73 Down to Business (VII)

"Young master?" Su Rong's voice seeped into Hui Lan's mind that was hearing buzzing noise right after hearing that voice. "Young master?" Su Rong called her once again.

This time there was a response from Hui Lan.

Young master Hong slowly turned to look at the person calling him. It was one of his followers that had supported him from not falling a moment ago.

"Are you alright, young master?" Su Rong tried asking once again.

It took a brief moment for the young master to think about his follower's words before eventually nodding his head in the end.

"I'm fine." Despite speaking of being fine, the young master's voice came out slightly shaky. Moreover, his face had shown a slight paleness to his rosy cheeks form before.

"Alright, let's go first. We can find somewhere else for you to rest." The follower spoke through his wide hat.

Meanwhile, the only response coming from the young master was a small silent nod.

As Su Rong supported Hui Lan, who was undercover in a young master robe, she could not help but think of the sudden reason that had caused her friend to all of a sudden become like this.

...Was it due to the Emperor?

Nevertheless, Su Rong kept quiet. She would ask her friend later when they were alone.

Thereafter, with one of his follower's support, the young master in the dark teal robes walked away along with a few other civilians.

However, a particular group of young ladies dressed in cloudy and dreamy dresses walked by the three of them. As they walked, their light pastel mesh dresses would float along as they walked.

There were four young maidens who were all beautiful in their own way. Although they attracted attention to the people around them, they did not look like they had come from a well being background for they were all gossiping loudly between each other.

No such conservativeness had come from them, yet they did not exclude any vulgar actions, it was just that they were very much more confident than a normal young lady would.

As they passed by the three figures, their voices could be heard closeby.

"Did you see? The Emperor turned to look at our direction ah." One of the girl's voices seeped through Hui Lan's ears.

As if being splashed with ice water, Hui Lan's consciousness returned back to herself. Although there were no changes in her movement and she was still being supported by Su Rong, her mind was entirely focused on those four maidens in front of her.

"You tell us, do you think he was looking at our attention?" Another girl in a bright yellow dressed was asking while her eyes were daydreaming in the sky.

The maiden who had spoken first was dressed in a baby pink dress that gave her an air of sweetness, "Mei mei thinks that the Emperor, he, must be looking at our Wan Yi jie jie ah! Everyone knows, jie jie is the best maiden in our entire Yan Hua!"

"That is absolutely right! Even our young master shows endless affection to our Wan Yi jie jie. However, with the Emperor's actions today, would we be hearing some news?" Another maiden dressed in peachy dress quickly joined to curry favour to the lady who was the centre of their conversation.

Their centre conversation was none other than a young maiden who was dressed slightly differently than the rest and excluded a different kind of presence from the other young lady. The lady, Wan Yi, was dressed in a lilac dress, but her dress's colour was much cloudier than the rest of the other girls giving a sense of mysteriousness to herself.

Meanwhile, the maiden, who was dressed in the bright yellow dress, had an awkward look to her expression. The wide smile that had been smiling slowly turned into a dry smile. Nevertheless, she did not lose out to the other two girls and gave a few words, "Hm, I also think the same," before looking away sadly.

On the other hand, the person called Wan Yi simply smiled like she was not interested in their conversation. However, upon looking closer, one would be able to see her glance over to the two girls on both her sides briefly before looking away.

Hui Lan's left brow was slightly raised.

...Some news?

...Sigh, she only came out for a stroll in the capital city, but she did not expect to be meeting another wife of her husband. How wonderful was that! Was the palace due to expecting another concubine!?

While Hui Lan's mood seemed to slowly deteriorate, the young maidens were in their own dreams...

"But did you see his face, the Emperor ah, he is indeed the heavenly son! Even his face is heavenly ah…" As the girl in the peachy dress spoke, her cheeks flushed along as she thought of the moment the Emperor had looked towards their direction.

"A heavenly look…" The maiden in the baby pink dress was gripping onto the sides of her skirts with a blooming heart.

At the same time, the three people were still walking behind them, same with the few other people who had come from overlooking the Emperor's arrival.

However, as the word 'heavenly look' was brought out, Hui Lan's step seemed to have paused for a brief moment, only briefly, before returning to her same pace.

But with Su Rong supporting her closely beside, she had felt the short moment of pause by her friend. She too had been listening to their conversation since the moment they were walking in front of her.

If she was not supporting Hui Lan, she would have wanted to tie their lips together and not hear them talk about that person.

She looked at Hui Lan, but there was nothing but indifference in her friend's expression.

...Tut tut, they were clearly looking for a place to die ah.

...Their first crime would be for talking about the Emperor, but their second crime would be worse...their second crime...for talking about the Emperor while the Empress was standing right here ah.

...They were looking for a place to die, truly! Su Rong concluded in one go.

On the other side, an unfamiliar spoke up among the four maidens, "Mei mei, you must refrain yourselves better than this ah or else you would be embarrassing our Yan Hua. Moreover, there is only our young master that we heed to, so stop your nonsense and let's head back to our Yan Hua before we miss the chance to meet our young master." Finally, the maiden in the lilac dress opened her lips and reprimanded the other maidens lightly.

"Yes, jie jie." All three of them responded at once and they all hastened themselves to reach their destination.

Hui Lan looked down and revealed a small smirk as she heard the young lady's words.

...What was her name again?...Ah, Wan Yi...hm...

Hui Lan stopped before speaking softly, "Su Rong...those girls...?"

Su Rong took one look at their tokens that were hanging around their waist to make sure before speaking, "They are the maidens from Yan Hua…"

"Yan Hua?" Hui Lan recollected what she had read about this particular place along with the other famous places in the capital city.

...If it was Yan Hua...then it was that place that sold art and nothing but art only. However, what kind of place this was...she would have to find out herself.

Su Rong kept quiet while Hui Lan was thinking to herself. However, the fragileness was completely replaced by a clouded expression on Hui Lan's face.

A moment ago, Hui Lan did not even refrain herself from calling her 'Su Rong'; it seemed her friend was serious about a particular something. However, what her friend was serious about...seemed to be nothing else but those girls...

...Those girls ah, why did they have to bring up that person right beside his wife ah?

Although there might not be jealousness, still, he was still her husband…

...What would be waiting for them at Yan Hua would not be any news, but the wrath of her friend that would befall onto them in replacement of that person...

On the other hand, Su Juo who was tagging along with the ladies was analysing everything that was happening.

...Aiya, he never thought that such was a young maiden's topic of conversation.

However, what was more concerning was his sister's friend and his master ah...he could see a dark aura forming all over her.

It seemed, between Hui Lan jie and Su Rong jie, it was as if both took turns in being the grim reaper ah...

"Let's go to Yan Hua." That was Hui Lan's final words before releasing Su Rong's grip and standing on herself.

The playfulness and nonchalant air had disappeared from the young master's face.

Though the young master was not frowning, his facial expression...it had become all unfathomable.

Something was indeed brewing up in those deep bottomless eyes…

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.

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Yan Hua Fu, Jing Ke street

The young master had his hands holding onto his white peerless fan behind his back as he was walking along a long bridge that was the only entrance of Yan Hua Fu. Underneath the bridge was a wide lake the surrounded the entire Yan Hua Fu.

Meanwhile, the two followers followed him closely as their young master was walking slowly ahead of them. The young master was no one else but the one and only Hui Lan.

After some time of inspecting the Yan Hua Fu, the entire place was beyond words. The place was truly beautiful and the owner who everyone called 'young master' seemed to have good taste indeed. However, in the inner circle, everyone knew him as young master Hua.

The young master, or to be correct, Hui Lan revealed a small smile to herself.

...Hm, Hua...flower? He would be the king of flowers then…

Although she had come here following those girls, there was another purpose in coming here.

...Yan Hua was what had caught her attention.

Since Su Rong had told her that the young maiden named Wan Yi was the top maiden of Yan Hua, she had thought that she would get a chance to meet the owner through her. However, it did not go along with what she had thought and the owner of this place did not show up at all.

After her inspection, this place was indeed worth investing in. This place...it would be worth it if she was to be a co-owner. Her business mind began to start working immediately.

All the time inside the place, it was already dark outside. All the lanterns were beautifully lit up in the entire place.

Hui Lan could not help but look around in a good mood.

When she came in, her mood was entirely different, but now, it seemed it was worth coming to this place as well. It seemed she would be here often; Hui Lan could not help but think to herself.

She was not in a hurry and took her time crossing the long beautiful bridge while looking at the view of the lake around.

However, those moments of happiness seemed to never last long for she had already reached the entrance and exit.

...Ah, time to leave...how sad.

Nevertheless, she did not hesitate and steadily walked through the wide doors. While others were entering the Fu, she was leaving early.

She minded her own business and did not have the mind to look at anyone else.

After going out of the door, she turned left towards a particular direction, the palace.

Behind her, a tall figure who was about to walk through the big red doors halted. He had a wide hat that was covering his entire face.

As if something had caught his attention, he slowly looked back at the person who had walked past. As he looked behind, his grey hazel eyes were slightly revealed.

However, there was nothing but a young master walking away.

In the end, he simply looked away and headed inside Yan Hua Fu.

On the other hand, the young master halted for a brief moment as if having smelt a familiar scent.

However, there was nothing around him. Thus, the young master in his dark teal robes continued walking and headed directly towards his own destination.

...Time to return already.

He took a glance at the moon...hm...it looked like the full moon will arrive soon.