273 The Pot Goes With the Cover
In the Directorate’s tea room, Luo Mingxue and Shen Junzhi were sitting opposite each other. The two of them were sipping tea and discussing current affairs in the capital.
Secretary Wang rushed in.
“Lord Chancellor, bad news. The Princess Consort of Lang County is causing trouble at the entrance of our Directorate!”
Shen Junzhi paused in his actions.
Luo Mingxue’s white eyebrows were tightly furrowed, and his wrinkled face was filled with unhappiness.
“Didn’t we ask the concierge to send her away? Why hasn’t she left?”
Secretary Wang said with a bitter expression.
“The concierge said that you’re very busy now and don’t have time to see her. But she didn’t believe him and insisted on coming in to look for you. For some reason, they started arguing.”
“When the Princess Consort shouted that our Directorate was bullying others, her voice was especially loud. This alarmed the nearby government offices and many officials ran out to watch the commotion.”
“If this continued, our Directorate would probably become the laughingstock of the entire Imperial Capital tomorrow. What should we do now?”
As Luo Mingxue placed the purple sand teacup on the table, his beard was trembling with anger.
“Looks like this Princess Consort of Lang is not easy to deal with. Let her in! I want to see why she came to me in such a big hurry.”
After Secretary Wang left, Luo Mingxue looked at Shen Junzhi, who was sitting opposite him, and the anger on his face dissipated slightly.
“The Princess of Lang County has ill intentions. Do you want to sit next door for a while?”
Shen Junzhi smiled. “I happen to know her. There’s no need to avoid her.”
Luo Mingxue was surprised. “How do you know her?”
“It’s a long story…”
Secretary Wang rushed to the entrance of the directorate.
After Yu Niaoniao’s commotion, not only did a few officials from the nearby government offices run out to watch the commotion, but even the students from the directorate ran out.
The students had a prejudice against Duke Lang, so they naturally did not have a good impression of his Princess Consort.
At this moment, they were pointing at Yu Niaoniao, feeling that she was pestering them.
Yu Niaoniao was supported by two maidservants, looking pitifully bullied but unable to resist.
At first glance, it really looked like the directorate bullying weak women with their numbers.
If word got out, would the Directorate still have its reputation? When Secretary Wang saw this scene, he felt his head swell. He hurriedly ran over and roared at the students.
“Why are you all standing here? Don’t you have class? Do you want me to record your names and give you the lowest rating before you’re happy?!”
The students were shocked and dispersed. Secretary Wang retracted the fierce expression on his face and turned to look at Yu Niaoniao.
“Lord Chancellor invites you in.”
Yu Niaoniao pressed her hand to her heart, looking gentle and weak, but the question she asked was very sharp.
“Didn’t you say just now that he wasn’t free? Why is he suddenly free now?”
Secretary Wang choked and said with an embarrassed expression, “He must have just finished his work.”
Yu Niaoniao looked at him steadily.
Secretary Wang felt a chill down his spine and felt very uncomfortable.
He explained softly, “It’s true. I’m not lying to you.”
These words were simply revealing.
Yu Niaoniao smiled. “Let’s go.”
Secretary Wang led them into the Directorate. When they walked into the tea room, Yu Niaoniao was stunned to see the two people sitting at the table.
Shen Junzhi was actually here!
He was wearing a moon-white long robe today. His black hair was fixed by a jade hairpin. His black eyes were gentle, and his sitting posture was dignified and elegant. He had the graceful demeanor of a young master of an aristocratic family.
Seeing Yu Niaoniao look at him, Shen Junzhi smiled at her.
“Long time no see.”
Yu Niaoniao couldn’t help but ask, “Why are you here?”
Shen Junzhi said, “I’m old friends with Chancellor Luo. I arranged to drink tea with him today. I didn’t expect to see you here. What a coincidence.”
Yu Niaoniao was originally a little embarrassed. Seeing his natural and unrestrained appearance, the discomfort in her heart dissipated.
She smiled back. “It’s indeed a coincidence.”
Luo Mingxue said stiffly, “Are you the Princess of Lang County? Why are you looking for me?”
Yu Niaoniao did not beat around the bush and explained her intentions.
“I want to publish two books and need your help to print them.”
Luo Mingxue mocked, “I didn’t expect a woman like you to want to write a book?”
Yu Niaoniao asked, “From what you said, do you look down on women?”
It was not that Luo Mingxue looked down on women. He felt that it was only fair for the male lead to be outside and the female lead to be inside. Women should stay at home to take care of their husbands and children. Things like publishing books should not be done by women.
He looked at Yu Niaoniao and knew that even if he told her these reasons, it would be useless. She would not listen at all.
Luo Mingxue did not want to waste time arguing with her, so he replied perfunctorily.
“What book are you going to publish? Show it to me.”
He had already made up his mind that no matter what book she was about to publish, he would not give the approval. He would just find a random reason to send her away later.
Yu Niaoniao took out the two comics she had drawn and placed them on the table.
Luo Mingxue picked up one of the books and flipped through two pages.
To his surprise, he realized that the book was filled with drawings.
The strokes of the drawing were very simple, but the scenes and characters drawn were lifelike. Even those who could not read could understand what they meant at a glance.
This was the first time Luo Mingxue had come into contact with such books. He could not help but read a few more pages.
He looked up at the woman in front of him and asked.
“Did you draw all these paintings?”
Yu Niaoniao said, “That’s right. This is a comic book I adapted from a story.”
Luo Mingxue said, “Is this kind of book called a comic strip? It’s quite appropriate.”
Shen Junzhi asked, “Can I take a look?”
Seeing Yu Niaoniao nod in agreement, Shen Junzhi reached out and picked up another comic book.
He flipped it up from the top and read it very seriously.
Yu Niaoniao found it too tiring to stand and sat down in the empty seat at the table.
Seeing this, Luo Mingxue’s eyebrows twitched. “You sat down without permission before Master said anything. This is not the way to be a guest.”
Yu Niaoniao blinked and asked, “When guests enter, you don’t let them sit or serve tea. Is this how you treat them?”
Luo Mingxue was speechless.
This woman was really eloquent. No wonder she could be a couple with Duke Lang.
There was really nothing good about the two of them!
Shen Junzhi read more than twenty pages in one go.
He stopped reading, but he could already guess the general content.
“The protagonist of this comic is Duke Lang?”
Yu Niaoniao admitted frankly, “Yes.”
As soon as he heard that the protagonist was Duke Lang, Luo Mingxue immediately took the comic book from Shen Junzhi’s hand and flipped through it carefully.
Seeing that Yu Niaoniao was bored from waiting, Shen Junzhi took the initiative to pour her a cup of tea.
Yu Niaoniao took the teacup and said politely, “Thank you, Young Master Shen.”