Chapter 387: Overhearing Secrets

Chapter 387: Overheard a Secret

Hua Feixue returned to the Rain-Listening Pavilion and saw Ji Qingfeng sitting in her courtyard, coldly scolding her serving maid Qiu Zhu.

"Useless! Does the Marquis's household pay you to sit around doing nothing? You can't even keep an eye on your own mistress!"

"If you can't find Miss Hua, then pack your things and get out of the Yongning Marquis's household!"

Qiu Zhu knelt on the ground, her body shaking like a leaf. Just when she thought she was doomed, the corner of her eye caught a glimpse of a figure in red walking in from outside the courtyard.

She turned her head to look—who else could it be if not Hua Feixue?

Qiu Zhu immediately felt like she'd found her lifeline, and she said joyfully, "Miss Hua, you've finally returned!"

Ji Qingfeng was startled. When he saw the woman, he immediately put away his cold expression, stood up, and walked over to grab Hua Feixue's hand.

"Miss Hua, where did you run off to? I was worried sick about you!"

Hua Feixue's red lips curled upward. She nonchalantly pulled her hand back and wiped it on her sleeve, her alluring eyes fixed on Ji Qingfeng with a teasing glint.

"Second Young Master, if you're so worried, why didn't you come looking for me yourself?"

As she finished speaking, Ji Qingfeng's expression visibly stiffened, and a flicker of awkwardness crossed his face.

During this time, Ji Qingqing had thrown more than one fit in front of him, demanding he kick Hua Feixue out.

But Ji Qingfeng couldn't bear to let her go. She was drop-dead gorgeous, and he knew that if he drove Hua Feixue away, he would never meet such a beautiful woman again!

If he kept her, he could keep her like a caged bird, right by his side.

Once she was gone, she would never belong to him again.

Meng Shi had also warned Ji Qingfeng specifically, telling him to humor Ji Qingqing as much as possible and not to upset her.

It was for this reason that Ji Qingfeng had to appease Ji Qingqing on one hand while soothing Hua Feixue on the other.

Both women had explosive tempers, and running back and forth between them was wearing him out.

What pissed him off most was that the Rain-Listening Pavilion and Ji Qingqing's courtyard were practically next door. Every time he came to see Hua Feixue, Ji Qingqing would catch him.

Left with no choice, Ji Qingfeng had to cut back on how often he visited the Rain-Listening Pavilion.

Sometimes he'd only show up once every two or three days, and he had to pick times when Ji Qingqing was out.

Just like now—when he learned that Ji Qingqing was at Ruyi Hall, he dared to sneak over.

But then Hua Feixue would think he didn't care about her, that he'd brought her to the mansion only to ignore her.

This made Ji Qingfeng feel like he was sneaking around in his own home, tiptoeing around, terrified of ticking off either of these two formidable women.

"Ah Xue, you know there's been a lot going on in the Marquis's household lately. It's not that I didn't want to come looking for you—I've got my own troubles I can't explain."

"I know I've been ignoring you lately, but I truly like you. Just hang in there for two more months. Once things in the Marquis's household are settled, I'll be by your side every day, never leaving you. What do you think?"

Hua Feixue nearly threw up!

Two months from now was when Ji Qingqing was getting married. She knew perfectly well that Ji Qingfeng was waiting for Ji Qingqing to marry before he could have his way with her.

His so-called "being with her" was just him lusting after her body!

After all, he only cared about her pretty face.

Hua Feixue cursed him in her head five times: "What a bastard, bastard, bastard, bastard, bastard!"

Luckily, she'd only moved in because she was after Ji Qingfeng's money, and she had zero desire to look at his phony face.

Actually, Ji Qingqing's antics were doing her a favor, saving her from having to deal with this two-faced man every day.

Despite what she was thinking, Hua Feixue's face gave nothing away. Her phoenix eyes lazily roamed over Ji Qingfeng, her red lips parted slightly, dripping with allure.

"Hehe, fine then. The Marquis's household matters come first. After all, the Second Young Master promised to marry me after the New Year. As a common girl, I trust that the Second Young Master's word is as good as gold. As long as you have me in your heart, I'll do whatever you say."

Hearing this, Ji Qingfeng's face flickered with unease and a touch of guilt.

Hua Feixue sneered inside, but a wounded look spread across her gorgeous face.

She stepped back two paces and said, feigning disbelief, "Could it be that the Second Young Master forgot his promise and doesn't want to marry me anymore?"

Ji Qingfeng was taken aback. He looked up and met her tearful, pitiful eyes, laced with a hint of grievance.

It seemed Hua Feixue was head over heels for him and wouldn't marry anyone else!

In less than a month, he'd won over such a beauty. Ji Qingfeng couldn't deny he was smug about it.

He quickly reassured her, "How could that be? Of course I want to marry you. Just give me a bit more time, and I'll talk to my mother about us getting married."

Hua Feixue's red lips curled, a dangerous glint flashing in her eyes as she smiled, all seduction and charm.

"Those are your words. If you dare to lie to me, I'll break your arms and legs and toss you into a snake pit to keep the vipers company."

Her voice carried a woman's coquettishness and pout, and Ji Qingfeng only took it as her throwing a little tantrum, not taking it to heart.

He responded perfunctorily, "Don't worry, Ah Xue. If I really deceive you, I'll break my own legs without you having to lift a finger."

Ji Qingfeng heard the woman's charming laughter, and his gaze deepened.

Marrying her? Of course, that was impossible.

The moment he had blurted out that promise in a moment of impulse, he had already regretted it!

Hua Feixue was beautiful, but that was all—just a pretty face with no other advantages.

He was the Second Young Master of the Yongning Marquis's household. How could he marry a woman with no parents, who made a living by selling illustrated storybooks?

If he brought her out in the future, others would only mock him for marrying a lowly legitimate wife who couldn't be presented in public, and he would lose face, wouldn't he?

However, keeping her by his side as a concubine wasn't a bad idea.

As Ji Qingfeng was scheming in his heart, he suddenly heard Hua Feixue's voice.

"Second Young Master, could you tell me about Ji Yuntang?"

"I heard she's the illegitimate daughter the Marquis's household lost outside and was brought back to marry in place of the Second Miss Ji, is that right?"

Ji Qingfeng's face darkened, and his voice instantly turned cold. "Why do you bring her up out of nowhere?"

Seeing Ji Qingfeng's reaction, Hua Feixue knew the rumors were true.

It seemed that Ji Yuntang was the real legitimate daughter, while Ji Qingqing was just a fake.

No wonder Ji Yuntang wanted to sever ties with the Marquis Yongning's household and take revenge on the entire marquis's estate!

She had never seen family members so incapable of seeing things clearly.

Hua Feixue found this even more intriguing. Her long lashes fluttered as she changed the subject.

"Nothing, I, as a common girl, just overheard some servants talking and asked casually."

With that, she beamed at Ji Qingfeng. "Now that New Year's Eve has just passed, the streets out there are really bustling. I'd like to go out for a walk—would that be alright?"

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