By the time he finished all his errands and returned to Myriad Treasures Tower, it was already late at night.
All the lights in Myriad Treasures Tower had gone out, with only the clerks on duty moving about inside, but the residence behind it was still brightly lit.
Mulling over various matters, Ye Jingtang walked to the Hua Residence's side entrance. Before he stepped inside, he faintly heard a voice coming from within:
"Don't you know what your father is like? I really was only socializing today..."
"Fine, call going to Spring Fullness House socializing. But even if you went, why did you drag Hua An along? How old is he?"
"I appreciate the boy, so I took him to meet some elders and pave the way for his future..."
"Who meets their elders in a brothel...?"
Ye Jingtang's expression stiffened slightly. Instinctively lightening his steps, he slowly approached the central courtyard, only to find the guards and stewards who had gone out today all holding stone weights in horse stances, their heads lowered, not daring to let out so much as a fart.
Hua Qingzhi sat perfectly upright in her wheelchair, a measure of anger on her gentle, elegant face. She turned her head aside, refusing even to look at her father in front of her.
Uncle Hua, dressed in a brocade robe, paced around the courtyard, explaining:
"Their hospitality was impossible to refuse today. The Marquis of Jingyang hosted a banquet. How could I refuse him that courtesy? All I did was drink. I didn't even pay attention to the girls..."
Meanwhile, around a bend in the corridor behind them, two young women were secretly peeking out, one above the other. Niao Niao poked her head out by their heels, also tilting it to watch the show.