Chapter 52: Lovely Wife
They are all smart people. He just pretended to be stupid. Now that Queen Ma is here, if these two marquises still think he is stupid, it seems... they underestimated their IQ.

Anyway...it's a little embarrassing.

Lawrence Lu also made the same sound: “Uh…”

He was digging his toes into the soles of his boots, and no matter how thick-skinned he was, his face turned slightly red, as if he had just drunk some wine and was a little tipsy.

The embarrassing situation now is: Lawrence Lu and Fei Ju know that Deng Qianqiu is not a fool, and Deng Qianqiu also knows that they already know that he is not a fool. However, although they know that Deng Qianqiu is not a fool, if this layer of skin is exposed, then Lawrence Lu and Fei Ju will inevitably feel like a big fool too.

But if I don’t peel off this layer of skin, I still feel like a big fool.

So the three of them stood in the courtyard, motionless for a long time.

Six eyes were crossed, and three smart minds were working rapidly at this moment, looking for a solution to break the awkwardness without putting themselves in a passive position.

At the same time, perhaps infected by Deng Qianqiu, Lawrence Lu and Fei Ju's larynx also resonated with Deng Qianqiu's voice, and subconsciously, the three of them resonated at the same time: "Uh..."

Uh, for a long time.

Finally, Lawrence Lu pretended to be relaxed and said, “It seems to be getting late.”

Fei Ju also relaxed. This dark-skinned, muscular man looked relaxed and shrugged, saying, "Yeah, it's late. I've been talking for so long. I should say goodbye."

Deng Qianqiu heaved a sigh of relief, as if relieved of a heavy burden: "Brothers, why don't you sit for a while?"

Lu Zhongheng waved his hand: "No, no, there's a long way to go..."

Fei Ju grinned: "Yeah, yeah."

Deng Qianqiu said at the right time: "I will see you two brothers off."

The two waved their hands: "You're welcome, you're welcome, we're brothers."

The two pretended to be relaxed and began to walk slowly out of the courtyard, but their souls had already rushed out of this small courtyard, out of Xianliang Temple, and even out of Nanjing city.

After leaving the courtyard, Lawrence Lu didn’t have time to breathe a sigh of relief.

Suddenly, a voice behind me said, "Brother Lu."

The sky was a little gloomy, and it seemed like it was going to rain. Lawrence Lu's mood at the moment was just like the gloomy sky.

He stopped and looked back: "Ah..."

Deng Qianqiu smiled and said, "Remember Hu Ji, two!"

Lawrence Lu was silent, and time seemed to freeze at this moment.

He thought about it and nodded: "Yeah."

He turned around quickly and this time he planned to run faster.

But at this time, Deng Qianqiu's voice was heard again, and he saw Deng Qianqiu jogging after him.

Lawrence Lu: “…”

Deng Qianqiu panted and said, "There is one more thing. I don't know if it would be presumptuous to mention it."

Lawrence Lu’s face was stiff, and he looked at Deng Qianqiu, and there seemed to be some evil impulse in his heart.

"But there's no harm in talking."

Deng Qianqiu thought for a moment and said, "I've been thinking about it. I don't know when Lord Li will retire and return home. If he does, this mansion will be empty anyway. I'm staying in Xianliang Temple now, which is not a long-term solution. There are very few mansions near the imperial city. If I live too far away, it will be inconvenient for me to be on duty. So I... I think, Brother Lu is familiar with Lord Li, so why don't you... ask for me? Don't worry, I have the money. Of course, it would be even better if Lord Li could give me a discount for Brother Lu's sake. After all, we are all from the same hometown, and we all drink from the same river, so we are one family."

Lawrence Lu nodded mechanically: “Oh.”

Then, without looking back, he walked away quickly in embarrassment with Fei Ju, who was staring at him in amazement.

After leaving this trip, we went to Xianliang Temple.

The two men did not ride on the horses brought by the personal soldiers who were waiting there.

But walk side by side.

The two of them stepped on the moss-grown road surface with their boots. Finally, Fei Ju broke the silence and stated a fact: "This kid is not stupid. He is teasing us."

Lawrence Lu said: “Yes!”

"What about Mr. Hu?"

Lawrence Lu frowned slightly and said thoughtfully: "If we tell the truth, will Mr. Hu think that the two of us are not very smart and are being teased by a teenager..."

"Then..." Lawrence Lu said, "Let's just say that this guy is stupid and stubborn, and it's really not worth making friends with him."

Fei Ju held his chin up, looking solemn, as if he had been thinking for a long time: "You are right, let's put it this way. But should we talk to Lord Li about the mansion?"

Lawrence Lu raised his eyes and glanced at Fei Ju with an indescribable look.

…………

Lu Zhongheng and Fei Ju arrived at a mansion at night.

This mansion covers a large area and is filled with servants.

Originally, there were sounds of stringed instruments, laughter and joy here, and it was a very happy place.

But after the two arrived, suddenly, the joy seemed to come to an abrupt end.

Then, the two were led into a small hall.

The servants and maids were busy serving fruits and tea, but then they retreated like the tide.

A man wearing a round-necked satin shirt and with a kind face received Lu Zhongheng and Fei Ju.

"Two brothers..."

The three of them greeted each other.

"Mr. Hu..." Lu Zhongheng smiled bitterly.

This man called Hu Gong had a calm expression on his face. He did not continue the small talk and went straight to the point: "How is it, how is it?"

"That kid... is really a bit stubborn." Lu Zhongheng said, "Mr. Hu, I think he is just a stupid kid. There is really no need to continue to make friends with him."

Hu Gong smiled, his eyes deep, and after a moment of silence, he said, "I heard that the Queen went to see him today?"

"That's right." Lu Zhongheng knew that this matter could not be concealed, so he said: "Mr. Hu is really well-informed. I really don't know why the palace would like such a bastard."

Mr. Hu picked up the teacup, took a sip of tea, and then said slowly: "Brother Lu, be careful with your words."

Lawrence Lu smiled bitterly: “Yes, yes…”

Only then did Mr. Hu ask seriously, "Did Deng Qianqiu say anything?"

Lawrence Lu said without much hesitation: "This kid is extremely greedy. He actually asked for... asked for sixteen Hu Ji, and they also want fair skin and beautiful looks. Tell me, such a person..."

After hearing this, Fei Ju, who was sitting nearby, was slightly shocked. Then he blinked and looked deeply at Mr. Hu's reaction.

Mr. Hu laughed, but said indifferently: "That's not a problem. A few days ago, Fujian confiscated a lot of Pu's property, and escorted a lot of beautiful Hu girls to Beijing. Many of them have not yet been registered with the Jiaofang Bureau. In a few days, you can select sixteen people and send them over."

When Fei Ju heard this, his eyes suddenly lit up.

Lu Zhongheng said, "Mr. Hu, this kid is greedy and his desires are insatiable. How can you be so generous to him? No, no."

Hu Gong smiled and said, "We, the brothers from Huaixi, have helped Your Majesty conquer the world, so we should enjoy life well. Deng Qianqiu is also from our hometown. He likes beautiful women, so what if he enjoys life with us? Since we are from Fengyang, we are all brothers, and we deserve to be taken care of. I will not mistreat my brothers."

Lu Zhongheng smiled happily and said, "Mr. Hu is very righteous."

Hu Gong said: "This is all your majesty's grace. We are enjoying the blessings with your majesty."

"Yes, yes." Lawrence Lu nodded hurriedly.

Fei Ju, who was sitting next to him, had a buzzing head.

He licked his lips, looked at Lawrence Lu, then at Hu Gong, as if he had thought of something, and his old face suddenly turned red, but he still mustered up the courage to say: "This Deng Qianqiu, he is really not a human being. Not only does he want Hu Ji's beautiful maid, he even asked for a mansion, saying that he wanted to be close to the imperial city, and at least thirty to fifty acres would be good. Not only that, he refused to take the old house, but insisted on a new one. He said that he likes to use Huanghuali as the material... You tell me, this kind of person... is really greedy, despicable and shameless, bah! I am ashamed to associate with such a person! I look down on him!"

When Lu Zhongheng heard this, he glanced at Fei Ju in surprise, and then subconsciously swallowed his saliva and rolled his Adam's apple.

Mr. Hu was neither anxious nor slow, and continued to drink tea with his head down. After taking a sip of tea, he said lightly: "Deng Qianqiu is a person with too many strange things. These days, the imperial examination is approaching, and His Majesty attaches great importance to it. I have to focus on the provincial examination in Nanzhili. As for Deng Qianqiu, I will leave it to you two brothers."

Seeing that Hu Gong had changed the subject, Lawrence Lu and Fei Ju couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, but they still agreed, "Yes, leave it to us brothers."

…………

At this time, Deng Qianqiu arrived at the inn excitedly, carrying a food box.

He had to be on night duty these days, and his father had gone to the capital, so he seldom went to visit him.

Seeing that the provincial examination was approaching, how could Deng Qianqiu, a well-known filial son, remain indifferent?
(End of this chapter)