What displeased Wen Chensi even more was that female officials were now scarce in the court, and the male officials fought each other to the death using all sorts of underhanded methods. How come when it came to her, it became a so-called "handsome man scheme"?
What, you look down on her?
Do you think she's the kind of good-for-nothing who'd be easily swayed by beauty?
Wen Chensi, his face clouded with rage, making him a formidable figure.
[Look how angry Lord Wen is! We can't just assume that because they always fall for a honey trap, Lord Wen would be attracted to handsome men.]
ah...
So it was because they lacked self-control. Oh well, that's alright then. Wen Chensi shifted from gloomy to sunny, and he seemed almost pleased.
[... Suddenly I feel like mourning for Lord Wen's enemies.]
Tong Aobai and Tong Yibin exchanged a glance but remained silent.
Wen Chensi. Kuang He took off her official hat and helped her change out of her official robes into casual clothes. He said, "I've made the pastries that my wife wanted to eat a couple of days ago."
Wen Chensi and said with amusement, "You're not leaving me anymore? You won't let me divorce you?"
Kuang He remained silent, leaning closer to Wen Chensi's embrace. Wen Chensi reached out and hugged him. Kuang He said in a muffled voice, "I've thought a lot about it. More than so-called tolerance and magnanimity, I'm afraid of losing you."
Wen Chensi moment, then hooked his chin. "Have you finally figured it out?"
Kuang He nodded.
"In that case, I'll take you to see a good show tomorrow."
Kuang He's eyes lit up.
He really wanted Wen Chensi to go out with him, but Wen Chensi had been very busy these days, and he didn't want to bother her with such trivial matters. But now, that wish was about to come true.
*
The next day Drunken Fragrance Pavilion.
Lou Yingyu was holding Tong Aning and weeping bitterly.
" Aning, you have no idea what I've been through these past few days! It's been absolutely horrific!"
Tong Aning tentatively asked, "Etiquette training?"
Lou Yingyu bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes, and said, "It's even more terrifying than this. I've never experienced such rigorous training in my entire life."
Tong Aning patted Lou Yingyu on the back and said softly, " Yingyu, you've suffered."
Lou Yingyu raised her head and looked at Tong Aning with a quiet gaze, " Aning, why do I feel like you're not paying attention?"
Tong Aning replied guiltily, "No."
" Tong Aning, look me straight in the eyes!"
Tong Aning was startled by Lou Yingyu's sudden loud voice. She quickly looked at Lou Yingyu and blinked.
Lou Yingyu couldn't discern anything amiss for the time being. She wiped away her tears with a handkerchief and changed the subject, "In a few days, I'll be able to attend court."
[Why does Yingyu seem so happy...? Is attending court such a good thing?]
Of course it's a good thing.
The imperial court would be utterly dull without Tong Aning Tong Aning, but isn't it here?
Lou Yingyu couldn't imagine how much excitement she would have to watch and how much gossip she would have to gossip about every day at court.
Maybe we can even find out about her father's background.
Lou Yingyu rubbed her hands together, thinking about it made her feel wonderful.
Tong Aning was shocked.
[That's five in the morning!!!]
5 a. m.?
What is that? I've never heard of it.
Lou Yingyu took Tong Aning's arm; she was going to court with Tong Aning anyway.
The door to the private room was pushed open, and the innkeeper himself came to serve the dishes.
Lou Yingyu and Tong Aning saw Wen Chensi pass by the door with a man. Lou Yingyu asked curiously, " Lord Wen is here too?"
The innkeeper didn't turn around and continued serving dishes, saying, "Yes, Lord Wen came with his husband."
Lou Yingyu immediately decided to visit Wen Chensi.
Tong Aning: "... Are you Lord Wen old friends?"
Lou Yingyu shook her index finger. "No."
Tong Aning understood immediately, "Because Lord Wen is a beauty?"
Lou Yingyu nodded, then took Tong Aning's hand and said mysteriously, "I heard that Lord Wen's husband is also a rare beauty. While Lord Wen is away at court, her husband takes care of all the household chores for her at home."
[No wonder, with a husband like that, how could her charm be of any use?]
The Beauty Trap?
Lou Yingyu scratched her head, wondering if she had missed some very important gossip.
The door to the private room opened in front of the two of them.
The guard beside Wen Chensi said, "My master invites you both inside."
Tong Aning and Lou Yingyu walked in and the first thing they saw was a perfect couple standing together, as if they were made for each other.
After exchanging greetings, Wen Chensi introduced Kuang He, "This is Tong Aning from the Ministry of Rites, Lord Tong. This is Lou Yingyu from the Court of State Ceremonial, Lord Lou. And this is my husband, Kuang He."
Tong Aning and Lou Yingyu nodded to Kuang He.
Tong Aning already knows about Kuang He's background.
Neither Wen Chensi nor Kuang He came from a prominent family. Kuang He was stranded in the capital and was rescued by Wen Chensi's father by chance. The two grew up together and, over time, Wen Chensi developed feelings for her brother Kuang He. Therefore, when Wen Chensi reached the age to get married, she directly confessed her feelings to Kuang He.
And so they got together. This kind of "strong woman, weak man" pairing is quite interesting, but...
[ Lord Wen's husband seems to be quite timid.]
Kuang He was startled. Had he just overheard this young lady's inner thoughts?
Wen Chensi and grasped his hand, Kuang He steadied himself accordingly.
Wen Chensi and said, "Since you two are here today, I invite you to enjoy a good show."
With a show to watch, Tong Aning and Lou Yingyu were naturally happy to see it happen.
This private room was different from the one Tong Aning and the others had just been in. Sitting by the window, one could see the scene on the first floor of the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion.
Important figures appeared, Wen Chensi and raised his hand, and the storyteller on the first floor began his tale.
This story tells of a couple who were deeply in love, but one of them, in order to climb the social ladder, actually gave away his lover.
Everyone listened with great interest, except for one person who was so angry that his veins bulged.
With a wave of his hand, the men around him stepped forward and told the storyteller to shut up.
The people, who were getting excited, were dissatisfied, but seeing that these people were all rich and powerful, they couldn't afford to offend them. What kind of world is this? Now these officials even want to control storytellers.
" Lord Hu."
Hu Heng raised his head and Wen Chensi, his eyes as cold as frost.
He couldn't help but shudder. " Lord Wen is here too?"
"Yes, I'm not the only one here..."
Tong Aning and Lou Yingyu smiled and waved to Hu Heng.
Hu Heng's legs went weak. How did these two end up here? Even if he had ten heads, he couldn't afford to mess with the three of them combined.
Lou Yingyu smiled and said, " Lord Hu, why are you so angry? Could it be that the person in this storybook is you?"
At just the right moment, the onlookers exclaimed, "Oh my god!"
Hu Heng, his face flushed and neck red, said, " Miss Lou, even if you are the daughter of the Prime Minister, you can't just accuse me without any evidence!"
Lou Yingyu smiled slyly, "Who said I'm framing you? Everyone knows that if you say a handsome man is ugly, he'll just laugh because he knows it's a lie. But if you say an ugly man is ugly, he'll be jumping up and down in a panic, just like Lord Hu is doing now."
Lou Yingyu blinked. "If it weren't true, why would Lord Hu be in such a hurry?"
Yingyu is too amazing; she has no equal.
Lou Yingyu raised her chin, somewhat smug.
"You, you, you..."
Lou Yingyu stood up with her hands on her hips, "What... what happened?"
Lou Yingyu's mouth is relentless, no matter how unreasonable she is, and now that she's in the right...
She looked at the storyteller and said, "Go on, let's see who dares to make you stop. Making you stop is tantamount to going against the Prime Minister's mansion!"
Lou Yingyu's gaze fell on Hu Heng Hu Heng, who could only clench his hands and let it be.
The storyteller continued.
It turns out that the person had sent their lover to Shangguan's bed.
[Tsk tsk tsk, this Lord Hu is willing to give away his beloved wife just to get promoted, while that superior actually stole his subordinate's wife.]
[Host, he's not the only one doing this.]
Tong Aning was shocked: [There are actually so many people doing this together?]
[Yes, the person he sent to seduce Lord Wen was his colleague's son, the son of his colleague and his subordinate's wife.]
Tong Aning suddenly wanted to cover her ears.
It's so dirty.
"Sigh," Lou Yingyu sighed, " Aning has had it tough too, she's endured so much."
Wen Chensi close to Kuang He's ear and asked, "Should I bring such a filthy person into my residence?"
His wife was clearly mocking him, Kuang He quickly shook his head.
Wen Chensi for a moment before looking down at Lord Hu.
He's using his good looks on her, huh? Well then, she'll expose all his dirty secrets.
This is a power struggle, not a game of children playing house. Wen Chensi for a moment and then left with Kuang He.
Lord Hu's reputation is ruined; he'll probably be gone by tomorrow.
Lou Yingyu and Tong Aning, seeing that the show was over, also prepared to leave.
But unexpectedly...
" Lord Lou."
Lou Yingyu shuddered upon hearing that voice.
Tong Aning: "?"
She turned around and recognized the man; he was the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial.
[Has Yingyu run into Shangguan?]
Lou Yingyu looked at Qu Bufan and chuckled twice, " Court Minister Qu, what are you doing here?"
Qu Bufan said, "I came here naturally to eat."
"Enjoy the food! Enjoy the food at the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion; we guarantee you'll want to come back again and again."
Lou Yingyu grabbed Tong Aning's hand and urged in a low voice, "Hurry up, hurry up."
Qu Bufan: "I observed Lord Lou for a moment just now and noticed that you..."
Lou Yingyu was filled with unease. Was she going to be accused of disgracing the Court of State Ceremonial?
"Quite imposing."
Lou Yingyu: "Huh?"
"Would you be interested in accompanying me to receive the envoy?"
Lou Yingyu: "Huh?"
Someone rushed in, went to Qu Bufan's side, and whispered a few words in his ear. Qu Bufan's expression changed. "Such a thing happened? I'll go back right away."
Before leaving, Qu Bufan glanced at Lou Yingyu and said, " Lord Lou, you can think about this carefully."
Lou Yingyu, of course, nodded obediently.
Qu Bufan left, Lou Yingyu asked furtively, " Aning, what happened?"
Tong Aning: "I don't know."
But in reality--
[Who would have thought that the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial would suddenly disappear? And the reason for his disappearance was actually because he went to work as a prostitute!!!?]
Wow, that's unbelievable.