40 Angry Mistress Jian in House of Red Sleeves (2/2)
Mistress Jian's smile seemed to be carved out by a knife. Regardless of her cold words or questions or persuasion, she always kept a calm and tranquil smile with many crow's feet around the eyes.
But Ning Que felt the slight emotional change of the woman leader. Not being aware of her intention to call him to go upstairs, Ning Que sensed a suddenly stern tone from this woman after she heard that he was going to attend the academy entrance exam. And this stern tone was not hostile, but like some elders who expected something from the young.
This emotional change made him somewhat at a loss, so he explained it a little in a low voice after greeting a bow with his hands folded in front.
”I came from the Yuelun Kingdom but have been in Chang'an for more than twenty years. Of course, I know about the Tang men's disposition, which is called generous for the excellent version or too passionate and face-saving for the bad version.”
Mistress Jian no longer smiled but frowned, looking at Ning Que who had a lad's juvenile and energetic face. As if seeing one little scholar in an indigo robe who rode a small black donkey, cursed everything with his head up and proudly went into the Great Wall many years ago, she felt so disappointed and said angrily.
”Do you know the young man? That's the most favored only child of Master Chu, one of seven elites in the Eastern Area. He has endless money to be generous. But what about you? According to the disposition of your Tang, you must offer a feast back in return if invited to a meal. Even if you're short of money, you'd sell all book volumes at home to invite him back next time you encounter him. Am I right or wrong?”
Embarrassed, Ning Que scratched his head, secretly admiring this woman's outlook. Although he was not a typical Tang, he still had some Tang tolerance in his character about this kind of thing.
Seeing him, Mistress Jian felt much more annoyed for no reason, suddenly throwing the ebony beads on her wrist to the couch, which caused a series of questions to come at him like a storm.
”You're not old and strong enough for this seductive brothel. How dare you come in?
”You're too poor to spend here. Are you ready for the academy fees?
”How about your academy entrance exam preparation? Any true test papers bought? Which of them were bought?”
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With the thought of exclusively owning the top courtesan, Ning Que unexpectedly met the courtesans' manager with a strong moral sense. He was criticized a lot by her, which only increased his miserable feeling. If under another circumstance, he might whisper in his heart, ”Even if, Mistress Jian, your friends are all distinguished and highly respected, you have no right to teach me at our first meeting. After all, you aren't my manager.”
But Mistress Jian did not put pressure on him but only nagged like an earnest and anxious elder, with disappointment shown on her forehead, eyebrows, and eyes. Therefore, he was embarrassed to refute a word, but stammered to answer.
”For the first time to Chang'an... I was just curious, so I had thought of secretly glancing at the house from the outside, never considering that the house's sisters would make fun of me. I was hot-headed... to inexplicably come in.”
After a short hesitation, Mistress Jian turned to that little maidservant and loudly scolded her. ”It's a majestic event that the emperor will set a feast and open a ceremony for the returned princess. So I let those little, wicked girls take a rest for a few days to practice a good dance. It turned out that they all could not help, but even seduced a scholar lad!”
The little submissive maidservant did not dare to refute anything.
Mistress Jian rubbed her eyebrows in tiredness and looked up to glance at Ning Que, who stood honestly at the door, and suddenly recalled that she had occasionally seen around the hall and found a similarity between the lad and that man. Then she could not help but ask him to go upstairs for some questions, which turned out to be her mad interrogations for no reason.
However, what surprised her was that the lad did not argue or get angry, so well-behaved to accept her blame. She could not help but laugh and wave her hands, and said, ”Since you're curious, I'll let someone show you around here. Don't forget to go back home to rest after finishing.”
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