Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 214 Let's stir things up, let's stir things up!

Located west of the White Horse Temple, Luoyang Market was once the most prosperous commercial area in Luoyang.

The entire market occupied the area of four neighborhoods, and the neighborhoods surrounding the market were inhabited by skilled craftsmen.

However, with the upheaval in Hebei, the officials were slaughtered and the common people and scholars fled for their lives, and the area quickly fell into ruin.

Even businesses that have stayed here are struggling. The reason is simple: the demand side has been physically eliminated.

Li Shuang strolled through the city.

The neighborhood system, which was once strictly enforced in Luoyang, was rendered ineffective. Shops would often be closed, only to be knocked on by northerners, and the city officials were powerless and dared not do anything about it.

Hou Jing followed behind Li Shuang and asked:
"My lord, didn't you promise Erzhu Rong that you would stop transporting things out?"

"That's what I said!"

Hou Jing looked at Li Shuang's appearance and had doubts in his heart.

"But I get the feeling you don't want to do this."

"Nonsense, I keep my word. I will always do what I promise others, especially since the other party is my sworn brother."

"What is the lord trying to do?"

"The goods have been mostly transported, but there are still people left!"

Hou Jing gasped upon hearing this, but also felt a surge of excitement.

"I've long coveted the beautiful women in the Music and Music Bureau south of Luoyang. When shall we seize them?"

Li Shuang rolled her eyes at Hou Jing and said:
"It's not robbery, it's invitation!"

"When should we invite these beauties back?"

"Look at you, so pathetic! This time we're not looking for dancers or musicians, we're looking for skilled craftsmen from the surrounding area!"

Brewing wine, making carts, and crafting utensils—the surrounding artisans all served the Xianbei nobility and possessed exquisite skills.

Hearing Li Shuang's words, Hou Jing's interest waned considerably, and he asked:
"When should we invite them?"

"We should wait until Second Brother leaves Luoyang before making any moves, lest that brat Erzhu Zhao cause trouble."

"promise!"

As Li Shuang was speaking, an acquaintance walked towards them.

Lou Zhaojun!
Gao Huan was granted the title of County Earl, making his family quite prominent.

Luoyang was in chaos. Lou Zhaojun was accompanied by four maids and ten armored soldiers.

These armored soldiers are now all Gao Huan's retainers.

Although she was a mother of two, Lou Zhaojun was still stunningly beautiful.

In Luoyang, she did not wear the fashionable ladies' clothing popular among Luoyang women, but instead wore the northern clothing of the Xianbei women from the north.

The ban on northern clothing and language in Luoyang had lost its effectiveness by this time.

As they walked towards her, Lou Zhaojun also saw Li Shuang, who was browsing in a shop and was walking over with a child of about eight or nine years old.

"Greetings, Duke!"

Lou Zhaojun was several years older than Li Shuang, now in her late twenties. After bowing, she called to the child beside her.

"Cheng'er greets the Duke!"

Lou Zhaojun was obsessed with appearances, both for her husband and for her son.

Gao Cheng was handsome, and Lou Zhaojun doted on him, taking him everywhere she went. Her other son, Gao Yang, was of average appearance, so Lou Zhaojun didn't take him around much.

Gao Cheng looked at the man before him, showing no stage fright whatsoever. Despite his young age, he was already remarkably intelligent. He cupped his hands and said:
"Greetings, Duke!"

Li Shuang smiled.

"Gao Cheng has grown up so much already? The last time I saw him, he was just a little kid."

Lou Zhaojun smiled very happily.

"Little boys grow up quickly. What is it that you've come here to buy, Duke?"

“I was just thinking of picking out some women’s jewelry to take back to Guanzhong and give to Aru and the others.”

“Sister Aru is so lucky; the Duke always thinks of her. Unlike my husband He Liuhun, who has been so busy lately that I can’t even see him. I still have to worry about things at home. Now that we’re about to return to Jinyang, I’m thinking of bringing some gifts for my aunt and sister-in-law.”

“Then let’s go together!” Li Shuang said, and Lou Zhaojun didn’t refuse. She actually had something she wanted to tell Li Shuang.

Gao Huan's younger sister, Gao Leling, was getting old. Over the years, Lou Zhaojun had tried to introduce her to potential partners, but she always politely declined.

Lou Zhaojun knew that Gao Leling was still thinking about Li Shuang, whom he had only caught a glimpse of in Huai Shuo Town years ago.

Although Gao Huan is now a county magistrate, he is still far inferior to a duke. Even if Gao Leling marries him, she can at most become a concubine, or at worst, just a mistress.

If it were Lou Zhaojun, she naturally wouldn't have made that choice, but Gao Leling was different; she was completely devoted to him.

Just as Lou Zhaojun was pondering how to persuade Li Shuang to take a concubine, Li Shuang said:
"By the way, when is He Liuhun planning to take a concubine?"

Lou Zhaojun's face froze, her thoughts in complete disarray.

"What are you saying, Duke? When did He Liuhun start taking a concubine?"

Li Shuang's expression changed three times in just three seconds, from astonishment to stalemate, then to surprise, before returning to calm.

"Oh, I see! I was just saying it offhand."

Lou Zhaojun's face turned pale upon hearing Li Shuang's words, and her breathing became somewhat rapid.

"Does He Liuhun have another woman outside?"

"No, I was just saying that casually. I just noticed that the meritorious officials who followed my second brother south have all started taking concubines in Luoyang!"

Lou Zhaojun was not convinced and immediately became anxious.

"Duke, Aru and I are best friends. You can't help that scoundrel He Liuhun keep this from me!"

Li Shuang didn't say anything, she just sighed.

"Ugh!"

Lou Zhaojun felt dizzy upon hearing this sigh, but fortunately, she was supported by the maid behind her.

"Who is that bitch?"

"I think it was called something like that, but I can't remember right now."

Li Shuang glanced back at Hou Jing, who then stepped forward and replied:

"Zheng Dache, the Zheng family of Xingyang."

"okay, I get it!"

Hou Jing chuckled as he watched Lou Zhaojun storm off in a huff.

"This is going to be a real problem for He Liuhun."

Li Shuang said leisurely:
"Let him keep giving me advice and causing trouble in front of that brat Erzhu Zhao!"
-
Tongdi Earl's Mansion.

"He Liuhun, you heartless bastard! It's one thing to seek out women, but to go and find a widow who just lost her husband. So what if you're from the Zheng family of Xingyang? Now that you're a county magistrate, you look down on a rough woman like me from Pingcheng!"

"Madam, it's not what you think. There's nothing between her and me!"

"It's nothing. I've found out where that large sum of money went. You bought a gold hairpin. Where is it?"

"I intended to give that hairpin to my wife, but I never expected it to be lost on the way."

"Lost it? You're kidding me!"

……

The sound of jingling bells came from inside the house. Gao Huan touched his slightly swollen face and fled the house.

"Who's trying to sabotage me behind my back?"

As Gao Huan was speaking, Gao Cheng walked towards them and grabbed him.

"Tell me honestly, who has your mother seen these past few days?"

"I can tell you, but you have to tell me something first."

"What's the matter?"

"You just bought a big cart without your mother's knowledge, why is she so angry?"