Chapter 577

"Heh, you're quite a pitiful little thing," the middle-aged steward said with a smile. "Come to my private quarters later. Since you're new, there are many rules in this manor; I'll give you some pointers on them."

"So you don't lose your way and break the rules later on."

Hong Chan nodded slightly: "This servant understands."

The middle-aged steward tasted the steamed fish Hong Chan was carrying, then waved his hand: "Go in. Watch your step, don't make any mistakes."

Hong Chan acknowledged him and stepped into the main hall.

Inside the hall, Yuan Kui, dressed in black official robes, was sitting behind a low table.

The maid carrying the dishes paused before the table.

There were two other maids serving beside Yuan Kui; whenever a dish was placed on the table before him, the two maids would pick up a portion for Yuan Kui to taste.

Yuan Kui would keep the dishes he was satisfied with, and wave away those he was not.

In the main hall, besides Yuan Kui, there was also Yuan Shu, accompanied by a middle-aged man in purple robes.

The two stood a few meters away from Yuan Kui.

Yuan Shu was absent-minded, his eyes scanning up and down over the many maids.

The middle-aged man in purple robes, however, kept his body slightly hunched, his expression and attitude extremely respectful.

Hong Chan, carrying the steamed fish, lowered her eyes as she reached the table in front of Yuan Kui and placed the fish from the tray onto the table.

A maid gently picked up a piece and placed it into Yuan Kui's mouth.

After tasting it, Yuan Kui nodded slightly to indicate it should stay.

"So, that Ma Yuanyi has already entered Luoyang, has he?"

After swallowing the fish, Yuan Kui spoke softly.

The middle-aged man in purple robes standing beside Yuan Shu immediately nodded: "Answering the Minister, Ma Yuanyi entered Luoyang this morning."

Yuan Kui nodded and said: "And he brought the Taiping Heavenly Book with him?"

The man in purple robes nodded immediately: "Yes, my lord. Zhang Jiao had Ma Yuanyi carry the Taiping Heavenly Book into Luoyang; the book should be on his person right now."

"It's just that Ma Yuanyi treats the Taiping Heavenly Book as a precious treasure; I haven't seen where he has hidden it along the way."

"Hmm."

Yuan Kui nodded slightly and then glanced at Yuan Shu: "Take Tang Zhou down first. As for that Ma Yuanyi, take some men from the Tiger Bravery Army and capture him immediately tonight. Remember, do not let a single person escape."

Yuan Shu nodded: "Understood, Uncle."

Subsequently, Yuan Kui looked at Tang Zhou and said: "You should know what to say tomorrow."

"If you speak nonsense, you should understand the consequences."

"After this is over, you will receive a large sum of money and grain, and then you can take your family to wherever you wish to go."

Tang Zhou immediately expressed his endless gratitude: "This lowly one understands, this lowly one understands."

"This lowly one will certainly follow the lord's instructions..."

"Hmm?" Yuan Kui frowned, cutting Tang Zhou off directly: "Not my instructions—Zhang Jiao's."

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Tang Zhou hurriedly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said: "Yes, Zhang Jiao, it is Zhang Jiao."

Yuan Kui waved his hand: "Fine, go first. Someone will make arrangements for you when the time comes."

Tang Zhou bowed and withdrew, walking toward the outside of the hall.

As he stepped out of the main hall's gate, he happened to walk out at the same time as the maid Hong Chan.

Tang Zhou, who had looked up inadvertently, saw the little maid beside him looking at him, so he smiled and nodded.

After Tang Zhou left, Yuan Kui finished his meal.

He had only taken a bite or two of most of the dishes.

"Uncle, what exactly is that Taiping Heavenly Book? What use is it to us?"

Yuan Shu asked Yuan Kui, somewhat puzzled: "They all say that Taiping Heavenly Book is an evil book created by Zhang Jiao."

Yuan Kui lifted his eyes, which were like those of an old wolf, and glanced at Yuan Shu.

An evil book, is it?

Sometimes, the utility of an evil book is even greater.

The real fear would be if it weren't an evil book.

"Just do as you are told. But remember, not a single person beside Ma Yuanyi can be allowed to escape. Do you hear me clearly?" Yuan Kui said.

Yuan Shu nodded hurriedly: "Don't worry, Uncle, this little matter is no problem."

The rear residence of the Minister's manor.

Having finished her busy work at noon, Hong Chan walked toward the rear gate of the manor.

Upon reaching the gate of the rear residence, her path was blocked by two guards.

"Where are you going? Without a pass, no one is allowed to leave the manor at will. Did no one tell you the rules when you entered the manor?" The guard looked at the maid Hong Chan with a cold face.

Hong Chan bowed slightly and offered a salute: "It is like this, two big brothers. The head steward said to have this servant come to him later so he could give this servant pointers on the rules."

"This servant is new here and fears losing decorum, so I was preparing to go out to get a small gift for the head steward."

"I ask the two big brothers to please accommodate me."

Upon hearing the maid Hong Chan say she was going to the head steward's place later, the guards' eyes immediately turned lewd.

"Oh, so that's how it is. Alright then, go ahead."

The guard opened the small gate reserved for servants to go out.

As Hong Chan walked out of the small gate, the two guards closed it again, then looked at each other and leered.

"This little girl probably doesn't know what 'rules' the head steward is talking about, haha."

"Hehe, I'm envious. If we could ever make it to the position of head steward, wouldn't the little maids in this manor be ours to pick and choose?"

Outside the manor.

After leaving the Minister's manor, Hong Chan headed straight for the East Market in Luoyang.

After circling the East Market for nearly half an hour, Hong Chan walked into a tailor shop.

When she emerged from the tailor shop again, Hong Chan was wearing a black robe, and she had exited through the shop's back door.

After walking for a while longer, Hong Chan passed through two alleys and arrived at a shop selling brushes, ink, inkstones, and paper, entering through the back door.

"Shopkeeper, do you have white paper produced in Bingzhou?" Hong Chan asked the proprietor.

The proprietor looked up at Hong Chan, then nodded slightly and took out a sheet of white paper.

"Try it and see. This is top-quality white paper."

Hong Chan didn't waste words; she picked up the brush and ink nearby and began to write on the white paper.

But what she wrote were not small seal characters, but some crooked symbols.

After finishing, Hong Chan handed it to the proprietor, then pulled up the black hood of her cloak and left through the back of the shop. ===== CHAPTER 579 =====