The Counterfeit Madam Hou Chapter 26

To Liu Qinghuan, the one thing she loves the most is to get something for free . The one thing she hates the most is to suffer a loss . But this loss in front of her is something she would have to suffer .

Grudgingly, she takes《White Jade Orchid • Spring》out and place it in front of Xue Mu . She worked so hard to get it just let others earn it .

Unrolling out the painting, Xue Mu stares at it for some time before looking at her .

” Why did you want this? ”

Liu Qinghuan’s mouth twitchs and before she even speak, Xue Mu interrupts her .

” No lies . ”
” …… . ”

She sigh and simply plop herself down by her bed .

” I swindle for money, and that’s what it is . ”
” This painting is worth quite the money, but provided there is someone willing to buy . ”

Liu Qinghuan glance at him, before laughing .

” Marquise, you don’t have to play me like that, I know there’s treasure hidden within these paintings . ”
” Treasure? ”

Xue Mu c.o.c.k his brow before walking over to where Liu Qinghuan is, sitting beside her . She subconsciously widen the gap between them, speaking up .

” Rumors has it that once《Spring • Summer • Autumn • Winter》is gathered together, it will reveal a treasure map . ”

Xue Mu look at her for a while before laughing . Looking at him, Lu Qinghuan can’t help but frown .

” If there is no treasure, why would you, Tang Zhibo and Aersi are all looking for it? ”

After laughing for a while, Xue Mu finally answers her .

” Where did you get that information from? ”
” This concerns my profession, can I not say? ”

Xue Mu smiles .

” Yes, but I do have one thing to tell you . ”
” What? ”
” At the time of the late Emperor reign, there was a prime minister called Wen Wei . He abuse this position and did all he could . Corruption, bribery, you named it . The amount he took was of such a scale that he alerted the imperial court . The late Emperor send an imperial censor officer to investigate this matter and he was caught with plenty of evidence . But when they went to confiscate his possessions, the items they searched was way below what he had and Wen Wei had killed himself before that . ”

Liu Qinghuan lifts her brows as she listens on .

” That imperial censor officer continued investigating, but at the same time, the late Emperor’s brother, Prince Wong, was also investigating the treasure whereabouts . At last, it was still the officer who had first gotten clue of where it is . But knowing how ambitious Prince Yong was, he knew the Prince would come for him . So before that, the officer burned every clue he found, including himself, leaving only the 4 paintings left . ”

” That can’t be Dingmao’s《Spring • Summer • Autumn • Winter》… can it? ”

” Exactly . The officer was planning on sending the 4 paintings secretly to the late Emperor, but still, news got out and the paintings never arrived at the palace . And all carriers of the paintings died horribly . ”

” Prince Yong got it? ”

” No . Although all carriers died, but nothing came out of the search of Prince Yong . Might be that the officer thought of ways to hide it . But then the 4 paintings were lost out there, and after the change of a few hands, no one knew who had them . Having lost this chance, Prince Yong was enraged and killed the entire family of the officer off, leaving none alive . When the late Emperor knew of it, he was enraged, but sadly, had no evidence against Prince Yong, letting him scoot free . ”

Liu Qinghuan’s brows furrow together .

” I can’t believe there is someone like him out there! Why did he go to such lengths?? ”

Xue Mu’s eyes darken as he whispers .

” Naturally in order to get men and armies, so he could seize the throne . ”

Liu Qinghuan feels her knees going weak .

Gathering herself back together, she smiles as harmlessly as she could at Xue Mu .

” Since it’s dirty money, it would head back to the imperial treasury . Don’t worry, Marquise . I won’t be chasing after this treasure anymore, ha ha ha ha . ”

Xue Mu smiles at her,  causing gooseb.u.mps all over her body .

” It better be . Too bad the late Emperor could never find all paintings when he’s alive, and after he died, the Emperor demoted Prince Yong to Duke Lin Nan but even that couldn’t dispel his thirst for the throne . ”

Liu Qinghuan thinks about it, asking .

” That poem on the painting, it’s written by the imperial censor officer? ”

Xue Mu nods .

” The clue is in the poem? ”

” The clue is in the poem? ”
” … Not exactly . ”

He stand up and lay the painting on the table, before pouring a cup of water slowly over it .

A miracle then happen .

Wide eyes and mouth agape, Liu Qinghuan watches as that white orchid slowly disappears, and a bundle of messy something starts getting clearer . After taking a closer look, she realize that the bundle of mess should be a map . But the lines are simple and rough, showing that the person who drawn it was in a hurry .

” Apart from drawing, Dingmao too, loves experimenting with paints . In his lifetime, he invented 2 miraculous paints . One, which appears when wet, and another, disappears . But the recipe was lost when he died . ”

Liu Qinghuan slowly understands .

” Dingmao’s 《Spring • Summer • Autumn • Winter》4 paintings were drawn using the paint that disappears and that officer used the one that appears? ”
” Correct . in order to achieve the paint effect, it would have to be drawn on a piece of special paper . And these 2 things, only Dingmao had it . The officer is a man who loves paintings, and he admired Dingmao’s talent, thus buying all 4 of his《Spring • Summer • Autumn • Winter》paintings . But sadly, that didn’t changed his fate at all . However, because of his eye for talent, the paint that appears was gifted to him by Dingmao . ”

Liu Qinghuan feels that this story is a lot more interesting than any stories she ever heard told by the storyteller at the temple . After digesting it for a while, she then ask .

” Then what’s the use of the poem? ”
” One could never put all eggs into 1 basket . Wen Wei was a careful man . He separated his fortune into 2 different places, and this poem is hinting at the 2nd place . ”

Wide eyes, Liu Qinghuan stares at Xue Mu for a while, suspecting .

” Marquise, you can’t be playing me for a fool . . are you? ”

Xue Mu lightly smiles at her .

” How is my story? ”
” Very exciting . … . Marquise, why are you telling me all these? ”

According to the saying, the more you know, the faster you die .
Xue Mu smiles .

” Nothing, just thinking of chatting . ”
” …… . ”

He place the painting back into it’s cover before glancing at Liu Qinghuan’s face again .

He place the painting back into it’s cover before glancing at Liu Qinghuan’s face again .

” Your face… ”
” A mask . ”

Liu Qinghuan is still very proud of her best work .

” If you don’t like this face, I can change into another one . ”

Xue Mu stares for a while .

” No need, I’m quite fond of it . ”

Liu Qinghuan feel slightly uncomfortable all of a sudden as Xue Mu suppress his smile, standing up from the bed . Just as he is about head out of the door, she calls him .

” Marquise, what’s the name of that officer? ”

Xue Mu turn around and look at her .

” Family name’s Liu . Name’s Zhenqing . ”

Liu Zhenqing .

Liu Qinghuan’s eyes gleam as she “oh” as reply . Giving another look at her, Xue Mu left the room .

Out of the room, Nian Tang is still standing guard outside . Holding the painting in his hand, he walk over to her .

” I’m heading to the palace, look after her . ”

After taking two steps, he turn back uneasily .

” She might try to escape these few days, keep your guard up . ”
” Yes, Marquise . ”

Watching Xue Mu leave, Liu Qinghuan walk back to her bed, pulling out a piece of paper from under . On it is a simple and rough map, exactly the same as the one Xue Mu shown her .

The corners of her lips curves up . She once said before, the thing she hated most in her life is to suffer a loss .

Taking great care in keeping that piece of paper, she falls onto her bed, preparing to get a good night sleep in order to smooth her nerves from this very exciting day .

The corners of her lips curves up . She once said before, the thing she hated most in her life is to suffer a loss .

Taking great care in keeping that piece of paper, she falls onto her bed, preparing to get a good night sleep in order to smooth her nerves from this very exciting day .

Back from the palace, the painting is no longer in Xue Mu’s hands . The time of the day is getting late, so he went back to the main bedroom for a check, before heading back to the Lotus Chamber . After all the running today, he too, feels a little tired .

Laying in a blank state, that scene a few years ago appears in front of his eyes .

It was the 29th year, and that winter of that year was particular cold . At least that’s what it felt like to Xue Mu .

The sudden news of his father’s death, his mother illness, and even his favorite little dumpling is drifting away from him .

The snow was heavy, and he didn’t know how long had he been standing outside the a.s.sistant Minister’s door . Servants kept going in and out, but their answer remained the same .

” Third Miss doesn’t wish to see you . ”

She was most definitely blaming him for not holding his promise to bring her to the market . He kept explaining, and even let people to bring his words to her, but her answer remained the same .

The snow got heavier, and there was already a layer of snow on his shoulders . The door opened once again, and he happily called out little dumpling’s name, only for Madam Liu to chase him home .

The thirteen-year-old him stubbornly refused to leave, only to see another youth walked out from behind Madam Liu . That youth smiled at him .

” Qinghuan don’t want to see you . ”

This was not the first time Xue Mu saw Tang Zhibo, but it’s the first time he felt that his face was so loathing .

He really wanted to punch his sneering face .

But once he saw Prince Yong standing next to him, he gave up on that thought . Xue Mu went back home and developed an entire night of fever, almost burning him to death .

At his groggy feverish state, he could felt someone holding his hand the entire night . When he woke up, he saw that person was Yongfu . His gaze landed on their hands before he slowly closed his eyes again .

After he got better, he made full use of his martial arts and flipped over the walls of a.s.sistant Minister’s house a few times, and every time, he saw his little dumpling and Tang Zhibo together .

Once, when he could finally stand it no longer, he went up and got hold of little dumpling, only to see her cold face, not even willing to look at him .

Xue Mu bolted up from his bed, frowning . Once again, he dream of that one scenario he wish he would never see again .

To Liu Qinghuan, the one thing she loves the most is to get something for free . The one thing she hates the most is to suffer a loss . But this loss in front of her is something she would have to suffer

Grudgingly, she takes《White Jade Orchid • Spring》out and place it in front of Xue Mu . She worked so hard to get it just let others earn it

Unrolling out the painting, Xue Mu stares at it for some time before looking at her

” Why did you want this? ”.

Liu Qinghuan’s mouth twitchs and before she even speak, Xue Mu interrupts her

” No lies . ”. ” …… . ”.

She sigh and simply plop herself down by her bed

” I swindle for money, and that’s what it is . ”. ” This painting is worth quite the money, but provided there is someone willing to buy . ”.

Liu Qinghuan glance at him, before laughing

” Marquise, you don’t have to play me like that, I know there’s treasure hidden within these paintings . ”. ” Treasure? ”.

Xue Mu c.o.c.k his brow before walking over to where Liu Qinghuan is, sitting beside her . She subconsciously widen the gap between them, speaking up

” Rumors has it that once《Spring • Summer • Autumn • Winter》is gathered together, it will reveal a treasure map . ”.

Xue Mu look at her for a while before laughing . Looking at him, Lu Qinghuan can’t help but frown

” If there is no treasure, why would you, Tang Zhibo and Aersi are all looking for it? ”.

After laughing for a while, Xue Mu finally answers her

” Where did you get that information from? ”. ” This concerns my profession, can I not say? ”.

Xue Mu smiles

” Yes, but I do have one thing to tell you . ”. ” What? ”. ” At the time of the late Emperor reign, there was a prime minister called Wen Wei . He abuse this position and did all he could . Corruption, bribery, you named it . The amount he took was of such a scale that he alerted the imperial court . The late Emperor send an imperial censor officer to investigate this matter and he was caught with plenty of evidence . But when they went to confiscate his possessions, the items they searched was way below what he had and Wen Wei had killed himself before that . ”.

Liu Qinghuan lifts her brows as she listens on

” That imperial censor officer continued investigating, but at the same time, the late Emperor’s brother, Prince Wong, was also investigating the treasure whereabouts . At last, it was still the officer who had first gotten clue of where it is . But knowing how ambitious Prince Yong was, he knew the Prince would come for him . So before that, the officer burned every clue he found, including himself, leaving only the 4 paintings left . ”.

” That can’t be Dingmao’s《Spring • Summer • Autumn • Winter》… can it? ”.

” Exactly . The officer was planning on sending the 4 paintings secretly to the late Emperor, but still, news got out and the paintings never arrived at the palace . And all carriers of the paintings died horribly . ”.

” Prince Yong got it? ”.

” No . Although all carriers died, but nothing came out of the search of Prince Yong . Might be that the officer thought of ways to hide it . But then the 4 paintings were lost out there, and after the change of a few hands, no one knew who had them . Having lost this chance, Prince Yong was enraged and killed the entire family of the officer off, leaving none alive . When the late Emperor knew of it, he was enraged, but sadly, had no evidence against Prince Yong, letting him scoot free . ”.

Liu Qinghuan’s brows furrow together

” I can’t believe there is someone like him out there! Why did he go to such lengths?? ”.

Xue Mu’s eyes darken as he whispers

” Naturally in order to get men and armies, so he could seize the throne . ”.

Liu Qinghuan feels her knees going weak

Gathering herself back together, she smiles as harmlessly as she could at Xue Mu

” Since it’s dirty money, it would head back to the imperial treasury . Don’t worry, Marquise . I won’t be chasing after this treasure anymore, ha ha ha ha . ”.

Xue Mu smiles at her,  causing gooseb.u.mps all over her body

” It better be . Too bad the late Emperor could never find all paintings when he’s alive, and after he died, the Emperor demoted Prince Yong to Duke Lin Nan but even that couldn’t dispel his thirst for the throne . ”.

Liu Qinghuan thinks about it, asking

” That poem on the painting, it’s written by the imperial censor officer? ”.

Xue Mu nods

” The clue is in the poem? ”. ” … Not exactly . ”.

He stand up and lay the painting on the table, before pouring a cup of water slowly over it

A miracle then happen

Wide eyes and mouth agape, Liu Qinghuan watches as that white orchid slowly disappears, and a bundle of messy something starts getting clearer . After taking a closer look, she realize that the bundle of mess should be a map . But the lines are simple and rough, showing that the person who drawn it was in a hurry

” Apart from drawing, Dingmao too, loves experimenting with paints . In his lifetime, he invented 2 miraculous paints . One, which appears when wet, and another, disappears . But the recipe was lost when he died . ”.

Liu Qinghuan slowly understands

” Dingmao’s 《Spring • Summer • Autumn • Winter》4 paintings were drawn using the paint that disappears and that officer used the one that appears? ”. ” Correct . in order to achieve the paint effect, it would have to be drawn on a piece of special paper . And these 2 things, only Dingmao had it . The officer is a man who loves paintings, and he admired Dingmao’s talent, thus buying all 4 of his《Spring • Summer • Autumn • Winter》paintings . But sadly, that didn’t changed his fate at all . However, because of his eye for talent, the paint that appears was gifted to him by Dingmao . ”.

Liu Qinghuan feels that this story is a lot more interesting than any stories she ever heard told by the storyteller at the temple . After digesting it for a while, she then ask

” Then what’s the use of the poem? ”. ” One could never put all eggs into 1 basket . Wen Wei was a careful man . He separated his fortune into 2 different places, and this poem is hinting at the 2nd place . ”.

Wide eyes, Liu Qinghuan stares at Xue Mu for a while, suspecting

” Marquise, you can’t be playing me for a fool are you? ”.

Xue Mu lightly smiles at her

” How is my story? ”. ” Very exciting . … . Marquise, why are you telling me all these? ”.

According to the saying, the more you know, the faster you die Xue Mu smiles

” Nothing, just thinking of chatting . ”. ” …… . ”.

He place the painting back into it’s cover before glancing at Liu Qinghuan’s face again

” Your face… ”. ” A mask . ”.

Liu Qinghuan is still very proud of her best work

” If you don’t like this face, I can change into another one . ”.

Xue Mu stares for a while

” No need, I’m quite fond of it . ”.

Liu Qinghuan feel slightly uncomfortable all of a sudden as Xue Mu suppress his smile, standing up from the bed . Just as he is about head out of the door, she calls him

” Marquise, what’s the name of that officer? ”.

Xue Mu turn around and look at her

” Family name’s Liu . Name’s Zhenqing . ”.

Liu Zhenqing

Liu Qinghuan’s eyes gleam as she “oh” as reply . Giving another look at her, Xue Mu left the room

 .

Out of the room, Nian Tang is still standing guard outside . Holding the painting in his hand, he walk over to her

” I’m heading to the palace, look after her . ”.

After taking two steps, he turn back uneasily

” She might try to escape these few days, keep your guard up . ”. ” Yes, Marquise . ”.

 .

Watching Xue Mu leave, Liu Qinghuan walk back to her bed, pulling out a piece of paper from under . On it is a simple and rough map, exactly the same as the one Xue Mu shown her

The corners of her lips curves up . She once said before, the thing she hated most in her life is to suffer a loss

Taking great care in keeping that piece of paper, she falls onto her bed, preparing to get a good night sleep in order to smooth her nerves from this very exciting day

 .

Back from the palace, the painting is no longer in Xue Mu’s hands . The time of the day is getting late, so he went back to the main bedroom for a check, before heading back to the Lotus Chamber . After all the running today, he too, feels a little tired

Laying in a blank state, that scene a few years ago appears in front of his eyes

 .

It was the 29th year, and that winter of that year was particular cold . At least that’s what it felt like to Xue Mu

The sudden news of his father’s death, his mother illness, and even his favorite little dumpling is drifting away from him

The snow was heavy, and he didn’t know how long had he been standing outside the a.s.sistant Minister’s door . Servants kept going in and out, but their answer remained the same

” Third Miss doesn’t wish to see you . ”.

She was most definitely blaming him for not holding his promise to bring her to the market . He kept explaining, and even let people to bring his words to her, but her answer remained the same

 .

The snow got heavier, and there was already a layer of snow on his shoulders . The door opened once again, and he happily called out little dumpling’s name, only for Madam Liu to chase him home

The thirteen-year-old him stubbornly refused to leave, only to see another youth walked out from behind Madam Liu . That youth smiled at him

” Qinghuan don’t want to see you . ”.

This was not the first time Xue Mu saw Tang Zhibo, but it’s the first time he felt that his face was so loathing

He really wanted to punch his sneering face

But once he saw Prince Yong standing next to him, he gave up on that thought . Xue Mu went back home and developed an entire night of fever, almost burning him to death

At his groggy feverish state, he could felt someone holding his hand the entire night . When he woke up, he saw that person was Yongfu . His gaze landed on their hands before he slowly closed his eyes again

After he got better, he made full use of his martial arts and flipped over the walls of a.s.sistant Minister’s house a few times, and every time, he saw his little dumpling and Tang Zhibo together

Once, when he could finally stand it no longer, he went up and got hold of little dumpling, only to see her cold face, not even willing to look at him

 .

Xue Mu bolted up from his bed, frowning . Once again, he dream of that one scenario he wish he would never see again