spoiled brat

Chapter 61 60. Duan Ming (10)

The women went out.

You Ming sat down, lifted the tea lid, and saw that it was full of tea dregs. The cup he was given was also chipped, showing absolutely no courtesy. At the slightest provocation, all sorts of scoundrels dared to take advantage of him.

He sneered and looked at Wang Liuer: "How's it going with your practice of the Golden Lotus Steps with that Yangzhou girl these past few days?"

Wang Liuer didn't speak, but just took a few steps, her frail and pitiful appearance tickling the man's itch.

"No wonder that old man likes this kind of thing." You Ming pulled Wang Liuer onto his lap and laughed, "If he takes a liking to you, you'd better serve him well... Liuer, oh Liuer, I'm now tied to your sash, you'll repay me, won't you?"

Repayment? Wang Liuer found it absurd; she hadn't taken You Ming's money for nothing before: "Please rest assured, sir. In the past six months, which of the gentlemen you had me serve wasn't extremely satisfied with me?"

Remembering what Zhao Zhao had said, she sneered inwardly. Once she killed Xu Feng, You Ming would definitely be implicated, and that would be true repayment.

Just then, the butler returned after finishing his business and knocked on the door, saying, "Master, I've brought the girl with me."

Wang Liuer was curious about what kind of woman was outside, but when the door opened, the person behind the butler was Zhao Zhao.

Her gaudy outfit clearly indicated that she was being sent to Xu Feng's bed.

You Ming beckoned and said, "Good girl, come to your godfather!"

Zhao Zhao stood still, refusing to move forward. Youngsters are all like that, arrogant before they've experienced anything. You Ming was used to it and smiled, "Your godfather has secured a bright future for you."

Zhao Zhao's clenched fingers turned white and blue: "Is a bright future just about sending me to Lord Xu's bed?"

You Ming still smiled: "Not necessarily, it could be other adults."

Knock, knock, knock! The door was knocked on, and the steward of the You family called out from outside: "Master, the officials of the sixth and seventh ranks have all taken their seats!"

Those of lower rank arrive early; that's the rule. You Ming is a fourth-rank official, so it'll be his turn soon.

You Ming stood up, shook his robes, and stepped out the door, intending to first exchange pleasantries with his colleagues.

Before leaving, she didn't forget to tell the housekeeper: "Take the two of them and dress them up nicely again."

The steward said, "Yes, steward. Take Zhao Zhao and Wang Liu'er to the place where the musicians and dancers are staying."

The stone path was quiet, and the two couldn't continue their conversation. Before they even reached their destination, a young pimp suddenly appeared from the side, claiming to be from the music academy, representing his grandson, and wanting to say a few words to Wang Liuer.

Although the steward was reluctant, he did not refuse, only telling Wang Liuer to go and return quickly.

Wang Liuer glanced at Zhaozhao with concern, squeezed her hand reassuringly, and then turned and followed the little tortoise.

Having not returned to the music academy for several days, she couldn't guess what Steward Sun wanted to say to her. The road beneath her feet became increasingly remote and dark, hardly resembling the path to Steward Sun.

Wang Liuer stopped and stared at the familiar-looking back in front of her: "Who are you?"

The little pimp chuckled, then suddenly turned around, threw Wang Liuer into the haystack, picked up a random stone, and smashed it hard against Wang Liuer's face: "You killed my sister, and you still want to climb the social ladder by clinging to the powerful?! Keep dreaming!"

She was a young prostitute, the younger sister of the former top courtesan. Wang Liuer dodged the stone in her hand, rolling around in the haystack. She accidentally hit her head on a stone on the ground, lost consciousness, and rolled down the slope into the lake.

Under the moonlight, a few bubbles rose to the surface. The young prostitute walked to the lakeside, stood there blankly for a while, but Wang Liuer didn't rise to the surface; she had sunk to the bottom.

She raised her hand, the stone in it was covered in blood, and she threw it away as if she had seen a ghost, stumbling and running away.

-

As the last firework in the night sky faded, the glass lamp on the small table went out, and the sedan chair carried by sixteen people fell into darkness.

Looking out through a curtain of wind, the officials kneeling on both sides of the road looked like crude stone sculptures, weathered by wind and rain, and would not change even after kneeling for ten thousand years.

The lifeless and dull world before her eyes was like a bland ink painting, and she, who seemed high above everyone else, was just an ordinary color.

Xiu Ning turned around and looked at the unfinished game on the table, suddenly losing interest. She put the chess pieces back into the sandalwood box and stopped playing.

Having been confined to her home due to illness for many years, chess was the only thing that could keep her company. She loved chess more than anything, and it was rare for her to be so perfunctory. Xiu Yi asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

Xiu Ning's hands were beautiful, translucent white like jade, and when she moved them deftly, they resembled the first bloom of a night-blooming cereus at midnight. She wearily raised her hand, made a gesture, and said listlessly.

After arriving in Yunzhou, her illness worsened, and she remained in a daze. She had finally recovered somewhat and was able to come out and catch her breath, but all she saw were these same things.

Xiu Yi lowered his eyes: "Once you're done with this busy period, and the weather gets cooler, let's go horseback riding."

He began to clean up the mess; the black pieces were celadon porcelain, and the white pieces were egg white glaze.

This chess set was burned in late spring five years ago.

On the day the chess pieces were burned, willow catkins flew everywhere, cherry blossoms fell like rain, and the flying flowers under the clear sky shone with a golden-pink radiance. The two secretly rode out on horseback, dressed in simple clothes, to see their master at the porcelain kiln, an old man with a face as black as charcoal.

This chess set was a playful creation between the two of them, used for five years, and now it has developed many wear and tear and cracks. As Xiu Yi looked at it, the image of Xiu Ning from the past floated into his mind. Her smile, melting into the soft spring light, was so bright, as if it would bring peace and joy for ten thousand years.

The sedan chair trembled slightly before slowly descending. A servant announced, "Your Highness, Princess, we have arrived at the Xu residence."

Xiu Yi looked up. The Xu family mansion was brightly lit, and the golden light shone through the curtains onto his face, almost blindingly so. Two long rows of people were kneeling in front of the gate. He looked around but didn't see Xu Feng's red robe with the pheasant pattern. His expression turned cold.

The attendant, observing the situation, cleared his throat, preparing to ask Xu Feng where he was, when suddenly the gate of the Xu residence opened. First, a group of officials dressed in blue and green came out and stood on both sides, and then Xu Feng, dressed in coarse brown clothes, strolled out.

He was sixty years old, with an oily, pale complexion covered in spots, and a swollen, puffy face that resembled a moldy steamed bun. Despite his repulsive appearance, he insisted on putting on a dignified air, kneeling before the sedan chair in shabby clothes, and saying in an old, affected voice, "This humble official has a chronic leg ailment and was unable to greet you from afar. Please forgive me, Your Highness and Your Highness..."

The people from the Prince Ning's residence immediately turned pale. The attendant accompanying the sedan chair was trained by He Bi, and was even more stubborn and straightforward. Just as he was about to question Xu Feng about whether he had become senile, Xiu Yi asked calmly, "Lord Xu, when did you develop a leg ailment?"

"When I was young, I studied diligently, often kneeling outside my neighbor's window, enduring the bitter cold and scorching heat without a break. By the time I passed the imperial examination and entered officialdom, my legs were already afflicted..."

He spoke fluently, recounting his arduous journey to wealth to countless people in various ways.

"Wasn't it left in Jizhou three years ago?" Xiu Yi sneered.