Chapter 9
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Chapter 9:
As soon as he entered, Mi Hongbao started taking off various gemstone accessories. With a painted clock in his arm, he piled everything in front of Li Chunzhou on the table. He pulled a chair to the table, tapped the table with his knuckles, and motioned for the little girl to pour him tea.
Mi Hongbao came from a good family. He was handsome and sometimes acted a bit mischievous. People saw him as a carefree and stylish young man on the outside, but in private, he could be like a pampered little lord.
Li Chunzhou didn’t ask why he barged into the room. Instead, she smiled at him and began to pick up the jade ornaments on the table. She had several high-quality bracelets on each hand.
Mi Hongbao grinned and casually placed his arm on the back of the chair, encircling Li Chunzhou from behind. He looked confident and proud as he asked, "How do you like it? I just bought these from the store, all the latest styles."
He always liked these Western knick-knacks. Every time he bought something from a Western merchant, he would come to show off to Li Chunzhou.
Li Chunzhou wasn’t very interested in the watches he brought, but she really liked these jade ornaments and bracelets.
Li Chunzhou happily nodded and straightened her snowy white arms, showing him how the bracelets looked on her hands. She giggled and said, "Hmm, they are really beautiful!"
Mi Hongbao was completely captivated by her smile. Li Chunzhou looked into his eyes and said seriously, "A’bao, thank you! You are my best, best, best friend!"
Li Chunzhou said this to everyone in private.
Mi Hongbao tried to hold back, but couldn’t help his mouth from curving up.
Li Chunzhou blinked her long and thick eyelashes, tilted her head and smiled. She had always known that as long as she was clear in her heart, no matter how obedient and compliant she appeared on the surface, and no matter how many people she smiled at, she was actually benefiting herself.
Mi Hongbao glanced sideways and when his eyes swept over Li Zhexuan, he suddenly became alert and asked in a harsh tone, "When did you come in!? How did you get into Lady Chun’s room?"
Qi Leyuan leisurely folded his wings and squatted down to watch the show, thinking to himself that this kid didn’t even mention that he himself had broken in.
"He is my servant." Li Chunzhou put down her pen and casually replied for Li Zhexuan.
"Lady Chun, is this servant of yours suitable… isn’t he a bit too big?" Mi Hongbao assessed Li Zhexuan’s tall figure, squinting as he asked.
"What’s considered suitable? I just like him, is that not allowed?" Li Chunzhou calmly picked up a necklace from a sandalwood box behind her head, and asked Mi Hongbao to help her put it on.
Her slender and fair neck was exposed, causing Mi Hongbao’s eyes to blur for a moment. Soon, his ears turned red and he frantically raised his sleeve to cover the glimpse of skin at the back of Li Chunzhou’s neck, angrily scolding Li Zhexuan, "You useless servant! Get out now!"
Li Zhexuan took some time to understand what he meant, then slowly looked at Li Chunzhou. Seeing her nod, he silently walked out the door, even remembering to close it behind him.
Li Chunzhou had taught him several times to close the door behind him.
Mi Hongbao helped her put on the necklace, feeling a bit flustered. He drank several cups of tea to calm down, then remembered what he was about to say before Li Chunzhou interrupted him. The topic of Li Zhexuan was brushed aside easily.
Mi Hongbao pinched her smooth face hard and muttered through gritted teeth, "Careless girl!"
Li Chunzhou shook her head playfully and smirked at him. Mi Hongbao couldn’t help but smile too. He looked at her sternly for a moment, then leaned in closely, holding her hand and said, "Lady Chun, can I make amends to you?"
Li Chunzhou tilted her head, raised an eyebrow and asked, "Make amends? Can the prince afford me? Or does he want to marry me and bring me back as a concubine?"
Even her slightly annoyed expression brought a spark to her face. But what captivated people the most was her effortless and radiant demeanor, probably because she had been raised to confidently flaunt her beauty from a young age.
Mi Hongbao felt a bit embarrassed but not angry. Instead, he sat down with a smile and changed the subject, "Lady Chun, have you heard about the latest news in the capital city today?"
Li Chunzhou rummaged through her makeup without looking up, "What news? Is it related to the Spring Flowers Tower?"
"Indeed, it is. It’s about the case that happened in your building," Mi Hongbao teased, "Do you want to know what happened? I promise you’ll be surprised."
"Yes, please tell me," Li Chunzhou sat in front of the dressing table applying lipstick, looking at Mi Hongbao through the mirror behind her.
Mi Hongbao sat still like a statue, lazily fanning himself with a golden fan in his hand, and teasingly said, "Come closer and give me a kiss, then I’ll tell you."
Li Chunzhou raised her eyebrows, gently ran her index and middle fingers across her lips painted with red lipstick, then touched the mirror where Mi Hongbao’s reflection was, blinked and said, "Even if the young master doesn’t tell me, I’m willing to kiss you."
The two stared at each other through the mirror, Mi Hongbao’s face blushing suddenly, his ears burning as if on fire, his fan in his hand waving erratically, trying to calm down the restless agitation in his heart.
Li Chunzhou laughed, knowing Mi Hongbao’s habit of teasing people, but also knowing his thin skin and how he would quickly retreat after a few strong words.
Before he could say anything further, a maid outside the door interrupted, "Miss, Mama Li is looking for you."
"Tell Mom I’ll be there in a moment." Li Chunzhou calmly adjusted her jewelry and white peony on her head, picked up a small clay hen from the table, grabbed Mi Hongbao’s hand, and led him out, saying, "Let’s walk and talk."
Mi Hongbao then noticed Qi Leyuan, who had been in the same room with them all along, and curiously asked, "Lady Chun, why are you holding a chicken?"
"It’s my pet, I’m just carrying it around for fun."
Mi Hongbao reached out to touch the chicken, but was pecked fiercely by Qi Leyuan. Grimacing, he said, "Why keep an ugly one like this? This fat and silly chicken, what’s the point of raising it? I have a tiger-striped parrot at home, would you like it? I can send it to you tomorrow."
"I don’t want it," Li Chunzhou refused without hesitation, holding the little chicken tightly in her arms, "I only like Li Li."
Qi Leyuan felt relieved, but also glared fiercely at the boy, thinking to himself, "Wait until I turn back into a human, I won’t let you get away with this!"
Mi Hongbao raised his eyebrows, saying, "When the chicken sees you, it will glare at you…"
He shook his head, cleared his confused thoughts, and continued, "The man who died in Spring Flowers Tower was a merchant, he came from Xunyang, arrived in the capital just two or three days ago. When the officials examined the body, they found that his brain was missing."
"His brain was missing?"
"Yes, they noticed something strange even before the examination. When they opened his skull, they discovered that everything inside his head was completely gone!"
"That’s really strange…" Li Chunzhou furrowed her brows, deep in thought.
"Indeed!" Mi Hongbao was excited, waving his fan behind his back, "Usually, mysterious cases like this are investigated quietly, but somehow the news got out. Now, everyone in and out of the capital is discussing this matter."
They turned into the front corridor and arrived at the main building of Spring Flowers Tower. As they chatted, they climbed the stairs. People were coming and going in Spring Flowers Tower, and anyone accompanied by a young lady was undoubtedly a high-ranking official from Shengjing City.
But today, most people were not focused on eating, drinking, and having fun. As Li Chunzhou and Mi Hongbao passed by many tables, they overheard conversations about this morning’s events.
Even though a murder had occurred in the building, the lights were still on in the Spring Flowers Tower. The guests sitting there didn’t think they would be the next victim, so they chatted freely and with an indifferent attitude towards the situation.
Mama Li saw Mi Hongbao walking beside Li Chunzhou from afar and immediately changed her expression. When Li Chunzhou approached, Mama Li avoided mentioning Li Chunzhou sneaking out this morning, and instead kindly said, "Good girl, go upstairs to meet the guest in the private room. Master Qian has been waiting for you."
Seeing Mi Hongbao about to follow Li Chunzhou upstairs, Mama Li quickly blocked him, "Hey hey hey, young master, you can’t go upstairs with her again. Xinlan, you stupid girl with no foresight! Hurry up and accompany the young master to sit down."
Last time when Mi Hongbao insisted on following Li Chunzhou to meet a guest upstairs, he ended up hitting the young master from the Zhao family, causing a scene. Mama Li had to apologize to both sides, feeling helpless.
It has only been a few days since then, Mama Li sighed inwardly. She decided she absolutely could not let him go upstairs with Li Chunzhou to cause trouble again.
Mi Hongbao leaned lazily against the handrail of the stairs, standing as if boneless. He drooped his eyelids, and asked unhappily, "It’s just meeting a guest, nothing scandalous. Why avoid people? Who is this ‘Master Qian’? Is he from the Qian family? I know him too. Having one more person to drink tea shouldn’t be a problem."
Mama Li thought to herself, the young master from the Qian family probably dares not speak up in your presence…
Despite her inner criticisms, Mama Li maintained a smile and said, "Young master, you know the rules of Spring Flowers Tower. With your noble status, we dare not neglect you. But Master Qian had made an appointment to meet Miss Chunzhou half a month ago. It wouldn’t be right to break the agreement… Let Xinlan accompany you for a drink first."
"Mom," said Li Chunzhou, who had reached the middle of the stairs, lowering her head and speaking loudly, "Let the young master come up. This time I will take good care of him and not cause you any trouble."
She was holding a colorful little chicken in her arms, smiling and bowing her head to the people below. Mama Li was first stunned by her smile, then she thought angrily to herself – this naughty girl, the last time was indeed on purpose!
Xinlan glanced up at Li Chunzhou with a mix of regret and envy. Their eyes met, causing Xinlan to blush and hastily bury her head.
Mi Hongbao happily climbed the stairs, quickly reaching Li Chunzhou and possessively grabbing her hand tightly.