Chapter 61: Perfection

  Min An sat at the edge of the table, the cool breeze from the window blowing directly over him, soothing his anxious mood. Although he could use marrying a wife as an excuse to stay with the young master, it was not a perfect plan after all. Min An thought for a moment and remembered Xuan Xu's proposal, and again had hope in his heart.

  The current urgency is to get rid of the weird hobby of the young master, and after marrying Xu Xun, she can naturally block the young master's strong retention, preserving her own reputation and that of the young master's mansion. As for her future career... Min An pursed her lips and thought for a moment, don't be too demanding, start from a low-level official in another place.

  Min An wiped away his sweat, drank a tube of cool tea, and picked up the bamboo tube to take a look. Suddenly, he put it down again. He had been so focused on being nervous that he hadn't noticed earlier that the bamboo tube was left as a water bottle for the general to drink from after he recovered from his injuries and left the bamboo house, with a set of utensils still in his hand.

  Min An poured water to clean the cylinder, and then flipped it over onto the table. Outside the door, Xiao Zhi walked in with a basket of fruit, smiling and saying: "I waited until the young master left before entering the house, I shouldn't have disturbed you, little husband."

  Min An immediately remembered the corn's accusation and could only let Xiao Zhi enter. He used a bamboo tube to scoop up some cool tea and handed it over, saying: "Sir Xiao's esteemed presence brings glory to my humble abode, I have nothing but this cup of cool tea to entertain you with, please accept it."

  Xiao Zhiqing smiled and accepted the tea, sitting up straight to apologize to Min An. Min An immediately forgave her. The two exchanged a few pleasantries, neither mentioning their own concerns, nor hiding any sharp intentions, in short, the host and guest chatted amicably.

  When it came to visiting the purpose, Xiao Zhi also asked directly: "Can the young master's promise to Wang Ye be counted?"

  Min An replied to King Chu Nan's words with only one sentence, without exception: "Absolutely count on it."

  Xiao Zhiqin slightly lowered her head, with a hint of shyness as a woman, and softly said: "Thank you for your help." She was an intelligent person, earlier standing far outside the courtyard, seeing Li Peinan walk out of the door with an unhappy expression, she could somewhat guess that he had been rebuffed by Min An, so she didn't mention her own emotions which must have been bitter and urgent.

  The princess's arrogant nature was like the sky, yet she would actually take notice of Min An, who had a very ordinary background and experience. Moreover, she often disregarded the prince's face, causing her heart to be disappointed. Just as she gradually accepted that she didn't have such good fortune, the prince told her that an opportunity had arrived.

  The opportunity lies with Min An, if he can be persuaded to distance himself from the Crown Prince, it would be beneficial for oneself.

  Xiao Zhiqing said to Min An: "You go to the Ministry of Justice earlier, there are some pending cases that need your handling."

  Her orders were exactly what Min An had expected. "Understood."

  Xiao Zhiqing saw that her goal had been achieved and stood up to leave, but Min An called out to her again: "I'd like to ask Your Excellency Xiao to issue a marriage certificate."

  Xiao Zhi's expression changed as he turned around. Min An bowed: "Only through Xiao's hands can this matter be expedited the fastest. I guarantee to Xiao that this matter will not involve the Crown Prince at all. The Crown Prince still needs Xiao to cover for him."

  The marriage certificate was issued by the local government office and sealed with a stamp, then the new wife's name would be added to the husband's household registration. Currently, Min'an's family head is not his master, but Li Peinan. Min'an thought that after preparing everything, he would propose to Li Peinan for permission to get married, before that, he could hide and avoid trouble if possible.

  Xiao Zhiqin hesitated and said, "The marriage certificate needs to specify which family's daughter is getting married. Does the young master currently have someone in mind? My family's Bao'er can't be considered."

  Min An's face turned red: "Xiao sir only needs to release the document, and I will fill in the husband and wife's names, okay?"

  "This is not good, Chu State has never set a precedent before. If something goes wrong, I will be held accountable."

  Min An said in a low voice: "Please, Sir Xiao, fulfill it."

  Xiao Zhiqiong smiled and said: "Why don't you first fulfill me, young master?"

  Min An hastily nodded.

  Xiao Zhiqing naturally understood him, and without asking anything, he readily agreed to issue a blank marriage certificate. She didn't ask, just to avoid unnecessary trouble or complications, and also to make it easier for the young master to find an excuse to shirk responsibility.

  Half an hour later, Li Qun came to urge Qin An to listen to the difference in the study room according to Li Peinan's order. Qin An said: "Today is a fine autumn day, I want to be the host and invite Xiao Daren to go hunting together. Please trouble Li Dage to inform Gongzi that I have already left."

  Li Qun was somewhat embarrassed, stuck at the entrance of the bamboo house. Min An pretended to be angry: "The arm hurts badly, can't you find something interesting to pass the time?" He took a deep breath and pushed Li Qun away, walking out of the inn's gate without looking back, and reunited with Xiao Zhiqin who had finished saying goodbye.

  Min An accompanied by Xiao Zhiqing and two attendants, rode towards the famous hunting ground of Qingyuan County, Haitang Mountain. He wanted to hunt a small leopard as a gift for Xiao Bao'er - or an apology gift for breaking off the engagement, so he rode on horseback, even though his riding skills were not excellent, he was willing to endure the bumpy ride without complaint.

  Min An didn't have the heart to enjoy the scenery along the way, and from time to time, he would ask Xiao Zhiqing about Xiao Bao'er's news. Xiao Zhiqing smiled and said: "You're going to get married soon, can't you put down Bao'er?"

  Min An gritted his teeth and replied: "I know where Bao'er usually goes, so I can block Wu Mei."

  "So it seems that Young Master can't let go of Wu Mei Luo?"

  Min An hummed and didn't respond. Xiao Zhi couldn't guess what Min An was thinking, so he smiled and told him some things about Wu Mei taking Bao'er out to play. Min An listened carefully, thinking to himself that he must find an opportunity to reason with Wu Mei. He had helped him so much in the past, but this ungrateful kid didn't even give him a heads up before winning over Bao'er's heart... He also wanted to threaten him, telling him that he had better treat Bao'er well from now on, or else he would be the first one to not let him off.

  Xiao Bao'er is to Min An like Hua Cui and Shifu, all of whom are people who care deeply for her. He doesn't resent Bao'er's "transfer of affections", but he can't swallow the fact that Wu Mei "stole" his love. Moreover, Min An doesn't trust Wu Mei's behavior, after all she likes to gamble and has no proper occupation, if he were to hand over Bao'er's marriage matters from his own hands, Min An always feels that it would be unfair to Bao'er, so he needs to carefully help her choose a husband.

  Min An stole a glance at Xiao Zhiqing, seeing that Xiao Zhiqing didn't have the slightest worried look on his face, he secretly laughed at himself for worrying too much, and then whipped the horse to run forward quickly.

  Four people walked around Haitang Mountain for nearly half a day, examining various landforms. The autumn sun slanted, casting a patch of light on the rocks. Min An crouched at the top of the mountain, gazing down at the stream below. Xiao Zhiqing came over to find him and said, "Just now, an attendant came to report that the prince's sedan chair can already be seen from below. Whether things will go smoothly depends on Young Master's eloquence."

  Min An couldn't help but grab Xiao Zhiqiong's sleeve: "Lord Xiao, are you really going to use this move?"

  Xiao Zhiqing smiled slightly as he sat on the mountain rock: "Only when you fall hard do you have a chance to gamble with the young master for a 'relenting heart'."

  Min An let go of his hand, and softly sighed: "Xiao sir is so persistent, still able to be ruthless with himself, it truly makes me admire him." Xiao Zhi smiled slightly, turned around and went to make preparations.

  Min An was thinking hard about how to dispel Li Peinan's anger and get him to agree to his subsequent requests, sitting on a rock with his knees clasped together. Unexpectedly, Li Peinan turned around and saw him sitting in the scorching sun, and his heart felt some pity for him, so he couldn't bear to show an angry face, and walked towards him with a blue umbrella.

  The blue parasol shaded the intense autumn sun above, causing Min An to look up and meet Li Peinan's ink-colored eyes, after which he was suddenly speechless, unsure of what to say.

  Li Peinan patted Min An's head: "What are you hunting for? Sitting here like an idiot."

  "Kitty."

  Li Peinan stuffed the umbrella into Min'an's hands, and Min'an was confused, so he simply held the umbrella handle on a rock. Li Peinan turned around and said: "Cover yourself." He understood and obediently used his shoulder to carry the umbrella handle, squatted down, and covered himself all over.

  Li Peinan's feet suddenly grew a large green mushroom. He looked down, let out an almost inaudible sigh, lifted his foot and used the back of his boot to move the mushroom aside, whistling towards the cliff below. A servant who followed him threw over a bamboo box, from which he took out a piece of honey-glazed rabbit meat and tossed it into the stream below.

  After a moment, a golden-haired mother leopard emerged, lowered its head to bite the rabbit meat, and was about to jump onto a nearby tree. Li Peinan drew his bow and shot out a hook-tipped iron arrow, which flashed in the dark and accurately pierced the mother leopard's hind leg, pinning it to the ground. Min An looked up from under the umbrella and whispered, "Young master has injured it, and now there's a pool of blood, which has ruined my mood for hunting."

  Li Peinan said, "Wait." He jumped straight down the cliff. He carefully took out the iron arrow and wrapped it with good medicine mud on the mother leopard's hind leg, then hid himself aside. The mother leopard got up and moved its injured leg, step by step walking towards the messy stone pile, Li Peinan followed it into the stone cave, took off his outer robe and brought out a small leopard cub, then jumped onto the mountain rock to hand it over to Min An.

  Min An happily thanked him, Li Peinan smiled slightly at him, but didn't say anything. Min An stuffed the small raccoon dog into a bamboo box, picked up a green umbrella from beside him and stood on a rock to block the sun for Li Peinan.

  A gentle breeze blew over the mountain top, and Li Peinan sat upright on a rock, saying: "Wipe the sweat for me."

  Min An hesitated for a moment, pulled over the wrinkled sleeve, and randomly wiped Li Peinan's forehead. Taking advantage of his calm expression, he quickly asked: "If you give Master a civet cat, will Master thank him?"

  "What do you want?"

  Min An said: "I think the young master should pay attention to etiquette and return thanks."

  "Suit yourself."

  "Can I invite you out for a show?"

  "Can."

  "Let's just get through tonight..."

  "Uh-huh."

  Min An carefully said the sharp words were all acknowledged by Li Peinan, which made him breathe a sigh of relief. He felt that the young master at this time was not as inhumane as he used to be, and couldn't help but move his umbrella to cover Li Peinan's entire body with shade.

  Li Peinan asked: "How did you think of sending a raccoon dog to me?"

  "The young master seems to like flying birds and running beasts. In this surrounding area, only Haitang Mountain has some rare animals."

  Li Peinan smiled and said: "It's rare that you think about what I like." Lowering his eyes to look at the bamboo basket, he saw a small bundle of dumplings and asked: "Is it this?"

  Min An hastily replied: "It's much bigger than that, it takes a lot of effort to catch, Young Master, you can't go back on your word."

  "Uh-huh."

  Min An stood behind Li Peinan, carefully holding an umbrella and waiting anxiously for Xiao Zhiqin's signal. To avoid arousing Li Peinan's suspicion, he also chatted casually with him.

  "Is it Master Guigeng?"

  "Not expensive, only twenty-four."

  "Do you like hunting dogs?"

  "I don't like it."

  "What about the leopard-print clothes?"

  Li Peinan looked at Min An and said, "What do you really want to ask?" Min An thought to himself, I'm just helping Xiao Daren investigate your hobbies, how can I ask so obviously? So he hesitated and said, "I'd like to get to know the young master's character."

  Li Peinan replied directly: "Come to Ningju tonight and I'll let you understand thoroughly."

  Min An did not dare to respond. Li Peinan called out, "Sit down." He moved a distance away and sat on the other side of the stone, crossing his arms to shield himself from the sun. Li Peinan couldn't bear to see him being so cautious and instructed, "Cover yourself." Min An again produced an umbrella-like mushroom and stuck it into the ground beside the stone.

  Li Peinan thought for a moment and said, "What I want, I will personally go get it. No one can stop me. Military power, royal power, wife, wealth and honor are all the same. You're afraid of me now and hiding tightly, but what if I change my mind and like someone else later? Won't you regret it?"

  Min said quietly, "I'd like you to turn your head now." He was afraid that telling the truth would ruin the opportunity at hand, so he changed the subject: "What else do you usually like, young master?"

  "You be obedient and listen to me."

  Min An hesitated for a moment before asking again: "What else?"

  Li Peinan said calmly: "I like leopards, it doesn't mean I like leopard-print clothes, stop making a big deal out of this."

  Min An muttered: "So the young master knew about it." The songstress who was sent by the flattering officials and wore a leopard skin skirt to invite favor.

  Li Peinan still said calmly: "Since I said I won't punish you again, I will naturally keep my promise, but your behavior also needs to be restrained."

  Min An hastily nodded. He recalled the rumors about the Crown Prince's mansion that the punished guard had mentioned, and after enduring for a while, he finally asked Xiao Zhi: "I heard that there is a beautiful princess from Xijiang who was granted a title, she is the treasure of General Island's family, and she came to Changping Prefecture specifically for the prince. The prince also treats her slightly differently, is this true?"

  Li Peinan looked over at Min'an, who was sitting far away. Min'an used an umbrella to cover his face, and he simply reached out to lift the umbrella fabric and asked: "Do you really want to know?"

  Min An's face turned red as he nodded. Li Peinan said calmly, "You'll understand once you move into the Crown Prince's mansion."

  Min An was slightly surprised: "The county princess is in the crown prince's mansion?"

  "Uh-huh."

  Min An thought to himself, "This is probably not something that Xiao would be pleased to see." But he hesitated for a long time and really didn't have any reason to continue questioning him, so he quietly lowered his head and went to look at the small grass under his robe. Li Peinan waited for half a day, seeing that he had nothing more to say, released his arm, and snapped the umbrella fabric back into place. Min An was completely thrown off by the external force, he hugged the umbrella handle and sat up straight again, still not speaking. Li Peinan casually picked up a small stone, held it in his hand, and flicked it out, hitting the umbrella handle with a loud "ding". Min An didn't dodge and was hit on the forehead by the umbrella handle again. He raised his head, looking angry, and said: "Young master is bullying people again."

  Li Peinan's smile at the corner of his mouth disappeared, and he said seriously: "You've asked so many miscellaneous questions, what else do you want to figure out?"

  Min An shook his head: "Nothing."

  "Why ask me indirectly? Why not take a step forward and try? How would you know I won't meet your request?"

  Min An raised his umbrella, revealing his entire cautious face: "Then, young master, let me out of the mansion and let me go to the government office alone." His intention was to leave the control of the Crown Prince's Mansion and enter the government office as an external official, even if it was a small official or a small clerk.

  Li Peinan naturally understood his intention and just said: "Take a step forward first."

  Min An held up his umbrella and took a step closer to Li Peinan. Li Peinan stood up, wrapped his arms around Min An's waist, and said two words: "Not allowed."

  Thank you very much 9981 for launching two deep-water torpedoes

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  Thank you very much, Aunt Rong and 9981 digital mm rocket gun (*^__^*)

  Thank you very much, Zhu Er Duo (2), A Liang (2), Yu Guo Tian Qing, h, Xiao Xiao Shu's landmine (*^__^*) l3l4