96 Scheme or Get Schemed?

Nan Hua shook her head. Her already indifferent eyes turned a shade colder. "I'm more impressed with the maidservants that Concubine Qu brought along with her. They can even cause fire in other people's residence."

Just with Nan Hua refusing to call Concubine Qu as mother had already told people so many things. Aunt Mo's face turned dark. "What are you talking about? Why are you slandering us?"

Nan Hua merely passed a glance at Aunt Mo without any interest. The commotion had attracted several curious people who were living in Southern Quarter. Not only them, the other higher ranked nobles also sent their servant to inquire what had happened here.

She turned to look at Hou Liang. "Commander Hou, how many maidservants we brought from Grandfather's residence?"

"There are only two, Young Miss. The rest are male servants who are tasked to cook and do other chores." Hou Liang's tone was exceptionally cold. He had been wondering what these people were planning to do and when he was staying a bit further away, they actually strike.

Very good.

"In that case, why there are a lot of servants here?"

"They're distributing coals in order to save them in the storage room. Who would have thought that the coals will be catch in fire at this precise time?" Hou Liang looked at the maidservants coldly.

"Sending coals?" Nan Hua looked at the sky then to the trees. She then passed a look at Aunt Mo. Her indifferent face didn't look any different but there was a trace of confusion in her eyes.

"This is Summer and the temperature is warm. Who would be stocking up coals at this period of time?"

The people who were watching were not stupid. They knew that those who chose to put the coals at this period of time purposely done it and caught fire. That way, it would look as if there was an accident. After all, they would usually start to stock coal again when it was Autumn.

Was there any need to stock coal during Spring when it might catch fire during hot Summer? They were not stupid enough to do such a thing.

But why would they make an accident?

Their interest was piqued.

"This… the servants might have made a mistake and…"

Hou Liang laughed faintly. "A mistake. Since they dare to enter this quarter, it meant that they're challenging us. In that case, they'll be canned 50 times in accordance to Nan Family laws."

50 times?

The maidservants' faces were pale as they kowtowed on the ground and begged for mercy. They might have already experienced a lot but they were still women and if they had to be canned 50 times… wasn't it the same as flogging them to death?

"Wait!"

A voice came from a distance. A monk had come to their location and from his attire, it was clear that his position was quite high. "This is Yi Shang Temple! You're not allowed to act as you wish."

"Really?" Hou Liang merely asked a faint question then he stepped forward. "Since they dared to offend Nan Family, they should be prepared to pay for the consequences."

"This happens in Yi Shang Temple, so you should follow our rules," the monk was equally stubborn.

"Follow your rules?" Nan Hua then looked at the monk. "Isn't it stated that monks are not allowed to interfere in the matters outside temple?"

"Yes, but this…"

"This is unrelated to the temple. After all, they're all servants from Nan Family. Would the monks be interested to see the Commander Hou, who's serving Nan Family to punish the servants from Nan Family?" Nan Hua asked indifferently.

The monk was silent. He looked at Nan Hua but knew that the argument could be used that way. The servants might come from Nan Shu Cheng but it was essentially still Nan Family Residence.

If he wanted to interfere, it would be breaking the rules of interfering with the worldly matters. Once news about it spread, Yi Shang Temple might even be forced to close down because they didn't act in accordance to how they were supposed to be.

"Monk, this…" Aunt Mo noticed the monk's expression and her expression turned ashen. To think that there was such a rule.

"Since it's your family matters, we wouldn't interfere. However, since it also involves a property of Yi Shang Temple, how would you handle it?" the monk asked.

Nan Hua passed a look at Aunt Mo. "She'll pay for it."

"What? You dare to…"

"If it's not because you want to see things you order to the very end, what brings you here, then, Aunt Mo?" Nan Hua asked in slow and concise manner.

Aunt Mo glared at Nan Hua. She clicked her tongue. "I heard that there's a commotion and naturally Madam asked me to come and check."

"Is that so?"

"I should be the one asking you question. Such a big commotion ensues but you're actually appearing from the forest. Just what are you doing there?"

"I'm taking my twin sister to take a walk. Is it also not allowed?" Nan Luo asked with a threatening smile.

Aunt Mo sneered. "Are you sure that you didn't bypass the wall and head to the other side of the forest."

"No."

The twins naturally said this at the same time. The calm demeanor they had when they said the lie caused the onlookers to be suspicious at Aunt Mo.

"In that case, why are you so late?"

"Late?" Nan Luo tilted his head. "I believed that I didn't come out too early because my sister can't walk too fast."

"What can't walk too fast, aren't both of you learn martial arts?"

"I naturally learn martial arts but now you're accusing my sister to learn martial arts?" Nan Luo sneered. It was not really a problem for a girl to learn martial arts during this warring era. However, they wanted to keep it a secret since Nan Hua's live would be in even more danger if it was spread.

"Who told you?"

"No one told me but isn't it clear that she practiced martial arts?" Aunt Mo taunted.

Nan Hua tilted her head. "What's the sign of someone practicing martial arts?"

"Their hands turned rough, their breathing more stable, their walking pace is more…stable." Aunt Mo looked at Nan Hua and her voice faltered. Now that she was staying close to Nan Hua, she could see that Nan Hua's hand was very smooth.

It was as smooth as jade. From one look, one could already think that this was the hand of someone who had never do any work hard before. It was the type of hands most ladies from the Capital City would have.

Nan Luo snorted. He stretched his hand. "Here, want to compare my hand with my sister?"

"That's… impossible."

Aunt Mo was staring at the two of them and Nan Hua never even once exhibited any sign that she knew martial arts. From beginning to end, she was simply standing calmly but there was trace that her bangs were a bit wet. Not to mention, there was some dirt at the corner of her dress, which might be the result of rushing.

On the other hand, Nan Luo didn't even sweat in the slightest bit. His clothes were also neater than Nan Hua. Even when he was rushing, he still paid attention to his clothes because of his status.

"For you to slander the young miss, it seems that you're being more and more audacious." Nan Hua looked at Aunt Mo with an indifferent gaze. She swept her gaze to the crowd and cupped her fist. "Pardon us for showing this dirty linen of our family."

"It's nothing, First Young Miss."

"Yes…"

The onlookers nodded and consoled Nan Hua but they were looking at the maidservant even harsher than before. It was clear that they didn't buy the whole thing of Nan Hua learning martial arts.

Just from the way she walked and all, she looked like a dainty young lady who would fall with the slightest force. How could someone like her possibly learn martial arts?

Her skin was also very fair.

If they could stay fair after staying under the sun for a long period of time, these young ladies wouldn't have against training martial arts.

Aunt Mo gritted her teeth. "But I know you two have been hunting behind the forest."

"Hunt?" Nan Luo looked at Aunt Mo and tilted his head. "Are you saying that we're hunting with our hands?"

Ever since Nan Luo and Nan Hua entered the wilderness, it has been an incense stick of time. Normally, they might have already caught the rabbit or something like that.

However, looking at the clean appearance of Nan Luo, there was no sign of him having just hunted. Besides, how should he hunt if he didn't bring anything with him? His excuse of taking a walk with Nan Hua sounded more plausible.