Chapter 18: Give Her Brother a Lesson
All the people there raised their head and looked up at Hua Yueling whose triumphant face was beaming against the sunlight. With bright eyes and white teeth as well as long hair, she was gorgeously charming.
"Sister, why are you here?" Hua Yujin lifted his head, noticing his anthomaniac sister was now with the handsome Mo Wushuang. "The Fourth Prince is looking for you high and low!" he shouted.
Hua Yueling inspected her brother and found that he was surely a handsome boy with good features. But there was a slight of conservation in him, which, a 17-year old lad should not have. How boring the ancient people were! A boy pretending to be mature!
"Oh, What's up?" Hua Yueling moved her mouth, "If he asks me for help, please tell him to meet my conditions."
"Sister, it is of great importance. Please don't get into a huff!" Hua Yujin even gave her a lesson in public.
"Buddy," Hua Yueling, "Hey! I am your sister! How dare you speak to me like that?" She shouted with an air of exasperation, a clear display of women's capriciousness.
Hua Yujin was taken aback. There was no doubt that he had heard of his sister's divorcing his husband before. He thought to himself that she must bury herself in sorrow at home, only to find she was a more charming lady with quite a different temperament.
The public was set to whisper to each other. Seeing this, Nangong Lieye turned black in anger. He looked up, staring at Hua Yueling whose transformation was beyond him to such an extent that he was now dreaming.
"Hua Yujin, go on with your business! Does the emperor pay you off just to let you stand here? Your delay of sealing up and investigating may leave enough time for not one but many spies to escape!" Hua Yueling raised her voice but it was sure what she said indeed made certain sense.
What she said brought Hua Yujin to life, waving his hands and shouted, "Seal!" He then turned to Nangong Lieye and forced a smile, "Your highness, sorry for that."
"Never mind. Catching the spies is the top issue." Although infuriated, Naogong Lieye tried to calm down and ordered everyone in the Osmanthus Chamber to cooperate with the inquiry, which made Hua Yueling feel a little bit surprised that this bastard would cooperate.
"Ling'er, don't you fear that hatred between you two is getting profounder?" Mo Wusuang looked at Hua Yueling's lively face with smile.
"Is there a hatred beyond it between us? If he can be so rude and bullying, so can I… Wusuang, you seem to have a good relationship with him? Are you going to help him bully me?" Hua Yueling looked at Mo Wusuang archly.
Mo Wusuang couldn't help laughing, "Hey! Little girl, you are playing the same trick on me?"
"Haha, just kidding. One more friend is better than one more enemy, isn't it?" Hua Yueling let out a loud guffaw and thought to herself that Mo Wusuang was wise enough.
"Well, just like what you said. I'll stay out of your business." Mo Wusuang admired her courage and also intended to see who would be the final winner. What he expected to appreciate most was actual process of the contest between these two smart ones.
"Haha, thanks a lot. Just now I was jealous of the bastard how he is so lucky to have such an outstanding friend. Why not me? Now I don't envy him anymore." Hua Yueling smirked.
Looking at her proud face, it suddenly dawned on Mo Wusuang that he had been thrown into her tap. What he could only do was to put on a bitter smile.
Hua Yujin ascended the stairs hurriedly. Under the guidance of the waiters, people who had lunch opposite left there in order, and the Osmanthus Chamber was soon surrounded by the yamen runners.
"Sister! Childe Mo!" Hua Yujin saluted Mo Wusuang in a rather awkward expression.
"You finally know I am your sister now?" Hua Yueling inspected her younger brother and felt a little bit funny. She had heard much from Ping'er that his little brother was righteous, rigorous, and very stubborn.
"Sister, you..., why do you...?" Hua Yujin's face flushed and he felt uneasy to see her straight in the eyes.
"Childe, it seems that it is time that my lady brought an end to her relationship with the Third Prince!" Said Ping'er in a hasty tone, afraid that Hua Yujin would look down upon his sister.
"It is very plain to me. But sister, I am wondering what made you have such a dramatic change." looked at her bright little face, Hua Yujin thought to himself that his sister was nothing like a newly divorced woman who was despised by folks. From what he knew of his sister, she would definitely keep staying indoors. He had no idea she would be so brave now. Even he, her little brother, was utterly frightened by her aggressive air.
"What change?! I was possessed by some spirits in the past, but now I become sober. Anything wrong?" Said Hua Yueling in an angry tone.
"Of course not. Sister, the Forth Prince is looking for you. If you are available, please move your steps to the Ministry of Penalty?
"I'm occupied. If he needs me, he has to show some sincerity. Do I owe him?" Said Hua Yueling. She still resented the fact that the Forth Prince despised her and wouldn't let her join the Ministry of Penalty.
"Sister, it's not like that. The fact is that it is against the rule of the Ministry of Penalty to have a female official." Said Hua Yujin hastily.
"Who said I wanted to be a cop? I am no fool and I can't be bothered to. I just want to have nominal title. Chasing criminals is, of course, your men's business. Well, is there that paper again?" Said Hua Yueling. She knew it from the very moment.
"Yes. We intercept another." Whispered Hua Yujin, glancing at Mo Wushuang who wore a light smile.
"Great. You are so capable! But there's no such thing as a free lunch. If you want my help, ask him clearly whether he'll agree to my conditions. If not, don't bother to find me. I just bought this tea house, and I'm getting ready to have a good run of it. So, my time is so precious." Said Hua Yueling. She picked up the delicate white porcelain cup printed with orchids and slowly took a sip, looking so elegant and graceful.
"Sister, it is a matter of state importance!" Hua Yujin got into a flap.
"So what? Since you men look down on women so much, then you guys should be responsible for protecting your family and country while women don't need to get in the way and seek trouble for themselves, am I right?" Hua Yueling turned her face a little and took a glance around with a slight of indifference in her slanted eyes, which didn't escape from Hua Yujin.
Her astonishing response set Hua Yujin wondering at her identity as his sister.
"Why are you still standing here? Do you want to be charged of taking revenge on the Third Prince for the sake of your sister?" Hua Yueling said disdainfully.
"My Dear sister..." Hua Yujin finally revealed a beseeching and helpless expression.
"Young Lord, my lady won't be bullied by men any more. You'd better go to catch the spy, and let the Fourth Prince find her in our mansion." Ping'er said to Hua Yujin timely.
Hua Yujin smiled bitterly and gave a farewell to Mo Wushuang awkwardly. But what lingered in his mind was the dramatic change of his sister and what happened actually?
"Wushuang, sorry to keep you. Shall we meet at Tianjiu Chamber tomorrow afternoon? I have to go for some personal things." Hua Yueling raised up to bid a farewell to Mo Wushuang.
Mo Wushuang was a little bit shocked and stood up immediately and smiled, "see you then."
"Bye! See you tomorrow." Hua Yueling stretched her delicate hand, giving him a heavy slap on his arm, then she turned around and went downstairs.
Looking at his painful arm, Mo Wushuang, with a slight of convulsive smile, thought to himself that the woman did have man's boldness as well as strength.