Chapter Nine, Hello Beggar's Chicken, Goodbye Beggar's Chicken

At the moment he raised his head, the hall full of beautiful women and the room adorned with splendor seemed to instantly lose their color

In the distance, there seemed to be a faint clamor, yet it was suppressed by the sounds of silk and bamboo filling the hall, as if no one had heard it. However, the person who had been drinking with their head down suddenly looked up.

Tai Lin was sweating profusely, quickly bowed to apologize, and hurried over to stop his elder brother, in order to prevent family disgrace from being exposed in front of the esteemed guests

Everything is as usual. It is said that the Empress Dowager has found his original wet nurse for him again. This person spoke of the recent secret affairs in the palace as if they were trivial matters from his own courtyard, casually laughing and saying, "The Empress Dowager truly dotes on His Majesty"

Mingming's short hair was disheveled, and her face still bore traces of black and gray, yet among the crowd, Rongchu noticed her at first glance

At that moment, Taishi Lan was about to pierce the ear of Tai Shizhu with a needle when suddenly a warning sign stirred in his heart

A pair of hands moved faster than hers, swiftly snatching the bag into the palm. As Rong Chu felt the texture of the bag, her eyes narrowed.

Is that so? Rong Chu seemed to glance at him with intention or without, yet her tone did not convey any agreement

Rong Chu gazed into the distance for a while, turning his head with little interest. However, at the moment he turned, he seemed to catch a glimpse of a strange light flickering at the corner of his eye

The person behind respectfully bent down, knowing that when the master displayed such an expression, it often indicated that there was something that others had not yet noticed, which had already been observed in his eyes

In that moment of distraction, Tai Shi Lan moved his wrist, and the "Human World Needle" hidden in his sleeve, with its silver-white sharp point, pierced into Rong Chu's palm

Rong Chu did not even glance at her, leisurely holding his wine cup, and said to the second master of the Tai family, Tai Lin, who was seated in the main position: "I have heard that your esteemed residence boasts three wonders: song and dance, minor plays, and the moonlit garden at night. I have already experienced the first two wonders, and they truly live up to their reputation. As for the last wonder, the moon is particularly bright tonight; I wonder if I might have the fortune to witness it?"

Tai Shi Lan tilted her body slightly, and just before falling into Rong Chu's embrace, she suddenly looked up at him and said softly and clearly: "Hello, Beggar's Chicken, goodbye, Beggar's Chicken"

Beggar's Chicken

The two fell silent, the wind rustled past, sweeping away the starlight. Rong Chu suddenly said: "On the night His Majesty passed away, who was by his side at that time?"

"She is always so vicious." Rong Chu's tone was entirely unsurprised

"It sounds very nice." Rong Chu smiled gently, with a profound meaning.

Are there any other interesting things?

Tai Lin was taken aback—when did his family ever have hetushu.com? What is there to see in the dark night of the back garden?

The singer, strumming her strings softly, believed the praise was directed at her, her face flushed with embarrassment as she lowered her head shyly

Rong Chu clasped her hands within her sleeves, gazing at the chaos in the distance, and remarked with a smile that was neither fully a smile nor devoid of one: "Your esteemed residence is quite lively."

His gaze slightly narrowed

Is she on the burial list

With a swish, Taishi Lan's hand also arrived, undeterred by the fact that the stolen goods had already reached the hands of their rightful owner, and he similarly seized the bundle with great force

Such a woman truly does not resemble a concubine who has been dismissed without favor

How could there possibly be a back garden

The songstress with delicate features embraces the pipa, strumming its five strings. Her eyes, like autumn waters, sweep over the esteemed guests seated before her, each glance filled with charm.

This woman possesses a unique aura and demeanor, indistinguishable in gender, with an androgynous beauty. She embodies the gallantry typically associated with men and the softness expected of women, exuding a coolness that is not gloomy, a simplicity that is not devoid of emotion, and an exquisite minimalism that gives rise to an alluring, ascetic charm

Tai Shi Lan slightly tilted her head and caught sight of Rong Chu gliding through the night.

Tai Shi Lan has always been a person with keen sensitivity, possessing an innate, beast-like intuition. When she was at the Research and Library Institute, Wen Zhen remarked that if she were to travel through time, she would certainly be well-suited for leading troops in battle. Jing Hengbo firmly asserted that she must have been a hunting dog in her past life. ... Jun Ke ... . ... Jun Ke was solely focused on worshipping.

At this moment, the entrance of the large kitchen was in chaos, and Tai Shizhu's reaction was so peculiar that it left Tai Bai in a state of uncertainty. As Tai Shilan pressed forward aggressively, Tai Shizhu found himself in a dire situation and hurriedly rushed over to intervene, commanding the guards to pull him back. In the midst of the commotion, with shadows flitting about and shouts rising like a tide, no one noticed that Rong Chu had already approached.

As soon as he left, a shadow silently approached and stood behind Rong Chu. Rong Chu seemed unaware, slightly tilting his head to sniff the faint fragrance that lingered in the air, and suddenly said: "How have you been, Your Majesty, lately"

Rong Chu's gaze fell far across to the opposite side, where he saw Tai Shizhu rushing out in a frenzy, with Tai Shilan trailing closely behind like a lingering shadow

Rong Chu smiled as he set down his wine cup and leisurely walked out. Tai Lin respectfully led the way in front, observing the esteemed Duke. Upon reaching the back garden, they neither looked at the flowers nor the grass, but casually exchanged some idle words. However, those words, while seemingly simple, held profound meanings upon closer reflection, and each one could not be answered lightly. Tai Lin racked his brains, carefully choosing his words in response, and broke into a cold sweat. Just as he managed to handle the situation with the *Tu* *Shu*, he looked up and was taken aback.

Rong Chu seemed to smile, saying nothing more, only softly remarked: "Anzhou is indeed a wonderful place..."

With a flick of the finger, the dagger swiftly returned to the sleeve.

That person leans against the embroidered mat, leisurely tasting wine, a smile gracing their lips, seemingly charming

"You are ... ..." Rong Chukuiran remained unmoved, twisting his wrist to grasp Tai Shilan's left hand. The two interlocked their fingers. Rong Chu suddenly smiled, exerting a slight force to pull Tai Shilan into his embrace, "Well, you ... ..."

Rong Chu was taken aback

The Empress Dowager decreed that all childless concubines of the late Emperor shall be buried with him

Oh no, my elder brother specifically instructed that we must not disturb the Duke, and now he has carelessly brought someone here!

After searching tirelessly, who would have known that the answer lies within this courtyard!

The fingers of the two individuals intertwined, and Tai Shi Lan pulled with all his might—of course, he could not move them.

The person behind did not respond, but seemed to smile as well

= = .

Beneath the starlight in the night breeze, that person’s robe dances as if in flight, light and ethereal, resembling a cloud scattered by the wind only to gather again in an instant, reappearing as if having teleported a thousand miles away

Rong Chu's gaze lingered briefly on Tai Shi Lan's short hair

At this moment, taking action will undoubtedly attract that person's attention; she does not want to take this risk

In the main hall of the Tai Mansion, the finest screens and books are displayed today, the most exquisite tableware is used, the most beautiful maidens are arranged, adorned in elegant attire and makeup, with bright pearls and emerald canopies, candlelight casting slanted shadows, and the colors of treasures swirling in the air

He let out a soft "Eh" and immediately rushed over

How did I end up at the large kitchen at the boundary between the front and back courtyards

The moment Tai Shilan saw this person, every cell in his body sprang to life—an enemy

Tai Shi Lan immediately reached out to scoop it up

When drafting the list, it was not included; however, later on, it was included

As she loosened her grip, Tai Shizhu quickly lunged forward. In her earlier struggle, she desperately reached back with both hands and managed to grab hold of Tai Shilan's belt. At that moment, with a sudden leap, there was a "rip" sound as Tai Shilan's belt was torn apart, and a white pouch tied around her waist fell to the ground

However, the esteemed Duke of Jin spoke such nonsense with his eyes wide open. As the host, what else could he say? He quickly rose to greet his guest, saying, "It is our fortune that the Duke takes an interest in us. Although our back garden is modest, there are one or two flowers and plants worth a look. Please, Duke, come this way."

She is a concubine who has recently entered the palace and has not yet been granted a title. After the Emperor's passing, she was, as per custom, sent back to her hometown for seclusion. Quite coincidentally, "that person raised his chin slightly, "is precisely the daughter of the governor of Anzhou, Tai Bai."

Her short hair is indeed peculiar; is it a result of her vow to cultivate herself, having cut her hair to signify her determination?