Chapter 23: Yang Liuqing Arrived

  The rooster crowed outside, and Hu Zhongren woke up to the sweet scent of his wife. He stretched his waist and yawned, looking around to find that she was gone. The spring dream had vanished, leaving no trace of her. Xiao Lian had left him without a word. He sat up, cleared his throat, and immediately, Hu Dong entered with a basin of water. Hu Dong smiled as he helped Hu Zhongren wash his face and tidy up. As Hu Zhongren combed his hair in front of the mirror, Hu Dong's smile never faded. Hu Zhongren looked at him suspiciously: "You dog slave, did you drink my wife's urine last night? You're still smiling!" In fact, he knew why Hu Dong was smiling - as his personal servant, Hu Dong knew all about his affairs. Hu Dong quickly turned around and walked out, still smiling, and Hu Zhongren kicked him lightly on the buttocks: "You think you can laugh at me?"

  "Hu Dong said: 'Spare my life, young master! I really couldn't help it. Thinking about how you played the flute last night and then met your match with the high mountain and flowing water, you got that little girl so confused that she ended up in your bed. It's hilarious! You've known Xiaolian since she was 10 years old and entered our Hu family, but why did you only think of taking her in yesterday? Is it because Ninth Madame is seriously ill and you're using Xiaolian as a substitute, or do you really have some feelings for her?' At this time, Hu Dong wasn't afraid of Hu Shao at all, because he knew his master too well. His master couldn't sleep without women, and with women, he still couldn't sleep. If his desires weren't satisfied, he would be like a firework that had been lit - one touch and it would explode. But if his desires were satisfied, even if someone was talking nonsense, he wouldn't care. At this time, the master's heart was filled with joy."

  "I've only just discovered Xiao Lian's beauty, and I've only just discovered the benefits of having Xiao Lian around! So, has your curiosity been satisfied?" Hu Zhongren leaned his body on the bed, also looking at Hu Dong with a slanted gaze. Hu Dong immediately understood what he should do next. But he didn't dare to be presumptuous, as there was a clear distinction between master and servant. If he were to provoke his master, who knows where he would end up suffering? So, he smiled obsequiously: "I'm satisfied, very satisfied! Where would you like your breakfast served, young master?"

  "What do you think?" Hu Zhongren said with a crooked mouth and a hissing sound.

  "Let's go and have a meal at Nourishing Life Hall." Hu Dong walked up to Hu Zhongren, supported him by the arm, "Sir, please!"

  Two people walked out of the Youyong Residence, following the small path along the river to Nourishing Life Hall. Looking east at the lake surface, white lotus flowers were budding, and dew drops rolled on the green leaves, shining brightly under the morning sun's rays. Feeling refreshed, Hu Zhongren recalled last night's beauty with Xiaolian, his mood even more exhilarated. With hands clasped behind his back, he strode quickly towards Nourishing Life Hall.

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  Yingying woke up and was surprised to find herself sleeping in the east house. She remembered that she had fallen asleep on the floor of the study, but how did she end up in the east house? Looking around, she saw Miss Liu Qingqing still fast asleep beside her. Could it be that Miss Liu had carried her over here? It didn't seem possible. But seeing Miss Liu sleeping so soundly, she didn't want to disturb her by asking questions. So she went to the study and found Xiaolian lying on the desk, fast asleep. She wondered if maybe Xiaolian was the one who had done it, but she wasn't sure. Just as she was puzzling over this, the cook came in to ask for instructions about breakfast. Yingying looked at Miss Liu, who didn't seem to have any special requests, and said that a simple meal of plain porridge and small dishes would be fine, just make the porridge a bit softer. Everything else could be done as usual. The only thing she wasn't sure about was whether Master Hu would come over to eat or not?

  The old woman smiled and said, "I came over to tell the Ninth Lady that Hu Shao has returned and we'll have dinner together. We've already sent someone to prepare it." Yingying said, "Then thank you, Mother." The old woman smiled and said it was no trouble, and soon brought over some breakfast. Yingying remembered that Hu Shao was coming, so she quickly woke up Xiaolian and told her to tidy up the room, make the bed, and put away the bedding. Xiaolian opened her sleepy eyes, still feeling a bit drowsy after staying in Hu Shao's secluded residence. She thought it would be better to return to the side of Ninth Lady at Nourishing Life Hall. After waiting for Hu Zhongren to fall asleep, she quietly moved Hu Shao's arm away and took up the lantern again, returning to Nourishing Life Hall. She found that Yingying and the young lady had gone to sleep in the eastern wing, so she leaned against the table and dozed off for a bit. It seemed like she had just fallen asleep when it was already daylight.

  When Hu Zhongren entered the Nourishing Hall, he saw that the bowls and chopsticks were already laid out, waiting for the food to be served. Liu Qingqing sat at the dinner table with a clear mind and fresh spirit, just like a well-behaved student. She had no choice but to follow the strict family rules, which required her to wash her hands before meals and rinse her mouth afterwards. Although she was a bit mischievous, the power of habit was formidable, and even when she wasn't very hungry, she still maintained her old habits. Xiaolian and Yanyan stood beside the table, and as soon as they saw Hu Shao arrive, they began to serve dishes for Hu Shao and Jiu Furen.

  Liu Qingqing said: "Xiaolian, Yingying, you two sit down too. There's no one else here and it's just breakfast, so let's eat together, okay?" These few words made Hu Zhongren feel like she was already fully recovered. Although there were differences between master and servant, Xiaolian was a junior concubine and Yingying was a personal maid, so eating together wasn't out of the question. Seeing both people looking at her, she couldn't help but smile: "Yes, there's no one else here, let's just sit down and eat!"

  Four people sat at the four sides, Hu Zhongren looked at Xiaolian, Xiaolian was shy and infinite, hurriedly lowered her head, only to eat plain porridge, not even daring to pick up any dishes. Hu Zhongren personally picked a dish for Xiaolian and said: "Eat more, supplement yourself, you see how thin you've become."

  Xiao Lian anxiously said: "Thank you, Mr. Hu, for your concern, I'll handle it myself."

  "If you came yourself, I wouldn't have to serve you." Hu Zhongren served Xiaolian another dish before starting to eat himself. Liu Qingqing seemed oblivious, following her mother's rules of not speaking while eating or sleeping, she took it to the extreme. Yingying felt a bit unhappy in her heart, this Hu Shao didn't even serve his wife, but instead served Xiaolian, where did he put his wife? But she couldn't show it on her face, so she vented her anger by serving more dishes to his wife, giving her many servings. Xiaolian seemed to sense Yingying's anger and lowered her head even further, not finishing her meal before putting down her bowl and chopsticks, wanting to leave. Hu Zhongren was completely unaware of the tension between them, holding Xiaolian's hand under the table, making Xiaolian even more flustered, unable to move or stay. Yingying seemed to understand that Hu Zhongren was behind it all, her chubby face red with anger, but afraid of revealing her emotions to Hu Shao, seeing her mistress seemingly uncaring, she became even angrier, truly a useless person, and could only say in a rough tone: "You two eat slowly, I'm full." She left the Nourishing Hall, resentful, and went for a walk at the mountain gate. But then she saw Yang Liuqing and Yan Yan riding horses towards her, Yang Liuqing said: "Yingying, why so early? Where are you going?" Yingying saw Yang Liuqing and Yan Yan, feeling like she had seen family members, originally wanting to tell them about her grievances, but thinking that Yang Liuqing was Hu Shao's cousin, wouldn't take her side, forcing a smile, said: "Nothing, just ate breakfast and feel a bit bloated, came out for some fresh air." In her heart, she thought: "It's all because of your dead cousin, flirting with Xiaolian, intentionally making my mistress ill."

  Although Yang Liuqing felt that Yingying was a bit strange, she was worried about the situation of Liu Qing and didn't ask much. She handed over the reins to the doorman and entered the Hong Cuishan Villa first. Yingying and Yanyan walked behind, and Yanyan also noticed that Yingying was unhappy, so she asked: "What's wrong? Tell your sister quickly, is someone bullying you?"

  Yingying said: "No one bullied me, someone bullied Miss."

  Swallow said: "Miss is now Hu Shao's heart's desire, who dares to make a move on the head of Tai Sui Ye?"

  "It's that Hu Shao, with his fake eyebrows and eight trigrams, who said he didn't like Xiaolian but only had eyes for Miss. But now, he's flirting shamelessly with Xiaolian, without even showing any regard for Miss! Poor Miss has been out of it since her fall last time, the doctor says she's got dementia! Sister, what can be done about this?"

  Yang Liuqing was rushing forward and heard this, stopped and said: "What, Ninth Lady doesn't recognize people anymore?"

  "Is that so? Don't you know yet? Last time, we left the Hu's estate and were still on our way, when someone placed a red flower on the cliffside. The young lady was particularly excited and rode her horse in a rush..."

  Approaching to watch, as a result, was tripped by an unknown tripwire, and fell off the horse, unconscious for several days. After waking up with great difficulty, he couldn't recognize anyone. The doctor said that he had become delusional, living in his own fantasy.

  "No wonder I found her a bit off," said Yang Liuqing.

  "Master Biao isn't here yet, how did you discover that Miss Tai is a bit off?" Yingying found it strange. Yang Liuqing smiled: "I'm saying, Hu Zhong and the others told me, Little Master's wife is a bit off, so I came to the mountain villa to take a look."

  Yingying smiled and said: "It's still better for Young Master Bao to be good to our young lady, if only our young lady had married you back then."

  "Europe, how can you say that?" Yang Liuqing walked side by side with the two of them, slightly raising the corner of her mouth and asked with a smile.

  "Master Hu is so fond of Yan, he even helped her down from the horse just now. He's so gentle and loving, if Miss followed him, wouldn't that be a blessing? But now, Master Hu has been enchanted by Xiaolian, my poor mistress..."

  "This morning, we were having breakfast together, and those two were fooling around under the table. I swear, Miss is blind! It's infuriating!"

  "So you came to the mountain gate for a walk because of this," said Yang Liuqing: "If your young lady recovers from her illness and knows that you are so loyal to her, she will definitely love you to death."

  Yingying smiled awkwardly "I don't care if Miss loves me to death, as long as she gets better, that's all that matters."

  Three people walked and talked, arriving at the Nourishing Hall. The scene they saw was extremely infuriating. They only saw Liu Qingqing sitting on the edge of the bed in the study, looking at a book, while Hu Zhongren and Xiaolian were still sitting beside the table, holding hands, eye to eye, with tender feelings, treating others as fools.

  Yang Liuqing felt a surge of unnamed fire rising from her feet to the top of her head, and said loudly: "Cousin, I heard that your wife is ill, so I came to visit."

  Hu Zhongren glanced at Yang Liuqing: "If you want to see, just come and see, why shout so loudly?" He stood up, still holding Xiaolian's hand, and strode out of the Nourishing Hall. Xiaolian didn't want to go with Hu Zhongren, but she couldn't resist, and was finally taken away by him. Yingying said: "You see, I wasn't talking nonsense about them, was I?"

  Yan Yan said: "Let's take care of Miss first!"

  It turned out that Yan Yan hastily walked in front of Liu Qingqing and said, "Miss, look who's come to see you!"

  Liu Qingqing put down her book and looked at the three people, giggling: "Who are you all? And this young handsome guy, do I know you?"