Chapter 636: Youzhou, The Meng Clan Estate
Chapter 636: Youzhou, The Meng Clan Estate
Lu Yuan had originally planned to send Shangguan Ling to Liuli Island to investigate, but since Si She had already gone, there was no rush for Shangguan Ling to depart.
Thus, Shangguan Ling joined them in Youzhou.
"Where's Chen Long?"
Shangguan Ling rode his horse, looking around. "He disappeared as soon as we entered Youzhou. Is he dodging debt?"
Tan'er, also on a horse, trotted up to him. "Only a scoundrel would owe a mountain of debt!"
Shangguan Ling: "At least he's the prestigious Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Every day, he's either being insulted by the Grand Duke or getting into arguments with the little miss. It’s a tough life!"
"Yu Zi Chuan... Hey! Where’s Yu Zi Chuan?!"
Shangguan Ling was confused.
What was going on?
Do you guys know Youzhou well?
Yu Zi Chuan wasn't far. He was buying osmanthus blossom cakes.
He counted them: "Nine pieces."
He frowned.
Qing Shuang took one from her box and gave it to him.
He finally felt better.
Bao Zhuzhu sat on Tan'er’s horse, with her own small saddle securely tied.
Upon arriving in Youzhou, the two finally got to taste authentic candied hawthorn skewers—shiny, bright red, sweet, and tangy.
They savored every bite, making happy sounds.
Bao Zhuzhu didn’t forget to show Tan'er her Iou: "You owe me two skewers! Plus one for interest!"
Tan'er stared in disbelief. "What, there’s interest now?"
Bao Zhuzhu licked her skewer. "Blood is thicker than water, and debts must be clear. One skewer for interest, no credit!"
Tan'er's face darkened.
Meng Qianqian and Lu Yuan were in a carriage.
The curtain was lifted, and a cool breeze blew in.
Youzhou was cooler than the Kingdom of Liang, requiring extra clothing in the evenings, but the carriage was still a bit stuffy.
"You can ride a horse if you want. You don’t have to stay in the carriage with me."
Meng Qianqian said.
She was in the early stages of her pregnancy and had no significant morning sickness, only feeling a bit drowsy, so she mostly stayed in the carriage.
Lu Yuan said coldly, "I just don’t feel like riding a horse."
Meng Qianqian opened her mouth to speak.
Lu Yuan: "Think about the consequences first."
Meng Qianqian quickly closed her mouth.
The last time she was "taught a lesson" in the carriage, the memory still made her legs tremble. She wouldn’t dare to provoke him again.
"Where are they?"
Meng Qianqian quickly changed the subject.
Lu Yuan grunted.
Meng Qianqian blinked. "Are you disappointed?"
Lu Yuan narrowed his eyes.
Meng Qianqian quickly surrendered. "I’m sorry."
The group entered Youzhou, and they scattered like wild horses, impossible to catch.
Shangguan Ling, acting as the overseer, kept an eye on Yu Zi Chuan and Qing Shuang, watched Tan'er and Bao Zhuzhu, and made sure the carriage didn’t take the wrong path, heading away from the Meng Clan Estate.
"Wait, where’s Ji Li?"
He approached the carriage and asked, "Grand Duke, Madam, have you seen Ji Li?"
If there was one person he was most worried about, it was that chicken.
"Didn’t see him."
Meng Qianqian paused. "Check the crowds."
"The crowds... what’s he doing there?"
Shangguan Ling was puzzled and looked around, only to be stunned.
There, in black robes with white hair, Ji Li was sitting at a fortune-telling stand, holding an old lady’s wrist.
"You have a radiant complexion and a bright forehead. You will have great luck today. If you want to know where your luck lies, it will cost you five copper coins."
The old lady, initially flattered, immediately frowned when she heard the price and pulled her hand back. "Five copper coins? Isn’t it just one?"
"One?"
Ji Li was taken aback.
Was the fortune-telling business in Youzhou so bad?
"Yes, just one copper coin!"
"Two copper coins can change the luck of three people!"
"Of course! We came here the other day!"
The crowd murmured, surrounding Ji Li.
Ji Li got angry. "What kind of charlatan are you? Two copper coins to change the luck of three people? Luck can’t be changed so easily! You’re a fraud!"
The old lady retorted, "I think you’re the fraud!"
Ji Li stood up, stepping on the stool. "Do you know who I am? I am the first guard of the great general of Chu! It is your honor for me to read your fortune in the market! How dare you doubt my abilities and call me a fraud! I—"
Slap!
The old lady slapped Ji Li across the face.
Ji Li was stunned.
The old lady grabbed his ear. "You’re too young to be learning such bad habits! Where’s your father—your father used to run this stall, but he never talked nonsense like you!"
"Let go! How dare you be so disrespectful to me! Do you know—"
"Sorry, sorry! My brother has gone mad and accidentally wandered out of the house..."
Shangguan Ling pulled Ji Li out of the crowd.
Ji Li was fuming. "Faker! Who are you calling mad? Are you tired of living?"
Shangguan Ling pointed behind him, where the old lady and other women were sharpening their knives. "Want to go back and fight them?"
Ji Li: "...No."
Except for Chen Long, Shangguan Ling had gathered everyone else.
The gifts for the Meng Clan Estate were also counted and prepared.
The group headed toward the Meng Clan Estate.
Shangguan Ling rode alongside the carriage. "Madam, we’re almost there, right?"
Meng Qianqian lifted the curtain and looked at the increasingly quiet streets as they left the bustling city center. "I haven’t been back for years. The streets seem to have changed a lot."
In another carriage, Banxia poked her head out the window. "Miss, I hardly recognize this street anymore."
"Youzhou has had three prefects in six years."
Lu Yuan said casually. "Each new prefect rebuilds the city, so changes in the market and streets are normal."
Tan'er tilted her head. "Isn’t that a waste of silver?"
Lu Yuan nodded.
Tan'er said, "Youzhou isn’t as big as the imperial capital or as bustling, but Youzhou’s candied hawthorn skewers... they’re so delicious!"
Her eyes sparkled at the thought.
Shangguan Ling chuckled. "Little glutton!"
Tan'er glared at him. "You can’t control me! I’m not eating yours!"
Shangguan Ling tsked. "Why so fierce? Can’t you learn from Madam?"
Meng Qianqian laughed. "Learn to cheat without paying, or to kill without blinking?"
Shangguan Ling was speechless.
At the end of Longview Avenue, they turned east onto another street, and the Meng Clan Estate came into view.
The Meng Clan Estate was one of the largest households in Youzhou, and their residence was no smaller than those of the noble families in the imperial capital.
From a distance, the most grand and magnificent mansion was clearly the Meng Clan Estate.
Meng Qianqian had been reborn for a long time and had never truly integrated into this body. Her reason for visiting the Meng Clan Estate was only due to the connection of this body.
However, to her surprise, as soon as they entered Youzhou, a sense of nostalgia welled up inside her.
As she gazed at the approaching Meng Clan Estate, she suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.
Childhood memories associated with this body began to flood her mind.
She was about to meet her family in this life.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
