“Although my elder brother doesn’t serve in the court, he has succeeded to our father’s title and receives grainforrations every month, who could be rendered as the official of the court. Besides, during the Dragon Boat Festivals before, we have always had seats in the front. Why not this year?”
“The officials in the court have increased year by year, while the seats are mostly fixed. They can’t add more. In order to make sure those officials who are really doing things for the country and their families can appreciate the dragon boat race, of course those holdovers would be removed out of the list.”
said Song Qingyan smilingly, with all gloat in her eyes: Murong Ye is just a coxcomb who is having neither civil nor martial virtues. He is not qualified to sit with those meritorious officials at all. It’s already his luck to be delisted till now.
“Really?” said Murong Xue while leering at Song Qingyan, then said word by word, “Qingyan my cousin, you are always staying in your boudoir, how is it possible you are so familiar with things in the court?”
“That’s because the one who undertakes the dragon boat race is my uncle!” Song Qingyan raised her chin, with all arrogance in her eyes.
Murong Xue raised her head and looked at the high platform. The one who was issuing orders was exactly Du Yi, Song Qingyan’s uncle…
“My uncle told me there’s no seats for you and Murong Ye there. So you don’t have to go ask for an insult. Go to the stand in the southeast to watch the race…” said Song Qingyan arrogantly, with all contempt under her eyes.
The stand in the southeast was quite small, remote and had bad view. Standing there to watch the race?
“When others have undertaken the dragon boat race, me and my brother always have our seats, while after Du Yi takes it over, our seats are gone. You are abusing public power for your personal grudge…”
mumbled Murong Xue with a voice that could be heard by those nearby. Then the crowd all turned their heads and sized Song Qingyan up, making her feel quite uneasy. She then plumped out, “What nonsense are you talking about? Your brother is a dandy, ignorant and incompetent, who has never done anything useful for the court, while my second uncle has made great contributions for the country. Shouldn’t you and your bother offer your seats to him?”
Murong Xue was a little stunned. Then she suddenly remembered that Murong Jian and his wife had been away from the capital for ten years, so their seats had already been taken. Now if they wanted to watch the dragon boat race, they had to edge out two people. Instead of edging out officials with lower positions, they snatched her and her brother’s!
“So this isn’t personal, but a turtledove takes over the nest of a magpie!”
“Murong Xue, watch your language!” said Song Qingyan angrily, “They are not a turtledove and you are not a magpie! Those two seats belonged to them.”
“Yes, yes, yes. His Excellency Murong Jian is noble and dignified who has made great contributions, while my brother is still young, simple-minded, who has been tricked into cockfight, gambling, and nearly the whorehouse. He is a total dandy, who has no right to compare with His Excellency Murong Jian at all. Those two seats should belong to him…” said Murong Xue flatly with kind of unnoticeable ridicule under her eyes…
The way people looked at her was with all sympathy, parents both gone, no one caring about her, family properties being coveted, elder brother wasted, and she herself was weak and sickly… And now she finally got a chance to watch the dragon boat race at the Skywater Lake, her seat got snatched away…Poor Murong Xue…
Now Song Qingyan’s attention was all on Murong Xue, so she didn’t notice the crowd’s reaction at all. On seeing her ‘compromised’, she said wearing a cocky expression, “You are smart! Not bad, huh?”
Now people all laid their eyes with disdain, contempt on Song Qingyan. She and her uncle had snatched things from Song Qingyan, but it looked like Murong Xue was playing the bad. So shameless!
“Qingyan, what nonsense are you talking about? Ye and Xue’s seats are in the front. I didn’t take them.” Du Yi strode towards them, wearing a dreadful expression on that handsome face.
They had planned to let Murong Jian take Murong Ye’s seat without telling her so as to humiliate her. But Song Qingyan made it known to all! All the officials soon would know they conspired to bully Murong Ye and Murong Xue whose parents had died when they were young. So stupid!
Song Qingyan was stunned, “But, uncle, you just said…”
“Shut up! I know what I said. You don’t have to remind me!” Du Yi cut in while glaring at her: It’s good as long as they know themselves. How could she spit it out? Such a good plan is screwed up. Frozen stupid!
Being scolded by different people in one day made Song Qingyan both sad and upset, with her beautiful eyes filled with tears…
Du Yi just ignored her and turned to Murong Xue, saying smilingly, “Xue, your seat is right over there. Come with me…”
“No, thanks. It’s true me and my brother have done nothing for Qingyan City, while Lord Murong Jian has indeed done a lot. He deserves to sit there. And if he can enjoy the dragon boat race to the full, he could make greater contributions for the country and its civilians…” said Murong Xue with sarcastic smiles,
“You must be kidding…” Du Yi forced a smile, thinking: Now Murong Ye and Murong Xue’s seat could be empty or others can take them but not Murong Jian and his wife. Otherwise, it tells people they snatched their seats Murong Xue claimed.
The plan of using Murong Jian to replace Murong Ye failed again. It was all Song Qingyan’s fault. That stupid blockhead! Can not do anything right!
“But if you don’t sit here, where are you gonna watch the dragon boat race?”
Murong Xue looked around. The stand in southeast was too remote. She couldn’t see anything there. So that was a choice, “Where is the pleasure boat of the Duke’s Mansion? Mu Liufeng said I could watch the race on their boat?”
Actually she also didn’t want to be with Murong Xue in the front.
Du Yi was a little surprised. During the dragon boat race, no personal pleasure boat was allowed to be on the lake, but with only a few exceptions. The pleasure boat of the Duke’s Mansion was one of them, which represented His Majesty’s favor and their transcendent status and power!
Mu Liufeng was the son of the Duke’s Mansion, the future the duke. He usually came and went without a trace. Few people could have a chance to see him. Since when Murong Xue became so close with him?
With a slice of his white robe flying at the corner of his eyes, Du Yi suddenly came to himself. Then he saw Ouyang Shaochen walked before Murong Xue, looking a little gloomy, held Murong Xue’s wrist and walked away at a quick pace.
Murong Xue was confused, “Where are you taking me to?”
“A place where you can watch the dragon boat race!” responded Ouyang Shaochen without turning back.
Murong Xue blinked, asking, “Is it the pleasure boat of the Duke’s Mansion?”