Not long after Steward Tian and Xiao Ju left, Steward Fu arrived!
Perhaps due to what had just happened, Qin Yun felt a sense of unease when Steward Fu suddenly appeared.
"Steward Fu? What brings you here?"
"Young Master, this is the medicinal soup that Master asked me to deliver. Please drink it while it's hot!" Steward Fu placed a bowl of medicinal soup on the wooden table, then stepped back and waited.
"Steward Fu, it's very late. You should go back to your room and rest."
Steward Fu shook his head. "Young Master, Master specifically instructed me to ensure you drink it before I leave!"
Qin Yun smiled, walked to the wooden table, and sat down casually. He picked up the medicinal soup, blew on it absentmindedly, and asked, "How many years has Steward Fu been at the Qin residence?"
Steward Fu tilted his head back and began to calculate. "Time truly flies. This old servant has been following Master for over twenty years!"
"That year, Master passed the imperial examination and subsequently acquired this courtyard. Master was in need of someone to serve him, so he bought me from the slave market. Master has been kind to me; this old servant will never forget it!"
Steward Fu was bought into the courtyard?
"Was my father married at that time?"
"Mistress entered the household in the second year! And a year later, Young Master was born!"
Qin Yun narrowed his eyes and continued, "Then how did Madam Min enter the Qin household?"
"Once, Master went out on official business and met Second Mistress on the road. The two had no prior connection, but Master, missing Mistress, sought solace in wine and ended up having relations with Second Mistress."
Upon saying this, Steward Fu, fearing Qin Yun's anger, quickly added, "Master regretted it afterwards and gave Second Mistress some silver to send her away. Who would have thought… two months later, Second Mistress came to the door, claiming she was carrying Master's child!"
Qin Yun gave a wry smile. "So Second Mistress used various pretexts to temporarily reside in the Qin household, and later even had Father take her as a concubine. Am I correct, Steward Fu?"
Steward Fu nodded. "Yes, Mistress was also very upset, but she turned a blind eye. Thinking that no distinguished family lacks multiple wives and concubines, Mistress eventually compromised."
Qin Yun closed his eyes and shook his head. Qin Yuanzhang's actions in this regard truly disappointed her.
Men are all pigs' trotters; none of them are good!
They eat what's in their bowl while looking at what's in the pot.
"What about Third Mistress?"
"Third Mistress entered the household many years later. Back then, Third Mistress was the courtesan of Misty Rain Pavilion, selling her art but not her body. Master met Third Mistress by chance, and then Master redeemed Third Mistress, only then did she enter the Qin household!"
"So, my father was smitten by her beauty, wasn't he?" Qin Yun felt embarrassed again. His father was truly a philanderer!
Steward Fu looked a bit awkward but still said tactfully, "Master was quite refined and handsome in his youth, and countless women liked him."
Qin Yun agreed with this point.
If Qin Yuanzhang were ugly, she wouldn't be so good-looking.
"Young Master, drink up quickly. The soup is getting cold!"
Looking at the large bowl of medicinal soup before him, Qin Yun took a small sip, then smelled it.
"This… this is Tiger Whip Soup?" Qin Yun twitched his lips, his expression becoming awkward.
Steward Fu coughed lightly to cover his embarrassment. "Young Master, this is also Master's good intentions. Please drink it?"
"Steward Fu, as far as I know, although you are married, you still have no children. I think this Tiger Whip Soup would be better suited for you to drink. Strive to have a chubby son with Sister Fu next year!"
Hearing this, Steward Fu's face turned red to his neck. "Young Master, this is not proper. This old servant is old, and destined to be without children. To see Young Master grow up safely is enough for this old servant!"
Qin Yun narrowed his eyes and said, "Steward Fu, if I recall correctly, you and Sister Fu have been together for over ten years? Sister Fu has never been able to conceive during these years? Have you consulted a doctor?"
"Alas! Early on, she was pregnant once, but then had a miscarriage. Since then, she has not conceived again!"
It seems the problem lies with Sister Fu. kuAiδugg
"Steward Fu, I know a divine doctor who might be able to cure Sister Fu's condition. Then, when Steward Fu reaches sixty, you can still hold a chubby son!"
Steward Fu waved his hand. "No need. This old servant's body is also not good now."
"A man should not say he is incapable. Steward Fu, I am serious!"
"Hahaha, Young Master is truly good-natured. However… you must still drink this Tiger Whip Soup. This is Master's order!"
Qin Yun's face was full of black lines. He hadn't expected Steward Fu to be so astute, knowing what she was trying to do!
"Steward Fu, drinking this soup is useless for me. If I don't say anything and you don't say anything, how will Father know? You see… right?"
"Young Master, your wishful thinking is mistaken. This old servant is by Master's side, and whatever Master orders, I must obey! If Young Master does not drink it, this old servant will report it truthfully to Master, and then Master will personally come to supervise you drinking the medicinal soup!"
Qin Yun's face was full of black lines. She hadn't expected Steward Fu to be so obedient to her father!
"Fine, I'll drink it!"
Qin Yun picked up the Tiger Whip Soup, pinched his nose, and gulped it down. He even burped afterward.
"Now you can go back and report," Qin Yun placed the bowl on the table, crossed his legs, and looked coldly at Steward Fu.
Steward Fu smiled. "Young Master, Master is doing this for your own good. You are seventeen now, yet you still have no woman you like. Master previously arranged for concubines to serve you, but you refused. Finally, seeing you getting close to Xiao Ju, Master had the household's matron check, only to discover Xiao Ju is still a virgin. That is why Master became anxious! Master is worried about you! The continuation of the Qin family's lineage depends on you, Young Master!"
"I understand. You may go now."
Steward Fu picked up the bowl and bowed slightly. "Young Master, this old servant will leave now. Please rest early."
Qin Yun waved her hand helplessly and said nothing.
After Steward Fu left, Qin Yun quickly closed the door, then went to the wooden basin and used her index finger to induce vomiting. Instantly, her stomach churned, and she threw up all the Tiger Whip Soup she had just drunk!
After drinking a mouthful of cool water to rinse her mouth, Qin Yun, feeling weak, stumbled to the bed.
In the future, if there's nothing else, she should return to the mansion less. Otherwise, her father might prepare Tiger Whip Soup next time, or Deer Whip Soup. This isn't helping her find women; it's trying to make her find men!
Alas!
Her life is so bitter!
The next day!
Early in the morning, Qin Yun went to Blue Mountain Academy.
She left without notifying Qin Yuanzhang.
She was truly afraid that if she were any later, her father would prepare that kind of soup again, and she absolutely didn't want to drink it.
As soon as her carriage arrived at Blue Mountain Academy, she bumped into Xue Xiao Chang, who was just getting out of the carriage opposite.
Qin Yun did not recognize Xue Xiao Chang, but she knew Xue Cheng Gong.
She assumed this young boy was the illegitimate son, Wei Xiao Chang. He apparently placed second in the poetry gathering yesterday.
His literary talent is quite good, at least better than that pig Wei Mao Ran!
"Young Master Qin, I was captivated by your literary talent yesterday. I hope you will offer me guidance in the future!" Wei Xiao Chang clasped his hands together, lowered his head slightly, and greeted Qin Yun respectfully.
His demeanor was as humble as could be.
How can the sons of Wei Cheng Gong have such a vast difference?