Free Web NovelChapter 395: Chapter 221: Mother, You Look So Beautiful Today
After Lu Yuan and his group entered the Imperial Capital’s territory, they found a relatively large Post House to stay in.
When the Post House’s Shopkeeper saw more than ten people pour in, his face lit up with joy. He scurried out from behind the counter, bowing and smiling, ready to serve them personally.
"Well now, gentlemen, please, come inside where it’s warm. Xiaolizi, clear some space for the gentlemen to rest their feet."
The Post House’s Shopkeeper was quite perceptive, stepping forward to attend to them.
Anyone who traveled with a dozen bodyguards was either a relative of the imperial family, a Court official, or a wealthy merchant.
To be able to run such a large Post House, one either had connections in the Court or the old Shopkeeper was a clever fellow himself.
The Shopkeeper asked, "Gentlemen, are you just stopping for a meal, or staying the night?"
Lu Yuan said, "Staying the night. We’ll need your best rooms with large, soft beds. Two people per room will do. Go ahead and count us."
As soon as Lu Yuan finished speaking, his mother-in-law, standing beside him, frowned. ’Two people per room... does that mean I’m sleeping with my son-in-law?’
"Oh, no, wait, we’ll need one extra room!" Lu Yuan quickly added.
Lu Yuan was so used to traveling with his wife that he’d forgotten he was with his mother-in-law this time. He still wasn’t used to the change.
The Post House’s Shopkeeper said, "Right away! Xiaodengzi, you and the others check all the rooms on the second floor and set aside all the best ones."
"Yes, Shopkeeper," a waiter on the second floor replied, poking his head out to call down to the Shopkeeper on the first floor.
The Shopkeeper turned back with a smile and said, "This way, gentlemen! Please, try our house specialties. The rooms will be ready for you shortly."
"Shopkeeper, seat our group at four tables. Bring out your finest wine and best dishes—we’re not short on money." After speaking, Lu Yuan took out a few silver taels and handed them to the Shopkeeper. He then helped his mother-in-law to a table in the corner and sat down.
A waiter muttered under his breath, "I wonder which young master this is, with such a strange fetish. A young calf grazing on old grass!"
It was no wonder the waiter misunderstood. Su Liyan’s mother looked young for her age, and an outsider wouldn’t guess she was Lu Yuan’s elder.
The voice was quiet, but Lu Yuan heard it clearly.
Upon hearing this, Lu Yuan shot a fierce glare at the waiter. The sheer pressure radiating from him made the waiter’s calves tremble, and he suddenly felt an urgent need to relieve himself.
He really couldn’t hold it in!
Whether intentionally or not, the Shopkeeper walked between Lu Yuan and the waiter, blocking Lu Yuan’s line of sight.
The Shopkeeper kicked the waiter and hissed in a low, angry voice, "Get back to work!"
That kick was the last straw; the waiter soiled his pants right then and there.
Clutching a tray over his lower body and clenching his buttocks, the waiter waddled awkwardly toward the back courtyard.
The Shopkeeper stood his ground, fanning the air in front of his nose and muttering, "What did that kid eat? His fart really stinks!"
After that, Lu Yuan didn’t press the matter with the young waiter any further.
Once the food arrived, Lu Yuan picked up some food for his mother-in-law with his chopsticks and said, "Mother, we’ve already entered the territory of the Imperial Capital."
Su Liyan’s mother replied, "Doesn’t that mean you’ll be able to see the Emperor?"
Su Liyan’s mother had never seen the Emperor before. After all, the Emperor didn’t know her, so why would he ever meet her?
"I came this time on a verbal summons from the Jinyi Guard, but we left those guards in the dust. There’s no one to lead me to an audience with His Majesty," Lu Yuan said casually while picking at his food.
’In any case, I’m here. If the people meant to escort me haven’t shown up, what’s that got to do with me?’
Su Liyan’s mother said, a little worried, "What if they’ve lost us and can’t find us? Does that mean no one will come to guide you?"
Lu Yuan replied nonchalantly, "Mother, I reckon it’ll take those Jinyi Guard at least a few more days to catch up. We can just wait for them here. With their intelligence network, they’ll find us easily. There’s no need to worry about that."
"Mother, let’s go up and rest after we finish eating. The journey has been a bit bumpy these past few days, so you should get some good rest."
Su Liyan’s mother replied, "Alright, let’s wait here then. After we eat, we can get the bundles from the back of the carriage."
"Mother, don’t worry about it. I’ll have someone bring the bundles up for you in a bit."
After the meal, the Post House’s waiters helped Lu Yuan’s confidants and Mansion Guards carry the bundles up to the rooms on the second floor.
Once everything was settled, Lu Yuan and the others returned to their rooms to rest.
Lu Yuan gave the brick phone to his mother-in-law, so if she missed her daughter and grandson, it would be convenient for her to contact their family.
That evening, the Emperor received an intelligence report transmitted by the Jinyi Guard. It had been submitted by the Southern Town Patrol Department’s Jinyi Guard.
The Emperor now knew that Lu Yuan had arrived in the Imperial City, several days earlier than expected.
The most interesting part was that the Northern Town Patrol Department’s Jinyi Guard, who were sent to deliver the verbal summons to Lu Yuan, had only just left Qilu Province.
In other words, the person who had been summoned was already at the foot of the Emperor’s throne, while the messengers were still back in his hometown. It was the most ridiculous thing imaginable.
The Emperor tossed the report onto his desk and muttered to himself, "The Jinyi Guard are so incompetent. Since he’s already here, let him have some fun in the Imperial City for a few days."
「The next morning.」
A few traveling merchants were having breakfast on the first floor, talking about how the Imperial City was holding a grand market that day. They said they needed to go early to secure a good spot so they could sell their wares for a good price.
Lu Yuan overheard them and thought that staying in the Post House all day would be quite boring. He hadn’t had a chance to look around the Imperial City properly last time, so he might as well take this opportunity to see the sights.
At some of these grand markets, it wasn’t just about buying and selling goods; there were often many acrobats and opera singers performing as well.
Usually, the market was in the morning, while in the afternoon and evening, stages would be set up for opera performances. People from the neighborhood would bring their own folding stools to watch the shows.
