Actually, it was fine if Hua Wuduo didn't go. After all, Wu Duoduo, as the daughter of a marquis, was not suitable to frequent a filthy place like Yanshan Pavilion. So when she spoke up, no one objected, including Li She. He symbolically kept the two of them for a few words and that was it.
But that's not what Hua Wuduo really thought. The reason she didn't go was because, in her mind, what was so interesting about a talent competition? It wasn't a cooking competition.
Li She said, "Since that's the case, I won't insist that you two stay. However, it's getting late, so I'll call two sedan chairs to take you back to the Prince of Jin's residence."
Hua Wuduo quickly thanked him. Gongzi Xiu did not refuse Li She's kindness.
Before the two left, Gongzi Yi patted Gongzi Xiu on the shoulder earnestly and said, "I'm entrusting my sister to you. You must take good care of her. She's my only sister. She's the precious branch and jade leaf of our family. We can't afford to make any mistakes."
Seeing this, the other young masters teased Gongzi Yi for being so good to his sister, even distrusting someone like Gongzi Xiu. Gongzi Qi laughed, "He wouldn't trust any male." Then, pointing at Gongzi Yi, she added, "He doesn't even trust himself."
Everyone burst into laughter upon hearing this.
Li She silently observed everything, smiling without saying a word.
Hua Wuduo does have something to do tonight; she needs to make two masks, and time is of the essence.
Gongzi Xiu also had business to attend to, so the two of them rode in sedan chairs back to the Prince of Jin's residence together, and then bid each other farewell.
Gongzi Xiu went to meet his uncle, Prince Jin, while Hua Wuduo returned to his residence to make masks.
After dismissing all the servants, Hua Wuduo closed the doors and windows, hid in the inner room, first removed the mask he had worn all day, applied skin-care mud to his face, and then began to make a mask.
Around midnight, Gongzi Yi and Gongzi Qi returned. Seeing that there was a light on in Hua Wuduo's room, they knew she was probably busy, so they went back to their rooms to sleep.
Nothing was said that night. Before dawn the next day, Hua Wuduo's mask was finished. Just as he was about to try it on, he suddenly remembered that his face was still covered in medicinal mud. Looking at his reflection in the mirror, a wicked idea suddenly came to him. So, before dawn, he sneaked into Gongzi Qi's room in the dark.
While soundly asleep, Gongzi Qi sensed someone entering the room. He suddenly opened his eyes and saw a woman in white with long hair, her face completely black except for her eyes, which looked like a ghost, floating around the window. He was startled and sat up abruptly. Hua Wuduo, seeing him awake, suddenly chuckled and threw the mask at him. Gongzi Qi reached out and grabbed it, but Hua Wuduo took the opportunity to escape through the window. Gongzi Qi chased after her to the window, but she had already disappeared. He paused, crumpled the object in his hand, lit a candle, and looked closely before shaking his head and laughing.
Due to the time constraints, the mask wasn't made very exquisitely, but it was sufficient. Gongzi Qi put the mask away, and the next morning, he left the Prince Jin's residence with Gongzi Yi. They didn't wake Hua Wuduo, who was taking a nap, and instructed all the servants not to disturb her sleep and to stay as far away as possible.
Hua Wuduo was taking a nap in the room when she suddenly realized someone was there. Opening her eyes, she saw a person sitting beside her bed, playing with her mask and looking at her with a half-smile. It was none other than Turtle Star. Hua Wuduo had just shouted two words, "Thief..." when she heard Song Zixing say, "Go ahead and shout. I was just about to tell everyone you're an imposter, and then take you back to keep you company."
Hua Wuduo abruptly shut his mouth. Just then, a piece of dried medicinal mud fell from Hua Wuduo's face...
Phoenix Jade Moon
Song Zixing narrowed his eyes slightly, which startled Hua Wuduo, who quickly covered the spot where a piece of medicinal mud had fallen.
"How did you get in?" Hua Wuduo asked coldly, his eyebrows furrowed. As soon as he finished speaking, another piece of medicinal paste fell off his other cheek, and he quickly covered it with his other hand.
A mischievous smile appeared in Song Zixing's eyes. Leaning against the bedside, he twirled Hua Wuduo's mask in circles with his fingers and lazily replied, "Of course, we walked in openly and honestly through the door."
Hua Wuduo stared at the mask in his hand, feeling extremely awkward as it spun around on his fingertips. Taking advantage of his inattention, she suddenly reached out to grab it, but he dodged her. She missed the mask, but several more pieces of the medicinal mud on her face fell off...
Song Zixing burst into laughter, pointing at Hua Wuduo who was covering his face and saying, "The way you look now really resembles an animal from Sichuan."
Seeing Turtle Star laugh so loudly for the first time, Hua Wuduo was stunned for a moment. He gently touched his face and realized that almost all the medicinal mud on his face had fallen off, with only the mud around his eyes remaining.
Song Zixing seemed to realize he had lost his composure and coughed.
Hua Wuduo had never seen a panda before, so he naturally didn't know what Song Zixing meant. But seeing the way Song Zixing was trying so hard to suppress his laughter, he couldn't help but feel annoyed. He kicked Song Zixing by the bedside, but Song Zixing dodged the kick.
Seeing that he had easily dodged the surprise attack again, Hua Wuduo was so frustrated that his eyes widened. But then he remembered the loose medicinal paste around his eyes, and immediately relaxed, no longer daring to stare. Now all that was left to cover his face was that, and he couldn't let it fall off...
Hua Wuduo pulled his legs under the covers, covered his face with the blanket, leaving only his panda eyes showing, and sat leaning against the bed.
She was only wearing her undergarments, and although she wasn't afraid of Song Zixing, she felt very uncomfortable. She immediately said coldly, "Get out!"
Song Zixing raised an eyebrow, his eyes brimming with barely suppressed laughter. He shook his head, remaining standing there motionless. He glanced down at the mask in his hand, then at Hua Wuduo, and couldn't help but laugh, "Judging from your fair complexion, your true face probably isn't too ugly. Why don't you remove that medicinal mud and let me see it?"
Hua Wuduo used her eyes to tear him to pieces.
Song Zixing laughed and said, "I'm not forcing you. I know you're ugly and don't want to show your face to others, but you don't need to be so nervous. I was actually prepared. I don't care how ugly you are. At most... just consider it as you wearing an unsightly mask."
Hearing Song Zixing say that about him, Hua Wuduo was very indignant. Although she had no concept of her own beauty, she knew that her true face was actually quite good. Her father had made her learn the art of disguise since she was a child, mainly because of this face. Her father had always told her not to easily show her true face, especially when traveling in the martial arts world. She was forbidden to use her true face, so she often wore a mask. Even in her own Fang family mansion, very few people had seen her true face.
At this moment, although she was somewhat resentful, she knew perfectly well that Song Zixing was trying to provoke her, and she secretly touched herself under the covers with both hands.
Song Zixing said again, "Since you're so afraid of showing it to me, then I won't look." Song Zixing walked to the bedside, lifted his robe, and sat down again. He looked at Hua Wuduo, his eyes sparkling with a half-smile, making Hua Wuduo's scalp tingle. He then said, "Actually, no matter what kind of mask you wear, whether it's a man's or a woman's outfit, I can recognize you..." Before he could finish speaking, several silver needles suddenly shot towards him at the same time. He hurriedly dodged, quite awkwardly. Although he avoided vital organs, a thin cut was made on his cheek by the silver needles, and blood seeped from the wound. He raised his finger and gently wiped it, not angry, but just looking thoughtfully at the silver needles that Hua Wuduo had instantly withdrawn.
Seeing Song Zixing injured, Hua Wuduo's eyes lit up with smugness, and he said coldly, "Get out!"
Song Zixing replied with a half-smile, "What if I don't go out?"
Hua Wuduo's gaze turned cold, and ten silver needles shot towards him again. But at that moment, Song Zixing suddenly drew out a belt from his waist, flipped it in the air, and it happened to wrap around the thread that Hua Wuduo was using to control the silver needles. Hua Wuduo sneered when she saw this. Her silver thread was no ordinary item; how could a belt possibly restrain it? But the next moment was completely unexpected. The belt thread could not be shattered! Just as she was wondering what kind of divine weapon the belt was, the end of the belt suddenly swept towards her. She hurriedly dodged backward, but there was a wall behind her, and nowhere to hide. She could only close her eyes and endure it. She felt a cool breeze sweep across her cheek, but there was no pain as expected. She couldn't help but feel strange. When she opened her eyes, she saw Song Zixing looking at her, a look of amazement flashing in his eyes, his expression changing rapidly.
That look in his eyes... Hua Wuduo's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously touched the sides of his eyes. Sure enough... the medicinal paste around his eye sockets... had all fallen off.
Oh no...does she have to run again? But she can't outrun him! What should she do?!
Just as she was caught in a dilemma, hesitating and racking her brains for a way to escape, Song Zixing suddenly threw the mask in his hand at her, said hastily, "Put it on," and then turned and left.
×××××××××××
Seeing Song Zixing leave like that, Hua Wuduo felt a sense of bewilderment. Why did it seem like he had been scared away by her? After thinking about it for a long time, she still couldn't figure it out. She looked at the mask in her hand, hesitated for a while, and finally couldn't resist her weariness, so she fell asleep again.
When I woke up again, it was past noon. I was hungry, so I got out of bed.
After tidying up, she went outside and found that there were no servants or maids in the courtyard. Helpless, she had to go out and find someone to help her prepare meals.
Because of the hot and humid weather, Hua Wuduo was eating in the courtyard. Just as he was enjoying his meal, he heard footsteps approaching from afar. Upon closer listening, he could hear varying degrees of intensity, all belonging to people skilled in martial arts.
She looked up and saw Gongzi Qi and Gongzi Yi walking into the courtyard first, followed by a group of young masters not far behind. Hua Wuduo, with her mouth full of rice, nearly choked on her rice when she saw the group of brightly dressed young men outside the gate, arrogantly fanning themselves. Then, seeing the maids serving her, their faces flushed and shy, Hua Wuduo forgot to chew her rice… This scene… was utterly astonishing…
Among all the young masters, only Young Master Xiu was missing.
That evening, Prince Jin hosted another banquet and invited them to join him. Hua Wuduo declined, citing illness. When the young men heard that Sister Duoduo was sick, they were alarmed. They surrounded Hua Wuduo, showing concern, asking for medical advice and medicine, which made Hua Wuduo break out in a cold sweat.
Just then, Gongzi Yi finally stepped forward, fully playing the role of an older brother, and dragged the group of lecherous wolves with ulterior motives out the door one by one, sending them off to their banquet.
Hua Wuduo was moved to tears, secretly thinking that Gongzi Yi was saving her, but to her surprise, the first thing Gongzi Yi said when he turned around was, "Sister, are you feeling unwell? Would you like to take off your mask and get some fresh air?"
"..."
Hua Wuduo glanced sideways at Gongzi Yi, who had a malicious look on his face, and ignored him.
At this moment, Gongzi Qi, who was sitting at the table, smiled and said, "Duoduo, we have found a courtesan with a similar figure to you. She is very reliable, so you don't need to worry about performing at the Phoenix Boat Race."
Hua Wuduo was overjoyed upon hearing this and jumped up to pour Gongzi Qi a cup of tea. Gongzi Yi handed the teacup over, but Hua Wuduo put down the teapot and pretended not to see it. Gongzi Yi's face darkened.
The three of them sat down around the table.
Hua Wuduo asked how things went today. The two men's expressions changed slightly upon hearing this, but they said nothing more.
Although Hua Wuduo didn't know exactly what they had done, he had a vague idea. Seeing their gloomy expressions, he vaguely felt that there were some things he didn't want to know, and not wanting to force them, he stopped asking.
After sitting for a while longer, Gongzi Yi and Gongzi Qi went to the banquet.
Before leaving, Gongzi Qi said to Hua Wuduo, "Don't mention this to anyone."
Hua Wuduo laughed and said, "What is it? I've forgotten about it."
Gongzi Qi smiled gently, like a spring breeze, tender and warm. Hua Wuduo felt a warmth in her heart as she watched. But just then, a large hand suddenly reached out and covered Gongzi Qi's eyes, dragging him out the door. As they walked, Gongzi Yi said to Hua Wuduo, "Don't look at his eyes. This kid has a pair of captivating peach blossom eyes that no woman can resist."
Gongzi Qi smiled and brushed his hand away, then turned to Hua Wuduo and said, "Get some rest."
Hua Wuduo smiled and nodded.
They went out, and Hua Wuduo closed the door behind them, but he could still hear Gongzi Yi complaining as he walked away: "Damn it, why don't I have eyes like yours?"
Then Gongzi Qi laughed and said, "Why are you complaining about this? If you're going to complain, you should complain about not having Song Zixing's captivating phoenix eyes. Haven't you noticed? She never dares to look Song Zixing in the eye."
“That’s right, that kid is just as good-looking as you, but his skill in bewitching women is even slightly better than yours. I really hate it…” Gongzi Yi exaggeratedly looked up to the sky and sighed, “Why did Heaven create both Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang!”
"Hehe..." Gongzi Qi's soft laughter echoed through the night.
Hiding inside, Hua Wuduo couldn't help but purse her lips, thinking to herself: "If anyone should say that, it should be Qi who says it. And...is she really afraid to meet Song Zixing's gaze?"
Most of the maids and servants in the Prince's mansion had gone to serve in the front hall, and the few remaining had been sent away by Hua Wuduo. She was left alone in the room, and with nothing to do, she tidied her things. When she picked up the weapon "Ten-Finger Golden Ring" and started fiddling with it, she naturally thought of Song Zixing's belt. It was definitely not an ordinary belt. What kind of weapon could it be? Hua Wuduo couldn't figure it out at all, and she had never heard of such a belt in her memory.
The moon hung high in the sky, and the night breeze was refreshing. Hua Wuduo had finished packing her things and hesitated whether to leave. After all, Song Zixing had seen her true colors, and although nothing bad had happened, she still felt uneasy. But she didn't want to leave just yet.
The house was stuffy and hot in the summer. After hesitating for a moment, she blew out the candles and went outside. She leaped up to the osmanthus tree in the yard. The fragrance of the flowers was intoxicating. She chose the highest branch to lie down, looked up at the starry sky, and occasionally swayed up and down with the branch. She became leisurely and content, gradually forgetting the worries and unease in her heart. She decided to wait and see and accept whatever came her way.
Just as my mood was starting to improve, I was suddenly startled to see a figure flash by on the opposite rooftop. The person moved with agility and disappeared into the night in an instant.
Hua Wu hesitated for a moment before taking advantage of the darkness to chase after them.
The man didn't go far before stopping at a secluded corner. He was very alert and looked around for a long time. When he was sure no one was following him, he darted into a small door across the street. Hua Wuduo lay low on the eaves, not daring to move. Only after the man disappeared did he approach a little closer.
Hua Wuduo was a martial artist, especially skilled in hidden weapons, so her senses were much sharper than ordinary people. Knowing that the man in black was highly skilled, she did not dare to follow him through the small door. Instead, she leaped onto a nearby tall tree and peered into the wall. Inside, she saw a small grove of trees, and behind one of the trees, she could vaguely see two figures, but she could not see their faces. Listening closely, she heard one of them say softly, "I have already found out where Phoenix Biyue is."
Phoenix Jade Moon... Hua Wuduo's eyes suddenly lit up.
Father once said, “A hundred years ago, an old man with white hair in Jiangling forged a pair of crescent-shaped swords that could appear and disappear at will. One sword was like a phoenix under the sun, and the other was like a blue moon under the moon. They were called Phoenix and Azure Moon. These weapons were extremely rare in the world and ranked third on the list of weapons in the world today. It is said that whoever obtains these swords will have a wonderful life. It is a pity that I have searched for half my life but have not been able to find them. Otherwise, I would have given them to my son as a coming-of-age gift.”
With her father's words still ringing in her ears, Hua Wuduo was now filled with a burning desire as the two people before her discovered the whereabouts of Phoenix Jade Moon. She couldn't help but drool and feel an unbearable itch in her heart.
The Fang family is famous throughout the world for manufacturing weapons. Hua Wuduo has been exposed to this since childhood and has developed a great love for weapons. Now, upon hearing the whereabouts of Phoenix Jade Moon, he was so excited that he almost fell off the tree.
"Oh?" another person asked in a low voice, "Where?"
The man's voice was even lower.
Even with focused attention, Hua Wuduo could only vaguely hear "Southwest... Green bamboo tea... Riverside".
After saying that, the two suddenly split up and disappeared into the night. Hua Wuduo did not chase after them.
She secretly returned to her courtyard and paced around the house a few times before her agitated emotions gradually calmed down. Once calm and collected, she suspected something was amiss and wondered if the news she had just heard was true or false. After much deliberation, she decided that regardless of whether it was true or false, she would risk going to investigate.
But with my current identity, it's inconvenient for me to go anywhere...
Hua Wuduo took out masks and started choosing. Suddenly, he remembered how Song Zixing flicked the mask with his fingers earlier that day. A brilliant idea flashed through his mind, and he chuckled as a plan came to him.
That evening, Hua Wuduo was busy inside the house.
When Gongzi Yi and Gongzi Qi returned, they saw that the light in her room was still on. Gongzi Yi walked over to her window and asked, "What are you busy with? Why aren't you asleep?"
Hua Wuduo came out of the inner room and replied, "I've been sleeping all day, but I can't sleep."
The moonlight was like water. He seemed slightly drunk, leaning lazily against the window. Clearly, he had been given quite a bit of alcohol again today. Hua Wuduo suddenly couldn't help but recall the scene when they first met. The garden was full of chrysanthemums, their fragrance intoxicating. He sat alone under the eaves, reading and sipping wine, his eyes half-closed, seemingly in a very good mood. The sunlight shone on him, like flowing water, leisurely and carefree. But the moment he turned his head and looked up, all the beauty was shattered in an instant. His arrogant and unrestrained words and actions, and the erotic picture book in his hand... completely overturned her initial good impression of him. To this day, just thinking about it makes her want to sneer.
Gongzi Yi looked at her for a while and found that she was staring at him blankly. His eyes flashed, and he turned away with a flick of his sleeve. As he walked away, he yawned a few times and said in a slightly impatient tone, "If you're not feeling well, go to rest early."
"Oh..." Hua Wuduo absentmindedly responded, watching his retreating figure.
In the distance, Gongzi Qi looked at Gongzi Yi and Hua Wuduo from the window with a detached gaze.
In the middle of the night, Gongzi Qi and Gongzi Yi had already gone to sleep.
Hua Wuduo, dressed in night clothes, went out. After searching around the laundry room of the Prince's mansion, he finally found Song Zixing's clothes, chuckled, and tore off a small piece of fabric.