, prosperity, and longevity), and took another look around at the decorations in the room. On the multi-tiered shelves were placed ivory carvings of landscapes, ink jade carvings of the star of longevity, and large plates with colorful glazes...

  All sorts of things were displayed in a row, many of which Qin Dai had never seen before. They should be the good stuff that was kept at the bottom of the box, and it's unknown when they were put up. It doesn't matter if people touch them and make a sound.

  Qin Dai Xin took a sip of tea, looked up at Fang Wanru who was sitting in the front row. Although she had just received the news that the Qi family was visiting, her outfit didn't look like it was hastily put together. It seemed as if she had known about the visit all along and had deliberately dressed up to wait for them at home. She was dressed up like a Christmas tree, but was it really just to show off in front of the Qi family?

  Qin Dai Xin looked at Qi Bao Zhu, who had changed into a light green dress with large white camellia flowers, and thought to herself that this girl really loved the color green, just like when they first met, she was wearing a pale green outfit.

  "Good sister, I heard that you live in a garden by yourself. It really makes me envious, with such a spacious place, your mood must be good, right?" Qi Baozhu suddenly didn't have the air of a silly big sister anymore, compared to Qin Dai's sneaky glances around, she had more of a noble lady's demeanor. Facing the luxurious decorations in Fang Wanru's main hall, it was unclear whether she looked down on them or what, but she seemed completely unimpressed, not even bothering to take a closer look.

  "Sister is joking, this is just a small garden, is it worth sister's envy? Is sister's home lacking in space? I've heard sister say before that the sisters in her household each live in their own embroidered building." Qin Dai glanced at Fang Wanru and saw that she was indeed slightly surprised, then a hint of a smile appeared between her eyebrows.

  Qī Bǎozhū smiled, "That was also at home. Now that I've arrived in Taizhou, I hastily bought a house, but it's just a small two-sectioned house. The main room is simple, and since I live in the backyard, it's really not worth looking at."

  Fang Wanru said: "Taizhou is different from Beijing, it's a pity for Miss Qi."

  Zi Baozhu revealed a slightly embarrassed smile, "It's actually made the lady laugh at me, I'm used to being picky and can't change it for the time being."

  "You're the precious darling of the family, so naturally there's always someone to take care of everything for you. If there's anything that doesn't meet your expectations, won't your wife immediately change it for you?" Fang Wanru's words carried a hint of flattery, but unfortunately, some people didn't know whether they were listening or not, and simply didn't respond to her.

  Zi Baozhu turned her head and asked Qin Dai Xin: "Sister has a garden of her own, but says it's a small garden. Is she afraid I'll come to live here?"

  Fang Wanru was overjoyed, this is for the best.

  Qin Dai Xin said, "It's not that I'm deceiving my sister, it really is like this. Our family has few children, so each of us opened up a small garden to live in separately, which can't compare to the pavilions and high buildings of your household. It's just a simple three-room main house with side rooms in a small courtyard!"

  Zi Baozhu said: "I don't mind it being small, I'll move in for a few days soon, you can't refuse."

  Fang Wanru was afraid that Qin Daiyu would say something unpleasant, so she hastily said: "Of course we can't decline, Miss Qi is welcome to stay as long as she likes."

  Zi Baozhu didn't refute her either, and smiled: "Thank you, madam."

  Qin Dai Xin said again: "But anyway, why did sister come over at this time?"

  Qibaozhu turned her head towards Qindai Xin and winked at her, "Naturally, I came to thank you for saving my life."

  Fang Wanru was shocked, "What did you just say?"

  "I won't hide it from you, madam. When I returned home and saw my father, I couldn't help but feel wronged and suffered, so I cried loudly for a while. My father was furious, wishing he could kill those thieves with his own hands. But what can be done now that they're all dead? We can only be grateful that we were rescued by someone, even though the benefactor didn't reveal himself. However, I will definitely pray for him day and night, wishing him blessings." She turned her head to look at Fang Wanru: "Madam, these few thieves kidnapped me for money, but unexpectedly implicated my sister as well, causing her to suffer together with me. Although I feel terrible inside, it's fortunate that I have my sister by my side; otherwise, I wouldn't be able to survive."

  Fang Wanru's heart skipped a beat as she asked, "Why?"

  "I'm such a coward, seeing the dead body already made my legs weak. The road was so dark and it was raining, how could I possibly make it down the mountain alive? Luckily, my sister accompanied me and helped me down the mountain. The mountain path was treacherous, I almost slid down from the mountain, if not for my sister grabbing me at that moment, I'm afraid I would have fallen into the valley and been smashed to pieces."

  Half-true and half-false words were pre-discussed by the two, Fang Wanru naturally didn't know, but she saw Qi Baozhu's eyes were red and slightly swollen, so she believed her words.

  Zi Baozhu said: "Sister's kindness to me is the same as that of an unseen benefactor." After finishing speaking, she suddenly stood up and went in front of Qin Daihe, "Sister has saved my life, I will give you a bow." Then she actually wanted to pay her respects.

  Qin Dai's heart didn't know she had this move, and also knew she was telling the truth. She immediately stood up and said: "If sister is like this, then you don't treat me as your own sister. I have few close friends in my boudoir, now that I've added you to the list, of course I'm delighted. Between friends, we should help each other out, can it be that you still want to maintain formalities with me? Would you rather let me be your benefactor instead of your sister?"

  Qī Bǎozhū was taken aback! At the moment, she had a similar feeling in her heart. She didn't have many friends either, and many people who interacted with her were being fake, using her name to plot for the benefit of the Qī family was true.

  Qin Dai's heart saw that she had stopped making her curtsy, and only then did she say: "Sister, how could you not have saved my life? I'm also not very brave, fortunately there's sister to accompany me, so I dared to walk the mountain road at night. Now thinking about it, it's really frightening, at this time the weather hasn't warmed up yet, and in the mountains it's even colder, wild animals are still sleeping, if the weather warms up, I'm afraid the consequences of my impulsiveness would be that we two would be eaten by something, who knows!"

  Zi Baozhu also felt a lingering fear and secretly said: Fortunately.

  Fang Wanru said, "This thief is bold and has such thoughts, harming you almost to the point of losing your lives. Now that everyone is safe and sound, let's not mention this matter again, forget about these unlucky things, and live a happy life." She suspected that Qi Shi and her daughter's midnight visit must have had another meaning, so she probed Qi Baozhu: "I heard that there are six young ladies in the mansion, each with exceptional talents, and only one of them is around the same age as Miss Qi. I wonder if she has come to Taizhou?"

  Fang Wanru probably felt that her question was too sudden, so she added: "I was thinking that you and your sister are about the same age. If you're not busy, you can come to my house with your younger sister for company. It's always better to have more people around."

  Qī Bǎo Zhū finally understood Fāng Wǎn Rú's meaning, even though she was a bit dim-witted. She didn't want to directly refuse her, so she said: "Little sister did come to Taizhou, but she's not as free as I am, always busy with something or other, probably can't make it." Qī Bǎo Wén liked doing business and had good management skills, but this girl's family was also in business, inevitably leading to some gossip. It was normal that Qī Bǎo Zhū didn't want the Qin family to mention it.

  Fang Wanru bumped into a soft nail, but wasn't annoyed, still smiling, "If she's free, you can call her to come together; if she's not free, you can just come yourself."

  Zi Baozhu smiled again, "I'm afraid I'll be coming over often in the future, I hope you won't mind me being a nuisance, madam."

  Fang Wanru smiled from within and said with pleasure: "You often come here, such a noble guest, I invite you to come but can't get through, how could it be troublesome?"

  The three of them were chatting enthusiastically when Haitang came in and reported, "Madam, Mr. Qi from the front yard has finished talking with Master and is preparing to leave for his residence. He sent someone to ask if Miss Qi can return now."

  Zi Baozhu was surprised after hearing this, "How can it be settled so quickly?"

  "What time is it?"

  Haitang Road: "It's time for you."

  "So late?" Qi Baozhu hastily got up, "Madam, the hour is already late, I'll go back now and come again another day to disturb you. But if I couldn't come, can I write a note to ask my sister to come over instead?"

  "It's all right with nature, but why can't Miss Qi leave the house?"

  Qī Bǎozhū's face was slightly cloudy, "Sometimes when I make a mistake, Father will punish me by making me stay in my room, but my younger sister is my savior. If she leaves, then naturally I can come out too."

  "It turned out that I was treated as a lifesaving straw." Qin Dai's heart intentionally made an angry expression, and Qi Baozhu couldn't help but apologize again.

  Fang Wanru secretly smiled, indeed birds of a feather flock together. All these brainless people have gathered in one place...

  The two of them said a few more words before Qī Bǎozhū said, "Madam, I'll take my leave now." After finishing speaking, she bowed to Fāng Wǎnrú.

  "Miss Qi, please don't be so polite," Fang Wanru hastily said. "You and my daughter get along well, we're like family, there's no need for such formalities."

  These three words "family members" sounded particularly sarcastic in Qin Dai's ears.

  Qin Dai'er also stood up, "Mother, can I see off Baozhu sister?"

  "Alright, go ahead! Miss Qi, take care and come back often." Fang Wanru was delighted to see things going smoothly, so she naturally became more gracious and had Haitang escort her out.

  Haitang personally selected the curtains for the two of them, and took over two eight-sided lotus flower lamps from Xiaoyu's hands, handing them to Ruyi and Qibaozhu's maids.

  Qin Dai Xin pulled Qi Bao Zhu, the two sisters holding hands, warmly left the main hall, each bringing their own maid to walk outside the courtyard. Haitang didn't turn back until she saw them off out of the courtyard.

  Ru Yi and the little maid who followed Qi Bao Zhu knew that the two had something to say, so they carried lanterns and followed far behind their masters, very properly.

  "Sister, I'm telling you, Wu Er is dead." She looked sorrowful, with tears welling up in her eyes, and didn't seem to be joking.

  Qin Dai's heart skipped a beat as she asked, "Who is Wu Er?"

  PS: Actually, who doesn't want to be popular? Mutual fans and all that are really just helpless moves. These things are better off going with the flow.

  Seeking monthly tickets, seeking collection, seeking likes, seeking clicks, seeking comments, seeking rewards, seeking gifts, all kinds of seeking, whatever you want, just throw it over!