The Little Consort's
Eps. 76: The Viper
Ten days later, Xingyue Palace looked colored back after previously being gloomy because the owner was unhappy. Peach flowers in the yard have fallen, leaving only dry grass and some fruit that are still left. Xie Roulan was busy cleaning and tidying up her master's bed.
While the waiter was working, Li Anlan was no longer there. The woman had been gone since morning blind. In order to celebrate his freedom, Li Anlan came out of the palace to take a walk. As usual, he wears a eunuch costume to disguise himself.
In the Lanxin Pavilion, the woman had eaten two soy sauce-burning chicken pods and one bowl of lotus soup. His large meal napsu was a form of impingement from his agitated tone and sense of regret for these ten days. Can eat delicious food and free, it is a very happy thing.
How not, during these ten days, Li Anlan's nights could not be passed smoothly because Long Ji Man kept making it difficult. During the day the man went to work, and at night came to Xingyue Palace to eat and sleep, then left again in the morning. Li Anlan thought that his palace was like a boarding house, which was only occupied for sleeping.
Long Ji Man also kept asking her to tell him about the future world. Throughout the night, Li Anlan had to tell the man what the state of the modern world was like, who was the leader, how the system of government was, and many other things that might become new knowledge for Long Ji Man. His lips and throat were even dry and his voice became a little hoarse. In addition to forcing him to tell stories, Long Ji Man also asked so much that Li Anlan had to think about finding answers.
“Slow down, no one will take it from you!” li Afan exclaimed as he looked at his sister who was eating voraciously. Early in the morning when the Lanxin Pavilion had just opened, Li Afan was startled by the sudden arrival of Li Anlan who was already standing in front of the entrance. It was fortunate that the chef in the kitchen had already cooked, so he immediately presented it to Li Anlan. Li Afan knew his only puppet sister was looking for an escape and had not eaten yet.
“Sister, you don't know. During these ten days, Ji Man has always made things difficult for me,” Li Anlan said with her mouth full of food. Li Afan shook his head. This woman, could not at all maintain elegance while eating.
“What does he do?”
“He kept staying at my palace and asked me to tell him a story. Brother, I've been such a reliable storyteller without getting paid!”
“What? He spent the night in your palace?” Li Afan's tone began to rise. She did not accept her sister being oppressed by the king even though she was her husband.
“Kakak, relax. This is not all his wish.”
“Then why would he do it?”
“Suri's mother arranged for Her Majesty to sleep with me.”
“Pppff….. Hahahaha..”.
“What are you laughing at?”
“It seems, your in-laws have fallen for you.”
Li Anlan clucked.
“Cih... She is in love or wants to test?”
He stuffed a piece of big chicken thigh into his mouth. His fingers were full of delicious cooking spices. The Lanxin Pavilion was truly the best restaurant in this Dongling land. It is fitting that visitors are never deserted. Her brother sent her money every month.
“Oh yes, sister, I want to ask for your help.”
“What should I do?”
“I want you to help me investigate Your Majesty's new concubine.”
“Didn't you interfere in the harem?”
“Indeed. But, that damn woman is very presumptuous of His Majesty. I as his personal adviser of course can not stay silent.”
Li Afan's eyes changed. Now, the serious mode of the beautiful man is activated automatically. All this time, he had always worried about his sister in the palace. Ever since his sister was appointed as the Grand Empress, Li Afan could not stop worrying. People say, the higher a person's status, the higher the threat will be faced. Risk is directly proportional to position.
“Anlan, what if you just get out of the palace? We leave the capital and never come back.”
“Why?”
“I don't want my sister just way to be harmed by people later in the day.”
“Sister, I told you I could take care of myself. You just focus on your business and collect more money so that your beloved sister lives well.”
“You sure?”
“Very sure.”
“Good. But you must remain careful!”
“Sure, my beautiful and handsome brother.”
The noise from the ground floor of Lanxin Pavilion greeted Li Anlan's sense of hearing. His head was buzzing at the noise that made his entire appetite disappear. Which crazy person is troublemaking in a crowded place this early? Even the sun has not reached the middle of the sky!
Li Anlan put his soy sauce-grilled chicken on the plate.
His eyes flashed with annoyance to look for the perpetrator. The woman then stood up, then she leaned her body into the guardrail which allowed her to see directly downstairs. There, he saw a beautiful young man slumped on the floor in a drenched state. In front of him, three men who might be around seventeen stood up arrogantly while continuing to curse at the beautiful young man. Not only that, the three men also returned to splash a pot of water on the head of the beautiful young man. No doubt, the commotion attracted a lot of people's attention. Even those who were not customers were suddenly swarming.
“I hate it the most when my meal is interrupted!”
The woman's face began to look gloomy. The atmosphere within the room of Lanxin Pavilion suddenly turned cold like winter. The shameless people standing down there had already interrupted Li Anlan's meal until the woman lost her appetite. Since they were looking for trouble, then Li Anlan happily replied to them.
“Kakak, who are they?”
“Ah, oppression against fellow brothers apparently.”
In this ancient land, fellow brothers oppressing each other was not a strange thing. Those born of concubines are considered illegitimate children, until their power and status are low, unlike those born of legitimate wives. The legitimate son usually most likes to bully his brother who comes from a different mother. The attention and affection you get is also very different.
Revenge, anger, dislike, incompetence, not wanting to be compared, not wanting to fight with intelligence, not wanting to be generalized and hatred are usually embedded in the hearts of those born of legitimate wives. In fact, to realize great ambitions and get rid of rivals, killing your own brother has also become commonplace. They were rich families, there was no need to use knives when wanting to kill. Simply borrow the hands of others, then their goals can be achieved.
“Ckckck.... What kind of terrible system is this?”
Li Anlan took the remaining half-baked chicken soy sauce. Not long after, the woman threw him down, towards the troublemakers. Unexpectedly, the piece of grilled chicken was right about the face of First Young Master Xin. His face was now filled with soy sauce, sambal, and cooking spices.
The people who saw him were shocked. First Young Master Xin was the most famous man in the city. She often played women and spent time in brothels, then went home to pick up money and spent it in brothels. In addition to playing women, the man was also a very oppressive hobby of people, especially his own second brother. Just like he did today.
“Job! Who would dare throw me a chicken?” shouted First Young Master Xin furiously.
“Hey, boy! Are you yelling at yourself?” li Anlan shouted from upstairs. His loud voice made everyone who was there turn their heads to look at Li Anlan.
“Heh, a self-styled eunuch turned out! How dare you!”
“I am brave. Wh why? You scared?”
Li Afan was followed by Li Anlan. The woman took the rest of her grilled chicken thigh then she ate while going down the stairs. His left hand carried a bowl of warm soup that was very spicy and salty. Today, Li Anlan would definitely teach this brat a lesson.
When he reached in front of First Young Master Xin, Li Anlan directly poured the soup over his head. The hot, spicy soup soaked the hair, face, and clothes of First Young Master Xin. The people around him were even more shocked in disbelief. In this world, it turns out that there is someone who dares to oppress a jerk whose fame spreads throughout the city.
“Quick catch this fucking guy!”
The two people behind First Young Master Xin came forward about to capture Li Anlan. Not until their hands grabbed Li Anlan's hand did the woman first splash the tea water and kick their forbidden area as hard as she could. The two men fell on the floor rolling around, grimacing the area under his body.
“You! Why are you meddling in my business?” ask First Young Master Xin.
“I don't interfere in your affairs. I was just teaching you a lesson for ruining my good day!”
“Yo, isn't this the Grand Empress?” voice from behind the crowd. Not long after, a woman with pink fu and gold hairpins and shoes Aladdin came with a friend.
“The Nobles Empress? The eunuch-clothed person was the Noble Empress?” ask the people there.
“Cannot be! I must have heard wrong!”
Li Anlan thought this woman was a good person. It was unexpected that he was so arrogant and arrogant, even like wanting to drop and humiliate Li Anlan through his words and tone. Judging from the appearance, hanfu and the hair ornaments she wore should have come from within the palace. Could they be the king's concubines?
“What is the Empress doing in a place like this?”
“You who? My mammy? My aunt? My grandma? Why should I tell you?”
“Yo. The Noble Empress sneaked out of the palace in clothes like this, then came to the restaurant with a man. Madam, you have no intention of cheating on Your Majesty, do you?”
The woman's mouth is venomous. Li Anlan had to be careful if not to get into big trouble. However, the woman before him might not yet know who he really was. So, to tell him, he would happily accompany him to play until the end.
“Are you talking to yourself? Miss, you and your friend may be His Majesty's concubines. I just wanted to ask you, what did a Harem Palace concubine do outside the palace and come here?”
“Of course for official business!”
“Oh? You mean, walk? Coincidentally, I also came over on official matters. Miss, this is a plaque out of the palace belonging to the Royal Empress. This is a sign that I'm out for duty.”
Li Anlan took out his plaque or token, showing it to everyone who was there. Those who did not initially believe, in an instant changed their gaze. The one standing before them was truly the Noble Empress!
“Sweet moneys, where's your permission plaque? Don't tell me that you sneaked out of the palace secretly without the permission of Empress Dowager and Empress Jin?”
The woman in front of him was misbehaving. His face was very panicked like a thief that was being caught in action. Everyone's eyes were on the woman, waiting for her to have a plaque of permission to leave the palace as proof of her official duty. But, after a while, the woman did not issue any placards.
“It...It doesn't matter! Mrs Huang, do you dare to cheat on Her Majesty?”
Li Anlan looked at Li Afan at a glance. Then, he laughed out loud.
“I? Cheated on? Withhim? Just be right! Hahaha!”
Li Afan singled out a faint smile to sneer at the woman before Li Anlan. His sister's self-defense skills are good too.
“What is this?” asked a very familiar voice from the direction of the entrance of Lanxin Pavilion. The man walked over to two women who were fighting.
“Your Majesty! You here?” li Anlan exclaimed in a joyful tone. No one knew, behind the tone, hidden another intention known only to himself.
...***...