Chapter 3
Since they parted that night, Nian Qing was assigned by Gu Luoyan to work in the kitchen.
Every day she just helped the chef prepare dishes and cook. Since she was new here, it was common for her to mess things up. So she was despised and scolded, and then she was no longer assigned to do more work. She was happily idle every day.
Nian Qing had asked her if she could stay with her, but Gu Luoyan just glanced at the maidservant at the back, who lowered her eyebrows and eyes, and said she didn't want her.
Nian Qing thought that he was afraid that she would not give up.
Nianqing sat on the stone block outside the door, peeling garlic, thinking about all sorts of things, and the garlic in his hand was peeled into pieces.
The Thirteenth Master in the room was yelling again. She didn't respond, and continued to wander around.
It wasn't until the clang of a shovel that a small, apron-clad old man stormed out of the door. Seeing Nianqing staring at the sky, furious, he leaned over to take a look at the garlic in the small basin in her hand, and felt like vomiting blood.
He jumped up and hit Nian Qing on the head, cursing, "You lazy bastard! Look at what you've done!"
The person sitting on the stool dodged by turning her head. Then she turned around to see the Thirteenth Master, then looked down at the garlic in the small basin - it was full of holes, and only the size of a fingernail remained after she peeled the garlic.
"How can this be used!" Thirteenth Master missed and jumped in anxiety. At this time, the person in front of him said calmly: "Oh, I didn't notice."
In the blink of an eye, the Thirteenth Master's face turned ashen. He pushed and shoved, but Nian Qing dodged him again. He snatched the small basin from the ground and walked towards the door without looking back, cursing as he walked: "Go, go, go! Go and dream your daydreams, and don't humiliate me here! How did I end up with someone like you..."
Nian Qing stood up, clapped his hands, looked at Thirteenth Master's back and called out, "Li Shisan, I'm going out for a walk."
The old man turned around, his eyes wide as copper bells, and roared, "Call me Thirteenth Master, you uneducated fellow!"
"Okay." Nian Qing waved at him, "I'm leaving now, Li Shisan. You take care of the kitchen."
"Scoundrel!"
·
During the day, the Hong Kong Coliseum was completely quiet. The actors and actresses were all catching up on their sleep, and most of the guests had important matters to attend to and were not entertained in the hall. Only a few servants and attendants remained, sweeping and tidying the courtyards and bridges, preparing for the coming of night.
Nian Qing was wandering aimlessly when she suddenly saw a small butterfly fluttering its wings into the courtyard behind the wall. Her gaze was drawn to it for a moment, but then she looked around, seeing everyone else busy around, and saw that there were few people around. Her footsteps tapped the wall, and she leaped over it.
Inside, there was a flowerbed filled with unopened flowers. Nianqing chased the butterfly, but after only a few steps, he heard crying coming from the house. He formed a spell with his fingers and hid his form. Just then, the door opened, revealing several weeping prostitutes. The one they were surrounding made Nianqing instinctively want to step back.
The man shook his head and sighed repeatedly. His hair was as white as snow, but his face was handsome and delicate.
The demon can see unusual things. The reason she retreated was because she saw the Buddha's light and the merits surrounding him like mist.
Those who are truly kind will surely be rewarded with blessings. Nianqing could smell the aroma of herbs from the man, and judging by his attire, he must be a doctor who saves lives and heals the wounded.
I only heard a prostitute say: "Doctor Rong, Madam..."
Rong Ti bowed helplessly and said, "I'm sorry, I can't help you."
Then there was crying all around, which made Nianqing feel upset. Several prostitutes escorted the doctor out, leaving the door slightly open. Nianqing couldn't help but take a peek out of curiosity.
The room was dark and lifeless. The person lying on the bed with her eyes closed was none other than the guide nanny whose spirit had been devoured when she first arrived.
Nian Qing glanced at it and then looked away. Her eyes trembled, and she murmured softly, "It's just the separation of life and death, the law of the three realms."
At that moment, he began to blame the butterfly that led the way. Without stopping any longer, he jumped out of the wall, quickened his pace, and left there.
"It's getting more and more unsettled every day." Li Shisan was picking out some food. Nian Qing, who sat beside her, didn't respond. He pouted and continued to talk to himself, "Have you heard? The old woman in our front tavern is ill. I don't know what's wrong with her. I heard she was already unconscious when she was found, and her face looked terrible. These past few days, she's been relying on the little girls she used to take care of to keep her alive."
Nian Qing didn't answer, so Li Shisan continued his conversation: "I think he'll be dead soon."
Nian Qing glared at him and said, "Shut up." She put down the dish in her hand and said to Li Shisan, "You keep nagging like a woman."
"You are such a jerk, girl! You are so angry! I..."
"Li Shisan," Nian Qing suddenly interrupted him. She rested her chin on her hand and looked at the fading light. "I don't understand. They shouldn't be related at all, but why would someone cry so unbearably, especially for someone like that?"
"Isn't she also a dispensable character?"
Li Shisan fell silent, lowering his head to pick some vegetables again. His voice softened, "What's the difference between living in this Red Pavilion and the palace? We're not related, but we look out for each other. Whether it's hatred or fake, at least we're alive and there's agreement, so there's hope. Sometimes, even the smallest favor is enough to remember for a lifetime."
Nian Qing couldn't quite understand what he said, and finally said, "You people are so complicated."
Li Shisan laughed when he heard it: "What's the matter? You talk like you're not a human being. You're so heartless, girl."
He suddenly stopped laughing and sighed, "But it's better to leave like this. At least I'm out of this damn place. There are still people who care about me. That old woman can't be considered at a loss."
"Are you envious?" Nian Qing suddenly asked him.
"That's not it..." Li Shisan stood up, "I still want to live." He knocked on Nian Qing's head, and this time he hit him. Nian Qing didn't dodge, "Pick the remaining vegetables." After saying that, he walked towards the door.
·
"Strange! Here's a special offer, sent just for you." Li Shisan looked at the letter beneath the wooden sign. It simply read, "From Nianqing." He then looked at Nianqing and placed the food in the lunch box.
"Who?" Nian Qing came over and asked doubtfully.
"King, Gu Luoyan." Li Shisan said nothing more. It was obvious that King wanted to summon her, otherwise she would not have a private chef to cook her meals.
"Okay." Nian Qing didn't hesitate, picked up the lunch box and was about to leave. Just before she left, Li Shisan called her back. She turned around and saw the old man's expression like this for the first time.
Li Shisan said to Nianqing, "Be careful with your words and actions."
"I don't talk as much as you do." Nian Qing waved his hand, "I understand."
"You little bastard! Let me see..." Li Shisan's voice gradually weakened, "How do I deal with you?"
The leader's food box was made of red sandalwood and covered with Persian velvet for insulation. Nian Qing was often stared at along the way.
She continued deeper into the cave, but not towards Taohuawu. Step by step, she followed the two guides, bypassing the bright lights and feasting, and witnessed countless laughter and pursuits.
Finally, I escaped from the hustle and bustle and entered a deep pavilion. The archway was engraved with the descent of the goddess of Luo River. Inside, there were thousands of curtains, and only a few candles scattered on a crane-shaped lampstand.
The old maid respectfully announced at the archway, "Dinner is here."
Four maids emerged, a woman in the middle, her face still dignified. She nodded, dismissed the maid, knelt down, and took the maid's silver chopsticks. After the maid had set the dishes, she tasted each one. Only then did she put down her chopsticks and nodded, "Send it."
At this time, Nian Qing also bowed and was about to leave, but was stopped by the woman.
"Don't worry, our girl wants to see you." After saying that, he pulled her into the archway.
The curtains were thin as gauze, and the air was filled with the fragrance of agarwood. Dishes were laid out one by one on the small table. The woman, clad in a python-green robe with wide sleeves, sat upright on a futon. She looked over, put down her bone-white pipe, covered her mouth with her sleeves, and reappeared, her face more disturbing than any night flower.
"Miss, someone is coming." The woman said to Gu Luoyan.
"Thank you for your hard work, Aunt Qiu." Gu Luoyan nodded to the woman.
Qiu Niang bowed and took her leave, then said to Nian Qing while glancing sideways, "Whether I should say it or not is a matter of thought." After that, she lifted the curtain and went out, leaving only the lingering scent of sandalwood.
Gu Luoyan picked up his chopsticks and asked Nianqing, "Can you eat?"
"without."
"Then let's eat together."
"I dare not." Nian Qing imitated the maid's manner and bowed to Gu Luoyan. "I don't have the courage to serve the meal of Master Kuishou. Besides, the aunt just now told me to think carefully."
Gu Luoyan smiled and said, "You learn these things very quickly."
"Nianqing." Gu Luoyan called her.
"Um?"
"Make yourself at ease. I will give you a name."
"Then I'll sit down." Nian Qing glanced at the chair beside him, and without Gu Luoyan's consent, he sat down cross-legged on it.
Gu Luoyan laughed out loud and looked at Nian Qing: "You really don't look like a girl."
"But that's like you."
Gu Luoyan ate her meal in small bites, mostly vegetables, and only a small piece of Dongpo pork. Seeing Nianqing staring at the meat on the table, she raised her lips and teased her, "You really don't want to eat?"
"I dare not..." Nian Qing asked her, "Why don't you eat meat?"
Gu Luoyan stopped eating and looked at her: "I am a dancer."
"What's wrong with the dancer? Food turns into energy, and energy makes dancing better." Nian Qing looked at Gu Luoyan. The figure in the candlelight was as bright as the moon. She sighed, "You're too thin. Eat more."
Gu Luoyan was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter.
Even the man's bold words and laughter were pleasing to the eye, Nian Qing thought.
"Why are you laughing? I'm telling the truth."
Gu Luoyan seemed to be laughing until tears came out of her eyes. She wiped them with her fingers and said to Nian Qing, "You are the first person to say this to me."
People in this world simply compare women to objects. Their beauty, both external and internal, is merely a means to please men, to increase their value. This applies to commoners and the rich alike. Gu Luoyan often hears that her body has captivated countless men, but no one has ever told her that she's too thin, that she should eat more, and be better suited for dancing. Perhaps it's not for dancing, but simply that she eats whenever she wants, for her own pleasure.
"Nianqing." She called her.
It is because seeing her like this makes me even more unbearable.
The smile on her face turned into melancholy. Gu Luoyan looked at Nian Qing, as if she was looking through her. She said, "That madam, the madam who fell ill in the previous hall, I heard that she was the one who brought you into the Red Hall."
Nian Qing did not deny: "Yes."
"Then do you know the cause of her illness?"
"I don't know."
Gu Luoyan stood up, stroking the table with his fingertips. Without looking at her again, he only asked, "Then is her illness related to you?"
Without any doubt, Gu Luoyan calmly stated the answer she already knew.
Nian Qing continued to look at her, without a single murmur of doubt, and replied calmly, "It's nothing."
"Nianqing." She called her again, but with her back to her.
Nian Qing could hear Gu Luoyan's breathing. Her python-colored dress obscured the light. Suddenly, she seemed to be able to see Gu Luoyan's expression as she struggled to speak.
Finally, he spoke with difficulty:
“I saw it that day.”
"What?"
"There are fireflies in your eyes."
Suddenly startled, Nian Qing's hands transformed into fox claws. The taboos spoken of by the tribe swirled in his mind, and murderous intent gradually grew.
"Tell me, what did you see?"
"I'm not afraid of you. It's just that their lives are innocent." She suddenly turned around and saw the pair of deformed beast claws.
"Nianqing, can you save her?" Gu Luoyan choked.
"Tsk, why are you people always like this?" Nian Qing approached Gu Luoyan and whispered, "I said I want to kill you now, but you are still thinking about other things."
"Because it's you," Gu Luoyan called her, "I believe you."
"Why do you trust me? You already know I'm not human. According to my tribe, if I let you go today, you'll bring me endless trouble in the future."
"What should I do? If you really want to kill me, I can't stop you. I just ask you to be quick and not make me struggle." Gu Luoyan looked at Nian Qing firmly. She leaned over and grasped Nian Qing's paw. "Why are you arguing with me? Why are you asking me the reason? If you want to, I'm already a ghost."
"Why do you trust me?" she asked again.
"You are Nian Qing, and your name comes from me. My Nian Qing, why shouldn't I believe you?"
"Silly." Nian Qing struggled to break free from her, but was extremely careful not to hurt her hand. "Being too affectionate will eventually hurt you."
"Don't regret it then."
"It is because we are sentimental that we become human beings," said Gu Luoyan.
Nian Qing transformed into a human form again, pointed at the table of food and said, "I want a table of good food and wine, are you willing to give it to me?"
Gu Luoyan looked at her, not understanding what she meant for a moment.
"Save the person who almost made you cry," Nian Qing sighed. "Reward."
Gu Luoyan's face showed surprise: "Really?"
"Would you like to?"
"really!"
A smile appeared on Nian Qing's face. She turned around and looked at Gu Luoyan and said, "Wait for me."
The next moment, his body turned into smoke and flew through the wall.
·
Entered the courtyard again.
Before he even crossed the wall, he was struck by an inexplicable silence. The lights were dimmer here, and since he was at a corner, Nian Qing felt something was amiss.
The damp and cool dark room nourishes yin and breeds filth.
Nian Qing was about to climb over the wall when he suddenly heard the clinking sound of silver coins colliding.
The shadows beside the wall cast a small patch of darkness, and some moisture inexplicably seeped onto the wall.
A gust of cold wind blew, and the night sky was starless and moonless. Nian Qing quickly climbed over the wall and saw that the flowers in the garden in the courtyard had bloomed.
——A sea of scarlet, the flowers of the other shore are in full bloom.
She wanted to rush into the house, but the lantern hanging on the eaves of the door suddenly caught fire. The flames hissed and turned into green fireflies, which looked eerie.
The deathly aura accompanied by the gloomy wind came from all directions, and there was another sound of silver coins clinking.
The iron chain occasionally hit the wall, making a dull sound. Nian Qing instantly transformed into fox ears and a fox tail, leaning forward and glaring at the person in front of him.
The stench of decay and blood filled her face, and she looked up to see a figure standing by the wall. He was dressed in a white shirt, holding an iron chain, and wearing a tall hat.
He was disheveled, his long tongue hanging out, and blood gushing from all his orifices. Just as he was about to drift toward the door, he suddenly spotted Nian Qing. His eyes turned in a strange way, staring at her, blood streaming down his face.
People say that he is the messenger of the underworld and the soul-collecting official - his name is "Death Has Fate".
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