Chapter 76b: Plan Progressed Without a Hitch
It had already been many years since he experienced this kind of feeling. Luo Cheng was stupefied as he watched Hongyu withdraw again to sit by Luo Qing Luan’s side. He couldn’t help but feel a bout of regret. Why was it that only today could he see this young woman? If he could have known her at an earlier time……
“Father, what’s going on with you?” Luo Qing Luan spoke up, “Did you hear my zither music? What do you think of it?” She laughed, as if she didn’t notice Luo Cheng’s absent-mindedness at all.
Luo Cheng finally became thoroughly sober, yet glanced again at the bowing Hongyu, reluctant to part. He then nodded and replied, “Mn. Just now, I was up ahead chatting with your Father’s Concubine and heard the sound of your zither. That’s why I came to take a look. I didn’t expect that you actually have a friend visiting.”
Luo Qing Luan nodded, and responded obediently, “Mn. I recently have been diligently increasing my practices, but felt that playing music by myself was somewhat uninteresting. I recalled that Hongyu wasn’t bad at dancing, so I set up a date for her to visit. Having two people is also more lively.”
Hongyu also recovered her normal appearance after her ‘panic’ and spoke softly, “I’ve turned up without being invited. Thank you, General Luo, for not blaming me.”
“How can I, how can I.” Luo Cheng laughed and had not finished speaking when w.a.n.g Xue Ru and Ziyu finally quickly arrived after chasing him. Once they entered the pavillion and saw the young woman dressed in green sitting together with Luo Qing Luan, they noticed her picturesque appearance and the flirtatious expressions across her face. w.a.n.g Xue Ru immediately shouted with a faceful of disgust. “Aiya, sure enough it’s you!”
“Master, this girl sure have the guts. She actually made her way to our General’s Mansion.”
Without waiting for Luo Cheng to open his mouth, w.a.n.g Xue Ru already spoke in a huff, “Qing Luan, you’re a n.o.ble daughter from the General’s Mansion. How can you get mixed up with this kind of woman from the brothels. You even brought her here? If His Lordship the Prince of Chu were to find out, I’m afraid that you……”
“Shut up!” With a deep shout, Luo Cheng already broke her words up and continued inwardly angry, “Miss Hongyu came as a guest, how can you speak like that?”
Completely not antic.i.p.ating that Luo Cheng would actually change his att.i.tude. Just now, he was still wishing that he could beat Luo Qing Luan to death. Who would’ve thought that in the twinkling of an eye, he would change. w.a.n.g Xue Ru looked at Luo Cheng in disbelief, “Master, she, she’s indeed a woman from the brothels. She’s so contemptible, our General’s Mansion……”
“Father’s Concubine, how can you say such things of Hongyu? She’s my friend and came as a guest.” Luo Qing Luan couldn’t help but speak out and explain.
“What friend or whatever?” w.a.n.g Xue Ru coldly jeered, casting a despising glance at Hongyu before continuing, “Qing Luan, it’s not that I want to criticize you, but you’re a young lady in the General’s Mansion. Your status is respected. How can you a.s.sociate with this kind of servile women? If the Prince of Chu’s people were to find out, would he not become angry.”
Already having antic.i.p.ated such a situation, and having waited for such a moment to arrive, Luo Qing Luan smirked in her heart, yet her face didn’t reveal anything. She opened her mouth to reply, “Father’s Concubine, you can’t say those things, Hongyu is as clear as ice and as clean as jade. She sells her art, not her body. Even His Majesty’s previous tutor, Venerable Teacher w.a.n.g, also praises Hongyu for her principles and incorruptibility. Father’s Concubine, how can you make general a.s.sumptions?”
“Qing Luan, don’t speak anymore. I’m sorry, I’ve implicated you.” Hongyu was no longer able to sit still, blushing across her entire face, as if she wanted to cry. She stood up and turned towards w.a.n.g Xue Ru to curtsy and said softly, “I’m sorry, General’s Madam, I’m the one who’s not good. I don’t deserve to a.s.sociate with the Second Lady. I beseech the Madam to forgive me.”
“It’s good that you know. Hurry and get lost.” w.a.n.g Xue Ru laughed coldly, pleased with herself from the bottom of her heart. She turned and looked at Luo Qing Luan again, “Qing Luan, in the future, you should stop getting mixed up with these women from the brothels. Properly stay at home……”
“Shut up!”
Finally unable to endure, Luo Cheng showed no quarter as he bellowed, so angry that he trembled from head to toe. “This woman. How can you talk like that? Your mouth is full of filthy speech, totally scandalous! How has Miss Hongyu offended you that you speak of her so maliciously? Even Venerable Teacher w.a.n.g praised her, yet you actually look down upon Miss Hongyu. Is it possible that you can compare with Venerable Teacher w.a.n.g? Get out of here and return to your Graceful Orchid Courtyard to reflect upon yourself!”
“Master, you……” w.a.n.g Xue Ru was shocked.
She rushed over impatiently for the sake of seeing Luo Qing Luan and that Courtesan Hongyu get lectured, to watch the way Luo Cheng bawled Luo Qing Luan out. Who would have thought that at present, not only was Luo Cheng not angry, he even scolded her instead. It was simply unbelievable.
“What are you looking at. Still not leaving?!” Berated again, w.a.n.g Xue Ru finally realized that Luo Cheng wasn’t speaking randomly. Rather, he was truly angry. A face full of resentment, w.a.n.g Xue Ru was flushed with anger. She finally left crestfallen.
Left just like that? Luo Qing Luan felt a bit as if she hadn’t seen enough. She originally thought w.a.n.g Xue Ru would continue to fight back. She didn’t expect that she left in such a short time. However, it’s still fine. Everything had progressed the way she antic.i.p.ated. Sure enough, this father of hers, once he laid eyes on the meticulously dressed up Hongyu, he indeed became so infatuated that he could no longer tell where north was.
The rest of the plan very likely would go off without a hitch. Still, she wasn’t anxious. Let’s take things step by step.
Luo Cheng was totally unaware. Once he turned around, his face displayed an apology as he said to Hongyu, “Miss Hongyu, I’m truly sorry to have you watch this joke. Please don’t take what just happened to heart. I’m apologizing in her place.” After speaking, he cupped his hands in an apology.
“I can’t accept this, General Luo.” Hongyu quickly walked over, and glanced at him gratefully before continuing, “That General Luo is able to look upon me without that kind of profane gaze already makes me extremely happy. General Luo is indeed a hero among heroes. I’m in admiration.”
“Heh heh heh, Miss Hongyu is too polite.”
“Alright, now. Everything’s good, Hongyu. Let’s return to my room and chat.” Luo Qing Luan came to pull Hongyu away as she nodded towards Luo Cheng before saying lovably, “Father, we’re going in then.”
Watching Hongyu’s receding back figure, Luo Cheng was reluctant to move his gaze away until the woman’s figure became obstructed by a flowering tree. When he could not see her anymore, he finally retracted his gaze melancholically.