"Yes, sir. Please wait a moment. I'll be right there!" The waiter became even more attentive upon seeing that the customer was a wealthy one.
After everyone was seated, Su Peisheng came up. He had just gone to arrange food for the two coachmen before coming up.
"Sit down, everyone!" Lanqin said to Su Peisheng and the two maids.
But they dared not sit down. They all looked at the Fourth Master and waited for him to nod before they dared to sit down.
"The snow has been so heavy along the way. I never expected it to be such a snow disaster this year!" Lanqin said, looking at the vast expanse of white snow all around.
"What is a 'snow disaster'?" Si Hua asked.
"It's because there was too much snow, which turned into a disaster, hence the name 'snow disaster'!" Lanqin explained.
"However, we didn't see any disaster victims along the way, which shows that the people are doing well and haven't been greatly affected," Fourth Master said.
"Hmph, it's not that they weren't affected; some froze to death, some fled, and some sold themselves into slavery," said a man in a gray cotton robe next door.
Lanqin turned her head to look and felt that the voice sounded somewhat familiar. She looked at the speaker's back.
When Fourth Master saw someone contradicting him, he turned to look at him.
Lanqin looked at him more and more and felt that he looked quite familiar, so she asked, "Is what this gentleman said true?"
The man chuckled mockingly, "Whether it's true or not, you can go out and see for yourselves!"
Lanqin turned her head and saw that it was indeed someone she recognized. It was the same person who had spoken up for her when Fourth Master took her to that Qingsong Academy and she was being harassed.
"It's you!" Lanqin exclaimed in surprise, standing up from her seat and walking over to the person.
The man looked up and stared blankly at Lanqin. Perhaps because Lanqin had been dressed as a man that day, and was now dressed as a noble young woman, he didn't recognize her at first.
“It’s me! Qingsong Academy!” Lanqin drew a character on the man’s table with her finger.
"Oh. It's you!" The man finally remembered, stood up, and looked at Lanqin with a grin.
The Fourth Prince coldly watched Lanqin exchange pleasantries with that man. Su Peisheng and the others all secretly glanced at Lanqin and the other man with slight surprise. Su Peisheng was especially worried for Lanqin; how could a concubine talk to another man for so long in front of their own prince?
Lanqin felt a chill run down her spine. She turned to look at the Fourth Master and saw his cold gaze fixed on her, colder than the snow outside.
His face was as cold as a block of ice!
"Young Master Du, look, our master is here too!" Lanqin had no choice but to introduce the man surnamed Du. She knew that Fourth Master must mind!
Young Master Du walked over to Fourth Master, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Thank you very much for this gentleman's reminder and rescue that day."
"That was just me speaking up for my wife, so it's only fair. No need for thanks, we're even now," Fourth Master said lazily, avoiding the man's polite gesture.
When Lanqin heard Fourth Master's emphasis and his mannerisms, she knew that Bingkuai was jealous again, and his chauvinistic tendencies were acting up.
"Young Master Du, my master has a bit of a cold and it's not convenient for him to talk about it. If he does, he might spread the cold to others. Please don't mind," Lan Qin said with a smile.
The man surnamed Du was naturally displeased to see that the Fourth Master spoke coldly and acted arrogantly, but seeing Lanqin say this, he didn't say anything more. He simply clasped his hands and said to Lanqin, "I'm going to Xiangzhou to take up my post. Who are you?"
Upon hearing this, Lanqin asked with concern, "Did Young Master Du pass the imperial examination this autumn? Are you going to take up your post in Xiangzhou?"
Young Master Du cupped his hands in respect and said, "I have passed the Bing list."
Upon hearing this, Lanqin exclaimed happily, "Young Master Du is indeed a man of great talent! Congratulations! We're going to Ezhou, so perhaps we can travel the same route!"
Upon hearing this, Young Master Du laughed and said, "Then it is indeed possible to travel the same route."
Lanqin glanced at Fourth Master and saw that the man's face was as dark as a servant's. Lanqin had no choice but to say, "Let me talk to my master. Young Master Du, please have a seat."
After saying that, Lanqin returned to her seat. Sihua and Shuiling both lowered their heads and dared not utter a sound, because the Fourth Master's aura was too frightening, and even Su Peisheng dared not say a word.
Lanqin glanced at Fourth Master's cold face and said, "Master, that Young Master Du also passed the exam. He doesn't know our identities, so we can go together. He's in Xiangzhou, and we're going to Ezhou."
"He's a complete stranger, and you're chatting with him so happily, humph!" Fourth Master snorted.
He's obviously jealous! And he did it in front of Su Peisheng and the others! What a petty man!
Lanqin thought to herself, but she had to coax the Fourth Master, saying, "Master, there must be a deeper meaning behind what this young master Du just said. Why don't we go with him and ask him about it? Master, you're the most popular one right now, so you have to make a good impression!"
Lanqin gave a thumbs-up gesture, indicating that the Fourth Prince was the most popular prince.
Fourth Master was displeased when he recalled how well Lanqin and that person had chatted. However, Lanqin's words were not without reason, so he reluctantly said, "You are not allowed to chat with him privately along the way."
Lanqin smiled and said, "Alright, it's all in front of Master, is that alright?"
Su Peisheng and the others almost shoved their heads under the table.
"Here it comes! Gentlemen, the lady's porridge is here." The waiter came over with a loud, clear voice.
After placing everyone's food in the pantry, the waiter happily went downstairs.
After everyone had finished eating, Lanqin said to Young Master Du, "Young Master Du, why don't we all go together? Would you like to ride in a carriage or on horseback?"
"I've hired a carriage, it's right at the door," said Young Master Du.
Lanqin thought for a moment, then turned to Fourth Master and said, "Why don't we let Young Master Du squeeze in with Si Hua and the others? He doesn't seem like a wealthy family, and it's not cheap to hire a carriage to go that far."
Fourth Master stared at Lan Qin and said, "Whether he's cheap or not is none of my business."
Lanqin said, "My lord, don't be so stingy. I think this young master Du is a key to your dealings with lower-level officials. Why not get on his good side and find out from him who the people below really support? Isn't Eighth Prince known as the Wise Prince?"
When Fourth Master heard this, he was finally persuaded by Lanqin's sweet talk, but he nodded reluctantly.
"Su Peisheng, go and tell that Young Master Du that I would like to make friends with him and invite him to join us on our journey." Lanqin didn't want to "provoke" Fourth Master any further, so she had no choice but to let Su Peisheng do the talking.
Su Peisheng accepted the order and left. When Fourth Master saw that Lanqin knew not to talk to that man this time, his expression softened.
Si Hua and Shui Ling couldn't help but admire Lan Qin when they saw this. It was probably only their master who could tolerate her so much.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
