Ping Zhao Lu

Zhuang Yan has always been a heartless person, and at this moment he has no intention of thinking carefully about his friend's words.

I saw him hurriedly getting up from the ground, brushing off the dust on his body, and then standing aside in a daze.

This look really pissed off Zhuang's mother; her eyes seemed to be spewing fire.

Seeing this, Xu Zhouye smiled slightly and said softly, "Isn't Madam Zhuang worried about Zhuang Shaoqing's marriage?"

When Zhuang's mother heard this, she felt as if she had found a kindred spirit. She instantly put away her ferocious look, ready to strike at any moment, and nodded hurriedly, sighing, "Alas, Your Highness, you don't know! I've been so worried about this brat's marriage! I've found so many beautiful ladies for him, but none of them caught his eye. I really don't know if this brat has high standards, or if it's just that his standards are high!"

After saying this, Zhuang's mother deliberately emphasized her tone, especially the last sentence, and at the same time glared fiercely at Zhuang Yan who was standing next to her.

"That's not true! It's obvious that those girls look down on your son!" Zhuang Yan was furious when he heard this and immediately jumped out to refute loudly, "Besides, those so-called ladies you found, mother, are either arrogant and rude or unreasonable. In short, they are very arrogant and domineering! It's obvious that they can send me away easily. Tell me, do you think your own son's life is too long?"

Before Zhuang's mother could refute him, Zhuang Yan continued to chatter like a string of cannonballs, "Take that Wei Fu for example. Look at her now that she's married. She's really turned the whole family upside down, leaving everyone in the house in turmoil! All day long, she's either crying, making a fuss, or even trying to hang herself. She's really up to all sorts of tricks! Luckily, your son was wise and brave enough not to marry her, otherwise she would have driven her to the point of wanting to hang herself!"

Zhuang's mother was about to open her mouth to defend herself, but before she could utter a word, Zhuang Yan was quick-witted and continued, "Mother, don't worry about it anymore! I know everything, and there is absolutely no way I would like this type of woman!" After saying this, he even turned his head away arrogantly, no longer looking at Zhuang's mother.

"You! You are such a disobedient and unfilial thing!" Zhuang's mother was so angry at Zhuang Yan's words that she trembled all over. She pointed her finger at Zhuang Yan and cursed him with gritted teeth, "Do you think I, your mother, am willing to take the trouble to arrange your marriage? It's because I see you acting so foolishly and lawless all day long, so I want to find you a wife who can control you, so that you can control your temper and behave yourself.

Who would have thought you were so ungrateful! Humph, you keep saying that Miss Wei has a bad reputation, but in my opinion, you're not much better than her! Just look at it, every now and then a waiter from some restaurant comes to your house to complain, saying that you're drunk again and have passed out somewhere. You should think carefully about what's going to happen if you keep going like this!

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Yan immediately stood up with his arms folded, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Why would I compare myself to her? Did I commit murder or arson? Or perhaps steal someone's money? Besides, even if I never marry, so what? Do I have to be the one to carry on the Zhuang family's legacy?"

His words were like adding fuel to the fire. Zhuang's mother was furious. She rolled up her sleeves and started chasing Zhuang Yan without caring about the other people present.

"Hey hey hey! Mother, what are you doing? Why are you hitting people just because you can't argue with your son?" Zhuang Yan dodged left and right while yelling.

"Hmph! Do I need to reason with you when I beat you? I must teach you a lesson today, you unfilial son!" Zhuang's mother responded angrily.

"Mother, please spare me! Oh... I know I was wrong! Please have mercy on me and let me go! His Highness is still watching here!" Zhuang Yan was chased and beaten so badly that he begged for mercy again and again.

For a moment, the entire courtyard was in a state of chaos. Xu Zhouye stood aside, helplessly holding his forehead with his hand and smiling bitterly.

This farce lasted for a long time until Zhuang's mother was finally exhausted and sat down on the stone steps, panting and breathing heavily.

On the other hand, Zhuang Yan looked energetic and did not show any sign of fatigue at all.

As expected of the Junior Minister of Justice, his physical fitness and stamina are truly outstanding.

Seeing this, Xu Zhouye couldn't help but secretly give him a thumbs up.

Zhuang Yan saw Xu Zhouye's actions, grinned, and took the opportunity to say, "Mother, you've been working so hard, it's really hard. In my opinion, you should go back to your room and rest early. Besides, His Highness is looking for me to discuss something important right now, and I must not let His Highness's work be delayed because of me."

Zhuang's mother's face darkened, and she was about to explode, but she was too exhausted to bear it. "If you can hide on the first day, how can you hide on the fifteenth? As long as you're home for one day, your mother will have plenty of strength and means!"

After saying this, Zhuang's mother stood up from the stone steps with difficulty, bowed slightly to Xu Zhouye with unsteady steps, and then walked towards the room angrily without looking back.

Every step seemed to use up all the strength in his body, leaving only an angry and determined back.

Zhuang Yan kept watching his mother's receding figure until he was sure that she had returned to her room and lay down, then he breathed a sigh of relief.

He turned around, a flattering smile immediately on his face. He couldn't wait to reach out and grab Xu Zhouye, saying, "Hey, okay, okay, let's go!"

Xu Zhouye mercilessly slapped his hand away and said, "Be careful."

Zhuang Yan curled his lips and muttered softly, "Okay, okay, be careful. You're always like this, and I'm letting you pretend again."

Xu Zhouye glanced at him and asked calmly, "Tell me, where are we going?"

Zhuang Yan looked bewildered and asked, "Didn't you come to see me?"

Xu Zhouye raised his eyebrows, "Then I'll leave?"

Having said that, he turned around and was about to leave.

Seeing this, Zhuang Yan hurried forward to stop him, saying with an apologetic smile, "No, no, no, my dear prince, please be magnanimous and don't bother with me. How about we go to Fangfei Pavilion?"

Hearing this place name, Xu Zhouye couldn't help but frown.

Fangfei Pavilion? This name sounds like... a place of romance, right?

Thinking of this, his eyes became more suspicious when he looked at Zhuang Yan.

Zhuang Yan saw through his doubts and said, "Don't get me wrong, brother, I've completely changed my ways and will never go to those places again! Fangfei Pavilion is just a place for people to listen to music and sing opera!"

Xu Zhouye: "..."

In other words, you move from a place where you sell your art and your body to a place where you sell your art without selling your body?

"What's with that expression on your face!" Zhuang Yan was furious and muttered, "Is it a crime to listen to a little song? Besides, it's not all for fun." When he said this, a hint of reluctance flashed in his eyes, as if he was complaining.

Xu Zhouye caught the strange emotion in his eyes and said with a half-smile, "Oh~ Are you still busy with official business?"

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Yan became furious. "I was supposed to take a day off today! Who knew that the damned Minister of Justice would insist on sending me to Fangfei Pavilion to check for any officials behaving suspiciously?"

Xu Zhouye sneered, "Isn't that good? It's just a matter of convenience."

Zhuang Yan gritted his teeth, "Shouldn't you be standing by your good brother? Why are you speaking for an outsider? As expected, you powerful people just love to oppress the people!"

Xu Zhouye frowned, "Why did you get yourself scolded?"

Zhuang Yan was so angry that he was speechless, "Okay, okay..."

Xu Zhouye chuckled, "If you go, you can't show your true face to others. Be careful not to run into acquaintances."

"There are a lot of officials going there, most of them are there to listen to music and watch opera. I don't need to wear one, but you..." Zhuang Yan glanced at Xu Zhouye, "You still need to wear one. If those people see you, they will be scared to death."

Xu Zhouye: "..."

Zhuang Yan raised his hand and stroked his chin. "But... I don't have a mask or veil, but I do have a veil." He turned to look at the servant beside him and ordered, "Go and get the veil from my room. It's in the cabinet next to the bed."

"Yes." The servant responded and quickly took the order and went back to do his work.

Not long after, the young man came jogging towards them.

When he came closer, he hurriedly handed the veil in his hand to Zhuang Yan.

Zhuang Yan reached out to take the veil and was about to help Xu Zhouye put it on. However, at this moment, Xu Zhouye dodged Zhuang Yan's hand and said, "I can do it myself."

Seeing this, Zhuang Yan could only pout and complain, "Okay, okay, okay, look at you, you smell like a married man."

Xu Zhouye didn't care about Zhuang Yan's teasing. Instead, he took the veil from Zhuang Yan and put it on his head with a neat movement. Then he explained, "I was just worried that you would mess up my hair."

"..."

Just when Zhuang Yan was speechless, Xu Zhouye was already dressed.

The edge of the veil was covered with white curtains, which gently hung down, like a thin gauze, vaguely covering his originally cold and elegant face.

Xu Zhouye just stood there quietly, his posture outstanding, as if blending into the surrounding environment.

As the breeze blew by, her clothes fluttered, and she looked so graceful and elegant, like an immortal descending to earth.

Zhuang Yan couldn't help but applaud when he saw this scene: "If immortals really exist in this world, you are worthy of it!"

Xu Zhouye said nonchalantly, "Stop flattering me."

After hearing this, Zhuang Yan chuckled, scratched his head, and said quickly, "Okay, okay, let's not talk about it anymore. Let's get going!"

After saying that, he took big strides forward, and at the same time, he turned back and waved to Xu Zhouye, indicating that he should follow.

Then, Zhuang Yan ran out the door like a gust of wind.