Finest Servant

Chapter 454 Heartbeat

‘Am I seeing things?’ Lin Wanrong exclaimed, quickly pivoting his body to shield Xiao Yuruo. A red thread remained tightly bound around both of their ankles. The two looked into each other's eyes; Eldest Miss's gaze was soft as water, and she nestled unmoving in his arms.

Turning his head, Lin Wanrong saw an enchanting woman standing before him, sword in hand. Her eyebrows were like willow leaves in spring, and her eyes as calm as autumn waters. Her tiny, red lips slightly opened and closed as she breathed rapidly. Her face alternated between red and white, clearly quite angry. She was dressed in a pale red robe, looking travel-worn as if she had rushed here from a great distance.

"Xian'er?!" Lin Wanrong was elated. He leapt out of the sedan chair and was about to dash forward when he felt his feet being hindered. Looking down, he noticed the red thread binding him and Eldest Miss together, rendering them unable to move. Qin Xian'er stared at the tightly bound thread, bit her red lips, hummed and said nothing.

"Xian'er, what are you doing here? When did you come back?" Lin Wanrong gave a couple of awkward laughs. His face flushed with embarrassment. ‘This girl Xian'er seems to have a grudge against Eldest Miss. Last time, she cut the red thread with her sword, leaving Eldest Miss devastated. Almost the same thing happened again; thankfully, I was quick-witted.’

Qin Xian'er did not respond to his words. She looked Xiao Yuruo up and down, sneering, "Isn't this the Eldest Miss of the Xiao family? What are you doing tying up my husband with that red thread? Didn't you drive him out of the Xiao residence the day he returned from Shandong?"

Xiao Yuruo's pretty face flushed, and she clung tightly to Lin Wanrong's sleeve, softly saying, "Miss Qin, what are you talking about? When did I ever drive him away? He came back that day with some questionable women. I merely advised him. On the other hand, since when did you marry him, to be calling him 'my husband' so liberally?"

"You wouldn't know, then," Qin Xian'er took a step forward, grasping Lin Wanrong's hand and declared loudly, "We wandered together at Weishan Lake; we were alone on a boat during sunset. My master personally acted as our matchmaker. I have already married him and we are a loving couple. There's no need for you to know."

Xiao Yuruo studied her from head to toe, shaking her head lightly and smiling, "A loving couple? I doubt it. Miss Qin, your eyebrows are not dispersed and your hair is not styled like a married woman's. Where is this 'loving couple' you speak of?"

Lin Wanrong glanced at her with delight; Eldest Miss knew quite a bit. Noticing the intensity of his gaze, Xiao Yuruo's face flushed. She lowered her head and softly said, "What are you looking at? My mother taught me this."

‘Madam knows all this? How surprising!’ Lin Wanrong chuckled heartily, his gaze roaming over Xiao Yuruo as if trying to see something. Eldest Miss felt her heart pound and her face heat up; she lightly spat in disdain and ignored him.

Xiao Yuruo's words hit the nail on the head, pointing out precisely what Qin Xian'er was anxious about. Seeing Eldest Miss's expressive eyes and her unspeakable emotions, Xian'er hummed and quickly shifted her eyes. She softly and seductively said, "My husband, what does it mean to be a wife? Isn't it enough that I sleep next to you every night and let you take liberties?"

In terms of feistiness, ten Xiao Yuruos were no match for Qin Xian'er. Hearing Miss Qin's words, Eldest Miss felt a wave of shock and her face flushed hotly. She hurriedly covered her face and turned away, inwardly cursing, ‘What a pair of adulterers.’

Qin Xian'er's voice was as melodious as a nightingale, and even though she was visibly travel-worn, her radiant beauty remained impossible to hide. Her face was flushed, and her full chest and hips stood prominently, exuding a sense of pride.

Lin Wanrong swallowed hard. Truly, a disciple trained by the vixen An had a unique charm, even her seductiveness was enchanting.

"My husband," Qin Xian'er tenderly gripped Lin Wanrong's large hand, looking down demurely, "When will you make me a woman? I don't want to be a laughingstock."

‘Damn it, this is life-threatening!’ Lin Wanrong's heart pounded wildly as he hurriedly patted his chest. He glanced at the Eldest Miss, her face shy and bashful, then at Qin Xian'er whose face was flushed with a coquettish smile. His feelings were a mix of joy and astonishment, and for a moment, he didn't know what to do.

Seeing him remain silent, both women also fell silent. Each avoided eye contact, neither willing to concede.

The night was deep, and the streets were empty. A cold wind blew, making Lin Wanrong shiver slightly. He chuckled, "It's getting late. Let's go home and continue this discussion. Eldest Miss, may I ride in your sedan chair?"

The red thread of fate still bound their feet, making it hard for either to refuse. Xiao Yuruo blushed slightly, hummed in agreement, and moved over to make room for him.

Seeing that he was really about to ride in the sedan, Qin Xian'er hastily gripped his hand, as if to speak. Lin Wanrong gave her little hand a squeeze and said teasingly, "Don't worry, the sedan is spacious; we can all sit together."

He climbed into the sedan and sat next to Xiao Yuruo. The touch of their skin created a warm, soft sensation that sent heat through him. Unable to resist, he took the Eldest Miss's hand. Xiao Yuruo gave him a sweet smile and was about to speak when Qin Xian'er also squeezed into the sedan. She sat beside Lin San on the other side, her arms tightly wrapped around his arm, her full chest pressed against him, highly provocative.

"What are you doing?" The Eldest Miss's face changed, a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.

Qin Xian'er retorted, "I should be asking you that. What are you planning, sitting so close to my husband?"

"Let's go, let's go!" Seeing the atmosphere turning sour, Lin Wanrong hastily commanded. The sedan swayed as it started moving. Both women glanced at him and huffed, turning their heads away.

The sedan was neither large nor small. Lin Wanrong sat in the middle, sandwiched between the two women—one gentle, the other flirtatious, yet both remained silent.

"Eldest Miss, how have you been these past days in the palace?" He softly asked, holding and gently stroking her hand.

"Fine," Xiao Yuruo replied indifferently.

Realizing his attempt at conversation fell flat, Lin Wanrong then turned to Miss Qin and said, "Xian'er, have you returned from Sichuan? How is Sister An?"

"She's better than me," Qin Xian'er's brows furrowed, as if she was about to cry.

The hardest thing in the world to reconcile is jealousy. Far from being a man who enjoys the company of two beautiful women, Lin Wanrong felt as if he were in prison. He sighed lightly, "Eldest Miss, Xian'er, do you think I had ulterior motives asking you both to sit in this sedan?"

The Eldest Miss rolled her eyes at him, snorting dismissively, as if saying, 'as if I don't know what you're thinking.' Xian'er, however, was more obedient and softly said, "My husband, I am your wife, so any 'ulterior motives' you may have toward me are to be expected."

At those words, Lin Wanrong rolled his eyes, clearly exasperated.

"Do you really think I'm that kind of person?" Lin Wanrong chuckled a few times. His expression gradually turned serious. "Even if I wanted to take advantage of you, I wouldn't have the time or effort to do so. In a few days, we'll have to part ways."

"My husband, what are you saying? Where are you going?" Qin Xian'er was shocked and hurriedly clung to his clothing. Xiao Yuruo also tensed up, casting him a side-glance while unconsciously gripping his hand tightly.

"I am going to a place far, far away. I don't even know if I'll be able to return." Lin Wanrong looked at Xiao Yuruo with a bitter smile, "Eldest Miss, from now on, the affairs of the Xiao family will rely on you."

"You—what are you saying?" Xiao Yuruo paled, and tears welled up in her eyes. "You're leaving our family? No, I won't allow it."

"Whether you allow it or not is no longer important." Lin Wanrong's face turned exceedingly solemn as he held Qin Xian'er tightly. "There's something I must tell you, Xian'er. Actually, you have a sister named Qingxuan—"

"I know, I know," Qin Xian'er hastily covered his mouth, her voice filled with grievance. "My father told me. But I can't accept it. Her master bullied my master. We even fought in Jinling. She even wanted to snatch you away from me. Tell me, where does she act like a sister? I won't acknowledge her!"

Lin Wanrong broke into a sweat; this girl had a stubborn streak. Quarreling about who would snatch who—weren't they all family?

"If you don’t want to acknowledge her, then don’t." Lin Wanrong sighed, "Qingxuan is my wife, and so are you. I'll simply separate you two—one staying in Jinling, and the other in the capital. I'll commute between the two cities on a fine horse, would that work?"

Eldest Miss pinched his hand and hummed, lowering her eyes in a blend of melancholy and bitterness. Seizing the moment when Qin Xian'er was lost in thought, Lin Wanrong whispered into her ear, "Eldest Miss, you might not be aware that something significant has happened at home while you were away."

"What significant thing?" Xiao Yuruo looked desolate, apparently uninterested.

"It's not much, just that both young ladies have been betrothed." Lin Wanrong chuckled awkwardly.

"What?" Eldest Miss was alarmed, gripping his hand tightly, "How could mother do this? To whom have they been betrothed? You fool, why didn't you stop her?"

"I wanted to, but I was afraid that Eldest Miss would not be pleased," Lin Wanrong grinned, "Because Madam has betrothed you both to this humble self—"

"Don't say—” Eldest Miss's face turned crimson. She hurriedly covered his mouth, too embarrassed to lift her head.

"Yuruo, would you be willing to be my wife?" Lin Wanrong sneaked a kiss on Eldest Miss's soft hand, causing her heart to tremble. Hearing his marriage proposal, she felt a whirlwind of emotions—joy, panic, and confusion—and didn't know how to respond.

Qin Xian'er pondered for a moment, leaning gently against his shoulder. "My husband, my enmity with that person surnamed Xiao dates back to our masters. You've seen how miserable our lives have been as I wandered the ends of the earth with my master. All of that was because of her master. If I were to acknowledge her, what about my master? How could I repay the kindness of her raising me?"

Lin Wanrong shook his head and smiled, thinking of the old grudge between Sister An and Fairy Ning. He had promised An Biru that he would help her defeat Ning Yuxi. Now that he and Fairy Sister were intimately close, had he already "avenged" Sister An?

"My husband, my husband—" Qin Xian'er's tender calls woke Lin Wanrong from his reverie. Seeing her charming face, he smiled slightly, "Xian'er, if I were to fulfill your master's wish, would you still resent Qingxuan and Fairy Ning?"

Xian'er thought for a moment and snorted, "But she stole you away from me. How should that account be settled?"

Lin Wanrong laughed heartily and lightly scraped her small nose, "What nonsense are you talking about? Where have I gone? Am I not sitting right here?"

"But your heart has flown away," Qin Xian'er pouted and hummed. Seeing Xiao Yuruo listening attentively, she felt a pang of jealousy. "Also, this Eldest Miss Xiao wants to steal you away too."

"Don't talk nonsense—" Xiao Yuruo’s face flushed red, and she was about to retort when she saw Lin San smiling. Her heart melted, her body weakened, and she couldn't say another word.

"Fight over me then, go ahead and fight." Lin Wanrong sighed, "There are only a few days left, you might as well go ahead and fight over me."

"Where are you going?" Xiao Yuruo couldn't contain herself any longer. Lifting her head to gaze intently at him, her eyes filled with tears, the deep affection within them impossible to hide.

Lin Wanrong smiled faintly, glancing at both of them, "I have joined General Li Tai's army. In five or six days, I will be heading to the northern frontier to have a decisive battle with the Turkic people. Whether I live or die, only heaven knows."

Eldest Miss was stunned, looking at the Lin San before her. He seemed a stranger yet irresistibly familiar, leaving her heart trembling with a complex, indescribable emotion. She muttered to herself, "Is it true? Are you really leaving?"

"My husband, don't be afraid. I will go with you. We'll be together in life and death!" Qin Xian'er gently caressed his cheek, her voice soft.

"What would you do there?" Lin Wanrong chuckled, "Why do men go to battle? It's to protect women. You stay home and behave. Stop quarreling with Eldest Miss and the others; that would be the greatest support for me."

Tears filled Qin Xian'er's eyes. She bit her red lips, pondering for a while, then broke into a smile, "Eldest Miss Xiao, when have I ever had a conflict with you?"

With this smile, teardrops glistening in her eyes, she appeared alluring and coquettish. Even Xiao Yuruo was stunned. Xian'er grabbed the Eldest Miss's hand, tears streaming down her face, "Eldest Miss Xiao, for my husband's sake, I am willing to do anything. Would you feel the same?"

Xiao Yuruo was different from Qin Xian'er in temperament—naturally reserved. Hearing her tender plea, although her heart was willing, her face flushed with shyness, and she couldn't bring herself to speak.

Qin Xian'er slightly smiled and slowly leaned against Lin Wanrong's chest, listening to the strong beat of his heart. Her eyes were half-closed, her expression serene and incomparably gentle.

Eldest Miss watched them, feeling a secret admiration. Although Miss Qin had a fiery temperament, she dared to love and hate, fearless in the face of life and death. For the man she loved, she could endure any humiliation. Indeed, she was a woman unlike any other.

After a moment of thought, Eldest Miss gently bit her silver teeth, her delicate body trembling ever so slightly. Silently, she slowly pressed her cheek against Lin San's chest.

"I am also willing to do anything," Eldest Miss murmured to herself. Seeing Qin Xian'er's flirtatious smile from close range, her face flushed. The sound of her own heartbeat was so loud, she could hear it herself.

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