Destined Marriage with Fragrance Chapter 38

This chapter was translated by Sian for only and edited by Din2.

By Qian Lu

Chapter 38

Ying Ke Lou

After Murong Shu Qing woke up from her nap, it was already in the afternoon when they arrived at Ying Ke Lou. When her carriage just arrived, Ying Ke Lou's Manager, Tan Rui was already waiting there. Tan Rui was a 30 year old, he was a tall and thin man, looked very normal, with a law-abiding look, people would not have any deep impressions about him.

Once Murong Shu Qing got down from the carriage, Tan Rui respectfully came forward to welcome her, bowed and cupped his hands to salute: "Miss, the private room has been prepared properly for you."

Murong Shu Qing smiled to look at Tan Rui who was in front of her, every time that she heard his clear and bright voice, she would feel like sighing, people would remember his voice a lot easier than his appearance.

"En, Lu Yi, you take Yi Zhong to go and have a meal, it is not early anymore."

"Yes." Lu Yi responded, and prepared to take Yi Zhong to leave, but that docile bodyguard did not agree to go.

Yi Zhong grabbed his head, Madam asked him to protect Miss Shu Qing properly, how could he randomly leave? Shaking his head, he stubbornly said to Murong Shu Qing: "Miss, I can’t, Madam ~~"

He really had an honest conscience, so Murong Shu Qing smilingly interrupted his words, unquestionably said: "Go, I am going to be in the private room, nothing will happen."

Even though he was still unwilling to go, but with Murong Shu Qing's firm tone, and imposing manner that one could not resist, he could only consent and say: "Yes."

Murong Shu Qing followed Tan Rui into Ying Ke Lou, she carefully looked up, it was already in the afternoon, there were still many people inside the building. The business was not bad. This was the first time that she came to the Capital's Ying Ke Lou, the interior of the building was in comfortable, casual, simple, and elegant styles, which adhered to her request. But it added some expensive atmosphere and gorgeousness. It was really in line with the Capital's atmosphere, and it made Ying Ke Lou look even more impressive.

The layout of the private room that Tan Rui had prepared, was clean and simple, a touch of ink screen was used to block the sunshine from the wide and big window, but it did not hide the beautiful autumn scenery from the outside window. There was no desk nor chair inside the room, but in front of the screen, a huge wool velvet embroidered carpet was spread out. There were a low table and several square cushions on it, some good tea were already prepared on top of it also.

Murong Shu Qing sat in front of the low table, gently sniffed at the tea that was on her hand, it was the Long Dan tea that she liked, the temperature was just perfect also. Him, being careful like this, and observing into the smallest details, it seemed that it was a right choice to pick Tan Rui to manage the Capital at that time.

Taking some accounts that were already prepared and put on the carpet by the side of the low tables, Murong Shu Qing conveniently looked them over. Tan Rui respectfully said: "Miss, this is Ying Ke Lou, Bao (carry) Yue (moon) Shu Zhai (study room), Feng Xing (popular) Mi (rice) Pu (shop), Zhen Bao (treasure) Zhai (vegetarian)'s almost three months account books." Looking at Murong Shu Qing who was holding the green tea, lazily enjoying the scenery outside the window, and did not seem to want to look at the account books, Tan Rui plainly and concisely reported the situations of the Capital's businesses.

"En." Murong Shu Qing drank the tea, while she was hearing Tan Rui's pleasant voice, this was really a good enjoyment.

After hearing that he finished speaking, Murong Shu Qing put down the tea that was on her hand, faintly instructed: "Try to find two shops at the outskirts of the Capital and within the flourishing center area, within three months, I want to open two Su Ni Chang shops in the Capital." Since Su Ni Chang was already a winner for the Imperial brocade's compet.i.tion, if they entered the brocade marketplace in the Capital, it would be the most fortunate timing. She wanted to monopolize the brocade and embroidery market place within two years, this way, the Fu's family would collapse.

Tan Rui calmly answered: "Yes, then, what about the original plan about the rice shop?"

"Suspend it, it should change to vegetarian shop (restaurant)." The Ministry of Revenue already started to be afraid with the Murong’s family, they were watching very tightly, now was not a good time to open more rice shops.

"Yes."

Thinking about her other purpose of coming here today, Murong Shu Qing asked: "Where is the stuff that I want?"

Tan Rui respectfully presented the list of items, and answered: "It has been prepared appropriately. Does Miss want it now?"

Murong Shu Qing was satisfyingly holding the list of items and she handed it back, it finally allowed her to find it, then she waved her hand and said: "No, deliver them to the Qi's family in ten days. Oh right, did the Huo's family come to stay here?" She let them stay at Ying Ke Lou last time, but she did not know if they finally stayed here or not.

Retaking the list of items, Tan Rui poured the tea for Murong Shu Qing, and answered: "I had already arranged for them to stay here, they went out very early today, only Miss Huo who is at the inn now."

Huo Zi Qi would leave Zhi Qing alone at the inn? What kind of matters that they could not take her with them? She came to the Capital not because she wanted to have fun by her self. Stroking the edge of the cup lightly, Murong Shu Qing said to Tan Rui: "Ask her to come over."

"Yes." Tan Rui rapidly retreated out.

Not too long, Tan Rui's pleasant voice echoed again: "Miss, Miss Huo is here."

Not waiting until Tan Rui finished speaking, Huo Zhi Qing already smiled and entered the inner room, when she looked at Murong Shu Qing who was leaning at the side of a low table and drinking tea, she excitingly leaned her body at her side, she pulled her hand and said: "Shu Qing jiejie, you come to see me ah, you are really good, compare to that smelly eldest brother and Yan gege by a hundredfold."

Looking at her pouting mouth, and with a sulky face appearance, Murong Shu Qing also gave her a cup of tea. Huo Zi Qi pampered her so much, how could he be willing to bully her. But, she was still cooperated and smilingly asked: "Oh? How can they anger you?"

Not having any mood to drink the tea, Huo Zhi Qing only wanted to tell her own grievances for Murong Shu Qing to hear now, she said extremely angry: "They went out last night, only came back very late, I went to look for them, and heard that they said that they wanted to go to Qing Feng (cool breeze) Lou (building) tomorrow evening. I said that I wanted to go, but eldest brother was actually angry with me, so they also went out without me today."

"Qing Feng Lou?" Murong Shu Qing knitted her eyebrows to think, this sounded like a brothel, right?

Tan Rui who was just about to go out, looked at Murong Shu Qing who was looking at him to inquire, so he verified Murong Shu Qing's thought: "It is indeed the Capital's famous brothel."

"Brothel??" Huo Zhi Qing stirringly cried out in fear, and did not believe it so she was staring at Tan Rui, and she retorted with a loud voice: "My eldest brother and Yan gege will never go to that kind of place, you talk nonsense."

Looking at Huo Zhi Qing who was so stirred up like this, Tan Rui had no alternatives but to smile and try to appease her by saying: "Miss Huo, do not be angry, this Qing Feng Lou is slightly different than the regular brothel, many of the young ladies in there, do not prost.i.tute their own selves. Many of them have a lot of talents and are outstanding, elegant, refined people."

After hearing his words, Huo Zhi Qing was thinking, and she asked: "Then, is Hai Yue a prost.i.tute or not?"

Facing this straightforward inquiry like this, Tan Rui hesitated for a moment, then he deliberately answered: "This ~ Miss Hai Yue appeared at Qing Feng Lou two months ago, n.o.body knew her origin, but rumor stated that her appearance looked like a fairy, beautiful as if made by the heaven, she learned numerous talents and was famous in those talents. So at the Capital, all of the wealthy Gongzi's families, children of the influential officials, actually think highly of her. She does not meet with just anybody who wants to meet her, if one wants to meet her, one has to answer her question. This, unexpectedly, makes everyone to be curious about her even more."

After hearing him for a long time, Tan Rui still had not answered her question, Huo Zhi Qing uncompromisingly chased after him and asked again: "Is she a prost.i.tute or not after all, you have not said it?"

Murong Shu Qing looked at Tan Rui's awkward face, Huo Zhi Qing was unwilling to forgive and she question it closely, she smiled and continued drinking the tea, and did not say anything either. She wanted to see how Tan Rui would answer this question that the young lady was attached to strongly.

Tan Rui changed his gaze from Huo Zhi Qing's persistence, and looked at Murong Shu Qing who was playing and drinking the tea without talking, he had no alternative but to continue to say: "Originally, she was not a prost.i.tute."

"Originally?" Clearly, Huo Zhi Qing did not have any good hit, so she did not let go off the matter, and stubbornly wanted to ask it after all.

Tan Rui was helpless and did not have any alternative but to continue saying: "Two weeks ago, Miss Hai Yue decided to de-flower (sell) her own self tomorrow, so recently, every family's Gongzi at the Capital wants to get her first on that day."

Finished hearing Tan Rui's words, Huo Zhi Qing actually did not ask anymore question, she only sat down melancholily, and lowly mumbled: "You are saying, that Yan gege also wants to go to that Hai Yue tomorrow!"

Looking that she looked miserable while leaning on the cushion without saying anything, Murong Shu Qing lightly sighed, as it turned out, this young girl was waiting upon Yan Hao Yu. No wonder she was so stirred up with them going to the brothel. But these were the men in this era, not to mention unmarried, even the married ones would frequently go to the brothel. Not knowing how to comfort her, Murong Shu Qing had no alternative but to lightly pat her shoulder.

After not saying anything for a moment, Huo Zhi Qing suddenly stood up angrily, she put her hands on her hips, and aggressively said: "Hateful! Hateful! I have decided!!"

What did she decide? Looking at her eyes that were shooting angry flames, Murong Shu Qing had a premonition that whatever words that she would say next, would surely be astonishing.

Huo Zhi Qing really did not make her disappointed, when she said it, she made Tan Rui feel flabbergasted, Murong Shu Qing raised her eyebrows and sprouted her laugh.

She said her sentence one by one:

"I want to go to Qing Feng Lou ——- to visit a prost.i.tute!!"

Sian's notes:
Anybody's smelling a problem in the future chapters if MSQ's taking this rash young woman to a brothel? Hehehehe…