Volume 1 Chapter 18: Laughing at the Prosperous Splendor

  Rong Wang Fu may not have the grandeur and luxury of an imperial palace, but it has its own unique ancient charm. The artificial hills and stone carvings, pavilions and waterside gazebos, corridors and bridges, flowers, grasses and trees all blend together in a seemingly chaotic yet harmonious way, clearly the result of careful attention from someone.

  Yun Meng led the way while chatting with Rong Jing, who nodded and smiled from time to time.

  Li Yun silently memorized the layout of the mansion's roads, thinking that if she got lost in the Yun Wang Fu, it would be a joke.

  Occasionally, there were young servants and maidservants passing by. The young servants all came forward with reverent expressions to pay their respects, while the little maidservants all looked at Rong Jing with faces as red as peach blossoms. When they saw Li Yun following behind Rong Jing, they all showed envious expressions on their faces.

  "It's really a peach blossom offense!" Li Yun muttered.

  "The bride will naturally return home with a peach blossom!" Yong Jing suddenly turned his head and smiled at Li Yun.

  Li Yun's face twitched, and indeed the words she had spoken on the road were heard by this person. She immediately glared at him with her eyes, but having just been caught gossiping about someone behind their back made her feel a bit guilty, so she wanted to retort, yet immediately changed her tune, "I wasn't talking about you."

  "Hmm, I didn't say you either." Rong Jing turned his head back around.

  Li Yun was taken aback.

  Rong Jing chuckled softly, her laughter warm and pleasant to the ears. She was speechless for a while, thinking that indeed one should not judge by appearances, just like how one cannot measure the depth of the ocean. Looking at this refined and elegant young master who seemed as gentle as jade, she thought to herself that he was indeed a wolf in sheep's clothing, just as Ye Qing had said.

  However, he is now the great Buddha that Yun Wangfu has been waiting for at the door, and he also saved her from the disaster of prison. She had just arrived and hadn't yet found her footing in the household, so it was better not to offend him. She could only hold back her anger, put on a stern face, and walk behind him.

  The cloud Meng in front seemed to have not discovered the confrontation behind him, and was still excitedly pulling along Rong Jing saying this and that. Rong Jing also cooperated very well, occasionally saying a sentence or two but all hitting the point, which made Cloud Meng even more delighted.

  Li Yun thought that this Yun Meng's steward was called Qi Hu Zi, but it would be more suitable to call him Hua Hu Zi directly.

  After crossing the large courtyard in front, they arrived at a main courtyard with four entrances and exits behind. Yun Meng finally stopped talking and said to Rong Jing behind him: "Rong Shizi, Old Master Wang said that you have come and Miss Qianyue can go in directly, so there is no need for an announcement. I will take you in?"

  "Hmm!" Rong Jing nodded.

  Yun Meng made a beckoning gesture, Rong Jing turned his head to glance at Li Yun, who snorted through his nose. He didn't think much of it and smiled, walking slowly into the courtyard.

  "Are Jing Shizi and Stinky Tofu back?" As soon as they entered the courtyard, a hoarse but energetic voice came from inside the main house.

  Li Yun thought to herself as she listened to this voice, Old Master Wang didn't seem like someone with a bad temper either.

  "Old Master Huiyun, it's indeed Rong Jing." Rong Jing replied with a smile.

  "Hmm, hearing that stinky girl humming with her pig nose, I knew she would bring you back." The voice of Cloud Old Master Wang came again, unceremoniously belittling Li Yun.

  Li Yun's face turned black. Was this stinky boy talking about her? He hummed with his pig nose? Although this old man was old, his ears were really sharp.

  Rong Jing turned his head and glanced at Li Yun, smiling but saying nothing.

  Yun Lao Wangye said again: "Listening to your footsteps, they are light and soundless, more agile than Niu'er and returning to their natural state. It seems that your serious illness has recovered?"

  "Old Master Hui has recovered halfway," Just then, Rong Jing arrived at the door.

  Yu Mei had been waiting at the door for a long time. When she saw Rong Jing arrive, she hurriedly curtsied and opened the curtain. Rong Jing walked in slowly.

  Li Rong took a deep breath and followed behind Rong Jing, also walking in.

  The room was spacious, with a picture of good fortune and longevity hanging on the wall. The furniture inside was all antique treasures. On the Eight Immortals table, a freshly brewed pot of tea was placed, emitting a faint fragrance. On one side, there was a large redwood bed. The canopy above the bed was lifted, and an old man with white hair and beard was leaning against the front of the bed, his eyes narrowed as he sized up Rong Jing who had just entered.

  Li Yun was still nervous despite having done a lot of mental preparation. After all, she wasn't really Yun Qian Yue in spirit. Fortunately, the old man didn't even glance at her and only stared at Rong Jing.

  Rong Jing looked at him with a calm expression, not a hint of unease on his face. He walked to the bedside, without being polite, and sat down in the chair beside it, exuding an inexplicable elegance.

  Li Yun's five fingers clenched and then spread out again, dispersing some of the sweat on her palms. She didn't know if she should walk over and call out "Grandpa".

  "Ah, it's good that you're half alive. Not bad." Old Master Wang looked at Rong Jing and nodded, glancing at Li Yun who was standing at the door with a sulky expression, and suddenly changed his tone, scolding: "You little brat, if someone bullies you, bully them back! What are you hiding by the lotus pond for? You have no guts!"

  Li Yun looked at Old Master Wang with a pout on her face, revealing a look of grievance.

  "Aren't you still feeling wronged? Has your martial arts training gone to waste? Why didn't you use the hidden guards I gave you? When Rong Wangfu's second daughter and Xiaoxin Wangfu's little maid bullied you, why didn't you fight back? I've told you countless times that if you hit someone, I'll take responsibility for you. How come you just can't remember?" Old Master Yun scolded Li Yun like a firework explosion.

  Li Yun thought she had martial arts skills, but did she have a hidden guard? She had no idea...

  "One side is self-reflection! I'm so annoyed that I don't want to look at you." Old Master Wang's beard was quivering with rage.

  Li Yun lowered her head and slowly walked to the Eight Immortals table, sitting down neatly.

  "Every time you get scolded, you always look so dejected. You really haven't made any progress. Get away from me!" Old Master Yun waved his hand to shoo him away like a fly.

  Li Yun was speechless, unable to imagine that Yun Qianyue had been scolded like this every day. She could only stand up and walk out the door. Wasn't it just a coincidence? She didn't want to stay here anyway! It's better to return to her own courtyard and room, lock the door, figure out what was going on, and then make her move when the time is right, which would be safer.

  "Come back! Did I let you go?" Yun Lao Wangye saw Li Yun was about to leave and got even angrier.

  Li Yun rolled her eyes inwardly, unwilling to turn back, and didn't care if Rong Jing was laughing at her. As long as she got past this hurdle, it would be fine. She looked up at Old Master Yun with a wronged expression and whispered, "The farthest outside the door, you won't let me go there, so where can I go?"

  Yong Jing smiled slightly.

  "Ah..." Old Master Yun Wang seemed to have only just remembered that there was still someone sitting here when he heard Rong Jing's laughter. Scolding his own granddaughter so mercilessly in front of others seemed too humiliating for her. He cleared his throat and said unnaturally, "Then you can sit back down!"

  "Yes!" Li Yun sat back down. This time she was bolder, picking up the tea on the table and gulping it down without caring if it was hot or not. Today, she hadn't eaten a single grain of rice or taken a single sip of water.

  "How rude!" Old Master Wang glared at her, seemingly afraid of getting scalded, shouting repeatedly: "Slower! Slower! Ah, you stinky little girl!"

  Li Yun put down her teacup, stuck out her tongue at Old Master Wang, and then turned back to continue pouring water from the teapot, taking a big gulp.

  She also understood, this body is Yun Qianyue's, right? That's it. As long as she doesn't say anything, who can guess such an absurd thing? There's no basis to investigate her either. Probably just have to treat her as a transmogrified person. Thinking like this, her heart suddenly felt at ease, entanglements and tension really aren't her style. Let's just see how things develop!

  Yun Lao Wangye snorted coldly and ignored Li Yun from then on.

  "Grandpa Yun is in high spirits, and even when scolding people, he's full of energy. It seems like his illness has been cured." Rong Jing looked at Li Yun with a changed expression from earlier, sticking out her tongue playfully, then moved her gaze to Grandpa Yun and smiled as she asked.

  "I'm not sick at all. It's just for this stinky girl." Old Master Yun pushed away the quilt.

  Li Yun was shocked, so she wasn't sick after all? Was it an act?

  Rong Jing seemed unsurprised, still smiling, without any extra astonished expression.

  "What are you looking at? If it weren't for your sake, why would I pretend to be ill? The Emperor may not care about you, but he has to consider my old bones. You're my only granddaughter. If you were beaten to death, wouldn't I have to knock my head against the wall too? How could I face your deceased mother?" Old King Yun looked at Li Yun in shock, his whiskers twitching upwards again.

  "Yes, yes, you're right, your fake illness is simply brilliant." Li Yun immediately nodded vigorously and then said inexplicably: "I'm not the only one with many older sisters and younger sisters, am I? If I die, there are still many others!"

  "Hmph, those I don't acknowledge aren't." Old Master Yun let out another cold snort.

  Li Yun rubbed her nose with her hand, she didn't understand what was going on and naturally didn't know what to say, so she lowered her head and remained silent.

  Yun Lao Wangye seemed to have vented enough and no longer paid attention to Li Yun, facing the outside said: "Yun Meng, bring dinner to my room. Jing Shizi and Chou Yaotou are both in my room for dinner today."

  "Yes! Old Master Wang!" Yun Meng's chief steward had been standing outside the door and responded with a bow before leaving.

  Rong Jing did not refute nor decline, as if he had accepted Old Master Yun's arrangement.

  Li Yun thought this person didn't know what politeness was. However, since he saved her, she should at least treat him to a meal.

  Yun Lao Wangye finished giving instructions and turned his head to talk to Rong Jing.

  Before long, the dinner was served, and the three sat down. Li Yun had been hungry for a day, and she couldn't wait to pick up her chopsticks and start eating. She was heavily rapped on the hand by Old Master Wang, and she immediately smiled awkwardly and slowed down her movements.

  Rong Jing was elegant in his demeanor, savoring each bite slowly, exuding an inexplicable noble gentlemanly aura. Li Yun couldn't help but admire him inwardly. She had always thought that eating should be done quickly, just like work.

  Yun Lao Wangye seemed to have opened up, and his conversation with Rong Jing gradually increased. From his grandfather to him, to how he won the literary and martial arts champion every year, to how he beat the emperor at chess today... Rong Jing answered every question, occasionally tilting his head to listen to Yun Lao Wangye's words, with a calm and composed expression on his face. This made Yun Lao Wangye very satisfied, even to the point of being overjoyed. When he heard that the emperor was so frustrated that he scratched his ears and cheeks, he couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  For a moment, the atmosphere in the room was lively, and the two people's words were clearly in harmony. It was Li Yunliang who was left aside.

  Li Yun started to listen with relish, but later became drowsy after eating and drinking her fill. She remembered that she had come here to dismantle the timed bomb device without sleeping for a day and a night, and now that she had narrowly escaped death, she was exhausted from the repeated struggles. Now that everything was over, she relaxed physically and mentally, and couldn't help but fall asleep on the table.

  Before going to sleep, I couldn't help but sigh in admiration. It turns out that this person is the number one prodigy of Tian Sheng! Indeed, he has the capital to be arrogant.

  Digression

  Favourite ones put on bookshelf collection, weather turned cold, everyone should pay attention to their body. O (∩ _ ∩) O ~