"A Ying, beware of tricks." Lu Xunguang frowned tightly. Clearly, he didn't want Li Ying to take risks.
Li Ying looked at Miss Hu's confident expression. Although she also had some doubts in her heart, she finally took a deep breath, held Lu Xunguang's hand back, and nodded at him.
Lu Xunguang then said no more. He stepped aside, allowing Li Ying to follow Miss Hu into the inner chamber.
"Miss Hu, now that there are only the two of us. If you have any hardships that are inconvenient to tell others, just speak up."
Li Ying found a comfortable position on the imperial concubine's couch and sat down. Miss Hu looked a bit embarrassed. After hesitating for a long time, she finally seemed to make up her mind and gritted her teeth.
She straightened her back, trembling hands slowly removing her outer robe, then gently taking off the dress on her upper body, revealing a bare back.
On that porcelain - like skin, which should have been spotless and flawless, there were actually criss - cross whip marks everywhere. The new wounds were still swollen and red, while the old ones had already scabbed.
Apparently, the person who had whipped her had been extremely cruel and had not shown any mercy at all because of her delicate status as a young lady.
In Li Ying's stunned expression, Miss Hu slowly pulled up her clothes and then turned to look at her steadily.
"Boss Li, I'm making you laugh..."
Even though Li Ying had already had some vague premonitions in her heart, when she suddenly saw such a shocking sight, she couldn't help but feel a bit stunned and stammered, "This is...?"
Miss Hu looked calm and nodded.
"It's my elder brother. Whenever I fail to meet his expectations, he beats and scolds me."
She paused for a moment and then continued, "Boss Li, I know what you're thinking."
"Master Lu and you are both businessmen. Naturally, you don't want to get involved in the mess of my family. But now, as the saying goes, one mountain can't accommodate two tigers. The Hu and Lu families are clearly at odds with each other. Boss Li, I'm willing to pledge my allegiance and follow your orders. I'll look up to you."
She spoke firmly. Li Ying squinted slightly and asked with interest, "Miss Hu, do you know what you're saying? If your elder brother heard what you just said, you might suffer some more physical pain."
Miss Hu's eyes flashed. Then, she raised her eyebrows and said word by word in a deep voice, "What if the Hu family no longer obeys my elder brother from now on?"
"Everyone has their own selfish motives. Firstly, I want to secure a stable life for myself. Secondly, it's for the Hu family!"
There were glints of light flickering in her eyes. Li Ying raised her eyebrows and smiled, casually retorting, "Miss Hu is really brave. Aren't you afraid that I'll tell your elder brother what you said?"
There was a momentary panic in Miss Hu's expression. Then, she looked straight at Li Ying and said calmly, "Of course I'm afraid. But fortune favors the brave. If I don't give it a try, how can I know the result?"
She said no more and just stared at Li Ying steadily, as if waiting for her decision.
What a saying, "Fortune favors the brave"!
Li Ying felt a bit of interest well up in her heart, but she still held back her impatience and said slowly, "Since Miss Hu wants to pledge her allegiance, you should show some real skills. Words alone are not enough."
"After you gain your elder brother's trust and find out the Hu family's next move, then come and negotiate with me."
Miss Hu detected the loosening in Li Ying's tone. A look of joy appeared on her face, and she quickly nodded in agreement.
Hu Maolin had hit a hard nail at the Lu family. He was sulking in his room, smashing all the tea cups on the table. Just as he was furious, he suddenly heard a servant's report from outside the door, saying that the young lady had returned. Immediately, he snorted angrily.
Miss Hu walked in with light steps. She carefully bowed to Hu Maolin and called out, "Elder brother, Qinzhu is late."
Qinzhu was Miss Hu's given name.
She bowed gracefully, but Hu Maolin didn't even glance at her. He threw the only remaining white jade tea cup heavily in front of her.
Hu Qinzhu's face changed. She immediately knelt on the ground in panic, like a cicada in winter. Even when her cheek was cut by the porcelain shards and blood oozed out, she just frowned slightly.
"What bad luck! You useless thing. Can't you even dodge? I thought that although you're just a woman, at least with your seductive face, you should be able to catch Lu Xunguang's eye. But I didn't expect you couldn't even handle such a small thing. What's the use of you!"
Hu Maolin's eyes were full of contempt. He didn't even prepare to leave any face for his younger sister.
It wasn't until a young servant quickly stepped forward and whispered a few words in Hu Maolin's ear that he finally snorted and casually threw a handkerchief at her.
"Quickly take care of the wound on your face. Go back and put on your makeup properly! Get rid of that dejected look!"
"Today's incident has caused quite a stir. The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial has kindly offered to host a banquet tonight to mediate between me and that brat surnamed Lu. Tonight is a good opportunity. The Hu family doesn't support idlers. If you still can't succeed, don't blame me for being rude!"
He left these words harshly and then swept his sleeves and left, leaving Hu Qinzhu alone, standing forlornly in place.
After a long time, she also turned around, took a deep breath, and then slowly walked towards her boudoir.
This kind of life was really unbearable for even one more day.
Since she had made up her mind to cooperate with Li Ying, she naturally couldn't have any crooked thoughts about Lu Xunguang.
It was indeed a crucial matter that needed careful consideration on how to regain her elder brother's trust tonight.
She sat in front of the bronze mirror, her eyebrows slightly knitted. With a hint of melancholy on her face, she had a kind of charming and pitiful charm.
She put a touch of crimson on her lips. When it was almost time, Hu Qinzhu changed into a bright dress and followed Hu Maolin step by step towards the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial's banquet.
When they arrived, all the guests were already seated. The Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial was sitting at the top, with Su Buchi on his side, slowly sipping a cup of green tea.
Hu Qinzhu had long heard of the famous young official in the capital, Lord Su, but this was really the first time she had met him up close.
Just then, Hu Maolin pinched her waist hard. Hu Qinzhu suddenly met Su Buchi's aimless gaze. For some reason, her pretty face blushed slightly.
Her shy and timid appearance was really pitiful. Hu Maolin was very satisfied. He cleared his throat, deliberately glanced in Lu Xunguang's direction, and then led her to take their seats. Coincidentally, they were right next to Lu Xunguang.