Chapter 129

Fubao had recently noticed that Honghong was acting rather strangely. Even its favorite large apples were being ignored. Every day, it would simply tilt its head at a forty-five-degree angle and gaze up at the sky, leaving Fubao quite baffled.

"Fubao, what’s wrong with your Honghong? It won’t eat or drink," the young Miss Chen said as she followed Fubao into the stable. She poked at the daydreaming horse, only to be met with a loud sneeze from Honghong.

"Maybe it’s sick," Fubao said, tugging at the horse’s ears, pulling and releasing them rhythmically.

Miss Chen was speechless at the three-year-old’s antics.

"I’m so bored. Oh, that’s right! Didn't Young Master Gong mention last time that there’s a restaurant in the capital with top-tier food? Shall we go check it out?" Miss Chen’s eyes lit up as she recalled Gong Shaoyu’s words.

"That’s a great idea! Let’s go, let’s go!" Fubao dropped her basket of grass, and the two girls ran off, hand in hand.

Once Honghong finished its meditation, it discovered its "meal" had been discarded to the side. That wasn't the real issue; the problem was that, being tethered, it couldn't reach the food at all.

"Young Miss, where are you going?" Huazhi watched as Fubao rushed into the room in a flurry, rummaging through chests and cabinets. She emerged dressed as a grown man, even sporting a glued-on handlebar mustache.

"To eat."

"You have to dress like that to go eat?"

"Oh, you know! It’s not safe for girls to go out alone."

Huazhi was left speechless.

"Sister Huazhi, I’m off! Bye-bye!" Fubao vanished in a blink.

"Hey, wait, Miss, you didn't..." You didn't bring any silver. Looking at the coin purse in her hand, Huazhi felt a sense of foreboding about her little mistress. It would be best to inform the mistress.

...

"I’m telling you, where even is it? We’ve been walking for ages and still haven't found the place," Miss Chen complained, exhausted. They had been out for quite a while, yet there was no sign of any restaurant nearby.

"They said it was near West Street, so how could it not be here?" Fubao asked, puzzled.

"It’s almost dark, and I’m starving," Miss Chen groaned, clutching her rumbling stomach.

"I’m hungry too."

"It seems you two young ladies are in some trouble. Perhaps I can be of assistance?" A young man in brocade robes appeared before them, waving his fan with a flourish.

Fubao scanned him from head to toe. "Who are you?"

"My surname is Bian, and my given name is Zi."

"A swindler!" Fubao and Miss Chen shrieked.

"No, no! 'Bian' as in affordable, and 'Zi' as in the hour of the rat."

"Oh!"

"I’ve noticed you two young ladies wandering here for a long time. I wonder if you’ve run into some difficulty? I would be honored to serve you," the gentleman named Bian said.

"We’re hungry and looking for a restaurant," Miss Chen said, blunt and honest.

"Oh! Why did you tell him that?" Fubao quickly covered Miss Chen’s mouth and pulled her aside to whisper.

"Oh, stop it! Maybe he actually knows where it is," Miss Chen said, glancing at the man.

"What if he’s a scammer?" Fubao gritted her teeth.

"No scammer would admit to being a scammer," Miss Chen argued dismissively.

"What if one does?"

"It won't happen. Don't worry, I looked—he’s wearing high-quality fabric. He must be a noble, so relax."

And so, the naive Miss Chen led the bewildered Fubao into a trap.

Back home, Madame Chen, who had been waiting for her daughter’s return for a long time, received a ransom note: "Deliver several thousand taels of silver to [Location] by tomorrow noon, or you won't see your daughter again. Also, send an additional forty taels of silver to [Restaurant] to settle the bill. I have never seen someone eat so much in my life."

Madame Chen was left speechless.

Meanwhile, Meng Yun was waiting for Fubao with a ruler in hand, only to receive a ransom note of her own. Both families were as anxious as ants on a hot pan.

...

"Cousin."

"Hmm."

"Is this the 'important matter' you spoke of?"

"That’s right."

"The 'important matter' you mentioned is coming to a brothel to flirt with singing girls?" Gu Li fought back the urge to punch Gong Shaoyu, his teeth clenched.

"Oh, come on, Cousin! Don't be like that. We’re finally out, let’s just have some fun. Don't you know this is a man’s paradise?" Gong Shaoyu grinned cheekily.

"Hmph, not interested," Gu Li said, his face dark.

"Ai! Cousin, look at how unromantic you are. No young lady will ever like you," Gong Shaoyu said, waving his fan.

"Sounds like you’re speaking from experience," Gu Li retorted, hitting a sore spot.

Gong Shaoyu was left speechless. I have no comeback for that.

"Cough. Look at you, you’re not even as good as a servant. Look, your bodyguard is here too."

"Bodyguard? Who?"

"There, look."

Gu Li turned to see Gu Yun submerged in a crowd of singing girls.

Gu Li was stunned. Why was he here?

"See that? Your bodyguard is quite the player. Though, come to think of it, wasn't he supposed to be guarding the Lin family girl? How did he end up here?" Gong Shaoyu crossed his arms, tapping his fan against his shoulder.

A shock went through Gu Li’s heart. Gu Yun was always by Fubao’s side; logically, he should be at the Lin residence. If Gu Yun was here, that meant Fubao was here too.

Gu Li’s face darkened instantly. This girl—if you don't discipline her for three days, she’ll be tearing the roof off.