I know some of you have been asking where the male leads are… hehehehe… One thing that I have noticed about this book is the lack of romance when I compare it with ZQ & LXY’s book. Boooooo… While this is also kind of disappointing to me, I still like the story because even though I crave for romance, this book has plenty of secrets or mysteries if you want to call it, so it’s not really boring at all. I have been translating/cheating by reading to up to ch 59 (about 1/3 of the book) and the romance part is definitely very lacking. However, once our family MSQ is in the Capital, you’ll find quite a few of family secrets there and another set of plot that might affect the Murong’s family. With that said, I’m still hoping for a better romance that MSQ will encounter for the next 2/3 of the book. Let’s keep our fingers crossed and see what other adventures might befall our heroine!
This chapter was translated by Sian for only and edited by Din2.
By Qian Lu
Chapter 29
Going To The Capital
A delegation of people were sending Murong Shu Qing off outside the gate, Hong Xiu"s lively big eyes were filled with tears, she was following Murong Shu Qing closely, lightly pulling her cuff, she said sobbingly: "Miss, you have to be careful on the journey!"
Lightly consoling Hong Xiu who was really unable to stop her tears, Murong Shu Qing gently instructed and said: "Alright, help me to take care of Xing Hun and Xing Yue properly." It was not that she did not want to take Hong Xiu, but she was going to the Qi"s family this time, she did not know what kind of situation she would be facing, whether or not it was acceptable to use this memory loss" excuse. Hong Xiu had a quick temper, simple and straightforward, and having her stay within the family here would make her feel rea.s.sured more.
"En, I understood!" Letting go off Murong Shu Qing"s sleeve, Hong Xiu nodded cutely.
It seemed that this young girl still had a small temper, Murong Shu Qing smilingly shook her head, and she turned her head towards Zi Yuan to say: "Zi Yuan, a.s.sign two people to protect Wan Ru tomorrow, take her to take a look at the tea plants and East China Sea." The things that she had promised Wan Ru, she should accomplish them, when a person"s eyes were wide, the mood would naturally be even wider, whatever decision that she would have at that time, she would not regret it.
"Yes!" Zi Yuan softly answered.
Looking at the sky, it was not early anymore, Murong Shu Qing walked to the side of the carriage, Hong Xiu also followed over, she had a deflated mouth, and miserably said: "Miss, you must return early oh!"
Patting her face, Murong Shu Qing gave her a gentle smile, and nodded her head seriously. She waved her hand towards everyone, then went in to the carriage.
Not long after the carriage moved, Murong Shu Qing leaned on the soft side of the carriage and closed her eyes to rest. She actually drank too much wine last night, her head was aching now. Not too long, she unexpectedly fell asleep.
Lu Yi picked up a shawl and softly covered it on Murong Shu Qing, this journey this time, Miss did not take any guards, except her own self, and Yan Yu. Bringing this up, Lu Yi could not help to want to laugh, originally, Yan Yu and Cang Su were always protecting Miss in secret. But this journey this time, Miss did have any bodyguards, then the two people wanted to follow by her side, one in public and the other one in secret to protect Miss, but both of them were not willing to appear personally no matter what. Finally, Miss made them to guess what color of shoes that Zi Yuan was wearing on that day. Whoever was guessing the wrong color, he would be the bodyguard. In the end, Yan Yu was guessing the wrong color, because of this matter, he whose face was originally icy and arrogant, he added another layer of frost on his face even more, n.o.body dared to approach him during this journey.
Covering the shawl properly, Lu Yi instructed the carriage"s driver to move slowly, and not to let the carriage have too much shaking, Then she also leaned on the side of the carriage door, and closed her eyes to rest.
The carriage slowly stopped, Lu Yi lifted open the clothing curtain, they had already arrived at the inn, Lu Yi softly patted Murong Shu Qing"s shoulder, and softly said: "Miss, we have arrived at the inn."
Murong Shu Qing opened her eyes, she was moving her shoulder that was used to lean on the carriage, and lowly responded: "En."
Lu Yi supported Murong Shu Qing who just woke up to get off of the carriage, the wind was blowing, Murong Shu Qing"s sleepy mind finally sobered a little. Looking around her surroundings, this was a place that was not too far away from the small store, it was not big, but it was very tidy and clean. There were already several carriages that stopped in front of the store"s door, it seemed that most of the people would stay at this place.
Murong Shu Qing stepped on the afterglow of the setting sun, and entered the inn, Lu Yi and Yan Yu were following from behind.
Looking that there were visitors who came in, the a.s.sistant promptly welcomed them, and greeted to say: "This Miss, please come inside, are you having a meal or staying at the inn ah?"
Lu Yi took out an ingot silver, and stuffed it in the a.s.sistant"s hand, then she softly said: "We want three rooms, it will be good if the food can be delivered to our rooms."
Looking at that ingot silver, the a.s.sistant"s eyes were bright, he cleverly smiled and said: "Alright!" Finished speaking, he immediately walked ahead to lead the way for them. Looking at this Miss who was elegant and outstanding, she simply must be wealthy and was a n.o.ble. If he served her properly, he might still have some other bonus.
"Murong jiejie?" Just about to go upstairs, a slightly hesitating voice but full of a nice surprise, called out. Murong Shu Qing turned around, and welcomed a flowery smile face.
Huo Zhi Qing saw clearly Murong Shu Qing"s face, she happily smiled and said: "It is really you, I have just said that I am not wrong!" Finished speaking, she did not neglect to raise her own head proudly.
It was actually that Huo family’s young gluttonous cat, Murong Shu Qing still remembered that she and Tang Xiao Xiao were fighting to eat during the Qi Lian Festival. Smiling and greeting her, she also saw a table full of people behind her.
When Murong Shu Qing"s gaze was on him, Huo Zi Qi"s refreshingly smiled and said: "Miss Murong, we meet again."
Murong Shu Qing smilingly said: "Huo Gongzi, unexpectedly, we run into each other here!"
Huo Zhi Qing pulled Murong Shu Qing, she happily said: "Murong jiejie, you invited us to eat the complete lotus feast last time, today, even though this is a small store at the countryside, but you have to bear the situation and let us treat you to eat."
"Alright ah!" How an efficient and generous woman, Murong Shu Qing who originally already liked this lovely and cute girl, she did not regret this refreshing and direct invitation today, and actually welcomed it happily.
Walking to the front of the table, she just saw, besides the Huo family"s brothers, and Yan Hao Yu, there was still another pretty young girl, Murong Shu Qing hesitatingly asked: "This person is?"
Huo Zi Qi instructed the a.s.sistant to provide some stools for Murong Shu Qing and company, while he gave an introduction to them: "This person is the Ministry of Revenue (Hubu), Li Shi Lang family"s middle daughter, when she went out to visit her relatives, she encountered some robbers, we happened to pa.s.s by at that time and saved Miss Li. Miss Li also wants to return to the capital, so we are going to accompany her. Miss Li, this person is Miss Murong."
The two people slightly raised half way out of their chairs as a gesture, then sat down again, Lu Yi followed behind Murong Shu Qing, and sat next to her, Yan Yu did not sit with them, he only sat on the chair behind Murong Shu Qing. Li You Yu looked at Lu Yi who unexpectedly sat down, her graceful eyebrows were knitted. Sitting on the same table with a servant girl was extremely beneath her dignity. She was a Miss from the government official, sitting with a woman merchant on the same table to eat, she had already given Murong Shu Qing"s face. Unexpectedly, a servant girl could sit on the same table also now, she felt that it was more and more improper. Li You Yu looked at Lu Yi up and down and said: "How can a servant girl sit on the same table as her master, this is extremely not following the rule."
Hearing her words, Lu Yi who just sat down, was slightly stiffed, yes ah, when they were at home, they used to drink tea and eat with Miss, she forgot how the other people would look at it, that it was not extremely following the rule. Just when she wanted to get up, but her hand was slightly grabbed by Murong Shu Qing, she lightly patted it to indicate that she should not move. Lu Yi sat down again, calmly stayed next to Murong Shu Qing.
Murong Shu Qing appeased Lu Yi properly, then she just faintly looked one glance at Li You Yu who was sitting across from her, and said: "During this journey, I do not pay any attentions to this kind of rule."
She was surely not a well-bred young lady from a prestigious family, and did not understand any etiquettes, Li You Yu pretended to sigh and say: "Miss Murong, this rule must be observed, otherwise other people will think that you do not understand the rule!"
Murong Shu Qing softly smiled, and she was not angry with her obvious provocation, she simply got up slowly, and smilingly said: "I have made Miss Li to be ridiculed, the Murong"s family really does not have this rule. Since you feel that it is inappropriate, then Shu Qing will not trouble everybody!" Once she finished speaking, she wanted to leave.
"Wait a moment!" Huo Zhi Qing who was sitting next to her, promptly pulled Murong Shu Qing"s sleeve to stay, she turned around to glare one glance at Li You Yu, then said in a loud voice: "We, the Northerners, are accustomed to be open-minded, and do not have these many rules either. If Miss Li does not like it, you can sit by your own on the side."
"I ~~ I do not mean it like that." Li You Yu only wanted to give Murong Shu Qing an embarra.s.sment, she did not expect that she would want to leave because of one servant girl. Stealing a peek one glance at Huo Zi Qi who was by her side, Li You Yu wanted to explain, but she did not know what she should say. She was afraid that Huo Zi Qi would have a bad impression on her, so her eyes were all anxious and red.
Looking at the awkward atmosphere, Huo Zi Qi smoothed things over and said: "Alright, during this journey, everyone should not bother about trifles! Let’s eat, the dishes are getting cold."
Since Huo Qi Zi had spoken out, Murong Shu Qing would not refute his reputation, Li You Yu heard and listened to what Huo Zi Qi"s words even more, this dispute could be regarded as settled temporarily.
But Huo Zhi Qing looked like she still set herself against Li You Yu, she placed some dishes to give to Lu Yi with a solicitous and diligent"s manner. And she still chatted with Lu Yi from time to time: "Lu Yi jiejie, this one is delicious, you taste it."
Lu Yi put down the wooden chopsticks, slightly gave her courtesy, and answered: "Thank you, Miss Huo."
Continuing to put a piece of simmer-fried eggplant in Lu Yi"s bowl, Huo Zhi Qing lovingly said: "Lu Yi jiejie, no need to be polite, you can just call me Zhi Qing."
Lu Yi did not say anything either, she only lightly nodded her head. She only picked her chopsticks up to eat. Her manner was not servile nor overbearing, it actually had a natural and relaxed bearings, there was no different than the manner from the so-called a girl from a wealthy family.
Li You Yu clenched her chopsticks tightly, this darn girl (HZQ) was actually showing a nicer att.i.tude towards that servant girl (LY). Just wait until she became her sister-in-law, she would definitely put her in her place properly.
Huo Zhi Qing was similar to a young sparrow during the banquet, she was asking everything curiously, Murong Shu Qing could only answer randomly. If one was pausing to eat one"s meal in order not to neglect one"s words, it could be regarded as pleasant.
After she was done eating, Murong Shu Qing just wanted to say goodbye, Huo Zhi Qing suddenly asked: "Murong jiejie, where are you going ah?"
"The Capital."
Huo Zhi Qing was pleasantly surprised and she pulled Murong Shu Qing"s sleeve, happily said: "It is so coincidental ah, then you go together with us, ok." Murong jiejie was so much better than that Li You Yu by unknown times, if Murong jiejie could go together with them, maybe, she and eldest brother could greatly admire each other. This way, she could have an elegant and gentle sister-in-law.
"No need to trouble you guys." That Miss Li would make a hole quickly with her staring, if she took the journey with them together, she would practice her ability to make a hole soon.
With a plan in her heart, Huo Zhi Qing wanted to go together with Murong Shu Qing even more, her one hand was pulling Murong Shu Qing, while her other hand was pulling Lu Yi, and she said with a solemn and serious appearance: "It is not a trouble, you are a young lady who goes on a journey with a servant girl and a bodyguard, it is too dangerous. My eldest brother, second brother, and Yan gege, all know martial arts, and they can protect you. Eldest brother, you say it, am I right?!" She did not forget to pull Huo Zi Qi into her conversation.
Huo Zi Qi secretly forced a smile, this younger sister of his, had really an exaggerated opinion, that Murong Shu Qing"s bodyguard who was by her side, he was not an ordinary bodyguard. Since the beginning when he came in, he already took notice on him, with his firm and speedy paces, soft and strong inner breaths. His martial arts might be above him (HZQ). This person, even though he looked like he did not pay attention to Murong Shu Qing"s side, and just sat down by her side casually a moment ago, but he actually could advance to attack or retreat with his protection, Murong Shu Qing"s protection was watertight. Moreover, he only sat from the time he came until now, he did not eat nor did he drink any water. If there was someone like this by one"s side, one simply did not need their protections. But looking at her little sister whose big and beautiful eyes were staring at him, if he actually said the "no" (word as a saying that she’s not right), she would come and bite somebody. Shaking his head, he followed along with Huo Zhi Qing"s words and said: "If Miss Murong does not mind it, you can start on the journey with us together, and there are more people to take care of each other."
Murong Shu Qing could also see that Huo Zi Qi was helpless, it seemed that he really loved his younger sister dearly. Hearing Huo Zi Qi"s response, Huo Zhi Qing happily cried out and said: "Exactly, exactly, there are more people to take care of each other, alright, Murong jiejie?"
Murong Shu Qing was not somebody who could bear to abandon a puppy whose expression was looking at her, she originally thought that only Tang Xiao Xiao could have this skill, but unexpectedly, Huo Zhi Qing was also an expert. Helplessly, she nodded her head and smilingly said: "Then, just ~~ thank you Huo Gongzi."
A cheering sound echoed, no matter if Huo Zi Qi who was behind her, was sighing happily or funnily, she did not see Li You Yu who had a sulky looking face, Huo Zhi Qing happily pulled Murong Shu Qing and walked towards their rooms that were on the top floor.