Chapter 26: Delivering a Message

  After Mu Yan lost favor, my days in the palace also became increasingly dull. People with nothing to do would find something meaningless to do to pass the time, and I was no exception. So, I found the most leisurely thing to do to pass the time - thinking.

  What kind of person is Chen Songzhuo? Why did he appear there that night? And is he really the son of Dr. Chen? Can his words be trusted? Friends? Can there be friends in the palace? I don't know how many times I've thought about these questions, but every time I couldn't think of a result. Does the result matter? It's just a part of my daily routine, and thinking about it often makes me feel empty.

  Mu Yan's life did not change much.

  Waking up early, finishing breakfast early, chatting with me for a while, taking a nap after lunch, when the mood is relaxed and leisurely, finding a book to read aloud, or sitting in the courtyard painting a picture, or making a few delicate pastries. The two of us learn to be like idle noblewomen, sipping old tea, eating pastries, and chatting about things that no one cares about.

  Such days, though boring, are elegant. Being a pretentious artistic young woman has always been my dream, I just didn't expect it to come true in another time and space.

  "Miss, someone is looking for you outside the door!" Xiao Fuzi's silly voice came from outside my door. This poor child has become even thinner since he came in, but which one of us in Lingbo Hall hasn't?

  "Oh, who is it?" I opened the door and leaned against the doorway, asking aloud.

  Xiao Fu Zi shook his head, with a look of ignorance on his face.

  "I don't know, some look unfamiliar, they seem like imperial guards!"

  "Servant?" In this time and space, I only know one servant. If it's not him, who could it be? I turned around, closed the door, and smiled, "Oh, thank you, Fu Gonggong!"

  "Hehe..."

  I walked out of the courtyard and saw Chen Songzhuo leaning against the wall, his arms crossed in front of his chest, his eyes darting around. Today's him was dressed quite properly, wearing a standard black guard uniform, with the ceremonial sword at his waist. He had lost some of his noble air, but gained a bit more masculine vigor.

  "Have you had enough? I can't stand the way you're looking me up and down." Chen Songzhuo stood up straight, but his arms remained crossed in front of his chest, sneering.

  What I couldn't stand most was his expression, as if he were a big shot. Although the word "big shot" is the same, whether it's pronounced in the second tone or fourth tone makes a huge difference. Perhaps in his own eyes, he thinks of himself as the former, but to me, he's definitely the latter.

  He's got such an attitude, if I don't give him a few words back, it would be letting him off easy.

  "What's wrong, my eyes are on my face, I'll look wherever I want, do you have a say in this? Besides, what's it to you, if you're afraid of being looked at, then don't come out, who asked you to run into me, I'm looking, what can you do?"

  I said as I stuck out my tongue and made a face in front of him.

  He gave me a white eye, pouted his mouth and said "Why am I so bored, running all the way here to make trouble!"

  "This isn't called boredom, I'll teach you a new phrase, this is called being so idle it hurts!" I continued to make a ghost face.

  "What's that? Egg pain?" He had never heard of this term before and was puzzled.

  "Yes, it's just that", this explanation is really a bit embarrassing, why do we have to discuss male reproductive organs every time with him?

  He looked at me with a contemptuous expression, "You can't say anything good out of that mouth of yours!"

  "You, you can't even spit out ivory from your mouth?" I'm fed up with this guy, his quarrelsome skills are not to be underestimated.

  I hummed and thought to myself, since he wants to know, I'll teach him without shame, my eyes wandered to the position that should be "egg pain".

  He looked around, soon found the answer, his face began to turn red, anger gradually surged up, and he scolded, "I'm telling you, why can't you leave... that place?"

  Haha, seeing the person who quarreled with you get angry is such a delightful thing. I smirked and replied with a smile, "Right? Didn't you start this topic? I think you can't live without it, no, you've always been unable to live without it!"

  He listened to my words, became anxious, suddenly stood up straighter and stronger, his arms in front of his chest unknowingly fell down, transformed into a hand, pointing here and there in front of me, stamping his foot and scolding "You, inexplicable!"

  "Who was it that came out of nowhere, and seemed like you took the initiative to find me."

  I looked at his face, afraid that if we continued to quarrel, he would really lose his temper, which was not what I wanted to see. So I put away my sharp tongue and smiled softly, "Alright, let's not argue anymore, Chen Songzhuo, what brings you here?"

  He was still angry and turned his head away, refusing to answer my question.

  What a childish temper, what an immature brat! And yet he's still a guard, how can he be so juvenile?

  I took a step closer to his face, he turned around and I followed him as he turned, until he got tired of this boring game but still didn't plan on acknowledging me.

  "Chen Songzhuo, are you going to say something or not?" I couldn't help but ask angrily.

  ... didn't hear him come back.

  "I'm asking you again, Chen Songzhuo, are you going to say it or not?" I raised my voice and asked once more.

  "...", still no answer.

  "Good, you have guts!"

  I can no longer tolerate his attitude either, since one trick won't work, then use another.

  I no longer care about his attitude, after throwing that sentence, I turned around and left without looking back.

  At this time I was certain he would call me.

  Haha, guessed it right.

  "Umanya, you're back!" a very unwilling voice came from behind.

  I stopped in my tracks, but still didn't look back. At this point, whoever looked back would lose.

  "Ah, you're back!" The reluctant voice sounded again.

  "Hmm..." This time, the voice from behind sounded a bit impatient, with some extra footsteps added.

  A dark figure walked up in front of me, a hand rested on my arm, gently shaking it, and said in a low voice.

  "Hey, you're not so petty, are you? You just said that to me and I didn't even get angry. Lady, won't you say something?"

  Looking at his pleading expression, I couldn't hold it in anymore and forced myself not to burst out laughing. I responded with a sentence, "Hush, good grandson! What's the matter that you're disturbing Grandma's rest?"

  He realized he had been deceived by me, and was both angry and unable to help but laugh. He nodded his head, his voice shaking slightly, "You really are a sly one, okay, I'll show respect for the elderly. You said last time that you wanted to get rid of the loot, I'm off duty tomorrow, do you have any instructions for me?"

  This guy, this guy, I casually asked a question and he actually took it seriously. Kids are just young and too naive. He's not afraid that I'm a bad person, really wanting him to get rid of the loot? But isn't such naivety exactly what makes him lovable? Can't help but admit, my good feelings towards him skyrocketed.

  He looked at me with an expression of disbelief, but didn't ask any questions, and quietly waited for my "explanation".

  "Wait a moment." I didn't wait for him to come back to his senses, and swooshed back into the room, handing over the letter that had been written earlier to Chen Songzhuo's hand, briefly saying a few words, "Luyue Building, Zhou Muerlang."

  This time his face was covered with a layer of confusion, and he stuttered, "Luyu Building, the new one... that house... Qing... Building?"

  Not bad, the Luoyuelou has already opened its doors a few days ago. Although I didn't get to participate, according to Zhou Moulang's letter, the scale is grand and the scene is magnificent. The guests who attended were endless, I suppose that now in the capital city, there is no one who doesn't know the name of Luoyuelou!

  "Yes, what's up?" I replied succinctly.

  "You, Qing Lou? This letter... Zhou Mu Lang?"

  "What's wrong, this letter is to be given to Zhou Muren. By the way, you should know him, he is the boss of Luyuelou, and Luyuelou is a joint venture between us two." I replied briefly.

  "Joint venture?"

  "Oh, I forgot, he's an ancient person, maybe he hasn't heard of this term. I should use a phrase that he can understand, 'It means partnering up to invest in business.'"

  "Who are you?" His face was getting uglier and uglier.

  He's really a problem child.

  "The mama-san of the Luoyuelou is just a procuress, what's wrong with that? You look down on me for having this kind of identity?" I raised my chin and asked fearlessly as I stared back at him.

  He lowered his head, avoiding eye contact with me, and thought for a moment before saying, "Uh... you'd better stay away from Zhou Mulang, he's a married man. You should take back this letter!"

  "Haha, Chen Songzhuo, what are you thinking? We grew up together, do you think I don't know who he is? Besides, this letter isn't the love letter you thought it was. The crime of a palace maid secretly communicating with someone, I wouldn't dare to bear that responsibility. This is just about some business matters, if you don't believe me, open it and take a look!" I couldn't help but laugh, reached out my hand to take the letter over, trying to open it for him to see clearly.

  "That's good, no need, no need..." He took the letter over, folded it well and put it in his bosom, with a relieved look on his face.

  He patted the letter on his chest and looked down at me with a smile, "Miss, is there anything else you'd like to instruct?"

  "Good grandson, grandma has only this one thing to ask of you, don't mess it up. You can eat and drink at the Luoyue Building, just put it on my tab."

  I pretended to be hunchbacked, with one hand clenched into a fist and placed at my mouth, clearing my throat several times, putting on an old man's appearance.

  "Thank you, Grandma. I'll take my leave."

  Having finished speaking, he bowed and turned to leave.

  This guy is not only childish but also a bit silly, however more of it is lovely.