"Please dress up Master to look more ethereal," the lover instructed.

"Alright," Yiren pressed her mistress down in front of the dressing table, let down all her hair, and gently tied it into a fairy-like bun. She then picked a bright, blooming plum blossom and fixed it on top, revealing her smooth, round forehead. She then used gold powder to draw a budding plum blossom between her eyebrows, which complemented the plum blossom in her hair.

After the two maids finished dressing their master, Nan looked in the mirror and froze for a moment. The two maids then clapped their hands excitedly, and the job was done.

“This isn’t celestial energy, it’s demonic energy,” Nan Yi whispered.

The mistress handed her a purse and winked at her, saying, "Who cares about being ethereal or demonic? If you stand on the street today, you'll be more beautiful than Xi Shi and put Wang Zhaojun to shame. But there's one thing: you absolutely mustn't let your veil fall off, or I'll lose my life." The mistress emphasized this point.

“Yes, my lady, I still want to get married, so please be careful,” Yiren said, holding her mistress’s hand.

Nan Yi hesitated for a moment and said, "Maybe we shouldn't go."

"No!" the two girls said in unison. They had worked so hard, and it shouldn't be for nothing.

Yiren pushed her master forward, saying, "You should go." Her master said one thing but meant another; he clearly wanted to go.

When Nan Yi arrived at the West Corner Gate, Shunzi was already waiting for her. When Nan Yi appeared, Shunzi was stunned until his lover's gentle laughter rang out. He scratched his head slightly embarrassedly and smiled awkwardly.

"Little Shunzi, you must keep a close eye on your master today and protect him well. There can be no mistakes," the lover instructed, hands on her hips.

Nan rolled her eyes. "Forget it, who knows who's protecting whom?" Xiao Shunzi was so small.

Yiren covered her mouth and said, "Master, please maintain your ladylike image." Nan tapped her forehead with his fingertip, not knowing what they were saying about her behind her back.

"We're leaving," she said, leaping directly onto the carriage. The two maids exchanged a wry smile. "Ladies, mistress."

"I know," Nan Yi said, making a face as she lowered the carriage curtain.

Xiao Shunzi drove the carriage, carrying Nan Yi, to Jinfu Restaurant, where they were to meet Xiao Xi. "Shunzi, park the carriage first, I'll wait for you on the second floor."

Okay.

As soon as Nan entered, the once noisy first floor fell silent. The woman in front of him had her face covered by a white veil, revealing only her forehead, which was as white as jade. A golden plum blossom on her forehead was enchanting and dazzling. Her eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and her eyes were like clear spring water. She wore a red-collared white dress, which was simple yet luxurious, and she looked like a fairy from the heavens.

Xiao Xiben was sitting on the second-floor railing when he saw the commotion below. He frowned and smiled bitterly, then quickly got up and went downstairs. He grabbed Nan Yi and ran out. Xiao Shunzi was about to follow, but when he saw his master suddenly run away, he chased after him without saying a word.

A long "shush" came from behind, sounding like regret or sigh.

The two walked to the center of the street, and Xiao Xi said speechlessly, "You dare to come out like this?" It's practically inviting thieves, or rather, flower thieves.

Nan Yi took Xiao Xi's hand, her tone sullen, "We can't let the girls' good intentions go to waste."

"Looks like I have a big responsibility tonight," Xiao Xi raised his eyebrows, grinned roguishly, lifted Nan's chin, and said, "Beauty, come home with me, and I'll make sure you live a life of luxury from now on."

Nan lowered her head slightly, her eyes flashing, and covered her mouth with her veil, chuckling softly, "This servant obeys." The two laughed heartily and rushed into the crowd.

"Xixi, let's go guess the lantern riddles," Nan Yi said, looking at the lanterns all over the street. Men, women, and children were gathered in front of each shop and stall, trying to guess the lantern riddles, and cheers could be heard from time to time.

She wanted to guess, but she was too ignorant, and the ancients valued subtlety, even making a riddle sound very literary.

Xiao Xi shook his head and spread his hands, "I'm not good at it either. I'm fine with solving cases and catching bad guys, but I'm not interested in this."

"Sigh, you only realize how little you know when you need it. We can't go home empty-handed," Nan sighed, looking at the lanterns. Xiao Xi patted her shoulder, "Then let's buy a few lanterns to take home."

"rational,"

The two of them picked and chose, and walked to a stall that specialized in lotus lanterns. Nan quickly slipped to the front of the stall, pointed to an eight-treasure golden lotus lantern and said, "Let me see this one."

"I want this one," two female voices said to the shopkeeper, pointing to the same lamp one after the other.

The shop owner was an honest man. Two stunning beauties were stunned when they saw his lanterns, almost drooling. Nan Yi and the woman looked at each other, neither of them expecting to be interested in the same lantern.

Nan Yi secretly observed her and thought to himself that this woman was truly like a lotus flower emerging from clear water. Her oval face was set with a pair of large almond eyes, and her slender eyebrows were delicate. Between the corners of her eyes and the corners of her eyebrows, there was a shy and delicate feeling that made people want to cherish her. She was dressed in white like snow, with a slender figure and a beauty like Xi Shi, but a sickly Xi Shi.

The woman was also staring at Nan Yi, secretly surprised that there was someone whose appearance could rival hers. She had always been arrogant and proud, and now that she had met a formidable opponent, she wanted to compete with him.

"Boss, I want this lamp," the charming voice sent a shiver down the boss's spine, and he couldn't help but want to get the lamp for her.

Xiao Xi said indignantly, "You're so unreasonable! We clearly liked this lamp first. Don't you know about first come, first served?"

The passersby who were originally watching the lanterns by the stall also gathered around to watch the spectacle, which featured two beautiful women, one as graceful as a peony fairy and the other as elegant as a secluded orchid in a deep valley.

Nan Yi, not wanting to cause trouble, pulled Xiao Xi aside and whispered, "Forget it, let's look at something else. It's just a broken lamp." The strange woman seemed hostile towards her, but she didn't think she had offended her.

It's better to avoid trouble.

“No, I want this lamp today,” Xiao Xi refused; she wasn’t as easy to talk to as Nan Yi. The woman glanced at them both, her expression a mix of mockery and provocation, and called out to her back, her voice slightly choked with sobs, “Brother,” as if she had suffered endless grievances, her voice poignant and moving.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!