Farm Tough Girl

Chapter 46 - 46 47 Ill Marry Her Immediately_1

?Chapter 46: Chapter 47 I’ll Marry Her Immediately_1 Chapter 46: Chapter 47 I’ll Marry Her Immediately_1 Qian Yuan laughed contentedly, “Even he wouldn’t have the guts to play tricks on me, haha.”

The little maid massaging his legs seemed to be angling for favor and smiled coquettishly, “Master is always thinking of that Qinghe, never sparing a thought for us, hmm?”

Qian Yuan, clearly irritated, kicked her away, “Get lost; vulgar, garish goods like you will never catch my eye.”

Not daring to complain, the little maid knelt on the ground, her face a picture of timorous fear.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before a servant came to report that Qiao Yuanzhen had arrived with Li Qinghe!

“Qinghe, the poetry contest is upstairs in the Moon Pavilion. Shall we rest a while in a private room first?”

It was Qinghe’s first time in such a lavish establishment and she was somewhat dazed, “Qiao Yuanzhen, this place is so luxurious, won’t it cost a lot of money?”

“Don’t worry. The patrons of the poetry contest have prepared private rooms for us, free of charge. The Governor cherishes talent; come, let me take you upstairs.”

Upstairs, Qian Yuan’s servant was on the lookout. Qiao Yuanzhen gave him a slight nod before leading Qinghe up into another room.

As soon as the two had seated themselves, a small maid came in with tea. This whole grand affair was new to Qinghe and she felt ill at ease.

Qiao Yuanzhen took a teacup and passed the one with a small red dot to Qinghe. It was mixed with an aphrodisiac, and once it took effect, what happened next would be beyond her control.

Once the deed was done, whether Qian Yuan took her as a concubine or merely a plaything was also out of her hands.

In a single afternoon, Er Liang managed to cut down two large bundles of branches, shouldering them with a carrying pole as he descended the mountain. Muniang wiped his sweat with her handkerchief from time to time, and villagers passing by teased them, saying what a loving couple they were.

By the time the couple got home, it was getting late. At dusk, the entire sky was stained fiery red—it was time to prepare dinner.

But unexpectedly, Li Cheng rushed in, flustered, “Muniang, Er Liang!”

Muniang had been washing vegetables but came out upon hearing the commotion. Seeing Li Cheng’s sweaty, anxious face, she felt a foreboding unease, “Chengzi, what’s wrong?”

“Have you seen Qinghe? I thought she was with you.”

“No, she left at noon. I was busy then and didn’t pay much attention.”

Li Cheng stamped his foot in frustration, “I was at the fish pond all day, thinking either she’d be at home alone or with you two. But she’s nowhere to be found! I’ve looked everywhere.”

Muniang’s brows furrowed deeply, “All I know is that Pang fetched her. Maybe ask him?”

As Li Cheng was about to go find out, Mrs. Du came running in breathlessly, “Chengzi! I saw Qinghe; she was with the Qiao family’s fourth son, coming back from town! She should be home by now, you better hurry back.”

Muniang and Er Liang exchanged a glance, feeling as though something bad was about to happen, and quickly followed Li Cheng.

As soon as Li Cheng entered the house, he rushed over to Qinghe and anxiously asked, “Sister, how could you go out without telling me?! Do you know how worried I was?”

Qinghe glanced at Qiao Yuanzhen and smoothed her hair, “I thought I would be back early, I’m sorry.”

Li Cheng sighed, “Never mind, as long as you’re safe.”

Qinghe hung her head slightly and fell silent.

Qiao Yuanzhen’s face darkened, his chest tight as if he were holding in a breath, his breathing quickening. He looked down at Qinghe, clenched his teeth, and knelt down.

“Chengzi, marry Qinghe to me. I will marry her right away.”

No sooner had Muniang and the two entered than they were shocked by the scene. Was Qiao Yuanzhen serious?!

“What are you doing?” Chengzi was also clueless about the situation.

“Brother, please agree. In this life, I cannot marry anyone but him,” Qinghe spoke these words indifferently, without a trace of excitement, a stark contrast to her former self, yet the determination in her tone was unmistakable.

“What does that mean?!”

“We…”

Qiao Yuanzhen interrupted Qinghe’s words, “It was Qian Yuan’s trickery; he intentionally poisoned Qinghe’s tea, wanting to… But who knew that tea was drunk by me, so…”

So it was an indiscretion without a mediator?!

Li Cheng’s eyes turned red with congestion, and he punched Qiao Yuanzhen in the face, “Bastard, you actually! You actually!”

“Brother!” Tears started to roll down Qinghe’s face. “It’s not Qiao Sige’s fault, it’s all Qian Yuan’s doing. I did it voluntarily; Qiao Sige was drugged and I volunteered to be the antidote.”

Upon hearing Qinghe’s words, Li Cheng felt so weak that he slumped to the ground. “My sister, why are you so foolish! Sacrificing your purity to save him! My foolish sister!”

Crying, Qinghe said, “Brother, this is the fate I have to accept. If it wasn’t for Qiao Sige, today I would have been forced to marry into the Qian Family as a concubine.”

Li Cheng was almost roaring, “You scoundrel, to treat my Qinghe so! My Qinghe, whom I’ve cherished since she was young! How could you be so shameless!”

Qiao Yuanzhen’s face was grim, and he didn’t say another word. His heart was more shattered than anyone’s. Clearly unable to accept the reality, he had never planned to marry Li Qinghe in the first place. Had it not been for the tea getting mysteriously mixed up, he wouldn’t have needed to come here and endure such injustice. If Li Qinghe were to expose their secret indiscretion, his life would be ruined!

Reluctantly, Li Cheng gave his consent, as the deed was already done. Who else could Qinghe marry now?!

Li Cheng nodded and only then did Li Qinghe say, “Brother, Muniang, please don’t tell anyone what happened between Qiao Sige and me, otherwise…”

Li Cheng wasn’t foolish. Would he brazenly tell others that his sister had an indiscretion without a mediator?!

“Don’t worry, I do have some sense,” Muniang said, but her gaze upon Qinghe carried an unusual air.

“When will you marry Qinghe?” Li Cheng glared at Qiao Yuanzhen and demanded.

“Within a month; I will present the betrothal gifts in a few days.”

Muniang snorted coldly, “Draw up the marriage contract first, and handle everything with your parents. Don’t let them make trouble at Qinghe’s doorstep. If this gets out, nobody will save face.”

Qiao Yuanzhen glared coldly back at Muniang before uttering a few words, “I will.”

Qinghe walked Qiao Yuanzhen out of the courtyard. He didn’t utter a superfluous word and left abruptly. It was evident how much he despised the marriage.

Qinghe bit her lip, her desolation clearly visible on her face. Mocking herself, she thought how foolish she had been to truly believe that this man had taken a liking to her. Heh, it was all a joke!

Wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes, she turned to go back inside, only to find herself face to face with Muniang, startling her pale.

“Muniang, what… What are you doing here?”

Muniang took hold of Qinghe’s hand, “Qinghe, I’ll ask you just one thing: was the tea laced with medicine drunk by Qiao Yuanzhen by accident, or did you purposefully make him drink it?”