Chapter 26 Can I bind my chest?
"Sleeve Fairy Pavilion" mainly serves female customers, so the most prominent and central position in the store is filled with women's ready-made clothes, while men's robes only occupy two rows in an inconspicuous corner of the store.
Ning Jue looked around twice before spotting the men's clothing. He walked over and picked some out.
The proprietress followed his gaze, assuming the young master wanted to buy something for her, and went over to introduce the clothes, saying, "Our men's clothing is a bit slow to arrive. To be honest, these two shelves are all from last year. Since you are so patronizing my Xiuxian Pavilion, I must tell you the truth. If you are not in a hurry to wear them, you might as well wait a couple more days and then come and see the new winter clothes."
That's how you do business: be greedy when you should be, and be honest when you should be.
Otherwise, if you only try to cheat and be cunning, your business will never grow big.
Ning Jue shook her head, casually picked one out, and said, "No need. Do you have her size in this one?"
The proprietress didn't react for a moment.
Ning Jue explained, "Give it to her."
The proprietress suddenly realized what was going on and guessed what was happening: "Are you going to dress the young lady in men's clothing? Hmm... this style doesn't have a suitable size. The dark gray robe next to it is a bit small, but it should be able to fit the young lady's slender frame."
Ning Jue took out a silver ingot from his pocket and handed it over: "Clothes, shoes, and a plain hairpin, please help her get a complete set and make her look more presentable."
The proprietress accepted the money with both hands, smiling and eagerly replying, "Okay!"
...
The room was well heated, and Bai Hua tried on all of her outfits. A thin layer of sweat appeared on her forehead, and her cheeks were flushed.
As I stepped out of the cubicle and caught my breath, the proprietress came up to me with a smile and handed me a set of coarse cloth clothes. The style was plain, and the color was dull and unattractive.
Bai Hua asked in confusion, "What is this?"
Ning Jue spoke first: "Change into this outfit and dress up as my servant. It will be easier for you to come with me to the Zang residence for a drink later."
Bai Hua was taken aback at first, blinked, and hesitated without responding.
Her original plan was to wait for the young master to attend the banquet at the Zang residence, then make an excuse to return to Xianyang Mountain first, and then take the opportunity to slip away. She changed her route and went directly to the secret contact point to contact her cousin.
Unexpectedly, the young master intended to take her along, and even thoughtfully selected men's clothing for her to disguise herself.
Bai Hua had no choice but to decline the offer, saying, "The celebration banquet is mostly attended by male guards, so it might not be appropriate for me to go. How about we part ways at the fork in the road? You go to the Zang residence, and I'll return to Xianyang Mountain."
Ning Jue said, "If you want to go back first, that's fine, I'll take you."
Bai Hua shook her head and declined again, "Xianyang Mountain is several miles away from Jiling City. It would really delay your journey back and forth, so there's no need to trouble yourself. Don't worry, I know the route well and I can get back on my own."
The two spent quite a bit of time at the clothing shop. Winter days are short and it gets dark early. If he were to take her up the mountain, there wouldn't be enough time to get back. But if he didn't take her, or only took her to the foot of the mountain, he was worried about her walking alone at night on the mountain path.
After thinking for a moment, Ning Jue insisted on his statement: "Either I take you back, or you come with me."
We either go together, or neither of us goes.
Ning Jue's statement was clear.
Bai Hua pursed her lips, knowing that she had no choice and no way to bargain.
After hesitating for a moment, she had no choice but to agree to go to the banquet with him.
It was the first time Bai Hua had worn men's clothing, and she was quite excited about this dashing outfit.
Her gaze lingered on a bronze mirror in front of her, where she saw herself looking like a handsome young man. She didn't find herself unfamiliar with the mirror; her features were familiar, and she looked slightly immature. In a flash, she seemed to see her brother just coming of age.
Her thoughts drifted, and she couldn't help but feel worried, once again concerned about her brother's safety in the capital.
In this freezing weather, my brother is imprisoned with no one to take care of him. He must be suffering terribly. I wonder if he has been tortured, and how long his body can hold on...
The proprietress held a powder puff, dipped it in dark-skinned powder, and swept it back and forth a few times under her dark eyelashes.
Bai Hua felt an itch and snapped back to reality, glancing at her reflection in the mirror in a daze.
At this moment, the skin on her cheeks was noticeably darker than her neck. The proprietress helped her with the details, applying a dull powder to her face to cover up her overly conspicuous fair skin. In this way, if an unfamiliar person glanced at her and introduced her as a handsome young man, it wouldn't seem out of place or arouse suspicion.
Furthermore, the proprietress, with considerable experience, took out a jar of specially blended earthy yellow paste, the texture of which resembled flour paste. She dipped her fingertip in it and applied it to both of her earlobes, then evenly mixed it with fine powder. In this way, the traces of her ear piercings were easily and perfectly concealed.
Bai Hua lowered her eyes, concealing her thoughts, and thanked him.
The proprietress chuckled and said, "It's nothing, just a quick thing to do. I'm also a bit of a playful person. I often use this trick when I go to places where women are not comfortable with my brother."
Bai Hua's heart clenched, but she didn't reply.
The proprietress looked at Ning Jue and asked, "Young master, what do you think of the young lady's appearance and attire? Does it need any further alterations?"
Ning Jue's gaze never left Bai Hua, watching her transform from a delicate beauty with flowing black hair into the handsome and elegant woman she is now. If it weren't for that one undeniable flaw, she would indeed have been an excellent disguise.
He looked away and asked directly, "Can I bind my chest?"
Upon hearing this, Bai Hua's dark eyelashes fluttered, caught off guard and embarrassed.
Her face flushed, she lowered her eyes and stole a glance. From the front, it didn't seem like much, but when she turned slightly to the side, her ample breasts were clearly standing out.
This kind of behavior will inevitably give it away easily.
The proprietress is worldly-wise and wouldn't be bothered by such a comment.
Then I thought, if the two of them don't even shy away from such private issues, what else could they be but lovers?
So he replied truthfully, feeling there was nothing he couldn't say: "To answer your question, young master, binding the chest is the first step in the disguise. As usual, I wrapped the girl's chest three times, but the girl's figure is so beautiful that three times was not enough. She still looks shapely and plump... But it doesn't matter. I will wrap the girl two more times later, trying not to make her uncomfortable, and also to make sure that no outsiders can tell."
Ning Jue seemed to be deep in thought. His lips moved, but he didn't say anything. He just nodded.
Looking at Bai Hua again, her head drooped lower and lower, like a timid little quail with its head bowed, and the tips of her ears and neck turned strangely red.
However, the red was not as eye-catching as usual; her original skin tone was made duller, and the disguise was indeed effective.
Ning Jue said to her, "If you're going to put on an act, you have to be thorough. You have to pretend, so you have to pay attention to the details."
Bai Hua's voice was muffled: "I...I know."
After saying that, she was still too shy to raise her head.
Ning Jue sighed, patted her shoulder, and said gently, "Go ahead. It's getting late. We still need to go to the market to buy a couple of decent gifts for our visit. After you've changed, shall we set off?"
Bai Hua responded softly, suppressing her burning face, and did as he said.
She went to the private room, and the proprietress followed her in to lend her a hand.
A short while later, the two emerged from inside, their breaths slightly ragged.
Ning Jue looked over, slowly letting go of his worries, and wrapped it two more times... finally, it was flat.
If you don't look closely, he already looks about 70-80% like a man.
...
The two left the clothing shop without wasting any time, but they arrived at the Zang residence a little late.
The invitation was presented at the door, and the two were led to the front yard by a servant.
The Zang family mansion is a three-courtyard house, which is definitely considered a large household in Jiling City. After passing through the hanging flower gate and walking a while, you will see a row of low houses. A row of maids are standing at the door of the houses, each holding a tray. They must be waiting in line for the food to be cooked so that the hot dishes can be delivered to the table in the front yard in time.
The aroma of the food was so strong that Bai Hua touched her belly and quickly hurried away from the area, otherwise her stomach would start to rumble.
The Zang family had prepared quite a few tables for their guests. As soon as you entered the front courtyard, the noise and bustle were palpable, and the atmosphere was noticeably lively.
She glanced around and counted in her mind; there were more than ten tables.
Fortunately, the Zang family mansion was large enough; otherwise, it would have been impossible to accommodate so many people. The scale of the event was almost comparable to a small palace banquet.
However, the atmosphere was much more relaxed and comfortable than that of a palace banquet.
Zang Fan arrived without even saying hello, and immediately took the fine wine that Ning Jue had brought without any ceremony.
"Shall we get drunk together tonight?"
Ning Jue shook his head and replied with a smile, "I'll keep you company."
With a shift in his gaze, Zang Fan finally noticed Bai Hua. At first, his eyes were blank, but then he realized what she meant, and his eyes lit up.
Zang Fan asked in surprise, "What's with your outfit?"
Bai Hua replied: "A low-key outfit."
Zang Fan raised an eyebrow and asked, "What, is this Ning Jue's request?"
Bai Hua defended her master, saying, "Young master is thinking of me, and I am doing this voluntarily."
Zang Fan: "..."
He ignored Bai Hua and instead glared at Ning Jue with a deep smile, saying bluntly, "You're being stingy. You brought him out, why are you hiding him?"
Ning Jue explained the reason: "If she wears women's clothing to the banquet, she will probably feel uncomfortable."
Zang Fan didn't seem to mind: "Why would I feel uncomfortable? There are seats in the inner quarters too. I'll just ask my mother to make sure she's well taken care of."
“That’s different.” Ning Jue looked at Bai Hua, paused, raised his hand to straighten her hat, and said, “It has nothing to do with men and women. Rather than having a bunch of strangers surrounding her, it’s better to keep her by my side. That way, she’ll be more comfortable.”
"You're just being presumptuous." Zang Fan scoffed, then retorted to Bai Hua, "Is what he said true? You insist on being near him?"
Actually, attending the banquet today was a last-minute decision, and Bai Hua really didn't care where she sat.
She wasn't keen on socializing, but she wasn't shy either. Back in Jingqi, she had even met the Empress, and she always knew the proper etiquette. Now, dealing with ordinary courtroom scenes, she should be more adept at understanding human relationships than other young women of similar age.
But in Young Master Ning's eyes, she always needed his protection.
Slightly touched, Bai Hua replied to Zang Fan, "Of course I'm willing, we're used to being next to each other."
Ning Jue chuckled softly, his face beaming with pleasure, clearly satisfied with her answer.
Zang Fan clicked his tongue, no longer wanting to make a fool of himself, and waved his hand to urge, "Come on, come on, let's go to the table to eat. If you two insist on sitting next to each other, then I'll sit next to the two of you, and the three of us will be one big family."
Bai Hua smiled shyly.
Ning Jue remained silent, but as he walked forward, he deliberately shifted his position, placing himself between Bai Hua and Zang Fan.
Zang Fan: "..."
Ning Jue: "Lead the way."
...
In the courtyard where the banquet was being held, there was a table in the middle where three burly men had just passed out drunk and were being helped away by their companions.
The leftovers were quickly cleared away, and new plates were served.
So Zang Fan led the two to find a place to sit. The other people at the table were all bodyguards, who treated Zang Fan with great respect. As for the guests at the surrounding tables, apart from the bodyguards of the Zang family, most of them were relatives and friends of Zang Fan's father.
However, even Zang Fan himself was too lazy to greet him, and Ning Jue was not a sociable person either.
So Bai Hua obediently followed the two of them, and the meal was quite comfortable and pleasant, even more so than she had imagined.
Ning Jue and Zang Fan drank together, while Bai Hua could only drink pear soup.
During this time, Ning Jue would glance at her every now and then to make sure she hadn't been drinking before looking away.
Bai Hua couldn't help but wonder how out of control she had been when she was drunk last time, that the young master was so wary of her, as if she had a psychological trauma.
A short while later, a servant came over and whispered something in Zang Fan's ear. Zang Fan, impatient, waved his hand and sent the servant away.
Ning Jue asked, "What's wrong? What's the matter?"
Zang Fan said impatiently, "My mother wants me to go over there. There's a whole house of women in the backyard, what am I supposed to do there?"
Bai Hua blinked sensitively. She was familiar with this kind of scene: entertaining guests in the front yard and arranging marriages in the back yard. It was not uncommon.
However, it was clear that despite Madam Zang's painstaking efforts, Zang Fan did not appreciate them.
Ning Jue bluntly pointed out: "If you don't go when the servant calls you, your mother might come herself in a little while."
Zang Fan pleaded for help, "I really can't manage alone. I'm already having a headache dealing with my mother, let alone others. How about... you come with me? That way, I can find an excuse to get away in time, okay?"
Ning Jue frowned: "Have the male guest gone to the backyard? Are you really drunk?"
Zang Fan hurriedly said, "No, just stand at the gate of the courtyard. When the time comes, shout from afar to invite me to the banquet. My mother has always respected you, and if you call me, she won't refuse."
Ning Jue did not respond, so Zang Fan kept pestering him.
Unable to persuade her, he then asked Bai Hua for help in persuading her.
As a result, his desperate pleas and groveling were of no use; he was simply persuaded by the whispered words in his ear.
Zang Fan was indignant but dared not retaliate, since he had at least agreed to accompany him.
Ning Jue stood up and told Bai Hua, "Don't wander around. Wait for me to come back."
Bai Hua nodded obediently and replied, "Understood, young master."
The two left their seats, making the area much quieter, but also creating a sense of desolation and loneliness.
The night wind howled, blowing from the treetops where the moon hung, causing clothes to flutter.
Even though her new clothes were lined with fleece, they still couldn't keep out the chill of the night. She thought that if she drank a little wine now, the alcohol would burn her lungs and stomach, which might be just right.
But she didn't want to forget the pain once the wound healed, after all, she had already made a vow that she would never drink too much again.
She hesitated for a moment, then crossed her arms and tightened her clothes, ultimately refraining from touching the wine cup.
A short while later, she heard someone walking behind her, very close. She assumed it was just a passerby and didn't pay any attention.
Just as she relaxed and picked up her chopsticks to eat, an inappropriate address suddenly came from behind her—
"Miss Cousin..."
Miss Cousin?
Bai Hua froze completely, too afraid to turn around.
The man seemed unwilling to waste any more time and quickened his pace to continue: "Miss, I am an undercover agent planted by the Guihong Sword Sect. After hiding for many days, I finally had the opportunity to meet you. Do you have any new information that you want me to send back to the sect leader?"
The man's voice was low and hoarse, not pleasant to hear. The north wind howled, and his voice was blown away as soon as it came out, leaving no trace.
But Bai Hua was certain that it wasn't a hallucination.
Her heart pounded louder and louder, but she remained rooted to the spot without reacting, a deep sense of confusion rising within her.
Her first suspicion was that this might be Zang Fan's deliberate test of her.
Otherwise, how could there be my cousin's men right under his nose, in the territory of the security escort agency?
This is absurd.
Bai Hua held her breath and calmly replied, "You've mistaken me for someone else."
The man pretended to stroll a few steps away, as lingering in one place for too long would attract attention.
After walking back behind Bai Hua, he whispered a secret phrase: "Six days of sweetness, daffodils, clouds and sun shining on pine snow, streams and mountains entering the evening breeze."
Date, flowers, a line of poetry.
These are the secret rules of the Guihong Sword Sect.
Every time they go on a secret mission, the disciples involved will memorize a set of code words to help them identify each other in the future.
When Bai Hua first went up Xianyang Mountain, the secret code she received was: "Six days, daffodils, clouds and sun shining on pine snow, streams and mountains entering the evening breeze."
Therefore, he is indeed a member of the Sword Sect.
Bai Hua turned around and looked over.
The man's face was obscured by shadows. Without making a sound, he pointed to a thick, ancient elm tree outside the courtyard, gesturing for Bai Hua to follow and talk to him.
He went ahead.
Bai Hua felt uneasy. Even after lying in wait for so long, she still lacked the mental fortitude expected of a spy.
She stood up and looked in the opposite direction, wondering when the young master would return from the inner garden and suddenly appear, unable to find her...
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