The Counterfeit Madam Hou Chapter 14

Chapter 14
CMH 14 – Banquet (Mid)

After hearing that phrase that came out of Cao Jingren’s mouth, Zhou Jingjing, Zhang Zhibo, and even the masked man, slightly let out a sigh of relief .

Looking at the chubby idiotic face of Zhou Jingjing, Cao Jingren really thinks that it is a waste for the painting to have landed in his hands . He takes another glance at the painting, lightly commenting .

” If someone like Mister Zhou, who would spare no amount of gold to buy this painting, exist when Jiading Maoxue is still around, he would have never starved to death . ”

Zhou Jingjing parts his thick lips open, speaking with regret .

” Life can sometimes be a series of unfortune . ”

He pauses, then asks modestly, as if he is an eager student .

” But the thing I don’t understand is, why did he place a poem about the palm blossom by the side? ”

Has Jiading Maoxue’s huger went to his head?

” This poem is not written by Jiading Maoxue . ”
” Huh? Then who added this incongruous poem? ”

Cao Jingren shot him a glare fill with despise .

” Dissidence of opinions makes it useless to talk . ”

Zhou Jingjing ” …… . ”

That’s why he hates scholars . They are so much more ‘sour’ than the vinegar vats he keeps in his yard . It is better not to marry his eldest daughter over .
[TN: Sour as in sarcastic . ]

After all that, the famed《White Jade Orchid • Spring》appreciation meeting can be said to be over . Zhou Jingjing carefully roll up the《White Jade Orchid • Spring》and place it back into it’s silk cover, before placing it by his side . He then get the Qiuci band to continue playing . As the music starts up, Liu Qinghuan hook her lips up lightly as she begin to turn in circles once again .

Maybe it is due to having seen《White Jade Orchid • Spring》, the atmosphere in the hall is higher than before . Zhou Jingjing hit his fan against the table according to the rhythm when he then just decides to stand up and join in the dancing .

A huge, round-polly fatty such as Zhou Jingjing is surprising nimble as he dances . After dancing for a while, he takes the chance to circle over

to Liu Qinghuan . Going along with her dancing, he spots a gap and winks at her .

” Little lady, are you willing to become my 14th concubine? ”

Liu Qinghuan’s brows jump, as her eyes curves and she starts pretending not to understand Mandarin .

” Sasamani Wu la la! ”

Zhou Jingjing frowns, and after doing another circle, he wheezes out .

” You can’t speak Mandarin? ”

Liu Qinghuan continues to raises her pitch as she says .

” Arumoni xilila bala bala moe moe kyun! ”

Zhou Jingjing ” …… . ”

Seeing that there is no way he can communicate with the beauty, Zhou Jingjing could only give up, deciding to wait till the end of the banquet to talk directly with her boss instead .

He gives another wink to Liu Qinghuan before circling away, stopping in front of one of his friends, inviting him to the dance floor . Not one of shyness, he immediately leave his seat and begin dancing with Zhou Jingjing, bringing the atmosphere to the highest as the music bloom louder .

And in this way, one after another starts inviting people in and in a blink, almost everyone are dancing, causing ‘Anaye’, this main dancer to be push to a corner .

Seeing everyone having fun by themselves and no one looking at her, Liu Qinghuan starts slacking . Her circles get slower and more half-heartedly as time goes on .

A maid, sporting a cloud hairdo, walks into the hall, carrying a gla.s.s plate on her hand . And on it, fresh and juicy pomegranates are lay out, their fresh red color gleaming in the light, causing anyone to salivate upon seeing it .

Liu Qinghuan pursed her dry lips, and she slowly circles over to the maid . Walking over the Zhou Jingjin’s master seat, she back-faced Liu Qinghuan as she place the plate of pomegranates on the table . As Zhou Jingjing is away from his seat, that roll of《White Jade Orchid • Spring》is still laying right besides his seat . Liu Qinghuan’s eyes gleam, as she stare fixatedly on the maid’s back .

The maid stop at Zhou Jingjing’s master seat for a moment, before leaving the hall empty-handed . Liu Qinghuan glances at the seat, and see that the roll of《White Jade Orchid • Spring》is still on the seat, unmoved . She then subconsciously glances

glances at Zhang Zhibo and the masked man, and finds that the two of them are staring at the painting .

As everyone are high on dancing, almost no one notice that one maid’s presence . Liu Qinghuan takes the chance to circle around the hall as she surveys the situation . There is only two person staying in their own seats . One of them is the young man who validate the painting, and another, is Tang Zhibo .

Liu Qinghuan turns another round, and swiftly grabs a few pomegranate seeds and place them into her mouth .

Ummm, so sweet .

But at the moment she turns a round, she spots the masked man putting down his instrument as he sneaks out of the hall .

Although him and the maid both left through different places, he rush towards the direction where the maid has gone to immediately once he is out of the hall . Fast and strong in his legs, he could see the mustard yellow back in just a few moments .

He slows down his steps and sneakily avoided all Zhou Mansion’s servants, following on the tail of the maid . She walks briskly, as if someone is chasing her . Tailing the maid all the way to the back door of the Zhou Mansion, she turns around all of a sudden . Seeing that, the masked man quickly dodges to a side .

Seemingly worried about being followed, the maid carefully survey the area, before turning around to open the door . Outside stands a man dressed in grey, as if he has been waiting for a while now . Seeing the maid, he rushes up . asking .

” How was it? ”

The masked man, who is hiding, narrows his eyes . He recognize this person . He is working for Tang Zhibo . So it seems like this maid is a spy send in by Tang Zhibo .

She nods, and takes out a small scroll from her wide sleeve .

” This is it . I replaced this with Master’s copy . ”

The grey-robed man opens up the scroll, and when fully open, the《White Jade Orchid • Spring》can be seen . Staring at it, the grey-robed man still ask worriedly .

” Is this the real one? ”
” There is no mistake,

no mistake, Cao Jingren validate it himself . ”

The name ‘Cao Jingren’ smooths the grey-robed man’s worries as he rolls up the scroll .

” I’ll inform Master, you better leave as soon as you can . ”

The maid nods silently, before closing the door .

Waiting till the maid left, the masked man flips over the wall nimbly, and begin tailing the grey-robed man . The grey-robed man turns around a corner, entering into a small ally, where three men stand, as if discussing something . Seeing the grey-robed man, they walk toward to meet up with him . The grey-robed man then gives some sorts of instructions to one of the men, which he then nods and left . The grey-robed man too, doesn’t stay behind but instead, heads towards another direction .

The two left over men continue their conversation, as if nothing has happened .

The masked man thinks to himself, before silently over-taking the grey-robed man . He then arranges his clothes and hat in the next corner, waiting to ‘b.u.mp’ into the grey-robed man .

As the two of them are walking at a rather fast speed, plus the masked man have quite a large build, so the grey-robed man is knocked straight onto the ground . That roll of painting too, roll out of his hands at the knock .

” I’m sorry . ”

The masked man walks briskly up front, and instead of helping the grey-robed man up, he reaches for the roll pf painting first .

” Don’t touch! ”

The grey-robed man shouts, and the masked man releases his hands innocently, moving that large build of his .

That roll of painting is still on the floor .

The grey-robed man hurriedly pick himself up and the roll of painting as well, hugging it tight against his chest, staring cautiously at the tall person in front of him . The masked man, trying to imply that he have no evil intentions, back away two more steps, before using his rusty mandarin to apologize .

” I did not do it on purpose . ”

The grey-robed man look at him for a while, and decided not to waste more time on him . He turns and walks out of the ally . After a few steps, he worriedly unroll the painting to take another look, and it is still it is still the《White Jade Orchid • Spring》 .

” Phew… . . ”

The grey-robed man lightly let out a breath of air, re-roll up the painting and continue on his way .

The masked man is still standing at the ally, and when he heard the grey-robed man’s footsteps leaving, only does he takes the scroll out of his wide Mongolian costume . His thin lips hook up slightly as he opens the scroll . On it, an orchid as white as jade is drawn on it .

Using the short moment where he ‘knocks’ onto the grey-robed man, he has already swap the two .

The music in Zhou Mansion is as loud as ever as Liu Qinghuan lazily turns a few rounds, sneaking a few more bites of the pomegranate . A man standing outside the door briskly walks in, and whispers something into Tang Zhibo’s ear . A faint smile appears on his face, as if he is in a really good mood .

Liu Qinghuan turns a few more rounds, and after her gaze brus.h.i.+ng across Cao Jingren’s clean looks, she notice that the masked man has return back to the hall . Coincidentally, his eyes too, holds a faint smile, as if he has meet with something good .

Liu Qinghuan smiles, before grabbing another few seeds to pop into her mouth .

As when everything looks rosy, the door suddenly flies open . The din from outside grows louder, slowly covering the music from the hall . Zhou Jingjing stops his ‘enchanting’ dance and frowns, looking outside .

” What is the matter? Don’t you know I’m hosting a banquet here?! ”

Before his servants even have a chance to kneel and apologize, a group of messily-dressed people standing at the yard outside, rush in .

Because of this, the music stop and every guests in the hall looks at this bunch with disdain in their eyes . But not only did this unwelcome group not notice their glares, they are even staring angrily like a bunch of hungry wolves at the Qiuci band .

As if they finally found the person they are looking for, the person leading the group jabs his finger at the Qiuci band, and shouts fiercely .

” They are people from the Beseeching Fire Cult pretending to be us!! We are the real Qiuci Band!! ”

CMH 14 Banquet Mid After hearing that phrase that came out of Cao Jingren s mouth, Zhou Jingjing, Zhang Zhibo, and even the masked man, slightly let out a sigh of relief . Looking at the chubby idiotic face of Zhou Jingjing, Cao Jingren really thinks that it is a waste for the painting to have landed in his hands . He takes another glance at the painting, lightly commenting . If someone like Mister Zhou, who would spare no amount of gold to buy this painting, exist when Jiading Maoxue is still around, he would have never starved to death . Zhou Jingjing parts his thick lips open, speaking with regret . Life can sometimes be a series of unfortune . He pauses, then asks modestly, as if he is an eager student . But the thing I don t understand is, why did he place a poem about the palm blossom by the side Has Jiading Maoxue s huger went to his head This poem is not written by Jiading Maoxue . Huh Then who added this incongruous poem Cao Jingren shot him a glare fill with despise . Dissidence of opinions makes it useless to talk . Zhou Jingjing . That s why he hates scholars . They are so much more sour than the vinegar vats he keeps in his yard . It is better not to marry his eldest daughter over . TN Sour as in sarcastic . After all that, the famed White Jade Orchid Spring appreciation meeting can be said to be over . Zhou Jingjing carefully roll up the White Jade Orchid Spring and place it back into it s silk cover, before placing it by his side . He then get the Qiuci band to continue playing . As the music starts up, Liu Qinghuan hook her lips up lightly as she begin to turn in circles once again . Maybe it is due to having seen White Jade Orchid Spring , the atmosphere in the hall is higher than before . Zhou Jingjing hit his fan against the table according to the rhythm when he then just decides to stand up and join in the dancing . A huge, round polly fatty such as Zhou Jingjing is surprising nimble as he dances . After dancing for a while, he takes the chance to circle over to Liu Qinghuan . Going along with her dancing, he spots a gap and winks at her . Little lady, are you willing to become my 14th concubine Liu Qinghuan s brows jump, as her eyes curves and she starts pretending not to understand Mandarin . Sasamani Wu la la Zhou Jingjing frowns, and after doing another circle, he wheezes out . You can t speak Mandarin Liu Qinghuan continues to raises her pitch as she says . Arumoni xilila bala bala moe moe kyun Zhou Jingjing . Seeing that there is no way he can communicate with the beauty, Zhou Jingjing could only give up, deciding to wait till the end of the banquet to talk directly with her boss instead . He gives another wink to Liu Qinghuan before circling away, stopping in front of one of his friends, inviting him to the dance floor . Not one of shyness, he immediately leave his seat and begin dancing with Zhou Jingjing, bringing the atmosphere to the highest as the music bloom louder . And in this way, one after another starts inviting people in and in a blink, almost everyone are dancing, causing Anaye , this main dancer to be push to a corner . Seeing everyone having fun by themselves and no one looking at her, Liu Qinghuan starts slacking . Her circles get slower and more half heartedly as time goes on . A maid, sporting a cloud hairdo, walks into the hall, carrying a gla.s.s plate on her hand . And on it, fresh and juicy pomegranates are lay out, their fresh red color gleaming in the light, causing anyone to salivate upon seeing it . Liu Qinghuan pursed her dry lips, and she slowly circles over to the maid . Walking over the Zhou Jingjin s master seat, she back faced Liu Qinghuan as she place the plate of pomegranates on the table . As Zhou Jingjing is away from his seat, that roll of White Jade Orchid Spring is still laying right besides his seat . Liu Qinghuan s eyes gleam, as she stare fixatedly on the maid s back . The maid stop at Zhou Jingjing s master seat for a moment, before leaving the hall empty handed . Liu Qinghuan glances at the seat, and see that the roll of White Jade Orchid Spring is still on the seat, unmoved . She then subconsciously glances at Zhang Zhibo and the masked man, and finds that the two of them are staring at the painting . As everyone are high on dancing, almost no one notice that one maid s presence . Liu Qinghuan takes the chance to circle around the hall as she surveys the situation . There is only two person staying in their own seats . One of them is the young man who validate the painting, and another, is Tang Zhibo . Liu Qinghuan turns another round, and swiftly grabs a few pomegranate seeds and place them into her mouth . Ummm, so sweet . But at the moment she turns a round, she spots the masked man putting down his instrument as he sneaks out of the hall . Although him and the maid both left through different places, he rush towards the direction where the maid has gone to immediately once he is out of the hall . Fast and strong in his legs, he could see the mustard yellow back in just a few moments . He slows down his steps and sneakily avoided all Zhou Mansion s servants, following on the tail of the maid . She walks briskly, as if someone is chasing her . Tailing the maid all the way to the back door of the Zhou Mansion, she turns around all of a sudden . Seeing that, the masked man quickly dodges to a side . Seemingly worried about being followed, the maid carefully survey the area, before turning around to open the door . Outside stands a man dressed in grey, as if he has been waiting for a while now . Seeing the maid, he rushes up . asking . How was it The masked man, who is hiding, narrows his eyes . He recognize this person . He is working for Tang Zhibo . So it seems like this maid is a spy send in by Tang Zhibo . She nods, and takes out a small scroll from her wide sleeve . This is it . I replaced this with Master s copy . The grey robed man opens up the scroll, and when fully open, the White Jade Orchid Spring can be seen . Staring at it, the grey robed man still ask worriedly . Is this the real one There is no mistake, Cao Jingren validate it himself . The name Cao Jingren smooths the grey robed man s worries as he rolls up the scroll . I ll inform Master, you better leave as soon as you can . The maid nods silently, before closing the door . Waiting till the maid left, the masked man flips over the wall nimbly, and begin tailing the grey robed man . The grey robed man turns around a corner, entering into a small ally, where three men stand, as if discussing something . Seeing the grey robed man, they walk toward to meet up with him . The grey robed man then gives some sorts of instructions to one of the men, which he then nods and left . The grey robed man too, doesn t stay behind but instead, heads towards another direction . The two left over men continue their conversation, as if nothing has happened . The masked man thinks to himself, before silently over taking the grey robed man . He then arranges his clothes and hat in the next corner, waiting to b.u.mp into the grey robed man . As the two of them are walking at a rather fast speed, plus the masked man have quite a large build, so the grey robed man is knocked straight onto the ground . That roll of painting too, roll out of his hands at the knock . I m sorry . The masked man walks briskly up front, and instead of helping the grey robed man up, he reaches for the roll pf painting first . Don t touch The grey robed man shouts, and the masked man releases his hands innocently, moving that large build of his . That roll of painting is still on the floor . The grey robed man hurriedly pick himself up and the roll of painting as well, hugging it tight against his chest, staring cautiously at the tall person in front of him . The masked man, trying to imply that he have no evil intentions, back away two more steps, before using his rusty mandarin to apologize . I did not do it on purpose . The grey robed man look at him for a while, and decided not to waste more time on him . He turns and walks out of the ally . After a few steps, he worriedly unroll the painting to take another look, and it is still the White Jade Orchid Spring . Phew . . The grey robed man lightly let out a breath of air, re roll up the painting and continue on his way . The masked man is still standing at the ally, and when he heard the grey robed man s footsteps leaving, only does he takes the scroll out of his wide Mongolian costume . His thin lips hook up slightly as he opens the scroll . On it, an orchid as white as jade is drawn on it . Using the short moment where he knocks onto the grey robed man, he has already swap the two . The music in Zhou Mansion is as loud as ever as Liu Qinghuan lazily turns a few rounds, sneaking a few more bites of the pomegranate . A man standing outside the door briskly walks in, and whispers something into Tang Zhibo s ear . A faint smile appears on his face, as if he is in a really good mood . Liu Qinghuan turns a few more rounds, and after her gaze brus.h.i.+ng across Cao Jingren s clean looks, she notice that the masked man has return back to the hall . Coincidentally, his eyes too, holds a faint smile, as if he has meet with something good . Liu Qinghuan smiles, before grabbing another few seeds to pop into her mouth . As when everything looks rosy, the door suddenly flies open . The din from outside grows louder, slowly covering the music from the hall . Zhou Jingjing stops his enchanting dance and frowns, looking outside . What is the matter Don t you know I m hosting a banquet here Before his servants even have a chance to kneel and apologize, a group of messily dressed people standing at the yard outside, rush in . Because of this, the music stop and every guests in the hall looks at this bunch with disdain in their eyes . But not only did this unwelcome group not notice their glares, they are even staring angrily like a bunch of hungry wolves at the Qiuci band . As if they finally found the person they are looking for, the person leading the group jabs his finger at the Qiuci band, and shouts fiercely . They are people from the Beseeching Fire Cult pretending to be us We are the real Qiuci Band