take leave
"Shanghan? That country is rich and prosperous, with many rare treasures. You don't mean you're going there to do business, do you?" Li Yunrui hadn't expected Tang Feng to go to Shanghan. Since ancient times, Shanghan has been a country with a strong foreign cultural tradition. Because there are many merchants there, most of the people are also quite slick and smooth-talking. Many Yan Yun people who go to Shanghan to do business are swindled out of their money.
"I suppose so! Anyway, it's not a bad thing to travel and see more of the world while you're young," Tang Feng shrugged. "Since you've approved my resignation, I'm off." Tang Feng was afraid Li Yunrui would change his mind, so he took the order and ran off like a shot. Having resolved Li Yunrui's matter, Tang Feng felt much lighter. On his way home, he saw a stall selling pastries, bought two, and ate them as he walked. Reaching the mansion, just as he finished the last bite, Liu Yiwan, standing at the door, saw Tang Feng return and quickly went to greet him. "Young Master, where have you been? I've been looking for you for ages! You've just recovered from your illness, you can't go out in the wind!" Seeing Liu Yiwan's anxious look, Tang Feng rolled his eyes. "Are you worried about me not being able to go out in the wind? Or are you worried about how things went between you and my sister this morning?"
"Oh, young master, what are you saying? Of course I'm worried about your health," Liu Yiwan quickly flattered Tang Feng upon hearing that it involved him and Qin Jiujiu, clinging to his arm as if afraid he might accidentally drop her. Tang Feng crumpled up the oil paper he was using to wrap the pastries and pulled it into Liu Yiwan's arms, then said, "In that case, you should worry about me! I want eight-treasure duck rice and scallion beef porridge! From Xishenglou, go ahead! I want it hot within half an hour."
"Uh... Young Master... about Miss Jiu..." Liu Yiwan watched Tang Feng sit down, then stood beside him without moving, just watching him. Tang Feng looked up at Liu Yiwan and smiled, "I've finished talking to my father. I'll have you go see him tonight. He seems to be alright." Liu Yiwan was overjoyed. She grabbed a food box from the house and said, "I... Young Master, thank you so much. Um... Xishenglou, what else would you like to eat? I'll go buy it right away." Tang Feng waved his hand, "You're only buying these two? Are you trying to stuff me to death?"
Thinking about it carefully, this was actually the first time Liu Yiwan had asked Tang Feng for a favor. Although Liu Yiwan was usually a bit cheeky, he never missed a single proper courtesy.
"Sister Jiu, are you in your room? Come out and let's talk!" Tang Feng knocked on Qin Jiujiu's door. He had informed Liu Yiwan about this, so naturally he couldn't leave Qin Jiujiu out. Qin Jiujiu opened the door, frowning and scolding, "You just recovered from your illness and you're already running around outside? What's out there that's bewitched you?" Tang Feng lowered his head and chuckled, "Oh dear, I was also feeling really stifled. I stayed in the manor for almost a month... You know I wasn't in a good mood back then, I was almost going crazy. Besides, I'm back now! Come on, let's go to the backyard and chat." Tang Feng grabbed Qin Jiujiu's arm and headed straight for the backyard. Qin Jiujiu was also puzzled; what did they have to talk about in the backyard?
After sitting down, Tang Feng thought for a moment and then said, "Sister, this morning... I talked to Father. Actually, it's nothing much. Father is just worried that I won't have anyone to take care of me when I go to the Marquis's mansion. But it's not a big deal. There are so many people in the mansion, and there isn't a single one that I like. If it really doesn't work out... Sister, could you let Liu Liu come with me?"
Qin Jiujiu tapped Tang Feng's forehead and chuckled, "You spoil him rotten all day long! If he goes with you to marry into the Marquis's household, will he take care of you or will you be the one fussing over him? It's alright, I'll help you choose someone in a few days. Father's concerns aren't without merit. How can you go to the Marquis's mansion without someone you can trust?"
"Well... everything is up to you, sister. There's just one more thing..." Tang Feng hadn't finished speaking when Liu Yiwan burst in, carrying a food box. "Young Master! Young Master! Look what I brought you... Miss Jiu is here too! Hehe, Young Master asked me to go to Xisheng Restaurant to buy some food." She then placed the food box on the table and announced the dishes one by one: "Eight-Treasure Duck Rice, Scallion Beef Congee, Egg Yolk Crispy Rolls, Steamed Vegetarian Bamboo Shoots, Lotus Root, Corn, and Old Duck Soup."
Tang Feng smiled at the table full of food. "You really bought a lot. Go call Liu Liu over, otherwise we won't be able to finish it." Qin Liu Liu hadn't eaten out in a while. Qin Jiu Jiu usually kept a close eye on her, and if Tang Feng didn't remember to buy food, Qin Liu Liu couldn't go out to eat. Qin Jiu Jiu had left home early in her youth and suffered a lot. Even now, as the young lady of the Tang family, she hadn't changed her frugal nature.
Tang Feng saw Liu Yiwan go to call Qin Liuliu before saying, "Sister, I haven't finished speaking yet. There's one more thing! I'm planning to resign from my official post." Qin Jiujiu's face lit up immediately upon hearing this. "That's a good thing! You were so sick the other day. I reckon that pawnshop wasn't a good place. Many officials from the Ruan Dynasty were killed there before. There are plenty of wandering ghosts there. It's good that you're going home. It'll be safe. After you marry into the Marquis's mansion, do you think Zhou Ziliang won't take care of you?"
Tang Feng smiled helplessly, patted Qin Jiujiu's hand, shook his head, and interjected, "Sister, that's not the point. The point is I don't really want to stay at home. I'm planning to go to Shanghan."
"Shanghan?" Qin Jiujiu stood up abruptly. "No way! I didn't care when you went to Lanxi or Qianghu before, one because you were eager to study, and the other because you were appointed to a critical mission. But no one is forcing you to go to Shanghan. Why do you insist on leaving? Can't the Tang family tolerate you?" Tang Feng was surprised to see Qin Jiujiu so agitated. After all, Qin Jiujiu had always supported him no matter what he did before. He hadn't expected such a strong reaction this time. Tang Feng hadn't come up with a reason to tell Qin Jiujiu, and for a moment, he didn't know what to say. He could only tug at Qin Jiujiu's sleeve and mutter, "Sister, why are you in such a hurry? Sit down and tell me slowly." Qin Jiujiu pushed Tang Feng's hand away from her sleeve and sat down angrily. "Fine! I'm sitting down. You explain yourself properly, and you'd better give me a reason why I believe you had no choice but to go to Shanghan."
"Sister..." Tang Feng frantically searched his mind for a reason that would satisfy Qin Jiujiu. "Well... you know I work at the pawnshop under Li Yunrui. Ever since I came back from the Qiang and Hu tribes last time... he mentioned me to the Emperor in court, putting me in the spotlight. The Fourth Prince has contacted me privately, and the Crown Prince has also contacted me many times..."
"so what?"
"Sister, don't you understand? The Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince are trying to drag me down with them! I'm being forced to participate in the struggle for the throne! The struggle for the throne! Sister! Do you know what the struggle for the throne is? It means that if Father finds out, he'll break my legs, and if Uncle Zhou finds out, he'll skin me alive. Whichever side I'm on, their opponents will drink my blood!"
Tang Feng rattled off a long string of words, leaving Qin Jiujiu completely stunned. Qin Jiujiu stammered, her voice trembling, "Then...we can't get involved with them. So, if you go to Shanghan...it'll be alright?"
"I was planning to go to Shanghan, but Xiling has you all! It's not like I'm never coming back. I'll go lay low for a bit. Don't worry, I'll take Liu Liu with me this time." Qin Jiujiu frowned. "Liu Liu? No way, he'll only cause trouble. Why don't you let Liu Yiwan come with you?" Tang Feng smiled helplessly. "Liu Yiwan isn't necessary. I'm afraid I'll die young if he comes with me."
"No way! At least he knows some martial arts. What can Liu Liu know? If you don't take him with you, I won't feel comfortable letting you go to Shanghan." Seeing Qin Jiujiu's resolute and unyielding expression, Tang Feng sighed. "Sister, I'm just worried about you. I agreed with Ziliang that I wouldn't get married, but... how can you get married if Liu Yiwan comes with me? This... I'm being unreasonable, why are you being unreasonable too?"
Qin Jiujiu waved her hand. "Eh? You know you've been acting recklessly! Don't worry, we won't suffer. I've already told Liu Yiwan, you're the master, he's the servant. Ultimately, you gave me my position as the eldest daughter of the Tang family. How can the servants celebrate before the master is even married? We'll get married after you." Tang Feng felt a headache coming on. His trip to Shanghan had delayed so many people! Zhou Ziliang was already enough to make him feel guilty, and now there's Qin Jiujiu and Liu Yiwan. Would Qin Liuliu also pop up and tell him, "Brother, I have a girl I really like, and I plan to marry her after you come back from Shanghan..."
Just then, Qin Liuliu and Liu Yiwan arrived one after the other. As soon as they entered the courtyard, Qin Liuliu hugged Tang Feng and said, "Brother, Liu Yiwan bullied me. He ate my candied hawthorn."
"Oh, you're so stingy! It's just a candied hawthorn."
Tang Feng frowned, feigning reproach, "Why did you steal his things for no reason? You always bully the weak!" Liu Yiwan was speechless. Qin Jiujiu, understanding Tang Feng's joke, covered her mouth and chuckled, "Alright, alright, Liu Liu, your brother dotes on you. If he marries into the Marquis's mansion, you should take Liu Yiwan's place and help him into the family! I think your brother dotes on you so much that if you don't go with him, you'll probably be heartbroken to death at night."
Qin Liuliu chuckled upon hearing this, "Brother dotes on me, so it's only natural that I help you get married. But don't worry, brother, as long as I, Qin Liuliu, am around after you're married, I won't let anyone bully you."
Tang Feng placed a piece of food on Qin Liuliu's plate, and burst into laughter at her words. "That's a good thing, Liuliu is probably much more reliable as a dowry maid than Liu Yiwan! At least if I get beaten, she won't kneel on the ground and sell me off."
Liu Yiwan blushed and stammered, "Young Master... you're so vindictive! You haven't forgotten such a small thing!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com