Qin Shi Huang: Swordsmanship begins with picking up Xiao Meng

Chapter 118 Honglian's Little Scheme
Theater!

"Master, Master, please hurry!"

Jiang Yu, who had just returned from training the Earth Battalion, was dragged over by Hong Lian, followed by Nong Yu and Madam Hu.

Honglian covered her face with her small hand, quickly ran to the back of the covered walkway, and couldn't help but complain:
"It's raining again out of the blue, really."

However, it wasn't necessarily a good thing that Honglian ran away so fast. On the contrary, Nongyu and Madam Hu, who were under Jiang Yu's protection, didn't get wet at all.

"Haha, today's performance is about the Meeting at Wushan, wouldn't it be even more charming if we did something else?"

Zhang Liang and Han Fei, who had been waiting nearby, came over and greeted Jiang Yu.

Honglian, who didn't understand any of that nuance, chimed in with a complaint:
"That person's new dress got soaked."

"what!"

Upon hearing this, Han Fei gave a straightforward, "straight man's" reply:

"Isn't this the same as your old dress?"

"What's the same?"

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Honglian snorted and then asked Jiang Yu, who was standing to the side:

"Master, what do you think?"

"Yes, they are definitely different."

Jiang Yu had previously been angry about Hong Lian's attire, simply because martial arts training demands meticulous attention to detail. Now, however, Jiang Yu didn't want to follow in Han Fei's footsteps, and thus praised her:

"The added lace trim perfectly complements Honglian's new hairpin."

"As expected, Master has a good eye. He's not like my brother. Humph."

Having received praise and recognition from Jiang Yu, Honglian became even more confident. Standing next to Jiang Yu, she looked down on Han Fei with utter contempt.

Han Fei scratched his head helplessly; there was clearly no difference.

Zhang Liang, who was watching the commotion from the sidelines, couldn't help but chuckle. This looked much more interesting than the show tonight.

"Okay, it's because my brother doesn't understand."

Han Fei had no choice but to apologize, then looked at Madam Hu who was following behind Jiang Yu. He had not forgotten the important matter he had come for tonight.

"Brother Jiang, this gentleman?"

"Yes, this is Madam Hu."

Jiang Yu nodded, then said to Madam Hu:
"This is the Ninth Young Master I mentioned. He has some questions for you. Just tell him the truth."

"Yes, son!"

Jiang Yu had already told her about this when she arrived, so Madam Hu was naturally not surprised.

Looking at Han Fei, who was focused solely on investigating the case, Honglian pouted and said:
"Then you can investigate your case."

There's a reason why Honglian rarely asks Han Fei to play during this time: even if she does, Han Fei doesn't have time to play with her.

"Master, let's go play over there."

Seemingly noticing something, Honglian pulled Jiang Yu away.

Nongyu stayed behind to accompany Madam Hu, and they answered questions from Han Fei and Zhang Liang.

"Princess Red Lotus!"

Honglian and Jiang Yu hadn't gone far when, in a pavilion, surrounded by palace maids, Consort Hu came to greet them.

Then he immediately started praising Honglian's outfit:

"Princess, your dress is beautiful..."

"Haha, Miss Hu, you have much better taste than my brother."

Honglian was overjoyed to have gained the approval of another person.

Jiang Yu, standing to the side, shook her head inwardly. She could only say that Hu Meiren was indeed someone who could fight against Chao Nu Yao in the palace. She had accurately praised Hong Lian right from the start.

But then again, weren't Honglian and Hu Meiren initially at odds in the anime? How come they seem so close now?
Jiang Yu was unaware that the autumn orchids she had sent had given Hu Meiren a golden opportunity to get to know Honglian. With Hu Meiren's clever mind and sweet talk, the innocent and naive Honglian naturally couldn't resist. Therefore, the relationship between Honglian and Hu Meiren has now undergone a complete 180-degree transformation; they have become best friends.

For example, in tonight's scene, unlike in the anime where Han Fei invited Hong Lian, it's now the show-loving beauty Hu who invited Hong Lian early on.

"Princess Honglian, may I ask who this young gentleman is?"

After praising Honglian, Hu Meiren's gaze fell on Jiang Yu. On the way Honglian came, she saw Honglian holding Jiang Yu's hand, and they were very intimate.

"This is my master, Jiang Yu."

Honglian pulled Jiang Yu aside and said with great pride:

"The greatest swordsman in the world!"

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Jiang Yu tapped Honglian's little head with a finger. He had no idea he was so powerful. Then he greeted Hu Meiren.
"Beauty Hu!"

"So, young master is the master that Princess Honglian always talks about."

Hu Meiren looked at Jiang Yu and exclaimed in exaggerated surprise:

"I originally thought that such a skilled swordsman would be either an old man or at least in his thirties or forties. I never expected that you would be so young. Truly, heroes emerge from among the young."

As Hu Meiren spoke, her beautiful eyes secretly sized up the two of them.

She couldn't see any master-disciple relationship at all; instead, she saw a perfect young couple, especially the intimate actions between Jiang Yu and Hong Lian.

"You flatter me, Miss Hu!"

Jiang Yu is not like Hong Lian, who gets overjoyed just because Hu Meiren praised her.

"Young master is being too modest."

Hu Meiren smiled and replied, then spoke with great interest to Jiang Yu about another matter:
"I heard from Princess Honglian that the young master is also quite knowledgeable about drama?"

Hu Meiren's greatest hobby was watching plays.

In addition, Hu Meiren should also thank Jiang Yu. The reason why her relationship with Honglian progressed so quickly was because Jiang Yu gave her and Honglian common topics to talk about.

When Honglian came to learn swordsmanship in the morning, Jiang Yu would act out a scene with Shao Siming. After watching it, Honglian turned around and went to chat with Hu Meiren.

The unprecedented acting style described by Honglian made Hu Meiren's heart itch with desire.

"Of course, let me tell you, even that famous court jester from Zhao tonight, compared to my master, he's nothing..."

"cough!"

Jiang Yu coughed, and then he finally understood why Honglian had insisted on dragging him to see a show that morning.

So it was so she could show off to her "best friend"!

Upon hearing Jiang Yu's light cough, Honglian immediately swallowed the rest of her sentence as a reflex, otherwise she would have been met with a sharp rap on the head from Jiang Yu.

"Please don't blame Princess Honglian, young master. It was my fault for being too talkative."

Upon seeing this, Lady Hu wisely ended the conversation.

Seeing how the once "ruthless" Princess Honglian was now so subdued by Jiang Yu, it was clear that Jiang Yu was almost certainly going to become the emperor's son-in-law.

"Guo Xu" was a term used during the Warring States period to refer to a son-in-law of a noble family.

"Brother Jiang!"

At this moment, Han Fei and Zhang Liang, having finished questioning Madam Hu, came over together.

"Son!"

Madam Hu and Nongyu walked back to Jiang Yu's side, and then, upon closer inspection, noticed Hu Meiren.

Madam Hu and Lady Hu couldn't help but blurt out:
"elder sister!"

"younger sister!"

……

(End of this chapter)