Far from luxurious, but it's elegant.
That's how everyone describes Prime Minister Cao's residence at the foot of the Ural mountains. A high-walled place on a hill surrounded by rice fields, like a yellow lake during harvest time. A lake surrounded by shady forests.
It was pretty clever of whoever built the Cao family estate to disguise the fortress as a mansion.
He was rarely there unless there was important business to discuss with his confidants.
This time it was Kun Quan, Cao Ling, and Cao Mengde, along with the new face Shu Shu who was always next to Quan.
While the youngsters sat cross-legged, the Prime Minister sat relaxed. One foot propped up, one folded, his shoulders propped up his cheeks, and he shelled capri beans.
"Are you sure you heard him say that?" Prime Minister asked.
Zhu Zhu nodded. "Yes, old man. He even apologized to the Crown Prince."
"Wrench! Watch your tongue when you talk to my father," said Cao Mengde, the man with the black catfish moustache.
