Female-male sex: Salted fish forced to rise to prominence

Chapter 196 Too many fools and not enough liars

The maid Biluo walked quickly to Chen Manli and said softly: "Miss, General Bai is in the second young master's courtyard now and invites you to come over for a chat."

Chen Manli paused, wondering, what was he doing here again? He could have just delivered the item to her house. Could something be up? Oh, right, Bai Yiling had come to her a couple of days ago to ask for ginseng. Could it be that century-old ginseng?

However, the ginseng had already been sold, so it was useless to look for her, but I still had to go and deal with it.

She put down the embroidery tent and instructed her maid Biluo: "Go over now. If General Bai asks about the ginseng later, just say that my grandmother was not feeling well and I made chicken soup for her. Do you understand?"

The maid Biluo was unclear. She had clearly sold ginseng to raise money to break off the engagement, and the money was exchanged for silver. General Bai Xiao would not have blamed the young lady if he had heard this. Why didn't the young lady tell the truth?

Although she was full of doubts, she could only respond: "Okay, Miss, I understand."

As soon as she stepped into Huaxiang Courtyard, she saw Bai Mufan sitting there waiting for her. He was tall and straight, and very handsome. Chen Manli shouted, "Brother Bai."

Bai Mufan turned around after hearing that and saw the woman dear to his heart. She was still so lively and lovely, dressed in pink, like a fairy running out of the forest.

Chen Manli greeted her second brother who was playing with crickets nearby, "Second brother."

The second young master Chen Zhenglin joked: "I thought my sister couldn't see her brother anymore."

Chen Manli looked at her second brother with a reproachful look, "Brother, you are teasing your sister again."

Chen Manli looked at Bai Mufan and pretended not to know what was going on and asked, "Brother Bai, what do you want to talk to me about today?"

Bai Mufan was very conflicted and he organized his words in his mind for a long time before he said: "Maner, the hundred-year-old ginseng I gave you last time, you..."

Chen Manli smiled coquettishly, and looked at Bai Mufan with her big watery eyes and said: "That ginseng is really good. My grandmother was not feeling well a few days ago, so I used it to make chicken soup for her. She also said that after eating this ginseng, she felt much better. I really have to thank Brother Bai very much."

Bai Mufan smiled and said, "I'm glad I could help you a little. No thanks." When he realized what was happening, he was shocked. Then he asked cautiously, "Have you eaten all the ginseng?"

How would he explain to his sister Yi Ling when he returned?

Chen Manli said innocently: "Yes, sister Yi Ling came to me in a rage a few days ago, and I didn't dare to tell her that I had accepted the ginseng. She even dared to attack me at the horse racing event hosted by the eldest princess and wanted to beat me."

When Bai Mufan heard this, all his attention was immediately diverted by her words. He looked Chen Manli up and down with worried eyes and asked with concern: "Where did she hit you? Are you hurt anywhere? How dare she hit you?"

When Chen Manli heard this, she lowered her head, looking aggrieved, with tears in her eyes. She said aggrievedly: "Brother Bai, you know, Sister Yiling has never liked me and has always had a big prejudice against me. Besides, Sister Yiling is very good at martial arts. If the guards had not been there, my face might have been smashed by her, wuwuwu..."

Bai Mufan's eyes were filled with heartache and anger when he heard these words. If it weren't for the wrong occasion and other people being present, he would have hugged the person in his arms and comforted him.

Bai Mufan assured in a firm tone: "Maner, don't worry, I will definitely educate that ignorant girl Yiling when I go back and give you an explanation."

Chen Manli pretended to be generous and comforted: "Maybe Sister Yiling didn't mean it. She might just like Brother Bai too much, so she did such an irrational thing. Brother Bai, don't blame your sister when you go back."

After hearing this, Bai Mufan did not refute at all, but agreed with her. He had long known that his fifth sister had different feelings for him, and he also felt that the woman in front of him was really kind-hearted. He praised with tenderness: "Maner, you are so kind."

His eyes were blazing, but Chen Manli continued to fan the flames, saying, "Forget it. If Sister Yiling impulsively reports this ginseng matter to the Emperor, our entire Shangshu Mansion and the entire Chen family will be in dire straits.

As he spoke, he sighed heavily, "Oh, if I had known that this ginseng was a reward from the emperor, I would never have accepted it. Brother Bai, you'd better persuade your sister and not make this matter known to everyone. It will become a mess."

Also, "If the emperor gets angry and blames me, it would be fine. But if he blames Brother Bai, it will affect Brother Bai's image in the emperor's mind and affect his future prospects, which would be terrible."

Such well-reasoned words instantly tilted the scales in Bai Mufan's heart towards Chen Manli. In his heart, Manli was sensible and thought things through very carefully, unlike his ignorant fifth sister, who was impulsive and did not consider the overall situation, and did not have the upbringing of a lady from a wealthy family at all.

So Bai Mufan's eyes became more tender when he looked at Chen Manli. He comforted her softly, afraid of disturbing the beauty, "Maner, don't worry. I will go back and talk to Yi Ling and ask her not to make such a fuss. Don't worry, I will definitely not let her make a fuss in front of the emperor."

Chen Manli looked relieved. She said, "Thank you, Brother Bai. I have something else to do, so I'll leave first." Then she bowed to Bai Mufan and turned to leave.

Bai Mufan felt that since there was no ginseng left, there was no need for him to stay any longer. He said to the second young master Chen Zhenglin beside him: "Brother Zhenglin, I have something to do too. I'll be leaving first." Before he finished speaking, he strode away.

The second young master Chen Zhenglin shouted in an unruly tone: "Brother Bai, come and visit us often when you have time."

The smile on his face widened, as this would allow him to receive more money.

The servant Lu'er behind him stood up and praised: "Miss, you have some tricks. You have coaxed that person away obediently."

The second young master Chen Zhenglin said disdainfully: "After all, he is a martial artist, and his mind is very simple."

The servant Lu'er asked doubtfully: "Didn't the young master have high hopes for him before?"

Chen Zhenglin nodded at Lu'er and scolded: "You idiot, we already have the Prince of Anding, so how can there be a place for him as an adopted son of the general's mansion?"

The servant Lu'er said proudly: "Our young master and young lady are really smart."

As soon as they left Minister Chen's residence, Bai Zhu asked Bai Mufan, "Sir, are we going back to the General's residence now?"

Bai Mufan said coldly: "Yes."

Bai Zhu said in embarrassment: "But the ginseng was not taken back. Miss Five will be angry, right?"

Bai Mufan's expression became even colder when he heard this. He said, "So what? It was something that was delivered first. I have done my best by making this trip. Besides, she went directly to Man'er and embarrassed her in front of so many dignitaries. I haven't settled the score with her yet."

Inside General Bai's residence, the atmosphere was solemn. Fifth Miss Bai Yiling anxiously grasped the old doctor's arm, her eyes filled with anxiety and worry. Her voice trembled as she said, "Doctor, you must have another solution, right? Please think of another way!"

The old doctor was so hurt by her grip that he couldn't help but cry out in pain, "Miss, please let go! My old bones can't stand this kind of torture!"

Bai Yiling quickly let go of her hands, "I'm sorry, doctor, I was anxious just now. Apart from using the hundred-year-old ginseng, is there no other way to save my third brother?"

The old doctor shook his head and sighed: "Please forgive my poor medical skills. Miss, please seek help from someone else." Then he left with his medicine box on his back.

After hearing what the old doctor said, Bai Yiling still found it a little hard to accept. This was her only living brother. Although his legs were disabled, she always felt that at least he was still alive. She murmured to herself: "It can't be like this, it's impossible."

The maid Jianqiu came quickly from outside and reported, "Miss, the Fourth Young Master is back and is standing at the gate now."