Duan Hui indeed placed the clothes on the bed, but it wasn't the original set; instead, it was a set of coarse cloth men's clothing, the most old-fashioned and ordinary kind. She was taken aback. Duan Hui said, "We need to change clothes for our journey tomorrow."
After she finished speaking, she went out. When she came back in after she had dressed, she was carrying a bowl of congee and a few pieces of braised duck breast.
“You didn’t cry. I’m a little surprised.” Xiaoman’s hands were too weak to hold the rice bowl, so Duanhui slowly fed her spoonful by spoonful.
She gave a dry laugh. Even the most timid and naive person, after being captured and tossed around for over a year, chased and had their hands chopped off, had grown accustomed to it. She wanted to cry and scream, but her body wouldn't cooperate, so she had to give up.
"The master will not hurt you, so you don't need to be afraid. As long as you behave, Xiang Buleng will have many men more handsome than Ze Xiu and Tian Quan to give to you, and your life will only get better."
Xiaoman almost choked: "What...why would I need a man?!"
He didn't speak, but merely glanced at her neck, where faint marks remained—marks left by Zexiu.
Xiao Man's face immediately turned red. She wanted to curse, but she was too embarrassed to argue about such a thing, so she had to suppress her anger.
After finishing her meal, Duan Hui put her bowl on the table, pulled up a rattan chair and sat down by the door with her back to Duan Hui. She said calmly, "Go to sleep. We have to travel tomorrow morning."
Xiaoman lay on the bed fully clothed, tossing and turning, her clothes soaked with sweat countless times. Slowly, she finally felt a little more comfortable, but she felt utterly exhausted, so weak she seemed about to collapse at the slightest breeze. She wanted some water, but looking around without finding a cup, she could only say, "I...I'm thirsty, is there any water?"
Duan Hui immediately brought her a teapot and fed her a few sips.
After a while, he heard her start to cry out that she was thirsty again, so he had to get up and feed her again. This happened three or four times in a row. The last time she cried out, it was almost midnight.
Duan Hui slowly got up and walked over, looked down at her for a while, and said softly, "Did I give you the wrong medicine and give you an aphrodisiac? I'm sorry, if you're feeling unwell, I can't help you. I have no reaction to women at all, so you'll have to deal with it yourself."
Xiao Man flew into a rage and shouted, "You pervert! When did I say it was an aphrodisiac! I just needed to... relieve myself!"
Duan Hui had no choice but to carry her outside and sit by the door until she finished relieving herself. When she came back weakly, he carried her back to the bed and suddenly said, "I still have many ways to deal with you. If you call out again, I won't be polite."
Xiaoman was both angry and embarrassed, curled up in a ball on the bed. Did she want to?! It was all because of that sleeping potion! She was so thirsty in no time, and after drinking so much water, how could she not need to relieve herself?
She indeed stopped talking. After some time, when the moon was high in the sky, Duan Hui suddenly whispered again, "I'm sorry, Xiao Man, I shouldn't have said that to you. You are actually a very nice girl."
Xiao Man didn't speak, only feeling a pang of sadness in her heart. She, too, had truly considered him a good friend. She had never known what friendship was until, by a twist of fate, she was brought out of the Mountain of No Return, where she encountered many people and things—some she disliked, some she liked, and some she didn't care about.
Duan Hui was exactly the type she liked—gentle and composed, someone she could consult on anything with, who would always offer a smiling answer. Although he was a man, if she considered Lian Yi her younger sister, then Duan Hui was like an older sister to her.
Unfortunately, this position as a "sister" didn't last long; she turned out to be an undercover agent.
“I have received great kindness from Mr. Xue. He saved me, raised me, and taught me, hoping that I would become an outstanding man in the future,” Duan Hui said calmly. “So he asked me to go to Mr. Xue, and I agreed without any hesitation. But now I have become like this… I will probably never be an outstanding man.”
It's impossible for him not to have regrets. He regretted it constantly. The young men in Mr. Xue's shop genuinely wanted to be women, but he wasn't. He was a man. What would become of a man who twisted himself to become a woman?
"I am neither a man nor a woman, I am a monster."
Xiao Man couldn't help but turn over to look at him. He sat on the wicker chair with his back to her, motionless, like a statue. The moonlight spilled across the ground, pale and thin, and he seemed to melt in that light.
“But you… are still a human being,” she whispered.
Duan Hui was silent for a while, then whispered, "Go to sleep, we have to go to Xiangbuleng tomorrow."
Okay, you guys are going to be straightforward, right? Today's is straightforward enough...
Not enough? If that's still not enough, it'll have to be written as a short erotic story, with censored text...
I am a pure and innocent Fourteenth Prince; such a thing must never happen. A sex scene? What's that? (Scratching head, I innocently drift away.)
The Scroll of Splendor, Chapter Seven: Helplessness (Part One)
Updated: 2008-10-29 15:44:47 Word Count: 3448
Two more updates to follow.
First update.
It was indeed Duan Hui's skill to dress up as a woman. The next day, when Xiao Man opened her eyes, he had already dressed himself up as an ordinary country aunt. His demeanor, mannerisms, and voice were all identical to the real thing. It was simply amazing.
Xiao Man naturally became the aunt's husband, a typical old man from the countryside.
Duan Hui took her arm and led her out the door, placing one hand on her back in a sensitive area, and whispered, "Don't try any tricks, just come with me obediently."
Xiao Man coughed twice, stroked her goatee, and was helped forward by him. Passersby looked at the loving elderly couple with envious eyes. How could they not be moved by their intimacy at such an advanced age?
Hangzhou is a large and bustling city, but not the kind of bustling Xiaoman had imagined. The Jiangnan region is vast and misty, with picturesque spring scenery, and even the wind carries an intoxicating fragrance—a unique and charming landscape.
If Duan Hui hadn't kept threatening her by placing her hand on her back, she would have been completely blinded.
"...Well, my dear wife, we've been walking all day without a sip of water or a bite to eat. Are you hungry?" Xiaoman's stomach was rumbling. It had been a whole morning since she left home, and she had walked so much without even a sip of water. She really couldn't take it anymore.
Duan Hui smiled slightly: "It's alright, husband, just bear with it a little longer, we'll be there soon."
"But I couldn't resist..." Her throat was so dry it felt like it was on fire, and she wanted to snatch a sip from someone stirring paste by the roadside.
Duan Hui didn't answer, but dragged her quickly across the street, turned east, and there was a very high white wall. A few steps further, there was a gate. Several handsome young men in red stood at the gate, their lips red and teeth white. Xiao Man looked up at the young men and saw a plaque above their heads. It read three large characters: "Fragrance Never Grows Cold".
Ugh, she thought Xiangbuleng was some kind of secret place. It even had a sign hanging up. Inside, sheer gauze fluttered about, and the air was thick with the smell of perfume—it was either a cosmetics shop or a brothel. But judging from the handsome young men guarding the entrance, it was unlikely to be a brothel. Could it be… a male brothel?!
Xiao Man was startled by her own thoughts. She stiffened as Duan Hui dragged her over. The boys immediately greeted her with smiles and asked, "Please come in, sir. What would you like to buy?"
Duan Hui looked at Xiao Man and said shyly, "Husband, would you like to come with me to look at rouge and face powder?"
Oh, it's just a cosmetics shop. Xiaoman breathed a sigh of relief. Cosmetics are mostly used by women, and this shop employs only handsome young men to serve customers—it's quite novel. But... why does this kind of perverse taste seem so familiar?
She nodded. The two were ushered inside by several young men. Xiao Man was admiring the scenery in the courtyard when she suddenly smelled a fragrant breeze. A soft voice followed: "What would you like to buy, sir? I'd be happy to offer my advice."
She turned around and saw a boy of about fifteen or sixteen standing behind her with a smile. He wore a loose, pale yellow robe and looked both languid and charming. Xiaoman was about to speak when Duanhui said, "Do you have any balsam flowers here that have been used to extract the juice for four rounds of rouge?"
The young man raised an eyebrow slightly and said with a smile, "Of course, please follow me, sir."
He led the two into the main hall, through the corridors, and around the flower hall. One moment they were surrounded by beaded curtains and emerald greenery, the next they were greeted by handsome young men. The fragrant scent of perfume mingled with the sweet aroma of spring flowers, making them feel intoxicated. Xiaoman was feeling dizzy from the huge house when suddenly the view opened up before her, revealing a delicate and elegant little courtyard.
The boy who led the way chuckled softly and disappeared in the blink of an eye. Duan Hui released Xiao Man, then suddenly knelt on one knee and whispered, "Sir, Duan Hui has successfully brought the person here."
On a distant artificial hill stood a bamboo pavilion, inside which sat a person dressed in a light purple robe, with long hair draped over his shoulders, obscuring his face. He grunted and said, "Well done. Come up and let me see."
Duan Hui said softly, "Xiao Man, the master is calling you, go quickly."
Helpless, she could only gather her sleeves and walk towards the artificial hill, climbing the steps one by one. The person sat with his back to the light, so she couldn't see him clearly, only that his black hair was draped behind him, and he didn't seem unattractive from behind. She slowly walked into the bamboo pavilion, where a rattan table was set up, with a chessboard on it. The person was holding a black piece with his slender fingers, playing against himself, as if he had encountered some difficult problem and was deep in thought.
"Sit." He suddenly spoke, gesturing for Xiaoman to sit beside him, and poured her a cup of tea without looking up.
Xiao Man was almost dizzy from drinking so much. Without even looking at the cup, she picked it up and drank it all in one gulp. She found the tea to be cool and sweet, without any bitterness. The man laughed when he saw her finish it in one go, poured her another cup, and said softly, "No need to rush, drink slowly."
Xiaoman felt the voice was very familiar. The person was holding a chess piece and left a side view for her, which was also very familiar. She couldn't help but turn her head to take a closer look. Just then, the person also turned to look at her. The two met face to face, and the cup in Xiaoman's hand tilted with a clatter, spilling tea all over the floor.
"Mr. Xue----" she cried out, feeling as if the most absurd thing in the world had been born at this moment!
Those slightly raised eyebrows, those alluring, narrow eyes, that stunningly beautiful face! It really is Mr. Xue!
The man smiled faintly: "I am not Mr. Xue, although we look very similar."
Xiao Man was still shaken. She stared at him from head to toe, and after a careful look, she realized it wasn't Mr. Xue. He looked older than Mr. Xue, and he wasn't as flirtatious. Most importantly, Mr. Xue never grew a beard, as he thought it would detract from his handsome appearance, while this man had a slightly bluish-black chin, making him appear more mature.
“You are…” she murmured, unsure of what to say.
He put down the chess piece and said calmly, "You can call me Mr. Wu Nai He. I am Mr. Xue's older brother and Ze Xiu's real third uncle."
Xiao Man remained silent. This man didn't seem to be lying, but if he was Mr. Xue's brother, why had no one ever mentioned him? Helplessly, helplessly, even the name itself sounded resentful. She couldn't help but recall some clichéd and melodramatic plots, like him deeply hating his biased parents, then leaving the family in a huff to forge his own path…
Unfortunately, Mr. He saw through her little scheme at a glance and laughed, "Well, it's not what you think. In the Guanxing family, twins are considered very unlucky. We were given away together when we were eight years old. Mr. Xue and Tuanshanzi have a good relationship, so they are closer. I've been living in the Jiangnan and Minnan areas all these years and have never gone back. Since they avoid mentioning twins, they naturally won't mention me. The Guanxing family always has so many rules and taboos, it's a real headache."
So that's how it is. He and Mr. Xue are twin brothers. No wonder they look so alike. Mr. Xue is Tian Sha Shi Fang, and so is he. It's just that one is too lazy to meddle in other people's business, while the other seems to be plotting something.
Xiao Man lowered her head and took a sip of tea, unsure whether to speak first or wait for him to speak. Just as she was hesitating, she suddenly heard him say, "Let Duan Hui take you to the guest room and remove your makeup. Although Hangzhou has a humid climate, leaving these makeup on your face is bad for your skin. It's better to wash it off as soon as possible."
Wow, even their accents are so similar to Mr. Xue's; it must be because they're twins.
Duan Hui led her through a series of twists and turns, and somehow they ended up in a small building. The building had pointed eaves that curved upwards playfully, and round, moon-shaped windows with sheer curtains fluttering in front of them, making it a very charming place.
“You’ll be living here from now on.” Duan Hui opened the door for her and added, “If you’re bored, you can go to the front courtyard. The master likes you, so it doesn’t matter who you take a fancy to.”
Xiaoman blushed, but since her face was covered in old man makeup, it was probably impossible to tell what expression she had.
"I don't want to!" she whispered.
Duan Hui didn't speak, but instead fetched water to wash off her makeup, then brought her a set of women's clothes to change into, and carefully combed her hair. Xiao Man stared at him in the mirror and suddenly whispered, "You knew they were brothers all along?"
After a while, Duan Hui said, "I don't care who the master is related to. I will only do what he tells me to do."
Indeed, more loyal than a dog, Xiaoman shut up and said nothing.
Duan Hui tied her hair up, then took out rouge and powder to carefully groom her. After everything was done, she helped her up and said, "The master is waiting for you at Jingmo Tower."
After another winding and circuitous route, she encountered many handsome young men who all looked at her, some smiling, some silent, some staring, some whispering, making her extremely uncomfortable. What kind of ridiculous "helplessness" was this? Why didn't they come to see her themselves, instead making her run around like this, going here and there? A man who is too arrogant is very unlikable.
Jingmo Tower is a small, completely black building built in a large peach blossom forest. You can see Mr. Wunaihe standing behind the second-floor window, watering the potted plants on the windowsill with a flower pot.
Xiao Man looked up at him, when she suddenly noticed him looking down at her. His eyes lit up as if he had seen some adorable cat or dog, and then he smiled, bracing himself on the windowsill before jumping down. Xiao Man was startled and quickly took a step back. Before she could react, he reached out and ruffled her hair, laughing, "Oh my, this... is so cute! I never knew you looked this cute."
Helpless, he picked her up, patted her back, and pinched her cheeks, finding it quite amusing.
"Come on, Uncle will take you to get something to eat." Duan Hui immediately opened the door for him, and helplessly smiled as she carried Xiao Man inside.
The Scroll of Splendor, Chapter Eight: Helplessness (Part Two)
Updated: 2008-10-29 15:44:48 Word Count: 4248
Second update.
Xiao Man was carried into Jingmo Tower by him in a daze, and carefully placed on a soft stool. Then he brought over two small plates of pastries, picked up a piece himself and fed it to her mouth.