Chapter 25

Rain and Mist Pavilion was located on Capital City’s East Street, in the most prosperous part of Dongfeng Ward. Taverns, gambling dens, and pleasure houses lined the road like blooming flowers; it was a place where noble sons, high officials, and wealthy merchants lingered until they lost track of time.

Among the people of the Capital City, Dongfeng Ward was also known as the Street That Never Slept. There were taverns and inns open all twelve hours, and brothels and pleasure alleys that grew only livelier as night deepened. It was a world of wine and jade, of day-and-night revelry, where people sought nothing but amusement.

Ye Rui had come with Li Yun, and they had not taken a carriage. This time they were here to find someone in the pleasure quarter; they certainly could not make a spectacle of themselves by hanging the Ye household’s name out in the open. Ye Rui had even bought a white veiled hat to wear, and the two of them strolled over to Rain and Mist Pavilion as if they were out for a casual outing.

Rain and Mist Pavilion was worthy of being Dongfeng Ward’s showpiece. It stood on the most bustling stretch of East Street, three stories high with flying eaves and interlocking brackets; carved beams and painted rafters hung with swaying tasseled lanterns. It looked like a seductive demoness dressed in splendid robes, the kind who did not even need to beckon with a finger to draw a person’s soul in.

Ye Rui looked up and was so amazed she nearly stared dumbly. If night fell and the lanterns lit with an ambiguous glow, this would be a glittering tower like a mirage; beaded curtains would stir in the breeze, unable to hide the low laughter and soft voices within, languid and tender.

No wonder men liked coming here. Put nicely, it was a tender trap; put bluntly, it was a spider’s den. Once you entered, you truly could not forget it.

“I’ll wait outside,” Li Yun said.

She stood with her sword held in both arms, frowning at the plaque that read Rain and Mist Pavilion. Her face was cold, clearly unimpressed with the place.

“Mm.”

Ye Rui had originally wanted to say, I’ll be quick and come right back; but she was afraid that if she said it, it would come true and she’d be kicked out by that courtesan, so she said nothing.

She held the token Xie Tinglan had given her. Xie Tinglan had said that as long as she brought the token inside, that courtesan would naturally see her. Ye Rui thought that if appearance was the measure, Xie Tinglan would surely catch anyone’s eye; if she had not come personally, it was probably because she feared being too conspicuous and alerting the snakes.

Ye Rui had only recently entered the Xie residence and was still unfamiliar enough to pass unnoticed. With the veiled hat on, no one would likely recognize her.

Still, since Xie Tinglan possessed a keepsake that could compel the courtesan to grant an audience, the two of them should have some connection. So why was the courtesan dragging her feet like this? Ye Rui had to find out.

It was only just past noon. Rain and Mist Pavilion was still far from opening for business, though the main doors were already open, and several servants were inside cleaning up the mess and leftovers from the night before. As soon as Ye Rui approached, she caught the rich smell of alcohol and incense; it was as if fine liquor had been spilled across the floor yesterday and incense had soaked into the air all night, blending into a scent that was distinctive but not pungent.

The steward stood in the courtyard directing the servants, her face full of sleepy exhaustion, a handkerchief in hand as she waved this way and that, arranging everything neatly. She was past fifty, yet still retained an enticing charm. When she saw the veiled woman enter, her tired eyes instantly brightened.

“Who are you?”

Everything in the Xie residence, from food to clothing and daily use, was of the finest quality. Ye Rui wore a dark blue straight-collared robe made of excellent silk, and she had a purple blade of unusual craftsmanship hanging at her waist. To a woman who had seen countless people, the steward could tell at once that Ye Rui was no ordinary person.

Ye Rui took out the golden token and said, “I’ve come to see the courtesan.”

The steward gave the token another look, as if she understood, then rolled her eyes at Ye Rui. “What courtesan? The boss is called Mu Xue.”

Ye Rui was momentarily at a loss for words. No one had told her what the courtesan’s name was; this slight was hardly her fault!

The steward covered her mouth with the handkerchief and yawned. Unable to see Ye Rui’s face beneath the veiled hat, she sighed. “Come with me. That lord really is persistent.”

She led Ye Rui into the main hall of Rain and Mist Pavilion. At a glance, tables were covered with leftover dishes and wine; gold cups and jade goblets had been knocked to the floor, spilling a field of clear liquor, and strips of gauzy fabric hung over the chairs and stair railings. Only the raised stage for song and dance remained clean and tidy.

Ye Rui didn’t even dare imagine what had happened here the night before.

The steward took Ye Rui upstairs and casually kicked aside a gold ingot lying on the floor. “If the boss throws you out later, don’t blame me. She only just got up; I imagine her morning temper hasn’t worn off yet.”

Ye Rui: “……”

Should I wait until her temper wears off before coming back?

The first floor was for receiving guests. The second floor consisted of tightly shut private rooms, and as they passed, Ye Rui could still hear hushed whispers and some suggestive, lingering sounds from inside.

Good heavens; could they not settle down for even a moment in broad daylight!

Hu Tu: [Do you humans have to go into heat on a schedule?]

Ye Rui: [Can you not use such a blunt word? I’m not going to indulge in daylight debauchery.]

Hu Tu: [That’s not necessarily true. Humans are also the best at getting slapped in the face by reality.]

Ye Rui: [……You’re a System. How much do you even know about humans?]

Hu Tu: [Not that much. I learned it all from novels. Usually, the ones who get slapped in the face are the ones who speak too early!]

Ye Rui: [Read less Green Jiang novels!]

Hu Tu: [……]

Their destination was not the second floor. The steward led Ye Rui up to the third floor. It was very quiet there, with only three private rooms. The one at the far end had several maids coming and going with basins of water; that should have been Mu Xue’s room.

The other two rooms were locked and probably not used much on ordinary days. They were likely for storing valuable items. A red carpet covered the third-floor corridor, muffling even footsteps. It seemed Mu Xue disliked noise very much.

The steward asked Ye Rui to wait outside. She took Ye Rui’s token inside, and not long after she came back out and returned it. “The boss says you may enter.”

Before leaving, the steward gave Ye Rui a meaningful look, as if to say: good luck.

That look made Ye Rui uneasy, but curiosity outweighed her unease. She was simply too curious about what sort of divine being this woman was.

Pushing open the door revealed a screen painted with ladies-in-waiting. Each woman on it was coquettish and beautiful, yet all were completely unclothed, posing seductively like living, breathing vixen spirits. It was truly a feast for the eyes.

A faint incense burned within, carrying a hint of fresh orange rather than the rich floral scent downstairs. Beyond the screen was a small sitting room. On the left was a tiny space filled with various instruments; the most eye-catching was a seven-stringed zither. On the right was the bedroom.

Gauze curtains hung inside the bedroom, making it feel as though one had accidentally stepped into a dreamlike maze. Behind the veils sat a woman at her vanity, drawing her brows. Her black hair fell like a waterfall, and she wore only a white sheer robe, through which the faint red of her chest wrap could be glimpsed. Her side profile was tender and lovely, her lips red as flowers, her whole bearing full of seductive charm.

Ye Rui did not approach. She only asked politely, “Should I wait here?”

Her tone was not particularly courteous. She admitted that she had been stunned by the woman’s beauty, so much so that her thoughts were a little disordered and she had forgotten how to speak like a person of this world.

The woman’s hand paused as she drew her brows. She turned to look at Ye Rui; the outline beneath the veiled hat was visible, but not her face. “Come over.”

Mu Xue spoke with a smile, as if she simply sounded that way by habit rather than because she was in a good mood. The moment Mu Xue turned her head, Ye Rui got a clearer look at her face. She was all honeyed brows and glowing eyes, every movement drenched in allure; her lips curved faintly, as if she were smiling, making her all the more inviting.

Her looks were truly peerless.

Ye Rui walked up to the vanity. Before she could speak, Mu Xue smiled and said, “What ugly creature did they send me this time?”

Ye Rui was speechless. This woman was beautiful enough, so why did she speak so viciously?

Ye Rui removed her veiled hat, revealing a clean and graceful face that still held a certain sharpness. Because she was irritated, her cheeks were flushed. “Why do you speak so nastily?”

Mu Xue froze. Her bright, beautiful eyes turned toward Ye Rui. Before she could speak, Ye Rui went on, “I may not be as pretty as you, but I’m not ugly. Watch your words, or I……”

“What will you do?”

Mu Xue took over the sentence, a trace of amusement at the corner of her mouth. She had not expected the visitor to flare up so quickly. She could not help thinking: why did everyone around Xie Tinglan seem so interesting?

The three people who had come before her had each been different. One was clever and odd, though his appearance was utterly plain; one was silent and poor with words, and ran out the door if teased a little; another was gentle and dignified, but always too proper and never said anything that quite matched.

This one was interesting because she was pretty, she could talk, and she was not constrained by petty formalities.

“I’ll talk you to death,” Ye Rui said.

She gave Mu Xue a glare after removing her hat, then asked, “Do you and she have any connection?”

“Who is she?”

Mu Xue continued drawing her brows, looking at herself in the mirror, a satisfied smile unconsciously curling at the corners of her lips.

“Xie Tinglan!”

Mu Xue’s hand paused again. This time she set down the brow pencil and looked up at Ye Rui in some surprise. “You call her by her name so casually?”

“I’m not one of her subordinates. Why can’t I call her by her name?”

Though she was staying at the Xie residence and using Xie Tinglan’s money, Ye Rui had no shame about it. She did not think of herself as Xie Tinglan’s subordinate; they were “collaborators.” They were equals.

“How interesting, how interesting.”

Mu Xue laughed brightly. She no longer bothered with her makeup; instead, her supple body turned toward Ye Rui, and she crossed her legs. “I do have some connection with her, but not enough to make me help her out.”

“Then what would make you help?”

Ye Rui only hoped Mu Xue would name a condition. If there was a condition, then there was a chance of meeting it. As long as she completed this matter and rose to third-rank guard, she could finish the main quest.

“Do you know what she wants me to help with?”

Mu Xue stood up. Tall and slender, she was about the same height as Ye Rui. Her narrow, beautiful eyes glinted with shifting light as she swept a glance over Ye Rui, then turned away and put on the dress hanging on the screen.

“I don’t know the specifics. Ri Xi said you’d know what kind of help it was.”

Ye Rui watched the woman dress at her own unhurried pace, then glanced at the rouge and powders arranged on the vanity. She thought that if she made herself up every morning the way Mu Xue did, Yin Yue would probably beat her to death.

“Oh?”

Mu Xue fastened her sash and made the dark blue crossed-collar gown look especially captivating. She turned back to Ye Rui with a pitiful expression. “Looks like they don’t trust you.”

Ye Rui was stunned. Her head buzzed for a moment, but after a second thought, perhaps they had not told her because they did not think this matter could be done.

“Hey, just tell me what the condition is. Why are you saying so much?”

Ye Rui’s mood soured, and her tone became impatient. Mu Xue, however, was neither annoyed nor angry. She shot Ye Rui a teasing look. “If anyone else spoke to me like that, I would have thrown them out the window by now.”

Ye Rui was not afraid of her threat. She still stood with her arms crossed, waiting for Mu Xue to continue.

“It’s actually quite simple. Come with me on the painted pleasure boat at Zhaoyue Lake tonight and keep me company for the evening; then I’ll consider whether or not I’ll agree.”

Mu Xue smiled at Ye Rui. Ye Rui immediately clutched her chest and took two steps back, wary. “Hey, I’m not selling my body.”

“Who wants your body? If I were to share a night of passion with you, wouldn’t I be the one losing out?”

Mu Xue spoke without the slightest hint of reserve. Ye Rui wasn’t shy either, as if this were the most ordinary conversation between adults. It was just that Mu Xue’s sharp tongue made Ye Rui roll her eyes. “Fine. You’re pretty, so everything you say is right.”

“What do you want me to do on the painted pleasure boat? At least give me some idea.”

Why were the women in this world all like this, only saying half a sentence and dangling the rest? She was done indulging that habit.

“Because I find you interesting, I want to make friends with you. Is that not allowed?”

Mu Xue flicked her sleeves and sat back down at the vanity, studying herself in the mirror. Ye Rui was half convinced and half unconvinced, but at least she had found a breakthrough. Then she would go. If anything seemed wrong, she would escape when the opportunity arose.

Although she still had not learned lightness kung fu, she was very good at running.

“Fine. See you tonight, then.”

Just as Ye Rui was about to leave, Mu Xue called after her. “At You hour, little one.”

“You’re the little one.”

Ye Rui clicked her tongue and was about to go when she heard Mu Xue laughing behind her. “Such a child. Your mouth never shows mercy.”

“Look who’s talking; you called me an ugly creature the moment we met.”

Ye Rui could not help complaining that Mu Xue was a narcissist, staring at her mirror for who knew how long. The laughter behind her grew even louder, as if everything Ye Rui said was hilarious.

A prickling sensation ran over Ye Rui’s scalp; she fled Rain and Mist Pavilion in a rush.

Back on the street, Li Yun immediately asked, “You were in there so long. Did you get anything?”

“Not yet. Tonight she wants me to go to the painted pleasure boat before she’ll say whether or not she’ll agree.”

At that, Li Yun’s brows furrowed again. She glanced at Rain and Mist Pavilion with clear dislike and quickly left. Ye Rui followed after her and asked, “Does that Mu Xue have any reputation on the painted pleasure boat at Zhaoyue Lake?”

She certainly could not go up there knowing nothing. She had to ask around first, or how was that different from a lamb waiting to be slaughtered?

“I only know that she sometimes goes there to stay for a few days. She has never invited anyone before.”

“Wow, then am I the first guest?”

Ye Rui did not feel delighted at all; instead, she felt a little worried. But she was not some great official or noble, had no backing and no connections. Even if Mu Xue wanted to control her, she would not gain much from it. Besides, from the attitude Mu Xue had just shown, it did not seem like she intended to do her any harm. Could it really be, as she said, that she just wanted to make a friend?

Forget it; she would take it as it came. She and Mu Xue had no grievance between them, so surely nothing major would come of it.

“You should be careful. Why don’t we go back and discuss it with my lady?”

After Li Yun said that, Ye Rui looked at the sky and shook her head. “If we go back and forth, I won’t make it in time for the appointment. You go back first and tell Ri Xi and the others. Have them arrange for people to meet me at the shore. I mean... I’m afraid of dying, too!”

Although Ye Rui felt that nothing major would happen, caution was still best.

“Fine. I’ll go report back.”

Li Yun had just taken a step forward, then hesitated and drew her foot back, saying in a low voice, “Be careful.”

After that, Li Yun disappeared into the crowd. Ye Rui could not help giving a low laugh, thinking: this person really is a tsundere. Even when she worries about someone, she does it so awkwardly.

Inside the third-floor room of Rain and Mist Pavilion, the steward was helping Mu Xue gather up her black hair. Her silken strands spilled through her fingers like a waterfall before being deftly arranged into a noble updo. Mu Xue hummed a little tune while selecting a finely carved gold bracelet from the jewelry box and slipping it onto her pale wrist.

“Boss, it’s rare to see you this happy. Is that young lady really that interesting?”

“Interesting? More than interesting. When did someone this interesting ever appear beside Xie Tinglan?”

The steward shrugged. “Should I help you find out who she is?”

“Ah, forget it. I’ll ask her myself!”

After Mu Xue said that, the smile on the steward’s face gradually faded. She asked with some concern, “Boss, are you really going to help Xie Tinglan?”

“Not decided yet.”

Mu Xue looked at herself in the mirror and lightly brushed a hand over the skin on her face, thinking she had slept well these past two days; her complexion had improved quite a bit.

“Boss... getting involved in court matters, you……”

“It’s fine. I know my limits.”

Mu Xue’s gaze dimmed, but then another smile rose on her face. “This counts as Xie Tinglan’s third visit. I’m also quite curious what kind of reward she’ll offer me.”

The steward sighed and ran the comb through the ends of Mu Xue’s hair, her eyes heavy.

“Boss, still, caution is best.”

“Mhm.”

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Author’s note: ehe~ I’m here~

[dog head][dog head]

TL Note:

You hour (酉时) = roughly 5–7 p.m. in the traditional Chinese time system.