12 - Cheng En Gong Mansion (2)

Chapter 12 – Cheng En Gong Mansion (2)

“The arrival of Ling Wangfei ………”

When she heard the servant’s announcement, Shangguan Yan’s eyes lit up. Like all the other noble ladies, she stepped forward to greet the Ling Wangfei with a bow and noticed that Third Junior Sister, Hua Qianqian, had also come with Ling Wangfei .

Based on Hua Qianqian’s status, she was not qualified to attend this banquet but could tag along because she was recognized by Ling Wang as his Yimei, and Ling Wangfei likes her very much. Ling Wangfei would take her along wherever she goes and treats her just like a biological sister. Although everyone looked down on her identity as a dancer, they did not dare to point their fingers at her nor find fault with her because they had to give face to Ling Wang and Ling Wangfei . They only felt that the woman’s luck was too good.

Of course, Hua Qianqian understood the looks of those ladies who thought highly of themselves but she pretended to be stupid. If she was bothered by other people’s opinions, she would never have been a dancer. On the contrary, she enjoyed the jealous looks of those women. For her to become a dancer, it was not only because of her superb dancing skills but also her beauty.

Shangguan Yan was admiring the two junior sisters. The youngest junior sister was always adorable and ever since she became a Wangfei, she could not help but put on the ostentatious manners of royalty in public. Perhaps it was because she had been a Wangfei for a long time, she had indeed cultivated the noble mannerisms of a royal wife. After giving birth to two children, her complexion looked mellow and full and it could be seen that the Ling Wang doted on her.

As for Hua Qianqian, her summer attire showed off her snake-like waist beautifully! The two junior sisters were wearing summer clothing from her Shangguan Embroidery Workshop and their accessories were from the Qiaoyi Design Workshop owned by the four sisters. The powder and rouge on their faces also came from Xinlan Cosmetic Shop operated by the four sisters.

They were like two flowers blooming in summer. One is noble and elegant while the other is delicate and glamorous and they stole a lot of limelight the moment they appeared.

Ling Wangfei , Bai Yuxiao, smiled and nodded as she exchanged greetings with the ladies. When she saw Shangguan Yan, her beautiful eyes gleamed more brightly and she softly informed Hua Qianqian beside her. Hua Qianqian turned her head around and as soon as she saw her Eldest Senior Sister, she smiled. Like a butterfly, she flitted lightly towards her Eldest Senior Sister to hold her hands.

“Aren’t you the Young Miss of Shangguan Family? The hairpin in your hair is very beautiful! Where did you buy it from? It’s so unique!”

Shangguan Yan immediately acted along with her and introduced the hairpin with a smile. “In reply to Miss Qianqian, it is the latest design from Qiaoyi Design Workshop. Today is the first time I’m wearing this.”

“I haven’t seen this design before. Your Highness, Ling Wangfei , do come and have a look. Miss Shangguan’s hairpin is so beautiful!”

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Shangguan Yan immediately took off the hairpin and presented it to Ling Wangfei respectfully so that they could have a proper look. The other noble ladies also came forward and gathered around with curiosity while the topic revolved around the hairpin.

Once women have a common topic, it would be easier to build up connections.

It never crossed the minds of the noble ladies that these three people were actually the shopkeepers of the businesses mentioned.

As the banquet progressed, it felt a little hot inside the hall and Shangguan Yan excused herself as she wanted to take a stroll around the garden. Before she left, she winked at her Third and Fourth Junior Sisters and then went out to the garden by herself first.

There were many eyes and ears in the banquet and if there was a need to discuss in private, one had to find a quiet place in the garden. They had tacit understanding for many years, so with only a wink, they understood. Shangguan Yan went to the garden first and chose a pavilion with limited seats. The place was quiet and blocked by trees, making it a good place for discussions.

She instructed her maid to wait beside the banquet hall and if Qianqian and Yuxiao make an appearance, she was to lead them over.

After waiting for a while, she heard some movements, and the corners of her lips curved, thinking that the sisters were finally here. When she turned her head around, the smile on her face froze………Di Jing was the person who appeared.

She lowered her head and wanted to leave to avoid him. However, Di Jing unexpectedly stepped forward to block her path and she immediately backed away. Her face was full of panic and shyness.

“Tell me, is there anyone by the name of Ma’er among your sisters and relatives?”

Shangguan Yan’s heart jumped. Why hasn’t this man given up?!

“No.” She shook her head blankly.

“Really? Think again. By the way, she has pockmarks on her face. She may not be called Ma’er………perhaps, she is known by another name.” Di Jing thought for a while.

The woman came to the Qin Mansion for a purpose and did not plan to stay long, so it is normal to use pseudonyms.

Shangguan Yan purposely put on the act of thinking about it for a while and then shook her head. “No.”

“Really?” His eyes sharpened.

Shangguan Yan showed a timid look. “Really, no……..”

At this time, approaching footsteps sounded and it was obvious that someone was coming.

To avoid suspicion, Di Jing said. “It’s alright. It was rude of me.” He held up his hands and bowed then immediately left in another direction to avoid meeting the people approaching.

“Eldest…….” Bai Yuxiao was about to call out to her Eldest Senior Sister when she saw her Eldest Senior Sister putting a finger to her lips as a gesture of silence.

Immediately Bai Yuxiao shut her mouth, looked around, then walked over lightly to Eldest Senior Sister and asked in a whisper.

“Is there someone around?…….”

Shangguan Yan nodded and whispered a reply. “Just left.”

“Who was it?” Bai Yuxiao looked around curiously.

“You came at the right time. Do you know a man by the name of Di Jing?”

Bai Yuxiao thought for a while and shook her head. “I haven’t heard of him. What’s wrong with that man?”

“We had some sort of an entanglement and I’m afraid he is here to seek revenge.”

“Here to seek revenge? Truly courageous! Kill him!” Bai Yuxiao showed the heroic air of a constable and even her tone was full of Jianghu’s arrogance.

“Who is here to seek revenge?” Before the figure appeared, her voice had floated over. Hua Qianqian had arrived as well.

Bai Yuxiao immediately stepped forward and held her Third Senior Sister’s hand affectionately. “You’re here at the appropriate time. Eldest Senior Sister was asking me about a man named Di Jing.”

Hua Qianqian’s eyes lit up instantly. “Oh? How does he look like? Is he handsome? How is his temperament? What’s his status?”

As soon as the word ‘man’ was mentioned, Hua Qianqian’s interest in analyzing men’s temperament was aroused and her face showed an expression of curiosity.

Bai Yuxiao chuckled and said. “Look at your fickle heart! You must be careful, in case Brother Yeqing feels jealous!”

Hua Qianqian showed an aggrieved expression. “When has my heart ever been fickle? This flower, I, have always and only bloomed for your Brother Yeqing. Last night, this flower wanted to fold her petals for a night of rest but he was insatiable and sucked all the nectar from my body the whole night.”

As soon as she finished speaking, there was a sound of something landing on the ground but it was unclear from which direction the sound came. The three of them looked around but could not see anyone.

Shangguan Yan tapped her Third Junior Sister’s forehead lightly and reprimanded her for her naughtiness. “A man wants face……. You don’t even have a sense of shame and deliberately said those words to bully him.”

They knew that Yeqing was an assassin of Shadowless Gate who is highly skilled in martial arts. Wherever Qianqian goes, he would follow and protect her like a shadow, and Qianqian’s favorite hobby was to tease him. The words that she spoke just now must have made Yeqing almost fell off from the place he was hiding in. Although he almost fell, his martial arts is superb, thus one can only hear the sounds but cannot see the man. If it had been other people, they would have thought that it was just the sounds of rustling grass caressed by the breeze.

With a look of envy, Bai Yuxiao said. “Brother Yeqing is a very nice man. Wherever Third Senior Sister goes, he will follow, unlike my Wangye who is petty and disregards the overall situation. If it’s not for Brother Yeqing following us in secret, I wouldn’t have been allowed to leave the royal mansion. So annoying!”

Shangguan Yan teased her. “How can there be a comparison? You’re a Wangfei and you’ve given birth to a pair of son and daughter for him, so you have a noble and honorable status.”

“Eldest Senior Sister, don’t tease me. Both of you should understand that on the surface the Wangfei’s status is noble and honorable but in reality, I’m being restrained. Just managing the huge mansion and the properties already made one so busy.”

“I’ve already sent two people to help you manage the accounts, isn’t that enough?”

To assist her Fourth Junior Sister to manage the properties of Ling Wang Mansion, Shangguan Yan had sent two of her competent accountants over to her.

Bai Yuxiao pouted. “Aside from managing the accounts, they can’t help me with the Wangye . He has me under his thumb and it’s so annoying. Brother Yeqing is still the best.” The last sentence sounded extremely flattering.

Hua Qianqian laughed happily. “No matter how clingy Wangye is, he can’t be compared with our clingy Second Senior Brother-in-law. You should be smiling on the sly.” She sighed.

“After Second Senior Sister married Second Senior Brother-in-law, she was abducted to Jiangnan similar to a lamb that entered a tiger’s mouth. Second Senior Brother-in-law has a great appetite and I really don’t know when we will get to see Second Senior Sister again. I miss her very much.”

The three of them simultaneously thought of Gong Changxiao, the man who clung to Gong Wuhuan. After their marriage, his actions were not any less. Before marriage, even without any status, he was already very clingy. After marriage, with their status, he brazenly clung to her even more.

Shangguan Yan smiled. “After Wuhuan married him, she followed him to Jiangnan. Later when we are free, let’s go down to Jiangnan to visit her.”

Bai Yuxiao immediately raised both her hands in favor. “I’m going as well. When the time comes, I’ll have to rely on Brother Yeqing for help, so that Wangye will agree to let me go. Brother Yeqing, please help, alright?” As she spoke, she looked around the place.

Shangguan Yan smiled and said. “That’s for sure. Eh, the topic seemed to have wandered off…….what was the original topic we were talking about? Qianqian must have also forgotten, right? Yeqing, where did we stop?”

An answer drifted in the air. “Di Jing.”

Suddenly, Shangguan Yan made a lightning move towards the direction of the voice.

“Ha! Caught!”

Shangguan Yan’s flying move resulted in a successful leg-hug and with a fierce tug, Yeqing fell off the tree. Caught off guard, Yeqing landed on the ground with a stupified look.

“Hateful! I lost!”

“Eldest Senior Sister succeeded! Annoying!”

Hua Qianqian and Bai Yuxiao were so angry that they were jumping mad and it was especially so for Hua Qianqian who had an expression of disappointment. She pointed at Yeqing and was angry at him for not living up to her expectations.

“Why did you speak, idiot?! And you even call yourself a top-ranked assassin!”

The confused Yeqing was unable to understand what was going on. He had concealed himself very well but did not know why Shangguan Yan wanted to catch him.

“Willing to gamble, willing to lose. Come, pay up…….pay up!” Shangguan Yan smiled and looking like a swindler, she stretched out her hand to ask for money from her two junior sisters.

Even if they are sisters, they still have to settle their debts!

As soon as they met up, they had started to make bets to see who could use tricks to catch the invisible Yeqing.

Naturally, this matter was not made known to Yeqing and they would not let him see through it!