Housekeeper of the Hundred Blossom Palace
Chapter 152: Accident

“Kai comes to mind when talking about importation.”

Ming Xian said, apparently thinking of Kai as a possible distribution channel.

“For that matter, we must inform His Majesty, so that through him, we could request Huang Shufei to persuade the Huang Family.”

“Indeed, that will be the case.”

Xiuling agreed to Ming Xian’s comment.

Pure Consort Huang came from Xuzhou’s Huang Family, and the person who won against Li Min’s aunt when they competed in order to enter the Hundred Blossom Palace.

It would be in bad taste if they were to contact the Huang Family without informing Pure Consort Huang first.

And so, they decided to proceed with this for Kai’s matter.

“This is just my personal opinion, but I replace the eastern kingdom suspicious, too.”

Ming Xian lowered his voice.

“East, is it?”

Li Yong just heard some news about the east, so he gulped for a bit when that place cropped up in this conversation.. 

“There’s too much money flowing into the eastern border recently. Even if they say it’s just skirmishes, it is still in the midst of war, so it’s only natural that money will be spent there. Still, I can’t help but be bothered about this.”

When Ming Xian stated that, Li Yong and Xiuling exchanged glances.

The master’s concern would become the route that the servants would take.

“Then, I will gather information first.”

“Yes, I will also ask my maiden home for any news regarding the east.”

And so, the master and servants’ conversation ended on this note.

* * *

While they were having that conversation, in a different place —

Dong, the freeloader staying at Ming’s house, was once again loitering in the marketplace outside the palace.

He would check all the places that seemed familiar to him one by one, and if there was a place that bothered him, he would call out to the passersby, asking “Do you know me?”. He repeatedly did this today.  

‘No success for today, either…..’

Actually he had been curious about music that the girl was talking about, so he tried wandering around the area where the lute players were said to be.

However, rather than curiosity, what Dong felt was a strange sense of unease, so he hastily left that place.

He didn’t know what made him feel irritated, but he instinctively thought that “This isn’t it”. 

Perhaps, did he have some kind of obsession with this so-called lute?

The thought that perhaps he might be a lute player crossed his mind for an instant; unfortunately, he didn’t feel like he could play it.

Dong was completely stuck on this search for self-discovery, and now he was walking despondently all alone.

“You there.”

Somebody called out to him, so Dong stopped and turned around.

A foreign-looking, unknown man with exotic features stood there.

But at the same time, a feeling of familiarity surged within Dong, as if he had seen this guy before.

“What is it?”

He thought that this guy must also be new to the capital like him, and he must have wanted to ask something. However, for some reason, the guy looked shocked that Dong stopped in his tracks.

“…Are you playing dumb? Well, doesn’t matter anyway, you not running away is easier for me.”

The guy was mumbling something to himself, then he suddenly raised his other hand.

He was gripping something that reflected the light —

“DONG!!”

Clang!

The clashing of metal rang in the air between Dong and that man, accompanied by a new voice.

“Lord Ming!?”

The one who interfered was no other than the master of the house who took Dong in.

A sword was gleaming in his hand.

“Tsk, somebody got in the way.”

The man scowled fiercely before hurrying out of that place, blending with the other people.

It would be difficult to chase him now.

No, Dong was frozen from shock, so he wouldn’t be able to chase after him.

‘What on earth just happened?’

Dong was confused, but he didn’t forget to thank Ming who saved him.

“Lord Ming, thank you very much for saving me. But, may I know why you are here?”

“I just returned from the doctor. Who was that?”

Ming put his sword away while replying to Dong, then he questioned him too. Dong was also worried about how to reply.

“He suddenly called out to me and did that, but I don’t know him. Ah wait, I have a feeling that I saw him somewhere…?”

Dong mused to himself after answering his query.

Ming furrowed his brow as he stared at Dong.

“Is that how the folks in Dongfeng look like?”

Ming muttered under his breath, but Dong didn’t hear him.

* * *