Ink Burns

Chapter 261 Receiving Guests (Part 2) - Two chapters combined
The Liu family received guests in the outer hall of the Second Hospital. The guests were a family of four. The person in the lead was Liu Hezhou's cousin, followed by his wife, Qiu, and then a son and a daughter. The daughter was Liu Bozhu, whom Shanyue had met before. She had willow-leaf eyebrows, cherry lips, and skin as white as solidified lard. Her single-eyelid phoenix eyes looked up, and she looked gentle and quiet. The son was older, with a round face and the same single eyelids, which made him look a bit dull.

This outer hall is the largest reception room in the inner courtyard. Although the Xue family mansion is simple, this place was carefully arranged by Old Master Xue.

The supporting beams are six old elm trees. The hall is spacious and bright, with a large rosewood carved dragon table on which gold wine vessels and glass fish sauce are placed. To the west is the side room, behind which a layer of emerald green gauze is attached to the openwork window, which is the emerald green gauze cabinet used as a partition.

Everywhere you look, there's a rustic and exquisite charm. The most remarkable feature is the large glass window facing south, with its elm wood frame inlaid with translucent white glass, ensuring that the entire outer hall is well-lit and cool in summer and warm in winter.

Liu Bozhu lowered her head and swallowed hard. She had thought that the Liu family was already wealthy enough, but who would have thought that the Xue Nan Mansion, which was known for its simplicity, had such a timeless and solemn atmosphere.

Liu Bozhu looked up and her eyes met those of her mother, Qiu Shi.

The mother and daughter were both utterly astonished.

A maidservant emerged from behind a gauze-draped cabinet and lit incense sticks.

Its aroma is also unusually mysterious.

It's not the scent of pears or flowers found in the marketplace, but rather a vivid fragrance of grass and trees.

Liu Bozhu bit her lower lip deeply with her pearly teeth, and the image of He Shi's pitiful and beautiful face inexplicably appeared in her mind: Xue Xiao's reputation as a mad dog was widespread, and even they, far away in Jiangnan, had heard of it. Everyone thought that He Shi would not live more than a hundred days after marrying Xue Xiao in the capital. Who would have thought that He Shi would inexplicably fall into Xue Xiao's lap and become the only pawn of "Qing Feng" to successfully land by Xue Xiao's side.

Such immense wealth and honor were enjoyed by that lowly woman, the He family!
Liu Bozhu was instantly filled with anger!

As Shan Yue stepped out of the green gauze curtain, her anger gradually escalated!
This woman!

The woman, dressed in coarse linen and kneeling before her uncle's coffin with hunched shoulders, was now wearing a honey-colored gauze skirt with phoenix and gold embroidery. Her hair was styled in a bun adorned with a cluster of gold and jade plum blossom and passionflower hairpins. As she adjusted her hair and raised her arm, the sleeve of her silver-striped gauze shirt slid down her arm, revealing red gold ribbons wrapped around it. As soon as she sat down, a large white parrot fluttered down and landed beside her.

Liu Bozhu looked down and saw that her silk shoes were covered with a layer of yellow sand and mud from the long journey. She almost gritted her teeth: If she had shown even the slightest intention to marry Xue Xiao back then, this peach would not have been picked by Madam He!

She even felt that she had fallen in love with Xue Xiao even before she had met him.

The woman sat comfortably in the main seat, slightly raising her chin, before a servant came to pour tea for them.

Liu Bozhu looked at her mother, Qiu Shi, in shock and anger: What right does she have to sit in the main seat! The elders should be invited to sit in the seat of honor! At least on the surface, her father and mother are also He Shi's parents!
"It's been a long time since I've seen Scholar Liu and Madam Qiu. How have you been?"

A calm and composed voice came from the head of the table.

He's voice seems to have changed somewhat?

Liu Bozhu lowered her head and turned her head to recall carefully: When she was in Songjiang Prefecture, she had heard Madam He speak. Her voice was high-pitched and thin, as if she had a breath that she could not exhale. If anyone's reply was too harsh, she would immediately burst into tears. Now, however, she was as calm and steady as an evening bell! Resolute, at ease, and full of vigor!
Liu Heping, Liu Hezhou's cousin, was dressed in a scholar's long gown, his scholarly aloofness quite evident. After taking his seat, he turned his gaze to the lady beside him: after all, this was a matter concerning women, how could a scholar like him have the face to make demands of a young girl? He had even less right to make sarcastic threats against this nominally young lady.

Qiu's voice was shrill: "Scholar Liu? Madam Qiu? You were married into our Liu family, and I was the one who provided your thirty-six loads of dowry! You've married into a powerful family with the name of a Liu family woman, and you're already so proud of yourself? You want to distance yourself from us? Go and ask the Grand Princess Jing'an if she will allow it, if she will allow it?"

Shan Yue lowered her brows and sipped her tea: "But the truth is, I often get to see His Highness in person. As for you, Madam? It's Madam Zhou from the Chang family who contacts you, isn't it?"

Qiu was speechless.

Shan Yue raised her eyes, her expression calm, her tone resolute: "When Liu Hezhou was alive, it was rare to see His Highness. Now that the Liu family has suffered misfortune, even with His Highness's mediation in the capital, the Liu family has only paid off their entire fortune and bought their place with silver. It will be difficult for them to make a comeback—with Liu Huan's help?"

Shan Yue turned her head slightly, her delicate fingers raised, and she covered her lips with a silk handkerchief, letting out a soft laugh that revealed a hint of sarcasm: "Is he up to the task?"

"Now, the only one the Liu family can rely on is me—at least I still bear the surname Liu."

"When you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. I advise the scholar and his wife to be more pragmatic. If they can tone down their aggressive attitude, we can have a proper discussion; but if the lady keeps grinning, acting like she's old and powerful, trying to take advantage of me, He Shanyue, and become my master..."

Shan Yue paused slightly: "Then you've really made a mistake. I guarantee you'll go back the way you came, and His Highness—I have my own way of handling the punishment."

With just three short sentences, Shan Yue completely extinguished Qiu Shi's aggressive attitude and attempt to use her seniority to suppress others.

Qiu was stuck in place.

However, this provoked Liu Bozhu's anger to an extreme degree.

But she dared not speak of it.

At least here, she dared not.

Shan Yue lowered her gaze and got back to the point: "Father and Mother, do you have somewhere to go this time you're in the capital?"

Shan Yue clasped her hands together, placing them lightly and solemnly on her abdomen.

Liu Bozhu suddenly realized: What method! What importance! It's just that this slut is pregnant with a bastard! And now no one dares to touch her!

The question that Shan Yue raised resonated deeply with Liu Heping and his wife.

"Qingfeng" summoning them to the capital was like a huge pie falling on their heads: the Liu family's ancestral fields, sacrificial fields, ancestral residence, and banks had all been seized and sealed off; even the ancestral hall had been ransacked. These descendants, aside from their lives and some worthless titles, were left with nothing; decades of hard work had all turned to ashes. If the direct descendants of the Liu family were in such dire straits, how much better off could their collateral branches back home be? Liu Heping had originally stayed in his hometown to help manage the ancestral business; now that it was all gone, what could he do?

Just when they were worrying about making a living, "Qingfeng" sent a letter. It was a letter from Madam Zhou of the Chang family, saying that Liu, who had married Xue Xiao, was pregnant and wanted her parents to come to the capital to take care of her. Of course, this was the official reason. In reality, the night before they went to the capital, Steward Fu from the Grand Princess Jing'an's mansion came to the official post station to see them and told them to settle down in the Xue family and keep an eye on He's every word and action. If anything was inappropriate, they should report it immediately.

The guess is that Madam He is becoming increasingly favored by men, and her heart is gradually becoming too big for her britches, so someone needs to keep an eye on her.

Qiu Shi thought it through in her mind, but her eyes started darting around: He Shi was right. They were all relying on her now. If He Shi were to suffer a disaster, or if He Shi were to completely despise them, they would be like grasshoppers in autumn, unable to even crawl up. But if they didn't do as "Qing Feng" said, they wouldn't have a good outcome either.
The best course of action is to stay put and observe the situation before making any further plans.

Having made up her mind, Qiu Shi spoke with a sob in her voice: "Where can we go? Our master's family is in dire straits, and those of us who depend on them for food and drink are even more desperate. Our sons and daughters are all of marriageable age, so rather than clinging to our homeland, we should come out and look for opportunities—"

Qiu paused, then added, "Let's see if the opportunity given by the son-in-law is good, or if we can win the favor of the Grand Princess Jing'an—after all, people can't starve to death, can they?!"

Upon hearing this, Shan Yue smiled and said, "Mother has always been a smart woman."

Seeing that Shan Yue understood, Qiu Shi turned around with delight and raised an eyebrow at Liu Heping. "Then let's stay at your residence for now," Shan Yue said with a smile. "Opportunities are always something to be seen slowly. People are something to be understood gradually. You can't expect to get along with someone overnight. Father is a successful candidate in the imperial examinations, so of course he and my brother should stay in the outer courtyard where we entertain distinguished guests. Mother and sister can stay in Qingfengzhai in the inner courtyard, which is close to my place and easy to take care of. As for the stewards and servants, let them go to the villa in the suburbs of the capital to do some work. Let's keep one or two capable maids and servants. Masters have never liked to serve others. Even I only have one servant and two maids. I'll send one or two more capable ones to Mother and sister's side. They can take care of all their food, clothing, and daily necessities, and Mother and sister can just enjoy themselves."

The tone was inquiring, but Qiu knew they couldn't refuse.

Fortunately, she didn't bring many servants with her to the capital. Even if He's original intention was to have someone watch over them, that was fine too—having servants to serve and take care of them was good, wasn't it?

Mr. Qiu approved of all the arrangements.

A series of "tap-tap" footsteps sounded from outside.

The south-facing glazed window was wide open, and a man dressed in a dark indigo crepe long gown came from the north. He walked hurriedly, and after a flash, he had already gone around the screen and entered the room, his sharp eyes sweeping across the room.

For some reason, Liu Heping immediately got up.

Behind them, Qiu and her two children followed suit, bowing as well.

Shan Yue remained seated, her right hand casually resting on the table, her left hand smoothing her temples. Her expression was calm and composed, but she was inwardly somewhat alarmed: Hadn't she told Xue Xiao that someone was coming? Hadn't he gone to the West Mountain camp early this morning?
"Shanyue, is this your son-in-law, Lieutenant General Xue?" Liu Heping stared at Xue Xiao, speaking in a choked voice.

Shan Yue smiled and said, "Yes—"

Liu Heping's voice immediately became somewhat hurried: "Why are you being so formal? When a husband returns home, how can a wife not bow to greet him? But you, sitting as still as Mount Tai, do you expect your husband to help you up?"

Power.

It's truly the best aphrodisiac.

Liu Heping, who had been mute all morning, could speak again.

Even if they come from different camps, they will still grovel before the power behind the other.

Shan Yue turned her body slightly to the side, a smile on her lips, and leaned on the small table with one hand as she was about to stand up.

Before she could speak, Xue Xiao strode over and immediately put his large hand on Shan Yue's waist. His thick eyebrows and deep eyes were like the peaks of a mountain range. He was so close to her, yet his posture was incredibly intimate: "What does it matter whether you get up or not?"

My palms are very hot, like fire.

Shan Yue lifted her eyelids, revealing a hint of speechlessness: whether Liu Bozhu and that square-faced member of the Liu family could find an opportunity was another matter, but this fellow was quite adept at finding opportunities. Holding hands, bending over, and sticking close were all done smoothly, showing no sign of the embarrassment of being curled up in the warm pavilion to sleep.

Xue Xiao received Shan Yue's gaze.

Even touching it once is a bonus, touching it twice is a real treat.

Adhering to this idea, Xue Xiao shamelessly put his arm around her waist for a while before reluctantly letting go. He turned around, his expression as cold and stern as usual: "I heard that it is rare for Lord Taishan to come to the capital. Is there a place for him to stay?"

Let's go back to the question we just discussed.

Liu Heping turned his gaze to Shan Yue.

Shan Yue then repeated the arrangements she had just made.

After a moment of contemplation, Xue Xiao nodded without any objection, but only said one thing: "Although the crimes of the Liu family were investigated by my Censorate, one thing is one thing. Shan Yue and you gentlemen are related by kinship, and nothing else is involved."

To hear such humane words from this supposedly mad dog, Liu Heping was astonished and repeatedly bowed in agreement.

After exchanging pleasantries about the unfinished business at Xue Xiao's Xishan camp, Xue Xiao took his leave, followed closely by Liu Heping and his family, who settled into their lodgings.

Huang Zhi bent down, lowered her voice, and said softly, "It seems that this family of four is not exactly loyal to that princess."

Of course, there's no loyalty involved.

Liu Heping's family had no chance of getting close to "Qingfeng" at all. They only followed orders and never received any real benefits. When Jing'an asked them to monitor her, they weighed whether it was more profitable to work with her or to work with Jing'an, or whether they could please both sides and not offend either.
This mindset meant that they couldn't easily threaten her.

"Should we still try to drive them away?" Huang Zhi asked softly.

of course yes.

The likelihood of them threatening her is low, but certainly not zero.

Shan Yue's expression says it all.

Huang Zhi then hesitated, saying, "If the enemy doesn't move, we can't make any moves either. We can't just kick your 'parents' out of the mansion for no reason, can we?"

"Who said they won't move?" Shan Yue rolled up the wooden blinds in front of the glass window little by little with one hand. The water outside the mirror lake rippled. She looked at the scenery outside the window with a cold and indifferent gaze.

Outside the window, Liu Bozhu lowered her head, seemingly talking to Qiu Tao.

"Liu Heping and Qiu Shi, a couple who value moderation and stability, have a very clear understanding of things. Liu Bozhu, however, is different." Shan Yue gently stroked the back of her left hand, where the scar from Liu Bozhu's scalding was still faintly visible: "Look, what is Liu Bozhu looking at?"

Huang Zhi followed Shan Yue's gaze.

Liu Bozhu appeared to be talking to Qiu Tao, but in reality, her eyes were glued to Xue Xiao, who was being held back by Liu Heping in the corridor, through the dense bushes and leaves and through the overlapping gaps.

Their gazes were intense, intertwined with a love that seemed to have been brewing for a long time.

She can fall in love with someone even though she has never met them.

So, once she actually saw him, Xue Xiao's broad shoulders, narrow waist, straight long legs, and deep, cold face, along with the imposing aura of a high-ranking official who had long been in a high position, would naturally bring Liu Bozhu's feelings of resentment, anger, and jealousy to their peak.