Chapter 21 Dressing Up and Drinking to Get Information Out of Each Other
Huali stood there stunned, watching as the wood-type card turned into a beam of light and flew away. She quickly took off after it.
The card hadn't flown far when it was stopped in mid-air by an invisible barrier.
The city lord's mansion actually has a chosen one!
The unexpected windfall filled Karin with joy; it was truly a stroke of luck!
She couldn't wait a moment longer and took a step forward, but just as she was about to step forward, her body was thrown away by a powerful spiritual force.
A thunderbolt struck from the sky; had she not dodged quickly, she would probably have been split in two.
"My God!" The surprise quickly turned into shock. Who set up such a powerful barrier?
The maid Lanxin ran over and, seeing the scorched ground, hurriedly said, "Miss, you've gone the wrong way. The West Garden is ahead; this is the North Garden. You'll get hurt if you accidentally enter the barrier."
Hua Li patted her chest, still shaken, and said, "Was this set up by your city lord?"
Lan Xin shook her head. "No, it was set up by the guests inside. Even the city lord is not allowed to enter."
Are there really guests like this in the world? Staying in someone's house and not letting them in? It's simply outrageous.
"Do you know who the guests inside are?"
Lanxin shook her head again: "Miss, please don't ask anymore. Let me take you back to your lodgings."
Undeterred, Huali continued to look inside. The wood-type card indicated that the chosen one was inside.
Since she can't get in, why doesn't he come out? We can just wait and see.
Thinking of this, Huali gave Aobai a look, and Aobai understood and jumped onto the branch, yawned and lay down.
*
Song Ran was clearly a meticulous and refined person.
The room contained no gold, silver, or jade artifacts, yet it revealed unique and ingenious designs everywhere. Directly opposite the bed was a bamboo couch, upon which sat a blue-and-white porcelain vase with two handles. Inside the vase was a crabapple blossom, its dark pink calyx just dangling from the tip of an incense burner.
Lan Xin introduced them one by one: "The young lady will be staying here. There are newly made dresses in the cabinet over there, and the hair ornaments and hairpins on the dressing table are all free for the young lady to use. There is warm water for bathing over there. I will help the young lady change her clothes."
"No, no, no." Seeing that the other person was about to touch her, Huali quickly backed away. "I don't have the habit of being served. Thank you, you should rest for a while."
Although Lanxin was puzzled, she obediently withdrew, saying, "Then I will do your makeup after you finish your bath."
After the surroundings quieted down again, Huali took a deep breath, quickly took off her clothes, and lay down in the bathtub.
The warm water gently covered her body, and the comfortable Karin squinted her eyes, almost bursting into tears of joy.
This is the kind of life a person should live.
I time-traveled, fine, but I didn't enjoy any of the good things. All I did every day was do things that would kill people.
Huali raised her hand and gripped the wood-themed card in her palm, gazing thoughtfully at the five small gray stars above it.
The card needs to constantly interact with the chosen one to light up the star, but she doesn't know who the chosen one is or how long they've been staying here.
I just heard Songran say that the God-Celebrating Festival is in three days. The other party should be able to show up. I should take this opportunity to identify the target.
Ideally, we could work on the Lian Zhuo line in tandem, focusing on a time management master.
After making up her mind, Huali's thoughts were swept away by the heat, and she yawned and slowly closed her eyes.
After an unknown amount of time, Huali was awakened by a series of urgent knocks on the door.
"Miss, miss, do you need any help?" Lanxin's voice rang out from outside the door.
The water beneath her had turned cold, and Huali shivered as she quickly stood up. "Wait a moment." She swiftly pulled a garment from her storage bag and put it on. "It's ready, you can come in now."
Lanxin entered without asking any questions, only saying, "It's good that you're alright, Miss. I'll help you with your hair and makeup."
Since her time travel to the present, Huali has only ever tied her hair in a ponytail, let alone applied makeup; she simply doesn't have the time for that.
Which girl doesn't love to be pretty? Huali, looking beautiful, readily accepted it.
Lanxin's technique looked professional as she guided her through a series of cleaning sessions with various bottles and jars. Finally, she took out a light green ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) from the cabinet and said, "Please try this on, young lady."
"This isn't a good idea..."
"It's alright. There are no women in the mansion, so it's just sitting there. It's a good use of it for you to wear it, Miss." Lanxin shook her head.
Hearing this, Huali stopped refusing, though she found it a little strange.
Why make so many skirts if there are no women? Are they just for the guests?
Song Ran is so thoughtful. A true gentleman, definite plus!
Passing through the blooming crabapple trees in the pavilion, Huali deliberately took a detour towards the North Garden.
The barrier remained completely still, and the scene inside was impossible to see.
Ao Bai jumped onto her shoulder, "He shouldn't be coming out anytime soon. Host is really lucky to have found a second Chosen One so easily."
Huali nodded, "It's okay, I'll try to get some information out of Songran later."
Ideally, you should be able to get information out of the person while also discerning their preferences to successfully complete the task.
*
During the meal, Lian Zhuo and Rong Xing had already taken their seats.
Rong Xing is a very outgoing person who can get along with anyone. At this moment, he is talking to Song Ran about the danger they encountered in Lingwu Mountain.
Upon hearing that he had been injured by a half-demon, Song Ran asked with surprise and concern, "That half-demon was so powerful? I happen to know some healing techniques; would you like me to take a look?"
Rongxing shook his head. "Lianzhuo gave me a life-restoring pill, and I'm fine now. I was able to deliver the letter thanks to him and Huali this time."
Song Ran turned to look at the person by the window.
Lian Zhuo is looking at a crabapple blossom that peeks through the window lattice.
The snow-white robe on him resembled a ribbon draped from the shoulder of a gilded Buddha statue in a grand hall; simply sitting there, he seemed to capture the entire world within a small space.
Song Ran couldn't detect any spiritual power in him, but for some reason, she didn't dare to look directly into his eyes.
"I haven't had a chance to ask yet, who is the Master?" Composing herself, Song Ran tried to start a conversation.
"Disciple of the Ten Thousand Buddhas School, Amitabha."
A hint of surprise flashed quickly in Song Ran's eyes. "I see. I heard that Buddhist disciple Tan Chen of the Buddhist sect recently announced his seclusion. Is that true?"
Lian Zhuo nodded, "Yes."
Rong Xing chimed in, "The Buddha's cultivation speed is simply terrifying. He must have already reached the Void Refinement stage when he emerges from seclusion this time." He craned his neck to look outside the door, "Why hasn't Hua Li arrived yet?"
Song Ran sighed, "People's circumstances are always different."
Lian Zhuo was not used to dealing with people, so she just silently looked at the crabapple tree outside the window.
Suddenly, the hand that was counting prayer beads stopped.
The girl walking under the tree wore a light green silk dress with silver-embroidered begonia patterns that flowed in the moonlight. A shawl hung down her arm, with a small silver bell tied at the end, which jingled softly with her steps.
Huali casually brushed aside the crabapple blossoms that adorned her hair, looked up and waved to Lianzhuo with a bright smile. The floral decoration on her forehead, combined with her lively appearance, seemed to bring the whole of spring into her life.
"Lian Zhuo! Do you think I'm pretty?"
Huali ran up to Lianzhuo and circled around her. "How about it? Don't you recognize me?"
Lian Zhuo lowered her eyes, "Amitabha."
Hua Li hadn't expected him to say anything complimentary; he was such a stickler for things. She turned to Song Ran and said, "Young Master Song Ran, your Lan Xin's cooking is truly superb, thumbs up!"
She almost didn't recognize herself when she looked in the mirror just now.
"I'm glad Miss Huali likes it." Songran smiled gently.
Rong Xing, standing to the side, exclaimed with amazement, "I didn't expect you to look so good dressed up."
Huali hummed in agreement. "Of course." She sat down familiarly next to Lianzhuo. "Sorry I'm late. I've been a bit tired lately and somehow I fell asleep halfway through my bath."
"It's alright, young lady, you must be tired from your journey. Everyone, please start eating. This stir-fried bamboo shoot is made from freshly dug spring bamboo shoots from the mountain, it's very delicious."
Huali's eyes lit up. She thanked him, picked up her chopsticks, took a few slices, and ate them. They tasted quite good.
She gave Songran a thumbs-up and then placed another piece of lotus root in the bowl with her chopsticks: "Try it."
Rong Xing stopped eating and looked at Hua Li with a face that said: Are you crazy?
Huali ignored him, and instead smiled as she placed her chin on her hand and served all the dishes she thought were delicious to Lianzhuo.
Whether we eat it or not is another matter. Of course, we should share good things; otherwise, how can we build closer relationships?
Lian Zhuo looked at the small mountain of tea in her bowl, remained silent for a moment, then reached out and took a sip of the spring tea.
“I almost forgot, this is our Chenliu City specialty, ‘Spring Awakening Begonia.’ It’s made by taking the unopened begonia buds, sealing them in an ice jar, and burying them under the tree. Now is the best time of year to appreciate it. Let me fill your cups.”
I was just wondering how to get information out of him, and here comes the opportunity.
Huali immediately stood up, took the wine pot from Songran's hand, and said, "I'll take it. Thank you for your hospitality, Lord City Lord. We won't leave until we're drunk tonight."
He tilted his head back and drank the wine in his glass, then smiled broadly and gestured to her with a smile of relief.
Song Ran paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, "Alright, let's drink until we drop!"
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