The Lover's Prattle

General Slag//2.1

When He Weiwen came back, he saw imperial maids waiting in the study. These old ladies were sent to the Hu manor to teach Qingruo imperial etiquette. Their plump frames were garbed in gold and have styled themselves very lavishly, seemingly living life very well.

Seeing He Weiwen approach, the maids all bowed, greeting him respectfully. When he sat down, they looked back up. Before he even said anything, the old maids started rattling off their opinions of Qingruo, leaving no room for He Weiwen to interject.

The four maids boasted for the whole length of time that burning a stick of incense would take and had nothing but compliments for the young lady.

He Weiwen lifted the teacup and swirled the tea inside. The last time he saw these old ladies, they were so scared that even if he lifted a teacup, they kneeled and begged for mercy. After half a month, though, they've changed this much?

He Weiwen took two sips of tea, leaned back, and waved his hand. The dark guards in the study flew down without giving the maids a chance to scream and then took them away for punishment.

The four maids were brought over by Hu Qingcheng, who was currently standing over to the side. He Weiwen lowered his teacup and then rapped two knuckles on the table to beckon Hu Qingcheng to come over and speak.

As Wu Qingcheng steeled his nerves, he listened to He Weiwen's casual suggestion, "Qingcheng, how about let's not send your sister into the palace. With her personality, she wouldn't be happy."

Hu Qingcheng lowered his head and looked at the reflective floor tiles, "Yes, general."

He Weiwen smiled slightly and teased him, "Your father asked for this grace and your aged grandfather even kowtowed three times for it. What, you didn't even ask for your sister's opinion first?"

Wu Qingcheng's expression was stiff and he did not dare to lie in front of the general. He thought clearly before saying, "Qingruo has always listened to our parents since she was little, but this time she's been a little willful."

"Willful?" He Weiwen softly murmured. Hu Qingcheng heard him faintly but did not say anything.

The four servants took their punishment and went home in individual carriages that He Weiwen personally arranged for them. Compared to how high-spirited they were when they came, they left scared and rattled.

When Hu Qingcheng got back to the Hu Manor, he arranged for the passed out servants to be brought back to Qingruo's courtyard. The blood of the four people dripped all the way from the front door to her yard, scaring the maids so much they all fled.

Hu Qingcheng arranged a guard to surround Qingruo's courtyard and then clutched his own sword before entering.

She was sitting on the doorstep of the main house. To match her red dress, QIngruo wore a striking red flower tattoo on her forehead. When she saw her brother come over, she showed a genuine smile.

"Brother, I stayed at my grandfather's house until I was twelve years old. Just two years after my return, you and your father have planned my marriage to the emperor and made me the mother of the nation."

Wu Qingcheng stopped. He was in the barracks all year round, and he rarely saw his sister except when he occasionally returned home. His father said that she was perverse and violent, while his mother said that she didn't study well at her grandfather's house. Qingruo would cause trouble every day and was so different from her sisters. Thus, his father asked He Weiwen for a favor and betrothed her to the emperor.

One of the two stood while the other one sat. The steps were covered in blood stains from when the four servants were brought back, and Qingruo's skirts were stained a bright red. Hu Qingcheng was just now occupied and didn't notice the blood seeping everywhere, but he watched as Qingruo stood up and then lowered her head slightly to organize her bloody skirt.

"Hu Qingcheng, what position do you think he'll give you, a deputy general who sold his sister, after successfully usurping the throne?"