Fu Xin Ci was still playing with her friends. If she had known that the convoy was led by Master Liu, she might have stayed in Longcheng for a few more days, but who could blame her for disliking him the most.
Obviously, Master Liu also understood this. After leading the convoy to Eagle's Beak Cliff, he holed up in the Thousand-Household Office and refused to come out.
Under the guise of being too tired and needing rest, he delegated all remaining matters to Liu Zi.
Liu Zi, entrusted with a crucial task, was bewildered for a moment before shakily mounting his horse to find Miss Fu.
Liu Zi, also an amateur comedian, began by telling Miss Fu about the swords as soon as he saw her.
"When we returned to report, Lord Yan instructed us to wait outside while he went in to relay the Emperor's words. In just that short time, we were almost robbed."
"Someone dared to rob you? Aren't they tired of living?" Hearing there was gossip, Fu Xin Ci's eyes lit up considerably.
"Others may fear us, but the Imperial Guards do not. Especially those who frequently attend the Emperor, their status is generally similar to Master Liu's, and in terms of rank, they are higher than us."
Fu Xin Ci's large, almond-shaped eyes flickered over the waist swords of the men, and she asked uncertainly, "Then what happened?"
"We swore to defend the precious swords with our lives."
Liu Zi didn't tell Miss Fu that they had to beg and plead to keep their swords.
"Didn't I give you an extra sword?"
"That sword was taken by the Emperor and placed in his sleeping chambers."
"To ward off evil spirits?"
"Yes, Master Liu also wanted to... but he didn't dare to tell you."
"Master Liu, isn't the weather nice today?"
"Ah?? Yes, it is nice."
Fu Xin Ci quietly rolled her eyes. Just because of Liu Chen Feng's unreliable mother, she would never give him a sword.
She feared his mother would concoct stories about her, and she had no interest in arguing with their family. She feared that if she couldn't control herself, she might run to the capital and set their place ablaze.
Liu Zi blinked his eyes, thinking: I did my best, Master Liu, please don't blame me, I can't help you.
Liu Chen Feng: I didn't have much hope to begin with.
It was only when he escorted the glass back to the capital that his mother was the most disappointed.
"Feng'er, before you went to Liaodong, didn't I tell you to bring back more glass? My old friends are all waiting."
Liu Chen Feng wanted to say: Mother, stop daydreaming. You've thoroughly offended Miss Fu, and you still want more glass from her? I wouldn't dare to think so.
Marquis Jin Xiang did not join the revelry when there were many people. When father and son went to the front study, he silently signaled to his son.
"Father, I've left a few boxes for our household under my cousin's name. I didn't dare to say it in front of Mother just now, for fear that she might impulsively give them all away."
"Mm, you know your mother best."
Liu Chen Feng was speechless. He had been tricked by his mother so many times that even a fool would be more cautious.
Otherwise, he feared he wouldn't even have money to buy steamed buns one day.
"Son, where did you put that glass?"
"I put it with my cousin. I was afraid if I kept it at our manor, my mother might be persuaded and give it away again."
"Mm."
"Father, will this be enough for the palace?"
"It's not clear yet. We'll know after the Imperial Household Department checks the inventory."
"You brought back quite a bit last time, didn't you, cousin?"
"But there are so many places! The Emperor himself took more than half. For the Empress Dowager's palace, the main hall, side halls, sleeping chambers – even if the Emperor doesn't use it, it must be for the Empress Dowager."
"If these two are satisfied, then no one else gets any."
"So this time, it's for the Empress and the Crown Prince. The four consorts haven't even been considered yet."
"Indeed."
Liu Chen Feng: "If I have to go to Liaodong again, whoever wants to can go. I'm not going."
"Why do you say that?"
"I don't want to be constantly reminded by my mother, as if every trip to Liaodong is just running errands for her."
"..." Hearing his son's words, Marquis Jin Xiang couldn't help but smile wryly.
His son's analogy was quite apt. "I don't know who your mother takes after, she's nothing like the Yan family."
"Cousin is also puzzled. He says Mother isn't like Grandfather or Grandmother, and there's no resemblance to her uncles."
"Indeed, if it weren't for her looks resembling the Yan family, everyone would suspect your mother was swapped at birth."
"Alas."
"I originally thought that once you were married, your wife would manage the household, but who knew you'd be tricked again."
Speaking of which, Marquis Jin Xiang began his lecture again.
"You are now a free man. I've already told your mother that she's not allowed to arrange any more marriages for you."
"Father, I don't want to get married yet."
"How can you not get married? The vast inheritance of the Marquis Jin Xiang manor will have no successor."
"Father."
"Son, if you don't get married, even the Empress Dowager will not agree."
Liu Chen Feng: ...
"Son, think about it carefully."
Marquis Jin Xiang finished speaking, patted his son's shoulder, and told him to go rest.
Liu Chen Feng, full of energy, didn't need rest.
As soon as he left the study, his chief attendants, Da Wu and Xiao Wu, ran over.
"Young Master, Elder Brother Tong and Second Young Master Qin are looking for you."
"What are they looking for me for? Just say I'm not here."
"Young Master, you can't say you're not here. Everyone in the capital knows you're back today."
"Then say I went into the palace with my cousin. Wait, say I went to the yamen."
"Young Master, you're ruthless."
"That's for sure."
Liu Chen Feng swung his horsewhip and loudly said, "Quickly go fetch my horse."
"Young Master, where are you going?"
"Didn't I just say? To the yamen."
"Are you really going to the yamen? We thought you were just teasing those gentlemen a moment ago."
"Do they need to be teased? Hurry up."
"Alright, I'm on it."
As Liu Chen Feng mounted his horse and headed towards the Embroidered Uniform Guard yamen, the servants waiting outside the marquis's manor chased after him with shouts.
Da Wu and Xiao Wu kept explaining to them.
"Our Young Master has gone to the yamen to discuss important matters with Lord Yan."
To convince the servants, Da Wu and Xiao Wu didn't mention their cousin but directly said Lord Yan.
Who was Lord Yan? Everyone in the capital knew him. Those who liked to hang out with Liu Chen Feng knew exactly who Lord Yan was.
With Lord Yan's name as assurance, these servants stopped chasing and turned their horses back to inform their masters that they wouldn't be seeing Young Master Liu today.
Finally, with peace returning to his ears, Da Wu and Xiao Wu urged their horses to catch up with their Young Master.
They finally saw their Young Master's dashing and elegant figure before he entered the yamen.