"Madam, Madam…"
A distant voice broke Liu Yuanchun's good dream.
She rubbed her eyes, yawned, and opened her eyes lazily.
Actually, she didn't even need to look to know that it was Green Sleeve who disturbed her afternoon nap. Only she dared to do so.
In her dream just now, she dreamt that she was going home to rummage through the fridge to find something to eat!
Sigh…
"What's the matter?" Liu Yuanchun sat up and said casually.
However, Lu Xiu dragged her to the dressing mirror and started combing her long hair.
"What? Digging me out of bed just to comb my hair? I'll strangle you to death!" As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Yuanchun pretended to flip over and wanted to make a scene with Lvxiu.
"Ya!" Greensleeves jumped. "Please spare Greensleeves! It was fun to wake Madam up.”
"Oh? Tell me, what fun thing is it?"
"There are guests in the residence."
"What's so strange about that? There were people visiting the Minister's Residence from morning till night. What was so fun about it?”Even the officials far away in the north sent gifts to the Minister's Office as usual, not to mention the people and courtiers in Jinling. There was no lack of profit transfer between the officials.
A few days ago, the wife of Guangdu Manor had personally come to visit Liu Yuanchun, saying all sorts of good things and even giving him a pair of jade bracelets, just to help her only son get an official position.
After Liu Yuanchun inquired, he learned that the young master of Guangdu Prefecture was not only ignorant and incompetent, but also often bullied the people with his power. On the same day, she returned the jade bracelet intact.
After that, Guangdu Manor's Madam came a few more times, but Liu Yuanchun refused to see her again and sent her away.
It wasn't that Liu Yuanchun didn't like beautiful jade, but she knew that a gentleman loved money and had a way to obtain it. If that evil young master really became a Shangguan, wouldn't the people suffer?
She couldn't do such a wicked thing.
"Madam, it's different this time!" Greensleeve answered mysteriously.
"Could it be that the emperor has arrived?" Liu Yuanchun raised his eyebrows.
"No, it's the red-haired man."
"Red-haired man?" Liu Yuanchun was confused. Was it a gorilla or…
"Yao Fu said that the red-haired man came from some, some place where grapes grow teeth.”Lu Xiu said with a strange look on her face. Since she was young, she had never heard of the strange thing of grapes growing teeth.
The moment Liu Yuanchun heard, he could not help but laugh. "Good Greensleeves, those aren't grapes with tusks!”
"I told you! How could there be grapes that could grow teeth in the world? It must be Manager Yao who didn't understand and was making things up.”
Liu Yuanchun stopped laughing. "The correct pronunciation is Portugal, a country in southwestern Europe.”she explained.
"Madam can speak the words of the red-haired man?" Greensleeves was surprised.
"Two years." She had a talent for languages since she was young and could speak and write four languages. "Come, quickly comb my hair and change my clothes. I want to go to the front hall to receive guests.”She sat back down in front of the dressing mirror.
I didn't expect to see foreigners in ancient times. It's so fun!
Not long after, the master and servant arrived at the front hall.
The Ming Dynasty was an era where maritime trade was developed. It could be said that trade with overseas countries was very prosperous.
Yao Xuanye was the Minister of Rites, and he was also a weapon buyer. Therefore, he decided to buy cannons from the Portugal merchant ships that entered the port a few days ago to increase his military equipment.
However, language communication was a big problem. The translator knew very little Portugal.
Yao Xuanye's frown deepened.
Just as both parties were in a stalemate, Liu Yuanchun walked into the hall.
There were a total of five people in the Portugal group. In addition to the host, Mr. and Mrs. Holligo, there were three attendants.
"Everyone, please forgive me for being late.”Liu Yuanchun spoke in fluent Portugal.
Everyone in the hall was stunned, except for Green Sleeves.
The first to reply was Yao Xuanye. He walked towards Liu Yuanchun and said to the ship merchant couple,""This is my wife."
Liu Yuanchun hurriedly introduced himself.
When Yao Fu and the translator heard this, they couldn't help but admire him deeply, especially Yao Fu.
He had thought that Madam was just a good-looking idiot who spent all her time playing and eating. She was not like the other young ladies from rich families who were good at poetry and literature and also knew how to play the piano and paint.
He did not expect her performance today to be so admirable that even he, a servant, felt proud.
The Holigo couple did not expect that there was someone in this eastern country who knew Portugal and was so young and beautiful. They immediately started talking and had a good time.
"You want to buy cannons from them?" Liu Yuanchun's gaze suddenly landed on Yao Xuanye.
"I've seen this Hong Yi Cannon before. It's indeed very powerful.”Yao Xuanye held her hand tightly and didn't let go.
Liu Yuanchun smiled sweetly at him. "Don't worry! I'll definitely help you bargain later. Leave it to me.”Just take it as repayment for her previous deliberate squandering!
Anyway, he was so good to her, so repaying him once was nothing.
Yao Xuanye only smiled as his eyes fell on her energetic face. He couldn't move his gaze away for a long time.
After that, Brother Helige and his wife were invited by Liu Yuanchun to stay in the Minister's manor for dinner.
During the banquet, the Holigo couple told Liu Yuanchun about their adventures in various countries, and she translated for everyone.
The most exciting part was when they were chased by pirate ships in the waters of Japan many years ago…
" Back then," Heliago recalled," the Franco machine, the Hongyi Cannon, had not been successfully developed. The pirates were very brave and good at fighting. After four hours of chasing, they finally boarded the merchant ship and robbed everything on board.”
"Did the pirates hurt anyone?" Liu Yuanchun asked.
Holigo shook his head. "Normally, most merchant ships that were robbed would not leave anyone alive, but that pirate leader was different. Other than taking away all the goods and gold coins on the ship, he did not kill a single person.”The vivid memories left the couple with lingering fear.
"So, that pirate is a good person?”Liu Yuanchun had a look of yearning. Pirates seemed to only appear in movies and had nothing to do with real life.
"That might not be the case." Yao Xuanye interjected.
"You're an official, so of course you think pirates are all bad people.”Liu Yuanchun wrinkled his nose at him disapprovingly.
Yao Xuanye looked at her, his dark eyes flashing with a sly smile.
"Furen, even if you rob without hurting anyone, you are still a bandit and not a good person.”Yao Fu couldn't help but interrupt.
"Shut up!" Liu Yuanchun shot him a glance, and a trace of evil thoughts arose in his heart. "I'll punish you with three glasses of wine!" She heard that Yao Fu's alcohol tolerance was extremely low, so she took the opportunity to teach him a lesson as a punishment for picking on her every now and then.
Yao Fu glanced at Daren, only to see him smiling and not stopping him.
Sigh! He didn't usually burn incense, but now he was kicked by Buddha's foot.
He picked up the wine glass filled with green sleeves and drank three cups in a row. Soon, his face turned red and he fell to the ground with a thud.
"How is he?" Holligo asked in surprise.
" Don't worry, he's just drunk." Liu Yuanchun explained calmly.
"Ensheng, help him back to his room." Yao Xuanye said.
"Yes." En Sheng immediately helped Yao Fu up and left the door.
Lu Xiu and the other maids tried their best to hold back their laughter.
After eating the meal, the host and guest had a good time and felt that they had not had enough.
Before they left, Liu Yuanchun had even given Madam Holigo a pair of white jade lions as a greeting gift to promote the friendship between the two countries.
Mrs. Holigo loved the white jade lion so much that the price of the Franc machine was naturally adjusted, but that was a matter for the future.
In the afternoon, the sky was clear and bright. Liu Yuanchun ordered the servant girls to move the tables and chairs to the front porch and even asked the cook to make many exquisite refreshments.
"Why isn't Madam eating in the house?”Greensleeve asked, placing the snacks on the table covered with golden threads.
"Hey, you don't understand. The weather is so good. Of course, we have to enjoy an outdoor afternoon tea outside!”
Afternoon tea? This phrase was really fresh. Greensleeve couldn't help but laugh.
"Come, bring the tea leaves over. Today, it's my turn to make tea for you.”
Greensleeve quickly took out a small, exquisite iron box. It was a gift from Mrs. Holigo. It was the black tea that the couple had brought from the British Kingdom.
The servant girls watched as Furen poured the tea into the cup, then added sugar and milk. It was very interesting, and all of them could not take their eyes off it.
"What a fragrant smell!" A voice was heard.
The girls turned around and saw Bo Xinren standing outside the corridor with a big smile.
"Ah! You came at the right time. Come and try this Earl Grey Milk Tea.”Liu Yuanchun waved at him.
"It's better to accept it than to respect it!" As soon as she finished speaking, Bo Xinren walked into the corridor and took the porcelain cup from the servant girl.
"How is it? Are you used to it?" Liu Yuanchun asked. Adding milk to tea was the style of foreign tea. She was really afraid that they wouldn't be able to accept it.
Bo Xinren looked up. "It's good, but…"
"But what?" The maids asked in unison.
Everyone was extremely curious about the taste of this tea.
"Can I have another glass?" Bo Xinren asked with a smile.
Hearing this, the servant girls all laughed and each of them took a cup and tasted it.
"Is it good?" Liu Yuanchun hurriedly refilled everyone's cups of tea.
After tea, Bo Xinren spoke slowly." Madam, you were really outstanding when you received Brother Helige and his wife the other day. I admire you very much.”
"No, I only know a little bit. It's nothing.”Liu Yuanchun said modestly.
"May I know where Furen learned the language of the foreigners?”Bo Xinren asked curiously.
"Uh…in my hometown." Liu Yuanchun's answer was a little unnatural.
"What kind of place can produce a talent like Madam? The student was really curious about where Madam's hometown was.”
"Oh, small place, small place, not worth mentioning.”Liu Yuanchun was truly unwilling to reveal his origins to others. After all, even he himself almost suspected that he was in a dream realm, so how could others believe what she said?
Bo Xinren smiled and stopped asking. He changed the topic and praised,"Actually, other than learning, Madam is also very good at doing business."”
"Is that so?" Everyone loved hearing nice words, so Liu Yuanchun couldn't help but feel a little happy.
"Of course, just this time, when doing business with the Portugal, Furen earned a large amount of silver for Daren with just a meal. Not everyone can do it.”On the surface, he seemed to be saying it casually, but in fact, there was another kind of deep thought hidden in his black eyes.
"What silver? Didn't I already lower the price of the cannons?”Liu Yuanchun had a puzzled expression.
"Madam, don't you know?"
"Know what?"
Bo Xinren looked around and hesitated.
"You guys pack your things first!”Liu Yuanchun said to the maids.
A moment later, the maids left one after another.
"Tell me!"
"Furen, don't you understand the meaning of the word 'false news'?”Bo Xinren said conservatively.
Liu Yuanchun was startled, and his train of thought cleared up in an instant.
"You mean…"
"The student didn't say anything." Bo Xinren quickly continued.
Liu Yuanchun looked at him and was speechless for a long time.
Why? She was actually bothered by Bo Xinren's insinuation that Yao Xuanye was exaggerating the military. Why?
Looking at her silent expression, Bo Xinren smiled faintly.
No one knew that behind the trees outside the corridor, there was a person who had always been elusive-Ensheng.
Only after Bo Xinren left did Ensheng quietly retreat.
After considering for a day and a night, Liu Yuanchun realized that he could no longer ignore the fact that his husband was accused of being a corrupt official.
Although she really wanted to leave this place and return to the Jia Residence to muddle through her days, she was still the dignified wife of the Minister and Yao Xuanye's wife in name. She didn't want others to think that she, Liu Yuanchun, was also a greedy woman.
After the servants had finished cleaning up, Liu Yuanchun sneaked into the study room alone, wanting to find evidence of whether Yao Xuanye was a corrupt official or not.
First, she went to the large desk where Yao Xuanye was reading documents.
There was a stack of paper and ink on the table. Other than that, there was only a jade kylin paperweight.
Her gaze then fell on the black wooden cabinet behind the table.
The cabinet was very exquisite, with gold and silver engravings on the sides. Liu Yuanchun opened one of the drawers and saw many seals inside, all carved from precious jade.
She thought to herself that any jade seal in the modern world would be worth a lot, and he had an entire drawer of them. She couldn't help but close the drawer gently, as if she was afraid of breaking it.
Then, she pulled open the drawers and doors one by one, but she couldn't find the account book she was looking for.
Finally, she pulled open the bottom drawer and a thick booklet appeared in front of her.
She was overjoyed and hurriedly took out the booklet and placed it on the table.
"What are you doing?"
This voice came so suddenly that Liu Yuanchun was like a thief who had been caught on the spot, so shocked that he couldn't speak.
Damn it!
Didn't he go to court early in the morning? Why are you back so soon?
Yao Xuanye walked straight towards her and finally stopped in front of the table. His gaze fell on the account book on the table.
"You want to check the accounts?" There was no emotion in his dark eyes.
However, Liu Yuanchun felt that he looked more threatening than usual.
"I'm your wife, can't I look at the accounts?”She mustered up her courage to reply.
"Of course you can." Yao Xuanye replied without hesitation. "Please take a look, Madam." He pushed the account book in front of her and opened the first page at the same time.
Liu Yuanchun glanced at him very quickly and flipped through the pages without holding back.
This was a journal that recorded all the daily expenses. This was not the book she wanted to read.
"I'm done." Liu Yuanchun closed the account book in boredom.
"So fast? You won't be able to see ten pages." His dark eyes flickered with a faint smile.
"There's nothing I want to see!" Just as he finished speaking, Liu Yuanchun realized that he had said something wrong.
"Is that so? What kind of account books do you want to see?"
"Uh…I, I mean, these numbers are making me dizzy. I don't want to continue having a headache.”Liu Yuanchun said with a smile, the tendons on his forehead seemed to be throbbing.
"I have a way to solve your headache.”Yao Xuanye spoke unhurriedly, and his black eyes lit up in the next moment.
Before Liu Yuanchun could react, he had already firmly sealed his lips.
Even though she slept in his embrace every night, he had never done anything else intimate.
However, this kiss quickly aroused her dormant burning desire. The kiss made her almost breathless, and her heart seemed to be about to jump out of her chest.
In a heated trance, Liu Yuanchun felt his hand enter her undergarment.
A faint moan escaped from her throat, and Liu Yuanchun subconsciously struggled slightly.
"Don't resist me." Yao Xuanye raised his head, and his deep voice was filled with an emotion that he had never felt before. "I will never hurt you."
He looked at her watery eyes with utmost seriousness.
Liu Yuanchun was confused by his seemingly infinitely deep eyes.
Very quickly, his fiery hot lips covered hers once again. It was so passionate that it was irresistible.
Outside the study, Yao Fu was rushing over.
"Stop!" Ensheng, who was guarding outside the study room, spoke mercilessly.
"I have something to report to Milord." Yao Fu felt a chill on his neck, and the light of the blade reflected on his face. "Hey…don't, don't be like this!" He grinned ingratiatingly.
"Daren instructed that no one is allowed to disturb.”En Sheng was still expressionless.
"You can't make any concessions at all?" Yao Fu was still smiling.
En Sheng put away his sword. "If you make Furen unhappy, I'm afraid you'll have to return home to eat rice.”
"Madam is also inside?" Eh? She never went to the study room!
Ensheng looked at Yao Fu and said nothing.
Damn blockhead!
Yao Fu glanced at the tightly shut door.
Could it be that Daren and Furen…
It was broad daylight, and the court session had just ended…
Sigh! Yao Fu shrugged and turned to leave.#
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]