Три мандариновые утки и полторы пары

Глава 24

"It does indeed have a pleasant mead scent." Su Shaochu savored the aroma.

"Come on, have a drink." Yan Shanshan took the small bottle of wine, moved to sit next to Su Shaochu, and smiled brightly as she poured him a drink.

"It was brewed by Shanshan herself, so the taste must be extraordinary."

"Shao Chu!" Yan Shanshan, who was sitting next to him, suddenly put her elbow on his shoulder, leaned against him, and whispered words that made people break out in a cold sweat with a sweet smile, "You know I hate being treated perfunctorily. Only stupid people can be treated perfunctorily. You know I have high dignity, high pride, and high intelligence. When I get angry, I can do the ruthless things that don't even make me frown, and leave no trace."

Another person, about to step into the pavilion, hesitated upon hearing this.

"I believe it, I believe it. Poor man beside you, the man who married you, Mingchao, has even greater courage." Truly admirable, truly admirable.

"So you wouldn't treat me like an idiot and talk to me in a perfunctory manner, would you?" With a sweet smile, Yan Shanshan leaned her graceful body against Su Shaochu, wrapping her arms around his neck, and asked sweetly in his ear.

"How could I treat you like this? Especially Shanshan, you are the person I, Su Shaochu, adore the most. You are famous for your beauty and intelligence, and nothing can be hidden from you." Su Shaochu said very apologetically.

"Then tell me the truth, what actually happened that night... Why are you grinning like a sly fox!"

"It's nothing, I just feel that our 'unwavering love' is becoming more and more worthy of being proclaimed to the world and seen in the light of day." How touching!

"Young Sect Master, I admire you more and more. Seeing this scene, you can still stand so calmly without rushing up to kill people!" Before, you would have already gone hysterical and frantic!

Yan Shanshan turned around and saw her husband Lu Mingchao and his trusted aide Lu Xiu standing at the entrance of the rock pavilion. Lu Mingchao slapped his forehead and shook his head, sighing deeply. Lu Xiu was dumbfounded and could not believe that their young mistress was so openly embracing a man other than her husband in broad daylight, and even almost sitting on him!

"Young Master Su, besides the Third Prince, you are my biggest idol. How dare you openly seduce the young mistress in the Lu family! This is outrageous!" Before his master could even react, Lu Xiu rushed out and shouted!

"Xiao Xiu, open your eyes wide! From beginning to end, I didn't put my hand on your young mistress. How can you say I seduced her!" Su Shaochu raised his hands to prove his innocence.

Yan Shanshan still had her arms around his neck and leaned against him.

"Young Madam, let go! Do you really want the Young Sect Master to start killing?" Xiao Xiu rushed over to pull her away!

"Your hands weren't on me!" Yan Shanshan felt indignant at his words and simply sat on Su Shaochu's lap, resting her head against his chest. "Yes! Just resting your head against my chest, that's indecent assault and lewd behavior, and you still dare to complain!"

"Now you're clinging to me too," Su Shaochu playfully pinched her rosy cheek. "We're even now, neither of us loses out."

"I'm at a disadvantage because I have a bigger chest than you."

"So what do you want me to do?"

Su Shaochu rested his forehead against hers, one wrapped his arms around her neck, the other around her waist, the two of them openly and intimately whispering and laughing like they were cuddling.

"You will sell yourself to me, take over Li'er's job, and serve this young mistress's daily life, including bathing, changing clothes, eating, and sleeping; when I'm bored, you must use your humor to make me happy; when you're busy and not around tomorrow, you must sleep with me and massage me to help me regulate my blood circulation."

"I would be more than happy to take on such a good job."

"Young Master Su—Young Master Su—" Shamelessly continuing their flirting and even making promises for their next encounter, Xiao Xiu couldn't stand it anymore and pointed at them, shouting, "You two are really going too far! No wonder the Young Sect Master was so furious with you before. I thought he was just being paranoid! Turns out you really are—you really are—" Facing the two still embracing each other, Xiao Xiu could barely continue speaking.

"Those who commit adultery should hide—how dare they do this in broad daylight without any restraint—and spout such filthy and disgusting things, it's truly—"

Lu Xiu was filled with righteous indignation for his master and was so angry that he bared his teeth and brandished his claws, but was hit on the back of the head by his master!

"Enough! How dare you accuse Shanshan of cheating on you? Where do you put your master?"

Lu Xiu could hardly believe his master's reaction and jumped up in disbelief!

"Young Sect Master—the two of them did this right in front of you, why didn't you react?! You already killed them with your sword two months ago—are you stunned now—or stunned with anger—"

Xiao Xiu jumped and screamed. Since the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet two months ago, Su Shao Chu's visits to the Lu family have become as common as eating a meal. There are also times when the young sect leader is not in the room and he and the young mistress are alone in the room. The young sect leader does not care or pay any attention to it. I remember that before, even if the young mistress said the name Shao Chu, the young sect leader would be so jealous that he would die. How come everything has changed since then!

"Young Master—you must pull yourself together—Master and Madam are traveling far away and cannot make decisions for you, but my father is still alive. He is the head steward of the Lu family—he carries weight in the Lu family and will definitely make decisions for you—he will not sit idly by—"

"Xiao Xiu, calm down!" He roared, his face red and neck bulging, as if his blood was about to rush out of his head!

"Okay, I'll calm down..." Uh! "Why should I calm down—" Lu Xiu jumped up again! "Young Sect Master, you mustn't let this shrewish couple get away with this—"

Before he could finish shouting, Lu Xiu was hit on the back of the head again!

"Anyone who dares to call my wife a slut, I'll kill that guy!"

"Young Sect Master—you, you—" Lu Xiu opened his eyes wide with shock, then ran out of the rock pavilion, shouting, "Young Sect Master, you must have been drugged, you must have been bewitched by some kind of spell! Don't be afraid, I'll get my father to save you right away—"

The three people inside the pavilion watched as Lu Xiu hurriedly rushed out of the rock pavilion, ran across the rock formations, climbed the arched bridge, tripped, and tumbled off. After getting up, he glanced back into the pavilion, met their gazes, and then opened his throat on the opposite bank—

"I'll bring people right away—they're coming right away—don't let a single one of them leave—Young Sect Master—wait for me!" He then sprinted towards the inner hall!

A burst of laughter erupted from Yan Shanshan.

"This is the first time I've seen Xiao Xiu so disheveled, tumbling all the way down the bridge, and still managing to say something—hahaha—" She laughed and leaned on Su Shaochu's shoulder.

Lu Mingchao walked over and pulled up his beloved wife, who was still playfully snuggling in Su Shaochu's arms.

"Xiao Xiu is right. Regardless of whether I know you two can really create a 'strong bond,' you should at least keep it a secret from outsiders! If word gets out, it will only get more and more outrageous. After all, the Lu family still needs to maintain its standing in the martial arts world and the imperial court!"

"Brother Mingchao is right. After all, outsiders can't understand what our own people know. Now the people of the capital have made quite a fuss about our stories!"

"What's the latest development?" Yan Shanshan asked with great interest, clapping her hands expectantly. She had been unable to go out lately and had been stuck at home.

"Our affair isn't unusual anymore, and the story of Zhu Yu and the Ming Dynasty brothers having an affair is no longer common. The famous courtesan Yu Ziyan has too little presence, so... umm." Su Shaochu deliberately kept everyone in suspense for a moment.

"What is it? I'm dying to tell you! Tell me!"

"Shan, don't move too much. You're pregnant now, so be careful." Seeing her run over and shake Su Shaochu's arm again, her body swaying, Lu Mingchao couldn't help but remind her.

"It's only been a month, can you stop being so tense about everything? You restrict this and forbid that, it's exhausting!" If she ignored him, he would put on a miserable face, looking at her with a look of grievance all day long, making Yan Shanshan unable to get angry, so she had no choice but to go along with him.

"A different version of the complicated love story has been written. The rumors are just a smokescreen. The truth is—" Su Shaochu suddenly stood up and walked towards Lu Mingchao.

"Brother Shao Chu?" Lu Mingchao frowned, puzzled by the other's meaning, when Su Shao Chu had already wrapped one arm around his thick neck, making him startled!

"The truth is, Mingchao and I are the lovers who are in a tragic love affair. His true love is not the beautiful wife beside him, but the fourth young master of the Su family, myself."

Su Shaochu leaned his forehead against the stiff neck and shoulder, his ambiguous eyes looking back at Yan Shanshan. He saw the other woman's red lips widen, her eyes widen, her hands cover her lips, and she cried out in surprise—

"You two are such a perfect match! Compared to that scoundrel Zhu Yu, Shao Chu, your temperament is a much better fit for Ming Chao's rugged appearance. What a perfect match! This rumor is so well-made, so well-made!" Yan Shanshan clapped her hands and shouted with great joy.

"I think so too, Brother Mingchao. Since your wife doesn't object anymore, are you trying to make the rumors come true?" Su Shaochu changed from wrapping one arm around Lu Mingchao's neck to draping both arms over his shoulders, raising an eyebrow at Lu Mingchao.

"That's enough, you two, stop fooling around!"

Lu Mingchao pulled the arms off his shoulders in an annoyed manner. In the eyes of these two, he was always like a funny thing!

Su Shaochu and Yan Shanshan each glanced at him, one shrugged and the other made a flowing water gesture, then looked at Lu Mingchao, who had silently plopped down at the table to pour himself a drink.

The two stood behind him, glancing at each other again. Su Shaochu made a face with his head held high as if he were being basked in the sun, while Yan Shanshan cupped her face and pulled down her cheeks, making herself look withered and haggard!

"No, no, more, playing!" Lu Mingchao, who was about to chug the liquor bottle, saw the reflection of his back on the bottle and shouted through gritted teeth, "Especially don't do those tacit hand gestures that only you guys understand. Be careful, or I'll really lose it!"

Yan Shanshan could only pout. Su Shaochu sat down in front of Lu Mingchao, picked up a wine ladle, and with a forced smile, refilled the wine bottle for him.

"Brother Mingchao, I know it's normal to be nervous when you become a father for the first time. You should relax a little sometimes."

"Yes! Mingchao, why have you been acting so strangely lately? Did something unpleasant happen?" Yan Shanshan coaxed her with a smile, showing her wife's tenderness.

"What's wrong with me?!" Lu Mingchao was both amused and exasperated. He truly admired these two; was he just too nervous, or were these two guys extraordinary? "Is now the time to play around? More than half of the fifteen-day deadline has passed. Where are we going to catch Zi Fei Shuang Yue? We haven't caught her yet. My wife, are you really asking your husband to uphold justice and even kill our own family?"

He knew perfectly well what the true nature of the Purple Flying Twin Moons was. Why did the instigator always act as if it were none of his business, leisurely and carefree all day long, while he, the bystander, was the one who suffered the most!

"As for this matter, I have followed the instructions of your incomparably intelligent wife, Brother Mingchao. This matter will be resolved in a way that brings it to a close."

"Shanshan has a plan?" Lu Mingchao looked at his beloved wife beside him.

"If you can stop controlling me in every way, I'll tell you," Yan Shanshan said, seizing the opportunity to negotiate.

"Could you please explain this matter more clearly, Brother Shaochu?" So he had no choice but to ask Su Shaochu instead.

Amidst Yan Shanshan's defiant "Dare to say it and see" warning and Lu Mingchao's earnest plea for an explanation, Su Shaochu cleared his throat and casually remarked, "Let the rumors remain rumors!"

"gossip?!"

"Brother Mingchao, I heard you're going to a banquet at Yuqiong Tower with the Third Prince tomorrow night?" He quickly changed the subject.

Zhu Yu's sudden extravagant purchase of the Yuqiong Tower has caused a stir throughout the capital, with everyone saying that Zhu Yu is finally going to make a move on the famous courtesan Ziyan.

"Yes! The Third Prince said he was going to entertain some guests from the Eastern Regions, and there would be several officials and wealthy merchants accompanying them." To be able to so disregard worldly opinions by hosting a banquet in a brothel and not shy away from inviting wealthy merchants to the table, and even openly declare it, is probably only possible for this Third Prince, who walks on the edge of court etiquette.

"Friends from the Eastern Region!" Su Shaochu frowned.

"Mingchao, how about I disguise myself and accompany you to Yuqiong Tower tomorrow night?" Yan Shanshan really wanted to go out and see some fun.

"No!" Lu Mingchao and Su Shaochu shouted at her at the same time!

"You two drank from the same cup, so you're all in cahoots!" Yan Shanshan crossed her arms and glared at the two people in front of her.

"Shanshan, what kind of place is Yuqionglou? It's a mixed bag of people. You're pregnant, don't go there and cause trouble," Lu Mingchao comforted his wife.

"I know Jade Pavilion better than you do. Do you think I don't know how shady and corrupt it is? If something goes wrong there, I know better than you how to handle it!" Find out who the real mastermind behind Jade Pavilion is!

"Ahem, Brother Shaochu." Lu Mingchao had no choice but to look at Su Shaochu, hoping that he could help soften the tone.

"Yes, I'll say..."

"Su Shaochu, if you're so confident you can settle things with a few words, then say it! Otherwise, you'd better keep quiet." Yan Shanshan glanced at him, glaring at him with a mixture of anger and intimidation.

Su Shaochu blinked, then clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Brother Mingchao, I have other important matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now." It's best to avoid getting involved in a couple's quarrel, so he had no choice but to ignore Lu Mingchao's miserable face.

"Shao Chu," Yan Shanshan suddenly called out again.

"Yes, Your Excellency is here. What else can I do for you, beautiful Lady Shanshan?" He was always helpless against Yan Shanshan.

"Zhu Yu wants a rare orchid blooming in a secluded valley, its beauty flawed, and she's telling you this in this way—I'm not kidding, be careful."

Seeing her serious expression and worried words, Su Shaochu smiled gently, pinched her rosy cheek, and teased her, "I told you long ago, the person I, Su Shaochu, admire most is the one who holds my heart dearest. Nothing can be hidden from me. Don't worry! I won't underestimate my opponent or belittle myself. I have a contingency plan in mind."

Seeing this, Lu Mingchao's bitter face instantly twisted with jealousy. He awkwardly stepped between the two, embracing his wife and preventing them from getting too close.

"Brother Shaochu, please leave if you have business to attend to. I won't see you off."

"Ming Dynasty, what are you doing?!" Why did you suddenly put on a stern face?

"Heh." Su Shaochu couldn't help but laugh. He knew exactly why Lu Mingchao was so possessive as he hugged his wife.

"No matter how much I know the truth, it's hard for me not to feel jealous of the interaction between the two of you!"

In a corner of the Lu family garden, Lu Xiu squatted in a dark corner, his face full of hurt, sobbing. "No one believes me...no one believes me. The young mistress clearly has an ambiguous relationship with the fourth young master of the Su family, and the young sect leader saw it but did nothing. Waaah..."

"The young sect leader has changed. The old, suspicious young sect leader was unbearable, but at least it was him; this one... ugh, I'm not sure who he is anymore..."

She wiped away her tears in solitude, and even more resentful of her father who had served the Lu family for so many years!

"Dad's gone too far! He actually wants me to practice my eyesight again and figure out who the 'Jianfu' and 'Yingfu' really are; let's confirm the existence of 'Jianfu' first!" What kind of talk is that?! "Of course Jianfu exists, it's Fourth Young Master Su! Who else could it be?"

Waaah... Not only did my father speak unclearly, but even the young mistress's personal maid, Li'er, gave him the cold shoulder. Li'er was usually very kind to him, but today she actually called him stupid and dull. There must be something terrible at work in the Lu family. How many people have been secretly replaced?

He's so lonely!