Transmigrated Female Official

"Lord Long, your presence at Guangrentang is an honor. I am deeply sorry for not greeting you properly." Chu Qingluo's words interrupted Long Kui's thoughts and brought her back to reality.

Chu Qingluo knew that Longkui was coming, but she still deliberately didn't prepare anything and served her ordinary tea.

"You're too kind, Lord Chu." Long Kui said after taking her seat, "Actually, I came here today to discuss something with you, Lord Chu. I apologize for the intrusion and hope you won't mind."

"Not at all, Lord Long, please speak." Chu Qingluo was actually hoping she would be abrupt.

Only if Longkui acts abruptly first can she then follow suit.

“There is an executive officer in Guangrentang named Li Yan. I’m sure Lord Chu is well aware of this. His Majesty has already bestowed the Fifth Prince upon her.”

Chu Qingluo smiled slightly and replied, "This humble official naturally understands."

“Then I’ll cut to the chase.” Long Kui paused, then continued, “I want to transfer Li Yan to Wuhua Palace to elevate her rank as an executive officer, so that it will look better when the Fifth Prince enters the palace.”

Although reaching the position of Executive Officer would grant one access to the princes, all the princes currently entering the court are under the tutelage of tenth-rank female officials. Only the Fifth Prince was granted the position of Executive Officer.

Of course, the executive officers under a first-rank female official are naturally the highest-ranking among the executive officers. Long Kui's reasoning is somewhat plausible.

“That’s easy.” Chu Qinglu smiled and revealed her teeth: “Li Yan doesn’t have anything to do in Guangrentang, so we can have her go to Wuhua Hall right now.”

"That would be best. Lord Chu is indeed very generous."

"You flatter me, sir." Chu Qingluo changed the subject and said, "Actually, I am just an ordinary person."

"Oh? What do you mean by that?"

Long Kui narrowed her eyes as she sized up Chu Qingluo. In her memory, the Eighth Princess had tried to curry favor with Chu Qingluo and Chu Yilin quite a bit, but the two siblings remained unmoved. After the incident with the Fifth Prince, it seemed that Chu Qingluo had been pushed even further away, perhaps even... to the point of aligning herself with the Sixth Princess.

"As you may know, I have no great ambitions, but I am very interested in handling fabrics."

Hearing her mention it, Longkui also recalled the banquet at the Summer Festival. "Yes, Lord Chu does indeed have an astonishing talent for making clothes."

"Thank you for your praise, sir." Chu Qinglu bowed her head slightly and said, "I own a famous clothing store in the city. If you don't mind, I would like to have a set of clothes made for you."

"..." Chu Qingluo's abrupt initiative made Long Kui hesitate.

"Please grant me the opportunity to custom-make your personal clothes free of charge, my lord."

“How can this be?” Longkui waved her hand: “We cannot let Lord Chu go to such lengths.”

"Although I make clothes for you without pay, you can bring greater profits to my shop. So, as I just said, I am just an ordinary person."

Seeing that Long Kui remained silent, Chu Qingluo pressed on, saying, "If a first-rank female official of the current dynasty were to travel wearing clothes custom-made by Mingyifang, it would surely make Mingyifang famous."

Longkui glanced at Chu Qingluo suspiciously, wondering what kind of person she really was. Was she truly a female official who didn't covet power and wealth and only wanted to pursue business? Then why bother going through the trouble of passing the imperial examinations...?

Chu Qingluo's eyes were very sincere at this moment, and Long Kui couldn't think of anything wrong with it. Besides, the two of them had no grudges against each other, so it probably wasn't some kind of trap... Long Kui breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Then thank you for your kindness, Lord Chu."

……

Three days later, Long Xiaohan arrived as promised, full of joy.

"Well, Lord Chu, have you thought it through?" Not finding Gongsun Yu, she turned to Chu Qingluo and got straight to the point.

Chu Qinglu ignored her, as if she hadn't heard her, and walked to the vicinity of the fitting room curtain, fiddling with the clothes on the rack next to her.

Long Xiaohan chased after her and asked again, "What happened?"

Chu Qingluo stared at her with a serious expression and said, "Miss Long, if you hold a grudge just because I stopped you from smashing the cup and causing trouble at Miaoyin Pavilion before... I can easily apologize to you. You don't need to go to such lengths to frame our Chu family, do you?"

"So you're only just realizing the consequences of provoking me?" Long Xiaohan sneered. "It's too late for apologies. I've already set my sights on Gongsun Yu. Where is he?"

"Miss Long, are you saying that you deliberately had someone sell stale radishes to our Chu family, instigated Madam Mo to report the Chu family for selling unclean food in Shuntian Prefecture, and instructed Han Qiu to deliberately delay, preventing the Chu family's pastry shop from opening for business... All these actions, besides wanting to take revenge on me, are also because you have taken a fancy to my male servant?" Chu Qingluo recounted everything in one fluent breath.

Long Xiaohan stared blankly at her, then smiled contemptuously and said, "...Lord Chu is truly a wise man."

Chu Qingluo continued to set a trap for her, saying, "If I give Gongsun Yu to you, can you get the Mo family to drop their lawsuit and stop Han Qiu from making things difficult for the Chu family?"

“That’s right.” Long Xiaohan said with great confidence and pride.

"The Mo family is one thing, but Han Qiu is the Prefect of Yancheng. Why should she listen to you?"

"This... Lord Chu need not worry about it. I, Long Xiaohan, am just that capable."

Chu Qinglu stared meaningfully at Long Xiaohan's face and said, "Your willful behavior is truly tarnishing Lord Longkui's reputation."

Long Xiaohan curled her lip dismissively and said, "Why are you dragging my mother into this? This is between you and me."

"Alright, listen carefully. You deliberately plotted to frame the Chu family; your intentions are malicious. I will not give Gongsun Yu to you."

"you dare?!"

"enough--!"

As an angry female voice rang out, the fitting room curtain on the left was suddenly pulled open, and a person stepped out. She was wearing a brand-new dress just made by the famous clothing store, but her expression was frighteningly sinister. "Don't you think you're shameful enough already?!"

"...Mother!" Long Xiaohan's legs went weak when she saw Long Kui's dark face and angry glare at her. She then realized that Chu Qingluo had tricked her!

At this moment, the fitting room curtain on the right was also pulled open, and Gongsun Ruyi walked out from inside. "So this is how much people are fighting over my son."

"Lord Gongsun, it is my fault for not disciplining my daughter properly, and I apologize for making you laugh."

Long Kui had come to the clothing store today at Chu Qingluo's invitation to try on newly made clothes, only to bump into Gongsun Ruyi there as well. She was slightly puzzled... what a coincidence!

Just as the two went inside to change, Long Xiaohan arrived. Besides being completely unaware that she had been lured into a trap, she arrogantly confessed to her evil deeds in public! Utterly foolish!

At this moment, Gongsun Yu, Wu Yang, Ling Nan, and Dong Xu all came out from the inner room. Now everyone in the Mingyifang was watching Long Kui, wanting to see her attitude towards this matter.

Long Kui knew she had been used by Chu Qingluo. But with so many people watching, she couldn't show favoritism, especially since Gongsun Ruyi had overheard everything. Now she was in a difficult situation.