514 The Family Cuis Interesting Reaction (1/2)

Chapter 514: The Family Cui's Interesting Reaction

Translator: TransnEditor: Transn

The word ”idea” was widely used, sometimes on the little thoughts between men and women. When Ning Que left the City of Wei for Chang'an, he traveled with Li Yu, who pretended to be a maidservant. They went through difficult times together at the entrance of the Northern Mountain Road. They also told stories by the bonfire. If one delved deeply into their hearts, one could not say whether they had any budding interest in each other. But even if there was any, the interest had dispelled in the patch of sunlight when Li Yu left his shoulder slowly and stood up.

There were no romantic feelings between the two, but they had friendship and they maintained it even over the years in Chang'an. Since Ning Que knew that Li Yu had vested interest in Qinghe County, he did not make things difficult for them. He wrote a letter to the Family Cui by the Fuchun River and brought Sangsang to an inn. They sat down and admired the scenery while drinking wine as if they did not know what was going on in Yangguan City.

The simple letter was to sound out their intent, with Ning Que's somewhat impure ideas mixed in. He wondered why the millennia-old family from Qinghe county was making things difficult for the House of Red Sleeves. Were they trying to butter up to Li Yu and the Academy or to prove their loyalty by disrespecting the Empress? Many thoughts ran through his mind...

Just like what the manager had said, it was alright if it was the former. But if the Qinghe clans were planning something complex that Ning Que could not understand, he might start thinking towards the bad side. He represented the Academy by entering the human realm and his ideas were very important to the Tang Empire.

Autumn had begun in the Song Mansion's courtyard by the slender lake. The gardens were verdant and it was the most beautiful season. However, the atmosphere in the courtyard was depressive. The ladies of the House of Red Sleeves leaned against the railings or sat quietly behind the table. Their beautiful faces were marred by worry and they were in no mood to admire the beautiful scenery at all.

The ladies of the House of Red Sleeves were not all prostitutes. However, no matter whether they sang, danced or did other things, they all socialized aplenty; all were good judges of character and had good instincts. They knew that they had been well treated by the officials and nobles in Chang'an because of Mistress Jian's close relationship with those in the palace. Even court officials had to lower themselves in Qinghe County, so would they. Now that they had met these Dominant Families who were not afraid of Her Majesty, they ran into serious trouble.

They were all aware of what the problem was, but could not find a solution to it. Even though the House of Red Sleeves were visiting the Lanke Temple on the imperial court's orders, they were not a diplomatic delegation. They would not expect the Dominant Families to help them. As for the Defender General of the West, Xian Zhilang, he was currently in the Cui's gardens. Could they even depend on him?

The girls grew more frightened as they thought of the Cui's steward's ice cold face when he left. Two or three of them looked at the girl sitting at the head of the table hatefully. They thought that the girl had offended the families of Qinghe County because she had treated the Cui's steward badly. Even though she was doted upon by Mistress Jian, they were not in Chang'an now. What right did she have to be so arrogant?

The girl was Mistress Jian's personal handmaiden, Xiaocao. She led the girls on their visit to the Lanke Temple and it was evident that Mistress Jian had begun training her successor.

As compared to three years ago, Xiaocao had grown up, but still looked as beautiful as before. However, beneath the looming dark clouds of the situation, the girl's clear eyes were devoid of any traces of uneasiness. She seemed especially cold as she looked at the girls with slightly furrowed brows. She said, ”Nothing has happened yet. What's wrong with you all?”

In the brothel, Mistress Jian's status was akin to that of the Emperor's and Xiaocao was her successor. Even though the girls could not help scolding her in their hearts and showing their dissatisfaction, they did not dare to speak of it directly. A gentle lady looked at the expressions on her companion's face and smiled. She walked toward Xiaocao and said gently in a coaxing manner, ”The Cuis might have deliberately made things difficult for us, but your attitude was a little harsh this morning.”

Xiaocao sneered and said, ”The House of Red Sleeves performs only for the Emperor and Empress. How could the old man Cui compare to His and Her Majesty? We have already shown our respects for the old man by coming. How dare they try to make things difficult for us? The steward even tried to threaten us. Did they really think we come from an ordinary brothel?”

The girls looked at each other when they heard that. They felt that Xiaocao did somewhat have the imposing manner that Mistress Jian had. However, in the face of the Dominant Families of Qinghe County, the House of Red Sleeves was no different from an ordinary brothel. Xiaocao's attitude would only cause her more shame when the Cui's exerted more pressure on them.

Xiaocao knew what they were thinking and could not be bothered to explain. She took out a bag of sunflower seeds from her sleeves and began nibbling on them. She knew that even if the Defender General of the West didn't say anything in their defense, someone else would. Of course, the girl did not feel as calm as she looked because she was not sure whether the person was in Yangguan.

The warm breeze came blowing from the slender lake and into the courtyard. All were silent and only the sound of eating seeds could be heard. Someone suddenly reported that the Cuis had sent someone forth again. When they heard that, the girls who had only just managed to sit down calmly stood up in shock again. They wondered why the Cuis had come so quickly and felt that they had really irritated them. What should they do?

Xiaocao was surprised and she slowly put the sunflower seeds in her hand back into the bag.

The fourth steward of the Cui clan had come to the lake once again. If they counted, this would be the third time he paid a visit here in an entire day. There were not many things that would make the fourth steward of the Cui Clan visit three times. Those who could ”enjoy” such treatment were either elites, or trouble recipients.

However, the House of Red Sleeves was destined not to encounter any trouble today.

Because the fourth steward of the Family Cui was carried into the Song Garden on a stretcher.

The girls from the House of Red Sleeves looked at the middle-aged man on the stretcher. He looked like he was on the brink of death. His clothes were spotted with blood. The girls covered their mouths in shock and they could not reconcile this man with the calm, gentle, yet forceful steward who had visited last night and this morning.