Ning Dao Covered with Snow

Chapter 117: Fiancée and Maid
The inner guard went forward and knocked on the door.

After a long while, the heavy door was slowly opened.

The person who opened the door was a boy of about thirteen or fourteen years old. He was holding a lantern in his hand, wearing a coarse cloth shorts, with thick eyebrows and big eyes. Because it was too cold, he kept his neck hunched, and his nose was frozen red.

The inner guard revealed his identity to him and took out the token representing the Inner Guard Office.

The young man was a little flustered when he saw the rumored inner guards for the first time. He turned around and shouted to the doorman next to him, "Uncle Shi!"

After a while, a middle-aged man came out. He seemed to have a problem with his right leg and walked with a slight limp. He had a thick dark gray turban on his head, and most of his face was covered by the turban, leaving only a pair of dark eyes exposed.

"A Ping, what's the matter?"

The young man named Aping immediately came over and whispered to Uncle Shi about the visitor from the Inner Guard Palace.

Uncle Shi glanced at the eight people standing outside the door. He stretched out his rough, calloused hands and took the token from the inner guard.

Aping deliberately lifted up the lantern so that Uncle Shi could see the words on the token clearly.

After confirming that the token was correct, Uncle Shi returned it to the inner guard, then saluted with his hands crossed towards Si Buping on horseback.

"Your servant greets the Grand Master."

A Ping quickly put down the lantern and saluted like Uncle Shi.

Si Buping dismounted, threw the reins to the inner guard beside him, and said, "Take me to see your master."

"Yes, please follow me."

Uncle Shi asked Aping to stay and arrange the mounts for the distinguished guests, while he led Si Buping into the villa.

When A Ping saw Yan Ci Wan, Xiao Wang and Chao Lu following the inner guards, he thought they were together, so he didn't ask any questions and led them directly to the side door.

They entered Mengdie Villa through the side door and then stored the horses in the stable.

Yan Ciwan noticed that there were already seven horses in the stable and couldn't help asking, "Are there many guests at your villa?"

As Ping added hay and water to the trough, he said, "Yes, it's getting colder recently. It's going to snow soon. Our master is holding a warm-up party at home and has invited many old friends to come drink and have fun together to drive away the cold."

Yan Ciwan remembered the letter he got from A Shun, which mentioned October 30th, Mengdie Villa.

Today is October 29th, so she asked.

"Will the Warm and Cold Meeting be held tomorrow?"

Ah Ping nodded first, then asked, "How did you know?"

Yan Ciwan smiled and said, "I heard from people in the city that the owner of Mengdie Villa is going to hold a warm-up party recently, and he specially ordered thirty kilograms of mutton from Zhang's Mutton Shop."

When he heard her mention Zhang's Mutton Shop, Aping's expression became a little strange.

He buried his head in his work and responded, "Yes, my master attaches great importance to this warm and cold meeting and started preparing for it long in advance."

The four guards didn't want to waste time here, so after the horses were settled, they left the stable directly.

Yan Ciwan continued to inquire: "Among the guests invited to the Nuanhan Club this time, is there a gentleman named He?"

"There is such a person. He came with a young man named Zhou." Ah Ping paused and asked cautiously. "Why are you investigating these things? Is there something wrong with those two people?"

Yan Ciwan deliberately pretended to be unfathomable: "Don't ask questions that you shouldn't ask."

A Ping was frightened and immediately shut his mouth and dared not say anything more.

At this time, Chaolu suddenly said, "It's snowing!"

Yan Ciwan walked out of the stable and saw snowflakes falling. She couldn't help but frown. Didn't they say it would snow in two days? Why did it snow today?

It was now dark, and night had fallen. Ah Ping brushed off the grass debris on his clothes, picked up the lantern, and said, "It's cold outside. Please follow me into the house to keep warm."

He led the way in front, and Yan Ciwan, Xiao Wang and Chao Lu followed behind.

The four of them walked forward along the wind and rain corridor.

The snow fell heavier and heavier, and in just a moment, a thin layer of white snow had accumulated on the ground.

A Ping led them to Ruixue Tower, where the door was guarded by guards.

The inner guard reached out to stop A Ping and said, "The chief is talking to the owner of Chu Manor inside. No outsiders are allowed to enter."

Ah Ping hurriedly said, "These three are also from your Inner Guard Department. They should not be considered as outsiders."

Unexpectedly, the inner guard said, "These three are not from the inner guard house."

Hearing this, A Ping was shocked. He immediately turned around to look at Yan Ci Wan, Xiao Wang and Chao Lu.

Yan Ci Wan and Xiao Wang remained calm and composed, without any sense of embarrassment after their identities were revealed. Only Chao Lu looked down at the ground, tapping her toes in embarrassment.

Her face turned red, she felt so embarrassed, she was discovered.

Ah Ping felt ashamed and angry as if he had been fooled. He frowned and asked loudly, "Who are you?"

At this time, a hoarse male voice was heard from Ruixue Tower.

"Who is making noise outside?"

Ah Ping had to put away his anger and explained to the people inside through the door: "Master, three people of unknown origin have sneaked into the villa pretending to be internal guards."

"Kick them out, and don't let people of unknown origin in again."

"Yes."

Ah Ping frowned and was about to start to drive him away, but Xiao Wang spoke first: "I am Xiao Liulang from the East Capital. When I passed through Luzhou, I heard that Qibao Mountain had beautiful scenery, so I came here to enjoy it. Unexpectedly, I got lost in the mountain. On the way, I happened to meet the chief of the Inner Guards, so I went with him to your precious place. Now it is night and it is snowing, so it is inconvenient to go down the mountain. Can the owner of the manor allow us to stay here for one night?"

His voice was warm and steady, and it reached the ears of the people inside the room through the door.

After a while, the door was opened and a middle-aged man in fox fur came out. He was pale, thin, with white hair and looked sickly.

His eyes fell on Xiao Wang, and he asked in a hoarse voice, "Who are you, the current Prime Minister Xiao Gong?"

"Mr. Xiao is my grandfather."

Hearing this, the middle-aged man's attitude towards him suddenly became much more gentle. He introduced himself, "I am the owner of Mengdie Villa, Chu Wangshan. I didn't expect Xiao Liulang to come to my humble home as a guest. It is really an honor for Chu."

Xiao Wang smiled: "Master Chu, you are too polite. It is us who came here rashly and disturbed you."

Chu Wangshan turned to look at the two girls beside him and asked politely.

"May I ask who these two are?"

Yan Ciwan smiled generously: "We are Xiao Liulang's maids, my name is Ah Ci."

Zhaolu was not good at lying. She lowered her head and dared not look into the other person's eyes. She whispered, "My name is A-Lu."

At this time Si Buping also walked out of the house.

He had taken off his cloak and hood, revealing his handsome face with an exotic touch.

He just happened to hear Yan Ciwan and Chaolu introducing themselves, and he curled his lips slightly, smiling softly with an ambiguous meaning: "Isn't Chao Erniang Xiao Liulang's fiancée? When did she become a maid?"

Chu Wangshan originally had some doubts about Xiao Wang's identity, but now seeing that the Grand Leader knew Xiao Wang, it was equivalent to confirming Xiao Wang's identity, and Chu Wangshan's doubts were completely eliminated.

(End of this chapter)