Translator: Atlas Studios  Editor: Atlas Studios
Meng Fuyao gritted her teeth, glaring at him. Had she really described him as clean, pure, sparkly and flawless just a moment ago?
Zong Yue maintained a calm expression on his face.
After some thought, Meng Fuyao smiled.
âThe pot is indeed empty, but I did not see any Vessel of Spring. And robber, you say? I am a wanderer that you had welcomed to stay for the night. Have you heard of anyone inviting a plunderer into their carriage to journey together?â
She finished with a crisp tone, clapping her hands and preparing to leave upon finishing her sentence. âAs for the disappearance of your wine⌠ask your tummy,â she advised with a laugh.
âKing De is temperamental and will take revenge, no matter how small an offense,â Zong Yueâs calm voice reached her ears.
âSo?â
âHeâs sure to fly into a rage when he finds out that someone has gobbled down his life-saving wine. Yeah⌠heard that his troop, Scarlet Wind, is trained to track and assassinateâŚâ
Meng Fuyao, who had lifted the curtain midway, paused. After a long while, she flung it downward with more force than necessary before whipping around and shouting, âSo many tricks just to make me stay? Fine.â
She took a big step backward and slammed onto the chair behind her. She opened the secret compartment in the table and pulled a dried fish, ham, bamboo shoot, lotus pastry from within. Upon gathering them in front of her, she shamelessly retrieved a jade cup and a pair of silver chopsticks and started digging in like never before. âWanna keep me? Feed me well. I expect nothing less than this meal from now on, and you can just gift this set of utensils to me. I donât mind that youâve used them before. As for clothes⌠that overcoat is great, but I donât like the white color on it. Itâs cheesy, so get me a black one. Thatâs all for now.â
Zong Yue fiddled with his purple plant as he responded, âAlright, but you canât get all that for nothing? Look at yourself, donât you think youâre too plump?â
Meng Fuyao opened and closed her mouth a few times, but nothing came out. âIâm plump? Iâm plump? Am I plump? I have great curves, right where they should be. Are your eyes okay?â
The man before her made one feel cleansed, but why were his words so filthy? What a poisonous tongue, not fit for his pure-white robe.
Still unrecovered from shock, she converted anger into hunger, quickly sweeping the plates in front of her clean before replying with a cold smirk, âEven if I die from obesity, itâs none of your business.â
âIt is my business,â replied Zong Yue, unmoved. âMy servant shouldnât be too ugly, plump, skinny or pretty.â
âYour servant? Who?â Meng Fuyao repeated with more emphasis, narrowing her eyes.
Not answering her question, Zong Yue first sized her up, nodding reluctantly. âNot too bad. Youâre not pretty, neither smart nor too foolish, but your weight⌠can be reduced.â
Meng Fuyao bit on her lips for a long while before smiling and nodding. âNot too bad. Youâre not pretty, not smart, slightly plump. Youâre obviously a vulgar man who dresses all holy and kind, exudes a softness like that of snow, but owning a nasty character; lying and setting others upâŚyou have a ton of shortcomings, but I believe you can change for the better.â
She let out a smile that could make oneâs blood run cold as she added slowly, âI will spend some time and effort to teach you.â
âAlright,â Zong Yue agreed, not the least bit angered.
âLetâs see whoâs teaching whom,â he nodded.
âIâm not an ordinary servant, and I expect a treatment no less worthy of my class!â Meng Fuyao protested, squatting before the door of King Deâs courtyard, Fragrant Garden, in an eastern alley of Zhongzhou City and swinging her servant uniform about.
Not getting any reaction from within the house, Yao Xun turned to hold her in place. âAye, you kinda deserve this for drinking their priceless wine, Miss Meng. Arenât you going overboard..?â
âWhat do you know?â Meng Fuyao shut him up. âHeâs always acting like heâs kind and guilelessâŚI want him to admit defeat.â
She started climbing up the windows, but they were shut tight. She then started jabbing the paper screen.
Jab, jab, jab⌠pop, pop, popâââ the screen window quickly turned into a honey beeâs nest.
The beautiful image of the cold night wind blasting through these holes and attacking a certain someoneâs body pleased her very much. âMore holes, more holesâŚâ
âOuch!â
She felt a sharp pain shooting up her finger as if she had been pricked by a needle. She hastily retracted her hand and spotted a bead of blood oozing out. âAn ambush? Seriously? What a vile person indeed!â
The window opened quietly, and Zong Yue sat by the ledge, his white robe fluttering in contrast against the falling maple leaves, whose deep red color and jagged yellow outlines were still visible through the frost. There was paleness amid the fresh, bright colors, allowing Zong Yue to blend perfectly with his background yet stand out with his prominent features.
There was a hollow needle in between his fingers, and he looked deep in thought at the blood within. âI met a divine woman, Lady Fei Yan in Fufeng once, who asked me to inform her if I ever chanced upon a 17-year-old virgin whoâs practicing supreme subliminal skills. Sheâs been searching for this exceptional individual for many years but to no avail.â
He shook the needle in his hand without looking at Meng Fuyao. âShe wants the Sacrificial Blood Body, and Iâve tried many, but they were all unsuitable. Wonder if this is the one?â he mumbled.
Meng Fuyao crouched under the window, laughing in response. âWhat else can you do other than threatening and framing others?â
Zong Yue looked up, tossing a basket to her and saying, âIâll let you see what I can do now. Please pluck and gather the soft tips of the Paris Polyphylla plant, and mash them in the cauldron. Iâll need them. Remember, as fine as powder and only the softest tips.â
Meng Fuyao pointed her nose toward the sky, producing no other reaction. Instead, Yao Xun rushed forward to haul her away.
âYou pluck it then,â Meng Fuyao grumbled and kicked the floor on the way out, her gaze reaching the grass by the path. âAye, this grass looks exactly like Paris Polyphylla⌠Hey, collect and grind them, and give it to Zong Yue. Didnât he tell me to see what he can do? Letâs see if he can recognize the difference.â
Before Yao Xun could reply, she waved. âIâll go walk around.â
Zhongzhou hadnât failed its name as the number one bustling city within the whole of the Five Region Continent. It was a mid-to-high-walled city, rich and still flourishing, where citizens enjoyed living leisurely and with satisfaction. From the young ladies selling flowers on the streets to the tea brewer in inns, from the loud officials in the inn to the merchants from different nations in the market, and from the fluttering red sleeves in the brothels to the slowly spreading fragrance of cosmetic powder, wine and meat in the gambling stalls, it could be seen that this city was an all-embracing and diverse one.
According to a very romantic saying by a famous wandering minstrel, a stable and secure city was no different from a bold and powerful man who possessed an influential and firm aura. Zhongzhou was like an intellectual and wise youth who indulged in refined education and an elegant, romantic life.
Meng Fuyao walked aimlessly on the street, casually buying little things along the way. She had money now, and while Zong Yue wasnât any good, he had provided her with sufficient resources. If not for the fact that he had taken responsibility for her meals and accommodation, she wouldâve attempted to run away long ago.
She continued strolling, eventually passing the main street. The crowd thinned out, and the paths gradually became more spacious. In front of her, stood an exquisitely extravagant building complex. It looked nothing like a palace, and its walls were so short that she could easily jump over. There were still scattered homes around, and Meng Fuyao pulled a passerby over. It was an old man, who replied kindly, âYou must be from another place. This is the temporary imperial residence of the crown prince.â
âThe crown prince?â Meng Fuyao repeated, evidently shocked. âThere are people other than the emperor who can do that?â
âIs Wuji crown prince just any people? He had long obtained power from the nation, and itâs only a matter of time before he ascends the throne,â the old man explained, slightly displeased by now. âAccording to your logic, only the emperor deserves an honorific title? Doesnât the crown prince of Wuji have one too?â
âOh? What honorific title?â asked Meng Fuyao heedlessly. âLooks like Zhangsun Wuji is quite popular at home too.â
âIs that something weâre fit to mention?â the old man hurried forward. âJust look around here, lady. The crown prince seldom comes over. Itâs a quiet place here, and from the looks of it, he isnât in at the moment.â He then pointed at the low palace wall and continued, âSee that wall? There are various kinds of herbs planted in the garden. Theyâre free for the poor and sick to use; all they have to do is climb over and gather what they need. Itâs actually not that difficult to meet with the crown prince, but people choose not to disturb.â
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âOh,â Meng Fuyao uttered. âAn assassin can easily infiltrate.â As she saw the herbs in the garden, Meng Fuyao got an idea ââSteal, sell, money?â
Soon after, a sneaky girl could be seen entering the garden. A minute later, as she straightened her back, a big, full sack bulged out from her clothes. Meng Fuyao knew medicine, so she had picked only the most valuable ones, and was planning to sell them to Zong Yue to earn a hefty sum.
The weather turned slightly warmer half a day later, and Meng Fuyaoâs hands were muddied. She glanced about, searching for some water to wash her hands. Finally, she spotted a rockery with a pond. Opposite the pond stood a metallic red tree that bloomed black flowers. She frowned, noting that it resembled the Green-Red Soul Tree, whose bark was a quality herb that could help with energy cultivation and her Nine Cleaving Heavens. Greed took over her mind, and she slowly inched toward it.
However, before she could reach the target, two golden armor-clad guards appeared from behind the rockery and blocked her path with a pair of spears. âBehind is His Highnessâs hall. If youâre here to gather herbs, you canât pass through.â
âOh,â Meng Fuyao rolled her eyes to the side before giggling. âI canât go over, Brothers. But can I climb up the rockery to have a quick glimpse? I would like to see how it looks like and share it with my family.â