Wang Qinglin finally shook off Tian Yu, feeling a lightness in both body and mind.
Bai Junzhu, having married the man of her heart as she wished, was also overjoyed.
The most pitiable in the whole affair was Tian Yu.
However, no one cared about him anymore.
The next day, Xiao Yun arrived as arranged to pick up Wang Qingyao. Impatient with the fanfare every time he visited the Wang family, he waited in the alley outside.
Wang Qingyao, having tidied herself up, stood on the veranda and gazed at the sky.
The sun was brilliant, the sky cloudless.
It was a fine day.
In ancient times, there was no sunscreen. A stroll in such weather could darken one's face by a shade.
Yinzhu brought a veiled hat. "Miss, would you like to wear this?"
Wang Qingyao tried it on. While the veil could block the sun, the fabric was sheer. Still, anything blocking her vision made it uncomfortable to see. Moreover, using her clairvoyant eyes constantly would be too taxing.
Forget it. She was taking a carriage directly to the restaurant, not going on a tour.
She asked Yinzhu to put the veiled hat away.
Qiuju swept the courtyard with little presence, her eyes occasionally glancing over.
Suddenly, her expression shifted.
She saw a fingernail-sized patch of skin on Wang Qingyao's face peel off. Wang Qingyao felt an itch and scratched her face, completely unaware that a patch of her skin had turned brown.
Her heart pounded fiercely.
It worked!
After Wang Qingyao left, Qiuju found an opportunity to meet Wang Qinglin.
"Very good," Wang Qinglin smiled, smug and satisfied. "Find a chance to replace the face powder in her room."
"The second young lady doesn't like to bring maids when she goes out. Yinzhu and Zhizi are always guarding the door, and there's also Nanny Nian..." Qiuju said with difficulty.
"This matter is not difficult."
Soon, Madam Bai found an excuse to send Yinzhu and Zhizi to help in the kitchen, and Qiuju to help in the storeroom. She personally called on Nanny Nian and inquired about Wang Qingyao's progress in learning etiquette.
Thus, Cold Fragrance Courtyard became an empty city.
Qiuju quietly returned once, undetected.
Meanwhile, Wang Qingyao got into the carriage. Xiao Yun glanced at her face and exclaimed, "What's on your face?"
Wang Qingyao giggled, gently wiped it with a handkerchief, and the brown patch was gone.
"Nothing, just a bit of dirt."
Xiao Yun fumbled in his sleeve and produced a small box, handing it to her. "Here, for you. Don't use your senses yet, open it and see."
He rested his left elbow on the small table, propped his chin, and looked at her expectantly.
Wang Qingyao, suspicious, did not use her clairvoyant eyes. Upon opening it, she found a sandalwood comb.
The comb was small and exquisite, inlaid with eight colorful gems on the back. Even without sunlight in the carriage, she was dazzled.
This was King Ding'an's style: not about what was fitting, but only about what was expensive.
"Oh, ho ho," she grinned, unable to close her mouth. "This must have cost a lot, right?"
"Indeed, these eight gems alone are worth this much."
He gestured, and Wang Qingyao's smile widened. "You've spent too much, you've spent too much."
Was this the reciprocity, the boss's perk?
This comb was far more valuable than the one she had given him!
She immediately decided to exchange gifts with Xiao Yun more often in the future!
Wang Qingyao's delighted expression pleased Xiao Yun.
He thought to himself, one couldn't always have the lady take the initiative. She had hinted so clearly, he had to make some gesture, right?
She must have understood the meaning of his gift of the comb, her eyes crinkling with joy.
"Do you like it?"
"I like it, I like it. I like anything you give me. Even if you gave me a blade of grass, I'd like it."
"How could I give you a blade of grass? You're too easily satisfied."
Of course, she knew Xiao Yun wouldn't give her a blade of grass. He was King Ding'an, the wealthiest man in Da Sheng, did he have no pride? She had just said it casually.
With such good treatment from the boss, she naturally worked harder.
She felt she needed to understand her future work environment.
"Ah, Your Highness, have you ever been to a brothel?"
Xiao Yun choked on his saliva.
How did her thoughts jump from gifts to brothels?
Wang Qingyao answered her own question. "You probably have. The first time we met, you said I could visit any gambling house or brothel in Duanjing as I pleased."
Xiao Yun felt the need to explain. Although he had visited brothels, he only listened to music and drank wine; he had never engaged with the women there.
"Why?" Wang Qingyao asked with feigned innocence.
"Wine and women harm the body."
Wang Qingyao remembered. This prince of Da Sheng was extremely health-conscious.
He went to bed at precisely nine o'clock, so how could he indulge in sensual pleasures?
Furthermore, their prince might very well still be a virgin!
"Do you have any concubines?"
"No... no."
Wang Qingyao became excited.
She preferred a clean working environment.
This was rare in ancient times!
Someone like Prince Zi Jing even had concubines in his household.
Xiao Yun was confused. He had only given Wang Qingyao a comb, so why had the conversation turned to whether he had concubines?
And what was the meaning of her smiling gaze?
It felt like a butcher appraising meat on a chopping block.
In the early summer weather, Xiao Yun felt a chill and instinctively pulled his clothes tighter.
They soon arrived at Qingfeng Tower. It was then that Xiao Yun remembered something else.
"I forgot to tell you, the Seventh Prince is also here."
Wang Qingyao said "Oh," not seeming to care.
The private room had already been booked. The Seventh Prince had ordered a table of dishes and was waiting for them. Upon seeing them, he greeted them warmly, "Brother Yun, Sister-in-law."
Wang Qingyao: "Call me sister."
The Seventh Prince then changed his address to "Sister Wangfei."
The Seventh Prince, Yuan Xun, was only fifteen, equivalent to a middle schooler in modern times, at an age of innocence and romance. He had been fond of clinging to Xiao Yun since childhood and, by extension, was very fond of Wang Qingyao, showing no airs of a prince.
The signature wine of Qingfeng Tower was called Jade Marrow. Wang Qingyao had little knowledge of wine; she had drunk plenty before, and no matter how expensive, all wines tasted the same to her. However, she had a decent tolerance for alcohol. Few people in the corporate world had a poor tolerance.
Just drinking would be boring, so the Seventh Prince suggested playing a drinking game.
"Guessing game?"
She looked confused. Xiao Yun knew she didn't understand again and explained carefully, "A guessing game is a simpler form of drinking etiquette. You hide seeds or chess pieces in your palm, and someone guesses if it's odd or even, or the color. If they guess wrong, they have to drink."
Wang Qingyao's inner monologue: I messed up. I've exposed my ignorance to the boss again.
Seeing that Wang Qingyao didn't even know how to play the guessing game, the Seventh Prince's eyes gleamed, ready to take down this little newbie.
Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun exchanged glances and smiled knowingly. This poor child had walked right into a trap.
With her clairvoyant eyes as a cheat, Wang Qingyao never guessed wrong.
To get Xiao Yun to join in, the Seventh Prince patted his chest and promised to take responsibility for Xiao Yun's losses as well. Before long, he was drunk and slumped over.
Wang Qingyao drank two or three cups perfunctorily and was completely fine.
Xiao Yun: "You have a good tolerance for alcohol."
Oops, exposed.
As a young lady from a respectable family, how could she have a good tolerance for alcohol?
Wang Qingyao immediately clutched her forehead. "Oh, I feel dizzy."
"As soon as I praised your tolerance, you started feeling dizzy. It seems you can't be complimented at all."
Wang Qingyao chuckled, putting on a naive and sweet expression. "This is my first time drinking..."
Her speech was slurred, her eyes hazy, and she swayed her head.
Her acting was too good; Xiao Yun believed she was truly drunk.
His heart suddenly stirred. After a moment of hesitation, he leaned closer, looked into her eyes, and asked in a low voice, "Have you ever lied to me?"