Chapter 18: Moving into the Prime Minister's Mansion (4)

Giving a light yawn, Zhuo Qing closed her eyelids; she was truly too sleepy.

Zhuo Qing's breathing gradually became even, and only then did Lou Xiyan gently close his book, his gaze lingering on this strange woman. He hadn't read a single word just now; under her gaze, he had actually been distracted. What was even stranger was that he had just stared at her like that until the carriage stopped and Mo Bai's voice sounded from outside, only then did Lou Xiyan come back to his senses.

"Master, we have arrived."

Mo Bai's low call also woke Zhuo Qing, who had been resting with her eyes closed. Lifting the curtain, Zhuo Qing jumped off the carriage first, completely leaving Lou Xiyan, the master, behind.

Landing and standing steady, Zhuo Qing was immediately stunned by the bronze gate in front of her, five or six meters high and seven or eight meters wide. On the wide and simple lintel, the vermilion characters "Prime Minister's Mansion" were inlaid on a golden plaque, hanging in the center. On both sides of the gate, there were no stone lions as Zhuo Qing had imagined, nor were there any mighty, robust, and imposing guards. What met her eyes was a garden built with rocks, which both blocked the view and highlighted the master's grandeur. The gate was left open like this, but the vaguely revealed aura of majesty and the style of a great family made people inexplicably awestruck, not daring to act presumptuously.

Zhuo Qing stepped inside, and Jing Sa, dressed in dark black, happened to walk up. He glanced at Zhuo Qing, and a flash of surprise crossed his eyes, but it quickly disappeared. He bowed slightly to Lou Xiyan behind Zhuo Qing and called out: "Master."

Only then did Zhuo Qing remember Lou Xiyan. She felt she should have waited for the master to bring her in instead of barging in herself. Stepping back slightly, Zhuo Qing waited politely, as she thought, for Lou Xiyan to walk in.

"Master..." Jing Sa still wanted to say something when a clear, beautiful female voice rang out from afar: "Brother!" From behind the rocks, a pink figure ran straight toward the gate. The trailing skirt hem looked like a pink butterfly. Zhuo Qing was very worried that she would step on her own skirt and fall to the ground, but she was overthinking it; the woman rushed to Lou Xiyan's side safely.

Gazing gently at the woman, Lou Xiyan smiled almost with doting: "What are you in such a hurry for?"

"Waiting for you, of course." The woman raised her head, her rosy, diamond-shaped lips pouting slightly. Her bright, large eyes were filled with flowing light, revealing grievance and stubbornness. Her voice, mixed with sourness and annoyance, cursed in a low tone: "Princess Zhaoyang's carriage has been waiting for you for half a day, and Second Madam urged me to catch you at the gate. As soon as you return, you must hurry to the flower hall to serve~ Hmph, spineless thing!"

What was so great about a princess?! Acting like a pug—since when did their Lou family need to serve anyone so obsequiously?! It was a disgrace!

Seeing Lou Xiwu's appearance, Lou Xiyan probably knew what had happened. Patting her shoulder, Lou Xiyan smiled: "That mouth of yours! Alright, I know. You go and rest."

Lou Xiwu turned and left unwillingly. Lou Xiyan said to Jing Sa: "Jing Sa, tidy up the Zhaixing Pavilion, find a few clever maids to serve Miss Qing, and later, ask a physician to treat Miss's injuries."

"Yes." Jing Sa's sword-like brows furrowed slightly, and his already dark complexion darkened a few shades more.

Lou Xiwu, who had already started walking back, paused. Zhaixing Pavilion? That was a residence adjacent to her brother's Lanyue Lou. Appreciating the stars there could be described as breathtaking, hence the name Zhaixing Pavilion. However, because her brother liked quiet, that residence had always been vacant. Who had such a big face to be able to live in Zhaixing Pavilion?

Lou Xiwu turned back curiously and saw a thin woman standing idly to the side. Lou Xiwu asked: "Brother, who is she?"

Lou Xiyan smiled calmly: "Miss Qing from the Haoyue Kingdom."

"Qingfeng?! Her?!" Lou Xiwu shrieked. How could this woman be Qingfeng?! Her messy hair was tied up casually with something, not to mention that green dress that even her family's maids wouldn't wear, let alone the two ferocious knife scars on her right cheek. This woman was Qingfeng! Was he joking?! Lou Xiwu scrutinized Zhuo Qing while sneering: "What does the Haoyue Kingdom mean by sending such an ugly monster over? Sure enough, rumors cannot be fully trusted. They even said the three Qing sisters were each stunningly beautiful and graceful—what a load of nonsense!"

Was she very ugly?! Zhuo Qing lightly touched her cheek, which didn't hurt much anymore. To be honest, she hadn't had the chance to look at this face properly yet, but if the little girl thought she could provoke her this way, she was too naive.

"Xiwu, who taught you to have such poor manners!"

When Lou Xiyan lowered his voice, Xiwu was still somewhat afraid, but remembering how ugly this woman was and yet she was still her brother's woman, she couldn't help but be annoyed: "I'm stating the truth; she is originally..."

"Excuse me." A cold voice rang out idly. Zhuo Qing crossed her arms and smiled impatiently: "I have no objection to you siblings catching up, but can you take me to the guest room first? I am very sleepy. As for my appearance, you can discuss it slowly."

After a moment of surprise, Lou Xiyan smiled secretly. Women all valued their appearance, but she was different! Her mood, which had been somewhat depressed upon hearing that Princess Zhaoyang had come, seemed to have improved a bit at this moment. "Jing Sa, send Miss Qing to rest."

"Miss Qing, please this way."

Smiling at them, Zhuo Qing said nonchalantly: "You two continue."

"You!" She simply didn't put her in her eyes! Lou Xiwu was so angry her eyes almost popped out.

Zhuo Qing ignored her completely and walked toward the inner courtyard on her own. Lou Xiyan smiled and walked toward the flower hall in another direction.

"Hey—" Lou Xiwu looked to the left and then to the right, stomping her feet in annoyance. Her brother was clearly favoring that ugly woman! She wouldn't let it go like this! Hmph!

In the evening, the most beautiful moment of the day, fine golden light pierced through the clouds, dyeing the azure sky red. Also gently caressed by the sunset glow, besides the fragrance filling the garden and the rugged rocks, was Lou Xiyan, who had a smile on his lips and was in a very good mood. Walking to the courtyard gate outside the flower hall, Lou Xiyan stopped and said in a low voice: "Mo Bai, keep an eye on her." With her personality, she definitely wouldn't stay in the Prime Minister's Mansion obediently. There were too many mysteries about her, and before he figured them out, he would never let her leave his control.

"Yes." As soon as Mo Bai finished speaking, his figure vanished into the rocks. A living person disappearing in an instant—anyone who saw it would find it terrifying. Lou Xiyan was accustomed to it; he gently straightened his lapels, the corners of his mouth still curled up, but no smile could be seen in his eyes. He stepped into the side courtyard where the flower hall was located.

Just as Lou Xiyan stepped into the courtyard, Yan Ruxuan, who was sitting in the main seat, saw him at a glance. The sunset shone from behind him, and he seemed to be walking on golden light. The purple-gold white jade crown and the dark red flowing-gold robe made him look even more majestic and handsome. Especially that faint, almost non-existent smile at the corners of his mouth, light and warm like a feather—shallow and faint. Every time she saw it, it made her heart beat wildly.

Before Lou Xiyan had even entered the room, Yan Ruxuan had already slowly stood up, waiting for him to come in. Her light golden long skirt swayed gently with her movements, and her smooth hair also lifted slightly. Standing there quietly, her calm and dignified temperament was enough to bewitch anyone, let alone that face that could topple the Haoyue Kingdom.

Yan Ruxuan suddenly stood up, and Xue Xianxin also hurriedly stood up. Following her line of sight, she saw Lou Xiyan walking over slowly. With a knowing smile, waiting for Lou Xiyan to enter the flower hall, she immediately couldn't wait and said with feigned resentment: "Xiyan is back; Princess Zhaoyang has been waiting for you for a long time."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 19 =====