Chapter 121: CP (fourth update)
In the end, Zhuang Wan still went out with Pei Xingju, for no other reason than that Pei Xingju had a firm grasp on her lifeblood.
This bastard actually asked her to pay for the inn she stayed in last night. If she didn't want to pay, she could just go out with him.
At first, Zhuang Wan put down her chopsticks and said, "Just pay it. It's just a small amount of money for a room!"
However, when she ran to the counter and asked how much a night in a No. 1 room cost, the shopkeeper gestured with his hand and said "fifty taels", so Zhuang Wan got scared and ran back immediately.
"Well... I thought about it, since I have some free time anyway, it would be nice to go boating on the lake with you to relax."
Just like that, at noon, the two of them left in a carriage.
.
South of Liuli City lies a cluster of lakes, where the lakes connect to islands, and the islands to the sky. Looking down from a height, the scene is awe-inspiring, as if thousands of waters connect to the sky and the sea.
Among the many lakes, Mingjing Lake is the most famous. Its beautiful scenery is like a paradise. The lake bottom is covered with aquatic plants, making the lake water look like a clear green mirror, so people later called it Mingjing Lake.
On a sunny morning, the lake water sparkles like silver, and the reeds on the shore sway in the wind, which is really pleasant and comfortable.
Zhuang Wan took a deep breath as she stepped out of the carriage. If no one was around, she would have wanted to open her arms and shout.
Not far away, however, was Miss Ningyan's carriage; she had already been waiting at the pavilion by the lake. A maid held an umbrella for her, and paired with her bright red dress, it made her look ethereal.
Ningyan's attire was modest today, but a closer look revealed her exquisite attire. She was surprised to see Zhuang Wan getting off the carriage, but then she returned to normal.
Ningyan bowed softly with her slender figure: "Mr. Chen, Miss Ruyi, Ningyan is here to greet you."
Pei Xingju nodded lightly without saying much.
Instead, Zhuang Wan returned the greeting thoughtfully.
She hadn't dressed as a man today, but had returned to women's clothing. To avoid stealing the spotlight, she kept her attire simple: a goose-yellow double-breasted shirt, a plain pleated skirt, and a casual silk ribbon tied around her waist. She didn't even wear a shawl. Her hair was even simpler, a single mahogany hairpin holding her hair up loosely.
But she was so beautiful that even the noble ladies in the capital were jealous of her, let alone in a place like Liuli City.
Ning Yan was stunned for a moment, then laughed: "I didn't dare to recognize him just now, it turns out to be the young man from last night."
Zhuang Wan's identity as a woman was already known to everyone, so she didn't try to be coy. She bowed to her and said, "Miss Ningyan, I dressed as a man yesterday because of my status. I didn't mean to deceive you."
"It's okay, I know."
While talking to Zhuang Wan, Ning Yan secretly glanced at Pei Xingju, who was a few steps away, and said apologetically, "We had an appointment today in a hurry. I'm sorry for being abrupt."
"No hurry, no hurry. We have nothing to do anyway."
Zhuang Wan turned her head following Ning Yan's gaze and saw Pei Xingju holding a folding fan and admiring the scenery with his back to him.
Tsk tsk… He was clearly here to keep a date with someone else, yet now he's using Qiao as an excuse. Zhuang Wan, feeling contempt, spoke up for Miss Ningyan.
"Brother, what are you looking at? Come here."
The word "brother" gave Pei Xingju goosebumps. He was stunned for a while and recalled the story about half-siblings that Zhuang Wan had fabricated yesterday.
Feeling helpless, he turned around and played along with her: "What's the matter?"
Zhuang Wan winked at him suggestively, then said with a smile, "You were still thinking about Miss Ningyan at breakfast, so why are you just enjoying the scenery now?"
After he finished speaking, Pei Xingju stared at Zhuang Wan silently and oppressively.
Zhuang Wan sighed.
This guy, why is he so reserved! The book says that he was very fond of Liu Ningyan. After returning to the capital, he even collected rare orchids from all over the world for her and named the courtyard where Liu Ningyan lived Ningxiang Courtyard. It can be seen that he loved this girl Liu very much.
Now he doesn't know that he is about to fall in love. He is pretending to be noble and showing off to Miss Liu. He will cry in the future.
But then again, Zhuang Wan had a pretty good impression of Liu Ningyan. She was well-mannered, neither humble nor overbearing, and despite her pitiful life, she never gave up. If she were in his shoes, with her family broken and her life in a brothel, how could she maintain Liu Ningyan's composure and calmness?
In short, she admires Liu Ningyan very much. Among the many official CPs of Pei Xingju, she supports this pair.
Unfortunately, the book is almost entirely about power struggles and revenge, with very little romance. Now, we get to see a closer pairing: a powerful official and a down-and-out noblewoman, one wielding power in the imperial court, the other courting a wealthy young man in a brothel. One seemingly gentle and gentle, she's actually ruthless; the other, seemingly fragile and pathetic, is actually tough and intelligent. A close official of the emperor, hiding his identity and traveling south to investigate a crime, encounters a talented woman who endures the brothel and seeks revenge. Moved to tears, she pledges her love to him, and the two return to the capital together, a story of love and gratitude.
I just want to ask you if you like it?
At this moment, Zhuang Wan was not afraid of Pei Xingju at all. Seeing him looking at her with his eyelids lowered, she raised her eyebrows and glared back at him provocatively.
It was you who said you would come, but now you're leaving her alone to enjoy the scenery. What do you mean?
"Miss Ningyan," she said, "my brother is shy and has a thin skin."
Pei Xingju: “…”
Ningyan looked at Pei Xingju, then at Zhuang Wan, lowered her head and smiled bitterly.
How could she not know what Mr. Shen was thinking?
What's there to be shy about? Mr. Shen already has someone he likes, so even if he's shy, it's not towards her. His reason for coming to the appointment today is probably the same as hers: she wants something from him, and he wants something from her.
Moreover, Master Shen's status was extraordinary, and the aura he exuded was not something that ordinary people could possess. Such a person must be in a high position if not in the government. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he was a proud son of heaven, so how could he look down on a prostitute like her?
She knows herself well and won't make trouble for herself.
"Master Chen, Miss Ruyi," she said, "Ningyan has prepared some light wine and delicious food. How about we go up to the pleasure boat and enjoy the scenery?"
Zhuang Wan had an expression that said, "Look, Miss Ningyan is so reasonable." She glared at Pei Xingju in anger, and then followed Miss Ningyan onto the pleasure boat.
Pei Xingju: “…”
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