Chapter 52 "Oh, whose daughter is this..."
"Oh, whose daughter has come all this way? What are you waiting for, Huanfeng and Huanxue? Hurry up and welcome her in."
Upon hearing this sound, Zhu Mingyue felt his hair stand on end. The shadow of almost falling into prostitution was instantly awakened. He instinctively moved behind the two of them, trying to avoid the madam's eyes.
“But,” Huanfeng and Huanxue glanced at Zhu Mingyue, looking somewhat troubled.
"But what 'but'? Everyone who comes is a guest. How could I not know that Nanfeng Pavilion has a rule against serving women?"
A slightly overweight figure gradually approached, and the newcomer had a high-pitched voice. As he spoke, he reached out to take Zhu Mingyue's hand.
He took a step back, feigning fright, and lowered his head even further, as if afraid that the ascetic would be seen.
The madam's hand missed its target and remained suspended in mid-air for a long time before she remembered to put it down. She looked the man up and down, but apart from his good looks and timid demeanor, there was nothing special about him. She then lost interest and withdrew her probing gaze.
Nanfeng Pavilion has been open for many years, and it's not like no girls have ever visited. Years ago, there was even a sensational event in the area: a young lady from a wealthy family came with a large sum of money to redeem one of their courtesans. Back then, he wasn't the madam of Nanfeng Pavilion; he was still young and working as a courtesan, watching helplessly as that courtesan was redeemed and regained her freedom, filled with envy.
He waved his hand, his tone no longer as enthusiastic as before, "You two should take good care of them."
As the madam swayed her hips to attend to another guest, Zhu Mingyue watched his back as he wandered around like a butterfly and breathed a sigh of relief without making a sound.
Fortunately, he was dressed in women's clothing, and his face was completely covered by a light veil. Otherwise, if he had been recognized, given the madam's nature, seeing that he was healthy and his face had returned to normal, she might have targeted him again.
It wasn't wise to linger here. He turned his gaze to the second floor and said softly in a low voice, "I want to order Xu Lingguang from here." He paused and then asked, "I wonder if he's available right now?" Xu Lingguang was said to be the top courtesan at this Nanfeng Pavilion. Since he was the top courtesan, it was normal for him to be busy. He had decided that if he couldn't make it today, he would make a reservation in advance and could always make it next time.
The man in blue robes named Huanxue said solemnly, "Miss, this is your first time here, so you may not know. Young Master Xu is different from us; he receives guests entirely based on his mood."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Mingyue pursed her lips, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Then I would like to trouble the two young masters to tell him that he received a medicine when he was critically ill, and he will never forget the life-saving grace."
Huanxue's doubts vanished instantly, and her gaze towards him became meaningful again. It turned out that the girl in front of her had come to visit her benefactor. No wonder she insisted on staying despite her fearful and uneasy appearance upon entering this place.
“Alright, I’ll go and tell him for you. If Young Master Xu doesn’t want to see you, you should go back as soon as possible!” Huanxue replied softly.
He wasn't sure if Xu Lingguang would agree to see her. Xu Lingguang had a somewhat sinister air about him; his appearance wasn't as delicate and harmless as theirs. His features were deep-set and, upon closer inspection, somewhat aggressive. Their line of work required gentleness, attentiveness, and the ability to soothe people, but he had a terrible temper. Whether he took clients, and whose clients he took, was entirely based on his mood. He didn't seem like the type to belong in Nanfeng Pavilion, yet he held the top position there. He and Huanfeng had been there for over two years, and he'd only ever seen him take a handful of regular clients, unlike them, who would entertain anyone who paid.
Huanxue gently knocked on the innermost door on the second floor. "Young Master Xu?" he called softly and then waited quietly outside the door. Not receiving a response from the person inside, he dared not speak rashly, for fear of provoking this great god's temper with any words.
The sound of rustling clothes coming from inside came out, and after a long while, a rather lazy voice rang out: "Speak."
The faint nasal tone carried a hint of impatience, and Huanxue's heart skipped a beat. Oh well, she had unfortunately caught him sleeping.
While they were busy entertaining guests outside, he was sleeping soundly upstairs, oblivious to the world around him. Was that really appropriate? Huanxue's face was contorted with jealousy, but she dared not show it. A bitter smile appeared on her lips, and she said directly, "A woman came downstairs. She said that she had been saved by you in the past and came to visit you today."
Inside the room, Xu Linguang, still half asleep, paused slightly as he tied his outer robe. Upon hearing this, he carefully searched his memory but still couldn't recall any woman he had ever been involved with.
Not to mention any life-saving grace, he curled a mocking smile. It's true that just any Tom, Dick, or Harry dares to show up in front of him without even asking around. He, Xu Lingguang, is not the kind of person who likes to save people casually.
He snapped irritably, "I'm not seeing you."
Having received the answer, Huanxue dared not say anything more, and hurriedly went downstairs to relay the message.
"He really doesn't want to see me?" Zhu Mingyue's eyes widened slightly, not so much out of anger, but with a hint of confusion in her heart.
He had clearly told him not to forget him, but now that he had risked his life to come see him, he was turned away at the door. It was a pity that he had even specially prepared a delicious meal for him. Zhu Mingyue sighed, thanked Huanxue who had come to deliver the news, and then turned to leave.
Seeing his dejected appearance, Huanxue felt sorry for her. What a good girl, it's a pity that she fell in love with someone as unpredictable as Young Master Xu. This time, it was destined that she would be unloved by her lover, which made him sigh deeply.
When Zhu Mingyue walked out of the Nanfeng Pavilion, he was still holding the food box. He originally wanted Huanxue to give the food box to Xu Lingguang, but he refused, saying that Xu Lingguang never accepted gifts from others and that giving the food to him rashly would only anger him.
Zhu Mingyue: ...He figured it out. Xu Lingguang wasn't there to be the top courtesan at Nanfeng Pavilion; he was there to reign supreme. He could tell just by looking at the fearful expressions on Huanxue and Huanfeng's faces when they mentioned him.
Since Xu Lingguang was unwilling to see him, he decided not to bother him. Perhaps in Xu Lingguang's heart, he was just a small, insignificant passerby.
The sunlight at 1:30 PM was still a bit dazzling. Zhu Mingyue shielded her forehead with her hand, looked up at the window on the second floor of Nanfeng Pavilion, and coincidentally her gaze met someone's.
He lowered his arm to shield himself from the sun, took a few steps forward, tilted his head back even higher, and looked closely—it was indeed Xu Linguang.
The man, dressed in loose, plain-colored robes, leaned against the window railing, casually looking down at himself.
A nut shell was thrown from the second floor. Zhu Mingyue took a half step back and looked down to see that the shell had just landed at his toes. If he hadn't reacted quickly enough, it would have hit his head.
Zhu Mingyue looked up at him again and felt that he was looking at her as if she were an idiot. She gritted her teeth, turned her head away, and strode away.
He would repay the life-saving grace later, but not now, because now, he was angry! Very angry! Before turning away, he rolled his eyes at the people upstairs.
Xu Lingguang narrowed his eyes, feeling provoked. He slightly gathered his strength between two fingers, and another fruit shell flew towards Zhu Mingyue.
Zhu Mingyue felt her cheek brush against something unknown, and then her red veil was hit by a hard object. It fluttered in the air for only a few seconds before Zhu Mingyue reached out and pressed it down again.
Even a few seconds is enough for someone with excellent eyesight to see the entire face clearly.
Xu Lingguang's pupils shrank sharply, and he almost dropped all the nuts in his hand. He steadied himself and stood up straight.
Zhu Mingyue stopped looking at him this time. He stared at the nut shells on the ground that were exactly the same as before, his eyes red with anger.
That's so tasteless! Absolutely tasteless! If it weren't for the fact that he had saved his life, he would have stormed up and confronted him.
He took a deep breath and quickly repeated to himself: Don't get angry, don't get angry, no one can take your place if you get sick from anger.
Finally calming down, he took another step forward. But as soon as he took a step, a nut shell struck the ground with pinpoint accuracy, just a finger's width from his toes. Zhu Mingyue refused to believe it and pretended nothing had happened, continuing to walk. As a result, he took one step after another, and after about ten steps, the ground was littered with broken shells.
Even with her good temper, Zhu Mingyue was about to lose it. She couldn't decide whether to go or leave. What on earth was Xu Lingguang doing?
He simply ran to the window in two or three steps, looked up and glared angrily, trying to use his eyes to accuse and awaken a conscience that might not even exist.
To everyone's surprise, Xu Lingguang acted as if nothing had happened, his disdainful expression vanished, and his demeanor softened considerably. He beckoned with his hand and said softly, "Come up."
Zhu Mingyue had no desire to go up. He had just been turned away, but now that he was in a good mood, he was calling him over. What did he take him for? Someone who could be summoned and dismissed at will?
He tightened his grip on the food box, cursed under his breath as a stupid idiot, but actually changed direction.
Upon entering Nanfeng Pavilion again, Huanxue was the one who greeted him. He must have already received instructions, as he said respectfully, "Miss, you can come forward after handing over the silver over there."
Zhu Mingyue looked in the direction he was pointing and sure enough, there was a counter with an accountant sitting there.
Zhu Mingyue: ...
He suddenly wanted to go back.
He's not here to do *that* kind of thing, does he expect to pay an entrance fee just to look? Is Xu Linguang some rare animal in the zoo?
He thought angrily, but his hands honestly handed over two taels of silver. Seeing his purse completely empty, he closed his eyes, his heart aching.
As he walked up the stairs, he recognized Xu Linguang's room. Just as he reached the door and was about to knock, the door was suddenly opened from the inside.
When Xu Linguang's hideous face appeared close to him, he felt no emotion at seeing him again after nearly a year; instead, he felt an itch to punch him.
Before he could react, a large hand pulled him inside, and the door behind him slammed shut.
"Why are you dressed like this to see me?" Xu Lingguang looked him over, his face showing interest.
With no one around, Zhu Mingyue removed her veil and headdress, wiping the fine sweat from her forehead. She couldn't very well say that she was dressed as a woman to earn extra money, so she seriously made up a story: "Where is this place? I'm so good-looking, wouldn't the madam target me again if I wore men's clothes?"
That excuse was indeed reasonable, and Xu Lingguang nodded, believing him. However…
"There's no need to dress so conspicuously."
Zhu Mingyue retorted in a choked voice, "What's so eye-catching about it!" He thought for a moment and then added, "I just like red, red is beautiful!"
Xu Linguang raised an eyebrow, did not argue with him, and poured him a cup of tea.
Zhu Mingyue was indeed thirsty, so she took the drink and drank it all in one gulp.
Xu Linguang, unusually patient, poured him several cups in a row, and only spoke slowly after he had drunk his fill.
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