Quick Travel to the Clouds

Chapter 684 My Family 2

Without a moment's hesitation, Du Feiqin turned and instructed the waiting stewardess, "Prepare a sedan chair and carriage, and some exquisite snacks and fruits. We won't be going to the shop today. Just arrange for someone to keep an eye on things. Chu'er is sickly, so remember to bring an extra silver fur hood." Her tone remained as capable as ever, but her gentle gaze never left her daughter.

Tang Yunlian's smile deepened, tinged with a touch of naivety: "Of course! We can reschedule with our classmates another day; spending time with Chu'er and her parents is more important."

Only Tang Yunmo panicked instantly, her pretty face turning bright red: "I! I went to Qingfeng Tower because..."

"Mo'er!" Du Feiqin glanced at her, her gaze gentle yet carrying an undeniable force. "It's rare for my sister to want to enjoy time with the family."

She gently held Tang Yunmo's hand and whispered, "That young master Fan... if fate is strong, a day or two won't make a difference." Her tone seemed to carry a hint of disapproval, as if a young lady shouldn't be so eager.

Tang Yunmo looked at her stern mother, then at her father and brother's approving expressions, and then at her frail younger sister's innocent yet longing eyes. All the frustration and eagerness to see her lover choked her in her throat.

She stomped her foot angrily, turned her head away from everyone, and muttered under her breath, "Hmph! Fine, I'll go! So annoying!" Although her voice was soft, her frustration and resentment at having her plans interrupted were clearly audible.

And so, an unplanned family outing was replaced by Yun Chu's single sentence, replacing all the original itinerary.

Outside Hongfangyuan in the eastern suburbs: Three well-dressed but frivolous young men—Li, Wang, and Zhang—are leaning against a willow tree, anxiously looking towards the end of the road.

"Why hasn't Tang Yunlian arrived yet?" Young Master Li fanned himself impatiently. "We agreed to go to Hongfang Garden together today to 'broaden our horizons' and see the legendary courtesan, and we're all waiting for him to pay! His silver purse is always the most generous..."

Young Master Wang paced back and forth, his face growing increasingly grim: "If you don't come soon, the title of 'Queen of Courtesans' will be taken down by someone else!"

Young Master Zhang spat at the river: "What bad luck! He's probably held up by his family. I think he's hopeless; he's just stuck with that sickly little sister! He always uses her as an excuse! Wasting my time!"

Finally, when the servant came running up breathlessly and told them that the second young master of the Tang family had been begged by his sister to go on a spring outing with the whole family and couldn't come today, the three of them were immediately like cats whose tails had been stepped on.

Enraged, Young Master Li slammed his expensive sandalwood fan to the ground, the ribs snapping with a sharp crack. Young Master Wang couldn't help but curse, "That scoundrel Tang Yunlian! If I'd known this would happen, I should have come to find him yesterday!"

Their carefully prepared "elegant" plan fell through, and they even had to pay for their own lunch. The three of them looked west towards the plum grove (the direction of Tang's spring outing), their eyes filled with resentment and disdain. They dispersed angrily, leaving behind only a trail of hostility.

At Qingfeng Tower in the capital, on the second floor, by the window, Fan Shaojie, the nineteen-year-old son of the Vice Minister of Rites, was chatting and laughing with two friends.

He wore a brand-new brocade robe, which accentuated his tall and straight figure. He was quite handsome, but there was always an inescapable air of disdain and arrogance in the depths of his eyes.

The table was laden with Qingfenglou's signature dishes—steamed shad glistening with oil, fragrant crab meat lion's head meatballs, and eight-treasure duck with an enticing color, along with a pot of expensive twenty-year-old Nu'er Hong wine. The atmosphere was lively as everyone clinked glasses and exchanged toasts.

It wasn't until after noon, when everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, that the waiter, with a beaming smile, came to the table with the bill.

Fan Shaojie subconsciously picked up the teacup, took a leisurely sip, and habitually glanced at the stairwell.

—The figure he expected to appear long ago, Princess Tang Yunmo of the Chang Le Prince's Mansion, who had been infatuated with him since she was thirteen and would always pay for him in advance, was nowhere to be seen today!

"Sir, the total is fifty-eight taels and seven mace," the waiter said respectfully.

Fan Shaojie's hand, holding the teacup, froze in mid-air. The composed smile on his face instantly turned to astonishment, followed by an embarrassed blush.

He put down his teacup, his fingers unconsciously twirling on the tablecloth. He was used to Tang Yunmo's "gifts," and would only carry a few loose silver coins when he went out; where would he find so much money?!

His friend, puzzled, joked, "What, Brother Fan, are you waiting for the princess's daughter to pay the bill for you today?"

These words only added fuel to the fire. Fan Shaojie felt his face burning, as if he had been slapped in public. He could feel the subtle gazes cast upon him from around him, and even seemed to hear a few suppressed sneers.

"Nonsense! What nonsense are you talking about!" He tried to remain calm, but his tone was no longer as natural as before, and even rose slightly with a hint of insecurity. "It's just... I was in a hurry to leave today... that person..."

He frantically rummaged in his sleeve pocket and pulled out a few silver coins that added up to less than ten taels.

He immediately frowned and whispered a rebuke to the servant who had been standing behind him, "You blind fool! Hurry up and go back to the mansion and get the money!"

The servant hurriedly responded and ran downstairs.

The atmosphere in the private room was extremely awkward.

Fan Shaojie was restless. His friend across from him cast surprised or knowing glances his way, and people at the next table also kept glancing at him.

He could only stiffly drink the now-cold tea, glancing repeatedly at the stairwell, hoping his servant would return soon.

He felt that every minute and every second of waiting was torture, making him feel like he was being pricked by thorns, and he wished he could disappear into a crack in the ground.

After the servant, sweating profusely, finally paid the bill with silver, Fan Shaojie practically fled Qingfeng Tower.

Sitting in the carriage on the way back to the manor, his face was gloomy, his hands clenched into fists, the veins on the back of his hands bulging. He blamed Tang Yunmo entirely for the humiliation he had suffered today!

"Tang Yunmo!" He spat out the name through gritted teeth, his eyes filled with malice. "How dare you to play such a trick on me! You made me lose face in front of my friends! Fine... next time, if you dare to appear before me again..."

He imagined Tang Yunmo appearing, his tone filled with malicious glee, "I'll make you taste the bitterness of being humiliated! I'll let everyone see how this princess of the royal family grovels and begs for favors! Let's see how you can save face!"

His feigned "high-mindedness" was shattered, leaving only his humiliated embarrassment and vicious vows.

---

The carriage swayed gently along the way, finally arriving at a scenic, gentle slope in the eastern suburbs—Green Hill. Here, distant mountains were shrouded in mist, nearby grass was lush and green, and a few flowering trees dotted the landscape, their pink and white petals drifting in the wind, creating a scene reminiscent of a fairyland.

The sun was shining brightly, and a gentle breeze was blowing. The servants had arrived a moment earlier and spread out a thick jacquard brocade carpet in the chosen sheltered, sunny spot, placing low tables, embroidered stools, and thick cushions on it.

On the low table, a food box carefully prepared by Du Feiqin was already laid out, and next to it was a small clay stove, on which a teapot was bubbling and steaming, filling the air with the aroma of tea.