I laughed and said, "What brings Aunt Lan here?"
Madam Lan smiled and said, "I noticed that the things in the courtyard haven't been changed much. I came to check on things today. If Yue'er needs anything, just tell Aunt Lan."
"Really? Thank you so much, Auntie."
Xue Yalan looked around the room. "Oh, when did Yue'er start raising pigeons?"
Ping'er said, "The food in the manor is not good. Miss is tired of the bland food and wants to eat some meat. So she raised a pigeon to make soup."
"How could such a thing happen!" Xue Yalan slapped her leg. "I'll give Granny Liu a good scolding and see how she handles things. Yue'er, don't worry, I'll make sure you get some proper nourishment."
I gave Ping'er a complimentary look.
Ping'er chuckled a few times.
"Moon, if you have any problems in the future, just tell me. Don't wrong yourself, okay?"
"I understand, Aunt Lan, take care."
I smiled and looked at Ping'er, "Not bad, Ping'er can tell a little lie now."
Ping'er lowered her head shyly, "I learned it from Miss."
"Alright, alright." I lifted her chin and pinched her cheek. "I don't blame you. Thanks to you, we can finally have our first taste of meat soon."
"Miss, where did this scroll of painting in the box come from?"
I suddenly remembered the Emperor's painting...
"show me."
Silently watching.
Flowers are blooming along the path; you may slowly return home.
Chapter 11 The Lu Family Tyrant
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He watched as his young mistress stared at the painting for several hours. A sense of unease crept in. "Miss," he asked, "is there anything special about this painting? Why have you been looking at it for so long?"
"Oh..." He slowly put the painting away. "It's nothing, I just suddenly remembered something and spaced out..."
Suddenly, a sound was heard.
"I'm going out to take a look..."
Then Liu Mengshi led a little maid in red into the room.
“Ping’er…”
Seeing the unfriendly expression on Ping'er's face, she said, "Ping'er, bring a cup of tea to Second Sister."
"Thank you, Fourth Sister." Liu Mengshi sat down and sighed, "It's so peaceful here, Fourth Sister."
Looking at me, he said, "My yard has been packed with people lately, I can't even find a quiet place."
I said, "That's because Second Sister is getting married, of course there are a lot of people busy."
Liu Mengshi raised her eyes for a moment, then lowered them again.
"What's wrong, Second Sister?"
Liu Mengshi: "Fourth Sister, I know you're still upset that I stole Erlang away. I'm sorry..." She held my hand tightly.
Me: "It's okay, it's not like I stole him. I just don't like him."
She grew increasingly saddened. "Fourth Sister, you don't need to say such things to make me feel better. It was my fault." Her eyes were filled with remorse.
Do I look that saintly?
"I really have no feelings for him, Second Sister, you have to believe me. I've forgotten about him a long time ago."
Ping'er happened to come out and said, "Our young lady is telling the truth. She's hoping to marry into the palace!"
As soon as she said that, I glared at her, thinking, "What kind of talk is that?"
Ping'er was also stunned, and Liu Mengshi was so surprised that she didn't say anything.
After a long pause, she awkwardly said, "So Fourth Sister has lofty ambitions. Well... I'll be going now."
"This tea..."
"Ping'er!"
Ping'er said innocently, "Miss, I'm sorry... It's all my fault for speaking too quickly... I just couldn't stand seeing the Second Miss snatch someone away and then try to comfort her. I was so angry I was itching to bite her, and in my anger I blurted it out. I'm sorry..."
I looked at her helplessly. "How could I really blame you, silly girl!" I thought to myself, "The Liu family will probably know everything by tomorrow."
"Miss, don't be angry... Ping'er was just saying that."
Liu Mengshi pouted, "Don't talk nonsense. Didn't you see Liu Feiyue go into the palace with Third Brother today? She even met the Emperor, this..." The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
"Miss, don't you still have Master Lin?" Peony reminded her.
Liu Mengshi glared at her, "Can the palace doctors compare to the imperial physicians?" She then said fiercely, "If Liu Feiyue really enters the palace, I'll have to bow down and become a concubine."
“Yes, yes…this servant was wrong,” Peony lowered her head.
"So, what does Miss mean?"
Liu Mengshi smiled, raising the corners of her mouth.
"Daughter..." Bai Mei entered the room.
"Mother, what brings you here?"
Bai Mei glanced at the things in the room and smiled very happily, "Come and see the dowry prepared for you."
Then she added, "Just go and marry him without worrying about anything."
"I understand, Mother..." Liu Mengshi replied.
"Miss, why are you wearing this dress again today?"
She tied her hair up. "Of course, we're going to see my Hundred Flowers Pavilion. Come on, Ping'er."
Staying in the top-tier room, I listened to Qiu Niang report on the business situation of Baihualou during this period.
"Wait... Here are a few tea-making methods. Take them and take a look, and you can blend more varieties."
"Yes, Master."
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
"What's up?"
"Qiu Niang, hurry down and take a look. There's a commotion down there..."
I quickly followed.
Downstairs, a man with a pig-like head and a big belly was holding onto a woman in yellow and wouldn't let go of her hand.
"Tell me, how much? I can afford it. I want her to warm my bed today!" He said with a lewd grin.
The woman in yellow, tears streaming down her face, cried out, "I...I won't sell myself..."
Qiu Niang stepped forward, "Young Master Lu, this Que'er is indeed a virgin, she sells her art but not her body, how about... we switch to Sasha..."
Lu Yaoguang: "No way! I want this one. I love this sparrow and I want to sleep with her!"
Upon hearing this, even the sparrow felt like jumping into the river.
Sparrow said, "Qiu Niang, thank you for taking me in. I have no way to repay you..." As she spoke, she rushed towards the pillar.
"Sparrow, quick, stop them!!"
A group of people pulled the sparrow away.
The sparrow cried loudly, its voice mournful.
"What happened?" I asked Qiu Niang.
"This girl, Que'er, originally came from a scholarly family, but later fell on hard times. Her father died, and the family scattered. Only her seriously ill mother and younger sister remained. Que'er had no choice but to sell herself to the Hundred Flowers Brothel, signing a contract of servitude. She would sell her art, not her body..."
I looked at the pig's head and said, "Since that's the case, don't force people to do things they don't want to do."
Lu Yaoguang retorted angrily, "Do you know who my uncle is? He's the Imperial Censor! My cousin is a prince's tutor! Do you think you can afford to offend him?"
Me: "I'm truly ignorant; I've never heard of it!"