Beggar Travels the World

Chapter 11

Baili Tieyi touched his nose and remained silent.

Baili Qingyi's gaze drifted to the only person in the room dressed as a woman. She lowered her head, and at her waist, a jade-green ribbon was tied with a unique mandarin duck pendant. He then looked at the faceless painting, in which the woman had a slender waist... also wearing a mandarin duck pendant, tied in the exact same way, with a bright red blood jade pendant hanging beside her.

※ ※ ※

After finally coaxing Shui You'er to sleep, Shui Wu'er stepped out of his room, gazing at the starry sky with a delicate yawn.

She wasn't a scheming person. Although she was incredibly intelligent, she didn't use her intelligence for scheming and backstabbing like Mansi did. In her days of luxury and strict upbringing, she was a wild and unruly person, acting without any rhyme or reason and fiercely competitive. She didn't care about the gentleness and thoughtfulness that a woman should have. However, after experiencing life as a beggar, her temperament became much more peaceful, and she learned what gentleness and compliance truly meant.

She wasn't oblivious to the fact that Baili Qingyi had glossed over many questionable aspects of her in just a few words today. He seemed to have no guard against her, nor did he seem to have any intention of probing. So why was he keeping her here?

Her light red skirt glided past the small window, which was dimly lit, and then retreated. She stopped curiously by the window.

Does this man come here every night to steal drinks?

Looking through the thin window curtain, his profile was truly handsome. How unfair fate is! It gave him talent, virtue, and martial arts skills, and not only that, it also bestowed upon him an exceptionally beautiful face.

Whether it was because the person inside the window noticed her lingering or it was unintentional, they also turned their head and lazily stared at the rosy face outside the gauze window.

Shui Wu'er's chest pounded wildly. The handsome face that the women of the martial world had dreamed of was now tinged with a hint of alcohol, and his dark eyes appeared even more profound, so profound that they made her heart sink into an unfathomable abyss.

He just stared at her like that, neither calling her name nor urging her to leave, as if... as if he were simply admiring the scenery outside the window by himself.

Was he drunk?

Before his gaze could completely surround her from all sides, she couldn't help but slip away from the window and hide behind the wall.

Why must she always see his imperfect, less dignified side? Shui Wu'er slumped her shoulders listlessly. She hated it. If he had always been so impartial, meticulous, and steady, perhaps she could have trusted him and relied on him, just like most people in the martial arts world, taking it for granted that he would handle everything perfectly.

But he wasn't. In private, he was more like a carefree, leisurely hermit, always making her feel lazy and mischievous, making her feel reluctant to impose so many assumptions on him, making her feel... she had to be wary.

Resigned, she gathered her skirts and stepped into the room.

"We have some good wine, shall we drink together?"

The next day, the man slept until late morning, clutching his throbbing head.

"Why are you sleeping so late?" I bumped into the old scholar who was sweeping the flower path at the door.

"Hmm..." The person rolled their eyes and thought for a long time, but their mind was completely blank.

"What's that smell?" The old scholar sniffed keenly, his nose as sharp as a hunting dog's.

"Um... Ah!" Someone hurriedly covered their mouth in an attempt to cover up the misunderstanding.

"Where... is the young master in blue?" Finally, some fragmented memories were retrieved.

"Young master left early this morning."

"What?"

Last night, in the midst of their drunken revelry, how much of her thoughts did she inadvertently reveal? How much did he overhear? And now, with a hangover, how much will he still remember?

Pingduan

"...Uncle Jiao, is the young master in blue someone you've watched grow up?"

"That's right. My Uncle Jiao has been in the Baili family for most of his life. He started serving the old master and continued to serve the master and then the young master. Girl, if you want to find out about the young master, you've come to the right person."

"What are you saying? I didn't mean it..."

"Oh, you can be shy? I didn't see that coming from you. No wonder, I know our young master is famous. It's common for ten or twenty rich young ladies to try every means to get into our mansion every year. If I were a girl, I would do anything to marry him."

"I'm not..."

"Young master's standards are a bit too high. He doesn't even think much of the fairy-like Second Miss of the Yuwen family, so how could he possibly think much of you?"

"I don't……"

"Tsk, what's a perfectly nice young lady doing as a beggar?"

"..."

"...Uncle Jiao, I don't look like a beggar at all, do I?"

"Hey, you can't cut it like that over there. Look, you have to cut it diagonally twice along the original line. Yes... Hmm, girl, you're pretty smart."

"...It's all thanks to Uncle Jiao's excellent teaching."

"I can tell. You don't seem like someone who has done this kind of work before. You must have fallen on hard times because your family fell into poverty."

"..."

"If you ask me, why don't you come back to Jiangnan with us? You can help me with some chores in the manor. You're a kind-hearted girl, and everyone in the Baili manor is helpful. You'll definitely have something to eat."

"Uncle Jiao... is he this kind to everyone he takes in?"

The old scholar chuckled, his expression unusually kind: "That's not it. I just think you're a lovely and approachable girl, just like family."

"Family?"

"Actually, the young master treats you quite differently. I've met so many girls, but none of them could make him willingly exchange three sentences with them. Our young master may seem to be able to do anything on the surface, but he can actually distinguish very clearly between those he likes and those he doesn't."

"He really is that kind of person."

"That's why, the way you treat me, young master, is something many girls would rather die for."

"Can't we even get what we want?"

"Absolutely!" Uncle Jiao nodded, just then noticing Shui Wu'er covering her mouth and nose with one hand, turning her face away, and her back trembled.

"Girl, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing, I just choked on the dust." Shui Wu'er slowly turned back, putting down her tightly clenched hand.

"...Uncle Jiao, I've been staying here for two days and have caused you a lot of trouble. I plan to leave tomorrow. Could you please tell the young master in blue for me?"

"Oh? Girl, I just asked you to help me trim the flowers and plants, and you're already leaving?"

“You misunderstand. It’s just that the young master in blue took in You’er out of kindness, and I’m perfectly healthy, so I can’t just stay here any longer.”

"Can……"

"Uncle Jiao..."

"Um?"

"I've finished trimming it."

"So fast?"

"Is there any other work I can do?"

"...No, that's all."

"Then, I'll go and push You'er out to let him get some sun."

"Alright. Girl, Master Qin from Chuxiu Manor is coming to the manor today. If you see him, be sure to greet him."

"yes."

Uncle Jiao watched her retreating figure, scratching his head in puzzlement for the first time. This girl, who was just laughing and joking, suddenly became lifeless... as if she didn't have much time left.

From which sentence did it begin?

"Uncle Jiao, if You'er's legs ever get better, would you like to keep him as your little follower?"

"Huh? Oh... okay."

※ ※ ※

Huanyi Study.

An uninvited guest strolled leisurely into the east wing.

Although the head steward Cen Lu was not very welcoming of his arrival, he did not make things difficult for him and let him inspect the east wing alone.

Baili Qingyi took down a storybook and raised her eyebrows in slight surprise.

It turns out that the most talented woman in the world actually enjoys reading these common sayings and proverbs.

Whenever the plot reached an exciting point, the book would be marked with comments in small print. Baili Qingyi roughly understood the purpose of this east wing room. Just by advertising the title of the first talented woman who wrote the commentary, endless customers would flock in to read it. If the head manager hadn't publicly declared that none of the books in the east wing room were for sale, this wing room would probably have been sold out long ago.

They switched to another book. Baili Qingyi opened the first page and couldn't help but laugh. The page read: "This book is not readable."

He continued flipping through the pages: "It's unreadable, why are you reading it again?"

Turning a few more pages, I discovered that the book was nothing more than a simple and easy-to-understand story of a talented scholar and a beautiful woman. However, in the blank space, it was still boldly written: "Reading this book will lead to eternal regret."

This book reviewer... is so noisy.

Until he saw the last page, a few lines of small print caught his eye, and he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"If you can't read it, you'll know that you and I are like-minded people, like the Hermit of the South Wall. Although we've never met, I've prepared a generous gift for you. Please take it when you're feeling down."

The name "Nanqiang Jushi" (南墙居士) means "one who will not turn back until he hits the south wall." This book reviewer, Miss Yin, is indeed very interesting.

Baili Qingyi lifted the curtain on the wall, revealing a hint of interest, and her lips curved into a beautiful smile.

Found it.

※※ ※

"You are a very talented and clever child. The only problem is that you are a little too flamboyant."

"Does Aunt Nan mean that I was wrong to humiliate those pedantic scholars?"

“It’s not that you did something wrong, but… you don’t know how to protect yourself wisely. If you confront others head-on, you’re bound to leave behind future troubles.”

“Aunt Nan, I have been studying poetry and books diligently since I was a child. Although I am not doing it for the sake of being called a talented woman, since I have been blessed by Heaven and have some extraordinary abilities, I must show the world what a woman’s abilities are and not be looked down upon. When I encounter injustice, I cannot let a bunch of pedantic people run rampant.”