Spring Courtyard Forbidden Pet

Yao Zhaoan set up a banquet in the hall. Li Xuan'an had a few more vegetarian dishes on his small table than others, which were the ones he often ate when he went to Baiyun Temple every month.

The head of Baiyun Temple was greedy for money and often used Li Xuan'an's name to secretly embezzle money from pilgrims. Li Xuan knew it all. But colluding with the Hanzhou government to this extent was a big taboo for him.

There were two tables below, one for Yao Zhaoan and his wife, and the other for his two nephews who Yao Zhaoan said were not doing well in business.

After all, they were juniors and did not even have the courage to look at Li Xuan. They huddled together, not daring to make a sound.

Madam Yao gave the maid a message, and soon the servants brought in a small table. She looked at Ye Zhen and said, "Set the table for this young lady."

Madam Yao's warm smile did not arouse Ye Zhen's gratitude. She knelt down and saluted, "Thank you, madam. I don't need it."

It’s not that I don’t dare, nor that I’m not qualified or worthy, but that I don’t need to.

Yao Zhaoan and Mrs. Yao looked at each other and smiled in tacit understanding.

"May I know your name, young lady?" Madam Yao stood up and walked to Ye Zhen. "Since you are someone close to the Imperial Master, you are a guest of the Yao family. If you don't mind, please sit with me."

"My husband and his two nephews love to drink, and I hate the smell of alcohol on him. How about you keep me company, young lady?"

Compared to Yao Zhaoan, Mrs. Yao is better at dealing with people. Her approachable face, smiling face and kind words make it hard for anyone to refuse her.

Just two sentences made Ye Zhen feel as if she had returned to her past life, working like a slave for the Marquis's mansion. She subconsciously gave him a gentle smile, and when she was about to nod, Li Xuan spoke, "She's sitting next to me."

As soon as these words came out, five eyes, including Ye Zhen's, fell on his face.

His eyebrows and eyes are like ice sculptures, giving people a feeling of determination in the coldness, and his eyebrows exude a sense of tranquility and non-contention with the world.

The older Taoists grow beards and talk mysterious words all the time. The younger ones are mostly stupid, carrying swords and shouting that they will eliminate harm for the people.

There are very few people as calm and cool as Li Xuan. With the status of the second master of the Marquis' Mansion, he has a sense of dignity and elegance. He is also a great national teacher held in the palm of His Majesty's hand, and has mysterious Taoist skills, making him like the moon, whom everyone admires but cannot reach.

At this moment, he raised his head, staring at Ye Zhen without blinking with eyes as if filled with stars. His handsome face was tinged with a little fatigue, and the little smile seemed a little scattered.

Just like in the carriage, he held his chin with one hand and patted the empty stool beside him with the other hand, "Come."

If he wasn't Li Xuan'an, just based on that look, Yao Zhao'an would have called him a charlatan who hooked up with girls!

Ye Zhen's heart was beating like a rabbit. In the past, she knew how to avoid people, but ever since he revealed his feelings at Qinghe Bridge, he was acting the same way in public and in private.

But who made Ye Zhen like him?

Forget it, what’s the use of fame? How can I compare with Li Xuan’an?

She smiled generously at Madam Yao who was still in a daze, "Madam Yao, I'm sorry to leave you."

Madam Yao laughed stiffly twice, and soon returned to normal, "Young lady, sit down. The Imperial Master has been traveling all the way and is tired all afternoon. Let's eat early."

Yao Zhaoan echoed, "Yes, yes, yes."

The maids came in one after another and added a few more dishes, including a single basket of golden milk pastry, crystal dragon and phoenix cake, roasted golden bells, and a duck flower soup pancake. These were all extremely complicated dishes to make, and it would be difficult for an experienced chef to get the cooking time right.

After eating these dishes, Ye Zhen had an idea of ​​the Yao family's financial situation.

Yao Zhaoan raised his glass and said, "I invited you to Hanzhou without telling the Imperial Master, and you spent several hours outside in the afternoon. This is all because of my poor performance. I will drink three glasses of wine as punishment to apologize to the Imperial Master."

Li Xuan didn't even raise his eyelids as he placed the golden milk pastry in front of Ye Zhen, "Try and see if it's as authentic as the one made by the Cui family's master in the past."

Ye Zhen was indeed hungry, but unfortunately this was not a place where she could feast to her heart's content. However, she did not want to spoil Li Xuan'an's fun, so she took a bite and held it in her mouth, chewing it slowly.

The golden crumbs stuck to her lips. Ye Zhen licked them a few times with the tip of her tongue and found that there were still some crumbs stuck to the lipstick. She frowned slightly and was about to cover her lips with a handkerchief. The next second, Li Xuan came over and touched the corner of her mouth with his warm fingertips to clean the crumbs.

Ye Zhen paused while chewing, and clearly saw the horrified and evasive looks from the four Yao family members.

She swallowed, hurriedly dodged from Li Xuan'an's hand, lowered her head and covered her lips with a handkerchief, her voice still trembling, "I, I can do it myself."

Li Xuan looked normal.

Madam Yao curled her lips slightly. This banished immortal was really moved by love... It caught the girl off guard.

The atmosphere became subtle and awkward. Yao Zhaoan stood there, feeling uncomfortable. Mrs. Yao smiled nonchalantly and said to her nephew who dared not raise his eyelids, "You should also apologize to the Imperial Master."

"If it weren't for the future of the Yao family, my husband wouldn't have angered the Imperial Master."

The two nephews of the Yao family were also unequivocal. They lifted up their robes and knelt down, followed by two kowtows, "Master Imperial Master, have mercy on me."

Li Xuan shook the wine in the glass and then put it down again. This action made Yao Zhaoan's expression darken.

Li Xuan passed the perfectly warm tea to Ye Zhen as he spoke, "I said I will not break my promise to the abbot. Lord Yao feels guilty and keeps apologizing, as if I am going to do something to you."

Yao Zhaoan forced out a smile out of embarrassment, "Master, please be merciful."

He drank three cups in a row, and seeing that Li Xuan was not interested, he said, "Dance!"

Six or seven women dressed in light red gauze came over with lotus steps. The red silk danced with graceful figures, which was very eye-catching.

They all smiled at Li Xuan. When the music tempo quickened, the pretty girl swept the red silk and produced a plate of bright red bayberries which she handed to Li Xuan, her eyes charming and her lips smiling.

"National Master, please."

The woman picked up a bayberry with her slender fingers and put it to Li Xuan'an's mouth. Ye Zhen almost bit her lower lip, and she pinched her palm with her fingers to restrain herself from moving.

The candlelight was dim and ambiguous. Even though Li Xuan'an had a blank expression, his pair of phoenix eyes were enough to make people feel itchy.

The news that he had a maid with him was now known throughout the state. The woman became bolder and bent over, and her beautiful breasts suddenly appeared in front of Ye Zhen.

As soon as she put the teacup down, the tea splashed out with a "bang", and the dancer's fingers and bayberries were wet. She was suddenly stunned on the spot.

Ye Zhen stood up and said, "I'll go back and clean up the room for Second Master first."

She walked out from among the dancers so carelessly, and anyone with eyes could see that Ye Zhen was furious.

Only the dancer standing in front of Li Xuan was unruly. She looked aggrieved after being interrupted. Seeing Li Xuan staring at her, she didn't know where she got the courage and confidence from. She pinched her throat and said, "The imperial master's maid is so arrogant."

"You must be too good-tempered. You spoil her and make her lose her manners. Now you have brought shame to the Imperial Master."

"Look, this is the biggest bayberry on the plate, and she has made it dirty."

She smiled charmingly, "I will choose another one for the Imperial Master, and we will continue."

After she finished speaking, she really handed another bayberry to Li Xuan, with a charming and shy look in her eyes.

Li Xuan'an's phoenix eyes curled up into a strange smile, and he asked gently, "Have you chosen?"

The dancer's soul melted when she heard his voice, "Master, please try it and see if my selection is good or not?"

Li Xuan'an's eyelashes moved, and his slender fingers touched her wrist little by little. The dancer's heartbeat stopped. Unexpectedly, when such a bony hand came up, it grabbed and twisted, and with a crisp "click", the bayberry rolled down and stopped at Yao Zhaoan's feet.

Only Li Xuan saw it clearly. The light in the dancer's eyes disappeared, followed by an expression of disbelief and despair, and then a violent scream tore through the silence.

The dancer, like Yangmei, rolled down holding her wrists, curled up and sobbed.

Everyone was shocked. Li Xuan stood up and walked down the stairs, looking at Yao Zhaoan, "Master Yao, if there is a next time, the death of a dancer is a small matter. Aren't you afraid that I will choose a place for your ancestors to hide filth and dirt?"

Yao Zhaoan's legs went weak immediately, "Master, this is a misunderstanding. I am confused."

Madam Yao was also frightened by Li Xuan's murderous aura, "Master, calm down!"

The two nephews of the Yao family knelt on the ground and trembled, unable to utter even a word to beg for mercy.

Li Xuan snorted coldly and left.

It took Yao Zhaoan a long time to recover from his shock. He frowned and said, "What the hell is this! If you don't like women and extravagant food, just say so. Why are you threatening me?"

Madam Yao was also a little scared. "It's better to offend a villain than a Taoist priest. After choosing a site tomorrow, let the Feng Shui master take a look. If it is really a good site, we must please the Imperial Master no matter what."

Yao Zhaoan was also annoyed, "You have many ways, try to coax her tomorrow! Otherwise..."

Madam Yao forced herself to calm down and said, "Don't worry, my husband. There is nothing I can't handle in Hanzhou."