Chapter 25

Stretching her waist, Zhuo Qing slightly raised her head, amazed to find, under the wall next to the lake, there were 3-4 full grown cotton trees, very beautiful, tall branches with powerful extensions, fiery and huge red flowers were splendid. Looking far away, it looked like a nest flame, and the dark green water in the lake was shining, nothing was more beautiful that one could imagine, however, how could Lou Xi Yan's courtyard grow cottons?!

Zhuo Qing lifted her feet to walk, gently picked up the falling flowers and lost in thought.

Catching up with Lou Xi Wu's sight first thing in the morning, she unexpectedly was still at Lou Xi Yan's courtyard, shouted: "Qing Feng, why are you still here?! I will tell you this, do not think that just because my brother allows you to stay at Zhai Xing pavilion, you are really the Lou Family's mistress, you are only just a small concubine, remember that?!"

Zhuo Qing lowered her head, only to watch attentively at one spoiled blossoming flower, Lou Xi Wu was puzzled, what was so good looking about one spoiled flower? Walking behind her, Lou Xi Yan was not patient and shouted: "Hey, did you or did you not hear me speak?!"

Zhuo Qing refused to acknowledge the shout, she touched the thick and solid tree trunk, asked: "Were these few cottons planted at the courtyard?"

"You knew these were called cottons?" Lou Xi Wu stared blankly, but rapidly felt proud of herself, smily answered: "I would tell you a little insight, we Qiong Yue did not have any cotton tree, a small country in the border of Nan Jiang offered a tribute of cotton seeds many years ago. In the entire Qiong Yue, only West Empress Dowager's palace had cotton trees, these few trees were bestowed by the West Empress Dowager for elder brother's official salute as a Prime Minister."

"West Empress Dowager? There is also East Empress Dowager?" Zhuo Qing voluntarily asked.

"There is ah." Mentioning this, Lou Xi Wu's head unconsciously raised higher: "The East Empress Dowager is my aunt."

"Lou Xi Yan and the Emperor are cousins?" No wonder, Lou Xi Yan and the Emperor did not resemble a common ruler and minister's relation last night.

Seeing Zhuo Qing's attitude that was not very aggressive today, after last night, she did not dislike her anymore. Lou Xi Wu's mood was pretty good, nodded and replied: "You can consider it that way, my aunt is always the owner of the East palace. But for many years, the West palace's Imperial Concubine De that is the West Empress Dowager at present time was very doted by the former Emperor. She had two sons and one daughter, the former Emperor wanted aunt to adopt and foster the eldest son, to become the crown prince. When we were young, I and elder brother frequently entered the palace, so elder brother and Huangdi gege (LXW called the Emperor huangdi gege-皇帝哥哥 & can be translated as elder brother emperor. I'm keeping the pinyin) grew up together, as brothers.

Zhuo Qing pretended to understand clearly and nodded her head, she smiled and said: "That much rare tree species are bestowed to Lou Xi Yan, West Empress Dowager surely likes your elder brother lo."

Lou Xi Wu answered: "Indeed without a doubt, she still wishes that her daughter, Princess Chao Yun is betrothed to be given to my elder brother."

Lightly rubbing her hands, Zhuo Qing's brows easily wrinkled, how to say it, they were not enemies, why did she deliver him cottons? Was it accidental or.... Zhuo Qing's complexion sinked coldly, once again, stared at her hands that had the spoiled flower. Lou Xi Wu misunderstood that she was worry for her own status, stepped forward one pace, said in whisper: "But you can be at ease, we, Lou's family does not like the new and then hate the old, and climb up or admire the power from other people, as long as you attend my elder brother nicely, no one will make life difficult for you."

Zhuo Qing recovered, could not help but forced a smile, whom Lou Xi Yan would marry with, it should not have any relation with her, all right! She was merely curious, nothing more.

Under the cotton trees, two women's thoughts were different, a frivolous and mocking male voice suddenly echoed: "Ck, ck, ck, where did the small beauty come from?"

Zhuo Qing and Lou Xi Wu turned around to see at the same time, saw Jing Sa's side, there was a man with white clothing. Zhuo Qing's complexion immediately sank, he was the man who 'wished for the whole world to be in chaos' at Niu Jia Village! Completely ignoring him, Zhuo Qing turned towards the side of the lake where the bridge was.

Who would have thought that Qi Tian Yu was unwilling to give up unexpectedly. He came up to meet her, Zhuo Qing raised her head, coldly looked back at him, approached Qi Tian Yu and he discovered, this woman's right cheek had two deep scars, ruined her smooth as jade stunning look. Looking from a distant a moment ago, her body was wearing raw silk clothing and hand was holding a spoiled flower. She was standing proud and aloof, with threatening temperament, and entering to discover now, that her face was unexpectedly this shattered.

The woman with a ruined face would usually use hair to cover it, or bow her head to hide from other people's line of sight, she certainly was different, her knee length hair was agile and knotted into a braid, she did not have any hair accessory. Her face also clearly showed the lovely front, especially her eyes, sharp and arrogant, along with her face, his heart actually jumped, this woman was indeed interesting. Facing her, feeling more interested and stopping Zhuo Qing's path, Qi Tian Yu raised his head and believed himself to give the most handsome smile, asked: "As it turns out, young lady is an ice beauty, I like it and dare to ask young lady's name?"

Lightly raising her hand, the spoiled flower on her hand fell to the ground, Zhuo Qing coldly answered: "I dislike frivolous man, not pure."

Qi Tian Yu's smile was stiffed, Lou Xi Wu's lips smiled, when did she ever see Qi gege was beaten. Looking at his embarrassed face, Lou Xi Wu's kindly answered: "Qi gege, she is called Qing Feng."

Qing Feng, she was Qing Feng, how could her face change like this?! Qi Tian Yu secretly doubted, his hands still clasped to give greetings, smiley said: "Miss Qing, this small life gives courtesy." She did not like the frivolous type, she would like the scholar type, right!

"I even dislike a pretentious man more, nauseating."

Qi Tian Yu's smile was stiffed on his face, uglier than crying, Lou Xi Wu could not help to laugh heartily anymore. Qi gege's facial expression was extremely laughable.

The cool face who was standing to the side, the expressionless Jing Sa's corner of mouth floated a suspicious smiling expression. Qi Tian Yu did not know whether to laugh or cry, he did not offend her!!

"What was the matter that made you smile and this happy ah!" A hearty laugh sounded at the time, Xue Xian Xin who was taking along a few servant girls came.

Qi Tian Yu slightly gave courtesy, smily said: "Long time no see, Madam has not changed one bit."

With an exaggerated smile, Xue Xian Xin cynically smiled and said: "Yo, it is Qi Da Gongzi (大公子-an honorary title for a noble) who comes, it is no wonder that our family Xi Wu smiles this happy, indeed when a girl is of age, she must be married off ah!"

This one family was best to get lost early, she had this type of crafty's temperament, only suited to manage the street type of family!

Lou Xi Wu's gaze was nervous and swept along to Jing Sa, immediately shouted: "Second mother, you should not speak nonsense!"

Zhuo Qing gently raised her eyebrows, this young woman was unlikely to be committed in a puppy love, right?

Looking at her gnashing her teeth, Xue Xian Xin's mood felt better, deliberately said: "You still feel ashamed!"

Looking at Lou Xi Wu anxiously clenching her fist, Qi Tian Yu set out to mediate, smily said: "Madam is cracking a joke at me, right, Xi Wu's age is still young, I think of her as my little sister."

"Good, elder brother and little sister, just enough!" Xue Xian Xin was also afraid that Lou Xi Wu would be violent like last night, crossed them over, Xue Xian Xin walked to one side towards Jing Sa and asked: "Have Xi Yan already woken up?"

Behind her back, a servant girl was carrying medicine drug concoction that was similar to the one from last night. Zhuo Qing thought, stepped forward and said: "Give me the medicine."

"Give you the medicine?" Xue Xian Xin changed direction to walk to Zhou Qing in a circle, with a stern voice said: "You really think yourselves as this family's mistress? What a joke! I looked at Xi Yan as a sick person last night, did not want to bicker with you. You would better give me a little peace."

As it turned out, she was after this mistress' title! Zhuo Qing indifferently answered: "I am not interested in this mistress position, but his medicine is my responsibility."

Not interested! She is definitely not interested in this! Xue Xian Xin sarcastically smiled: "Very brave, who gives you the courage to behave atrociously at the Prime Minister's manor? Jing Sa, throw her out of the house for me!"

Jing Sa was motionless, Xue Xian Xin was about to flip out, when the door of the small storied building was slowly opened, Lou Xi Yan's muffled and gentle voice echoed: "It is me who gives her the courage."