These women, though they had never seen their Palace Master, all knew that he was peerless and magnificent. Even if his true appearance was unclear, his regal aura and kingly bearing were unlike any ordinary man.
They all felt both respect and admiration for the Palace Master, but because he was the man their sister Ru Yan loved, they did not compete with her.
"It's nothing, I'm just a little tired."
Upon hearing Bai Shui's words, Mo Ru Yan lazily rose and walked out, calling her sisters to sit down.
As soon as she appeared, her face was pale, her hair somewhat disheveled, and even beneath her fair and flawless eyes, there were faint dark circles, making the usually delicate and tender person lose much of her luster. Those who entered were simultaneously alarmed.
"Sister, did something really happen?"
The one speaking this time was a woman in red, enchanting and voluptuous, with a curvaceous figure. Her name was Xia Ying, a delicate beauty in the Rouge Pavilion, a favorite among men.
She was the most beloved woman of Minister of War Ye Si Yuan. At this moment, her beautiful face was etched with worry and anxiety as she looked at Ru Yan.
Mo Ru Yan paused, recalling the events of last night. Her heart ached, but she did not want her sisters to witness her embarrassment. Therefore, she said nothing of the matter, merely finding an excuse to dismiss it.
"I was worried that Prince Shang Guan might suspect the Rouge Pavilion, so I couldn't sleep all night."
"What, Prince Shang Guan suspects this place?"
"Then what should we do? Should we report it to the Palace Master?"
A chorus of anxious voices erupted, everyone tense, not knowing what would happen next. They all looked at Mo Ru Yan, waiting for her decision.
Mo Ru Yan remained silent for a moment, then looked up to reassure the women. "Don't worry, he only suspects for now. When he comes again, I will handle him carefully."
In truth, Mo Ru Yan knew that Shang Guan Lin might not come. After what happened last night, he would surely think she was someone who coveted wealth and status, and who wanted to marry into the Shang Guan Prince's mansion. He must be afraid of taking her into the prince's residence.
However, for now, it was important to appease these people. It was crucial not to cause panic among everyone, for if they did, suspicion would inevitably arise.
Although the girls still had doubts, they always trusted their Sister Ru Yan's words, and they didn't think there was anything to fear.
"Sister Ru Yan, please rest assured. We will slowly inquire about the situation."
"Yes, I will also inquire with Lord Lu about the situation."
These women all appeared willing to help, but Mo Ru Yan feared this the most.
No matter how much those court officials doted on their women, at their core, they looked down upon courtesans.
A single misstep would not only fail to uncover any information but would also alert the enemy, plunging the Rouge Pavilion into peril.
"Alright, stop making trouble. Do you hear me? No one is to inquire about anything. I will handle it. If the Palace Master finds out we acted without authorization, we might be punished according to the palace rules."
Mo Ru Yan spoke coldly, her pale face covered with a layer of frost. Her eyes, like a cold abyss, and her demeanor filled with killing intent, swept across the faces in the room.
Wherever her gaze landed, the beautiful, flower-like faces of the young women flickered with fear in their eyes. They were afraid of their master. His martial arts were unfathomable.
Furthermore, he was utterly devoid of pity for women. When he acted, he was bloodthirsty, and in his eyes, they, these delicate women, were at best his subordinates, not women. Mistakes would still be punished.
"Sister Ru Yan, we understand."
The people in the room nodded in unison, not daring to say another word.
Seeing that everyone's mood was a bit somber, Mo Ru Yan could not help but raise her face, her smile faint, her brilliance gentle, still the charming and enchanting beauty.
"Don't worry, I've got this."
As soon as she finished speaking, her personal maid walked in, respectfully bowed her head, and her pretty voice rang out.
"Miss, the stable boy Ah Er has come to report that a young gentleman wishes to see you."
Before the little maid had finished speaking, Bai Shui and Qiao Ling impatiently exclaimed, "It's broad daylight, tell him to leave. He can come back tonight."
Mo Ru Yan nodded in agreement, but before the little maid could retreat, the sound of crashing could be heard from outside the pavilion, as if something had been smashed, and then someone barged in.
The group of women quickly rushed out and saw in the first-floor hall, a tall and somewhat slender man standing with his hands behind his back, dressed in a light purple robe.
On his beautiful and refined face, a faint, cold smile bloomed. His dark eyes seemed dyed with the captivating beauty of the red spider lilies from the other shore, exuding an astonishing aura of malevolent charm.
The women on the second-floor railing gasped upon seeing the newcomer. Bai Shui pointed angrily at the man.
"Who are you? How dare you cause trouble in the Rouge Pavilion!"
As soon as Bai Shui finished speaking, the man's eyebrows shot up, his malevolent aura intensifying. His eyes seemed to be veiled by a misty fog, making it impossible to discern any thoughts within his heart.
However, in an instant, his expression changed drastically, turning cold and sharp as frost. With a wave of his hand, a red wave surged forward, a fierce gust of wind rising, striking directly towards Bai Shui's face. Bai Shui, being no ordinary person, naturally did not wait for death.
However, seeing the man's ruthless technique, she did not dare to meet the flower directly. She dodged to the side, and the flower flew backward, where Mo Ru Yan was standing.
Mo Ru Yan, with a face full of gentle, watery smiles and eyes like flowers, poetic and graceful, flipped her hands and caught the hidden weapon. The weapon was a jade carving of a rose, its petals vivid and its luster dazzling, captivating the onlookers.
At this moment, Mo Ru Yan's voice, as gentle as water, rang out.
"Come, please invite the young gentleman in for a chat."
Bai Shui, Qiao Ling, and the others were stunned, not understanding why Sister Ru Yan wanted to see this person. Did she fear him? Sister Ru Yan's skills were formidable; even if this person was powerful, he couldn't harm her.
"Sister Ru Yan."
"You all go back. Our guest is here." Ru Yan waved her hand, and the women dared not protest, turning to leave. As they reached the top of the stairs, they saw the gentleman ascending. He was tall and slender, with seductive, devilish features and an aura of malevolent charm.
At this moment, a hint of a smile played on his lips as he casually swept his gaze over the women, instilling a chilling feeling. Behind him, two maids followed closely, one on each side, as they walked towards Ru Yan's room.
After she walked away, Bai Shui, with a mysterious look, beckoned the others closer and whispered.
"This is clearly a female."
It turned out the newcomer was a woman disguised as a man. Like them, she was a woman, but they didn't know why she wanted to see Sister Ru Yan. However, since it was a woman, there was nothing to fear. The women dispersed and returned to their rooms, as there were still guests to attend to in the evening.
Mo Ru Yan's boudoir exuded a feminine charm. Fine brocade curtains hung by the window, beneath which stood a zither stand, with a high-quality ancient guqin placed upon it, spotless.
On a round table in the center of the room, a hollowed-out tablecloth was laid out, and a celadon vase of official kiln production was placed, holding a few lotus flowers that seemed to have just emerged from the water, blooming faintly.
In the middle of the room, a string of glazed beads hung like a curtain, tinkling musically in the gentle breeze, like the sound of a mountain spring.
The visitor stood quietly in the room, looking around. Mo Ru Yan personally poured tea and brought it over, speaking softly and charmingly.
"Miss Ying Xue, why have you left the manor?"