VGAFH 76

The third chap of the month enjoy!

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76. De Xing's Cui Family

Seeing Fang Qing looking at him fixedly, he quickly reassured, "Don't worry, I won't let Xin er know!"
  
Only then did Fang Qing break into a grin and let it go.

At Lian Fang Zhou and Lian Ze's side, they had already followed Li ma to the guest rooms. Li ma politely smiled, "Miss Lian and Lian gong zi will stay at these two rooms. This old servant will later let the housekeeper organize the stay at the outer courtyard for the gong zi outside. Please rest assured!"
   
This was in the inner household, so naturally, they couldn't arrange him to come in to stay. Because Lian Ze is still small in age, otherwise he too wouldn't be able to stay here. Naturally, the outer yard has guest rooms specifically for male guests.

Lian Fang Zhou nodded as smile courteously smiled, "Have trouble da niang.  Could we go and explain it to him?"
  
Li ma pondered a bit and answered, "Sure, this way is better! Please follow this old servant!"

When the three of them came out, Ah Jian was still calmly sitting at the side hall, resting there without a slightest sign of stress. Seeing the group come in, he stood up and headed to them with a smile.

Lian Fang Zhou sent a slight smile as she lightly nodded. At this Ah Jian was relieved, and a small unexplainable part on the inside felt overjoy for her.
   
"There's not enough time today, so we'll stay here one night. Early tomorrow, we'll then return! How about this, Ah Ze, you accompany Ah Jian!"

Out of a sudden, Lian Fang Zhou realized in this unknown place, letting Ah Jian stay at the outer courtyard on his own is really discourteous. Truthfully if they didn't have Ah Jian at their side on the road when the driver was scamming, she and her brother could only endure in silent.

Though Lian Fang Zhou also didn't consciously notice herself but subconsciously her whole family already unknownly regarded Ah Jian as their backbone.
  
"En! I initially wanted to tell Sister this!" Lian Ze beamed as he nodded.
  
Lian Fang Zhou looked at Li ma for permission. 
  
This was a small matter, so Li ma could decide and dipped her head as she smiled, "This way is also good! Then Miss Lian, follow this old servant back to the inner courtyard! Later, Housekeeper Su will arrange it."

Lian Fang Zhou uttered a sound of agreement, bid farewell to Ah Jian and Lian Ze, and followed Li ma.

On the road, Li ma pointed out a lot of sights that can be seen as they pass by every scenery for Lian Fang Zhou to view. As Lian Fang Zhou look, she casually gave a few praises.

Seeing her acting very polite and know the etiquette and didn't inquire about Su Family or Young Madame's matter in a roundabout way, Li ma secretly complimented, 'This Lian Family's Miss cousin, despite being young, isn't a troublemaker! From the look of it, she's much stronger than Young Madame's direct maternal family!'

The thought of Young Madame's squabbling father and vicious stepmother who wished that Young Madame could die made Li ma feel disgusted for a moment. Luckily Young Madame has some tricks, otherwise who knows what the days will become!

"Ah!" Li ma and Lian Fang Zhou was conversing when a person from their sideways suddenly called out to them. Following the sound, they looked over to see Cui Shao Xi with his hands at his back standing at the front left side fork beside a cluster of sweet osmanthus. The thick green branches and leaves were half covering and half hidden.
  
"Cousin Master!" Li ma hurried to bow her body in a courtesy.

This Cousin Master is Su Family's esteemed guest. His mother is Master Su's legitimate younger sister, and his grandmother (from father side) is former emperor's most loved younger sister,  Princess Yun He.

And them Cui Family was from the De Xing Province and one of the top prominent family there. The previous year there was up to seventeen from the clan being a court official at the same time. All were a powerful position, with the worst was also Zhi Manor. His blood-related grandfather had a Zhuangyuan background, confer as Grand Academician of Education Hall and have previously held the position of Minister of Rites.

Afterward, the former emperor passed away, Princess Yunhe couple discussed between themselves and decided to retire resolutely. They resigned and returned to their hometown in De Xing. Those within the clan took official position outside and those who were too impressive, all slowly receded.

These years, they are distancing their relationship with the court and royal family on the surface. And its because they are tactful and know how to behave, the current emperor, Emperor Jian De always remember them at heart and would bestow Princess Yun He all kind of present with genuine feeling every year. Over half of De Xing's fertile land was owned by Cui Family, and their shop and business were also countless, making them their name as the number one family in the southwest true. 

Lian Fang Zhou couldn't wait to get away as far as possible from this Cousin Master, but in front of Li ma, she could only follow in suit and bowed in greeting.

Cui Shao Xi waved his hands at Li ma, stated, "I have some words to say to Miss Lian!"
  
Alarm bells rang inside Lian Fang Zhou's mind. Afraid that Li ma would leave, she quickly smiled in politeness, "Since it's like that, I'll trouble da niang to wait a bit!"

Cui Shao Xi's gaze and expression were clearly signaling for Li ma to leave. Li ma felt -- she dare not go. This Cousin Master usually handle matters in a willful way so how can he and Miss Lian be left on their own? And also, what if Young Miss saw? That's even worst! Young miss is also a wayward person, and by chance, trouble is stirred up, then everyone won't look good and it would Young Madame who looks the worst.

Hearing Lian Fang Zhou said it like this, Li ma was so grateful on the inside that she didn't know how to express it. Subconsciously her brows loosened and eyes smiled as she nodded as well as taking the initiative to retreat back a few steps, spoke, "Old servant will wait for Miss! Miss,  Cousin Master, go ahead!"

Cui Shao Xi gave Li a disgruntled stare, lightly harrumphed and didn't say anything.

Lian Fang Zhou just stood there, lifted her lids to glimpse at Cui Shao Xi.  Respectfully asked, "May I ask what Cousin Master wanted to say?" 

 Cui Shao Xi saw that she didn't treat him coldly, but it was clear it was just politeness and distance. And what's more, it appeared that him calling to stop her made her somewhat unhappy. When had he ever been given the cold shoulder before?
  
Cui Shao Xi was so angry that he wants to go crazy, but he happened to have no way of venting out the stomachful of anger. 

He glanced at Lian Fang Zhou, directly asked at once, "We clearly know each other, why didn't you admit in front of cousin and cousin-in-law? Does knowing this master make Miss Lian lose face?"

Lian Fang Zhou was speechless. She mentally pondered-this cousin master is too tsundere? Just because of this, he purposely came to ask her?

Then she politely explained, "Initially, we don't know each other. It just a coincidence that we saw each other once on the road! Cui gong zi, your identity is valuable, while this girl is an ordinary peasant, so how could I dare say words like 'recognize' just because of this. If it's like that, then  it would be Cui gong zi who lose face!"

Cui Shao Xi heard her words and his face slightly relaxed and the anger inside immediately subsided by a half. Then laughed, "I knew it. Your meaning is that you dare not be presumptuous, right? I'm not so peculiar. Us Cui Family never those kinds of conceited people! In the future, you don't have to say it like that!"

Lian Fang Zhou just wanted to get away quickly. Besides, once they left Su Family, they might not see each other again in the future. So she inclined her head, "I'll remember Cui gong zi's words!"

Immediately Cui Shao Xi stretched out his brows, his eyes lit up like stars and on his handsome face like an ageless white jade appeared a radiant smile. It was like a splendid morning cloud, which made observing Li ma's heart skipped and secretly exclaimed about cousin master's excellent appearance, 'No wonder Young Miss's eyes could no longer hold anyone else, oh!'
   
Lian Fang Zhou also felt his looks are too blinding at that moment, like a beautiful peony slowly maturing to full bloom under the sun rays. She unconsciously moved her line of sight and mentally complimented, 'Disastrous man, don't know which girl has the fortune to catch him in the future!'

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