Free Web NovelChapter 396: Chapter 221: Mother, You Look So Beautiful Today
Watching opera was one of the few forms of entertainment available. Once the gongs and drums sounded, the show had to go on, whether there was an audience or not.
Half for the living, half for the dead.
Lu Yuan knocked on his mother-in-law’s door. "Mother," he said, "we have nothing to do today. How about we go into the city for a stroll?"
Su Liyan’s mother straightened her clothes, opened the door, and welcomed her son-in-law inside.
After sitting down, Lu Yuan repeated his suggestion.
Su Liyan’s mother rarely had the chance to wander around a big city, so she agreed readily. "Please wait a moment, I’ll just get ready."
Lu Yuan stood up. "Alright. I’ll wait for you at the entrance of the Post House."
Lu Yuan took only two of his close followers and waited at the entrance of the Post House.
Aside from a few men left to guard the Post House, everyone else had been given the day off to enjoy themselves.
Su Liyan’s mother came down the steps, holding her skirt, and walked to the entrance of the Post House.
She was dressed in a blouse and skirt, her long hair coiled up and held with a hairpin. Her eyebrows were shaped, and she wore a light layer of powder. Her entire appearance was elegant and proper.
Seeing this, Lu Yuan couldn’t help but praise her. "Mother, you look so beautiful today!"
Su Liyan’s mother blushed slightly at his words. "We’re going to the Imperial City today. Even though my looks have faded with age, I still wanted to look my best."
"Nonsense, Mother," Lu Yuan immediately replied.
"Oh, right! I also have to thank you for those two Beauty Pills. I feel like the skin on my face has tightened up quite a bit," Su Liyan’s mother said happily, touching her cheek.
Women, no matter the era, always care about their appearance.
The Beauty Pills Lu Yuan had given her had indeed worked wonders.
Of course, her current style was something Song Meiqin from the Zhao Mansion had taught her out of boredom when Lu Yuan and Su Liyan were away some time ago.
It just goes to show, you become like the people you hang around with.
If Su Liyan’s mother had stayed in Changliu Village, she would have only ever interacted with rural women, done farm work, and spoken with a thick, rustic accent, forever looking the part of a country woman.
But ever since coming to the Zhao Mansion, her demeanor, speech, and dress had gradually become more and more refined, like that of a wealthy lady.
Although Su Liyan’s mother had worked on a farm for over a decade, she was blessed with a good foundation of natural beauty—otherwise, how could she have given birth to someone as stunning as Su Liyan?
As a member of the Half-demon Race, even after being exposed to the wind and sun in the fields, she looked younger and had better skin than her neighbor, Aunt Li.
Coupled with the Beauty Pills from Lu Yuan and the guidance from Song Meiqin, Su Liyan’s mother had learned how to present herself.
Now, when she went out with her son-in-law, no one would mistake her for Lu Yuan’s wet nurse or servant. It wouldn’t even be a stretch to mistake them for a younger man with an older woman.
The Post House where Lu Yuan was staying was right next to the main road, but still several miles from the Imperial City.
The Emperor lived in the Imperial Capital, which was situated within the Imperial City—a relationship much like the Forbidden City’s to the Capital City.
Before the group of four had even reached the Imperial City, they saw several Daoists in the distance bullying a mother and daughter by the roadside.
Thanks to his sharp hearing, Lu Yuan could clearly make out their conversation from afar.
The mother and daughter by the road were dressed in rags. In front of them was a burlap sack, filled with something.
One of the Daoists spoke insolently, "Old woman, we’ll take these long fruits as a tribute from you. Consider it your honor."
The old woman clutched the burlap sack tightly to her chest and pleaded, "Daoist, oh Daoist Masters, we need to sell these for money! My child’s father is sick and needs money for treatment."
"Money? We never pay for anything!" one of the Daoists said.
The old woman’s daughter held her mother’s arm and cried out, "Daoist Masters, please have mercy! If you really want these long fruits, even just a little money would be fine!"
"Not a chance!"
...
Lu Yuan’s group was quickly approaching them.
Lu Yuan sized up the scene: three Daoists bullying a mother and daughter.
This place wasn’t far from the Imperial City, yet there were few villages around. Although it was near the main road, it wasn’t a good spot for selling wares.
’If they wanted to sell something, the best place would be the Imperial City Street.’
Seeing no cart or anything similar beside the women, he figured they must have carried that sack of long fruits a long way.
Su Liyan’s mother couldn’t stand to see country folk being bullied. She sought Lu Yuan’s opinion, "Lu Yuan, let’s help that poor mother and daughter."
Lu Yuan whispered, "Mother, let’s not interfere just yet. The situation isn’t clear. We should figure out what’s going on before deciding whether to help."
Hearing this, Su Liyan’s mother said no more.
Lu Yuan’s caution wasn’t without reason; he didn’t understand the situation at all.
In broad daylight, right under the Emperor’s nose.
In the Divine Ling Empire, with its strict Court laws, it was hard to believe someone would dare to rob people in public. It just didn’t add up.
As Lu Yuan’s group walked up to them, they didn’t say anything, minding their own business. They were about to pass the group by.
The young woman suddenly called out to stop them. "Kind sir, kind ma’am, please help us! These Daoist Masters are robbing us of things we worked so hard to grow."
Hearing the woman call out to him, Lu Yuan felt his head start to throb. ’Looks like there’s no avoiding this.’
Helpless, Lu Yuan and his party stopped.
Su Liyan’s mother spoke first. "Daoist Masters, why are you robbing these people?"
"Robbing? What a joke! Which of your eyes saw us robbing anyone? Step aside, and get the hell away from me," one of the Daoists spat without even turning his head, his attitude utterly arrogant.
At this, the two close followers drew the Treasure Swords from their waists and pointed them at the Daoists.
The metallic ring of swords being drawn caught the Daoists’ attention.
Another Daoist stepped forward. "Friends, this has nothing to do with you. My junior brother was a bit hot-headed just now. I advise you to stay out of this."
His attitude was slightly better than the previous Daoist’s, but only by a little.
Lu Yuan snorted coldly and replied, "So I should just leave?"
"Sir, ma’am, please help us," the young woman pleaded, trying to keep Lu Yuan’s group from leaving.
"Shut up!" one of the Daoists barked.
Su Liyan’s mother was growing displeased and wanted to step forward to argue, but Lu Yuan held her back with an outstretched arm.
Lu Yuan took out ten taels of silver from his robes. "Daoist Masters, let this mother and daughter go. Consider this money a contribution to your temple for incense."
The Daoists exchanged glances, communicating with their eyes. Then, one of them swatted the silver taels from Lu Yuan’s hand, sending them scattering to the ground.
Lu Yuan froze for a moment. It was the first time he’d seen someone uninterested in money. ’Is there something wrong with his brain?’
’Ten taels of silver could buy who knows how many sacks of these long fruits.’
’Are these Daoists out of their minds? They can’t even tell which is more valuable.’
"Brat, don’t think we care about your stinking money. The temple needs these long fruits for Rituals today. We don’t need your paltry silver," the arrogant Daoist said, his attitude as aggressive as ever.
Lu Yuan spread his hands. "Well, then there’s nothing more to discuss."
With that, the two close followers behind Lu Yuan charged forward with their swords, intending to capture the three Daoists.
Of course, the fact that they had dared to slap the silver out of Lu Yuan’s hand even after seeing his followers draw their Treasure Swords...
...meant these Daoists were not intimidated by his men. They were not to be underestimated.
The Daoists drew the Celestial Master Swords from their backs and engaged Lu Yuan’s followers in a fierce battle.
Lu Yuan’s close followers were skilled with firearms, but their use was restricted.
Because of this, they had been diligently practicing their Martial Arts recently. For a time, the two sides were locked in a stalemate, evenly matched.
Su Liyan’s mother shielded the mother and daughter, leading them a safe distance away to avoid them getting hurt in the fight.
"Don’t you run!" one of the Daoists shouted, not forgetting to try and stop them even while locked in combat.
Lu Yuan stood to the side, watching over his men to guard against ambushes, but did not join the fight himself.
As Lu Yuan observed the Daoists’ every move and stance, he found them somewhat familiar.
He thought back. Among the Daoists he knew, besides Daoist Longchuan, there were the Daoists from Guyang Temple in the Provincial City of Qilu Province.
’Which Daoist Temple are these men from?’
"They’re from Le Shen Temple!"
