Chapter 550. Bickering Couple (1/2)

There was just a little over a month. Searching for a top-quality pearl in the Great Ming Empire was like looking for a needle in the haystack. However, if Miss Yu’s ‘pearl hunting competition’ was promoted well and was able to attract all the pearl collectors from all over the Great Ming Empire, wouldn’t the chance of obtaining high-quality pearls be much higher?

The aides felt that it was quite feasible and immediately entered discussion mode. The general direction had already been established, but they still needed to discuss the method of implementation in detail. There was only less than two months, so the most important task was to maximize the impact of the pearl collection gathering.

Seeing that she was no longer needed, Yu Xiaocao excused herself. When Zhu Junyang sent her out, he asked with concern, “Where are you guys planning to go on this trip? Who’s going? Is it safe?”

Upon knowing that she was going to Dongshan Village with a group of pampered girls, he couldn’t help but frown, “Only a few inexperienced and undaunted girls? It’s hard for this prince not to worry… Why don’t I have Head Steward Liu follow along? My assignment isn’t dangerous this time anyways. Give me an invitation card and I’ll ask if that fellow Lu Hao can take several days off. Let him protect you girls on the road.”

Yu Xiaocao knew that he was worried about her and felt very happy about it, but she rolled her eyes at him, saying, “We’re travelling on the official road and we also have a bunch of servants and guards with us. What dangers can there be? Young Master Lu is working in the Yulin Division, so how can he leave so easily? You ah, you’re just worrying over nothing.”

Zhu Junyang pondered for a moment and then said, “Let’s talk about Lu Hao’s matter later! When are you guys leaving? Why don’t I have Head Steward Liu report to the Yu Residence today?”

“We’re leaving in three days, and we’ll have to trouble Head Steward Liu at that time! Quickly go back. The aides are still waiting for you!” Yu Xiaocao got on the carriage and went to ‘Blossoming Beauty’ first. She took a fragrant flower petal bath before returning home.

Originally, they had planned on taking a vacation by the sea with a few girls. However, the news was leaked through an unknown source. The Ning Brothers of Duke Rongguo’s Household, Royal Princess Minglan’s thirteen year old younger brother, Li Mengru’s two younger brothers, and Yu Wanning’s older brother, who had come along because he was worried about her, all found out about this trip... When they set off, there were five to six more youths in the group. With the addition of the servants, their group was quite big.

When they got out of the capital, they noticed that Lu Hao was waiting there with a team of imperial guards. Seeing Yu Xiaocao’s slightly surprised face, Lu Hao beamed with pride, “That fellow Zhu Junyang was worried about your safety on the trip, so he sent me and my brothers to escort you guys. What do you think? Looks quite impressive, right?”

Yu Xiaocao looked at the imperial guards behind him, chuckled, and said, “I’m not going to shoulder this favor! You guys have an assignment on hand and are just escorting us on the way. What? Did Zhu Junyang send you guys to take the lead in Tanggu Town?”

“A young maiden shouldn’t be too clever because it will discourage men from approaching—but you don’t have to worry. That fellow Zhu Junyang nearly wants to carry you on top of his head.” Lu Hao gestured to her to go ahead with a toothy grin as he said, “Please, may this little one have the honor of escorting you ladies.”

He Wanning glared at him and snapped the whip in her hands as she stated in a valiant manner, “Do we need you to escort us? Let alone that it’s a time of peace and order, even if there are robbers and bandits, I’ll sure that they won’t be able go back alive!”

Lu Hao raised his eyebrow and smiled roguishly, “Oh! Charcoal He, you shouldn’t boast and make unrealistic vows. With your measly martial arts skill, if you really got attacked, then you will be captured within two rounds!”

“Who are you calling a ‘charcoal’? Are you blind? Let everyone be the judge. Which one of us looks more like a charcoal?” Since she used the whitening and moisturizing skincare products that Xiaocao gave her, He Wanning was now unprecedentedly confident in herself.

Lu Hao was seriously so annoying. He had naturally fair skin, so when they were children, he gave her various nicknames, like ‘Little Charcoal’, ‘Dark Beauty’, and ‘Black Ball’. Every time, He Wanning was provoked until she got into a rage. She would yell and chase after him with a small whip. She wanted to teach him a lesson by whipping him a few times. However, despite his chubby figure, that fellow was very nimble. Thus, she was never able to succeed.

She acknowledged that she used to have a dark complexion, but she now had ruddy, fair skin. She looked very young and beautiful, yet he still called her ‘Little Charcoal. What kind of eyes did he have? Lu Hao, on the other hand, often practiced martial arts and was also dispatched to work under the sun after he joined the Yulin Division. Hence, his skin had gotten much tanner. However, he was still considered fairly pale compared with the imperial guards behind him, who had healthy-looking bronze skin.

Lu Hao carefully examined her for a moment and admitted, “I must say Younger Sister Xiaocao’s products have the power to make the ugly beautiful. They were actually able to turn a little black ball into a beautiful woman with fair complexion. Tsk tsk…it’s so incredible ah!”

“Humph! You have a good eye, admitting that this maiden is a beautiful woman! This maiden is originally a natural beauty. It’s just that you should have gone to see a doctor for your eyes in the past!” Whenever He Wanning saw him, they would definitely quarrel. So this trip was going to be very lively.

“Natural beauty?” Lu Hao looked as if he couldn’t hold back his laughter as he said, “I reckon that you’re a natural charcoal.”