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墨書 Inktalez
Suddenly, the murmurs behind her came to an abrupt halt. In Kyoto, who didn't know that Zhang Family's young lady, Yunqin, had been infatuated with the Night General for many years? Despite her efforts over the years, she still made no progress.
She hadn't even set foot inside the Night General's residence, continuously resorting to her inferior schemes to create encounters with Night Star.
There was a day when she encountered the man ten times in a row! This became known to everyone in Kyoto, and afterward, she never appeared within Night Star's vicinity again.
This incident secretly turned into a joke among the people of Kyoto, who quietly mocked Zhang Yunqin for her audacity in dreaming of becoming the General's Wife.
The two women locked eyes under the bright lights, and those nearby could sense the hostility radiating from both of them.
"Ah, so it's Miss Zhang from the Zhang Family. I've heard much about you," Liu Xuxin said. She didn't come to Kyoto empty-handed; she had done her homework and was well aware of the infamous encounter events.
She didn't shy away and smiled, "I didn't expect my reputation to have spread all the way to Yancheng."
"Of course! Who doesn't know that Miss Zhang has been pursuing the Night General for several days? In the end, even the Night General was too afraid to meet with you," Liu Xuxin's words dripped with disdain. Her voice was gentle but aimed directly at Zhang Yunqin's sore spot without a hint of mercy.
Zhang Yunqin's expression instantly darkened. No one in Kyoto had ever been so arrogant as to bring up something that embarrassed her in front of her. "You!"
Liu Xuxin's smile grew even brighter, her demeanor becoming increasingly graceful, showing no signs of slackening. "I wonder if Miss Zhang checked the almanac before heading out today. Don't waste your efforts trying to enter the General's residence only to find no one there."
After saying this, she playfully covered her smiling lips with her hand while her eyes provocatively stared at Zhang Yunqin.
Zhang Yunqin was furious, stamping her foot in anger as words slipped out without thought. "You're just a girl from a humble background! What right do you have to criticize me?"
As if startled, she quickly retracted her smile and awkwardly lowered her gaze. "Miss Zhang, please don't be angry. I just happened to think of it and mentioned it casually; I meant no harm."
Zhang Yunqin had always been pampered and accustomed to being treated delicately, so when someone dared to show her a harsh expression in front of so many people, her face instantly flushed with anger. The hairpin in her updo shook violently, reflecting her agitated emotions.
With slender fingers pointing at the woman before her, her eyes were filled with overwhelming fury. "You little Jade Bitch! How dare you play tricks in front of me and then act innocent? Do you really think I'm foolish?"
Bright tears welled up in the woman's watery eyes, and her pitiful expression made anyone who saw it feel sympathy. "Miss Zhang, you misunderstood. I truly didn't mean to say that."
The more Zhang Yunqin looked at her, the harder it became to quell the anger in her heart. She stepped forward, rolled up her sleeves, and aimed a clawing hand at the woman's face! However, her fierce movement was met with resistance from Liu Xuxin, who was not one to back down easily.
As the sharp nails came rushing toward her, she quickly stepped back a few paces and screamed before the hand could touch her face, then fell to the ground in a dramatic fashion!
With a swift motion, she hooked Zhang Yunqin's ankle with her foot, pulling hard enough that Zhang Yunqin also tumbled to the ground.
In an instant, screams erupted all around as everyone stared in shock at the two women sprawled on the floor.
"Miss Zhang!" Seizing the opportunity, Liu Xuxin screamed loudly, one hand covering her face while the other braced against the ground. Her once exquisite hairstyle was now a chaotic mess, utterly unpresentable.
Her scream undoubtedly drew everyone's attention. There was Zhang Yunqin sitting on top of her, looking fierce and terrifying.
Old Madam furrowed her brows tightly and finally spoke up: "You are all young ladies from noble families; this is no way to behave! Someone help them up."
The maidservants hurried forward to assist the two disheveled women.
Stumbling to her feet, Liu Xuxin was tear-streaked and looked exceptionally pitiful, evoking sympathy from those around.
In contrast, Zhang Yunqin, even as she was helped up, continued to curse without an ounce of remorse. Her gaze toward Liu Xuxin was filled with even more malice.
Just as Liu Xuxin stood up, she immediately knelt respectfully on the ground before Old Madam, apologizing. "Aunt, it was my fault. Please do not blame Miss Zhang. If I hadn't said what I did, Miss Zhang wouldn't have gotten angry, and this incident wouldn't have happened."
The aggrieved expression seemed to suggest that she wanted to take all the blame upon herself.
"Yes! It's all because of you! If it weren't for you, how could I have ruined the clothes I painstakingly prepared for today! It's all your fault! You little Jade Bitch!" Liu Xuxin kept apologizing while she relentlessly blamed.
Everyone observed their actions and words, and in comparison, it was clear that the other woman was even more lacking in virtue!
"Stop!" Having grown tired of such bickering, Old Madam shouted loudly, startling everyone into attention as they respectfully looked at her.
After scanning the room with an imposing gaze, her fiery eyes landed on Zhang Yunqin, who looked like a fighting rooster.
"Miss Zhang, I did not invite you here today to cause trouble or to provide us with entertainment; you are here to attend the banquet, and there is no need for such behavior."
The woman who was called out wanted to retort but was silenced by Old Madam's fierce glare. The words she wanted to say got stuck in her throat, unable to come out or go down, and she could only lower her gaze slightly.
"I know why all the young ladies are here today; this is naturally an opportunity for everyone, and I hope you all cherish it. Do not let others take advantage of you."
As Old Madam's words fell, everyone sighed; no one had ever been so straightforward about their innermost thoughts.
"I do not wish for anything like what just happened to occur again during the banquet! Everyone is a guest, and I welcome you all! But if you do not give me face, do not blame the General's residence for closing its doors to you in the future!"
Then she pulled Liu Xuxin's soft wrist, which had been quietly sobbing behind her, and said, "She is my niece! Naturally, I hold great hopes for her, and I hope that the young ladies from noble families will not make things difficult for her. After all, she still has this old lady backing her!"
Once Old Madam spoke these words, everyone's gaze towards her changed significantly. Even Liu Xuxin herself was momentarily stunned, unable to believe what she had just heard.
She understood better than anyone else the implication of Old Madam's words; this was nothing less than an acknowledgment of her status, giving her an even greater advantage in this matter regarding Night Star!
Zhang Yunqin was so furious that she wished she could twist Liu Xuxin's neck off. However, with Old Madam present and so many eyes watching, she could only suppress her anger!
Looking down at her disheveled clothes, she thought to herself that she absolutely could not meet Night Star like this! Stomping her foot in frustration, she gritted her teeth and turned to leave the General's residence. She was so angry that she felt smoke might rise from her head!
It wasn't until Zhang Yunqin disappeared from everyone's sight that the atmosphere of the banquet finally began to liven up. After Old Madam's words, many people suddenly wanted to get close to Liu Xuxin.
As she dealt with the flattery from the crowd, a hint of pride flashed in the woman's eyes. Watching the direction in which Zhang Yunqin had vanished, a sneer crept onto her lips.
Want to compete with her? They were still too inexperienced! That woman was nothing but a fool who only wanted to enter the General's residence!
Looking at her own attire, a displeased expression crossed her face as she said to Old Madam, "Old Madam, my clothes are in such a state. Please allow me to change before I return; it wouldn't be considered disrespectful."
Old Madam nodded slowly, granting her request.
Once she had walked away, Madam Liu leaned closer and praised, "This Miss Liu truly understands people; she has the demeanor of a proper lady. Old Madam's judgment is indeed commendable."
Jiang Yu remained silent, merely smiling gently as she watched Liu Xuxin's figure, her eyes reflecting emotions that were hard to decipher.
As the music behind them grew fainter, Liu Xuxin's expression also settled down. Supporting Cui Er's hand, she coldly laughed, "Hah, Cui Er, don't you think that woman is quite foolish? She even dares to say that I come from a humble background!"
The smile on her face was enchanting and completely different from the gentle and virtuous demeanor she displayed in front of others.
Cui Er smiled in agreement, carefully supporting Liu Xuxin's wrist as she said, "Miss, you are so clever; no one can compare to you. Any woman wanting to enter the General's residence should not be overlooked!"
"Of course!" With an air of arrogance, she laughed heartily several times.
After quickly changing into new clothes and supporting Cui Er as they stepped out again, her mood lifted considerably, and even her steps felt lighter.
Humming a tune as she walked around the corner of the courtyard, her gaze was suddenly drawn to the distant Candlelight. While other places were bustling with activity, that spot appeared remarkably tranquil.
She raised her hand and pointed to that place, her eyes filled with confusion. "Cui Er, what is that place? Why have I never been there?"
"Miss, you have only been at the General's residence for a day. It’s natural that you haven't seen every corner of this estate," Cui Er replied.
"Is that so? But why do I feel like that place is unusual?" Liu Xuxin's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked toward it.
Cui Er, however, showed little interest and said, "Miss, we will have plenty of opportunities to explore the General's residence in the future. Today is an important banquet; let’s return before Old Madam and Night General get anxious."
Yet Liu Xuxin had made up her mind. She released Cui Er's hand and said, "There's no rush for the banquet. I have my reasons to go; come on, let’s take a look over there. I'm curious why it’s so lively in that area while it’s so quiet here. Are they not welcoming me?"
Seeing that the woman was determined, Cui Er felt it was inappropriate to say more and decided to go along with her wishes. "Since you insist on going, then let’s go. It won’t take much time."
What caught the woman's attention was none other than the courtyard of Mo Xier, who had long since gone to bed.
The two walked slowly until they got closer and discovered that many young servants were guarding the entrance of the courtyard. From the looks of it, they seemed to be watching over something important.
Cui Er noticed something was off and felt a bit scared. She leaned closer to Liu Xuxin and whispered, "Miss, it seems there might be something significant inside the courtyard. It would be better if we didn’t go in."
"Are you afraid of this?" Liu Xuxin was bold; the more she saw people guarding it, the more curious she became about wanting to enter.
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