Chapter 35：Fiancé

Her hands gripped her silk scarf tightly. Zhao Yan's nervousness could be perceived by the people around her which increased the pressure she was feeling.

Luo Qi replied, "My memory is quite good. It was a coincidence that I saw the fourth miss of Prince Li's mansion stomping out of a restaurant with a gloomy expression. Days later, news of the fourth miss eloping with a man spread throughout the capital while the notorious second young master of Duke Ying's residence suffered an unfortunate accident, turning him impotent and a retard." Luo Qi stared at Zhao Yan as he said this.

"I was wondering if all the rumors were true because the fourth miss of Prince Li's mansion almost never showed herself in public. There are more rumors floating around like the fourth miss was unfilial and was a disobedient child who did not show respect towards her elders. She did not go to temples nor participate in the banquets and gatherings of the family. Some people even said she was a shrew with the face of a fairy and the body of a seductress." His eyes glinted mischievously as if he knows an interesting secret.

Zhao Yan's palms began to sweat in response to his words. She unconsciously lowered her gaze, an uncontrollable reflex whenever she was caught doing something she wasn't supposed to or when someone was trying to corner or intimidate her.

She could not help but hide away and avoid her gaze out of fright.

"Of course, rumors are rumors. Without evidence and proof, it's hard to believe the words coming from others. Gossip can't be controlled and people have mouths. They say the truth will always prevail but it's impossible when no one wants to own it."

Zhao Yan slowly looked up at him. "I didn't..."

"Hm?" Luo Qi leaned closer. "Did you say something, Yan'er?" He purposely called her petname.

Zhao Yan lowered her gaze again. "I didn't elope with a man..."

Luo Qi crossed his arms and his unfiltered mouth worked nonstop. "That's hard to believe. Yan'er is pregnant at the moment. You are seeing someone, aren't you? Otherwise, how were you able to.."

Jae Ha couldn't take it anymore and so did Chun Lan.

"Young master Luo! You are being extremely rude to the lady!" Jae Ha pointed out.

Chun Lan also shouted. "Please stop saying such mean things to my lady! She did not elope with a man! She is not that kind of person!"

"Exactly! The young lady is going to get married soon. What you're saying right now will affect her reputation. Please have some deceny, young master Luo!"

"My lady is very kind. Something must have happened that forced her to leave and run away! Those people doesn't know my lady's character at all!"

"Forgive our rudeness but the lady's fiancé will not be happy if young master Luo overstays. Please leave. I will see you out myself because the lady is feeling too faint and tired to do so. I hope you won't misunderstand." Jae Ha might seem shy and quiet but when it comes to her duties, she was meticulous and responsible.

Growing up as a shadow guard and undergoing through various trainings, made her into someone who was not easy to bully.

"You are only a maid! How dare you step out of a line!" Luo Hanting shouted back, placing a hand on his sword.

Jae Ha raised a brow. "Oh? I am indeed a maid but it is my duty as my mistress' maid to serve her and ensure her healthy wellbeing. If this includes getting rid of annoyances that my mistress is unable to handle, I will do it in her place."

Luo Hanting's body trembled. "You...! A mere maid like you dares to make decisions for your master? I will teach you some manners!"

Luo Qi's expression darkened, nearly turning black. He raised his hand and said, "Stop it, Hanting. Put your sword away."

Luo Hanting wanted to protest but the look his young master gave him made him shut his mouth.

"Yan'er has a fiancé. And she's getting married? To whom?" His serious voice made him sound demanding which did not sit well with Jae Ha.

Jae Ha wanted to say that it was to His Highness Prince Jing but there was still an unclear relationship between her lady and Prince Jing. The lady also seemed very resistant at the idea of marriage.

She was unsure how to answer this question.

Li Zhao Yan bit her bottom lip. She really hated her weak and timid personality. Where was her confidence when treating patients and talking about medicine? It was really frustrating how she was so weak in all aspects but becomes a confident person whenever medicine was involved.

If only she could be strong, always. Unfortunately, insecurities and fear often gets the best of her so she couldn't say a word or talk back at all.

Luo Qi started to feel impatient. "Why aren't you answering? Could it be that Yan'er really eloped with a man but that man left her and you're trying to cover the facts by saying she has a fiancé? Is she really going to get married?" Because Luo Qi was going to take her back to the capital to marry her if that was not the case.

She could be his concubine or main wife, either way, it doesn't matter. It's better than living alone in this small town. His grandfather would be more than happy to have her in their home so Luo Qi wasn't too concerned.

He could provide for her. They were never short on money. As for the child, it didn't really matter. He could adopt it if she was unwilling to abort it.

"I..." Zhao Yan struggled to say a response. She was aware that she sounded like a whore for being an unmarried girl who was also pregnant but she was not able to control the circumstances that led her to her pregnancy.

She did not care about Luo Qi's opinion of her but his incessant need to know made her feel pressured and because he was the grandson of Grand Tutor Luo Huang, she did not want to disappoint him or make herself look bad.

It would mean making her own grandfather lose face.

She was so anxious at what to say or do that her own heart couldn't keep up and she started to cry. The faces around her immediately dimmed for varying reasons.

Luo Qi froze. Was he wrong? Of maybe it was the truth and she was so embarrassed that she cried?

Luo Qi felt this was reasonable so he reached out to pat her shoulder. "Yan'er, don't be sad. If that b ▪ s t ▪ r d doesn't want to take responsibility for you then I will. Come with me to the capital. I will ask grandfather and my father for permission to marry you as my wife. I will take care of you."

Pah!

A hand slapped his outstretched hand away before it could even land on Zhao Yan's shoulder. The force wasn't weak at all and it was obvious that the one who did it did not hold back because the skin on Luo Qi's palm turned into a demanding color of red.

Luo Qi's eyes widened and so did Luo Hanting. They both turned to the culprit and saw Jae Ha's cold expression.

".."

Jae Ha's eyes narrowed. "My apologies, young master Luo. My lady does not like to be touched by dirty things."

!!!

"This girl.." Luo Hanting's brows twitched with annoyance.

One maid, one bodyguard and a young master glared at each other. The tension was huge in the room until the screen door opened and a tall imposing figure in dark blue brocade swept inside the room, two shadow guards wearing black standing behind him while an elderly woman also stood behind in an upright yet humble manner.

A pair of phoenix eyes narrowed dangerously and the temperature inside the room dropped so suddenly that their hearts began to beat with nervousness.

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