"Keep it a secret." Seeing Nangong Lingfei’s face fall, Yang Mengchen pressed her lips together in a light smile, "Alright, you’ll know its marvelous use the night after tomorrow."
Realizing that Yang Mengchen was teasing them, Nangong Lingfei and Yang Chenghong couldn’t help but give a wry smile, their eyes filled with a mix of grievance and indulgence as they looked at her.
After the completion of Comfortable Water Pavilion, Yang Mengchen arranged for Zhuang Ming and the craftsmen to expand and remodel the five shops (owned by the Prince Mansion) in the city. Having just finished the refurbishment a few days ago, she carefully inspected each floor and was very satisfied, "Sixth Brother, have the serving staff come over tomorrow around nine in the morning to prepare for work."
Yang Chenghong nodded. The Academy offered training classes for all professions, and the Royal Charity taught the people it sheltered to learn various skills. When his sister had said a month ago that she needed a group of chefs and waitstaff, he had carefully selected the personnel. Of course, all of them were required to sign a labor contract.
After discussing business matters, Yang Mengchen suddenly teased Yang Chenghong with a smile, "Sixth Brother, since Second Brother will soon get married, when are you and Seventh Brother planning to welcome your sisters-in-law home?"
Second Brother (Chengning) is getting married?
Yang Chenghong and Nangong Lingfei looked at Yang Mengchen in surprise, and seeing her nod with a smile, both were happy for Yang Chengning.
However, in response to his sister’s teasing and reminder, a graceful look of polite refusal appeared on Yang Chenghong’s handsome face, "I’m currently busy competing with Ling Fei to be the world’s richest man. Seventh Brother is wholeheartedly managing the affairs of Huimin Hospital and has no desire or energy to think about those messy things."
Catching a swift and unnatural flicker in Yang Chenghong’s eyes, Yang Mengchen pondered thoughtfully, about to say something, when suddenly a sharp and spoilt female voice came from outside the restaurant, "Jin Shan (Yang Chenghong’s other attendant), get out of the way. This young miss wants to find Yang Chenghong."
"The young master is discussing business; Ms. Lu, please leave." Jin Shan replied neither servilely nor overbearingly.
Ms. Lu?
Seeing Yang Chenghong’s previously calm face turn a faint red, his body stiffening considerably, and panic flickering in his eyes as if he was very afraid of the Ms. Lu outside, Yang Mengchen’s eyes deepened with amusement, and she couldn’t help but feel gleeful inside—it seemed there was some issue between Sixth Brother and Ms. Lu.
"Yang Chenghong, I know you’re in there. You’d better come out obediently right now, or if I have to come in, you’ll bear all consequences!"
Watching Yang Chenghong squirm uncomfortably, Yang Mengchen’s eyes gleamed mischievously, the corners of her lips curling up with a sly smile.
"Ninth Sister, I still have things to do. I’ll take my leave first." Yang Chenghong stood up and rushed straight to the back door of the kitchen, using his light body technique, and was out of sight in an instant.
Yuan Bao followed closely behind him.
Yang Mengchen was astonished and then turned to look at Nangong Lingfei, who had been taking delight in his brother’s misfortune: Who exactly made Sixth Brother so wary?
Catching the inquiry in Yang Mengchen’s eyes, Nangong Lingfei struggled to suppress his laughter and explained in a low voice, "That Miss Lu is the legitimate daughter of Marquis Xuanping, Lu Ningshuang."
Before Yang Mengchen could ask how Sixth Brother managed to get himself involved with Lu Ningshuang, the tightly shut door was kicked open with a ’bang’ from the outside, and in walked Lu Ningshuang with a maid, scanning the room. Not seeing Yang Chenghong, she immediately asked with indignation, "Where is Yang Chenghong?" Her voice was powerful and thunderous. ƒгeewebnovёl_com
With an attractive appearance, clear eyes, and radiant skin, she was clad in a light green dress that wrapped around her svelte figure, her elegant demeanor tinged with a touch of determination.
Yang Mengchen rarely attended banquets of the nobility, not because she saw herself as superior, but because she was busy with numerous affairs and genuinely had no time to spare. However, rumors about the Xuanping Marquis Mansion and Lu Ningshuang were well-known throughout the Capital.
The Marquis Xuanping was an upright and talented man, loyal to the emperor. It was only after his first wife’s death that he placed too much trust and doted on his second wife, Madam Jia, and her children.
At the age of ten, Lu Ningshuang had a showdown with Madam Jia and forced the matriarch to hand over the management rights of her and her siblings’ residences to her. The silver was to be disbursed directly from the outer court’s finance office, and Madam Jia was not to control the siblings. Fortunately, Marquis Xuanping still had a father’s love for Lu Ningshuang and her brother. Despite Madam Jia’s tearful pleas, the Marquis agreed to Lu Ningshuang’s demands.
At fourteen, Lu Ningshuang interfered with the marriage arrangements made by Madam Jia. Last year, she replaced her half-sister with herself in the bridal sedan, marrying off the girl to a degenerate young master. This year, she even broke the legs of a dandy who bullied her on the street.
With all these events, and with Madam Jia’s encouragement, Lu Ningshuang earned the reputation of a fierce and cruel ’tigress’. Her reputation wasn’t good, and therefore at eighteen, no one had come seeking her hand in marriage.
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