As soon as she heard the roar, Peony couldnt help but take a cold breath. Whether it was good or bad luck, misfortune couldnt be avoided, and she couldnt let old and thin Lin Mama stand in front of her, could she? There were also Yuhe, Kuaner, Shuer and others, all servants, who would become scapegoats with just one careless move.

  As she thought of this, Peony tightened her clothes and walked out calmly. She first pulled Lins mother behind her, then looked at Liu Chuan in surprise and said: "Ah! Husband! How did you become like this? Quick, quick, let the kitchen cook two eggs to roll your eyes and dispel the swelling!"

  Jian saw Kuaner and Shuer standing still, especially Shuer, whose eyes were wide open, staring at herself. She directly called out their names: "Kuaner, Shuer, go to the kitchen quickly! And ask them to make a bowl of sobering soup."

  "Dont pretend! Dont think I dont know what youre up to! Seeing me like this, are you happy? Let me tell you, even though Im in this state, Li Yi didnt get off easy either, his beautiful nose was broken by me!" Liu Chuan coldly swept a glance at Peony, and leaning on Lan Zhis hand, sat down in the rattan chair by the curtain, gloomily staring at Rain He who looked flustered: "Bring me tea to brew!"

  Yu He secretly glanced at Peony, just in time to receive Peonys worried and questioning gaze. The two had long been on the same wavelength, so she knew that Peony was asking if Li Yis nose bridge was really broken, and firmly shook her head.

  Peony let out a breath and nodded to Yuhe, indicating that she should follow Liu Chengs words. Yuhe could only silently sigh and retreat to the next room to make tea, listening nervously with her ears perked up, afraid that if she wasnt careful, Liu Cheng would start something.

  Mrs. Lin saw that her several maids had all been sent away, leaving only herself, a thin and withered old woman, while the stout Mrs. Li and Lan Chi were both clustered around Liu Chuans side, a feeling of powerlessness arose, she looked around left and right, and secretly took a duster in hand to prepare for its use.

  Who would have thought that Liu Chong would again instruct Lis mother and Lan Zhi: "What are you still hesitating about? Dont go prepare hot soup for me to take a bath?"

  Mrs. Li glanced at Peony boldly and smiled: "I remember that there is hot water in the young ladys room."

  "Unclean, its been used! If I were to rewash the basin and prepare another one for Master, Im afraid it would be too late. Its quite far from here to the kitchen, when would it arrive? Li Mama, go tell Biyu Auntie to get hot water ready, Master will head over soon."

  Mrs. Li stood still, only using the corner of her eye to glance at Liu Chuan.

  Liu Chuan glared at Peony and said to Lis mother in a harsh tone, "Since theres hot water, why dont you get out? What are you lingering here for?"

  Lis mother and Lan Zhi exchanged a glance, then smiled and retreated: "The slaves will wait outside. If the young master and mistress have any orders, just call out."

  Mrs. Lin seemed to have not heard at all, leaning against the side of the case, holding a duster in her hand, and closing her eyes slightly, as if she had fallen asleep.

  Liu Chang didnt care about her either, and directly got up and walked in, untying his belt as he went.

  "Peony was so nervous that her hands and feet were all soft: What are you doing?"

  Liu Chuan sneered, "Dont you know what Im doing? I came to do what needs to be done, so you wont have wild thoughts, one moment following me, the next leading people to laugh at me, and then instigating your cousin to help you vent, making me lose face!" As he spoke, he took off his belt and threw it directly at Lin Mamas feet.

  The sachet on the waistband heavily hit Lin Mamas ankle, startling her to jump. After realizing what was happening, an old face turned bright red, and she grasped the duster tightly in her hand, saying in a low voice: "Young Master, wait!"

  Liu Chang stopped untying his belt: "Does mom have something to say?"

  Mrs. Lin puffed out her chest and said, "Youve wronged Young Madam today! She wasnt following you, it was the county lords people who summoned her, and at that time, Pan Shizi was also thinking of buying flowers with Young Madam and heard about it, but somehow he followed them, really having nothing to do with our Young Madam. As for what happened afterwards, I dont know any more than you do, Master, please dont listen to others slander and wrong Young Madam, creating discord between husband and wife wouldnt be good."

  Liu Chang looked at Peony and said lightly: "Is it?"

  "Of course its true." What spare time does she have? Its not her fault, hurry up and leave the public toilet.

  Liu Chang thought for a moment, then said: "I understand. Dont worry, Mom, I wont do anything to her. You can go rest first." His tone seemed softer than before.

  Peony looked at Lins mother in horror, Lins mother was hesitant, and Liu Chuan untied another button. Lins mother had no choice but to give Peony an encouraging look, indicating that she would be just outside the door, and if anything went wrong, she would come in. Although her original plan was to have Peony pretend to be ill, and then after He Lao Ye and his wife forced Liu Chuan to apologize and give Peony gifts, they could discuss other things, but since Liu Chuan had come to Peonys room to spend the night, it was only natural. As a lowly servant, how could she dare to drive him out?

  As the door closed, Peonys heart hung in mid-air, unable to go up or down, breathing became difficult, and she could only subconsciously tighten her clothes again and again.

  Liu Chang saw the door closed and stretched out his arms: "Come help me take off my clothes."

  The peony hung its head motionless, gritting its teeth and saying, "I wont!" Public toilet! Public toilet! Whats the point! If he dares to be rough, shell cripple him! She secretly took a glance at Liu Chuans figure - hmm, this is a bit difficult, but its worth trying. Even if it doesnt work out, at least it can spoil his mood. Who dares to sleep with a woman who has calculated her own life? Even if she gets divorced because of this, rather than separated, thats fine.

  Liu Chang was taken aback, and saw that Peony hung her head, with her long, dense eyelashes fluttering slightly in the candlelight. He could see that her jaw was clenched tightly, and it was clear that she was furious. For some reason, he felt a few sparks of excitement: "Youre very angry today?"

  Peony looked up at him with her eyes and said sincerely: "Actually, Im not angry, nor do I mind. Dont worry, if someone comes to ask me, I promise I wont say anything." Of course, now she doesnt need to say it, everyone already knows.

  Liu Chuan was half-drunk, but he clearly saw that there was no sadness or disappointment in Peonys eyes, only a faint sense of disgust and schadenfreude. This discovery made him very angry, but after thinking about it, he felt that he had actually misread her - how could Peony not be upset? In the past, when she saw him talking to Qinghua for just a few more sentences, she would become so distressed; now why did she suddenly change? Playing hard to get, playing hard to get, was exactly what it was. Women, after all, often say no when they mean yes, and he shouldnt be arguing with her about this. If he wanted something, he should just take it - anyway, he would eventually have a legitimate son.

  Liu Chang thought of this and no longer bothered with Peony, casually walking behind the screen to undress and get into the bathtub. Peony turned her face away, back to the screen, listening to the sound of water splashing, secretly cursing her bad luck, taking three steps as two to walk to the dresser, rummaging out a small silver clip to hide in her sleeve, staring blankly at the candlewick.

  The wick "popped" and exploded, Peony was about to take the scissors to trim the wick when she suddenly heard Liu Chong say from behind the screen: "What did you talk about with your cousin today?"

  "Nothing, just that Huxuaners dance was very good, and Brother said he had seen better ones in the Western Regions. But their price wasnt as high as Huxuaners."

  Liu Chuan said sharply: "Dont you want to learn from others and buy one to raise? Dont look at your own identity! Learn from the good, not the bad. In the future, dont come with Li Wei often!"

  "Ah, Im well aware of it," Peony smiled lightly. "I myself am often bullied and have to swallow my anger, so even if I really bought it, it would still harm others. Not buying it is actually accumulating virtue."

  Behind the screen, a moment of silence, just when Peony thought Liu Chuan was drowned by the bath water, he suddenly said in a harsh tone: "You come and wipe my back! Speaking of which, weve been married for three years, but youve never done anything for me!"

  The peony sat still and retorted: "I dont know what youve done again?"

  "Thats what you owe me!"

  "Peony almost blurted out, lets just break up, you dont owe me, I dont owe you, no need to be stubborn. But thinking of Liu Changs personality, she swallowed her words and sighed: "Yes, who made my body so weak that I needed a son to bring good luck? In fact, I also thought, if I were born in a poor family, where would they have the money to waste on me? Let me die from illness, its better for everyone. Its not just harming my parents, but also you, and even myself."

  The air suddenly stopped flowing, and Peony clearly heard Liu Chuans breathing gradually becoming coarser. She thought comfortably, "Die from suffocation, you scumbag. Arent you most hated when people mention this? Ill make you recall your most humiliating experience, lets see if you can still get angry."

  "Bang!" A loud noise, the four silver flat-screen fans with mountain and water patterns were pushed down by Liu Chuan, "Splash" a sound of water, Liu Chuan stood up from the bathtub, staring fiercely at Peony, as if he was about to get out of the tub and hit someone. Peony gripped the scissors and took a glance, only to see his iron-green face paired with dark purple eyes, just like a giant black-faced chicken.

  The giant black-faced chicken is angry, and the consequences are severe.

  ——*——*——*——

  Recommendations wanted... recommendations wanted...