61 A Nasty Little Joke of Epic Proportions 5 (1/2)
”Fei'er, how did you get so many?”
The startled cry that escaped Wei Xuan's mouth forcibly snapped Wei Chang Luo into reality, though he was still unable to find it within himself to say a single word. Walking over and picking up the book on the top of the stack, the youth casually flipped it open, only for his expression to dim and become gloom.
”… this…”
”Little Luo, something wrong?”
The youth sighed, the bitter smile on his countenance prompting Wei Xuan to step forward in concern. Under the young girl and the two maidservants' amusement, the minister and the Second Young Master quickly tore apart the stack of books, depression seeping out from their body.
”Fei'er…” Wei Xuan finally called out, his voice hoarse and seemingly weary.
”Just what did you do to get this many manuals from the Three Lotus Sect?”
With burning eyes, the minister imprisoned the young girl's arms to her sides, his gaze carefully inspecting her from head to toe. Upon noticing that the jade ornament was intact and untouched and the girl before him only seemed mildly uncomfortable, Wei Xuan finally released An Fei's arms, but still stared at her with an expectant expression on his face.
”Er…”
An Fei was unsure how to reply, her expression similarly confused hidden behind the veil. As Wei Xuan's glare increasingly became piercing and solemn with each moment she stayed silent, the girl slowly twiddled her thumbs, the words refusing to escape her throat.
Was she supposed to tell him, 'Father, a couple of elders were kindhearted and gave me a bunch of presents as a gift for being bullied'?
Who would believe that?
…not even she fully comprehended the reasoning behind the scholars' actions at the Pagoda of Sun and Moon even after so long, so how was she to explain to another?
”An Fei…”
Noticing the girl's flickering and furtive looks Wei Xuan repeated as he enunciated each syllable slowly and calmly. Before disappointment could enter his gaze, a maidservant quickly rushed before the Fourth Young Miss, dipping into a low bow.
”Master!”
”…have something to say?”
Wei Xuan uttered in a slow and lazy tone, causing the bowing Xiao Ying to instinctively shiver as painful thoughts tickled her mind. Nonetheless, the maidservant remained in her position, speaking in a deferential but steady tone.
”Master, please do not blame to Fourth Young Miss,” Xiao Ying stared at the ground as she recited word for word.
”This incident was perpetrated by the Sword Marquis estate. The members of the Sword Marquis no longer respect the Wei Manor's personage, hence the Fourth Young Miss suffered quite a bit at the hands of their elder at the Pagoda of Sun and Moon. The books… were compensation from the elders of the Three Lotus Sect after witnessing the arrogance of the Sword Marquis's family.”
Hearing the maidservant's quick and cutting explanation, An Fei couldn't help but feel the urge to applaud in admiration. However, the girl managed to calm herself after noticing that Wei Xuan's expression had returned to normal.
”…so why are you the one telling me this?” the minister suddenly spoke after standing in a daze for several moments. His right hand raised to hover in the air in An Fei's direction, Wei Xuan hesitated for a moment before lowering his hand to his side with an audible sigh.
”Forget it, it's nothing, nothing at all. All of you, come! Let's take a look at what Fei'er has brought in for us.”
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”.”
”.”
”.”
”, this is a joke, ah? What kind of technique is so self-absorbed in it's name?”
If the crowd cluttering within the plaza earlier had stumbled onto the scene within the study of the Flowing Wind Residence, perhaps just the anger itself would be sufficient to throttle Wei Xuan and his descendants into an eternity's worth of suffering.
The drawing table and other articles of furniture had been pushed to the side, allowing for a considerable clearing in the recesses of the study. To allow for additional secrecy, all of the curtains had been lowered even though the sun was still hanging in the air, the only source of light within the study constituting several oil lamps and candles.
Five figures sat in a circle in the makeshift clearing, without distinction of status or rank.
A stack of books stood at the center, its contents being passed from person to person without much order.
Two wooden containers of food lay nearby, though not a single person had bothered to touch the boxes. Hence, it was a near certainty that the food had long gone cold due to the inattention.