Chapter 23: The Thoughtful Wife of the Master

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  Cassia was overwhelmed with gratitude, but Stone Slab felt a bit embarrassed. He quickly reached out to help the little girl up and comforted her kindly: "From now on, Master's wife and I will take care of everything for you. You can rest assured and work at Peaceful Hall without worrying."

  "Mm." Ding Xiang nodded heavily.

  She wiped away the tears, and her face changed from crying to smiling. Her delicate face was like a pear blossom after a spring rain, very touching. Shi Wei couldn't help but feel a little dazed as he looked at her.

  Shi Niang Fan Peilan saw it with her own eyes, a faint sly smile flashed at the corner of her mouth, and she covered her mouth to cough lightly several times.

  Shi Wei woke up with a start from her daze and caught sight of Shi Fu's unusual expression, so she pretended to drink tea to cover up the slight awkwardness.

  "Clove, now that Yuan Zhi is back, hurry to the kitchen and cook some good dishes. Then go next door to the wine shop and fetch a few jars of good wine. We must drink a few cups to celebrate this happy event."

  "I'll go right away."

  After sending away Ding Xiang, Fan Peilan closed the gate and personally poured another cup of tea for Shi Wei. Suddenly, she asked: "Yuan Zhi, what do you think of Ding Xiang?"

  Shi Wei paused for a moment and smiled: "This little girl is very diligent, clever and not in vain that we have been busy for her."

  Fan Peilan sat beside him and said in a low voice, "I think this girl is not only clever and diligent, but also beautiful. If you like her, why don't you take her as your concubine?"

  "Are you Tongfang Yuhuan?"

  Upon hearing these four words, Shi Wei couldn't help but search through the memories "Benzun" had left him, and soon he understood what his master's wife meant.

  In ancient times, there was a distinction between wives and concubines in the inner chamber. One wife with multiple concubines, down to those who shared a bed like Yuji and Zhirong, were lower in status than concubines but higher in status than ordinary maidservants.

  Tongfang Yuhuan not only had to do the serving work within her duties, but another important task was to accompany the master to sleep. If she was lucky and gave birth to a boy and a girl, she might even be promoted to concubine.

  "This one..."

  Shi Wei did not respond immediately, he was somewhat surprised by Fan Peilan's sudden proposal.

  Fan Peilan sighed, "Earlier you didn't want to marry that Huang family girl, I said let's call off the engagement, and you told me not to rush into marriage. You're already twenty years old, always delaying marriage, Master's wife is worried that it will harm your body."

  "What's wrong with my body?" Shi Wei was taken aback for a moment.

  Fan Peilan's face suddenly flushed with a hint of crimson, she was only anxious to persuade Shi Wei, and didn't think that one slip of the tongue would make her say something too much, and it wasn't until after the words were spoken that she felt somewhat inappropriate.

  "That... you're a doctor, you should understand what the teacher's wife is saying." Fan Peilan looked embarrassed and muttered vaguely with her head down.

  Shi Wei suddenly realized, thinking that his master's wife was really considerate, not only caring about his food and drink, but also remembering his private life, fearing that he would vent his energy nowhere as a young man, harming his body.

  He smiled and said: "Thank you, Master's wife, for your concern. However, this is something that I don't want to force others to do."

  Although Ding Xiang is lovely, she is still young. Shi Wei has some fondness for her, but as a doctor, he knows that if he were to take advantage of her now, it would be harmful to her body.

  Fan Peilan didn't think so, in her opinion, a 12 or 13-year-old girl was already close to the age of marriage, and even if they were having conjugal relations, what's wrong with that.

  "She said: 'Although our family is not wealthy or noble, we are still a respectable family. She will have enough to eat and wear in our house, I think she will definitely be willing.'"

  "That's what I said, but..."

  After he finished speaking, Fan Peilan said in one breath: "Yuan Zhi, if you're too embarrassed to speak up, then let Shifu's wife probe Ding Xiang's intentions indirectly. Don't worry, this matter will be left to Shifu's wife."

  Seeing Fan Peilan being so "enthusiastic", Shi Wei really didn't know what to say, anyway this wasn't a bad thing, he just smiled and didn't say anything more.

  That night, Ding Xiang cooked a table of good dishes, plus the top-grade Huangjiu from next door. The three of them celebrated with wine in this small peaceful hall.

  Climbing up the county magistrate's big tree, today he again fooled Ma Bo that little boy into a dusty face, Shi Wei's interest was naturally extremely good. That night, under the alternating respect of Ding Xiang and Fan Pei Lan, he really drank a lot.

  Unbeknownst to him, the lanterns were already hung high, and Shi Wei was full from drinking and eating. He had originally planned to sleep well, but as someone who came from modern times, he had developed a habit of taking baths since childhood. Moreover, with the current sweltering weather, his body was drenched in sweat, making it impossible for him to fall asleep, so he insisted on taking a bath.

  Fan Peilan knew his habits, so she and Ding Xiang were busy making fire and fetching water together, and finally prepared a large basin of hot water for Shi Wei.

  Lying in the wooden tub, Shi Wei thought back to that triumphant moment at the county magistrate's office, feeling extremely pleased and carefree. With the effects of the wine taking hold, he dozed off into a daze, just like usual, and fell asleep in the bathtub.

  It wasn't until a long while later, when he was still in a daze, that he suddenly heard the sound of knocking at the door. He then heard Ding Xiang say from outside the door: "Young Master, are you done washing? I've made some hangover soup and thought I'd bring it in for you."

  "Come in."

  Dazed and confused, Shi Wei forgot what he was doing, got up from washing the basin, and stumbled towards the door.

  The door creaked open, and Ding Xiang walked in with a bowl of soup. Suddenly, she looked up to see Shi Wei standing in front of her, stark naked and dripping wet, his eyes blurry.

  A big bunch of bananas swung directly towards her eyes.

  Ding Xiang was stunned for a moment, let out a sharp cry of "ah", and quickly turned her head around.

  This shrill cry pierced his ears and instantly woke up Shi Wei. He blinked several times, suddenly realizing what had happened.

  He didn't think much of it, took three steps and turned back into the bathtub, then smiled and said: "Dingxiang, how did you say come in and just came in?"

  That side of Ding Xiang's face was flushed with shame, she shifted her body to the front of the table, put down the hangover soup and said in a wronged tone: "I knocked on the door just now, it was the young master who said I could come in, I must have misheard, it's all my fault."

  Shi Wei suddenly remembered what he had just said in his daze, and he gently patted his forehead, self-mockingly saying: "It's because I drank too much wine, I even forgot what I said myself, no wonder you're like that."

  Jian Shiwei hadn't seen anything unusual, so Ding Xiang finally relaxed and calmed her emotions. She lowered her head and handed the bowl over, "This soup is still hot, young master should drink it while it's warm."

  "Oh."

  The atmosphere seemed a bit awkward, Shi Wei casually responded and took the bowl to pretend to drink easily.

  Ding Xiang hesitated for a moment, then suddenly picked up the handkerchief and softly said: "If the young master doesn't mind my clumsy hands, let me wipe your back for you."

  "Alright."

  He had also gone to play sauna massage before, but since crossing into this era, although he had tried the meat, he had never had a beauty scrub his back. Since there was a pretty maid at home who was willing to give him a back rub, why wouldn't he be happy about it?

  Shi Wei readily agreed and lay down at one end of the wooden basin.

  Just waited for a moment but didn't see Su's hand on his back, instead he heard the rustling sound behind him.

  Under the confusion of Shi Wei, he turned his head back and took a look. This glance was nothing to worry about, but a pair of eyes suddenly widened in an instant.

  At this time, Ding Xiang had already undone her robe, and her plump body was fully exposed, with nothing hidden from view.

  She lowered her eyebrows and smiled slightly, with a hint of shyness on her face. Her slender legs lifted lightly as she stepped into the bathtub, crouched down in the water, and raised her pale arm to scrub Shi Wei's back.

  "Clove, what's going on..." Shi Wei suppressed his anxiety and swallowed hard.

  Cassia lowered her head in shyness and whispered: "Just now, the lady has already told me that you are a good man, Cassia is willing to serve you for a lifetime."

  So it seems, this master's wife of mine is indeed efficient and decisive in her actions.

  "Clove, Mrs., she meant well, it's just that... " Shi Wei was at a loss for words.

  Ding Xiang's face turned red as she saw the stone slab, and her eyes showed a hint of unwillingness. Her usual shy expression suddenly gave way to a few hints of panic, and tears began to well up in her eyes. "Ding Xiang knew that she was of humble birth, and if Young Master thought he had been tainted by her body, Ding Xiang..."

  "Clove, you misunderstood, I didn't mean it that way." Shi Wei hastily interrupted her.

  Although he was happy to enjoy being served and the joy of being a master, after all, he was also a modern person, and the idea of nobility had not taken root. He stared at a lively little girl, saying that dedicating herself to him would "pollute" his body, which made Shi Wei feel somewhat uncomfortable.

  He coughed lightly and had no choice but to explain: "You're still young, I'm afraid that if I take you, it will ruin your body."

  Ding Xiang's face was bewildered, and her eyes revealed a hint of sadness, apparently she took Shi Wei's explanation as an excuse to reject her.

  Gradually, her expression became increasingly gloomy, and as she gazed at this pitiful appearance of hers, coupled with the fact that they were bathing together in the water, their skin rubbing against each other, Shi Wei unknowingly had a natural reaction.

  A seven-foot-tall man in his prime, with a slender and charming girl by his side, suddenly felt his desire burning like wildfire.

  At this moment of embarrassment, Shi Wei's gaze suddenly froze on her lightly bitten red lips.

  A flash of evil light suddenly flashed in his eyes, and he suddenly stood up from the water with a "whoosh".

  Ding Xiang was shocked and in a flurry, Shi Wei stretched out his hand and pressed her face down.

  "Your Highness..."

  Ding Xiang hummed a few times, and her pretty face quickly blushed fiery red like the sunset. As if it was her natural instinct, she soon understood Shi Wei's intention.

  She hesitated for a moment, took a deep breath, gently lifted her hair, grasped the ugly thing, swallowed it hard, and hummed softly.

  Shi Wei was electrified, her soul shattered, as if drunk and crazy, she grasped her black hair tightly, pressing it down hard without letting go.

  ……

  One night of revelry has passed, and I don't know when the fragrance of the lilac disappeared, nor do I know when I fell into a deep sleep.

  The rooster had yet to crow, the sun was about to rise but hadn't risen yet, and he was still savoring the memory of his dream when Shi Wei was suddenly startled awake by a series of urgent knocks on the door.

  Someone outside shouted: "The government is arresting people, open the door quickly!"