My Nascent Soul Ran Away Again

Chapter 157: I Missed a Goodnight Kiss Yesterday

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation        Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Qingxian City.

At the Bo Residence.

In a pavilion by the artificial lake, Bo Chang leisurely sipped his tea, surrounded by blocks of ice that emitted a refreshing chill.

“Magistrate Wu Bangde beat up Gu Feng again?” He asked.

“Master, it’s true,” Bo Kai, standing beside him fanning, confirmed.

“Gu Feng was practically raised by Gu Yang. He’s been by his side for many years, almost like an adopted son,” Bo Chang shook his head. “This new magistrate dares to do such a thing; he must have offended the Gu family deeply.”

“I heard… I heard that last night the magistrate visited the Gu residence,” Bo Kai cautiously added.

“After Magistrate Wu left, Master Gu Yang was furious, smashing several household items in anger…”

“Hmph, they must have failed to come to an agreement,” Bo Chang said dismissively. “These past few days, the magistrate has been establishing his authority through court cases, clearly preparing to negotiate with Gu Yang. The failure of their talks was probably due to a disagreement over the division of profits. This Magistrate Wu seems quite greedy.”

“By the way,” he turned to Bo Kai, “you’ve interacted with the magistrate before. What’s your impression of him?”

Bo Chang knew that Bo Kai had previously encountered the magistrate when investigating a death in the east of the city. Since there was not much to gain, Bo Kai didn’t pursue further and handed the case over to the yamen.

“He’s composed and speaks logically, ” Bo Kai recalled. “When adjudicating, Magistrate Wu exudes an aura of control and tranquility.”

Hearing this, Bo Chang nodded slightly.

“So… Master, what should we do?” Bo Kai inquired.

“No rush, let’s wait and see,” Bo Chang said confidently. “Knowing Gu Yang, he won’t easily turn against the magistrate until he benefits from the situation. If our Magistrate Wu truly intends to confront Gu Yang, he will come to us. Then, the initiative will be in our hands.”

“Master’s insight is remarkable,” Bo Kai expressed his admiration.

Qingxian City.

At the Government Office.

“Sir–”

“My lord-

Two soft voices called out as two women, one dressed in green and the other in red, knelt down, heavily made up and exuding charm.

“Speak properly!” Lu Xuan banged the gavel. “Why have you come to report a case?”

“We were driven out by the Gu family, now homeless and fearing starvation on the streets… we beg for your aid, sir,” the woman in green said, her eyes shifting coyly.

“Indeed, my lord, I am in the same situation,” the woman in red added.

Sitting in his chair, Lu Xuan observed them expressionlessly. These were the gifts sent by Gu Yang.

Yesterday, Gu Yang had tried to gift him a dancer, which Lu Xuan tactfully refused. Unexpectedly, today he sent not only the dancer but also a singer.

“Starving on the streets? Didn’t Gu Yang settle your accounts before letting you go?” Lu Xuan frowned. “I’ll have the yamen bring Gu Yang here…”

“Please wait, sir,” the woman in green hastily interjected. “Master Gu did settle our accounts in full before our departure.”

“Then why come here to report a case?” Lu Xuan inquired.

“Having some money but no means of livelihood is no long-term solution…” the woman in red took over.

“A long-term solution…” Lu Xuan pondered for a moment. “One of you is a dancer, the other a singer. The Spring Tower in the southern part of the city is looking for girls. I think you two are suitable. I’ll write a letter of recommendation for you both. After all, you’re both performers…”

“Please spare us, my lord!” As soon as they heard Lu Xuan’s plan to send them to Spring Tower, their expressions changed drastically, begging for mercy.

“Although we come from humble backgrounds, we are from decent families. How could we go to such a place?” The woman in green pleaded repeatedly.

Lu Xuan thought about it. Her “decency” probably referred to her origin, not her character.

“Although I am short of staff, I don’t just take anyone.”

Lu Xuan continued, “Report your names, ages, and skills.”

The woman in green raised her head, revealing a set of white, neat teeth, “My surname is Qin, seventeen years old, and I play the zither.”

The woman in red looked down shyly, “My surname is Gu, fifteen years old, and I dance.”

Lu Xuan observed carefully and noticed that the woman in green had a good set of teeth, often shown when she spoke. The woman in red, however, had uneven teeth and was somewhat reticent.

“Can you two read?”

Lu Xuan asked.

Hearing this, both women blushed.

The woman in green hesitated, “Apart from my own name, I only recognize the character

After all, they had seen and written it often, and over time they became familiar with it.

Lu Xuan was speechless for a moment.

However…

“It’s better that you can’t read.” Lu Xuan spoke, “Where is Lu Ping?”

“Here, sir!” Lu Ping responded.

“Go to the storeroom and pick out two fitting outfits for them,” Lu Xuan instructed. “The document storeroom needs staff. Have them work there… Clean and organize daily, and no dancing or playing the zither during working hours.”

The women in green and red widened their eyes in disbelief. They thought they were sent by their master to serve the magistrate, but now they were being assigned to manage documents in a storeroom?

“Sir, we can’t read,” the woman in red tried to convince the magistrate.

“That’s exactly what I need, ” Lu Xuan said.