Sheng Tang: What is Liu Jianjun going to do today?

Chapter 121 The Absurdity of Liu Jianjun
All the way, Li Xian's mind was racing, trying to figure out how to inform Liu Jianjun.

While maintaining a superficial polite exchange with Shangguan Wan'er, he desperately tried to signal to the servants accompanying him out of the corner of his eye, hoping they would find an excuse to slip away and report the news.

But the servant clearly failed to grasp the deeper meaning behind Prince Pei's wink, thinking that Li Xian had gotten sand in his eye, and asked in a low voice with concern, "Your Highness, is your eye uncomfortable?"

Li Xian was so angry he almost couldn't catch his breath.

How can there be such stupid people in this world!

Even dumber than Xianzi!
Just as we were about to reach the moon gate of Liu Jianjun's courtyard, we could faintly hear Liu Jianjun humming his off-key tune and the little girl's clear laughter coming from inside.

Li Xian's heart was in his throat. He was about to brace himself and raise his voice to warn the people inside.

But then, Shangguan Wan'er suddenly stopped, her gaze drawn to a chrysanthemum in full bloom in the corner of the wall. She turned slightly to admire it, her tone calm and natural: "The chrysanthemums of Chang'an are even more elegant than the peonies of Luoyang. The flowers and trees in Prince Pei's residence are very well maintained."

This perfectly timed pause gave Li Xian an excellent opportunity.

He immediately instructed the servant, "Quickly fetch the scissors I kept with Chief Secretary Liu, and cut off a few branches from this chrysanthemum for the lady to wear and play with."

The servant suddenly realized what was happening, and quickly replied "Yes," then turned and jogged away. He seemed to finally understand that Li Xian's problem wasn't with his eyes.

Seeing the servant run away, Li Xian felt a little relieved, but the situation inside the courtyard was still unknown.

He could only accompany Shangguan Wan'er to admire the chrysanthemums while secretly praying that Liu Jianjun would be quick-witted enough to hear the commotion outside.

However, what are you afraid of?

Just as Shangguan Wan'er took another step, about to enter the courtyard, Liu Jianjun's raised voice, tinged with obvious mockery, suddenly rang out from inside: "...My little Aisha, your talent for this Western Region dance is far greater than your talent for spinning thread! One more! Yes, that circle..."

Immediately following was a cheerful, exotic ringing of bells and a girl's slightly breathless giggles.

Li Xian felt a chill run down his spine, stopped in his tracks, and was so embarrassed that he wanted to disappear into the ground.

Shangguan Wan'er's steps also stopped at the courtyard gate.

Her expression remained calm, but a barely perceptible ripple flashed in her tranquil eyes, a mixture of surprise and... a knowing glimmer of amusement.

She didn't go in immediately, nor did she make a sound; she simply stood there quietly, as if listening to the "busy" scene inside the courtyard.

Li Xian braced himself and was about to send a message into the courtyard when he saw Shangguan Wan'er suddenly turn her head, wink at him, and look at him with a playful expression.

Li Xian immediately fell silent.

Liu Jianjun is right, smart women are truly terrifying.

Then, Li Xian saw Shangguan Wan'er clear her throat and speak in a steady voice, neither too loud nor too soft, but loud enough for the courtyard to hear clearly: "This servant, Shangguan Wan'er, has come to pay my respects to Chief Secretary Liu on the orders of the Empress Dowager."

The cheerful sounds of bells and laughter in the courtyard came to an abrupt halt.

The deathly silence lasted for about two or three breaths.

Immediately following, a slightly flustered rustling sound rang out, followed by Liu Jianjun's clearly surprised response: "...Lady Shangguan? Oh my! A rare guest indeed! Please come in, please come in!"

Shangguan Wan'er straightened her sleeves and calmly stepped into the courtyard.

Li Xian quickly followed, his heart pounding with anxiety.

Inside the courtyard, Liu Jianjun was indeed dressed somewhat disheveled, frantically fastening his belt.

The young woman from the Central Asian region, Aisha, had flushed cheeks, was slightly out of breath, and had her chestnut hair disheveled. She was hurriedly picking up a few small bells and a brightly colored shawl that had fallen to the ground, and stood awkwardly to the side, her head down, not daring to look at the newcomer.

In the center of the courtyard, the modified spinning wheel sat quietly, with a few strands of unfinished cotton still draped over it. Clearly, what had just been "spun" was not cotton.

When Liu Jianjun saw Shangguan Wan'er and Li Xian enter together, his face instantly broke into his signature slightly exaggerated smile, trying to cover up his earlier embarrassment: "Oh dear, I was wondering why the magpies were chirping so much this morning. It turns out that such a distinguished person as Lady Shangguan has graced my humble abode with her presence! I am so sorry for not welcoming you properly!"

Shangguan Wan'er's gaze swept quickly across the scene, lingering for a moment on the bells and shawl in Aisha's hands, then on Liu Jianjun's untied belt, finally landing on the spinning wheel. The corners of her lips seemed to curve upwards almost imperceptibly, but her tone remained calm and even:
"When Liu Changshi was enjoying himself in bed, he used to call me 'my dear Wan'er.' Why are you being so distant today, calling me 'Wan'er, Consort Shangguan'?"

A bolt from the blue!

Immediately afterwards, Li Xian saw Liu Jianjun cough violently, almost choking on his own saliva.

The Hu girl on the side also suddenly raised her head, her chestnut eyes widening instantly, filled with disbelief and shock.

"No, no... Wan'er... uh, Cai Ren! You, you're saying that..." He desperately glanced at Aisha, signaling Shangguan Wan'er to be mindful of the occasion and not go too far.

Shangguan Wan'er's playful smile deepened, but her tone carried a seemingly genuine apology: "It seems this servant was presumptuous and disturbed this... young lady?"

She tilted her head slightly to look at Liu Jianjun, her tone both innocent and curious: "But who is this...?"

Li Xian, standing to the side, was worried for Liu Jianjun.

Just as Li Xian was thinking about how Liu Jianjun should break the deadlock, he suddenly saw Liu Jianjun's face harden, and he strode forward. Amid Shangguan Wan'er's exclamation, he picked her up by the waist and then, with a stern face, shouted at Aisha, who was standing there dumbfounded, "Come in with me!"

Finally, turning to Li Xian, he said, "Xianzi, wait for me for three hours!"

Li Xian immediately covered his forehead.

Liu Jianjun is really something...

……

This time, Liu Jianjun was out for a while. He was holding his lower back with one hand, his face was a little pale, and his steps seemed a little unsteady. But he still tried his best to straighten his back and put on a proud and confident look. However, his slightly trembling calves betrayed him.

Following closely behind was Shangguan Wan'er.

Her makeup seemed to have been redone, making her look more refined, and her hair was neatly styled. However, a faint blush remained on her cheeks, and her eyes held a complex expression, a mixture of embarrassment and anger, along with a hint of helpless submission.

Her palace attire was still neat, but upon closer inspection, the collar seemed to have more wrinkles than before.

She lowered her head slightly, unusually avoiding direct eye contact with others.

Aisha was the last one to come out.

The young woman from the Central Asian region blushed deeply, her chestnut hair becoming even more disheveled than before. Her eyes darted around, and she dared not look at Liu Jianjun and Shangguan Wan'er in front of her. She was only concerned with straightening her slightly crooked clothes and skirt, and her steps were a little weak.

Li Xian suppressed a laugh.

Thinking that the tiger whip in the Prince's mansion might really come in handy.

Upon seeing Li Xian, Liu Jianjun forced himself to stand tall and said to Shangguan Wan'er with a stern face, "You are older and more intelligent, so you should take better care of your younger sister in the future. Don't be petty and jealous anymore. What kind of behavior is that!"

Then, turning his head, he said to Aisha with the same stern face, "You are the younger sister, so you should respect your older sister and treat her like me!"

In conclusion: "Look at the two of you, even combined you can't beat me alone, so what's the point of arguing? Wouldn't it be better to share the spoils equally?"

Li Xian couldn't help but laugh.

Then, Liu Jianjun said to Aisha, "Alright, you go back and keep your grandfather company. His Highness and I have something to discuss with your sister."

Upon hearing this, Aisha immediately lowered her head, blushed, and ran out.

Clearly, although this girl from the Western Regions had a cheerful and outgoing personality, she was still no match for Liu Jianjun…

No, Liu Jianjun is lewd.

Once Aisha's figure disappeared through the doorway, Liu Jianjun sat down casually but somewhat stiffly and said, "Alright, let's discuss serious matters."

……

(End of this chapter)