Lovable Beauty

For the time being, Xie Yao and her daughter were settled down, and Madam Jiang and her brother and sister-in-law got together to discuss the countermeasures.

Before words could be said, Nanny Liu came with a sullen face and brought Fang Ze’s words.

Jiang Qin raised his eyebrow in surprise.

Madam Jiang stood up straight away, staring at Nanny Liu, and asked, “Why has it suddenly come to this? He doesn’t even want his own daughter?”

Nanny Liu avoided the serious part and focused on the trivial, and only spoke indignantly of Du Yinger’s intention to harm the Madam, concealing her mistress’s brutal revenge.

Madam Jiang looked to her elder brother. She didn’t believe Du Yinger, an orphan, had such courage.

Jiang Qin frowned, and said to his wife, Madam Li, “You watch the home. I will go to Fang’s house with Jizhou.”

For Fang Ze to be so decisive, Xie Yao must have offended him completely. Xie Yao sought shelter at his home, so he must go to give an explanation.

Sending someone to quickly prepare a gift, the father and son went to Fang’s house without any stops.

Fang Ze came out to greet the guests with a cold face, and said coldly: “Master Jiang, if you want to persuade me to bring the mother and daughter back, you will have to excuse this official.”

As soon as Jiang Qin heard him refer to himself as “this official,” he understood what Fang Ze meant, and said with an apologetic smile, “I don’t dare. She left with her daughter without any notice—if that was my wife, I will be furious too. Your Excellency has been wronged in this matter, and Jiang has absolutely no intention of speaking for her. I came here today only to explain to Your Excellency that the Jiang family took her in merely because we’re in-laws; we have no choice. Please, let there not be any misunderstandings.”

Fang Ze’s face brightened, and he stretched out his hand to invite the father and son to sit down. He sighed and said, “I know her temper best. If she hadn’t been unreasonable, we wouldn’t have come to this point, let alone allow her to cause you trouble. Jizhou’s wedding is coming up. Is everything ready at home?”

“Almost,” Jiang Qin replied with a smile, looking at him expectantly, “I wonder if my lord is free to drink some wedding wine?”

Fang Ze smiled wryly, put down the teacup, and said, “Forget it, I’m afraid it will cause gossip if I go. I won’t go this time but next year when the Jiang family has a new addition to the family, I will surely come.”

The implicit meaning was that he was willing to continue the friendship with the Jiang family.

Jiang Qin was relieved, presented a well-prepared gift, and discussed when to come to move Xie Yao’s dowry, and then left.

Fang Ze saw them off in person and watched the Jiang family’s carriage depart. A meaningful smile appeared on the man’s face.

“Master, the lady cousin is awake.” The servant hurried over to report.

Fang Ze’s smile disappeared as he strode to Wensheng Courtyard.

While Du Yinger was unconscious, the doctor had already treated her wounds. Such wounds were not easy to bandage, so when Du Yinger woke up and asked the maid for a mirror, she could clearly see the two hideous scars on her face. She was conceited about her beauty, and now that the most important beauty was gone, Du Yinger fiercely smashed down the mirror.

The ear-piercing sound of something shattering made Fang Ze pause. He made sure that there was no more movement inside before he raised the curtain.

“Cousin……”

As soon as Du Ying’er saw him, she cried aggrievedly and then continued to lament. Realizing that her appearance was gone, she turned away hastily, with her hands covering the sides of her face, refusing to let him see. Her head lowered, tears dripping down her cheeks like rain, crying out loud.

Fang Ze admitted that he was not so infatuated with his cousin that would only marry her, but he really likes this beautiful, cunning, and tempting cousin very much. If it hadn’t been for this accident, he would really marry her. His cousin was hiding in bed, weeping pitifully. Fang Ze didn’t feel good inside, and he signaled the maids to withdraw with his eyes. He sat on the bed;  he didn’t force her to let go, and only nudged her into his arms, “Cousin, I know you have been wronged…”

“Cousin, where is she? I want to retaliate!” Du Ying’er glared at the mattress, hissing in pure hate as she gnashed her teeth. She didn’t want Xie Yao to die; she wanted Xie Yao to have a taste of living worse than death!

Fang Ze’s eyes changed slightly, and he was silent for a moment before explaining to her the reason why Xie Yao shouldn’t be touched: “In the end, we are at fault for this matter. If we make a big deal out of this, it will be heard by my enemies. Then not only will I not be able to be promoted, I fear that I won’t even be able to continue being the magistrate…”

“You mean my face is ruined for nothing?” Du Ying’er couldn’t believe her ears. She forgot to cover her face and turned around suddenly, staring at the man in front of her. “Cousin doesn’t want to help me take revenge?”

Her eyes were sharp, matching the ghastly wound on her face. Fang Ze’s felt a cold chill on his back. Knowing of her deep hatred, he held Du Ying’er’s shoulder and explained in a low voice, “It’s not that I don’t want to take revenge, but I can’t immediately. Cousin, right now is the most critical time for me to rise up, and I must be cautious in every word and deed. Cousin, think about it, she will not be able to have any more children in this life. As long as I send someone to spread the news, she will never be able to marry again. Is it revenge enough for her to remain an old maid the rest of her life?”

He said so much, but it was actually just one sentence: he will not take revenge on Xie Yao.

Looking at the man’s fair and handsome face, Du Ying’er burst into tears. “She will be an old maid for the rest of her life, what about me? Cousin, my face is ruined; will you still marry me?” Nanny Liu stabbed so brutally; the wound was so deep she couldn’t even comfort herself that there was still a possibility of recovery from the wound on her face.

Fang Ze’s couldn’t bear to be cruel to her and held her hand, ” “Cousin, I divorced her because of you; you know my heart, but, as an official, I will have to socialize in the future, and my wife also has to get along with other officials’ wives. Your face…”

“You can’t marry me, can you?” Du Yinger asked with a wry smile. Because of her ugly face, those pair of teary eyes were even more charming.

Fang Ze couldn’t explain why but facing such a pitiful cousin his lower half stirred.

His cousin was only fifteen. Her face was ruined, but her body was still young. As long as she puts a veil on her face…

“Cousin, it’s not that I scorn you. It’s just that you are no longer fit to show your face. Bear a little grievance and be my concubine?” Fang Ze hugged the crying pitiful girl, and gently kissed her on the top of her head. “You might be my concubine, but in my heart, you are my wife. In the future, when the second wife enters the door, she’s only in charge of public socialization. In my heart, I still like you more, and I will value the children you bear for me more, how is that?”

Du Ying’er pressed her forehead against the man’s shoulder. She couldn’t stop her tears, but in her heart, she wished no more than to smash him into pieces!

Xie Yao ruined her, yet, for his career, he refused to avenge her!

Coaxing her to be a concubine—wasn’t it because he was certain she had no natal family nor did she have anywhere to go, and that she had no other choice?

doesn’t it mean that her natal family has nowhere to go and that she has no choice?

But she really had no choice. Staying with Fang Ze, she still had the chance to rely on her son to avenge her. If she left, where can she, a disfigured weak woman, go?

“Cousin, cousin, I’m afraid. I’m afraid you’ll neglect me once you have a new one…” Du Ying’er cried her heart out as she hugged her only support.

Fang Ze’s heart ached and repeatedly promised, “I won’t. Yinger, don’t cry. I will search for medicine to remove your scars. Maybe you can recover as you were before. I will marry you then!”

“What if I never get better? How long are you willing to wait for me?” Du Yinger raised her head, her eyes misty with tears.

Fang Ze kissed her eyes, “Don’t say such depressing words. Let’s treat it first. I will send more people out; I will find a way to cure you.”

Du Yinger’s eyes lowered, feeling a chill seep into her body.

She would be a fool if she believed him again.