What an Audacious and Sly Servant! - Chapter 42

CHAPTER 42 – THE THOUSAND AUTUMNS MIRROR

The mountains were revolving, the rivers were winding and the horses didn’t stop walking.

Chu Xun sat cross-legged in the wobbling horse carriage, he had left the palace again.

In any case, the Martial Arts Alliance Leader’s influence was not to belittle. A day earlier, Chu Xun had told Zhao Mo Ran that he would be travelling together with them at last moment. On the second day when Chu Xun left the palace, a masses of outlaws were squatting on guard outside the entrance of the palace. Zhao Mo Ran who was at the head of the masses saluted Chu Xun, “Your Highness, I had found some jianghuexperts to protect you!”

And hence currently, Chu Xun sat inside the horse carriage, around it were three layers of bodyguards. Even if people at Prince Chen’s level wanted to send people to assassinate, they had to think over whether the people in their hands could defeat these much of experts. Chu Xun ought to be very relieved.

Yet, his small, beautiful like a heavenly immortal face seemed to be not pleased nor joyful.

Instead, it was more like supressing his sulk, even his cheeks had already swelled a bit.

“Your Highness……have some tea? Eat some pastries?” Xiao Jing Zi nervously asked.

Chu Xun didn’t respond.

“Your Highness, it’s all nucai’s fault. Nucai deserves ten thousand deaths.” Xiao Jing Zi knelt beside Chu Xun’s legs, his eyes were full of tears. He lifted his head and pitifully looked at Chu Xun, it felt like with just a blink of his eyes, the tears would flow into rivers.

Pinched in Chu Xun’s hand was a piece of proof. It was at early this morning right before they departed, Xiao Jing Zi came bustling as he sent him a proof from the capital’s number one underground betting house. The content of the proof was to notify this huge bankroller that had betted, because it had been postponed before announcing the winners due the winning condition of the Grand Princess and Lord Nan, if those who betted they would be together didn’t cancel their bet by eighth month to receive 1.2 fold of the betting money, it would be regarded as they were willing to continue betting.

In simpler words, Your Highness Crown Prince, wait until the eighth month next year to receive your money then!

At first, Chu Xun was still stupefied. How could there be such postponing matter? Mei Qian Deng silently glanced at him, she didn’t reply. It was later on that Zhao Mo Ran saw the top of that proof by chance and blurted out bumping into Mei Qian Deng at the betting house that night.

“Why you didn’t say earlier?!” Chu Xun shouted loudly at Mei Qian Deng.

“I had yet to say when I got driven out of the palace by you.” Mei Qian Deng remained calm, it was as if the justice was on her side.

Chu Xun really wanted to lift the table. Are you blaming me then?!

After this brief interlude ended, Mei Qian Deng originally planned to sit in the same horse carriage with Chu Xun. However, the result was she got kicked out by Chu Xun and he sulked throughout the journey.

At evening, the large troops arrived at a certain village and stopped for a rest. Zhao Mo Ran invited Chu Xun to come out of the horse carriage. The travelling people gazed in succession but they didn’t know this heavenly immortal alike personage was the future monarch. They only thought he was some jianghu large school’s noble son.

Zhao Mo Ran said, “Your Highness, it’s almost Mid-autumn. The town at night is very lively. The newly brewed osmanthus wine too had appeared on the market. Do you want to have a taste and have a look?”

Chu Xun’s eyes shone immediately, he was truly interested. Because the Crown Prince was behind the palace walls, he rarely seen the scene of commoners bustling around. His curious heart was hard to avoid. But he first looked at Mei Qian Deng. He still bore grudge with her about not telling him the bet. Female warrior Mei naturally wasn’t aware of it. Her line of vision naturally fell downwards, waiting for the Crown Prince to decide.

“Seventh Brother, what do you think?” Zhao Mo Ran was a very quick-witted person, with a beaming smile he changed his target.

“A good suggestion.”

Zhao Mo Ran looked at Chu Xun again.

“Since Mei Qian Deng wants to go, then let him satisfied then.” In a split second, Chu Xun deliberately elevated his own attitude. It was not known how this monkey habit of his to climb up a pole was trained until this point of perfection.

The orange osmanthus mixed with liquor scent floated all over the street. Zhao Mo Ran sent away the helpers, bringing just Mei Qian Deng and Chu Xun to walk the streets of the town. Not far from the inn they stayed was a temple fair. It was going to be held from first day until the fifteenth. It was a mass of bobbing heads, selling food, clothes, tools, toys and anything one would want. It was very lively.

Zhao Mo Ran said, it was only when the evening lights were lit that walking the streets became very pretty. Hence, he searched for a not bad wine shop and went to the private room on the second floor. He ordered several pots of osmanthus wine and some common dishes. They ate leisurely a round with wine and warm food.

The three of them took their seats. The Crown Prince at the head, Mei Qian Deng at the left and Zhao Mo Ran at the right. It was seat opposite each other, with a lift of his head he would be able to look face to face with Mei Qian Deng. Zhao Mo Ran sent a sunshine, brilliant smile. Female warrior Mei was a polite, good young girl. Plus, with recent days of engagement she felt Zhao Mo Ran this person was not bad toward her. Hence, she returned a smile.

The Crown Prince Chu Xun immediately coughed once.

“Come, Your Highness. Have a taste of the local osmanthus wine.” Zhao Mo Ran first poured to brim for Chu Xun. Then, he stood up to pour it into the wine cup beside Mei Qian Deng and finally it was his turn. He raised his cup, “Today as the host, I will finish it to salute first.” After saying so, he finished it in one go.

Chu Xun’s alcoholic tolerance was not bad. He put the wine cup under his nose to take a whiff. A clear and sweet wine smell entered his nose. He heard although osmanthus wine was a sweet liquor, the after-effect was downright strong. Chu Xun suddenly remembered when a certain person had just entered the palace, Imperial Father poured several cups of tribute liquor from the palace. In the end, that ugly situation that shouldn’t be spoken happened where she got dead drunk. He involuntarily knitted his brows.

“Mei Qian Deng!” Taking the moment that boor had yet to drink, he made the move first.

Mei Qian Deng: ???

“Both you and Zhao Mo Ran still have to ensure my safety. He will accompany me to try the wine. You’re not allowed to drink!”

Mei Qian Deng: ……

Immediately, he overbearingly snatched away the wine cup in female warrior Mei’s hand and poured it into his own mouth. Mei Qian Deng blinked her eyes repeatedly. On the surface she was docile and well-behaved. It just that she would use her tongue to lick her lower lip once a while. Most probably she really wanted to drink it in her heart.

Zhao Mo Ran was only an onlooker throughout the whole process, he didn’t make any sound. He only raised his chopsticks to add some extra pieces of red braised pork into Mei Qian Deng’s bowl.

“Mei Qian Deng!”

???

“The red braised pork had been finished by you!!!! There’s only green vegetables left!!!!”

Again, Chu Xun suddenly remembered the bitter, suffering days unable to snatch a mouth of rice under Mei Qian Deng’s evil claws.

It turned out nothing changed.

Female warrior Mei’s manner was as before.

But actually Mei Qian Deng was clearly aware in her heart that His Highness Crown Prince was currently angry.

Also, unlike last time when Chu Xun was angry yet she was clueless about it, this time she seldom knew the reason Chu Xun was angry of her. For the sake of being friendly and get along long term with a nation’s monarch, to carry on Old Master Mei’s promise, female warrior Mei continued the plan she had back at the underground betting house to get back the friendship with Chu Xun, to once again prepare to fawn on His Highness Crown Prince, to end the cold war crisis.

But, how to make the Crown Prince cool down?

She ate the rice while thinking. She couldn’t think any idea and could only cast covetous eyes at the fragrant, sweet osmanthus wine in the cups of those two.

Zhao Mo Ran settled the bill and led Chu Xun to stroll at the temple fair. She was afraid Chu Xun would be angry upon seeing her, she only followed tightly behind those two. Looking around, she didn’t make any sound. Although Mei Zi Zhou Tou too celebrated Mid-autumn Festival, it was not as bustling as here. Mei Qian Deng was after all still young. She got attracted by those clear and melodious little items on every sides and wasn’t careful when walking, nearly bumped onto Chu Xun.

There were rouge cosmetics. Female warrior Mei’s eyes shone. Yi, the several daggers on the stall beside them looked quite good!

There were silk skirts and scented fans. Female warrior Mei was secretly ecstatic. Wah, the footsteps of the lion dance at the front are very solid!

There were pearl hairpins and jewelleries too. Female warrior Mei was not in the least reluctant to walk over at first. After a short hesitation, she walked back.

Various pretty jewelleries were lined up on that jewellery stall. There was a piece of silk cloth to purposely exhibit different types of bronze mirror. To mutually gift mirror during the Mid-autumn Festival was a traditional custom. Mei Qian Deng was already at this age, she naturally knew. It just that she had never thought of buying one to gift to someone else……

She quickly raked through the mirrors and aimed at a piece of twin luan and an auspicious animal painted in traditional Chinese style mirror. A luan was carved at both sides of the mirror stand, flapping their wings with the head held up and the tail rose to dance. An auspicious animal was running above the stand, a grape plant twirled below the stand and a parrot spread its wings on the grape tree. The blooming flowers at the edge each had the words ‘thousand’ and ‘autumn’ etched at the middle. It was quite small and exquisite.

“Young Master has very good eyes. This bronze mirror is my stall’s best quality product.”

Mei Qian Deng nodded her head. She had never bargained when buying. If she took a fancy she would buy instantly. Just as she was fishing out her money, Chu Xun and Zhao Mo Ran who walked ahead finally realised the little tail who followed behind them had disappeared so they turned back. From afar, Chu Xun saw Mei Qian Deng stopped at a jewellery stall. He snorted in contempt.

This slovenly boor, since when he like those gaudy things?

Then he saw Mei Qian Deng took out a gold ingot from her sleeves and gave it to the stall owner.

That stall owner didn’t even return her the change. It’s one gold ingot! That was a lot, a lot of money! After receiving the money, that stall owner’s eyes smiled nonstop as he bent his body with both his hands offering an item…… En? What is that toy? Why it has familiar and pleasing to eye feelings?

Chu Xun finally went to Mei Qian Deng’s side. “Wei, boor. What scrap toy did you buy?”

“This.”

Mei Qian Deng presented the Thousand Autumns Mirror before Chu Xun’s eyes.

Chu Xun chuckled and sneered, “If you want a mirror just tell earlier. I had a drawer of……”

“A gift for you.”

Nani?

What the heck?

What did Mei Qian Deng just say?

His Highness Crown Prince was dumbfounded, stupefied, for a period of time he couldn’t respond.

Until his hand were grabbed by Mei Qian Deng and a hard, cold item was stuffed into it that he snapped out of it.

Chu Xun looked down at the bronze mirror in his hand. The work was indeed not bad but it was not worth a gold ingot though!

After scrutinising it, he raised his head and faced Mei Qian Deng’s clear eyes. Thump! Thump! Thump! His heart crazily beat, even his ears could hear the sound inside his heart. Chu Xun forcefully gulped and pretended to be calm, “Don’t think with just a mirror your stained bad record will be washed away!” Saying so, he squeezed the mirror inside his chest. Coldly snorted, his neck was rigid as he swaggeringly walked away forward.

A pedestrian ahead, “Eiyo, why you people don’t look at the road when walking?! If not because you are good looking, I will hit you already!”