27: pathetic... scum

When Luo Yongning returned, she had already changed into a new dress. Completely unconcerned with the gazes of others, she threw herself into Mo Yingqi's arms, rubbing her head against his chest with a look of happiness and satisfaction: "Yingqi is still the best. Just one hug is enough to make me forget all my worries."

Aunt Ying Hong, who followed closely behind, nearly spat out a mouthful of blood upon hearing this. "Second Princess, have a conscience. That person you just beat half to death... you were just playing around, right?"

"It wouldn't matter if you were playing, but please don't keep making things difficult for us. At a time like this, you're here with the Imperial Son-in-Law, claiming he makes you forget your worries? Don't you feel guilty?"

No matter how much she complained internally, Aunt Ying Hong could only follow behind to clean up the mess. To say something disrespectful, Aunt Ying Hong had always protected these two princesses as if they were her own daughters. Whatever they wanted or needed to do, she would do her best to make it happen.

"Why were you gone for so long?" Luo Yongan looked at her younger sister with deep meaning. "I told you to take Yingqi to catch fish, yet you were still dawdling."

"Oh, I accidentally got some dirt on my clothes and didn't want Yingqi to see it." Luo Yongning acted like a lazy, elegant little cat, acting spoiled in Mo Yingqi's arms. "Let's go quickly. Are there any good prizes at the Polo Match over there?"

"Reporting to the Second Princess, Temple Official Zhou, the nephew of Grand Chancellor Zhou, won a match and obtained a gold-threaded phoenix hairpin." A maid bowed slightly to report. "He, he requested of the Empress that he wishes to present it to the Eldest Princess as a wedding gift."

Mo Yingqi was stunned, somewhat surprised that Zhou Jinan would do such a thing. A bone-chilling cold suddenly came from behind him. Mo Yingqi instinctively turned his head, but that chill had completely vanished, leaving only Luo Yongan shaking her head with some helplessness: "What did Mother say?"

"Her Majesty said that since the two princesses will be married to the Imperial Son-in-Law in a few days, they should not easily accept gifts from outside men." The maid's body trembled slightly. "It's just that Temple Official Zhou is rather stubborn. He repeatedly expressed his extreme admiration for the Eldest Princess's character and said... said..."

"Just say it plainly if you have something to say!" Luo Yongning said unhappily while in Mo Yingqi's arms. "Stuttering like that is so annoying."

"This servant dares not, but Temple Official Zhou said in public that he had previously failed in his request to marry the Legitimate Princess, and now that the Princess insists on marrying a Captain of the Pacification Bureau, although it is not in accordance with ritual and law, as a subject, he still must... still must fulfill his intentions..."

With a snap, the arrow shaft Luo Yongan was toying with was snapped in half by her. Luo Yongning even left Mo Yingqi's embrace, suppressing her anger as she ordered Aunt Ying Hong: "Immediately, right now, capture this thief!"

"Forget it, why bother?" Mo Yingqi appeared quite calm. "This person is only capable of being disgusting. Even The Emperor has to tolerate Grand Chancellor Zhou for the time being, so why should I care what he says?"

Mo Yingqi truly didn't care; to be precise, he never took this Zhou Jinan seriously. If he were really that capable, he would have let The Emperor truly abolish the Pacification Bureau, but he couldn't do it and was even reprimanded by The Emperor several times. It was only because he was the nephew of Grand Chancellor Zhou that, although he tried to cause trouble for the Flying Fish Guard, he always had official documents from the Dali Temple in hand. At most, he was just being a nuisance.

But apart from the one time with Xu Fengzhang, when Grand Chancellor Zhou used the Cabinet seal to protect Xu Fengzhang, every other time he could only watch the Flying Fish Guard carry out their official duties.

To say he was brave, he didn't dare to actually have a physical conflict with the Flying Fish Guard. After all, the Flying Fish Guard could execute first and report later in special circumstances; if pushed too far, it would be his own fault if he and those yamen runners were killed.

To say he was cowardly, every time he knew he couldn't overcome the four words "Imperial Permission," yet he insisted on bringing his runners to find trouble. Honestly, after dealing with him several times over the past year, Mo Yingqi was almost treating him like a dog to be teased.

He couldn't win an argument, didn't dare to make a move, and even if he did, he knew he wouldn't gain any advantage. Compared to the strictly screened and ruthless Flying Fish Guard, the runners of the Dali Temple were nothing more than a group of livestock waiting to be slaughtered.

"What did Mother say?"

Luo Yongan maintained her gentle and proper demeanor, and her voice sounded without any ripples. But except for Mo Yingqi, everyone else knew that Luo Yongan in this state was even more terrifying, because she had truly developed the intent to kill!

"Her Majesty, Her Majesty ordered someone to slap him twenty times, and even said in public that if it weren't for him being the nephew of Grand Chancellor Zhou, he wouldn't even be qualified to be a Temple Official. The Imperial Son-in-Law earned his position by his own merit, clearing out the Rebel Prince's remnants for the Imperial Court over the past year, and he, knowing this, still repeatedly interfered. His heart deserves to be punished."

The maid's legs were already shaking. Although Luo Yongan wouldn't punish her, she was still very afraid: "She said he couldn't distinguish right from wrong, and also said he... was a toad lusting after swan meat."

Pfft, Mo Yingqi and the two sisters all burst into laughter. Luo Yongan sighed: "Forget it, forget it. Since Mother has already humiliated him like this, I won't bother with him. Let's go, let's quickly catch some fish. In a while, when the Polo Match ends, Mother will return to the palace."

Forget it? How could that be? Luo Yongan just thought of a better way to humiliate him. Someone who was self-righteous in words, yet relied on his uncle to enter the official career, someone who was narrow-minded and intentionally made an issue out of Mo Yingqi's official position and his joining the Pacification Bureau on such an occasion.

More importantly, he dared to deal with Mo Yingqi; that point alone was enough.

The small river was indeed clear to the bottom. Mo Yingqi could even see fish swimming past inside. In the past, in the Northern Border, winters were extremely long, and scenes like this were rarely seen.

At that time, the three of them would take buckets, run to the river to catch fish, and then after returning, Luo Yongan would personally cook and make fish for him, and the rest would be made into fish soup.

"Yingqi, come quickly, the river water is cool!" Luo Yongning, with a lively personality, took off her shoes and socks and stepped directly into the water. "Aunt Ying Hong, help me prepare a bucket. I want to catch a few fish properly and let Sister roast them for me and Yingqi to eat!"

Luo Yongan held her round fan while laughing in exasperation: "What do you take your sister for, a servant? Really, you go catch them. Yingqi, don't worry about her; Sister is willing to make as much as you want. She wants to eat for free without putting in any effort? In her dreams!"

"I'll go down too. Sister Yongning always messes around; in the end, I'm the one who catches the most fish." Mo Yingqi just smiled helplessly. "Sister Yongan, you wait here. We'll be up in a while."

As he spoke, Mo Yingqi also took off his shoes and socks, rolled up his sleeves and pant legs, and stepped gently into the river. Luo Yongan smiled and ordered someone to bring a chair, sitting by the river, quietly watching the two playing in the water.

"It's so good, he has returned to our side again..." Luo Yongan waved her round fan gently. "Aunt Ying Hong, how is the progress on the wedding clothes for Yingqi?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, everything is ready." Aunt Ying Hong nodded in response. "The wedding preparations are almost done. The Emperor has also sent people from the Imperial Palace and mobilized the Imperial Guards."

"Confirm the procedures a few more times, and also notify our people to keep a close watch in the dark. There must be no mistakes." Luo Yongan stated calmly. "Also, be sure to keep an eye on the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region. Now is not the time."

"Yes, Your Highness, please rest assured." Aunt Ying Hong nodded, but then asked with some curiosity. "Although we cannot move against Grand Chancellor Zhou for the time being, that Zhang family is far away in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang region; it would be easy to deal with them."

"Yingqi wants to take revenge on the Zhang family himself; I only need to push the wave and add to the current." Luo Yongan looked at Mo Yingqi in the river, her eyes filled with infatuation and a trace of suppressed... special feelings. "Whatever my man wants, I will give him. What he doesn't want to do, I will do for him. What he wants to do with his own hands, I just need to make sure he achieves his goal."

Aunt Ying Hong didn't ask any further. This was enough. Luo Yongan cared about Mo Yingqi and was infinitely indulgent towards him, so they only needed to act well as her claws and teeth.

"Your Highness, Young Master Zhou requests an audience." A maid walked over hurriedly and whispered to Luo Yongan. "He, he said he wanted to personally present the gift to you..."

"Oh? Then let him come." Luo Yongan smiled, a flash of scarlet passing through her eyes. "What a pathetic scum. Who is he putting on that infatuated look for?"

"Your Highness, don't be angry for this person. At worst, I will go and send him away." Aunt Ying Hong said viciously. "We are going to make a move tonight; Your Highness doesn't need to waste energy on him."

"No, we must see him." Luo Yongan seemed unconcerned. "Before hurting someone, you must first punish their heart. That way, when he is hurt... he will be in even more pain."