Chapter Fifty-Four: Drunken Beauty

  "Xiahou Ying" glanced at them with disdain, patted the leopard's head, and took Liu Junwen's arm, saying in a soft voice: "Liu Lang, let's go!"

  Liu Junwen seemed to have been enchanted, his head was dizzy and confused, his feet were floating on clouds, following "Xia Houying" all the way, he couldn't hear a word of Mrs. Yao's vicious curses behind him.

  Although Mrs. Yao's mother was the wet nurse of Princess Taiping, Xiaohou was a noble lady from a powerful family in Western Regions. Would Princess Taiping offend the noble family for her wet nurse's daughter's lover?

  Taiping Princess was undoubtedly the most favored daughter of Empress Wu, but it has never been heard that she would interfere in political affairs. Moreover, Liu Junlun had followed Mrs. Yao for so long, but clearly knew that her mother, who had been a wet nurse to Taiping Princess, might not be particularly favored by Taiping Princess.

  After all, Princess Taiping was already an adult, long married and had children. One of her wet nurses from childhood... Ah! Could only pretend to be a tiger by waving a big flag, deceiving outsiders.

  When Mrs. Yao struggled to get up from the ground, "Xia Houying" and his party had already left proudly, leaving only a few servants dismantling the account on the spot.

  Madam Yao couldn't possibly lower herself to show off her authority in front of some lowly servants, she was so furious and had nowhere to vent her anger. Just then, the lame-legged wolf-like dog came back, limping and hopping on one leg, jumped beside Madam Yao, leaned against her body, looked up at her with a pitiful expression, and whined plaintively.

  Madam Yao took a look and saw that her small beast was still curled up with one front leg, as if it had been beaten by someone. Looking in the direction where the beast had escaped, she only saw a man in brocade clothes holding a stick walking towards the tent, which was also where other people were enjoying the autumn scenery.

  The raccoon dog, frightened, ran away in a hurry and rushed towards the tent. The guards of Princess Taiping's mansion were afraid that it would scratch their master, so they beat it back with a stick.

  Madam Yao was furious, she was about to explode with rage. Today really was a day when nothing went right for her. With a fierce expression, she stormed towards the tent, shouting in a shrill voice from afar: "Which scoundrel hurt my snow leopard? Come out and show yourself!"

  A tall and robust Han man emerged at the sound of his name, standing upright with a loud voice: "It was I who beat your family's little runt, what are you going to do about it!"

  Madam Yao cried out "Oh no!" and immediately knelt down, touching her forehead to the ground, trembling as she said: "Your servant didn't know that Your Highness was here, I have offended Your Highness, please forgive me, please forgive me!"

  She had swept her gaze, was about to make things difficult for the host, but suddenly saw clearly the appearance of Princess Taiping. Last year when Princess Taiping was 23 years old on her birthday, she had the good fortune to follow her mother to the princess's mansion to celebrate her birthday and had seen the true face of Princess Taiping once. This made her a noble person who had been fawning for half her life, how could she forget after seeing her just once?

  The Princess Taiping was somewhat surprised and looked at her carefully, but she had no impression of her. She couldn't help but ask in puzzlement: "Do you know me? Who are you?"

  Madam Yao replied with a quivering voice: "I am Yaoyun'er, daughter of the Han family. Last year, I accompanied my mother to the Princess's mansion to celebrate her birthday and was fortunate enough to be summoned by the Princess and pay respects to Her Highness."

  "Miss Han... Yao Yun'er?"

  Princess Taiping thought for a moment, then suddenly looked enlightened and nodded: "Ah! I remember now, it was you... what happened just now?"

  Madam Yao hesitated and dared not answer.

  Princess Taiping saw her muttering to herself and, recalling the scene she had just witnessed, roughly guessed what was going on. Her expression turned cold as she slowly said: "What rank is your husband in the imperial court? How dare you call yourself 'Madam'?"

  The word "madam" was not something that anyone could call themselves at the time. Only wives of officials above the fifth rank in the imperial court could be called madam. What official position did Yao Yun'er's husband He Zeng hold?

  When asked by Princess Taiping like this, Yao Yun'er became even more frightened and trembled with fear, saying: "Yes, yes, yes, I was reckless, I... have committed a crime!"

  The Princess Taiping snorted and said: "This palace remembers that your mother once said that your husband had passed away for a long time, are you still living in widowhood at home now?"

  Yao Yun'er bowed down and said: "Thank you, Your Highness, for asking. My husband has been gone for many years, and I have been...I have been a widow living at home all along."

  "Since that's the case, let's hurry up and find someone for you to marry, so as to avoid causing trouble outside."

  Madam Yao's face turned red and her ears were burning, she merely nodded and didn't dare make a sound.

  Princess Taiping waved her hand coldly, and only then did Mrs. Yao feel relieved, hastily kowtowing three times before quickly retreating.

  She waited until the aftershocks had subsided and returned to her own tent, only to find that Xiahou's group of people had long since disappeared. The original place where they had set up camp was as clean as a dog's gnawed bone.

  Madam Yao first lost face in front of Xiahou Xuan, and then vented her anger on others. Unfortunately, she ran into Princess Taiping again, losing even more face in front of the ladies-in-waiting. Overwhelmed with shame, she hastily packed up her camp and slunk back to Yongkang Fang.

  Mrs. Yao returned to Yongkang Lane and did not go back to her own home, but instead went to Liu Junwen's mansion in a fit of rage.

  Liu Jun's father was originally a minor official in Luoyang Prefecture, and before Wu Zetian made Luoyang the administrative center of the entire Tang Dynasty, he had already set up a residence there. At that time, real estate in Luoyang was much cheaper than it is now, so the residence he acquired was not small either.

  It wasn't until later that his parents passed away, and the family's fortunes declined. Before he could climb up Mrs. Yao's leg, Liu Junwen sat and ate through all their wealth, pawning everything they could pawn, leaving only an empty shell of a home now.

  Madam Yao stormed into Liu Junwen's home, sat in the main hall for a long time, but still didn't see him return. Her anger burning even hotter, she ordered the servants to smash everything inside and outside the Liu house until it was completely destroyed. Only then did her anger slightly subside, and with a scowl, she returned to the manor.

  Liu Junwen was at Xia Houying's residence at this time.

  "The Xiahou Mansion" where Xiahou Yuan lived had a gate that opened onto the main street, not inside the alley. Liu Jun was a connoisseur and knew at a glance that this was the residence of an official above the third rank, because the gates of officials below the third rank would never open directly onto the main street.

  Xia Houying briefly explained to him that this was indeed the residence of a Shangshu. At that time, officials in the capital often built residences in the capital, and when they retired or were appointed to local government positions, their empty residences would be rented out. Alternatively, if a family had too many houses, their idle houses would also be rented to guests.

  At the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, many high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital would do this. At that time, the hotel industry was not well developed, and distinguished guests from other places who came to Beijing for a long stay found it inconvenient to live in simple inns. Therefore, they specially rented out the extra houses of high-ranking officials and nobles. Of course, the more luxurious the guest, the larger and higher-end the mansion they rented.

  After "Golden Hairpin Drunken" spent a thousand gold coins on wine, and the proud slaves compared their strength by the Luo River, there was also that pet leopard which only the first-class noble residences would raise. Liu Junhuan had no doubt about Xia Houying's identity, now seeing her rented mansion so grand and luxurious, despite being temporary, the manor even hired many slaves and servants, with daily expenses not less than a thousand gold coins, she was even more certain of her identity.

  Liu Junwen followed "Xia Houying" down the light carriage, and as soon as he entered the mansion, he was greeted by a beautiful maid. When he arrived at the courtyard, he saw that the doors were layered, and the winding corridors were deep and winding. When he reached the back house, he ascended to the hall and entered the room, where he saw low-hanging pearl curtains, dignified screens standing upright, and the furnishings in the room were all luxurious.

  Xiahou's daughter went inside to change her clothes, and when she came out again, her brocade dress dazzled the eyes, her pearls swayed with each step, and she looked elegant and charming, like a celestial being from heaven. Xiahou ordered his servants to set up wine and feast to entertain Lang Jun, and with just one order, in an instant, the eight delicacies of water and land were all arranged, and there were also several beautiful maids who sang and danced to add to the excitement.

  Liu Junwen had never seen such a grand scene, with beauties by his side, pouring wine and chatting warmly. The hundred charming dancers and the melodious singing voices made him drunk without realizing it. When he woke up from his drunkenness, he vaguely heard Xia Hou's daughter speaking affectionately in his ear, saying that when her father and brother returned from Yangzhou, she would tell her father about their relationship and they would be married, a perfect match.

  Liu Junwen's face turned red, and he nodded silently. When he got drunk, the pretty maid helped him down and rested in the guest room of the Shangshu Mansion.

  When he woke up from his sleep, it was already the next day's afternoon. The sun was high in the sky. As soon as Liu Jun opened his eyes, he saw that the brocade curtains were like smoke, and with just one breath, a fragrance wafted into his nostrils. Stretching out his hand to touch, the silk on the bed was smooth as jade. The only regret was that there wasn't a beautiful naked woman leaning against him by his side.

  Otherwise, this is heaven.

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