The Counterfeit Madam Hou

Liu Qinghuan enjoyed her lunch which then, as though as an alarm rang, Tang Zhibo stroll into the room . Spotting Liu Qinghuan sitting in front of the table, he smiles .

” Did Lady Du Juan have a great lunch? ”
” It’s all great before you came . ”
” Since Lady Du Juan doesn’t wish to see me,  I shall introduce another person to you . ”

Liu Qinghuan’s eyebrows twitches but she stay silent, as another figure walk out from behind Tang Zhibo, stopping in front of her . That person have on a long Fire Beseeching Cult robe and a mask covering his face, staring silently at her .

After staring at each other for a while, that person then raises his hand and takes off his mask .

It is a man around the 40s, looking condescendingly at her, a natural aura of royalty all around him, letting everyone knows that he one of the royalty . For that, Liu Qinghuan only have 1 guess .

Duke Ling Nan .

Tang Zhibo take a step back .

” This is my foster father . ”

Making a face of one suddenly registering that fact, Liu Qinghuan said .

” Oh, so it’s the duke . ”

Did the Emperor knows that this Duke is not staying at his place but running all around the place?

After staring at her for a while, Duke Ling Nan finally speaks .

” The map you gave Aersi is a fake . ”
” Why did the Duke say that? ”

Liu Qinghuan responses in slight surprise, taken aback by how that is the first sentence he said . He stay silent, and Liu Qinghuan thinks about it on her own, before realizing it .

” Can it be that the Duke went to search according to the map? That means you have the《Armeniaca Mume· Winter》? ”
” You have too many questions . ”

Liu Qinghuan shut her mouth sulkily . Seeing that she’s quiet, Duke Ling Nan then speaks .

” Hand the real map over . ”

Liu Qinghuan rolls her eyes in her heart . Look at this tone of voice, the moment he open his mouth and it’s an order . As expected of a duke . She then looks at him confusingly, stating innocently .

” But that’s the real map that I gave him . ”

Duke Ling Nan stares at her silently . If stares could kill, Liu Qinghuan would already be slashed into a million bits .

Liu Qinghuan takes in all the ‘stare daggers’ the Duke is sending her as her eyes sparkles as innocently as ever .

” Duke, I only swindled the painting over from Zhou Jingjing because I thought it’s worth a lot . It was only after Xue Mu told me about the secret before I knew about it . At that time, it was only for a moment the map appeared as he splash water on it before he took it all away . If you said the map is a fake, then it is not my intention but… just maybe my memory isn’t that good . ”

The Duke continuing sending ‘stare daggers’ as he stare silently at her . Liu Qinghuan feels like she can’t take any more of the ‘daggers’ .

” Duke, please trust in my sincerity . ”
” If you have that, why are you still wearing that face mask? ”
” Duke, why would you make things difficult for me? Although I promise to work with you, that didn’t mean that I would show you my real face . ”
” And yet you still claim sincerity? ”
” If the Duke is unhappy, you’re most welcome to put on that mask of yours too . ”
” ……… . ”

He is not that childish . Turning to Tang Zhibo, who’s standing next to him, he said .

” You don’t have to treat a criminal this well, put her in the dungeon . ”

Liu Qinghuan eyelids twitches and she hurriedly says .

” Wait! Give me some time to think about it and maybe I can remember the map! ”

Duke Ling Nan stares at her for a bit before smiling .

” I give you a day . If by then you can’t remember anything, I’ll help you remember it . ”
” Relax, I will definitely remember it . ”

Without saying another word, the Duke turn and leave the room . Giving a look to Feng Zhi, Tang Zhibo follows after . Walking in front, the Duke gives his orders in a low voice .

” Keep a tight look out on her, don’t let her have any tricks up her sleeve . ”
” Yes, Father . ”

Tang Zhibo paused .

” About Liu Qinghuan… ”
” Hmpt, that little wretch . When the time is right, she will scamper back . ”
” Yes, Father . ”

Tang Zhibo’s eyes dims as he heard that .

” Is there any movement on Xue Mu’s side? ”
” No . He just had a fight with Du Juan yesterday so he shouldn’t be coming after her . ”
” Good . ”

That Xue Mu is really a thorn at his side . When the former Emperor was still alive, he had been eyeing the throne . Till now, he have no idea why his father would pa.s.s the throne to that weak and useless brother of his . Later, using Wen Wei’s corruption case, he wanted to keep the money for himself so he could build an army but it all came to nought .

That time he ma.s.sacre Liu Zhenqing’s entire family and angered the former Emperor, who then suppressed his every move so he could only conceal and bide his time . It was only when Xue Cheng died, did he think that his time had come .

That battle with the Mongolians not only wasted manpower and wealth, it had also created a huge dent on the imperial army . Many surrounding countries were eyeing this opportunity and were stirring . Many were on their toes during this period but only he was making his strategies . On one side he was visiting various officials and getting them to his side, and on another, he is conspiring with the King of Mei Wu .

The only unexpected blip in his plans was that Xue Mu, as young as he was, had already displayed his superior talent in the battlefield, wielding victories whenever he goes .

In the battle against Mei Wu, Xue Mu, in just one fight, send them scattering back with their tails in between their legs . This victory not only cleared the gloom covering Chang-An but also made him famous .

And when he returned from the battle, the former Emperor personally went to received him . A young general merely 14 in age, yet full of mettle .

Like father like son .

These 4 words popped into his head when he went with the former Emperor to received Xue Mu . It was also during this time that he wanted him for himself .

Although he didn’t get the support of Minister Liu, he managed to get Tang Zhibo and Liu Qinghuan close . Even if he always had a guard against Liu Qinghuan, having another p.a.w.n in his hands is always a good thing . And maybe, this p.a.w.n might be the best one yet .

Everyone have a weakness . And Xue Mu’s weakness is Liu Qinghuan .

When the day folds, Xue Mu goes over to the main bedroom . Ci Tao and Qing Zhi are in there, staring at each other .

Madam is missing and Sir didn’t allocate them to other places, causing them to have plenty of free time on their hands . The moment they spot Xue Mu walking in, they bolted up and hurriedly greet him .

” Sir! ”

Nodding at them, he said .

” I’ll be sleeping here tonight . ”

That surprises the both of them and for a moment, they are left in confusion . But when Xue Mu lift his legs and walk straight inside, they finally woken up .

” We shall clean the place up for Sir! ”

Everything inside the room had been used by Madam, even the bed sheets . No matter what, they should change a new set for the Marquise .

” No need, just leave it like that . ”

That sentence hit a pause b.u.t.ton on both of the maids action as they look at each other before politely leaving the room .

After cleaning up, Xue Mu lies down on the bed .

The entire place is fill with her smell, as if she is by his side . Burying his head into the pillow, he carefully takes in the leftover scent .

” Qing Qing… . ”

He can’t help but call out, curling the blanket into his arms, as if hugging a person .

As night falls, Liu Qinghuan glances at the still very energetic Feng Zhi and yawn .

” Aren’t you sleepy? ”

Although she can’t see the sky from where she is, by her tiredness she knows that it is quite late at the moment . Feng Zhi looks at her and smile .

” I am not sleepy, if Miss is, please feel free to go to bed . ”
” Sure . ”

As Liu Qinghuan prepares to climb onto the bed, she spot something black skittering out from under the bed, giving her a fright .

” Ah! ”

She screams, pointing it out .

” What is that?! ”

Feng Zhi follows her finger down and see something like a roach yet unlike one, skittering all over the floor, finally stopping near the table .

” It’s just a c.o.c.kroach Miss, you don’t have to be this frightened . ”

Although Feng Zhi have on a face of calmness, Liu Qinghuan still have a face full of fright .

” I hate c.o.c.kroach the most! Kill it! Quick! ”

Feng Zhi rolls her eyes . Just a c.o.c.kroach and she’s this scared? Looking at Liu Qinghuan, she knows if she don’t kill this bug tonight, Liu Qinghuan might scream till dawn breaks . Pursing her lips, Feng Zhi walks up and as if sensing her getting nearer, it shivers it’s feelers .

” How long are you going to stare into each other’s eyes?! Kill it, quick! ”

Liu Qinghuan covers herself in the blanket, screaming loudly . Feng Zhi frowns and lifts her feet to finish it once and for all, but who knows, this little thing squeals and start flying! She almost thought it’s a huge fly instead .

She pauses, surprised as the little thing flies in front of her, and spurts a gas of smoke in her face . As Feng Zhi faints from the smoke, the last thought on her mind is that it’s not a c.o.c.kroach nor a fly, but a sneaky little weasel .

With her face covered under the blanket, Liu Qinghuan wait till the smoke disperse and takes out a bamboo container from her sleeve . Opening it, the little black thing flies back into the container .

Lu Qinghuan smile, and keep the container carefully back into her sleeve .

Walking over to Feng Zhi, she hits a few of her acupuncture points, before dusting her hands satisfactorily .

Tang Zhibo said that Feng Zhi’s martial arts is good, but why should she face her head on? She could… use dirty tricks like this!