Chapter 51: The Dread of Ignorance

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Lu Hu arrived at the entrance of his own tent and asked Zhu Xiaoying and Ma Lihong, who were kneeling stiffly, “So, how’s your self-reflection coming along? Are you two still going to fight when you see each other from now on or not?”

Ma Lihong was already so cold that her body was numb, her runny nose threatening to cross the river. She sniffled it back and said, “Lord Shen, if you don’t like it when I blow my nose, I won’t do it anymore, and I won’t fight with Zhu Xiaoying again either.”

Zhu Xiaoying nodded. “Me too.”

What a mess—are these two pigheaded? The dangers of ignorance are truly frightening. After kneeling for so long, they completely misunderstood self-reflection as me forbidding them from keeping clean. I’m at a loss for words...

When there’s a chance, I’ll have Quan Meiyu and her sisters teach them a few words. Their heads are so empty that, apart from squabbling and brawling, they have nothing else to do with their spare time!

“All right, that’s enough. Get up, both of you. Go tell the cook to bring my lunch to Emperor Quan’s tent. I’ll eat there.”

Ma Lihong had just gotten to her feet when she cried out and dropped back to her knees—her legs had gone numb from kneeling.

Zhu Xiaoying, who was shrewder, had been glancing around slyly while kneeling, and when no one was looking, she’d used her hands to prop herself up and let her knees rest a while. Now she squatted down, rubbed her knees until the blood flowed freely again, and then slowly stood up. She reached out and helped Ma Lihong up; the two supported each other as they limped into the tent.

Well, at least kneeling wasn’t in vain—they’ve learned to help each other out…

Lu Hu nodded in satisfaction, clasped his hands behind his back, and hummed a tune as he made his way to the tent of the Little Guanyin family.

Quan Dounan’s family was gathered around the dining table, about to eat. The guard at the door announced in a loud voice, “Your Majesty, Lord Shen wishes to see you.”

He dared not say Lord Shen was requesting an audience with His Majesty; he knew well enough his so-called emperor’s actual influence—being able to carry Lord Shen’s shoes would already be a blessing.

Before Quan Dounan could respond, Quan Zhenzhu, holding her little white pet and pouting with her rosy lips in discontent, suddenly brightened, leapt to her feet, and ran for the entrance.

Lu Hu’s body stiffened at her voice, then, lifting the tent flap, he strode in—colliding headlong with Quan Zhenzhu.

She nestled into Lu Hu’s embrace, her flawless face tilted up slightly, her eyes shining like stars with a hint of grievance, her rosy lips parted, “Brother, you’ve been gone so long—have you forgotten your little sister?”

Her soft, melodious murmur was as sweet and clear as an oriole’s song at dawn.

Lu Hu felt his heart melt with tenderness. Overflowing with affection, he gently wrapped his arms around her, his mouth lowering for a kiss.

“Have you eaten yet, Hu’er? Come, join us,” Little Guanyin’s timely voice cut through, stopping Lu Hu from taking further liberties with the lovely maiden.

Startled, Lu Hu came to his senses and kissed Quan Zhenzhu lightly on her forehead. “How could I bear to leave such an adorable sister? I had important matters to take care of just now. Be good, all right? Let’s eat together, yes?”

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Quan Zhenzhu nodded but clung tightly to Lu Hu, not willing to leave his embrace, pressing herself close to him as they approached the table.

Little Guanyin instructed her maid to add a chair, while Quan Dounan stood, intending to give up the seat of honor to Lu Hu.

Lu Hu pressed him down by the shoulder. “Uncle, if you keep being so polite, I won’t come eat here anymore.”

Quan Dounan was about to insist when Little Guanyin signaled him with her eyes, and he laughed it off, letting the matter drop.

Originally, the large table seated one person on each side: Quan Dounan sat opposite Little Guanyin, and Quan Zhenzhu sat across from the Quan Meiyu sisters. On Little Guanyin’s orders, the Meiyu sisters now sat together on one side, with Lu Hu across from them.

Quan Zhenzhu longed to sit beside Lu Hu, but dared not go against her mother’s wishes, so her eyes, bright as peach blossoms, gazed hopefully at him.

Lu Hu pretended not to notice, and her little cherry mouth pouted once more. She gave her small white pet a gentle pinch.

The little white creature, content in the beauty’s embrace, was in no hurry for food. After days of endless feasting, its belly was well padded, and it was growing so plump it could scarcely move. It was even considering how to start slimming down. Earlier, when Quan Meiyu fed Huahua with grass, it had thought of sneaking a taste for variety.

Don’t use me as an excuse—I’m not hungry, not in the slightest. Little White closed its eyes, dozing off.

Quan Zhenzhu wanted to pinch it harder, but couldn’t bear to.

“Lord Shen, we’ve brought your lunch. May we come in?” Ma Lihong’s syrupy, flattering voice called from outside the tent.

“Come in,” Lu Hu replied.

As he finished speaking, Ma Lihong lifted the tent flap. Two cooks entered, one behind the other, carrying two large steaming trays of delicacies. Zhu Xiaoying followed, holding a large wooden chest.

The dishes in the trays matched those on the table, prepared together. The cooks busied themselves arranging the plates.

This child really is good to us, Quan Dounan and Little Guanyin exchanged glances, both nodding slightly.

Zhu Xiaoying opened the chest and took out gold plates, golden bowls, silver spoons, silver forks, and jade cups, laying them out before Lu Hu one by one.

“Change all the dishes on the table. If there aren’t enough in the chest, go back and fetch more,” Lu Hu said, not wanting Quan Dounan’s family to think he was putting on airs—it was the former Left Wise Prince who liked to show off, and he had plenty of these things.

“These are for Lord Shen’s exclusive use, please don’t give them to us as gifts,” Quan Dounan demurred. Though he liked the treasures, he didn’t dare to claim the airs of an emperor.

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Our family, the Quans, was once prosperous too. I can’t let my future son-in-law look down on us.

“Uncle, I know these things mean little to you. Just consider it a token from your younger nephew, all right?” Lu Hu was considerate of his future father-in-law’s dignity.

“Thank you, Little Hu,” Little Guanyin hastened to accept on her husband’s behalf.

Women are always practical; the tribe had, after all, been like motherless children these years, wandering everywhere, relying on others for shelter. Most of their family treasures had been spent. No point keeping up appearances anymore.

A fallen phoenix fares worse than a chicken; Little Guanyin was not one for putting on airs.

Quan Dounan feigned indifference, but inside he was delighted—who wouldn’t covet such valuables?

Suddenly, Little White started squealing.

Lu Hu had spoiled it; seeing the gleam of gold and silver tableware, it suddenly found itself hungry—eating should be a ritual, after all.

Quan Zhenzhu tried everything to coax it, but it wouldn’t open its mouth to eat. Instead, it fixed its round tiger eyes on Lu Hu and wailed.

“Let me feed it,” Lu Hu said, smiling gently at Quan Zhenzhu.

Her face lit up instantly as she carried Little White over, her steps light and joyful, and floated to Lu Hu’s side. But she didn’t hand Little White to him; instead, her bright eyes glanced at Ma Lihong, who had just finished tasting for poison and was about to dance.

Ma Lihong, standing opposite Lu Hu, immediately understood the beautiful girl’s intention, moved her chair beside Lu Hu, and placed it there.

Quan Zhenzhu beamed at Ma Lihong, then sat tightly next to Lu Hu and finally put Little White on the table. She took the little silver spoon Ma Lihong had used to test the food and, following Lu Hu’s method, fed Little White.

No longer interested in Lu Hu, Little White smacked its lips and ate with delight.

The two cooks turned to leave.

“You two wait a moment,” Lu Hu suddenly called out to them.