Chapter 136 A little fat girl, Liao Qing’er
At 9:45 p.m., in the main hall of Xin Rong Hall which was the outer yard of the East Yard (of Luo’s Mansion).
Duan Xiaolou flew back and forth, but he couldn’t find He Danggui who might commit suicide for love. In desperation, he planned to go back to Xin Rong Hall first and ask for more clues before continuing to find. But when he passed by the flowers at the gate of the hall, he found that the Madam Luo was unconscious there. Then he took her back to the hall and entrusted her to others for care. He was more restless when he backed to the hall and heard Mammy Tang say “the real course of event”. He Danggui and Madam Luo were taken away by the assassin. But now he only found Madam Luo. Was it possible that...He Danggui had been killed?
When he was going to find He Danggui again, Guan Yun stopped him and said, “Brother Xiaolou, your hand is hurt. If you don’t bind it up and let it bleed, your hands will be crippled!”
Duan Xiaolou was no time to answer her and rushed out quickly like a bull. Guan Yun was very worried, so she hugged him from the back and said earnestly, “I know you are an obliging man and don’t want any girl to suffer or be killed. But Miss He has been taken away for a long time, and now you have only found Madam Luo, so it’s self-evident what happened. Even if you want to help Luo’s Mansion find her corpse, please go after I bind up your wound, okay? And I saw that the Four Guards of Luo’s Mansion have sent people to search. Maybe when I bind up your wound, some news will come here!”
When Duan Xiaolou heard the word “corpse”, he felt like being struck by lightning, which made him lose his soul. He repeated in a low voice, “Her...corpse...”
Guan Yun was extremely puzzled and asked, “Brother Xiaolou, why do you so care about Miss He? Didn’t you just know her?” Then she tore a clean silk handkerchief to bind up his wound and told him with a low voice, “Brother Xiaolou, you don’t have to be sad since you can’t help Luo’s Mansion and save He Danggui. (When I was in the toilet,) I heard Second Miss say that Third Miss, He Danggui, isn’t really a lady of Luo’s Mansion, but a dispensable person in Luo’s Mansion. Even if you can’t help this thing, they won’t blame you...”
Duan Xiaolou was still like losing his soul, repeating the word “corpse” in his heart. Why was this happening? He had just come to Luo’s Mansion. He hadn’t shared confidences with her alone and hadn’t told her his lovesickness. Last time she gave the farewell in Taoist temple, and she wished him peace and told him to take good care of himself all the way. He didn’t expect it meant that they would part forever. And when he heard Guan Yun doubt that he cared too much about this matter, he was even more bitter. Yes, he “just knew” He Danggui, so he couldn’t care too much about her...
On the other side, Madam Luo woke up slowly after Mammy Tang gave Madam Luo a bowl of Wolfberry Tea with Eight Treasures. Peng Jian ran to her at once and asked, “Madam, why did you faint outside the hall? And where is the Third Sister?”
Madam Luo was in a daze for a moment. Then she kept her eyes open and said, “Yi?! She didn’t come back, did she? She must have been taken away by the man!” She could only remember that the assassin had captured her and her granddaughter with each of his hands and rushed out of the door. After he went out, he shouted in a deep voice and then went up into the sky, taking them both up. At that time, she felt weak all over and fainted. Then she didn’t know anything. Now she woke up in the hall, but her granddaughter didn’t come back. So, her granddaughter must have been taken by the assassin as a hostage instead of her!
Peng Jian realized that he couldn’t find any more clues from Madam Luo, so he stomped his feet and ran out to find the Third Sister. Seeing this, Peng Shi hurriedly stopped him at once and said calmly, “You have known how powerful the man is. What can you do if you go? It’s better to keep calm and wait here.”
Peng Jian looked at his brother resentfully and said, “You just asked me to keep calm and be patient. You told me to wait for Earl Baoding, and then we could attack inside and outside to rescue the hostage. If you hadn’t said that, I would not have done nothing. It’s your fault to make the Third Sister to be a hostage!”
Peng Shi said coldly, “Stop acting like a child with your bad temper. This time mother left you to me and let me look after you, so I can’t allow you to do something stupid. Whatever you want to blame me, you shouldn’t go.”
When they were deadlocked, Peng Jian tilted his head and saw Meng Xuan was sitting at the tea table, fiddling with those tea sets. Peng Jian felt very angry. He pointed at his nose and scolded, “Meng Xuan, I didn’t expect that you are so cold-blooded. Two persons were taken away in front of you, and you didn’t do anything. Now you are still drinking tea there. Why don’t you drink yourself to death!”
But Meng Xuan didn’t even look at him. He was still looking down to smell the tea canister or lighting the white porcelain tea-cup against the light, as if he was appreciated these beautiful porcelains.
Peng Shi was afraid that his brother would say more sharp words, so he dragged Peng Jian to the other end of the hall. Even if Peng Jian couldn’t have a good relationship with the son of Earl Baoding, he couldn’t offend Childe Meng.
Before they went to Yangzhou City, their father specially told them that President Bai of Chengxu Academy was his old friend, so that if they had difficulties, they could ask him for help. And their father said that he transferred them to Chengxu Academy to study this time. On the one hand, Prince Zhangsun was very satisfied with them and would like to invite them to study in the Eastern Palace next year. He hoped that they would hone their skills before going to there and would make great progress in officialdom, writing and kung fu. On the other hand, their grandfather wanted them to live in Yangzhou City for about a year. If they met Senior Lord Luo, they could take the opportunity to learn some skills of San Qing Acupuncture and the way of doing things for officials.
Peng Shi was very adored Senior Lord Luo, so he immediately agreed to go to Yangzhou City to study at Chengxu Academy. But Peng Jian was quite interested in Taoist Sage, Bai Yangbai. As early as half a month ago, he heard that Taoist Sage would be a teacher at Chengxu Academy, but he couldn’t go there and listened to the teachings of Taoist Sage. Now he heard the good news of transferring, he agreed certainly. So, they came to Yangzhou City and lived in Luo’s Mansion.
On that day, their mother sent them to East Yard (of Luo’s Mansion). Before returning to the capital, she specially told them that there were many Misses living in the East Yard and the West Yard, and there were 4 or 5 Misses who were at the same age of them, so she asked them not to play with them on weekdays. If they played close with them, not only would some people gossip, but also they would be related by marriage with the people of the East Yard and the West Yard.
And Peng Jian felt strange and asked, “Why can’t we get married with the people of the East Yard and the West Yard?” Their mother shook her head without answer. Peng Jian was quite puzzled by this behavior.
Peng Shi also wondered in his heart, “The elders like choosing a bride or groom from relatives. My mother’s surname is also Luo. Why does she object to finding a daughter-in-law from Luo’s Family? Besides, Luo’s Mansion is the old aristocrat, and the family’s position is high. They have strict family rules, so their Misses will be excellent.” Of course, Peng Shi didn’t ask anything. Since their mother told them so, there must be her reason. So, Peng Shi solemnly promised for his mother that he must stay brother away from the Misses of Luo’s Mansion. Then their mother returned to the capital with pleasure.
Now, seeing his brother who was so anxious to beat the wall repeatedly for the Third Sister of East Yard, Peng Shi couldn’t help being annoyed. Seeing that he was very impetuous, Peng Shi thought, “Does he like that girl? It’s not good. I must reprimand him severely after returning to the room in the evening, and let him put this idea off immediately! No matter whether that girl can back alive or not, I can’t let my brother like her!”
Since Peng Shi lived in Luo’s Mansion these days, he heard the people in the mansion said that the Third Sister was the daughter of the younger aunt of East Yard, and she was the daughter of the concubine who was got run out of the door by her family. Now she was fostered in the East Yard. When she was a child, she was also fostered in the farm for a few years. Such a girl who had the bad identity would never have chance to go in Peng’s Family. And the last time when he saw her at Tu’er Town, her sharp words made his brother be annoyed and flushed. Today, when they saw her at dinner, she seemed to have changed her personality, hanging her head and not speaking for the most of the time, as if she was very cute and docile. If he hadn’t been impressed with her before, he wouldn’t have found that she was pretending.
The two siblings of Guan’s Family and Master Duan came late just now. When they needed to take their seats, Madam Luo told her to give up her seat to Third Miss of Guan’s Family. And the servants of Luo’s Mansion came up and directly took away all the dishes in front of her after hearing Madam Luo’s words. One of the elderly woman servants went too far. As soon as He Danggui just stood up, she began to wipe the stool quickly which she had sat. Under the watchful eyes of the people, how embarrassing and humiliating it was. For ordinary girls, no matter how cheeky or determined they are, they would be angry, cry, or leave the seat for an excuse to cry in a place where no one was.
However, the Third Sister even didn’t lift her eyelids, and there was a faint smile on the corner of her lips. When Madam Luo let her salute to the guests, she was obedient to do; When Madam Luo was busy to invite the guests to leave her out, she was obedient to return to the end seat which near the door, and silently drunk a cup of the leftover tea. How determined and shrewd she was! If this girl had not been sure that there would be a way to make up for today’s humiliation in the future, how could she have suffered so calmly?
In a word, Peng Shi firmly believed that the Third Sister was a scourge, which would cause trouble. So, he wouldn’t let his brother make friends with her and even tell less with her. In addition, the disgusting Second Miss Luo not only fell into the water, pretending to be dizzy and deceiving him to save her, but also looked at him with the eyes of anthomaniac from time to time. Those annoyed him so much. And he was even more convinced of the truth of his mother’s words that they could not play with Misses of Luo’s Mansion on weekdays.
In the hall, just when Peng Shi rejoiced, Peng Jian beat the wall, Meng Xuan sat in meditation, Duan Xiaolou was distracted, Madam Luo cried that Yi lived a short life, a manservant who was about 15 or 16 years old and in blue clothes ran into the hall breathlessly. After holding the door frame and taking a breath, he shouted loudly.
“Third Miss asked me to tell Madam Luo that she had been rescued now and didn’t hurt at all. However, since she was so frightened that she went back to Tao Yao Yard to rest, she did not come to see Madam Luo.”
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“Are you Liao Qing’er? Liao Zhiyuan’s sister?!” Gao Jue’s eyebrows were twisted together, and he stared at the girl in purple. Though she was the best dressed of the 5 girls with the most complacent and haughty expression, yet...how could she be the Lynx’s sister?
The girl in purple raised her eyebrows and kept her chin up. She said, “Of course, who are you?” A long ponytail at the back of her head, swinging smartly with her movements.
Gao Jue still refused to believe her words, so he turned to see the four girls dressed like maids. 2 of them looked bright and beautiful with fair skin. Gao Jue thought of Liao Zhiyuan once said that his sister was very cunning, so Gao Jue suspected that the girl changed maid’s clothes to camouflage and avoid Liao’s Family sending people to take her home. Thinking of this, Gao Jue looked at the 2 bright and beautiful girls and snapped, “One of you is Liao Qing’er, right?”
Manbing and Neiding shook their hands and said unanimously, “We are the Man-Nei combination, and we are the maids of our Miss!” Jinjia and Yinyi also said, “She is really our Miss Qing!”
Gao Jue turned back to see the girl in purple and reluctantly accepted the fact that she was Liao Zhiyuan’s sister. This girl looked about 16 years old, and she was the highest of these girls. On the whole, she looked round –round head, round face, round eyes, round nose, round body, and round fists. Waving her fists up and down with hostility, she shouted, “Why are you looking for me? Are you the spy sent by my brother?”
No matter he looked at the girl horizontally, vertically or sideways, she was round and chubby. Although she had beautiful features and good looks, Gao Jue could not connect her with Liao Zhiyuan’s description that she was a beautiful girl with a large amount of money and no kung fu, like a lamb to be slaughtered in the eyes of brigands. It was strange. Liao Zhiyuan was also good-looking and had been practicing kung fu throughout the year. How could he have such a fruity sister? And Liao Zhiyuan said that his sister only brought one maid. Why were there 4 maids?
But these were secondary questions. The most important of which was – “I heard that there is a good wine in your family. And your brother said it was made by you. Is this true?” Gao Jue condescendingly stared at her and asked.
Liao Qing’er blinked her round eyes with a shrewd expression and said, “It turns out that you are really the spy sent by my brother. Are you going to take me home now? No, I will not go back! What benefits did my brother give you? How about I hire you to help me with double the benefits?”
“Can you make the wine with sandalwood?” Gao Jue repeated the question.
Liao Qing’er held up her chin with her chubby fingers and said, “It turns out that you want that kind of wine. Yes, the distilled champagne is made by me, but it is very troublesome. So, you may have to wait for one or 2 months... Hey! Tall man, what do you want to do?” She was surprised to see that he took out a large roll of rope from his sleeves. Then he went forward and tied up her hands. After thinking for a while, he tied up the 4 little maids, Jia, Yi, Bing and Ding, who had already been stunned. Because the rope was very long, the 5 people looked like a string of black fungus.
Gao Jue led one end of the rope and announced to them, “I’m going to take you back to Liao’s Family in the capital now. You’d better be obedient and don’t talk about anything. If you dare to have a bit of disobedience, the end of you will like this viper!” Then he threw the soft viper at their feet.
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om