Lanting - Kapitel 91
Lu Qingcheng asked, "What are you betting on?"
"It was a bet on stealing the bride, too," Qing Jian Yue said irritably. "Your dad is even more cunning and treacherous than you. I was secretly watching him, afraid he would switch the bride, but in the end, he still managed to do it. What's most infuriating is that not only did he switch the bride, but he also dressed up as her and made me carry him up three mountains. I was exhausted, like a dead dog. When I lifted the red veil, I screamed in terror, while he rolled around on the ground laughing."
Lu Qingcheng stared at him blankly, her eyes flashing with a complex and intricate light.
Lu Qingcheng asked in confusion, "If that's the case, why did you bet with me about stealing the bride?"
Kiyoshi Tsuki angrily exclaimed, “I feel so humiliated. I am the freest and happiest person in the world. I can be like the wind, running wherever I want and causing destruction wherever I want; I can also be like an eagle, flying wherever I want and as high as I want. Now, I have to come all the way from Yunnan to be your servant because of your father’s bet. Although you already have a wife, she has been married for three years and is still a virgin. When will your six sons be born? Just thinking about it gives me a headache.”
Lu Qingcheng snorted, "You wouldn't be saying that you proposed the bet because you were betting on your luck. If you win, you can get rid of me and no longer be bound by that bet. You bet on stealing the bride because you lost to my late father and have always been very dissatisfied, wanting to get back at him."
“That’s right.” Qingjian Yue glared fiercely with her bright, round eyes and said hatefully, “You’re just as shameless as your father, you’re both bastards, big turtles.”
Lu Qingcheng stared at him darkly, then remained silent.
Kiyomi Tsuki could see right through it and said urgently, "You still don't believe me?"
Lu Qingcheng shook her head. "I don't know. My mind is in a mess, a complete jumble."
Kiyomi Tsuki said with pity, "I understand. Actually, I didn't mean to hide it from you. But I was afraid that if you knew, you wouldn't accept me, and then I wouldn't be able to stay by your side." As he said this, Kiyomi Tsuki suddenly felt very awkward, his heart was beating faster, and a sudden, very unfamiliar feeling washed over his body, making him shiver as if he had been burned.
Unexpectedly, his every little movement and expression was noticed by Lu Qingcheng's bright eyes. Lu Qingcheng noticed his unusual behavior and immediately asked, "What's wrong?"
"Oh, no." Kiyomi Tsuki blushed, even wondering why she was acting so strangely.
A surge of anger rose within Lu Qingcheng. He thought sullenly: Could it really be as his mother said, that Jianyue came for the treasure vault? Otherwise, why would he have kept it a secret?
Kiyomi asked with concern, "How is your mother?"
Lu Qingcheng said coldly, "It's alright."
Kiyomi Tsuki thought for a moment, then took off the ring from her finger. "This is your father's ring. Here, take it back."
Lu Qingcheng said in a gloomy tone, "Did I say I wanted a ring?"
"This is your father's keepsake, it's only right that I return it to you." Qing Jianyue looked at the ring and sighed. "Back then, because I lost a bet, I felt cheated no matter how I looked at it. I saw that the ring your father wore was very valuable, so I used all sorts of tricks to get it, hoping to pawn it someday when I was short of money. But I never expected that it would expose my identity." Her old face blushed. "Such an embarrassing thing, but because I'm the Lord of the Fortress, I'm telling you. Lord of the Fortress, you must never tell anyone. Especially Qingfeng and my handsome brother, they both love to see me make a fool of myself."
Lu Qingcheng remained silent, staring straight at him.
Kiyoshi Tsuki felt her heart pounding under his gaze, wondering to herself: Why is he looking at me like that?
After a long silence, Lu Qingcheng said with a hint of sadness, "Jianyue, is there anything else you're hiding from me?"
Kiyoshi asked in surprise, "Is there something I'm hiding from you? What are you referring to, Lord?"
The sadness in Lu Qingcheng's eyes deepened.
Qingjian Yue panicked and said, "I really told you everything. Lord, do you really not trust me?"
Looking into his clear eyes and seeing the anxiety shining through them, Lu Qingcheng thought, "It seems he's not lying to me. Could it be my mother lying to me? Bah, what am I thinking? Do I, Lu Qingcheng, really need that underground treasure vault to survive? Hmph, I refuse to believe that nonsense. Even if I have nothing now, I can still make a name for myself." Thinking this, he felt a surge of heroic spirit.
Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, Qing Jianyue thought that he still misunderstood her and was so anxious that she didn't know what to do. "I swear, if I have lied to you, I will be your bodyguard for the rest of my life and be your slave for the rest of my life."
“I don’t like this vow.” After thinking it through, Lu Qingcheng’s mind became more flexible. Seeing how anxious he was, she couldn’t help but tease him: “If you swear that you will never leave me for the rest of your life, that you will always listen to me, that you will only have me in your heart for the rest of your life, and that you will never see anyone else but me, then I will believe you.”
Eager to gain his trust, Qing Jianyue swore an oath without thinking, only realizing her mistake afterward, her face flushing red. Lu Qingcheng laughed heartily, "I won't bother you anymore, you can rest." He turned and walked away, laughing. Damn it! Qing Jianyue's eyes gleamed with anger.
The next day, officials came and took Zhong Wan'an away. Madam Tong, severely injured by Zhong Wan'an's kick, died less than three days later. Lu Qingcheng gave Madam Tong and her two sons a proper burial according to custom and etiquette. Soon after, following her mother's wishes, Lu Qingcheng arranged for Li Zhen to assist Su Haibo and learn how to manage the business.
Chapter Thirty-Six: Gift and Ordination
It was midwinter, yet the weather was unusually warm and pleasant. That day, Qing Jianyue had managed to get three days off from Lu Qingcheng to go to the city for a day of sightseeing. He reined in his horse in front of a large restaurant in the evening. As soon as he dismounted, Huang Chong, Zhang Lang, Mao Ying, and Guo Guo stood in four directions, like four hawks keenly observing their surroundings for safety. Qing Jianyue couldn't help but smile wryly. The most awkward thing about going out was having these four people with him, but he had no choice; it was Lu Qingcheng's condition, otherwise he would absolutely not have been allowed to go.
Surrounded by four people, Qing Jianyue entered the restaurant. The forty-year-old man who was doing the accounts at the counter suddenly saw them, dropped his account book in fright, and rushed out to greet them with a beaming smile: "Young master, you've finally come! I've been waiting for you all day. Please, please come with me."
Kiyomi Tsuki asked in surprise, "Do you know me?"
“Of course I recognize you. You are Young Master Jianyue.” The innkeeper smiled. “My surname is Yu, and I am the manager here. This restaurant belongs to our fortress. Young Master, you didn’t know?”
Qingjian Yue smiled and said, "I see. Manager Yu, could you please ask the waiter to find us a seat?"
"Everything is ready for you, please come upstairs." Manager Yu immediately led the way.
Qing Jianyue followed him upstairs and smiled, "Manager Yu, you don't need to be so polite. I'm just here for a meal, not on the orders of the Lord of the Fortress. You don't need to worry about me, just have the waiter take care of me."
"How can that be?" Manager Yu said with a smile, "This is the Lord's order. We must serve you well no matter what." Upon entering the VIP room, Qing Jianyue took off her cloak, which Manager Yu immediately took. Huang Chong pulled out a chair for Qing Jianyue to sit down. A waiter brought hot tea and five kinds of exquisite pastries and fruits, and very quickly and efficiently brewed the best jasmine silver tea.
Manager Yu hung up the cloak and said with a smile, "Young master, please have a cup of tea and some snacks first. The wine and dishes will be served soon."
Kiyomi Tsuki asked in surprise, "I haven't ordered yet, how do you know what I'm eating?"
"The Lord sent Zhang, the chief guard, with a list early this morning. It was written in the Lord's own handwriting and listed all your favorite dishes. I thought you would come at noon, so the kitchen has been waiting for you since morning." Manager Yu flattered, "The Lord's affection for the young master is truly beyond words."
Qing Jianyue said with a forced smile, "Manager Yu is wrong. The Lord of the Fortress cares deeply for every subordinate. You're busy, I don't need anyone to serve me here. Oh, by the way, I still need to ask you for a favor. Could you send someone to deliver a jar of Zhuyeqing tea to Feiyun? That kid is getting more and more temperamental, even more so than Hu'er."
Manager Yu blinked for a long time, unable to process what he had said.
Huang Chong laughed and said, "Feiyun is the young master's beloved horse. It is a three-year-old male horse, so our young master calls it 'Little Boy'."
Manager Yu laughed heartily and said, "I understand, I understand. I've heard that you have two pets, a white fox and a white horse. Don't worry, I'll have someone deliver them to your beloved horse right away."
Suddenly, shouts, laughter, and curses erupted from the VIP room next door, creating chaos.
Qingjian Yue frowned, looking displeased, and said, "Manager Yu, who's drinking next door, making such a fuss?"
Manager Yu smiled and said, "It's Master Luo. Shall I invite him over to pay his respects?"