The Fourth Lady novel Chapter 17

Xiu Ran was simply unwilling to believe in Murong Jingxuan's words, and he more or less didn't have any good feelings towards that kind of idiot young miss.

"How about we make a bet?" Murong Jingxuan amusingly said as looked at Xiu Ran's skeptical expression.

Xiu Ran was the shopkeeper of Julongzhai only in name, but as the political hostage from Nanchen, his heart was still thoroughly loyal towards Nanchen. Murong Jingxuan* would constantly received information regarding Nanchen from Xiu Ran.

(*TN: This is my own interjection, since author just used the pronoun 'he' here, thus making the wording kind of confusing.)

Even the death of Qilian Qingyan, he heard from the mouth of Xiu Ran.

"What bet? I'm certainly not interested." Xiu Ran picked up a small teacup and began to taste the tea, however when he looked to Murong Jingxuan, he was expressionless.

"How about you come with me to Bogu Hall? I just happen to need something from that Cui Hanqun." Murong Jingxuan mischievously smiled as he slapped the table, "On the way I can have you meet that Su's fourth miss."

"Che." Xiu Ran wrinkled his brows, "I already said I'm not interested in that Su's fourth miss, why are you making me come with you?"

Murong Jingxuan shook his head, "You'll know when the time comes."

Seeing Murong Jingxuan's expression, Xiu Ran already knew that he wasn't able to turn down his demand. After all, he was currently living in Murong Jingxuan's manor. Although Murong Jingxuan was a Prince* with a different surname, in order to have him under his control, Xuanyuan Hong bestowed him a manor in Diqiu.

(*TN: The original phrase was more along the lines of him being bestowed the same title as a Prince despite having a different surname from the royal family. He's technically a political hostage, but holds the same title as a Prince.)

Nevertheless, if it wasn't for the previous Empress constantly protecting him, he wouldn't have been able to live this long. But in the end, the beauty had passed.

Xiu Ran ultimately still went with Murong Jingxuan to Bogu Hall. Although you could see the entirety of Bogu Hall from the corner building of Julongzhai, if you were to travel by foot, then it was indeed separated by no less than two streets.

When they arrived at Bogu Hall, it was precisely break time. Seeing Murong Jingxuan, all the girls carried a love struck expression. This made Xiu Ran really uncomfortable.

He had always hated this kind of attention.

"Isn't that Murong Shizi? Why did he come to Bogu Hall?" A girl quietly whispered, "Murong Shizi is known as a flower on the outside*, but looking at it now, he does seem to have some capital."

(*TN: It's an idiom meaning that a person is beautiful and pleasing to the eyes on the outside but isn't dutiful)

"Don't you know? Murong Shizi is the most handsome man in Donghe, and the man next to him, Xiu Ran, is said to be Nanchen's most handsome man." Another girl chimed in quietly.

When Cui Hanqun saw Murong Jingxuan, he handed him the thing in hand, "Shizi, this is the thing you wanted."

Murong Jingxuan looked at the case that Cui Hanqun handed over, while smiling, "Thank you, young master Cui."

If Cui Hanqun was Bogu Hall's little tyrant, than Murong Jingxuan was definitely the big tyrant of Diqiu. However, this was probably something that Xuanyuan Hong was happy to see.

Xiu Ran automatically ignored all the lovestruck gazes, but he still felt someone watching him from behind this whole time. When he turned back to look, he just happened to see that green clad girl from earlier measuring him up and down. However, her gaze was not like that of the others, full of reverence and infatuation, but was calm and undisturbed like the stagnant waters.