Chapter 6: Acquaintance

Ming Huashang felt sick when she heard the clear and powerful "baby". She looked at Ming Huazhang and Xie Jichuan in surprise. Xie Jichuan smiled and pointed at the lynx with bared teeth in front of him.

This lynx is four feet long, and when it stands up it is as tall as a person. The nails on its four claws are sharp and pointy, and one claw can destroy a Ming Huashang. How can such a ferocious and agile killer look like a baby?

Ming Huazhang explained to Ming Huashang in a low voice: "Jiang Ling... has read very few books. After he got the lynx and the leopard, he doted on them very much. He named one Baobao and the other Beibei."

Ming Huashang's mouth twitched, and she suddenly understood how Ming Huazhang felt when he heard her maid's name.

Jiang Ling's naming level is only rivaled by her name "Zhaocai Jinbao".

Jiang Ling heard the message from the servant and rushed out. He saw someone persecuting his baby. Jiang Ling was so angry that he gnashed his teeth and shouted, "Who are you? How dare you attack my beloved? Stop it now!"

In the past, Jiang Ling's tricks always worked. As long as he announced his name, the other party would either immediately bow and fawn, or quickly stop, and even the most stubborn officials would not dare to speak out. After all, Jiang Ling was the eldest son of Marquis Jiang'an. To offend Marquis Jiang'an was to offend Princess Taiping. If Princess Taiping was unhappy and said something to the empress, then their whole family would be in trouble.

But today Jiang Ling's tricks didn't work. After he told his family name, the other party didn't stop shooting, but fired more frequently. Jiang Ling thought that this country bumpkin didn't recognize his face, so he shouted again: "Young master, I am Jiang Ling, the son of Jiang Anhou. Why don't you kneel down and beg for mercy?"

Ren Yao was most annoyed by playboys, especially those like Jiang Ling who were uneducated and could get everything just because they were men. She tied her hair into a knot, put the red rifle behind her, and sneered, "So this evil beast is yours, then I will get rid of it for the sake of heaven!"

As she spoke, she raised her arm and lifted the red sling high. It was obvious that she was using a lot of force. The lynx sensed the danger and ran towards Jiangling, but Ren Yao would not let it escape. She shouted loudly and threw the red sling at the lynx with all her strength.

Jiang Ling had just seen someone playing with a gun, which whizzed in the wind. He subconsciously thought it was a man, but now he saw clearly that it was a woman! Jiang Ling's eyes widened, and he watched in shock as the woman threw the gun at the lynx with a strength that was not at all like that of a woman.

Ren Yao's gun was full of killing power and unstoppable. The people in Jiang'an Marquis's Mansion had no time to stop him. Jiang Ling watched the gun approaching his beloved baby with his mouth opened unconsciously.

Just when Jiang Ling was in despair, a golden light flashed across the snow, followed by a sharp clinking sound. The tip of the gun deviated a few inches, brushed the lynx's fur, and pierced deeply into the snow.

The gun barrel shook violently, and the red rope sank into the snow, the color hurt people's eyes. Jiang Ling realized that he was holding his breath at this time. He took a long breath and quickly caught his pet: "Hey baby, are you okay? Let me see, why are there so many wounds on your body, and a piece of fur has been lost, ouch..."

Jiang Ling hugged the lynx and sighed, but unfortunately, except for the servants of Jiang Anhou Mansion, no one present cared about Jiang Ling's mood.

It was midday, and the villa was already crowded with guests. The commotion here was quite a lot, and it quickly attracted many eyes. Everyone was surprised and shocked when they saw what had just happened, and no one spoke for a while.

In silence, Ming Huashang smoothed her loose hair and said hesitantly, "Um, my hairpin..."

It's pure gold and quite valuable. Can she pick it up?

Just now Ren Yao's gun was aimed at the lynx, but at the critical moment, Ming Huazhang pulled out Ming Huashang's hairpin and threw it at the tip of Ren Yao's gun, knocking the red spear off the target by just an inch, just enough to save the lynx's life.

Ren Yao has been practicing guns for many years. The Ren family guns are her belief and her pride. But today, they were easily cracked by a teenager?

He didn't even use a weapon, but pulled out the hairpin of the woman next to him. This was a great humiliation for Ren Yao.

Ren Yao drew his gun with a cold face and said to Ming Huazhang: "Who are you?"

"My name is Ming Huazhang." Ming Huazhang didn't feel that he had just done anything terrible, as if he had just picked a flower. He put his hands behind his back and said calmly, "This is the estate of Princess Taiping. It's not appropriate to see blood before the 15th day of the 15th year. A lynx is a life after all. Since it didn't hurt anyone, it's fine to give it a minor punishment or a major warning. There's no need to kill them all."

Ren Yao's face was extremely ugly. She exerted her strength with her arms, and the tip of the gun shook out a sharp sound, shaking away the snow on the ground. She pointed at Ming Huazhang and said, "My Ren family's gun would rather break than bend. I swore in front of the ancestor's monument that I would never lose without fighting. You can shake my gun away, which shows that you are not an ordinary person. Please teach me."

Ming Huazhang was about to speak when someone grabbed his arm. He was startled and turned around subconsciously to see Ming Huachang grabbing his sleeve tightly, shaking her head at him with her eyes as if she could speak. Then she smiled and walked towards Ren Yao, saying in a relaxed and cheerful tone: "Meeting is fate, why bother fighting? Madam Ren, thank you for saving me just now. You are a great shooter. I have never seen such a majestic shooting skill."

Ren Yao could have challenged Ming Huazhang without hesitation, but when a beautiful young lady with a smile came over, Ren Yao had a cold face and didn't want to fight her. He said sternly, "This is between him and me. Don't come over. Guns and knives have no eyes. I won't care if I hurt you."

"My second brother is kind-hearted and can't bear it. He has no intention of targeting Madam Ren. Madam Ren, are you going to put your luggage there too? Which courtyard do you live in? Maybe we're going the same way."

Ming Huashang didn't care about the cold tip of the gun in Ren Yao's hand, and walked towards her with a smile. Ren Yao was too embarrassed to point the gun at Ming Huashang, so he could only put away the red gun and said, "Wuyin Courtyard."

Ming Huashang's eyes widened in surprise, and then she said happily: "It just so happens that you live in the same courtyard with me. Madam Ren, let's go together. If you have time, can you teach me some self-defense skills..."

Ming Huashang took Ren Yao's arm affectionately. Ren Yao had always considered himself a man in these years. There were many women who disliked and mocked her, but none of them approached her actively like Ming Huashang. Ren Yao's body froze, and he was pulled away by Ming Huashang, feeling somewhat at a loss.

Ming Huashang realized how big of a difference there was between the heroine and a loser like her as soon as she started. Ming Huashang pulled Ren Yao with great effort, not forgetting to secretly wink at Zhaocai.

Her hairpin is still stuck in the snow, you must pick it up!

When passing by Ming Huazhang, Ming Huashang raised her little face slightly and revealed a sweet smile: "Second brother, thank you brother, Madam Ren and I happen to live in the same courtyard, I will go with her, you don't have to see me off."

Ren Yao was challenging Ming Huazhang just now, but now he was pulled in front of the opponent, his face was stiff. Ming Huazhang glanced at Ren Yao, then lowered his eyes to look at Ming Huachang, his eyes were very worried. Xie Jichuan calmly held Ming Huazhang's shoulders and said with a smile: "Then I will trouble Madam Ren. Second sister is not strong, please take care of her for the next three days."

Xie Jichuan spoke politely and naturally as if Ming Huashang was his sister. After Ming Huashang and Ren Yao left, Ming Huazhang pushed Xie Jichuan's hand away and looked at him with a frown: "What are you doing? She rarely goes out and is stupid. Why did you let her go alone?"

Xie Jichuan said, "Don't worry. I think my second sister is very smart and can handle it by herself. I heard that Prince Linzi and Prince Baling have arrived. Why don't you go and see them?"

Ming Huazhang was indifferent when he heard these two names, his eyes were still as calm as a clear lake. Jiang Ling finally remembered that there were other people. Ming Huazhang had just stopped the tomboy and spoke for Bao Bao, so Jiang Ling felt that this person was one of his own.

He strode over and said, "Ming Jilang, thank you for saving my baby just now. My father always praised you in the past, and I thought you were as vain as those children from wealthy families, but I didn't expect you to be such a straightforward person. Hey, this is..."

Xie Jichuan looked at Jiang Ling with a smile and said, "The eldest son of the Xie family, Xie Jichuan."

The surname is Xie... Jiang Ling, who had just finished scolding the hypocritical son of a noble family, choked for a moment, and then smiled generously: "You helped me today, so you are my friends, Jiang Ling. If you encounter any problems in the future, just come to me, I, Jiang Ling, will not refuse!"

Ming Huazhang was still as cold and distant as before. Xie Jichuan smiled at Jiang Ling. His smile seemed warm, but there was no warmth in his eyes.

Although they had heard of each other's family background and names, Ming Huazhang, Xie Jichuan and Jiang Ling, a playboy, had little in common. They only officially got to know each other today.

Jiang Ling is still furious when he thinks about what happened just now, but the other party is a woman and he can't settle accounts with her. He can only complain to Ming Huazhang and Xie Jichuan.

Ming Huazhang's eyes were indifferent and he was completely too lazy to pay attention to anything. Only Xie Jichuan kept smiling and responded from time to time.

Jiang Ling thought of Ming Huazhang throwing the hairpin just now, and said in admiration: "I always heard people say that you are both civil and military, and I thought my father was exaggerating. I didn't expect you to be so skilled. How did you throw it so accurately just now? I didn't even see clearly, and you knocked the tomboy's gun away!"

Ming Huazhang had been silent until now, and then he said coldly: "That is Madam Ren from the Marquis of Pingnan Mansion, please do not be rude."

Jiang Ling was stunned. He obviously didn't expect that woman to point a gun at Ming Huazhang to provoke him. Ming Huazhang was not angry, but he actually blamed Jiang Ling. Xie Jichuan smiled and said, "Jingzhan is a very generous person. How could he care about such a small matter? I just don't know how many women will lose their hearts to Jingzhan after today."

Ming Huazhang glanced at Xie Jichuan, his eyes were clear and distinct, showing neither pride nor disgust: "Don't come on. This concerns a woman's reputation, don't talk nonsense."

Not far away, Ren Yao and Ming Huashang were also scolding Jiang Ling: "That dandy, good-for-nothing, useless fellow! He couldn't even survive a single move from me, but he was able to become the crown prince without doing anything. God is really blind!"

Ming Huashang thought of how Ren Yao wanted to inherit the Marquisate but was unable to do so because of her female status, and she understood her resentment towards Jiang Ling. Ming Huashang was not in a position to say more about the Marquisate of Pingnan. She smiled and pointed happily ahead: "Mrs. Ren, look, we have arrived at Wuyin Courtyard."

This is the courtyard that Princess Taiping prepared for them. There were many people at this banquet, so the male and female guests naturally lived separately. Except for the princes and dukes who had their own courtyards, everyone else lived in pairs in one courtyard.

Even so, with so many guests today, plus the servants they brought with them, I'm afraid we'll need to arrange thousands of rooms.

Ming Huashang thought that with so many people and in the mountains, the living environment must be bad. Unexpectedly, after opening the door, he saw carved beams and painted buildings, neat stone roads, two spacious and bright main rooms in the north, and a row of side rooms in the east and west for accommodating servants and luggage. There were also flowers, plants and trees planted in the yard. Although they lived together, the conditions were no worse than those in Luoyang.

Ming Huashang exclaimed: "Even the guest rooms are so neat and tidy, Princess Taiping must be so wealthy!"

As the only daughter of the empress, one of the few members of the Li Tang royal family who could enjoy the splendor and wealth, and also the daughter-in-law of the Wu family, was Princess Taiping's reputation of being rich enough to rival a country just talk? The servants of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion and the Marquis of Pingnan's Mansion moved the luggage into the courtyard. When they saw the two upper rooms side by side in the north, they hesitated.

At this time, the left is the most honorable, and the room on the left is more honorable than the one on the right. Ladies, who is on the left and who is on the right?

According to the title, the duke is of course more noble than the marquis, so Ming Huashang should be on the left. But with Ren Yao's thorny personality, can he tolerate being inferior to others?

Ming Huashang was very sensitive to the atmosphere. She quickly realized what the servants were struggling with and took the initiative to say, "I got to know Madam Ren the moment I saw her. Madam Ren is one year older than me. Can I call you sister?"

Ren Yao had never been so intimate with a woman of the same age before. She was a little flustered and nodded nervously: "Okay."

Ming Huachang's eyes smiled into crescents, her eyes warm and bright: "Great. I think the one on the right is suitable, Sister Ren, can you let me choose first?"

Ren Yao has been treating herself as a man these years, and she is always reminding herself that she can't be worse than a boy. She spent too much time practicing martial arts, and she is not very good at dealing with people. She can't get along with the girls in Luoyang at all - naturally, she doesn't want to fit in with those ladies.

But even a slow-witted person like Ren Yao realized that Ming Huashang was giving her a chance to step down and making everyone feel good in a very comfortable way.

Ren Yao became more and more confused. This was the first time she felt the kindness of people of her own age. Her cousins ​​and peers were all her competitors. The young ladies laughed at her for being rude and like a man. In the past seventeen years, only her grandmother had been kind to her.

But her grandmother was old, and even that tough, wise, and omnipotent grandmother told her to get married quickly and find a good family to protect her. Ren Yao was lonely and nervous all the time. She thought that women in the world were either like dodder, who only knew how to rely on others, or like the empress and grandmother, who were tough and fierce, like a ball of violent fire, and would burn everyone, including their family.

It was the first time she had seen a woman like Ming Huashang. She was as pretty as those ladies from wealthy families whom she regarded as useless, but also as gentle and transparent as water, moistening everything silently.

Ren Yao nodded several beats late. Ming Huashang thanked Ren Yao with a smile, and then took Zhaocai and Ruyi into the room on the right.

Ren Yao was stunned for a long while. The maid from the Pingnan Marquis Mansion came forward and asked cautiously, "Madam, are you dissatisfied with something?"

Ren Yao came back to his senses and shook his head in a low voice: "No."

After she finished speaking, she realized that she was actually hesitating. She pinched her arm hard to make herself strong again and said, "Hurry up and pack your things. Princess Taiping is going to hold a welcoming banquet tonight. Such a good opportunity must not be missed."

The maid crossed her hands and replied cautiously, "Yes."