Upon hearing that Prince Ning was about to come to the Hua Mansion to unleash his fury, Tang Bohu was immediately astonished!
"Prince Ning...is he coming to the Hua residence?"
Li Huan nodded and said, "As everyone knows, Prince Ning and Grand Tutor Hua have always been at odds, and Prince Ning has been looking for an opportunity to get rid of Grand Tutor Hua! I estimate that Prince Ning will soon bring people to the Hua residence to cause trouble!"
Tang Bohu frowned slightly: "Prince Ning sent someone to my house before!"
Li Huan pretended not to know and asked, "What would I do at your house?"
Tang Bohu said, "Prince Ning tried to invite me to be his advisor, but I cleverly refused."
Li Huan said, "Prince Ning is busy recruiting talented people. It seems he's determined to fight Grand Tutor Hua to the bitter end!"
Tang Bohu said, "This Prince Ning is arrogant and domineering, and I find him extremely repulsive!"
Li Huan said, "Once Prince Ning loses his temper, Grand Tutor Hua will be unable to resist, and the Hua family will be doomed. I am certain that after Prince Ning eliminates Grand Tutor Hua, he will take Qiu Xiang, Chun Xiang, Xia Xiang, and Dong Xiang for himself!"
Tang Bohu said, "Prince Ning is both greedy and lustful. He must have been coveting Qiu Xiang, Chun Xiang, Xia Xiang, and Dong Xiang for a long time, and he will never let the four of them go."
Li Huan said, "Let's go back and rest first, and then we'll see how things go."
Tang Bohu cautioned, "Brother Zhu, take it easy. Don't get too carried away with Sister Pomegranate, or you'll ruin your health."
Zhu Zhishan smiled lewdly: "How could a mere Sister Pomegranate possibly harm my body? Brother Tang, don't underestimate my abilities."
Tang Bohu said no more and followed Li Huan out of the woodshed.
Back at my lodgings.
Li Huan and Tang Bohu sat at the table, drinking tea and chatting.
Suddenly, the two entered the room.
These were Madam Hua's two sons, Hua Wen and Hua Wu.
The shorter Chinese person bends forward; the taller Chinese person leans back.
These two mentally challenged individuals are arguably the most classic and bizarre duo, bar none.
Li Huan stood up and asked, "What brings you two gentlemen here?"
Hua Wen said, "I heard from Chunxiang that you are not only good at calligraphy and painting, but also proficient in musical instruments! I don't believe that a cook who sells food at a stall could be so talented?"
Hua Wu said, "Hurry up and give us a performance so that my brother and I can see for ourselves. If you are truly talented, we will become your disciples!"
Li Huan laughed and said, "I don't have much talent. If you want to become my apprentices, you can become Hua An's apprentices!"
Tang Bohu hurriedly said, "I am Li Huan's assistant. I only know how to cook and have no talent at all. How can I be the teacher of the two gentlemen?"
Hua Wen said, "Li Huan, don't refuse. Chunxiang showed me and Hua Wu your painting 'Four Beauties' and the other four portraits. Your painting skills are profound and can be described as superb!"
Hua Wu said, "Moreover, your calligraphy is first-rate, even better than our schoolteacher's!"
Hua Wen pulled a bamboo flute from his back and handed it to Li Huan: "Please play a tune."
Li Huan waved his hand: "I'm not good at playing, so I won't embarrass myself."
Hua Wen was unwilling to give up and insisted that Li Huan play the flute.
Li Huan couldn't refuse, so he took the bamboo flute and played a few notes casually.
Hua Wu said, "What kind of nonsense is that? It doesn't even sound as good as mine."
Hua Wen said, "Chunxiang must have fallen for Li Huan. She thinks he plays the flute beautifully. It's true that beauty is in the eye of the beholder!"
Hua Wu said, "Li Huan, you can seduce Chunxiang, Xiaxiang, and Dongxiang, but you are not allowed to seduce Qiuxiang, because Qiuxiang is my and my brother's woman!"
Li Huan asked, "Is this considered a threat?"
Hua Wen said, "So what if it's a threat? You're a cook in the Hua family, no different from a servant. How dare you try to steal our woman?"
Li Huan was displeased and sneered, "To be honest, I'm not interested in Qiu Xiang at all! But since you two are threatening me and preventing me from pursuing Qiu Xiang, I've become interested instead. I'm determined to win Qiu Xiang over and make sure neither of you gets to marry her!"
"You...you dare to go against us?" Hua Wen glared angrily.
Li Huan said, "Just by looking at you two, I can tell you're mentally challenged. Why would I dare to go against you?"
Hua Wu was shocked: "Brother, Li Huan actually saw through our weaknesses."
Hua Wen said, "We hid it so well, yet Li Huan could still tell we were mentally challenged. He's really amazing!"
Li Huan burst out laughing.
"Aren't you two incredibly stupid? Has no one ever told you?"
Hua Wen said, "Everyone praises Hua Wu and me for being handsome, intelligent, and brave!"
Li Huan said, "Damn, you two can't even tell the difference between the truth and the lie. You're really stupid enough, no wonder you're called idiots!"
Suddenly, someone outside shouted, "Prince Ning is here! Prince Ning is here!"
Tang Bohu's eyes suddenly lit up: "Brother Li, you were right."
Li Huan said, "Prince Ning's visit is ill-intentioned; there's bound to be a good show. Let's go and see what's going on!"
...
Prince Ning led his confidants and a large army, arriving at Huafu in a menacing manner.
Grand Tutor Hua personally greeted Prince Ning and invited him into the hall.
Li Huan and Tang Bohu stood in a corner of the hall, observing intently.
Behind Prince Ning stood a chubby strategist and a middle-aged scholar.
Clearly, the middle-aged scholar was Tang Bohu's father's killer—the Deadly Scholar.
Grand Tutor Hua cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness's presence is an honor to my humble abode. I am truly flattered!"
Prince Ning stroked his beard and said, "Grand Tutor, you are too kind! I heard that you are fond of painting, so I specially found some calligraphy and paintings by Tang Bohu and presented them to you for your appreciation!"
Grand Tutor Hua hurriedly said, "Your Highness, I am of limited knowledge and learning..."
Prince Ning raised his hand: "Grand Tutor, there's no need to be modest! Master, quickly bring up Tang Bohu's 'Peacock Painting'!"
The fat clerk quickly picked up the "Peacock Painting," placed it on the table, and swiftly unfolded it.
Grand Tutor Hua lowered his head to admire the painting: "Hmm, it's exquisitely painted! The peacock is so lifelike. It truly is a masterpiece by Tang Bohu!"
Prince Ning said, "I have had this 'Peacock Painting' remounted! Grand Tutor, look at the peacock; it possesses a regal bearing and can truly be called the king of birds! If you like it, please accept it!"
Grand Tutor Hua hurriedly waved his hand: "I can't accept such a valuable gift!"
Prince Ning's eyes widened: "You're actually disrespecting me? Are you trying to make me lose my temper?"
Grand Tutor Hua was caught in a dilemma, looking embarrassed.
Madam Hua quickly said, "Your Highness, please calm down. May I also have a look?"
Prince Ning laughed and said, "Alright, since Madam Hua is interested, let's appreciate it together."
Madam Hua led Qiu Xiang to the table to view the "Peacock Painting".
"Qiu Xiang, what do you think of this painting?"
Qiu Xiang replied, "The 'Peacock Painting' is a masterpiece by Tang Bohu, it's just a pity..."
"What a pity?" Prince Ning's eyes gleamed with greed as he stared intently at Qiu Xiang.
Qiu Xiang said, "Unfortunately, a peacock is ultimately just an ordinary bird and will never fly up to a branch and become a phoenix. Even if it is reframed, it will be of no use."
Upon hearing this, Prince Ning was speechless.
Li Huan chuckled to himself.
Qiu Xiang publicly confronted Prince Ning; wasn't she being too clever for her own good and harming Grand Tutor Hua?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
