Chapter 608: Chapter 607 City King’s Mansion
Meanwhile, at the City Lord’s Mansion.
Lin Rou walked out of her room and headed straight towards her sleeping quarters. She had just gone to see the City Lord and requested that he have Liu Zheng sent away.
"What are you waiting for? Get him out of here!" Lin Rou said to the guards behind her.
The guards, following orders, immediately dragged Liu Zheng out by the arms.
...
In Lin Rou’s sleeping quarters.
A maid knelt on the ground and said, "Miss Lin Rou, I have brought the person to you as you instructed!"
"Mhm, you’ve worked hard," Lin Rou replied indifferently, a strange smile on her face.
"It was no trouble," the maid shook her head and said, "I shall take my leave."
Having said that, the maid respectfully bowed and turned to leave.
Once the maid had left, Lin Rou walked over to the table, flipped it over, revealing a wooden box underneath.
Lin Rou opened the wooden box, inside lay a black pill.
Lin Rou took out the black pill, put it into her mouth, closed her eyes, and began to absorb it by circulating her energy.
Before long, she felt a warm current slowly circulating in her Dantian. The comfortable sensation made her involuntarily moan, and her eyes turned a crimson red, which looked extremely eerie.
"Ah... Ah..." Lin Rou let out a long howl towards the sky, releasing the pain in her heart.
...
Elsewhere.
In Lin Rou’s room.
A pale-faced woman dressed in white sat on the edge of the bed. Her cheeks were pallid, her lips devoid of any color, clearly suffering from excessive blood loss, which made her look ill. It was Lin Rou herself, who had suddenly fallen ill in her own sleeping quarters and fainted, alarming some of the servants in the mansion.
"Miss, how are you feeling?" a maid came over and asked with concern.
Lin Rou gestured weakly and said, "I’m fine, I’ll get better soon!"
"But you look terribly pale. Should we call for a doctor to have a look at you?" the concerned maid insisted.
"No need, I know my own body!" Lin Rou refused with a smile and continued to meditate in a lotus position.
The maid sighed helplessly and left.
...
The next morning.
A series of urgent knocks on the door sounded, and Lin Rou opened her eyes and said, "Come in."
"Thud thud..." The door opened, and three or four maids and old servants walked in. Two of them carried trays with delicate pastries and fruits, along with a pot of tea.
"Miss, it’s time for you to get up. Today is the ancestral ceremony, you cannot be late!" the lead old servant reported respectfully.
Upon hearing this, Lin Rou immediately stood up and said, "Alright, I’ll get up right now!"
After freshening up, Lin Rou changed into new clothes. She was extremely beautiful, with delicate features, a high nose bridge, sensual lips, fine skin, and her fair complexion accentuated her exquisite oval face.
"Miss Lin Rou, these are the tonics prepared by the lady. They are her favorite. Please drink them while they’re still warm!" another old servant came over and said.
Lin Rou said, "Thank you, Mother!"
The old servant replied, "Miss, you shouldn’t be so formal with the lady. Please drink the soup quickly. The lady said you should nourish yourself more."
Lin Rou nodded, took the bowl handed over by the old servant, and drank all the soup in one breath. She put down the bowl, patted her belly contentedly, and let out a satisfied burp.
"Miss, eat slowly. There’s a lot more!" the old servant said with a smile.
Lin Rou gave a small smile and said, "Thank you, Mama!"
"It’s our duty, Miss. You don’t need to be polite with us!" the head old servant said cheerfully.
At that moment, the door was pushed open again, and a maid came in and said to the lead old servant, "Wang Ma, Young Master Liu has returned!"
"Oh? How has he returned so soon?" the old servant wondered.
The maid replied, "Wang Ma, have you forgotten? Today is the day of the ancestral ceremony."
"Oh..." Wang Ma realized, and then said, "You go about your business, I will attend to Young Master Liu."
"Yes!" The maid bowed and withdrew.
Wang Ma went to Liu Zheng and said, "Young Master Liu, how have you returned? Weren’t you attending the ceremony today?"
Liu Zheng said, "Indeed, I was going to attend the ceremony today, but I can’t go and see the Miss anymore!"
"It’s not that I’m saying you are wrong! The young miss likes you so much, yet you keep avoiding her. How heartbroken she must be! You should take this opportunity to apologize to her," Wang Ma said earnestly.
"No way," Liu Zheng replied firmly, "If I go, the young miss will surely kill me! I can’t take that risk."
"But this isn’t a solution either!" Wang Ma sighed, "Are you going to avoid the young miss forever? If you truly don’t like the young miss, you should make it clear to her. Don’t be evasive like you are now; aren’t you just leading her on?"
"No!" Liu Zheng still insisted.
"Master Liu, please stop being stubborn. If you don’t go to see the young miss soon, I fear she might go mad!" Wang Ma said, and then she tried to pull Liu Zheng outside.
To her surprise, Liu Zheng swiftly dodged away.
Wang Ma lunged at air, standing there dumbfounded.
...
Liu Zheng looked at Wang Ma with an apologetic face and said, "I’m sorry, Wang Ma, I cannot accept your consolation!"
"You..." Wang Ma was at a loss for words.
"Wang Ma, please don’t be angry. I will give it careful thought. Once I have figured it out, I will go to see the young miss!" Liu Zheng said and then turned to leave the room.
Watching Liu Zheng’s retreating figure, Wang Ma stomped her foot and exclaimed, "Ah! You really drive me mad!"
...
After leaving the Lin Family, Liu Zheng did not head straight home but instead went to the General’s residence.
The General’s residence.
Liu Zheng arrived at the entrance of the General’s residence, raised his hand, and knocked on the door bell. Shortly, a servant-looking young man came running out. He seemed to be only around seventeen or eighteen years old, dressed in a brocade robe, holding a precious sword in his hand.
"Hey, what do you want?" the servant asked indifferently.
Liu Zheng said, "I’m looking for Butler Liu!"
"Oh, Butler Liu isn’t in the residence at the moment. If you have anything, come back in the afternoon!" the servant said, then turned to head back into the courtyard.
"Wait!" Liu Zheng called out.
The servant stopped in his tracks, frowned, and said, "What else do you want?"
Liu Zheng hesitated for a moment and then said, "My name is Liu Zheng. I came today because I have a matter to discuss with Butler Liu!"
The servant looked Liu Zheng up and down, his tone still unfriendly, "So, you’re Liu Zheng? Butler Liu has gone home to visit his family. You should come back some other time!"
Liu Zheng’s expression changed slightly and he asked, "How do you know that?"
The servant scoffed and said, "You don’t need to worry about that. Just remember, don’t come wailing in front of our General’s residence again, or else I can’t guarantee I won’t have you thrown out!"
"I..." Liu Zheng was at a loss for words, but he was not willing to give up and continued, "I have an urgent matter to see Butler Liu about!"
"Not available!" the servant said coldly, then turned to leave.
At that moment, a tall and imposing middle-aged man with fierce eyes walked out from inside the door. Seeing the servant, he frowned and asked, "Who is this...?"
The servant promptly bowed respectfully and said, "Butler Liu, this is Liu Zheng!"
"So, it’s Young Master Liu. What brings you here to see me?" the middle-aged man asked.
Liu Zheng stepped forward, gave a respectful fist salute, and said, "Butler Liu, I urgently request to see the General. Please grant me this favor."
"You are Master Liu?" the middle-aged man scrutinized Liu Zheng.
"Indeed!"
"What business do you have with my master?" the middle-aged man asked with a frown.
Liu Zheng thought for a moment and then said, "I heard the young miss was injured. How is her condition now?"
"Haven’t I already told you? The young miss is fine!" the middle-aged man said firmly.
"But the young miss..."
"Shut your mouth!" the middle-aged man shouted sternly.
Liu Zheng immediately fell silent, bowing his head.
"Alright, come in!" the middle-aged man said and entered the hall.
Seeing this, Liu Zheng quickly followed.
The middle-aged man sat down behind a desk and glanced at Liu Zheng coldly, "Liu Zheng, what do you want coming to my residence today? I must warn you, don’t gossip around the young miss! Otherwise..."
Liu Zheng felt a jolt of alarm and quickly said, "Butler Liu, I would never dare!"
"Hmph!" The middle-aged man let out a heavy snort and paid him no further attention.
Seeing this, Liu Zheng bit his lip in frustration.
