Chapter 108 My sister has been timid since childhood
Wen Xingluo couldn't help but stop in his tracks when he heard this.
She watched him walk to the front and couldn't help twisting her handkerchief with a red face.
I always thought this guy was a dog that couldn't spit out ivory in private, but he actually praised her beauty...
When they arrived at the main hall, Xie Guanlan and Mu Shangming sat at the top seats, while the officials and female relatives of Yangcheng stood on both sides of the hall, each with a red lacquered low table with curved legs piled with delicacies in front of them.
Wen Xingluo's seat was next to Xie Guanlan.
She listened to Xie Guanlan drinking and chatting with officials such as Mu Shangming, and sat quietly and upright watching the dancers perform, acting as an unimportant vase in the venue. Her dining etiquette was something she had recently learned from Wei Si. It was as elegant and pleasing to the eye as that of a princess in the palace, making the female relatives below wonder if she had been raised in the palace since she was a child.
Xie Guanlan glanced at the pot of girl's red wine on her table and saw that she actually poured herself a glass. Her fair and tender cheeks were flushed and a haze suddenly flashed across her narrow eyes.
He took a break from the conversation and told the maid, "Replace the wine on the young lady's table with milk tea."
Wen Xingluo was eating fish and looked at him in surprise when he heard this.
But Xie Guanlan started talking to Mu Shangming again, leaving her with only a cold and noble profile.
The milk tea makes you feel warm when it goes into your stomach.
The girl lowered her long eyelashes, and the palms holding the cup seemed to be filled with warmth.
When the singing and dancing in the hall ended, Mu Shangming stroked his beard and laughed, "Singing and dancing are boring. I have a retainer in my house who is good at sword dancing. Why don't you call him up and let the commander watch him?"
Xie Guanlan remained noncommittal.
A swordsman in white and wearing a golden mask soon appeared in the hall.
He clasped his fists and saluted, then swung the sword in his hand under the gaze of everyone.
Wen Xingluo was watching with great interest, when unexpectedly the swordsman suddenly raised his sword and stabbed at her face!
Wen Xingluo raised an eyebrow.
I originally thought that today's Hongmen Banquet was aimed at Xie Guanlan, but unexpectedly, she became Emperor Gaozu!
Just when the tip of the sword was about to touch her eyebrows, a narrow knife was unsheathed!
The blade illuminated Wen Xingluo's eyes.
Xie Guanlan, who was standing beside him, easily deflected the swordsman's long sword. A terrifyingly powerful pressure spread out from his body like a tide. The sword's sharp edge was so fierce that it forced the swordsman to retreat step by step.
Wen Xingluo glanced at Mu Shangming.
It seems that she has become the touchstone of the Mu family today.
Just when the swordsman was about to be defeated, three white-robed swordsmen, also wearing golden masks, floated in from the corner and attacked Xie Guanlan as lightly and silently as fallen leaves in the autumn wind, yet dangerously.
He carried the narrow knife on his back, blocking the three soft swords that were stabbing at him.
Mu Shangming cheered, "Excellent! The commander is indeed a master of martial arts!"
Suddenly, the sound of a bamboo flute was heard outside the hall.
The flute sounded clear and melodious, as if it was accompanying Xie Guanlan.
Wen Xingluo looked over.
The girl who walked in playing the flute was wearing a light blue brocade dress that outlined her graceful figure, plump cheeks, red lips, and slanted phoenix eyes that seemed to have all kinds of charm. She had a flower ornament that was recently popular in the capital, stuck between her eyebrows. Her lotus steps were steady, and the swaying of her bun was very small.
This girl must be the daughter of the prefectural governor.
His name seemed to be something like Mu Zhiqiu.
When the bamboo flute finished playing, the long swords in the hands of the four swordsmen broke at the same time.
The hall was silent.
Mu Zhiqiu laughed and said, "The commander-in-chief is so impressive that he can hold his own against four people."
Xie Guanlan sheathed his knife and ignored her.
The next moment, a line of blood appeared on the necks of the four swordsmen at the same time.
Blood gushed out, the Four Musketeers opened their eyes wide in horror, and fell to the ground with a bang.
Suddenly, screams of officials and women were heard all around.
Someone stammered in fear, "Commander... What are you doing?! They were just dancing with swords to liven up the atmosphere, why are you taking their lives?!"
Xie Guanlan smiled faintly, "My sister has been timid since she was young. The tip of the sword is pointed at her eyebrows. What if she is frightened? Such a ignorant guest deserves death."
"Then...why didn't you just kill one? Why did you kill them all?!"
"They all wear the same clothes, it's hard to tell them apart."
"you--"
The official was so angry that he was fuming, but he couldn't say anything to refute.
The warm blood from the four swordsmen's necks splashed onto Mu Zhiqiu's cheeks and dress.
But she was not panicked, nor did she blame Xie Guanlan.
She calmly put away her bamboo flute and bowed gently to Xie Guanlan. "My appearance is not good. Please allow me to change my clothes and put on my makeup first. Once I am done, I will come to welcome the commander."
Wen Xingluo watched her leave.
It was not until Mu Zhiqiu walked away that she turned her gaze back to Xie Guanlan.
The young man was wearing red clothes, a jade belt, and had a golden face. His eyebrows, eyes, and thin lips were extremely beautiful and handsome. He had put away the terrifying murderous aura he had just had. As he walked through the hall, he was dignified and aloof, as if he was born to be a superior.
The girl's eyes moved slightly.
She originally thought that she was the touchstone for the court to test Xie Guanlan's skills.
But the look in Mu Zhiqiu's eyes when she looked at Xie Guanlan just now was full of surprise and appreciation, which gave her another idea - she was indeed a whetstone, but what she was testing was Xie Guanlan's courage and spirit.
The imperial court knew that Xie Guanlan had rebellious intentions, and the Mu family also knew it.
But the Mu family does not seem to be willing to be the knife of the imperial court.
If Xie Guanlan performs well enough at today's welcoming banquet, it means that he has the potential and capital to become emperor, and they will use Mu Zhiqiu to marry him.
The Mu family, a humble family, was inconspicuous among the prominent families in the capital. Among the upper classes, it was difficult for them to climb up.
But the Mu family is very ambitious.
So they wanted to use Xie Guanlan's influence to reshuffle the world and help the Mu family reach a higher level...
Xie Guanlan had already walked in front of Wen Xingluo.
He lowered his eyes to look at her.
The little girl's eyelashes fluttered, and it was unknown what she was thinking. Her dark eyes were filled with a dark gleam of thought.
She is very smart.
He must have seen through the Mu family's plan.
He asked, "Are you full?"
Wen Xingluo stood up obediently and said, "I'm full."
Xie Guanlan said, "Go back to your room."
Wen Xingluo glanced at Mu Shangming out of the corner of her eye, feigning innocence, "But Miss Mu asked you to wait for her to finish dressing, and she also said that she would personally welcome you. So, aren't you going to wait for her?"
"I hate waiting for people the most."
Xie Guanlan said this and walked away.
Wen Xingluo bowed politely to Mu Shangming, lifted her skirt and went after Xie Guanlan.
The two returned to the courtyard where they were staying. As they walked through the corridor, Wen Xingluo frequently looked at the young man beside him.
In his previous life, he was alone and had never married.
In this life, he rejected Mu Zhiqiu.
So, in a sense, she could boldly invade his heart without worry, because that position was originally vacant, and she didn't squeeze out any other woman's opportunity...
Xie Guanlan didn't look away, but he could feel the girl's inquiring gaze.
He asked, "What are you looking at?"
Wen Xingluo looked away, but the youth's scarlet robe still occupied his peripheral vision. "I'm not full yet."
Xie Guanlan glanced at her.
The little girl is very thin and should eat more.
So he ordered Fushan to ask the kitchen to prepare another banquet and send it to her room.
As Wen Xingluo and Cuicui were happily enjoying the banquet, a maid from the Mu family suddenly arrived and said, "My mistress was worried that Miss Wen would be bored at home, so she sent me and the others to bring some small things to cheer her up."
Wen Xingluo looked over.
The gifts presented by the maids were exquisite and unique, and there was even a box of rouge and powder made by the emperor.
It can be said that a lot of thought was put into it.
The maid smiled again and said, "My mistress told Miss Wen to have a good rest today. Tomorrow she will personally invite you to the Pear Garden to listen to music and take you to visit Yangcheng."
After they left, Cuicui said, "I didn't expect this young lady from the prefectural governor's mansion to be so warm and hospitable."
Wen Xingluo looked at the gifts.
Hospitality?
She thought that Mu Zhiqiu just wanted to find out about Xie Guanlan's life and hobbies from her.
Does she like Xie Guanlan?
Not necessarily.
She was more interested in the benefits Xie Guanlan could bring to her and the Mu family.
There was a hint of aggression in the girl's almond-shaped eyes, as if her territory had been invaded.
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