It was not until noon that Xiahou Mao returned to the inn with a guilty conscience.
He also heard the knock on the door last night, but it was a critical moment and he had no time to care about anything else. He had been entangled all night and had already used up all his energy. He was no longer able to go out.
"Zi Lin, you are so romantic and happy!"
Just as he was watching carefully, a sour voice came from the left. It was Cao Tai.
"Hey, sorry, sorry!" Xiahou Mao laughed dryly and asked hurriedly, "How did you talk about last night?"
"Brother Zilin, please come in and chat." Xiahou Ba greeted at the door.
Seeing that the two men did not blame him, Xiahou Meng felt uneasy. He went into the room obediently and stood there, not daring to sit down.
"Please take a seat!" Xiahou Ba said with a smile on his face, "I have heard of your reputation as a romantic man for a long time. In Xuchang, it was just a reputation. After meeting you today, I find that your reputation is well-deserved."
Xiahou Mao waved his hands and laughed dryly, "My dear brother, please stop making fun of me. If you have something to say, just speak up."
Xiahou Ba sighed, "I talked with Zhang Wei last night and realized that what he said was half true and half false. He has no gold. Not only is his only house abandoned, but he also owes a lot of romantic debts in Shuiyunjian and is preparing to use his house to pay off the debts."
"How dare this bastard lie to me!" Xiahou Mao was furious when he heard this, "I'm going to kill him right now."
Xiahou Ba tried to dissuade him, saying, "Brother, calm down. Although this man has fallen on hard times, he is still from a famous family and quite talented. It is rare for him to be so loyal. If we can bring him back to Xuchang and recommend him to the Prime Minister, it will be a great achievement."
Xiahou Mao immediately lost interest: "In that case, Zhongquan can make the arrangements himself."
Xiahou Ba said, "I have seen Zhang's mansion, it is a good place. It would be a pity to give it to a brothel. Why don't you buy it, Zilin? First, we can bring the black pearl home to protect it from being bullied by others. Second, we will have a base in Jingzhou, which is a good place for us to gather intelligence, which will be useful in the future."
"How did you know..." Xiahou Mao was nervous for a moment, and then he thought that it must be Zhang Wei who told him. He thought for a while and nodded, "For the sake of the prime minister's cause, I am naturally willing to pay, but Black Pearl is just helping me with housework, so you are not allowed to talk nonsense."
Xiahou Ba smiled and said, "Of course. My brother has set up a business in Xiangyang and it is reasonable for him to find someone to look after the house and protect it."
"Leave it to me!" Xiahou Meng patted his chest.
Zhang Wei had previously redeemed Black Pearl and gave her to himself. They were in love at the time. If he took her back, he would be beaten to death by the one-eyed father. He was reluctant to give her away.
Just when I was worrying about what to do, Xiahou Ba's suggestion hit the spot, like a pillow when I was sleepy.
While they were discussing, an attendant brought them an invitation from Liu Qi, saying that they were going to be engaged tomorrow and that they were also invited to attend a banquet at the government office tomorrow.
Xiahou Ba agreed and asked Xiahou Mao to immediately go to Zhang Wei to discuss the matter and recruit him under his command.
Cao Tai couldn't help but ask, "Why don't you tell Zilin the truth?"
Xiahou Ba sighed helplessly: "His mind is full of wine and sex now. If he says something wrong after drinking, wouldn't it ruin everything?"
Cao Tai nodded slightly, and the two of them couldn't help but recall the scene of the dancer twisting her body last night.
…
There was a great deal of noise in the government office of Xiangyang, with large and small carriages coming in and out continuously, and the runners and servants were all very busy.
From the lobby to the living room and study, all the furniture was replaced. All the desks and seats were removed and replaced with high tables and round chairs.
There are square tables and benches in the courtyard, and a special exhibition area with tables and chairs made of rosewood, red sandalwood and rosewood, which are exquisitely carved. There is also a large round table of white marble inlaid with gold edges, which is very luxurious.
Liu Qi was leaning on a recliner in the corridor, swaying and drinking tea, when suddenly a woman in a yellow shirt came over. She was wearing a veil, and her beautiful face was looming.
Liu Qi sat up and said with a smile: "Ms. Xi is indeed beautiful and intelligent. These tables and chairs are completely beyond my imagination."
"Thank you for your compliment, sir!" It was Xi Yuan who came. After greeting, she sat opposite. "These furnitures are all thanks to your wonderful ideas. What I made is just the icing on the cake!"
Liu Qi laughed and said, "How can brocade without flowers show its beauty? Confucian scholars all say that strange skills and lewd tricks can make people lose their ambition, but who doesn't pursue comfort and pleasure?"
Xi Yuan smiled softly: "Since returning to Xiangyang, the young master has recruited a team of dancers. I heard that each of them is extremely beautiful and talented. He has also been lingering in Shuiyunjian these past two days. He is really a man who knows how to enjoy himself."
"Miss, you really care about me!" Liu Qi looked at Xi Yuan, raised his eyebrows and smiled, "We are getting engaged tomorrow, and you want to restrict me?"
Xi Yuan frowned slightly and said quietly, "Young Master's life is crucial to the fate of the Han Dynasty. I am just worried that you will become addicted to women and lose your ambition."
Liu Qi smiled and said, "Don't worry, young lady. The dancers are actually prepared for my father. He has worked hard all his life. Can't he enjoy himself?"
Xi Yuan looked over with a sharp gaze: "Liu Mu is a famous scholar and the leader of the Confucian scholars. Is he also fond of women?"
Liu Qi put on a matter-of-fact look and said with emotion: "The sage said: Food and sex are human nature!"
Xi Yuan snorted softly, "Sir, are you trying to find an excuse for your future?"
"How can I, Liu Qi, be a lustful person?" Liu Qi immediately looked upright and said with a fist: "It is enough for me to have the young lady! Someone as smart and capable as you will definitely be a good wife."
Xi Yuan stared at Liu Qi: "Really?"
"Of course!" Liu Qi nodded and said, "Emperor Taizu once said: A wife should be like Yin Lihua. I will marry a wife like Xi Yuanyuan."
"Tsk, you're so talkative!" After all, they hadn't been engaged yet. Xi Yuan blushed at Liu Qi's blunt words. She lowered her head and said quietly, "A man has three wives and four concubines, not to mention that you are a noble from the imperial family. It's not that I'm jealous, but I just want to remind you not to indulge in beauty and forget your ambitions."
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing!" Liu Qi felt a little touched. If it weren't for the limitations of the times, he would have been unable to resist holding the beauty in his arms.
At this moment, Mrs. Fan and Du Ling'er also drove to the exhibition area and placed various ornaments such as coral, agate, jade, etc. on the tables and chairs one by one, instantly making the tables and chairs look more valuable.
Xi Yuan looked at the busy mother and daughter, glanced at Liu Qi, and sighed: "I think these two are the wise wives of the young master."
Liu Qi felt a little sour when he heard this, and said with a smile: "Those decorations are the icing on the cake! Although they are exquisite, they are dispensable, while tables and chairs are indispensable. Without tables and chairs for decoration, it is just a castle in the air!"
When Xi Yuan heard this, a hint of sweetness surged in her heart. Her eyebrows curved into a crescent shape, and she suddenly asked, "Is Shuiyunjian also part of the Zhao family's property?"
"That's right!" Liu Qi nodded and smiled, "But now it belongs to me, and of course... it also belongs to you!"
"I don't want it!" Xi Yuan raised her chin in disdain and said, "But the distilled liquor that you taught me has already shown initial results. If it can be used in Shuiyunjian first, it will surely shock the whole city."
"No!" Liu Qi stretched out a finger and shook it gently: "It's to shake the world!"