This chapter almost feels like a palace fight. With the you know my plan, I know your plan and we all play along with each other while poking….
We finally know the name of another member of Mei family! 71 chapters and all this time only Mei Qian Deng"s name is known in her family.
Chapter 72 – Two-sided Spy Translated by HaruOngy at Geniusly Plain (If you can see this line, you must have read this in the aggregator site which illegally steal various works. Be shameful of yourself for not appreciating the translator"s hard work. Don"t think only you want to have it the easy way. Support the fanbase and translator!)
When Tao Xiao Xian got captured away by Sixth Mei, she was on the road on the way to the tailor shop to take ordered clothes.
The clothes were gifted by Chu Xun. There were many, many of them. Half for her because they were selected by her and she was the one going to bring them. Those were considered as a payment for her work. As for the other half, naturally they were for Mei Qian Deng. His Majesty had ordered, zhen doesn"t lack money. Zhen have my own small treasury. The only principle in making clothes are pretty girl clothes, the pretty until don"t, don"t type of girl clothes.
"You"re the monarch of a nation. The whole world belongs to you yet you still make that what small treasury?" Tao Xiao Xian was very confused about Chu Xun"s small treasury.
Chu Xun stared at Mei Qian Deng. His eyes never blink as he ambiguously said, "This habit is actually back when zhen was still the Crown Prince. It"s a product of an everlasting shadow due to zhen forgetting to bring money when going out one time."
Female warrior Mei looked into the sky, "……"
Tao Xiao Xian continued asking, "Then, the money in your small treasury, it can"t be from plundering the flesh and blood of the people? If it"s really like that, I don"t want them. This Young Miss isn"t that lacking of clothes." She changed her clothes between the two white like the female ghost clothes periodically. Those who didn"t know would a.s.sume this young girl had never changed her clothes.
Chu Xun rolled his eyes, "Zhen"s savings are given by the late Emperor. Later, zhen made a bet zhen believed would surely win at the underground betting house. Who would have ever antic.i.p.ated zhen would encounter a setback? Thankfully, zhen still won in the end. Zhen let some people to do some business and earned another extras. All of them zhen saved inside the private bank at compound interest." After saying so, he stared at the moneyless person again.
Miss Xiao Xian waved her hand before Chu Xun"s eyes, "Talk if you"re talking. Why do you keep staring at Little Seventh?"
"She understand why."
Tao Xiao Xian walked continuously. Pa.s.sing the entrance of an alley, a pair of hands suddenly appeared from her back and pulled her. Tao Xiao Xian only managed to half exclaim in surprise before her figure quickly disappeared in the alley. That person"s skill was extremely good. Holding onto Tao Xiao Xian, he flew nonstop. In a short while, they had arrived at a deserted wasteland.
"To sneak attack from the back. What sort of heroic man are you?" Tao Xiao Xian grinned. She was elated. She didn"t struggle at all. She didn"t seem like a young miss who got captured, instead she was happy like her plan succeeded.
Because she could already guess who that person was.
Sixth Mei"s face was very ugly. He had seven parts resemblance to Mei Qian Deng. He was not as pretty as Mei Qian Deng and there was obstinate and unruly aura in his expression. "You helping Chu Xun and selling Mei Qian Deng is considered as heroic man?!"
Tao Xiao Xian snorted once and said with a smile, "I"m a girl. I"m originally is not a heroic man. Plus, Mei Qian Deng is your little sister, not mine. Wherever she is, who she is with, I can"t intervene."
Sixth Mei got tongue-tied by her. His neck straightened repeated and his face was a bit red. In a flash, he sternly said, "Don"t joke. My little sister"s matter cannot be used to make fun. Especially with this Chu Xun."
"You"re the one who shouldn"t joke. That person is the Emperor. Is his name something you can call randomly?"
"You……!" Sixth Mei had always been at his wit"s end when facing Tao Xiao Xian. If not, he wouldn"t escape the moment he saw her.
"Fine, fine. Then, what do you want me to do?"
"My little sister is credulous. She will be moved by just some simple talk from the Emperor. She was like that too in the past. It can"t do for this to continue further. The bodyguards in that house are too many. I alone can"t forcefully enter it. You should help me, bring her out of there."
Tao Xiao Xian circled around Sixth Mei once. She checked his whole body carefully. Sixth Mei felt uncomfortable remaining standing on the spot. Tao Xiao Xian"s lips pulled back, revealing a cold smirk, "His Majesty had searched for Little Seventh Mei for so many years. How can he easily let her go? If I help you, when His Majesty blames someone, you as Mei Qian Deng"s biological brother will naturally be fine but do you know what sort of consequence will I have?"
Sixth Mei remained silent.
"Mei Qing Ping, you should be called as Mei Xing[1] or Mei Fei[2]."
"The Emperor is not someone who will wantonly slaughter innocent people! If he really want to kill you, I will come and save you. If I can"t save you, I will die with you." Sixth Mei felt a twinge of guilt by Miss Xiao Xian"s words. He lightly pulled her sleeve and softened his voice, "It"s not I want you to literally bring Qian Deng out of there. We have to take her by strategy, by strategy! Make Qian Deng that d.a.m.n girl wish to come out by herself. I will wait for you two at the house next door. If Qian Deng have understand and want to get out, immediately give me a signal."
"I will try then." Tao Xiao Xian pulled her sleeve away from Sixth Mei"s hand. After saying so, she left.
Sixth Mei wrung his hands. After confused for a moment, he gritted his teeth as he chased after Tao Xiao Xian, "Let me escort you."
"Yo, did Sixth Young Master Mei eat wrong medicine today to actually wish to escort me? In the past, when you see this Young Miss, you"re like hating unable to grow a pair of winds like a sparrow, flying away after snorting."
"Humph, there"s no need for it. Many thanks."
After chasing after Sixth Mei for this long, Tao Xiao Xian could finally feel proud and elated once. She suddenly remembered Chu Xun"s previous teeth gnas.h.i.+ng look. Turning her head around, she added, "Right, you better take down those traps in your house. His Majesty last time got bullied very bad by your traps and swore to find you for revenge. A tooth for a tooth."
"He, he dare!"
That day when she returned to "Mei Mansion", Tao Xiao Xian took the opportunity Mei Qian Deng wasn"t around to enter Chu Xun"s room.
"Ai, I say you really can predict things like a G.o.d."
The injury on Chu Xun"s face had basically fully recovered. He put down the imperial decree asking for his return from Empress Dowager and smiled happily at Miss Xiao Xian. "When have zhen ever miscalculate? This place is being tightly guarded by zhen"s bodyguard. Since he can"t enter, he can only find you to ask for help."
Sixth Mei"s temper was similar to this jianghu, dared to love and dared to hate. The reason he couldn"t accept Tao Xiao Xian was because in his heart he still thought of that broke off fiancée. For the time being, let" just consider him as liking that person, he would stubbornly wait. Similarly, when the imperial court indiscriminately sentenced Mei family, Sixth Mei extremely hated the members of the Chu surnamed family. This time, he obviously could step forward and forcefully take away Mei Qian Deng yet Sixth Mei didn"t want to meet Chu Xun at all. He was willing to find Tao Xiao Xian for help instead.
To be truthful, Chu Xun quite admired this future Sixth Brother-in-Law.
"So, you will really let Little Seventh leave?" Tao Xiao Xian was shocked.
On the second day Chu Xun forced Mei Qian Deng to stay, he had said to Tao Xiao Xian. Sixth Mei would surely seek her to help break up Mei Qian Deng and Chu Xun. Chu Xun had told her before, she just had to agree to him. She didn"t have to worry about their friends.h.i.+p. It would never collapse. (Sixth Mei: Break up? To separate a pair of lovers is called as break up, to separate a family is called as break up. You don"t have a s.h.i.+tty bit of relations.h.i.+p with my little sister, what sort of break up are you talking about? Don"t be too conceited.)
Chu Xun smiled, "With this, you will have done a favour for Sixth Mei. Isn"t this great?"
"It is great but for you to be this sly, I"m scared of being tricked by you."
"Don"t worry. Zhen is a very righteous one. Zhen promise, this matter will not have any relation to you. Mei Qian Deng will return to the palace with zhen but Sixth Mei will never blame you. Because that will be her own choice."
Tao Xiao Xian was silently a bit at loss. She was troubled in her heart. One side was Chu Xun, another side was Sixth Mei and the steelyard weight was Mei Qian Deng. Should she stand on Chu Xun"s side and sell off Mei Qian Deng or stand on Sixth Mei"s side and take away Mei Qian Deng?
Tao Xiao Xian compared from all aspects. On cunningness, naturally His Majesty was better. Seeing Chu Xun"s appearance that already had the plan, she had no reason to be a mantis trying to obstruct a chariot.
Plus, Mei Qian Deng didn"t say it directly but in these few days she carried tea, delivered water and thoughtfully took care of Chu Xun. Her heart obviously had Chu Xun inside. No matter it was the feelings between men and women or the etiquette between the ruler and subject, the feeling was real. Whether Mei Qian Deng leave or stay, she shouldn"t control it and she couldn"t control it.
Then, from the point of her own benefit. Sixth Mei wholeheartedly trying to avoid her was because he was waiting for his fiancée that Lao something Zi. He was abiding to his promise to Lao something Zi. She had dawdled so long with Sixth Mei, attacking for so long without success. If Chu Xun really could make Mei Qian Deng willingly to return to the palace with him, then he must have the ability. Letting Chu Xun to help her planning it would surely be using half the effort for double the result.
On a bright sunny afternoon, Young Miss Tao made a happy decision, "Alright, then what do you need me to do?"
Chu Xun smiled far brighter than the sunlight. He raised his fist and swayed it. Tao Xiao Xian unworriedly hit her fist with his. From now on, they would work together, becoming invincible.
Female warrior Mei who knew nothing had just finished practised sword moves and sweating. She was preparing to return to the room to take a bath.
Chu Xun was at the corridor when he saw she returned. He happily approached her.
"Young Miss Tao had picked lots of pretty clothes. Since those who should know had already know you"re a girl, then you don"t have to disguise as a man in the future."
Mei Qian Deng, "……" Female warrior Mei however couldn"t actually accept this reality. She strongly believed she had perfectly disguised as a man.
"I already helped you put the clothes in your room. After taking a bath, change into them. Zhen……I will be waiting for you at the western small plum forest. After you have cleaned up, immediately come over. I have something to say to you."
Mei Qian Deng nodded her head. She wasn"t curious at all of Chu Xun"s serious face.
Inside the room, Tao Xiao Xian was hiding in wait.
"Qian Deng, as your future Sixth Sister-in-Law, I have some words I better remind you. I can see His Majesty will not leave the matter at that. Have you think properly how to shake him off?" Tao Xiao Xian talked while helping her to take off the clothes.
Mei Qian Deng stopped Tao Xiao Xian"s wicked hands, "I can do it myself."
Tao Xiao Xian curled her lips. She let go and sat on the beauty couch at the side. She started to fiddle with that pile of pretty clothes. "Which one do you like? I think this white one is pretty and matches your temperament. What do you think?"
Mei Qian Deng put down her black hair and sheepishly brushed her hair three times while sitting in front of the dressing table. Her head didn"t even turn, "It"s good."
"You didn"t even see it!"
"Your eyes have always been excellent. Else, you won"t take a fancy to my Sixth Brother." Mei Qian Deng turned her body and went to the back of the screen. The bath tub released warm air. Lots of plum flower petals were floating on the surface of the water. Female warrior Mei frowned. She as a (female) warrior, how could she have a flower bath? This was too girlish.
The moment Miss Xiao Xian heard Sixth Mei, she gained interest and raised her tone, "You must be kidding me. That bad temper your Sixth Brother have, it"s not like you don"t know. If my eyes are excellent, I should fall for His Majesty instead. Worse than that, I should at least fall for those at the Martial Arts Alliance Leader grade. Mei Qing Ping that guy, he is even less than their little finger."
"Then, why are you still choosing him?"
"Like a cuckold towards the mung bean maybe." Young Miss Tao rolled her own eyes at herself. She was really disappointed with herself.
Mei Qian Deng didn"t say further as she seriously washed her head and took the bath. The water crashed continuously. Her movements were quick. It was not like a young miss taking a bath, wasting half a day. Yes, she just didn"t have an ounce of awareness of a young miss!
Tao Xiao Xian didn"t feel embarra.s.sed as she directly went to the back of the screen, "Qian Deng, let me tell you. Today, when I went out, your brother came to me. He asked me to persuade you to return home as soon as possible."
Mei Qian Deng too wasn"t embarra.s.sed at all. She let Tao Xiao Xian see enough as she calmly said, "I know."
"His Majesty"s injury is almost healed completely now. The palace seems to be urging him to return. After all, the big matters in the court needed him to take care of. What is your decision?" Tao Xiao Xian licked her lips. She was a bit nervous.
But the personnel involved was actually unfazed as she casually said, "He returns to the capital city, I need to go to Hai w.a.n.g Prefecture."
"Boss Qian is no longer hiring you, don"t you know?"
Mei Qian Deng"s hands increased the strength as she wrung the towel. She was about to finish bathing. She turned her head around to look at Tao Xiao Xian. A shock flashed through her eyes. In a flash, she had regained her calmness. Chu Xun indeed could do this. "Then I will go home with Sixth Brother. Do you want to go with us?"
Tao Xiao Xian gulped. She wanted! She really wanted to!
"Will Chu Xun willing to let you go?"
"Later I will talk to him."
Tao Xiao Xian helped her bring the clothes over. Even though Mei Qian Deng didn"t wear female clothes most of the time, the strings on the clothes being tied into complex knots were a familiar and easy task to her. She had thought, though Chu Xun said he had the confidence to make Mei Qian Deng stay, he had never tell her how.
She suddenly heard Mei Qian Deng talked to her again, "My brother ask you to persuade me to return. If I go with you, my brother will be in debt to you. In the future, you can use this to threaten him. He had always want to be a hero. He is very particular to jianghu unwritten laws. If you helped him once, he will surely want to return your help. You have to grab this chance well."
Saying so, Mei Qian Deng straightened the clothes. Patting Tao Xiao Xian"s shoulders, she smiled.
Tao Xiao Xian had a dazzling moment. She suddenly felt, for Mei Qian Deng to smile this calmly and her eyes when looking at her, she seemed to know everything. Just like how Chu Xun guessed Sixth Mei would seek Tao Xiao Xian for help and guessed correctly Tao Xiao Xian would stand on his side. Tao Xiao Xian couldn"t help but wondered if Mei Qian Deng had long seen through Chu Xun"s idea? Seen through her idea? It was just that she never say it out and accompanied them to "fight and scheme against each other"?
[1] The Xing is the word for heart.
[2] The Fei is the word for lungs.
Translated by HaruOngy at Geniusly Plain (If you can see this line, you must have read this in the aggregator site which illegally steal various works. Be shameful of yourself for not appreciating the translator"s hard work. Don"t think only you want to have it the easy way. Support the fanbase and translator!)