Shulan couldn’t help but laugh and cry, "How dare this servant? This servant is also thinking about Madam’s health. A few days ago, Madam was greedy for coldness, drank several times the amount of cold tea, and as a result, coughed at night. That day, Master even blamed us servants. This servant is also paying more attention because of this. Madam must not wrong this servant."
Xin He snorted lightly, "If you want me not to wrong you, hurry up and have someone bring me a cup of cold tea. In this hot weather, how can drinking hot tea quench my thirst?"
Marquis Mu is really too much. She just coughed twice that night, and he blew it out of proportion. In this hot weather, without the icy cold tea, it’s simply torture!
Shulan mourned, "If the Master knows that the servant let Madam drink cold tea, I’m afraid the servant would suffer."
"You are my maid, so why do you fear him? How can you be so spineless? Hurry up and get it for me. If we don’t talk about it, how will he know?" Xin He pushed Shulan away.
Xiaoyu couldn’t help but laugh, "Fine, fine. Madam has been tired all day today. Just drink one cup. It shouldn’t be a big deal. If you don’t let Madam drink it today, I’m afraid you’ll offend Madam in the future. Have someone bring a cup."
Shulan finally smiled and said, "Yes."
She then pushed the door out and asked someone to serve another cup of cold tea.
It didn’t take long for a young girl to come in carrying a tea tray, "Greetings to the Master."
Xin He smiled and was about to take the cold tea from her tray. However, a glance at her small face caught his attention. Her head was slightly lowered, and her eyes were downcast, making it hard to see clearly. Yet, one could generally tell that this child’s face was quite pleasing.
"Are you a maid of the Flower House? Raise your head and let me see." Xin He said.
If she was a maid, the clothes she wore were not those of a maid.
When the girl raised her head, Xin He was impressed. She had a somewhat round baby face. In this era, slimness was considered beautiful, and the most popular face type was the sharp, goose egg-shaped face. Although the baby face looked cute, there weren’t many people who liked it.
In fact, Xin He had seen quite a few baby faces, but it was the first time he had seen a girl with such bright eyes. The twinkling big eyes were truly extremely cute.
Xin He couldn’t help but ask her, "Are you a maid here?"
The girl’s face reddened, and she lowered her head slightly, embarrassed, "I, I am not... "
Xin He raised his eyebrows but was not surprised. The servants at the Flower House had many rules. Their clothes were all uniform. The girls here were the masters, and the servants were there to serve the masters.
If she wasn’t a maid, how did it come down to her to do the serving of tea and water?
The girl bit her lip and finally said, "I, I am free anyway, so I’m just helping out with some work."
Xin He noticed her hesitation, but he didn’t ask any further, "Since you are a girl at this Flower House, even if you are free, you don’t have to do such rough and tiring work. If someone doesn’t know, they might think that my Flower House can’t afford servants. What’s your name?"
"Me? My name is Yi Ling. Usually, few guests call for me, so I’m idle. I help out by serving tea and water."
Xin He laughed, "It’s a good name. You are just as agile and charming as your name suggests."
Yi Ling blushed and was somewhat flattered, "This is the first time someone has praised me like this."
Xin He stood up, examined her face closely, and couldn’t help but click his tongue twice, "Such a beauty. Madam Chen is really blind to let you serve tea and water. It’s such a waste."
Yi Ling stood there, obviously confused.
"Can you sing? I heard your voice is very sweet, and your throat seems quite good." Xin He laughed.
Yi Ling was stunned for a while before hurrying to nod, "Yes! I can!"
"Sing a little song for me to listen to."
Although Yi Ling was nervous and confused in her heart, she was not a fool. The Master suddenly took an interest in her which might mean he wanted to give her an opportunity. If she could seize the opportunity, why would she be looked down upon in the future or be ordered around like a servant?
Yi Ling cleared her throat, suppressed her nervousness, and sang a soft, gentle folk song.
Xin He nodded with satisfaction, "Your voice is really good. Try to sing sweeter, no need to deliberately make it too gentle. Be sweet, try it again."
Yi Ling pursed her lips and tried again. This time her voice was noticeably sweeter, penetrating the heart.
Although this overly sweet voice made the folk song sound a bit strange, it allowed Xin He to find the last missing person.
"Good, it’ll be you!" Xin He said excitedly.
Yi Ling was stunned, "What? It’ll be me?"
Xin He directly handed her a score, "This song, you have half a month. Focus on learning and practicing well. At the Oiran competition, you’ll be on stage!"
Yi Ling was almost stunned on the spot. In the past, she would not have had the chance to appear on stage for the Oiran competition!
Moreover, this Oiran competition was clear to everyone. Although everyone had the chance to be on stage, the real protagonists were the previous five top courtesans and the newly arrived first prostitute in the capital city. These top performers all had individual performances, while the others were either accompaniments or part of group performances that served only to heat things up.
Under such circumstances, she would have the chance to appear on stage, and it would be a solo performance!
Did the Master mean to promote her as a top performer? For a moment, Yi Ling could hardly believe it, her eyes widened.
"Really?"
"Of course it’s true. I don’t have that much spare time to deceive you. This time when you go back, prepare well. I’ll give you the opportunity, and you must seize it yourself."
Yi Ling was so excited that she almost knelt down, "Thank you for your kindness and recognition, Master!"
Xin He supported her up, "If you perform brilliantly in the Oiran competition, it’ll be more worthwhile than kneeling to me a hundred times."
"Yi Ling will not let the Master down!" Grasping the score, Yi Ling’s heart was full of excitement.
"Go ahead for now." Xin He smiled.
"Yes."
Yi Ling cherished the score like a treasure and retreated. When she returned to her room, she took it out and looked at it closely, only to be taken aback by the unfamiliar name.
"Love’s Embrace?"
Yi Ling frowned, "What kind of song is this?"
But there was a musical notation written above, so she unconsciously hummed a few sentences according to the notation, finding it both pleasant and unique.
At this time, in Xin He’s room, not long after Yi Ling left, Xiaoyu pushed the door and entered.
Xin He asked softly, "What’s the situation with this Yi Ling? Have you checked it out clearly?"
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