Chapter 117: Confidante

Compared to the second floor, the third floor is quieter. It doesn't look like a place of entertainment, but rather like the boudoir of a young lady from a wealthy family.

Everything is exquisite wherever you go.

Upon entering, two screens decorated with wintersweet flowers appeared, and the clean floor was covered with a long, wide carpet of peonies and other flowers. Small tables on either side held precious black orchids, and the room was filled with a faint, pleasant aroma, though I didn't know what kind of incense was burning.

Further in, there was a carved moon gate. A light-colored gauze curtain hung over the moon gate, and a dim yellow lamp sat on the ground inside the curtain.

Zhuang Wan followed Pei Xingju to the Moon Gate, where suddenly melodious piano music came from.

Looking closely, I saw a slender figure vaguely reflected behind the gauze curtain. I thought it must be the mysterious girl Ningyan.

Pei Xingju stopped outside and did not go forward to disturb them. When the song ended, the curtain slowly opened, finally revealing Miss Ningyan's true face.

Zhuang Wan had met Miss Ningyan once in Luyang County, but she was wearing a veil at that time. However, Miss Ningyan tonight was completely different from that day.

Her clothes were not revealing; on the contrary, the high-necked, double-breasted gown wrapped her tightly. Her hair was also very low-key, with only a white jade hairpin inserted in it, which made her look even more delicate and lovely.

Zhuang Wan finally understood why she was called Ningyan. Her dark eyebrows were like smoke and mist, and her eyes seemed to hold infinite sorrow. Her small, cherry-like mouth was rosy and moist. Her features were not stunning, but they were as beautiful as lotus flowers. A strand of hair fell on her forehead, and when she gently lifted it, she exuded a natural charm.

"Master Chen," she stood up and bowed softly to Pei Xingju, "It is Ningyan's honor to have the opportunity to meet Master Chen."

Zhuang Wan couldn't help but shiver. The voice was as soft as water, almost penetrating into her bones.

No wonder she was the top performer at Zuishenglou. She had the dignified appearance of a lady from a noble family, but her demeanor and mannerisms were so charming and alluring that even a woman, not to mention a man, would want to pity her.

Zhuang Wan subconsciously looked at Pei Xingju.

I don't know if he was pretending to be reserved or what, but there was still no change in his expression.

He nodded slightly and said, "I have long heard of Miss Ningyan's name, and I have come here specially to visit you today."

Ning Yan didn't respond, but looked at Zhuang Wan beside Pei Xingju, pretending to be suspicious: "Who is this?"

Before Pei Xingju could speak, Zhuang Wan immediately realized that her presence was unnecessary.

She immediately laughed and said, "Miss Ningyan, I am Mr. Shen's servant."

As the "bulb", Zhuang Wan was very self-aware. She pretended to bow to Pei Xingju and said, "Sir, I will wait for you outside."

At the same time, he secretly gave him an encouraging look: A night of spring is worth a thousand gold, this is five thousand taels I spent, don't waste it.

Pei Xingju seemed to see through what was in her heart. His long eyelashes were slightly lowered, and his thin eyes were a little cold.

He said "hmm": "Go ahead, don't run around."

Hearing the words "Don't run around", Miss Ningyan smiled and said, "Mr. Chen is quite thoughtful and considerate. Before this, when I presented Mr. Chen's second stanza, Ningyan was wondering what kind of person he was..."

Zhuang Wan walked out of the house and gradually could no longer hear the conversation inside.

She stood at the railing and sighed, and then she realized that this was a great place to enjoy the scenery.

The Biyue Tower is taller than the surrounding buildings. Standing here, you can clearly overlook the night view of the entire Liuli City.

At this moment, the cold moon hangs in the lonely sky, and in sharp contrast to this loneliness is the brightly lit Glass City.

People's figures seemed real and illusory in the dim light fog, and noise and music came from afar. For a moment, Zhuang Wan felt like it was a dream.

She just had a dream and experienced strange things in it. When she woke up, everything would return to normal.

"It would be great if that were the case!" she murmured.

"What did the girl say?"

At this time, a maid brought over a cup of tea.

Zhuang Wan turned around and saw that it was the maidservant beside Ning Yan, whose name seemed to be Ling Shan. She was surprised: "How did you know I was a girl?"

Lingshan chuckled: "Our girl can see it at a glance. A man can't have a figure like that of a girl."

Zhuang Wan glanced at herself.

To be honest, her breasts are quite big. This time, in order to pretend to be a man, she even wrapped herself in three layers of silk cloth, which was obviously very tight. How could you tell?

Seeing her bewilderment, Lingshan pointed at her waist and said, "Your waist is thin, and your skin is as white as jade. You can tell at a glance that you are a girl."

She offered tea: "The girl should be Mr. Shen's sister, right?"

"Ah?...Ah, yes, yes." Zhuang Wan didn't know how to explain, so she just answered.

Lingshan laughed: "My girl guessed right again, otherwise Mr. Shen would not have brought her here."

Zhuang Wan chatted with her in a casual manner.

"Your daughter is clearly a talented woman, even ordinary ladies from wealthy families might not be able to compare to her. Why are you here... Oh, I'm just curious and asking casually. If you don't feel comfortable speaking, you don't have to answer."

When this was mentioned, Lingshan's smile faded a little.

"There are always people in this world who are forced to do things against their will." She said, "I wonder if you have heard of the Liu family in Yuzhuang? Originally, our girl was from the Liu family..."

"Wait..." Zhuang Wan's mind suddenly flashed with something, and she quickly grasped it and asked, "Your surname is Liu, and Ningyan is also her real name?"

"Exactly. Do you know my girl?"

I know, how could I not know!

Liu Ningyan is one of Pei Xingju's confidantes in the book.

She was, after all, a person with a pitiful life story. Originally the daughter of a wealthy family, Mr. Liu was framed and his wealth was taken away, and even his daughter, Liu Ningyan, fell into prostitution.

But although Liu Ningyan looks weak, she is actually strong-willed. Even after falling into a place like Zuishenglou, she still has not given up the idea of ​​revenge.

In the book, Liu Ningyan waited for Pei Xingju who was going south on business. She seized the opportunity to use Pei Xingju's power to take revenge, and then she pledged her love to Pei Xingju.

Liu Ningyan was a beauty, passionate, intelligent, and talented. The two of them soon became close friends, reciting poems and composing music. Later, when Pei Xingju returned to the capital, he took Liu Ningyan with him.

Thinking of this, Zhuang Wan was shocked.

She almost forgot that Pei Xingju had such a peach blossom, but in the book, Pei Xingju did not come to Hezhou, but met Liu Ningyan in Qingzhou.

Unexpectedly, the bond between the two was so deep that even if she came through and changed the plot, what was supposed to happen would still happen.