Pinlan Garden!
Standing by the shores of Weizi Lake, Nan Shiying tilted her head back, gazing at the opulent golden nest built upon the water.
She led her horse onto the bridge.
The bridge, three meters wide, was ample enough for Nan Shiying, Xiaoman, and two horses to walk together.
“Where did this bumpkin come from, bringing a horse onto the bridge?”
The guests coming and going from Pinlan Garden were all wealthy and distinguished. Upon seeing the brother and sister leading their horses onto the bridge, a look of disdain flickered in their eyes. Even common folk in Hu Jian City knew there was a shed outside Pinlan Garden for guests to park their carriages and rest their horses. Only those from outer cities would directly lead their horses onto the bridge.
The brother and sister, dressed simply and not appearing wealthy or powerful, had the audacity to come to Pinlan Garden. They’d surely be thrown out soon!
“Are you two guests looking for a meal or lodging? If lodging, we no longer have any upper rooms, only two lower rooms left.”
Nan Shiying and Xiaoman were stopped by a welcoming attendant before they could enter.
The attendant, with a smiling face, was friendly and polite. However, guests walking behind Nan Shiying and Xiaoman directly entered without any obstruction.
“Blind as a bat, I…”
“That’s enough!”
Nan Shiying pressed down on Xiaoman’s head, bewildered by how such a young girl could have such a fiery temper!
Xiaoman shot a resentful glare at the fawning attendant with his fake smile, as if no one could see the contempt in his eyes. Her young lady was of such noble status. After being vexed by those blind fools from Wan Ku Tower, she was now looked down upon by a mere inn attendant. If Sister Lvwǎn and the others were here, they would have slapped him by now.
Her young lady was usually ruthless towards her enemies, so why was she so tolerant of these unseeing wretches?
“We have a reservation.”
“The Master of Jutian Village booked two upper rooms for my sister and me.”
Nan Shiying smiled gently, not bothering the attendant for his slight.
Upon hearing that the simply dressed brother and sister leading horses were the honored guests the Master of Jutian Village had emphatically instructed them to serve with utmost care, the attendant felt a surge of apprehension. Fortunately, the guests were not arrogant. Otherwise, his current actions would at best earn him a few slaps, and at worst, he’d be thrown into Weizi Lake.
Cold sweat trickled down his temples. The attendant immediately changed his superficially kind yet contemptuous attitude. He bowed, took the reins from their hands, gestured for them to proceed, and called out towards the inner door, “Honored guests have arrived, come out to welcome them.”
As the attendant’s voice faded, a clear and pleasant bell chime echoed from within. The sound spread, accompanied by a subtle sandalwood aroma, like a fragrance that permeated flower petals, blending and merging with the floral scent.
The scent was invigorating.
A streak of crimson gracefully emerged from the side of the porch, followed by a beauty in a red dress stepping out from within.
“Wǎnwan greets Young Master and Young Lady.”
The beauty moved with grace, like lotuses blooming with each step, approaching Nan Shiying and Xiaoman to pay her respects.
Every smile and frown exuded charm.
“Esteemed guests, this is our Lady Wǎnwan of Pinlan Garden. After you check in, she will serve as your housekeeper.”
“You may tell Lady Wǎnwan of any of your requests, reasonable or unreasonable.”
The attendant slightly emphasized the word "unreasonable" and gave Nan Shiying a knowing smile.
Xiaoman was silent for a moment, then stepped forward, took Lady Wǎnwan’s hand, and asked Nan Shiying, “Brother, can I ask Lady Wǎnwan to sleep with me?”
Upon hearing this, everyone present fell silent.
The attendant glanced at the brother and sister, musing, “Is this sister perhaps a brother complex?”
Lady Wǎnwan, however, remained expressionless, merely looking at Nan Shiying as if eagerly awaiting her answer.
“As you wish!”
With You Ying and others secretly protecting them, Nan Shiying was not worried about Xiaoman’s safety. If she wanted to play, she could play. It was only asking a girl to accompany her, not a man.
“Brother is the best~”
Xiaoman drew out her words. Nan Shiying glanced at Wǎnwan and inwardly offered her a minute of silence.
Seeing that the parties involved had agreed, the attendant said no more. Instead, he personally took the horses to the designated shed for horses and carriages outside.
“Young Master, Young Lady, please come in.”
Wǎnwan stepped back half a pace, leading Nan Shiying and Xiaoman inside. Those who had been secretly intending to mock Nan Shiying and the other were now staring with disbelief.
Not just anyone could be assigned a ‘housekeeper.’ In Hu Jian City, very few individuals had such an honor. What was the background of these two outsiders who rode horses onto the bridge? Lady Wǎnwan was a renowned ‘housekeeper’ in Pinlan Garden, and even the top VIP guests did not always have her attend to them.
However, no one who came to Pinlan Garden was foolish. Even those who had intended to mock them were merely muttering and scoffing in their hearts; no one would voice it openly. Seeing the two being welcomed in by Lady Wǎnwan, naturally, no one would be foolish enough to provoke them.
“This is your room.”
Wǎnwan led them to the third floor. The rooms, Yǐ Méi Yuán and Yù Méi Fāng, faced each other and occupied half of the third floor. On this entire third floor, there were only four upper rooms.
Divided by the staircase, it was split into two.
Yǐ Méi Yuán and Yù Méi Fāng, where Nan Shiying and Xiaoman would stay, were on the left side, with the other two rooms on the right.
After ushering them into their rooms, Wǎnwan took out an exquisitely crafted notebook from her embrace and handed it to Nan Shiying, “Young Master, this is a feature of our Pinlan Garden.”
Nan Shiying casually flipped through it: food, drinks, entertainment.
Everything was available.
“Young Master, Wǎnwan will be waiting outside. If there is anything at all, please just command!”
“Wǎnwan will not disturb the Young Master and Young Lady any further.”
Having spoken, Wǎnwan withdrew.