Luo Jinfeng was shocked as the group of people pushed and shoved him until he was squeezed into a corner.
"Quiet down, everyone! Master has come to pick up Miss!"
"Fifty, your father has missed you so much." Old Man Xiao was in tears, his fat body jiggling as he ran.
As soon as he started crying, the huge group of aunts behind him burst into tears, surrounding Wu Shilang and crying their hearts out.
"My poor little Goro, look at him, his chin is so sharp it could kill someone, and look at his pale face... tsk tsk tsk!"
"My little Ishiro, look at him, his chest has all shrunk away..."
Wave after wave of shouts came crashing down on him, making him dizzy and furious. He roared, "No one is allowed to cry! Shut up!"
Her shout caused everyone's breath to catch in their throats, unable to rise or fall, and all they could see were tearful eyes.
"Well, Master Xiao, shouldn't we have Fifty return to the manor first and then talk?" Young Master Luo, hidden in a corner, asked from across the vast sea of people.
He called out, saying that Wu Shilang was currently very weak. If he continued to be abused like this, the poison would likely take effect even faster.
"Ah? Who are you?" Old Master Xiao peeked at Young Master Luo through the gap in the crowd. His face immediately lit up with a bright smile. "Young Master, how old are you? Who are you...?"
His attention was completely drawn to Young Master Luo. He cheerfully squeezed through the crowd, grabbed Luo Jinfeng's arm, and asked kindly, "...Are you married?"
Wu Shilang was speechless and ran into the mansion.
[Produced by the Orange Garden Hand-Typed Team. Welcome to visit ]
[Produced by the Orange Garden Hand-Typed Team. Welcome to visit ]
Chapter Twenty: A Twist of Fate
Upon entering the mansion, Wu Shilang was dumbfounded. The courtyard was filled with floral plaques and baskets, adorned with colorful ribbons, and fragrant with the scent of flowers.
"Dad, why are there so many flower baskets?" Ishiro asked curiously.
Old Man Xiao's face turned pale, and he angrily flung his sleeve, "Don't mention it!" While he was angry, he didn't forget to tug at Young Master Luo's sleeve, forcing a smile as he said, "Come on, nephew, let's talk inside."
In such a short time, he's already become a nephew?! Isoro was both amused and exasperated, and could only raise an eyebrow at Luo Jinfeng in acknowledgment.
“Alright, Uncle Xiao, let’s sit down and chat. Speaking of my possessions…” Young Master Luo completely ignored Wu Shilang’s distorted face and was very enthusiastic, showing a strong momentum to tell everything he knew.
"Alright, alright, let's go!" The more Master Xiao heard this, the happier he became. He changed his pull to a hug and walked into the inner room with his arm around Young Master Luo's shoulder.
Wu Shilang gritted his teeth, glaring angrily. After a long while, he suddenly remembered the flower baskets and floral plaques in the courtyard and couldn't help but turn around and ask the concubines behind him, "What's the deal with these flowers?"
The concubines immediately became shy and hesitant, pushing and rubbing each other, and none of them said a word.
“Tell me one by one!” Ishiro frowned.
"Fifty, you can't get angry when we tell you this!"
Isoro nodded and listened to them continue.
“This was sent by the Women’s Association in the city,” the third aunt bravely spoke up, glancing at the eldest aunt to signal her to continue.
"These flower baskets and floral plaques have been delivered over the past few days," the eldest aunt said, glancing sideways at the fifth aunt.
Fifth Aunt coughed and continued, "Those who delivered the flowers were mostly young girls, but of course, there were also quite a few older women!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the sixth concubine chimed in, "Actually, there were still some loose flowers, which the master threw into the pond to feed the fish."
Wu Shilang asked in even greater surprise, "Could it be that Father is going to take fifty-one concubines and is currently holding a beauty pageant?"
The remaining concubines present immediately turned pale, spat in unison, and said, "He wouldn't dare! With beauties like us around, he dares to provoke others?!"
Isoro chuckled dryly and asked, "Then what brings these floral plaques and baskets here?"
The outspoken fifteenth concubine immediately chimed in, "Isn't it all because of you!"
Everyone immediately became even more awkward. They nudged each other, and after a long while, the thirteenth concubine volunteered to step forward, took a deep breath, and said, "Yes, it's because you, Fifty-Lang, were jilted!"
"What does this have to do with me breaking off the engagement?"
“Of course,” said the Fourteenth Concubine. “Now that you’ve broken off the engagement, the position of the Duan family’s young master’s principal wife is vacant again, and all the women outside are very happy.”
"Therefore, they collectively sent floral tributes and flower baskets in the name of 'Friends of Women' to express their gratitude."
Everyone spoke at once and told the whole story.
Isoro looked at the courtyard full of floral plaques and baskets, not knowing whether to laugh or cry: "That's not bad either, why was Father so angry?"
Yes, logically speaking, the master was only angry for a few hours before he calmed down. Why did he get angry again later? Everyone was puzzled.
"I know that." The forty-year-old concubine timidly pinched a handkerchief and raised her hand.
All eyes suddenly turned to her. Now even more flustered, she blushed and said, "That day, Master was admiring the flowers in the courtyard and eating garlic..."
"Why is he eating garlic? He used to not eat cilantro, garlic, or green onions," Wu Shilang said in surprise.
The thirtieth concubine immediately interjected, "I know that. Ever since Young Master Duan said that Miss had broken off his engagement, Master has been eating green garlic and garlic with every meal."
All the aunties rolled their eyes in unison and said angrily, "How can you say it's not related? How come you don't know? The narcissus is related to the garlic chive. Haven't you ever seen the kind that doesn't bloom? It's exactly like a garlic chive!"
Ichiro was speechless, amazed by the man's powerful logical thinking.
The forty-year-old concubine immediately covered her face with her handkerchief, her expression filled with melancholy, and recalled: "That day, the scenery was beautiful, and the atmosphere was shy and charming..."
She was originally a young lady from a prominent family. She usually liked to recite a few low-class poems, pretending to be very cheerful and melancholy. When she spoke, idioms and poems would pour out in long verses. Basically, no one in the manor could understand her.
Of course, she was proud of it.
"The willows are truly green..."
"Wait, Forty-something Aunt, we don't have a willow tree in our house. And why don't you get to the point?" Fifty-something sighed, noticing everyone was in a daze. He couldn't help but interrupt Forty-something Aunt, who was lost in poetic reverie.
"Oh, then I'll keep it simple."
The forty-year-old concubine's face hardened, and she launched into a torrent of scathing insults, like beans spilling from a bamboo tube: "Duan Shuixian, you shameless scoundrel, despicable, scoundrel, and..."
Wu Shilang and his concubines were immediately shocked.
It turns out that even when the forty-year-old concubine isn't reciting poetry, she can be so sharp-tongued. But the key question is, could this matter be related to Duan Shuixian again?!
Fortunately, after she finished her tirade, she changed the subject and returned to the main point. She elegantly straightened her hair, completely changing her previous shrewish manner, and said slowly and deliberately, "That day, when the master was enjoying flowers and eating garlic sprouts, the young master of the Duan family sent a servant to ask if he could buy back these flower plaques and baskets, saying that his own flower shop had sold out of its stock due to the overwhelming demand from women."
Everyone was immediately outraged and cursed Duan Shuixian for her shamelessness. Only Wu Shilang looked regretful.
“Father really missed a business opportunity,” Wu Shilang said with regret. She gestured and a servant immediately stepped forward. She instructed, “Go and ask Duan Shuixian if they need flower plaques and flower baskets. Tell them that the Xiao family is willing to sell these flower plaques and flower baskets at a low price.”
The servant nodded and hurried away.
The crowd looked puzzled, their eyes filled with confusion, and all turned to Isoro, waiting for her explanation.
The eldest aunt said angrily, "Fifty-Lang, you should have some backbone and let the Duan family brat know that our Xiao family is not a pushover."
Isoro laughed loudly and said, "I have backbone, that's why I went to make money off him."
At that moment, he poured out his thoughts, and everyone was indeed in a harmonious mood.
For the remaining days, the flower arrangements and flower baskets continued to arrive, and during that time, they even bought daffodils at high prices several times, causing their wallets to swell to an unprecedented level.
"Fifty-Lang, after Master Xiao's birthday celebration, I will go and ask your aunt for you."
In the darkness, Luo Jinfeng, his face covered in sweat, withdrew his hand from Wu Shilang's body. This was a Gu poison, unlike ordinary poisons. His internal energy could not suppress it much, and the rest would have to be slowly endured by the person involved.
Goruro, not covered in sweat or pale-faced, laughed and said, "I won't beg her. I'd rather die in pain than beg her."
She swallowed the rest of her words.
Luo Shuiliu had privately spoken to her and told her that there was no cure for the poison, and that unless a miracle occurred, no matter how hard she tried, she would only have three months left to live.
Unless she can find a medicinal ingredient that can extract the poison, but that's easier said than done. Not to mention the medicinal ingredient, she doesn't even know what the specific medicinal ingredient is.
So she stopped hoping. The more hope you have, the more disappointed you'll be; it's better to live each day happily.
"Fifty, listen to me, I will find the best medicine, no matter where it is, and I will definitely cure you."
Ishiro felt a warmth in his heart, smiled and patted his shoulder, saying, "With a friend like this, what more could I ask for?"
Under the moonlight, the two looked at each other and smiled. Their hearts were filled with warmth.
In fact, beyond romantic love, there may truly be a kind of friendship—not quite lovers, but more than friends. Who says this fourth type of relationship is bad?
"Dad, you sit on the stage later, and my brothers and I will kowtow to you to wish you a happy birthday."
"Huh?" Master Xiao looked up at the glittering gold decorations on the stage and said with a worried expression, "Could we please stop the kowtowing? If we have to kowtow one by one, I'm afraid the banquet will start right after lunch."
“How can that be? This is the children’s filial piety.” Ishiro glared.
"How about this, fifty little darlings, you kowtow to forty-nine of them together, and you kowtow alone. This way, it will save time and show your filial piety."
Wu Shilang rolled his eyes, thought for a moment, chuckled, and said, "Very well, it's been a long time since your daughter has respectfully bowed to you, Father."
Upon hearing this, Master Xiao immediately burst into tears, repeatedly saying, "So good, so good."
The music began, played by the various concubines. The ninth concubine played the erhu, always deliberately playing a high note, interspersed with the twelfth concubine's broken flute notes. Whenever something went wrong, everyone would stop abruptly, glaring at each other for a long time before finally starting the next incoherent piece.
Amidst this magnificent, off-key singing, all forty-nine brothers bowed down in unison, kowtowing in perfect unison, making Master Xiao's eyes narrow into slits with laughter.
"Be good, be good."
Then the servants came forward to perform their talents. They did somersaults and rolled on the ground, which made Master Xiao beam with joy.
Finally, it was Igarashi's turn. Holding a large peach, he stood respectfully in the middle of the courtyard, about to kneel down in front of the high platform.
"Daughter wishes Father a long and healthy life, as long as the Southern Mountains." Her eyes were filled with tears, and she smiled as she bent down to kneel.
"Wait a minute."
[Produced by the Orange Garden Hand-Typed Team. Welcome to visit ]
Suddenly, a black figure swept past from outside the courtyard, its robe billowing in the wind like a blooming lotus flower. It moved with astonishing speed, lightly touching the eaves and landing beside Goruro.
Goruro's mouth gaped open in shock: "Wushuang, it's you?"
Leng Wushuang looked exhausted, his handsome face covered in dust. As usual, he wore a black robe with pale gold trim at the hem. His long, satin-like hair was tied up with a white jade hairpin. Three swords, two blue and one gold, were strapped to his back, gleaming in the sunlight.
“Yes, it is me.” His eyes were as dark as ink as he looked at Goruro with a deep gaze, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes. His red lips were tightly pressed together, and his expression was a hundred times colder than before.
"First, offer your birthday greetings." He coldly grabbed Isoro's hand and bowed deeply. Isoro, dumbfounded, followed him, both kneeling down and kowtowing several times.