"This Shuiyun Residence is truly lively," Song Qingchao emerged from behind the screen in the room, as did Zhou Zhengxi, shortly after Bai You'an had departed.
"Why does Master say that? Do you intend to..."
"Don't overthink it. I don't plan to tell him."
"Then, are you still going to refund his money?"
Song Qingchao glanced at the remaining tea in Bai You'an's cup. "Refund him? That's impossible."
She pointed at the tea. "Never mind the value of the information, doesn't he have to pay for the tea he drank? My tea is very expensive."
After speaking, she walked to the window.
The third floor of the Xiyun Pavilion had now rotated. The rooms within moved. So when Song Qingchao wanted to observe the Shuiyun Residence, she merely had to adjust the orientation of the room. This design had two ingenious uses: one for observation, and the other for escape and cover.
She leaned against the wall, watching Bai You'an enter the Shuiyun Residence without hesitation. The frustration that had subsided earlier returned. But before she could dwell on it for long, she saw a woman in red enter boldly. With her arrival, the Shuiyun Residence became even more boisterous. The noise was so loud that she could hear it from the Xiyun Pavilion. There were indeed quite a few 'peach blossoms.'
Song Qingchao scoffed, "I charged too little at three hundred gold."
Zhou Zhengxi chimed in, "Indeed, it was too little."
Song Qingchao nudged Zhou Zhengxi. "I've noticed you've become more lively lately."
"Have I?" Zhou Zhengxi lowered his head appropriately, concealing his expression. "Zhou has always been steady. It's likely been a while since your subordinate was by your side, so Master has not yet adapted."
Song Qingchao thought so too. They hadn't been together for an entire winter.
"Zhengxi, have you ever been to the Shuiyun Residence?"
Zhou Zhengxi shook his head. "Your subordinate has never entered. Mr. Bai has always managed without my accompaniment." He paused, the unspoken part being that even if he did accompany, they would always bicker. It was better to part ways than to hurt each other's feelings, and it was cleaner that way. Moreover, he had always disapproved of Bai You'an visiting the Shuiyun Residence. His greatest fear was that his Master would be infatuated by Bai You'an. However, seeing that his Master was quite clear-headed, he felt relieved.
"Oh," Song Qingchao replied dismissively, then quietly added, "I have."
Zhou Zhengxi: "!!!" This was something he had never expected.
"Oh, right. How is Wan Yan Xiyin doing?"
"Still refusing to eat or drink."
Song Qingchao tutted. "Go tell him that if he dies, I will kill all his people."
Zhou Zhengxi responded with "Yes" and prepared to leave.
"Wait. Have people been looking for Wan Yan Xiyin's whereabouts recently?"
"Replying to Master, there is a group of people," Zhou Zhengxi said with some hesitation. "However, they are currently searching for two people."
"Searching for two people?" Song Qingchao was slightly puzzled. "Who are they looking for?"
Zhou Zhengxi slightly raised his eyes, hesitating whether to speak. But Song Qingchao preempted him.
"They aren't looking for me, are they?"
Zhou Zhengxi nodded with difficulty. "Yes. They have attempted to search towards the Xiyun Pavilion, but the Nightingales have turned them all back."
Song Qingchao curved her lips and then looked towards the Shuiyun Residence. She rested one hand on the windowsill. "The Xiyun Pavilion made its name through information. If people are seeking individuals at the Xiyun Pavilion, aren't they walking into a dead end?" She had confidence in her Xiyun Pavilion. The cultivation of a Nightingale took at least five years. After so many years of development, even though they had just arrived in Mobei, the Nightingales they brought were sufficient.
"Alright, Zhengxi. I'm fine here. You may go and attend to your duties."
After Zhou Zhengxi left, Song Qingchao remained leaning by the window, not moving. She had a bad feeling in her heart. All the information now pointed to Bai You'an. Bai You'an was looking for her, and the group searching for Wan Yan Xiyin was also looking for her. So, was there a possibility that the person looking for Wan Yan Xiyin was Bai You'an? The truth that Wan Yan Xiyin spoke of, the person who had been lurking by her side, was it Bai You'an? It wasn't that she was unwilling to believe it; she was afraid to believe it. How could such a gentle person be like this? If, as Wan Yan Xiyin said, her father was Bai You'an's master, how could Bai You'an do something to harm her family? Moreover, after returning to Chang'an, her father never went out again. Therefore, it was likely that Bai You'an was not in Chang'an when her family experienced disaster. He suddenly appeared in Chang'an, and by chance, she encountered him. Was there a possibility that Bai You'an actually wanted to save her? If all of this was Song Qingchao's own assumption or self-deception, then Bai You'an's journey with her through exile, the danger in Feng County, and the times he almost lost his life protecting her, were these also false? If he truly wanted the lives of the Song family members, then why did he still protect her and Song Qingmu? What conspiracy was this? In her previous life, why hadn't she seen him appear? And now, why were they looking for her and Wan Yan Xiyin?
Song Qingchao kept staring at the Shuiyun Residence opposite. Bai You'an, what exactly are you planning to do?
However, not long after, she saw Bai You'an come out with the woman in red. The woman smiled charmingly, looking very pleased. Bai You'an's expression was neither good nor bad. It was the first time Song Qingchao had so strongly disliked someone. She stared at the woman in red, as if trying to pierce through her. Perhaps because her gaze was too intense, the woman in red actually looked up. Song Qingchao quickly dodged. When she reappeared at the window, the woman in red and Bai You'an had vanished.
She frowned, then went to find Xiao Guo. "Do you know if there is a woman in red in Mobei City, who looks very... seductive?"
Xiao Guo thought for a moment and replied, "If I'm not mistaken, she should be Hong Niang."
Hong Niang... Song Qingchao murmured her name. She wore red. Her name also contained the color red. Good, very good. This person, she hated red the most. This Hong Niang was truly detestable from the inside out.
"Why is Miss asking about her out of the blue?"
"Oh, I just saw her leaving with Bai You'an," she said, with a touch of sarcasm. One had to admit, seeing her man go to a place like the Shuiyun Residence, and then leave with a very alluring woman, she, as the rightful one, felt very uncomfortable. Even though they were quarreling, that still wouldn't do!
"Ah, that." Xiao Guo looked a bit guilty. "Miss, I forgot to tell you why Ying Zhong smashed the Yixiang Tower."
"What reason?"
Xiao Guo's gaze flickered. "Cough, cough, well, it's because that Hong Niang said she wanted to marry Bai You'an to be her... her husband."