Chapter 14: Quiet Days and Jade Smoke (2)

  Ugh! Why did you have to mention me in front of my enemy? I rubbed my head: "Third Master, I just wanted to borrow a feather from the Immortal Crane, who knew they'd be so stingy?"

  Yu Fei Bai helplessly shook his head, and the king rode past me with a smile, I looked over, the king smiled at Yu Fei Bai with deep affection, Yu Fei Bai maintained his cold smile, she took out a silk handkerchief, gently wiped his forehead, Yu Fei Bai actually smiled, held her hand and put it down, she seized the opportunity to hold Yu Fei Bai's hand and wouldn't let go, while complaining about something with a frown, I secretly sneered: "Feel free to touch, you'll be killed by robbers as soon as you leave the door, splashed with sulfuric acid by fans as soon as you get off the car, choked to death when eating..."

  That's really strange, not long after returning to Xifengyuan, he may be trying to prove to the world, especially to the "断袖" (a term used to refer to gay men in ancient China), that he is not a GAY, or perhaps suddenly realizing that there are many things called people in this world, he started to associate with all sorts of people, including noble ladies, famous knights-errant, even courtesans and prostitutes...

  Today is Zhao, tomorrow is Wang Qianjin. Those children all came with bated breath and left in a daze. Even the little drunk fairy from Xi'an's Drunken Immortal Pavilion had once favored Xi Fengwan, but unfortunately I was resting upstairs at the time and only heard the sound of laughter and music drifting up. To be honest, though, when it comes to musical talent, I still think Biying is a bit better.

  And among all these thousands of gold, rouge and powder, the one I detest the most is Wang Baochai, daughter of Wang Yansheng, the Minister of War, and her maid Qinger, who is now staring at me rudely.

  Our Liangzi was settled like this, on the day I recovered from a long illness, Xiaoxian called over Yinger to deliver a poem handkerchief, saying that she wanted an answer from Gongzi. I received it and was about to send it in when Qinglian came over and snatched the handkerchief from my hands, sending it to Wang Baochuan's sedan chair to show her. She also scolded Yinger, calling her a lowly prostitute who dared to come to our manor to seduce Liangzi. Yinger, who was also from a brothel, wasn't afraid of the young lady and argued back, demanding that the handkerchief be returned. The two started fighting, with Qinglian, being a skilled martial artist from the General's Manor, beating Yinger until she had a swollen face and disheveled hair, crying on the ground. Meanwhile, Wang Baochuan remained silent in her sedan chair, seemingly wanting to teach Xiaoxian a lesson.

  I coaxed her to come in and apply the medicine, but Green Lotus had become addicted, saying that she wouldn't be satisfied unless she beat this little wretch's eyes out. I tried my best to persuade her, but Green Lotus spoke wildly: "Hmph, you're so protective of this little thing, who knows if you're also from a brothel? No wonder only you have such a good hand at managing the maids in Xifengyuan, it seems your skills are quite impressive."

  "Wow! This kid, at such a young age, has such a poisonous mouth, how can he be endured? I won't be polite anymore, smiling sweetly: "Green Lotus is really good at joking, but that's because Master taught him well. Besides, even if Green Lotus is good, how can he compare to Ah-Yu? My young master always mentions you in front of me, missing you terribly, and as soon as he sees you, he becomes spirited. No wonder Wang keeps you by his side to serve my young master!"

  Lu'er's face turned red as soon as she heard this, and she hastily turned her head to look at Wang Baochai's sedan chair, stuttering: "Don't talk nonsense, I'm not like those fox spirits from the kiln who only know how to seduce men all day long... when did I ever sleep with your young master......"

  Haha! Caught you, asked in surprise: "Ah? Green Lotus last time came to deliver chicken heart cake, stayed alone with Third Master for a long time in his house, and later Third Master even wrote a poem, what was it... Ah yes, 'Green Lotus beauty, several branches of clear shadows stretching across the window. Jade skin slender, phoenix bed curtains gently swaying red shadows. Endless wild heart riding on wine excitement. Still blaming the neighbor's chicken for not being eternal, heartbroken looking back, only with sleeves full.'"

  This is a new poem by Yuan Fei, and the green lotus poem was just something he came up with on a whim when he saw the green banana plant in front of Xi Feng's house. As a result, it spread far and wide, and some people asked him to change "the way is not always there" to "the way is not eternal". The green lotus didn't quite understand poetry, but she roughly understood the meaning behind the poem, her face turned red, and yet her eyes shone with inexplicable excitement. Who would have thought that she really wanted to be a concubine after all?

  Later, Wang Baocui, who had been silent all along, finally came out of the sedan chair, drove away Lu'e, and smiled at me: "I really didn't expect that you would be so eloquent, no wonder San Gongzi has a special liking for you. However, since ancient times, being too clever has led to dislike, you should be careful."

  She gave me a warning glance, then handed the handkerchief to Green Lotus and whispered a few words in her ear before returning to the sedan chair. As Green Lotus walked away, she tossed back the handkerchief and a silver ingot to Mei'er: "You shameless thing, this silver is for you to take care of your wound. This is much cleaner than your stripping naked."

  I'm also furious, helping up the crying Mei'er: "Good girl, don't cry, give this silver to the beggar by the road, he'll definitely help you return the handkerchief to Third Master. Come, let's go in and apply some medicine."

  After a few days, Xiaozui Xian had a turtle slave send over a box of high-quality rouge as a thank-you gift. With Yuan Feibai's agreement, I accepted this symbol of friendship. From then on, whenever Xiaozui Xian came to visit Yuan Feibai, Mei'er would enthusiastically find me to play with, and it seemed that we had become friends.

  Unfortunately, it reached Wang Baochuan's ears, and I became Xiao Zui Xian again. She used a box of rouge to tame me, and together we deceived Yuan Fei. So the possibility of my friendship with Wang Baochuan became zero.

  "Don't stare, or your eyeballs will pop out." Green Lotus suddenly said viciously beside me, pulling my thoughts back.

  "Hmph! I smiled lightly and said, 'Look at what you're saying, I'm the one who's least worried about seeing Grandpa. Seeing him every day is annoying, but looking more often, after this time, who knows when we'll see each other again? Don't be alone in your room thinking anxiously!'"

  Lu'er's face turned red again, this girl must have been thinking about Yuan Fei and gone mad. She said hatefully: "Don't be smug, wait until I get home and enter the door, I'll serve Master together with you, just you wait."

  She's the mistress of the house, and naturally she'll become a rival to Noni Bai. As they say, people in the same line of work are jealous of each other, and if they become maids, the two of them will be even more ruthless. My situation is already worrying enough, it seems I need to seriously consider jumping ship... after thinking about it, it seems that only jumping to Noni Jue's place would be the most satisfactory...

  But still, she had to show a strong front: "That's all, even if you enter our family's door, it will only be her who comes to visit or when she is pregnant that you can consummate your marriage with the young master. Besides, new people are not as good as old ones, my father always says that only Mu Xi is the one who understands his heart, so just be content with your own fate."

  Her face was as red as a smokestack, she gave a cold smile, and with her head held high, she walked past me. But then she stretched out her foot and tripped me up, causing me to fall over.

  Ah! You dare to provoke me in my own territory? I pounced on her, and the two of us started fighting. Of course, I was no match for her, and soon I was kicked to the ground, crying out in pain and crawling pitifully while dodging her kicks and punches. But that's exactly what I wanted - and sure enough, Yuan Fei rushed over, pulling me up from the ground and embracing me, while also whipping Green Lotus back three steps with a flick of his whip.

  He coolly took my pulse with one hand and asked in a low voice: "Is your old injury painful?"

  Hehe! Isn't it just to make Yuan Feibai jealous? I saw Wang Baocui also coming over with a straight face, thinking that it's better to tease her and let Yuan Feibai give me to Yuan Feijue as soon as she enters the door.

  So I, contrary to my usual self, pulled Yuan Bai's hand into mine and hid in his arms, gazing up at him with tear-filled eyes, and cooed: "My lord, you scared me to death. I thought I'd never see you again in this lifetime."

  Hmm! The fragrance on his body is really nice, even more alluring than Guerlain's Shalimar. No wonder so many people want to throw themselves into this pervert's arms.

  Yu Fei wasn't stupid, and for a moment he looked stunned, but soon he seemed to understand as he stared at me. I reckon he saw through my little trick. The corner of his mouth curled up, and his eyebrows rose: "Don't worry, I guarantee you'll see me every day for the rest of your life. You won't be able to escape even if you want to."

  Ah! What's wrong with you, why are you being so disloyal? I turned to glare at him, but he had already put on a cool face and handed me over to Su Hui, telling him to send me away from the battlefield. As I looked back, Lu E knelt on the ground crying nonstop, Wang Baochuan was scolding her, while Yuan Feibai didn't say a word. Yu Shu sat elegantly on his horse, his eyes following me, with a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth.

  Back in my own room, I stood in front of the copper mirror, let down my hair and applied some medicine. Alas! That Green Sprout must have practiced Chicken Claw Skill or something, she scratched my lips till they bled!

  Tomorrow, Biying will cry again, so I'll try using that little drunk fairy's rouge to see if it can cover it up. I adjusted the rouge and applied it, and it really worked.

  She said that Xiaoxian personally went to the old shop Mirror Moon Hall to pick it out, and it's a limited edition of Mirror Moon Hall, one-of-a-kind. She really is a person with great taste, people who haven't seen me before only heard Meier's description, yet they already know what kind of face suits me.

  This complexion is elegant and moderate, neither too thick nor too pale, which makes my skin look even whiter and more delicate, adding a few more charming touches.

  I've almost completely forgotten what I looked like in my past life, these years busy taking care of Biying, thinking about Jinxiu, recalling the past and feeling absurd, human life is just a ugly skin bag after all, also never seriously looked at myself in the mirror, now looking at myself in the mirror, this familiar yet strange face, long hair like black jade silk scattered, down to the slender waist, red lips moist, skin like white snow, although not an extraordinary beauty, but with eyes that don't smile and are full of emotions...

  I hold up my face and gaze blankly, Ah! I almost forgot that I am now in the most beautiful years of my life.

  "How do you think?" Suddenly a low male voice came, and I was shocked to find that another extraordinary face appeared in the mirror, not that annoying Yuan Fei Bai, who else?

  "Three, Three Grandfather when did you come in, how...how can you not make a sound?" I stuttered and put down my hand, this pervert always sneaking up on me without making a sound.

  He smiled slightly and said with a glint in his eyes: "You've been staring at yourself in the mirror, now you're blaming me."

  He pointed to the chair and asked me to sit down, then picked up a comb from the dresser, took a strand of my black hair with one hand and slowly combed it with the other. I was shocked and just about to turn around when he whispered, "Don't move, just for a moment."

  I nervously twisted my hands, constantly gazing at him in the mirror as he combed my long hair.

  He... what's wrong with him today? Why is he so enthusiastic about playing with my hair?

  For a moment, the two of them gazed at each other in silence in the copper mirror, with only the black threads flowing from his hand...

  He suddenly broke the silence and said, "You've already passed the age of Qi Kai, why do you still wear a big braid at the back of your head? Why don't you learn from other young people and style your hair in a fashionable way?"

  I smiled at him and said, "I won't braid my hair, and I like to jump around, no matter how well it's braided, I'll just mess it up. It's better to have a ponytail, it's easier to manage."

  He looked at me calmly for a moment, then silently returned to his work, saying nothing more.

  He deftly and nimbly ran his fingers through my hair, helping me to coil it into a bun, then casually plucked the Dongling white jade hairpin that he had worn for years from his own head and inserted it into my hair, securing it in place. I inexplicably became flustered: "Third Master, please use my hairpin instead, this is a memento left by Madame Xie, I dare not accept..."

  His hands gently rested on my shoulders, successfully blocking my mouth. He looked at me from the mirror: "My mother was a concubine of Madam Qin's maid, she didn't understand poetry or books. If it wasn't for giving birth to me, Madam Qin would have died in childbirth back then. The young master was injured in battle and wanted to take a new wife to change his luck, so he might not have promoted her to the position of first wife even if he lived a lifetime." He quietly spoke about his past, "She was born with some status, but she had a kind heart, didn't understand the conflicts between wives, and often felt inferior because of her maid background. So, she was often bullied by other concubines. The young master was busy pursuing fame and wealth in his early years, indulging in pleasure and seeking new thrills. After he got over the novelty of my mother, he rarely entered her chambers again."

  He let out a wry smile and continued, "It wasn't until I was five years old and wrote an essay that impressed my father's friend, did my father realize that this son of his was not like the others. My mother also broke into a smile, but by then I had already forgotten what her smile looked like. So I thought to myself, if writing a few mediocre essays, shooting a few arrows, and performing a few sets of fist moves in front of my father and his friends could get him to visit my mother more often and make her smile more, that wouldn't be so bad. After all, these things weren't difficult for me." He let out a soft snort.

  It's no big deal...... I won't fall!

  Really? Really is it like this, Old Classmate? If I'm not mistaken, you were only six years old back then, right?

  He continued: "Unfortunately, good times don't last long. Later, I was designed to fall off the horse and my mother died of anger."

  My heart was filled with pity, I turned around and for a moment didn't know what to say. It was the first time, he tightly grasped my hand, and he also grasped mine. After a silence, he suddenly smiled: "The first time I saw you was six years ago, right? I heard that you made up a story to save your brother, at that time I thought, what a quick-witted girl! If my mother had half of your eloquence, maybe she wouldn't have suffered so much."

  I stared blankly at him: "So San Ye has always known who I am!"

  He smiled lightly and didn't answer my question: "Later, your fifth brother gradually became famous in this village. Your second brother joined me, and I never expected that the first thing he asked of me was to take good care of you."

  Ah! I'm puzzled. Why did Song Minglei respond to Jiang Fei instead of Biying? What's going on here?

  "At that time I also had a lot of doubts, why didn't he go to take care of the patient, but instead stuck with you, this lively and crazy girl?" He looked at me quietly.

  That's too much! I glared at him silently. Hey! How can you call me a crazy girl? My mental age is way older than yours, okay?!

  But he thought it was funny, and with a chuckle, he poked my nose: "Aren't you crazy yet? At three o'clock in the morning, you broke into my room, stripped off my clothes, and then calmly undressed me."

  Where is there a man who can say such things about himself? I'm blushing from head to toe, my whole body is burning with shame. I stuttered and stammered: "Th-th-that's... for... for escaping with my life... for saving people... Third Master, don't talk nonsense, my reputation is already bad enough."

  Yuanni Bai finally burst out laughing, pulling me into his arms, gently stroking my black hair, softly murmuring: "Clouds condense, green silk and jade crown, smile born of a hundred charms at the tip of the brow. Deep fragrance of medicine and smoke disperses, autumn dawn lotus blooms in dewy gaze."

  He suddenly raised my chin with one hand, his narrow and long phoenix eyes gazing deeply at me. Before I realized it, he had already kissed my lips. Today, I was shocked too many times, and in a daze, I opened my mouth, but he took the opportunity to slip into my mouth.

  My first kiss in this life was taken away by this pervert, but I bet it's also his first kiss, because his kissing skills really need to be improved. But this also made my mood inexplicably better, damn, I'd better not become a demon for real.

  He ended the deep kiss, devouring all my lip gloss, his cheeks flushed with red, closed his eyes, leaned against my forehead, breathing softly. I gazed at his face, and once again sighed in admiration - he was indeed handsome and divine.

  He suddenly opened his eyes and said seriously: "Tonight, come to my room, Mu Jin."

  My heart, which had just calmed down, started racing again. Why is this pervert acting like this? I remembered that once it starts, it's always a big deal, and he's talking about it as if it's nothing. Let's have dinner together tonight, okay?

  Why is it that people from this family are all so unromantic?

  "My face has just returned to normal, this time it must have turned into a pig's liver again. I can only stutter: "No, no, no way, no way, go back, go back, Third Master, my monthly, monthly, monthly salary has arrived, let's talk about it next month."

  This is going to be the death of me, if I keep this up, I'll definitely become a stutterer

  I really didn't expect it, but Yuan Feibai, who was always known for being cold and proud, pretended to be surprised and said: "I asked you to come to my room because Su Hui just lost a fight with Lü Huán and can't serve me tonight. What does this have to do with your monthly period? You tell me, why did I ask you to come to my room?"

  My face turned red, then white, and again red, then white. I stared at him with my eyes blurred, before I made a move, he had already pushed the wheelchair out of the door with an extremely pleasant smile on his face.

  I picked up a bunch of things and threw them out in extreme shame, suddenly discovering that there was an extra large long box on the table, which wasn't there when I came back to the room earlier. It must be that dead pervert Yuan Fei's doing.

  I hatefully opened it and was immediately stunned, inside the long brocade box, on the black velvet lay thirty or so colorful, dazzling feathers of varying sizes...

  I just said one sentence, and he actually remembered it...

  I stroked those smooth feathers, and an indescribable emotion welled up in my heart.

  As a result, I didn't go to serve him, but I couldn't sleep at all.