"Come over and have some breakfast. You really shouldn't listen to Mu Xing. That fellow is always scheming. This isn't Wu You's fault, it's all Mu Xing's."
Liu Liu gently chided Dai Mei. Arguing with that devil would yield no benefit, and besides, he hadn't even used his full strength. Otherwise, Dai Mei would have stood no chance against him.
"Look at that little child, how could anyone not feel pity for them?"
Liu Liu almost suspected Dai Mei was poisoned by Mu Xing; nothing anyone said could change her mind. However, it was understandable. Dai Mei had practically raised Mu Xing from a young age, and their bond was deep, though it was becoming increasingly exaggerated.
Liu Liu rolled her eyes helplessly and gestured to Hong Xiu, who was nearby, to set out another pair of bowls and chopsticks. "Eat some breakfast, then go tidy yourself up. This is not how the beautiful and flawless Dai Mei should look."
Dai Mei casually brushed aside a strand of hair that had fallen across her face, revealing a small bloodstain from a sword strike. As someone who was always meticulous about her appearance, she probably didn't know about the mark on her face, otherwise, she would have fought Hua Wu You to the death.
Liu Liu's eyes flickered, and she lowered her head to eat. After Dai Mei finished, she returned to her own small courtyard to tidy up. Liu Liu signaled for Hong Xiu and Zi Luo to clear the table.
Indeed, not long after, a deafening scream erupted from the adjacent courtyard, followed by a string of curses.
Liu Liu couldn't help but burst into laughter. Dai Mei had quite a voice. Despite her glamorous exterior, she was actually incredibly lazy, fussy, but good-hearted.
Liu Liu recalled the first time she met Dai Mei. She was thirteen or fourteen years old and had been abandoned. It seemed a man had toyed with her and then passed her on to a friend for amusement.
From that moment on, she had lost faith in men. Ten years had passed, and many of her scars seemed to have faded. Liu Liu wished she would find another man, one who could bring her happiness.
Three days later, a heavy rain fell, and the river surged and roared, its waves crashing against the cliff with a tremendous sound.
A' Bao actually returned. He brought a few people with him. Upon entering the island, he immediately reported to the楼主 (Louzhu - Master/Mistress of the Pavilion). The man they had rescued was out of danger, and his subordinates had found him, so they had returned. Liu Liu pondered for a moment and then asked again.
"Are you sure those were his subordinates?"
"Yes, the patient woke up and said they were his two subordinates, one named Riying and the other Yueying." A' Bao thought for a moment, recalling how the man had addressed his subordinates. Liu Liu nodded. That was correct; they were indeed Feng Xie's subordinates.
"Alright, you must be tired. Go and rest."
Liu Liu waved for A' Bao to go and rest, feeling relieved. She had been a little worried about him these past few days. Now that he was fine, she believed he could handle matters himself.
This time, it was probably carelessness. Such an intelligent and shrewd person wouldn't allow enemies to succeed repeatedly.
"Yes, Master," A' Bao nodded and withdrew.
Hong Xiu walked in, asking if her mistress wished to rest. Liu Liu put down the ledger she was holding and looked out the window at the pitch darkness.
Raindrops hit the stone steps, each sound clear and forceful. In this weather, it was quite difficult to fall asleep. She picked up a book and reclined by the bed, waving for Hong Xiu and the others to go and rest.
"Alright, go and rest. If I want to sleep later, I'll do it myself."
"Yes," Hong Xiu led Zi Luo away. Liu Liu continued reading. Before long, she heard the rustle of a bead curtain, letting in a gust of wind.
Liu Liu looked up and saw Cui'er leading little Mu Xing in. Mu Xing was still holding a small brocade pillow, looking at her pitifully. Liu Liu put down her book and looked at Cui'er curiously. "What's wrong?"
Before Cui'er could speak, Mu Xing had already darted to his mother's side, biting his lip, and whispered, "Mama, Mu Xinghan is scared. He wants to sleep with Mama." xxs
Liu Liu couldn't believe her son knew the word "scared." He had never been scared before, only tonight. However, she didn't call him out on it, only waved Cui'er away to rest. "Cui'er, you go and rest. He can sleep with me tonight."
"Yes, Miss." Cui'er walked out. Liu Liu turned back to her son, reached out to pull him into the bed, tucked him in with his brocade quilt, and settled him down, speaking softly. "Mu Xing, why do you want to sleep with Mama? Mu Xing is a grown boy now; you should sleep by yourself."
"Mu Xing wants to sleep with Mama until he's fifteen?" Mu Xing said, counting on his fingers. Liu Liu giggled. This little fellow was too amusing, wanting to sleep with his mother until he was fifteen. But why fifteen?
"Why fifteen?" Liu Liu asked the little one, amused. Mu Xing said earnestly, "Grandma said that Mu Xing will have to find a wife when he's fifteen and can't sleep with Mama anymore. So Mu Xing wants to sleep until he's fifteen. But Mama, I don't want a wife, but Grandma says it's not allowed; I must find one."
Liu Liu couldn't help but laugh. Her aunt was really something, discussing such things with such a young child. What did he understand? She turned and looked at her son. "Hurry up and sleep. Don't think too much. Mu Xing will understand these things when he grows up."
"Mhm," Mu Xing nodded his little head and snuggled into his mother's embrace. Liu Liu took off her clothes and slept, holding her son's small body.
Two days later, Chu Feng suddenly approached Liu Liu with an anxious expression.
"What is it?"
Liu Liu looked up and saw that Chu Feng, who was usually unflappable, appeared flustered. She asked him curiously. Chu Feng bowed respectfully and reported. He wouldn't dare to conceal such a matter.
"Reporting to the Louzhu, our batch of tea with Wan Feng Tea House at the Huai River has been seized by the stationed General at the checkpoint."
"Hmm," Liu Liu's delicate eyebrows twitched upon hearing this, and her eyes darkened. Qixing Tower had progressed from initially escorting Wan Feng Tea House's goods to now jointly operating it. Qixing Tower provided the manpower, and Wan Feng Tea House provided the brand. They were a royal merchant establishment with a royal patent.
The tea used in the palace was also supplied by Wan Feng Tea House. Such a royal merchant establishment would usually not dare to seize tea.
She hadn't expected a mere General to dare to seize two million taels of their tea. It seemed there was a hidden agenda behind this.
"When was the tea seized?" Liu Liu asked casually. Two million taels of tea was a trifle for their Qixing Tower. However, she wanted to ascertain the direction of this development.
If the imperial court was targeting their Qixing Tower, it was possible that even their silk and salt transportation operations would be suppressed. Therefore, this was a significant matter that needed to be handled with caution.
In this era, tea, salt, and silk were the most profitable commodities, so Qixing Tower had invested heavily in these three areas and earned a considerable amount of money. They had established their own operational network, supporting countless people. Thus, every step they took was carefully considered.
Many places operated under the guise of private ownership, while they were the hidden manipulators. Take Wan Feng Tea House, for example. Qixing Tower held a fifty percent stake, but outsiders were unaware of this.
They only thought Wan Feng Tea House was wealthy and powerful, unaware of the major financier supporting it from behind the scenes.
"It was seized three days ago," Chu Feng said with a hint of worry. He lacked the楼主's composure, the ability to remain outwardly calm and expressionless no matter what happened. If this matter was not handled properly, it would affect the entire Qixing Tower.