Chapter 139 Getting Along

Watching Zhi Liu leave, Lu Ying turned her head to look at the noblewoman.

With just a single glance, without even making a gesture, her eyes pure and innocent yet entirely devoid of accusation, the noblewoman—who had just been so arrogant with her chin raised to the sky—retreated a few steps in utter disarray.

As she made this movement, swish, swish, swish, dozens of people in the alley turned their heads simultaneously to look at her, looking at her skirt soaked through with urine...

Such gazes were the ultimate humiliation a person could endure. Without Lu Ying saying another half a word, the noblewoman let out a piercing scream. Clearly unable to accept such a shameful defeat, she shrieked and convulsed for a long moment before rolling her eyes back and fainting dead away.

Several maidservants hurried forward, half-supporting and half-carrying their mistress as they fled in panic. Watching those figures fleeing in disarray, Lu Ying casually tossed the contract to a young boy and said, "A-Shi, take this to the master of the Zhang residence. Tell them that Madam Zhang herself came to drive me out personally, so the contract is void and we will leave this place in three days. By the way, mention to them as well that his mother was extremely rude to me, and I am very displeased." Free leverage was there to be used, and using it to give the Zhang family a warning and vent some accumulated anger was always a sound choice.

Turning her head, she issued another order to a different boy: "Go and see if there are any other vacant estates nearby, and pick one slightly larger than this one. Once Luo-zi has inspected it, we will move as soon as possible."

"Understood."

After the two boys received their orders and left, Lu Ying jumped down from the oxcart and followed Lu Yun back into the room.

The moment they left, the onlookers began to disperse as well. Yet even after walking a long distance, those people kept turning back to look at Lu Ying. Vaguely, someone muttered in a low voice, "The Zhang family has really kicked a hard board this time." "Madam Zhang has always been harsh and stingy; having lost face to such a degree, she probably won't have the courage to show her face in any social circles in Jiangzhou again." "Indeed, she'll most likely crawl back to Luoyang." "Will there be no rumors in Luoyang, though?"

Faintly, others were saying, "That youth in green has such extraordinary bearing. I wonder what his status is?" "That hairpin alone is a priceless treasure. What kind of background do you suppose he has?"

Entering the room, Lu Ying placed the hairpin down carelessly and said to her younger brother, "I will settle the matter of your schooling as soon as possible."

Lu Yun looked up. "It doesn't matter. My progress in reading on my own has been quite fast... There's no rush to seek a teacher."

No rush? The rims of his eyes were already red.

Lu Ying glanced at him and didn't argue.

Instead, Lu Yun stepped forward, lowered his head, and rubbed his face against his sister's neck. He spoke softly, "Sister, I'm not in a hurry, and making money isn't urgent either. Don't push yourself too hard."

Lu Ying smiled. She looked at her brother tenderly and replied softly, "Alright, I won't push myself."

After the siblings spent a while chatting together, Luo-zi arrived. He had already learned of today's events. After discussing the matters of canceling the lease and renting a new place with Luo-zi, Lu Ying narrowed her eyes slightly, her smile brilliant. "The fact that Madam Zhang was scared so badly she pissed her skirt today is quite amusing... Luo-zi, use the mouths of these neighbors to spread the story far and wide. Remember, spread it as far as you can! Just the thought of her not daring to show her face in Jiangzhou for the rest of her life makes me immensely happy!"

This person always placed her malicious little schemes out in the open, never wanting to delay revenge past the night it was incurred. Luo-zi looked up to meet Lu_Ying's smiling face, feeling his heart hammer wildly against his ribs. He nodded and said earnestly, "Don't worry, Eldest Brother."

By now, he, like Lu Yun, called Lu Ying Eldest Brother. Strictly speaking, Luo-zi was less than two months younger than Lu Ying.

Lu Ying nodded and added casually, "I wonder who is spreading the rumors that we are beggars and peddlers? Luo-zi, investigate that as well."

"Understood."

After another busy night, the next day dawned with a continuous, misty drizzle.

Having sent Luo-zi to investigate the noble patron's residence, Lu Ying boarded the oxcart.

The spring rain fell like silk, drifting in fine threads across the carriage curtains and the streets.

More than half a year had passed since the noble patron had last cleaned up the city. Over these past six months, Jiangzhou had fully recovered its vitality, and the streets were once again surging with crowds and bustling with prosperity.

Looking at the orderly city of Jiangzhou, Lu Ying thought: Sometimes, taking half a step ahead means staying ahead at every single turn. If I were to enter Jiangzhou only now, it probably wouldn't be so easy to smoothly take control of a trade sector.

And because she had arrived half a year earlier, Lu Ying's influence at the Jiangzhou docks had already developed to the point where she had a clear overview of the movements of all incoming and outgoing vessels. Reaching this stage, she could even secretly partner with others in the illicit trade of salt and grain, enjoying the thrill of getting rich overnight.

Commerce was always like this: going from earning one tael of gold to a hundred taels was as difficult as ascending to heaven, but going from a hundred taels of gold to a thousand taels followed a natural and logical progression.

Rubbing her chin, Lu Ying thought of the black-sailed ships she had encountered upon first arriving in Jiangzhou—those people had been engaging in precisely such illegal operations. Of course, they had operated on a much larger scale, directly intercepting grain and salt shipments bound for the imperial court. Their actions had been so brazen that they finally provoked the noble patron into making a personal move.

The noble patron's residence in Jiangzhou was called Ming Garden. Much like the one in Chengdu, Ming Garden was not large; viewed purely from the outside, it was simply an exquisite and elegant estate.

The oxcart stopped at the main gates.

Because of the lingering drizzle, the entrance to Ming Garden was quiet, save for two Imperial Guards standing completely motionless.

Looking at them and then glancing at the sky, Lu Ying thought: I might as well wait until the rain eases slightly before getting down.

With that, she instructed the driver to pull the oxcart off to one side while she leaned against the carriage bulkhead and began to doze.

Not long after they had pulled over, one of the Imperial Guards walked up. Pointing his spear at the driver, he barked, "Who are you people?"

Too terrified to answer, the driver remained frozen, but from inside the oxcart, Lu Ying's voice floated out: "I am called Lu Wen, here to pay respects to the Lord. Please announce my presence."

With that, she lifted the carriage curtain, revealing her handsome and refined face.

After staring at her for a few moments, the guard abruptly stepped back a few paces, lowered his head, and saluted. "The Lord gave instructions long ago. Please enter, young master."

Indeed, he must have anticipated that she would come looking for him.

Lu Ying shook her head and asked, "I'd like to wait until the rain lets up a bit before going in. Is that all right?"

The guard had never encountered such a person before. Stunned for a moment, he lowered his head and replied, "The young master may decide as he pleases."

It wasn't until the rain stopped entirely that Lu Ying stepped down from the oxcart and entered Ming Garden.

Ming Garden bore a striking resemblance to Mirror Garden in Chengdu. Lu Ying walked through it with familiar ease, and before long, she arrived beside a garden.

In the garden, by the side of a lake, the man stood straight and tall, his back turned to her as he wielded a brush furiously across a wooden board. Behind him stood a row of beautiful maidservants and guards, all with their heads bowed in unison, not daring to draw a single heavy breath.

Lu Ying stepped forward.

Reaching the edge of the pavilion, Lu Ying did not disturb him, simply imitating the others by lowering her head.

It wasn't until the sound of the maidservants' light, pattering footsteps reached her that Lu Ying stepped into the pavilion.

As she approached, the lovely maids were arranging low tables and couches, preparing braziers, pastries, warmed wine, and burning incense.

Meanwhile, the noble patron had put down his writing brush, resting his hands upon the table as he lowered his head in thought.

Lu Ying walked up to within five paces of him, bowed deeply, and said in a clear voice, "Lu Wen pays respects to the Lord."

The figure with his back to her slowly turned around.

Amidst the drifting fine rain once more, beneath the gently swaying willow branches, the man's brows and eyes resembled mountains and rivers, exuding a noble elegance that seemed to seep straight from his bones.

He looked down at Lu Ying from a position of authority, his face carrying a windless, rainless majesty and a bottomless, unfathomable depth.

After staring at her for a moment, he nodded slightly. "Take Lu Wen to bathe and change clothes."

"Understood."

Two maidservants surrounded Lu Ying. Casting a glance at them, Lu Ying looked back up at the noble patron. Through the veil of rain, his features seemed separated by a layer of mist, making it impossible for her to discern the reality beneath.

Since she couldn't see clearly, Lu Ying obediently followed behind the maidservants. First, she soaked in a hot bath, and under their attentive ministration, even the corners of her fingernails were meticulously cleaned before she was dressed in a set of moon-white robes.

Perhaps due to the careful grooming, the handsome youth in the bronze mirror possessed striking, bright features and an air of pure elegance, resembling the legitimate heir of a great aristocratic family.

Inspecting herself with satisfaction, Lu Ying walked out.

Just as she stepped down the terrace, a carriage came to a halt before her. Immediately afterward, the noble patron's deep, magnetic voice echoed from inside the carriage: "Get in."

Lu Ying boarded the carriage.

The interior was spacious and comfortable. Because of the lingering chill of spring, the couch was lined with a layer of tiger skin. As soon as Lu Ying sat down, the comfort was so inviting that she couldn't suppress a tiny yawn.

The noble patron was leafing through a volume of silk manuscripts and had no leisure to pay attention to her. After the carriage had rolled forward for a short while, a number of guards galloped up to escort them on all sides.

Sensing that the carriage had left Ming Garden, Lu Ying lifted the curtain and asked outside, "Where are we going?"

The answer came from Zhi Liu in another carriage: "To the docks."

To the docks?

Lu Ying was startled. "Are we returning to Chengdu?"

Zhi Liu replied, "You'll know when we get there."

Lu Ying retracted her head. Seeing that the noble patron had put aside his silk manuscript and was sipping wine, she couldn't help issuing a soft, muted protest: "Playing this game of running away from home all the time is really not fun at all."

She was reminding the noble patron not to keep dragging her off wherever he pleased on a whim—at the very least, he could give her some psychological preparation!

The noble patron raised his head.

He stared at Lu Ying for a moment, and then his deep, magnetic voice reached her gently: "Come here."

Lu Ying obediently shuffled over.

"Sit down."

Lu Ying obediently leaned against him and sat down.

He lowered his head to gaze at her, and slowly, he raised a hand to brush against the center of her brows. His fingers were clearly hardened by years of practicing with swords and blades; they were somewhat rough, causing a tickling, irritating sensation against her delicate skin.

Watching her gradually lowered brows and eyelashes, and her expression which had lost its unruffled composure, the corners of his lips curved upward. Then, he pressed her head down onto his lap and commanded, "Take a nap."

With that, he spoke no more to her, picking up another roll of silk manuscripts to review.

With her head pressed down by him, Lu Ying had no choice but to rest upon his thigh. Her cool cheek felt the warmth of his strong, powerful thigh muscles, and with the slightest shift, she could sense the tensile strength of his abdominal muscles. With every breath she took, she was surrounded by his scent.

Even though Lu Ying considered her skin as thick as a city wall and her heart as hard as a fortress, she stiffened at this moment.

Slowly, despite her belief that she was keeping a straight face, a blush inadvertently crept all the way from the tips of her ears to her cheeks. Stammering, Lu Ying said, "My—My Lord, this is not proper."

No sooner had her words fallen than the man glanced down at her. His gaze was extremely impatient, causing Lu Ying to shrink back instinctively. Without warning, he pulled a tiger-skin rug from the side and tossed it over her, covering it so roughly that even her face was blanketed. Then, she heard his stern, impatient command: "Sleep!" The tone was harsh and abrupt, brooking no more argument than a military order.