The Counterfeit Madam Hou Chapter 20

*Unedited

Nuo Yan looks at the tightly closed door as he walks forward and knocks lightly.

” Marquise, Grand Eunuch Gao is here. ”

Xue Mu's movements pause for a second before he starts placing the cakes he is holding in his hand back into the lunch box.

” Where is he now? ”
” Waiting at the pavilion. ”
” Alright. ”

Xue Mu looks at Liu Qinghuan as he stands up.

” I might need to enter the palace for a bit. Just leave the deserts here, I'll finish it up later. ”
” Un. ”

Standing up as well, Liu Qinghuan watches as he walks out of the room, before calling out to him once again.

” Marquise. ”

Xue Mu turns around, and looks straight into her eyes. He smiles and walks towards her, lightly planting a kiss on her forehead.

” Don't worry, I won't be in trouble. ”

With that, Liu Qinghuan silently watches him walk out of the Lotus Chambers.

At the Lotus Pavilion, a Eunuch in blue paces around, not even having the mood to enjoy the scenery of the pond full of lotuses. Strands of grey can be seen on his head, betraying his age. Spotting Xue Mu walking over, he hurriedly greets him.

” Marquise, the Emperor require your presence. ”

Xue Mu nods.

” Eunuch Gao, what's the urgent matter? ”

Grand Eunuch Gao hesitates for a moment before whispering.

” After the morning a.s.sembly, the Mongolian Envoy came to visit and said something that displeased the Emperor. ”

Hearing that, Xue Mu's eyes turn dark before smiling at Eunuch Gao.

” Thank you, Eunuch Gao, for warning me. ”

Without much delay, the two hurried over to the palace. Walking through the large imperial palace hall doors, Xue Mu bow towards Emperor Yan.

” Xue Mu greets His Majesty. ”

Placing the reports in his hands down, Emperor Yan raises his head and looks over at Xue Mu.

” The day before is your birthday, yet I've forgotten it due to everything happening lately. ”
” Your Majesty is busy with a myriad of state affairs every day, my birthday is nothing in compare. ”

Emperor Yan smiles.

” But someone has a better memory than me. ”
” The Mongolian Envoy came over and even send some gifts. ”

Xue Mu admits freely.

” Just that? ”
” He also wants my help in searching for Jiading Maoxue's paintings but I declined. ”

Emperor Yan takes his time in taking in that piece of information and before he even speaks up, Xue Mu lifts his head and look straight at him.

” Your Majesty, after my father died on the battlefield, I followed after his footsteps at the age of 14. My body is filled with wounds from all the battles I have been through. Do I still not earn any trust from Your Majesty? ”
” No. ”

Xue Mu frowns. Emperor Yan's lips curves up as he laughs.

” I don't trust Aersi. ”

Xue Mu ” ……. ”

Sometimes, he feels that although the Emperor is all grown up now, his mind still sometimes stay stuck at the age of five.

Not knowing what Xue Mu is thinking, Emperor Yan continues.

” I grew up with you. If I don't trust you, I wouldn't even give you any authority within the army. Besides…. Do both you and Aersi really think that I am that gullible? ”

Xue Mu bow once again, finally putting his worries to rest.

” Your Majesty is the man above the rest, of course no one can pull anything over your eyes. ”

Emperor Yan savors Xue Mu's words slowly. Somehow.. it sounds kinda weird to him. But leaving it as it is, he starts worrying about another matter.

” Xue Mu, do you happen to know where the real《White Jade Orchid • Spring》is? ”
” Yes. ”
” I will leave it to you. But, do not betray my trust. ”

Xue Mu pursed his lips lightly as he answers.

” I will not let you down. ”

Emperor Yan nods. Just then, a loud voice can be heard.

” Emperor brother, Emperor brother! ”

Emperor Yan looks out the door, and as expected, the voice belongs to Princess Yong Fu. Although Yong Fu is calling out for her brother, her eyes stay glued to Xue Mu.

” General Xue, is everything okay? ”

She asked, worry obviously showing in her eyes. Xue Mu look at her, smiling gently.

” Yes, everything is okay. Why would the Princess ask of this? ”

Yong Fu frowns. The way Aersi publicly shown everyone that he is visiting Xue Mu's mansion is known by almost everyone, even her. Then today, Xue Mu is summoned into the palace. Worried that something might happen, she rushes all the way here only for this person to act ignorant about it all.

She suddenly feels like she is a dog catching rats —— minding business that don't concerns her!

Turning away and ignoring Xue Mu's last question, she glares at her brother. Emperor Yan frowns, light displeased can be seen on his face.

” Yong Fu, where are your manners? Is the palace your backyard? ”

Yong Fu continues glaring at him while Xue Mu comes forward.

” Your Majesty, I see worry across the Princess's face so she must have her reasons for her actions.”

Yong Fu looks at Xue Me, a sarcastic smile on her lips. The gentle smile is still hanging on Xue Mu's face as he stands by the side. Emperor Yan coughs, looking at Xue Mu.

” Since the matter is over, you better return to your mansion, in case your wife worry. ”

Saying that, he looks over to his sister and, as expected, she looks displeased. Satisfied, he smiles at Xue Mu.

” Oh yes, I'll let Eunuch Gao prepare some choice silk for you to bring back as well. ”
” Thank you, Your Majesty, for the gifts. ”

After Xue Mu left with Eunuch Gao, Emperor Yan sees that Yong Fu is still standing there.

” Your General Xue has already left, what are you still standing around here for? ”

Yong Fu looks at him and is just about to leave, but her worries cause her to ask the last question.

” Emperor brother, do you suspect Xue Mu? ”

Before the Emperor can even reply, Yong Fu continues on.

” In this country, anyone can rebel. Only Xue Mu will never! ”

Emperor Yan raises one eyebrow.

” You done? ”
” I'm done. ”
” You may leave now. ”

Yong Fu ” ……. ”

On her way back to her mansion, Yong Fu specially looks into Aersi's mansion when she pa.s.ses by it.

Aersi is currently enjoying his wine together with Yi Jin. He burps, and turn to Yi Jin.

” It was said that the little emperor called Xue Mu into the palace. Do you think he'll suspect Xue Mu? ”
” No. ”

Aersi's eye twitches.

” Then what are we doing so much stuff for? ”
” Although he'll not suspect Xue Mu, he will surely put pressure on him. ”

Aersi narrows his eyes at Yi Jin as he continues.

” The moment Xue Mu moves, we'll have our chance. ”

At the Hou Mansion.

Liu Qinghuan finishes her dinner absent-mindedly and take a look at the sky. A pair of long thin eyebrows scrunches together, and just when Ci Tao is about to get information on the Marquise's whereabouts, Qing Zhi rushes in shouting.

” Madam! Madam! Sir is back!! ”

Liu Qinghuan lightly let out a breath and lifts her eyes to look at the panting person standing in front of her.

” Where is the Marquise at? ”
” Sir went to the Lotus Pavilion to brew tea. ”

Tea brewing.

The smoothed out eyebrows meet together once again. After considering about it for a bit, Liu Qinghuan stands up finally. Seeing that, Ci Tao Qing Zhi rushes up.

” Where is Madam going? ”
” Lotus Pavilion. ”

The breeze billows Xue Mu's sleeves out as Liu Qinghuan walks out of the small path connecting to the garden. She spots Xue Mu sitting alone from far away.

Since there's no business matters, it can only be his personal matters.

Liu Qinghuan smile soundlessly to herself, her eyes darkening.

Xue Mu is a very conflicting person. Like how he claims that he loves yet hates the winter. Like how he can compose poems and brew tea, while enjoying horse-riding and hunting. Like and dislike. Serene and action. These are all opposites yet they all comes together in Xue Mu.

That's why till now, she still cannot figure him out.

The best skill of a swindler is not in swindlering, but reading people. In a swindler's eyes, there is only two kinds of people —— easy target, and those hard to swindle. And Xue Mu… most likely belongs to the third kind. Those you do not touch.

Because once you do, there is going to be a lot of trouble.

But yet she still…. goes down this road.

As if knowing Liu Qinghuan is approaching, Xue Mu lifts his eyes and smiles at her. She thought he would ask his usual ” Qing Qing, what's the matter? “, but he said nothing. Liu Qinghuan sits at his opposite, observing how he goes through the steps of brewing the tea. Up till the moment he removes the pot from the fire, only then does he lifts his head up again to look at her.

” Have you heard of Du Juan? ”

Liu Qinghuan's heart skips a beat yet her face stays immovable as she questions back.

” The Marquise is talking about the flower or the person? ”
” The bird. ”

Xue Mu skillfully pours the tea into the porcelain cups as he continues.

” Du Juan birds will lay their eggs into other bird's nest and remove the same amount of eggs that are originally there. Not only will this deceives other birds into helping them hatch and raise them, it can also lessen the compet.i.tion for food. And these young Du Juan nestlings will push the other nestlings out of the nest in order to get more food. ”

Liu Qinghuan sits there silently listening, as Xue Mu takes a sip of tea, before smiling at her.

” Du Juans are the king of swindlering, being even wilier than the fox. ”

Liu Qinghuan's palms already have a layer of sweat as she looks at Xue Mu, smiling.

” Why did the Marquise talk about this all of a sudden? ”
” It just pop into my mind. ”

Xue Mu places his cup of tea down and looks out into the pond full of lotuses. The lotuses, unlike their previous splendor, lies droopy, as if life have gone out of them.

Liu Qinghuan lowers her eyes, seeing the five-colored longevity band on her wrist. The band Xue Mu tied personally. Her eyes dims as she speaks softly.

” The lotuses are nearing their end. ”

Looking out at the lotuses, Xue Mu subconsciously lowers his voice as well.

” Flowers will bloom again, but men can never regain their youth. ”

Liu Qinghuan feels really stuffy in her chest. She lightly sigh as she stands up.

” Marquise, I'm a bit tired so I will be heading back first. ”
” Okay. ”

Xue Mu nods, letting her go.

Liu Qinghuan speeds-walk all the way back, as if a spear is aiming at her back the entire time. Once she is back in her room, she shuts herself in it, even preventing Ci Tao and Qing Zhi to disturb her.

Taking out the hidden《White Jade Orchid • Spring》, she bits her lips. Xue Mu is already suspecting her. She would have to find out where the rest of the 3 paintings are as soon as possible.

And leave this place.