Jiangnan Beauty

Chapter One

Early morning in Hangzhou during the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty, the city was bathed in golden light, radiating vitality.

In a small alley near Xu Family Manor, a petite figure hurried along. Sunlight shone on her small, pretty face, her delicate

cheeks flushed red from the warmth of the sun.

Her rosy lips were slightly breathless, and glistening beads of sweat trickled down her beautifully shaped chin, her fair skin

accentuating her lovely features.

She was Qiuyue of Xu Family Manor.

Xu Family Manor was the largest merchant guild in Jiangnan, with trade connections throughout the land; few goods passed through its hands.

In recent years, its business had reached new heights after taking on government affairs. The manor's owner, Xu Buyun, was a rare young talent;

before the age of thirty, he had greatly expanded the original business, making Xu Family Manor known as the largest manor in the land.

The manor lord had recently ordered Qiuyue to go to the Zhao family in Suzhou to help with the embroidery and textiles needed for the Zhao family's daughter's wedding. Qiuyue's

close friend Fan Ziting, was indignant upon learning this, complaining that they couldn't just send someone directly from Suzhou instead of making Qiuyue travel

such a long distance. Last night, she stormed to the manor to negotiate with the lord, Xu Buyun, hoping to prevent Qiuyue from going to Suzhou.

Fan Ziting was Qiuyue's close friend, known for her straightforward personality, while the manor lord was a man of his word. Qiuyue feared

her friend would argue with the lord over her matter, so after a night of deep thought, she decided to leave the manor on her own and go to the Zhao family in Suzhou.

This way, Fan Ziting wouldn't have to clash with the lord over her. As long as she was careful on the road,

she should be able to reach Suzhou smoothly.

So, Qiuyue, who had never traveled far before, hastily packed her luggage and

left the manor at dawn with her personal belongings and some loose silver.

Where was Suzhou? She really didn't know. However, Xiaoting often said, "The way is in the mouth," meaning that

even if you don't know where a place is, you can find it by asking others. Qiuyue smiled. From childhood to

adulthood, besides her mother, Xiaoting had the greatest influence on her. Having such a close friend made her feel

very lucky, and therefore she was even more unwilling for Xiaoting to clash with the manor lord over her affairs.

After finding out which direction to go to Suzhou, Qiuyue hurried on her way. Little did she know that Hangzhou was

a long way from Suzhou, taking about a month to walk, let alone for a young girl, it would take even longer.

From dawn to dusk, except for a midday rest, Qiuyue worked hard to keep going. Now, seeing that it

was getting dark, she wanted to find a small inn to rest before nightfall.

Just in front of her was an inn with no signboard, only a lantern with

the character "Zhang" written on it, so the innkeeper must be surnamed Zhang. Qiu Yue, who had never stayed overnight away from home before, cautiously entered.

Seeing that the innkeeper was an elderly man with a full head of white hair, her initial anxiety subsided slightly.

"Excuse me, innkeeper, are there any rooms available?" she asked in a soft, melodious voice, like a nightingale's song.

The white-haired innkeeper looked up at Qiu Yue and immediately smiled broadly, saying, "Yes! Yes! Are

you alone, young lady?"

"Yes!" Qiu Yue nodded.

"Then I'll choose a superior room for you! Ah Niu, take the young lady to a superior room."

"Ah, no need, a regular room is fine with me." Qiu Yue quickly stopped the innkeeper's enthusiasm.

She didn't have much money with her; if she didn't use it sparingly, she feared she wouldn't make it to Suzhou.

"Young lady, a girl shouldn't be careless when traveling. Ah Niu, take the young lady to a superior room."

The innkeeper , still overly enthusiastic, took it upon himself to call out to the waiter beside him.

"Young lady, please follow me." The waiter bowed slightly.

"Ah, really, no need, I... I'll just stay in the guest room." Qiu Yue was a little anxious.

"Miss, don't worry about the price, I'll give you a discount. A young lady should be comfortable when she's traveling,

don't you think?" The innkeeper seemed to see through Qiu Yue's thoughts.

Qiu Yue immediately blushed and said shyly, "Then Qiu Yue thanks you in advance, innkeeper!"

"Of course! Of course!" The old innkeeper nodded in satisfaction immediately.

Qiu Yue followed the waiter upstairs. After settling in, the waiter fetched hot water and then took his leave.

Qiu Yue took off her clothes and sat in the hot bath to cleanse herself, her small hands kneading her slightly swollen feet.

Soaking her ankles in the hot water after a day's walk brought an indescribable sense of comfort.

She didn't have bound feet.

In general, women from well-off families had to bind their feet; bound feet were a symbol of a woman's social status.

Only women from poor families or those engaged in manual labor, such as peasant women and maids, did not bind their feet. Qiuyue was a maid in Xu Family Village,

so naturally she didn't have bound feet, but her mother was very insistent on this when she was young.

Qiuyue's mother, Aunt Lin, was the head of the kitchen in Xu Family Village. The food needs of hundreds of people in the village

depended on her orders in the kitchen, so no one dared to offend Aunt Lin, otherwise they would suffer

.

Aunt Lin loved Qiuyue very much. When Qiuyue was about four or five years old, Aunt Lin wanted her feet bound, because

only small feet could signify a woman's status; she hoped Qiuyue would have

the status , so she made Qiuyue's feet bound.

The process of foot binding was painful, with long strips of cloth tightly binding the ankles. But this was precisely

the time when the ankles were growing. It was like a growing tree being weighed down by stones—the pain was excruciating.

At that time, some wealthy families, to prevent their little girls from walking too much after foot binding and causing their feet to grow larger, would even

wrap stones in the foot bindings, making the little girls afraid to walk because of the pain. The traditional practice of foot binding for women is a

history of blood and tears! To put it bluntly, it was simply one of the means by which male-dominated societies controlled women's movements;

what possibly do?

But tradition is tradition, and even knowing it's unreasonable, people still cling to it stubbornly.

Aunt Lin, wanting Qiu Yue to have beautiful bound feet in the future, decided to bind her feet when she was young. However, little

Qiu Yue was in so much pain that she couldn't sleep and cried every night. At this time, Fan Shu, the accountant of the manor, stepped forward to persuade Aunt Lin.

"Auntie," he said, "Qiu Yue is naturally beautiful, pretty and clever. Why make her bind her feet and ruin her

childhood ?"

"Uncle Fan," Aunt Lin said, "I don't want to either! But Qiu Yue isn't an ordinary girl. I don't want her to resent me later."

Aunt Lin frowned.

"How could she resent you?"

"Ah! Uncle Fan, you don't know, nowadays, if a girl doesn't have bound feet, she can't find a good husband."

"If Qiuyue doesn't bind her feet now, how will she find a good husband when she grows up with such big feet?"

Aunt Lin said worriedly.

"Auntie, the idea that a good family's daughter must have small feet is outdated and unacceptable. You don't want

the man who marries Qiuyue just because of her feet, do you?" Fan Shu, as the head accountant, was very clear-headed.

"But... that's how tradition is!" Aunt Lin said helplessly, her round face full of worry.

"Auntie, the most terrible thing is to blindly follow what others say without knowing right from wrong. Little Qiuyue cries every night,

her feet hurt so much she can't sleep. Doesn't that make you sad? Why care what others say!" Fan Shu

analyzed with the calm mind unique to accountants. He continued, "Moreover, isn't it ridiculous

to judge a girl's upbringing and social status based on the size of her feet ?"

"If the man who marries Qiuyue in the future doesn't love her, but only because of her bound feet,

Auntie, would you be at ease?"

"But...but I really hope Qiuyue can have bound feet like a wealthy family's daughter, and

marry !"

"Auntie, we are servants, we can never compare to the powerful families outside, why insist on this face

?" Fan Shu persisted in persuading her.

"But Qiuyue...Qiuyue...she's not an ordinary girl!" Auntie Lin's face flushed red.

"Auntie, I know. Qiuyue is clever and pretty, just like a little fairy..."

"That's not what I meant!" Auntie Lin interrupted him, looking hesitant.

The sound of little Qiuyue crying came from inside the house again.

"Auntie, how about this, if you're really worried that Qiuyue won't find a husband in the future, then marry our Ziting

." "Fan Shu came up with his last plan.

Aunt Lin thought to herself, Fan Shu's family only has one son, Fan Ziting, who is handsome and has an extraordinary bearing.

If Qiuyue follows him, she surely won't go hungry or cold…" Just as she was pondering this, little Qiuyue cried

even .

Annoyed by the crying, Aunt Lin turned to Fan Shu and said, "Uncle Fan, is what you said today true?"

Fan Shu nodded, "True! I'm not bluffing." After receiving Fan

Shu's assurance, Aunt Lin nodded and turned to go inside.

From then on, Qiu Yue was freed from the pain of foot binding and grew up happily with naturally beautiful ankles.

Little did Aunt Lin know that Fan Shu's "son," Fan Ziting, was actually a girl! At the time, Fan Shu had only agreed to the marriage on a whim because he couldn't

bear to see little Qiu Yue suffer the excruciating pain of foot binding, planning to tell her

the truth when she grew up.

Qiu Yue found it very interesting every time she thought about what her friend Fan Ziting had told her. Fortunately, Uncle Fan

had stopped ; otherwise, how could she have walked far with such bound feet?

She rubbed her snow-white, smooth ankles and smiled contentedly

. Her body afterwards appeared fair and rosy, her delicate skin seemingly fragile enough to break at a touch. Qiu Yue changed into loose

clothing and lay comfortably on the bed, wanting to go to sleep early. However, because this was her first time spending the night away from home, in

a bed that wasn't her own, coupled with a slight sense of nervousness, she couldn't fall asleep and tossed and turned .

She thought about how the master had ordered her to go to the Zhao family in Suzhou, and she felt something was amiss. But she was just a cook

's daughter, and faced with the master's orders, even if she felt they were unreasonable, she had to obey. She hoped Xiao Ting wouldn't

clash with the master… Thinking this, she slowly drifted off to sleep.

Just as she was half-asleep, a commotion suddenly arose outside the door.

"Manager! My young master isn't short of money! I told you to choose a superior room, and you wouldn't give it to him?!"

a loud-voiced servant said unhappily.

"Hey!" " Sir, you've misunderstood. Our inn only has one superior room. A young lady arrived this evening, and I thought she should be comfortable while

traveling , so I insisted she stay in the superior room. It's not that I'm unwilling!" the innkeeper

explained in a low voice.

"But our young master is of noble status; how can he stay in an ordinary guest room!" the attendant still

refused to accept the innkeeper's explanation.

"But I..." the innkeeper said, looking quite troubled.

"I don't care! You have to find a way to get a superior room for my young master!" the loud voice continued to shout.

"Don't be rude! Chong'en, the innkeeper is not wrong in doing so." A calm, refined voice interrupted

the argument between the attendant and the innkeeper.

Qiu Yue quickly threw on an overcoat and pushed open the door.

"Innkeeper, I can move you to a regular room, but this superior room can be given to this gentleman—"

Before Qiu Yue could finish speaking, she met a pair of light brown eyes. The owner of those brown eyes saw Qiu Yue and

a clear light flashed in his eyes, making Qiu Yue forget what she was about to say.

"Uh…that…"

"Miss, the innkeeper is right, a young lady should be comfortable when traveling. Innkeeper,

where are the rooms?" The eyes were fixed on Qiu Yue.

"Ah! This way, please!" The innkeeper breathed a sigh of relief, put on a smile, and

walked inside.

"But, young master…" the attendant murmured.

"Chong En!" "The owner of the light brown eyes gave a stern rebuke. The attendant

immediately shut his mouth and reluctantly followed the innkeeper.

"Ah..." Qiu Yue was still confused.

"Please rest well, young lady!" The owner of the light brown eyes said to Qiu Yue with a half-smile, then turned

and followed the innkeeper.

Qiu Yue was left alone at the door of the main room.

Chapter Two The next day, Qiu Yue got ready early. Looking in the mirror, she saw that her beautiful face and clear black and white eyes

had slight bloodshot veins. It was all because she had been thinking about those light brown eyes all night.

Qiu Yue smiled gently, and her cheeks immediately flushed. She shook her head slightly, picked up her luggage, and went downstairs.

As soon as she went downstairs, she saw the waiter busy serving steamed buns and tea, while the innkeeper greeted the passing drivers and waiters who were eating. Upon

seeing Qiu Yue, he was full of enthusiasm.

"Did you sleep well last night, young lady? Did I disturb you?"

"You're too kind, innkeeper. I slept very well last night. Your room is very comfortable." "Qiuyue

said with a light smile.

"That's good, that's good. Please sit down, young lady! Ah Niu, quickly bring some cakes and steamed buns for the young lady!" The shopkeeper

shouted again, calling for the waiter to bring the food.

"No need, I'll just have some soy milk." Qiu Yue had a small appetite and couldn't even finish a

steamed bun .

"How can that be? You need to eat well when you're traveling to have energy. Ah Niu!"

"Coming!"

The waiter, Ah Niu, skillfully brought the sesame cakes, steamed buns, soy milk, and tea to Qiu Yue's table. The freshly steamed buns smelled

delicious and whetted her appetite. Faced with the innkeeper's enthusiasm, Qiu Yue took a bun and started eating.

"By the way, innkeeper, about that young master last night..." Qiu Yue was still thinking about the owner of the light brown eyes.

"That young master left at dawn, and he even settled your food and lodging before he left, so please eat

as much as you like and don't worry about the money." The innkeeper's eyes were full of smiles, indicating that the young master must have been very generous.

"I see..." For some reason, Qiu Yue felt a slight sense of loss.

After silently finishing her breakfast, Qiu Yue took the dry food that the innkeeper insisted on giving her and set off for Suzhou again

. Along the way, Qiu Yue thought to herself how lucky she was, encountering only kind-hearted people.

As she walked, she came to a grove of trees, unsure which way to go, when suddenly

three or four burly men emerged from behind the trees. Each had a menacing face and looked anything but benevolent.

"Hehehe! Little girl, where are you going?" a vulgar, grating voice rang out from the woods.

Hearing this, Qiu Yue's heart tightened. She didn't answer, keeping her head down and trying to get through the grove as quickly as possible.

"Hehehe! Little girl, why don't you play with us for a bit?" one of the burly, dark-skinned men stretched out his hand, blocking

Qiu Yue 's path.

"You…you lot, don't be so rude! I'm a respectable woman, please let me through!" Qiu Yue rebuked the men

righteously .

"Third brother, I always say feisty girls are the most interesting, aren't you? Haha!" the burly man shouted, turning to the men

behind him .

"Yeah! Yeah! Hahaha…" the three or four men laughed and shouted wildly.

Qiu Yue ignored them and tried to walk past the burly, dark-skinned man, but he grabbed her arm.

"Ah! What are you doing? Let me go!" Qiu Yue struggled fiercely.

"Such tender skin! Third brother, come and take a look!" The burly, dark-skinned man stared lecherously at Qiu Yue's delicate

neck exposed by her narrow neckline.

"Let me go! You thugs! Help!" Qiu Yue cried out in panic.

"Little girl, even if you scream your lungs out, no one will come. Just accept it!" The burly, dark-skinned man

reached out to touch Qiu Yue's face.

Qiu Yue couldn't break free from the grip on her arm, and in her panic, tears welled up in her eyes.

Just then—"You audacious scoundrel, how dare you be so rude!" A figure flashed out from the edge of the woods.

"Who goes there? How dare you interfere in the affairs of the Four Thieves of Jiangnan!" the burly, dark-skinned man shouted angrily.

"I love meddling in unreasonable matters. Release this girl!" a deep voice echoed from the edge of the woods.

"What if we don't let them go?" the burly man retorted menacingly.

"Then you'll have to ask the sword in my hand!"

With that, the figure at the edge of the woods rushed towards the four men. Sword flashed and fell, instantly

routing , sending them fleeing in terror.

Before escaping, the burly man roared angrily, "Boy, leave your name! I'll settle this with you another day!"

"My name is Bai Yu! Come find me if you dare, I'm ready anytime!" a deep voice replied.

Only after the burly man had vanished without a trace did Bai Yu turn around and say to Qiu Yue, "Miss, are you

alright ?" His dark eyes were fixed on her.

It wasn't him! Qiu Yue felt a pang of disappointment.

Seeing that this man resembled a chivalrous knight with his fair complexion, she quickly bowed slightly, "Thank you for saving me, Master Bai.

Otherwise, I wouldn't know what to do!"

"It's nothing, don't worry about it," Bai Yu said casually.

“The world is corrupt now, it’s dangerous for a young lady to travel alone. May I ask where Miss Qiuyue is headed

?” Bai Yu sheathed his sword.

“You can just call me Qiuyue, Master Bai. I’m on the orders of the Manor Lord to go to Suzhou.” Qiuyue

said gratefully.

“What a coincidence! I’m also going to Suzhou. If you don’t mind, why not keep me company on the journey?” Bai Yu glanced

at Qiuyue.

No one would refuse their savior, and Qiuyue was no exception, especially since she was a very gentle

woman. She nodded with a smile, “With Master Bai by my side, I won’t be afraid of those bad guys!”

“Just call me Bai Yu.” Bai Yu smiled.

Qiuyue and Bai Yu then traveled together through the woods, chatting along the way. Qiuyue learned that Bai Yu was a

wandering knight-errant, and she couldn’t help but show an expression of admiration. This was her first time leaving Xu Family Manor, but Bai Yu had already traveled

thousands of miles. He was only going to Suzhou for a friend’s sake—truly a chivalrous and courageous man!

At noon, Qiuyue shared the dry rations the innkeeper had given her with Baiyu, feeling quite fortunate to have had helpful companions along the way.

After a day's journey, they arrived at Chongde Town. The town was bustling with people, not as lively as Hangzhou, but

still warm and pleasant. Just as Qiuyue was wondering where to stay, Baiyu walked ahead, heading straight for an inn

. Qiuyue looked up and saw the sign above the door: Yuelai Inn.

"Ah! Master Bai, you've arrived! Please take a seat!"

Seeing the young innkeeper warmly greeting Baiyu, Qiuyue asked softly, "Brother Bai, do you come here often?"

Baiyu looked up, slightly surprised. "No, this is my first time. The innkeeper must have mistaken me for someone else."

"Oh!" Qiuyue sat down as well. She looked around; there were quite a few people.

"Master Bai, we have fresh crucian carp today! Would you like some radish-braised crucian carp, served with lotus leaf-wrapped

steamed pork , a few cold dishes, and..." the innkeeper continued enthusiastically.

“Alright, let’s do as you say,” Bai Yu nodded slightly.

“Yes, coming right away!” The smiling innkeeper retreated.

Qiu Yue watched silently from the side. As it was dusk, the inn was bustling with activity. The waiter was busy serving dishes

and tea, and in no time, Qiu Yue and Bai Yu’s table was full of food and wine.

“Miss Qiu Yue, please enjoy!”

“Thank you, Brother Bai.” Qiu Yue nodded slightly, picked up a small piece of crucian carp with her chopsticks, and put it in her mouth,

chewing slowly .

"How does it taste?" Bai Yu picked up a piece of steamed meat for himself.

"It's delicious! Thank you, Brother Bai." Qiu Yue found the crucian carp melt-in-your-mouth tender and

incredibly delicious. "Then eat more, don't be shy, the food at this inn is famous!" Bai Yu said

solicitously to Qiu Yue . 　　"Okay, I understand." Qiu Yue nodded again. 　　After the meal, Bai Yu asked for two superior rooms, and the two went back to their rooms to rest. 　　As darkness fell, the innkeeper brought hot water for the guests to wash themselves, but Qiu Yue only washed her hands and face briefly, without bathing or changing clothes. Her small bag remained unopened on the table. 　　Qiu Yue leaned against the window, looking at the bright moon in the sky. The moonlight was particularly bright that night, its pure light shining on Qiu Yue's beautiful face. Her long eyelashes cast an arc of shadow under her eyes, making her look exceptionally beautiful. Her cherry- red lips, illuminated by the moonlight, seemed sprinkled with silver powder, and the tip of her delicate nose shimmered with a silvery glow. She was bathed in the silvery moonlight, like a moonlit beauty. 　　At that moment, Qiu Yue's mind involuntarily drifted to a pair of light brown eyes. She wondered if the owner of those eyes was also gazing at the same bright moon. Thinking this, her face flushed, and she quickly moved away from the window. 　　Why did she seem to be longing for her lover? Qiu Yue muttered to herself. 　　Knock knock! A knock sounded at the door. 　　Who could it be so late? 　　"Who is it?" Qiu Yue asked cautiously. 　　"It's me, Bai Yu," Bai Yu's voice came from outside. 　　"Ah, it's Brother Bai. What's the matter so late?" Qiu Yue thought to herself that men and women shouldn't be so close; it was best to be cautious. 　　"It's like this, the innkeeper just brought over some wine to warm us up in the night. I'd like to invite Miss Qiu Yue to drink with me . What do you say?" A deep voice came from outside the door. 　　“I don’t drink, Brother Bai,” Qiu Yue declined. 　　“It’s alright, just a small cup, you won’t get drunk, don’t worry.” Bai Yu remained standing outside. 　　Continuing the stalemate would seem petty. “Just a small cup, it should be fine…” Qiu Yue muttered to herself as she opened the door. 　　“Brother Bai, please!” Qiu Yue smiled slightly and stepped aside. 　　“Excuse me!” Bai Yu stepped into the room. 　　“The shopkeeper said this is precious snake gall wine, and he wants me to try it. Here! Qiu Yue, have a sip too!” Bai Yu sat down, poured a cup of snake gall wine, and handed it to Qiu Yue. 　　“Brother Bai, I… I’ve never drunk alcohol before, this…” Qiu Yue was still a little worried. 　　“One cup won’t make you drunk, drink it!” Bai Yu urged. 　　“Oh… how about I pour you a cup too, Brother Bai? Drinking together would be more enjoyable.” Qiu Yue gently moved the bottle, poured a cup, and placed it in front of Bai Yu. 　　“Thank you. Let us toast…” Bai Yu picked up the wine in front of him. 　　"A toast to the world's everlasting happiness!" Qiu Yue smiled slightly. 　　"Alright! A toast to the world's everlasting happiness!" Bai Yu raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp, while Qiu Yue took a small sip, concealing her face with her sleeve. 　　"Hey! Qiu Yue, what do you think of the taste of this wine?" Bai Yu poured himself another cup. 　　"Hmm, I've never drunk wine before, and I only think it's spicy." Qiu Yue pursed her lips. 　　"You'll get used to it after a few more drinks. Come on, have another cup!" 　　"No, Brother Bai, you drink it yourself. I'd better not touch this wine. It's too spicy! " Qiu Yue poured another cup for Bai Yu, who tilted his head back and drank it all in 　　one gulp. "By the way, what are you going to do after you get to Suzhou?" Bai Yu started chatting casually. " 　　I'm going to Suzhou on the orders of the Master. After I arrive, I'll probably greet the people at the trading company first ." Qiu Yue poured Bai Yu another cup of wine. 　　"I see. Qiu Yue is such a good girl." Bai Yu drank his own wine. 　　"Not at all! I'm so grateful that our master doesn't mind... Hmm, I... I feel a little dizzy?" Qiu Yue touched her head, her eyes already somewhat unfocused. 　　"Brother Bai..." Qiu Yue's eyes were already closed. 　　Bai Yu didn't answer, only staring intently at Qiu Yue. 　　Thump! Qiu Yue suddenly slumped onto the table, seemingly unconscious. 　　"Qiu Yue? Qiu Yue?" Bai Yu shook Qiu Yue's shoulder. 　　After confirming she was unconscious, Bai Yu revealed a sinister smile, clapping his hands, "Alright, you can come out now!" 　　Four burly men emerged from outside the door, the same strong, dark-skinned men from the woods during the day, the so-called "Four Thieves of Jiangnan. " 　　"Hehe! You're really something. Bai Yu, you've caught another fat sheep." The leader, a strong, dark-skinned man, looked at Qiu Yue slumped on the table and said. 　　"This little girl is naive and easily fooled." Bai Yu said. 　　"This time the goods are good! Fair skin and tender flesh! We can definitely sell her for a good price to Aunt Hong." The strong, dark-skinned man said. 　　"Heh! This chick's got a good look, I think we should enjoy her first!" one of them said, reaching out to grab Qiu Yue. 　　"Stop!" Bai Yu shouted. 　　The burly man immediately stopped. 　　"You idiot! If the goods are touched, they won't fetch a good price at the brothel, and all our charade will for nothing, do you understand?" Bai Yu spoke in a vulgar tone, completely different from his previous refined manner when talking to Qiu Yue. 　　"Yes, boss!" the burly man immediately bowed his head in apology. 　　It turned out that Bai Yu and the burly man were accomplices, doing shady business in Suzhou and Hangzhou, specifically targeting young women. They would first have the burly man harass the young women, and then Bai Yu would pretend to be a hero and rescue the damsel in distress, driving off the burly man. 　　The woman, grateful to her savior, was naturally unsuspecting. When they were alone, Bai Yu drugged her. Once unconscious, she was taken to a brothel in another city and sold to the brothel owner, her life ruined. Bai Yu and his accomplices, however, smuggled the money and escaped punishment. 　　"So what do we do now, boss?" the burly man asked. 　　"Let's all have a drink! Another big sum of money in our pockets!" Bai Yu shouted. 　　"Hahaha..." The group passed around the snake gall wine bottle on the table, drinking heartily. 　　Just as they were getting into a drunken frenzy, suddenly, Bai Yu's face turned pale, he clutched his stomach, and collapsed to his knees! 　　"It hurts! It hurts so much!" Bai Yu writhed on the ground in agony.

Seeing their leader in trouble, the others rushed to help him. "Boss! What happened?"

Just as everyone was busy helping Bai Yu— "Ouch! It hurts...it hurts so much!" The burly, dark-skinned man cried out, his face

covered in cold sweat , his limbs convulsing.

"Ouch...my stomach...my stomach hurts so much!"

In an instant, the room was filled with painful groans. The burly men rolled on the ground, and Bai Yu

groaned , "That wine...the wine...it's...it's bad!"

At this moment, Qiu Yue, who had been lying on the table, elegantly raised her head, stood up, and smiled back. "That's why my mother always

told me not to eat random things when I'm out. Brother Bai, you must have forgotten your mother's instructions!"

After saying that, she picked up her small bag, chuckled, pushed open the door, and walked out, leaving behind a room full

of men groaning in pain.

Qiu Yue left the Yue Lai Inn, and after figuring out the direction by the bright moonlight, she headed towards Suzhou. She

quickened her pace, afraid that Bai Yu and his gang of bad guys would catch up with her. She had added a laxative to the wine, which would only cause

temporary but wouldn't be fatal, so she dared not linger.

The night's journey had left her somewhat exhausted. At dawn, she reached a river, looked around,

and seeing no ferryman, was pondering how to cross when…

“You little brat! Let's see where you can run now!!”

Qiu Yue turned around and saw Bai Yu and his gang rushing towards her from behind, their eyes gleaming with malice, their teeth clenched,

as if they wanted to tear her to pieces. She was immediately surrounded by several burly men.

“You little brat, you dared to poison the wine!” the burly, dark-skinned man said menacingly.

“No need for words, strip her naked first, let's see where she can run!” Bai Yu's eyes gleamed

with lust, staring intently at Qiu Yue's chest.

Qiu Yue's face paled, and she retreated repeatedly, “You…you guys, don't come any closer!” Her voice betrayed her panic.

“Heh…this time, we brothers will definitely treat you well!” The group advanced step by step, and Qiu Yue retreated step by

step .

Calm down! Calm down! Xiao Ting always taught her to stay calm!

Think, quick! Think of a way to escape!

She doesn't know martial arts, she can't beat them... If she falls into the hands of these villains, she'll be neither alive nor

dead !

If necessary, jumping into the river is better than being sold into a brothel. Qiu Yue had already retreated to the riverbank, with no

way out. She glanced at the rushing river, then at the fierce eyes of Bai Yu and the others. With a determined

heart, she jumped into the river without hesitation.

"Ah—" several burly men exclaimed in surprise.

Qiu Yue's petite body quickly submerged in the rushing water.

She "slipped away" again, leaving a group of astonished men on the bank.

With the rushing water, Qiu Yue floated up and down in the river. Immersed in the icy water, and having traveled

all night without rest, her strength had reached its limit, and soon she passed out.

The rushing river still flowed—

Chapter Three "Doctor, how is she?"

"This…"

In a hazy state, Qiu Yue heard people talking in hushed tones, the voices sometimes near, sometimes far, indistinct. She tried

to open her eyes, but felt her eyelids were incredibly heavy, and soon drifted back to sleep.

While in a deep sleep, Qiu Yue felt an intense warmth throughout her body, wondering if she had died. It turned out the other

world was so warm, without the demons of the underworld, without any fear, so she peacefully

continued to sleep…

She didn't know how much time had passed when a bright light roused Qiu Yue, her eyes half-closed, her consciousness hovering

between wakefulness and wakefulness.

"Ugh…" she groaned, feeling aches all over her body.

"Miss, you're awake?"

Qiu Yue's beautiful eyes turned towards the source of the voice, immediately meeting a pair of light brown eyes.

It was him?!

Qiu Yue's heart skipped a beat.

"Young lady, the doctor diagnosed you with a cold. You should sleep a little longer!" The owner of the light brown eyes

continued in a magnetic voice.

The deep voice seemed to possess a magical power, gradually calming her wildly beating heart, and Qiu Yue drifted off to sleep again.

This time, she slept very soundly, even falling asleep with a smile.

One of the most pleasant things in life is to wake up naturally.

Warm sunlight filled the entire room. Qiu Yue lay on the soft bed, hugging a brocade quilt as light as a feather,

her bright, clear eyes taking in her surroundings. Although she didn't know where she was,

she was certain this wasn't another world; this was a very comfortable place!

The room was furnished with Tang Dynasty antiques and Song Dynasty calligraphy. The tables, chairs, and beds were all made of precious sandalwood, and the brocade quilts and embroidered

pillows were all from the finest Suzhou and Hangzhou brands. Listening to the cheerful chirping of orioles outside, this place felt like a heavenly paradise.

There was only one strange thing—this room moved!

While Qiu Yue was unconscious, she felt her body being gently swayed. For a moment, she thought she was dead, that

her soul had left her body and that's why she was swaying. However, she was now certain she wasn't dead, because there was a bowl

of steaming sweet porridge on the table in front of her bed.

Sweet porridge isn't needed in the Western Paradise!

"Miss, you're awake? It's about time." The owner of the light brown eyes stepped into the room,

looking quite cheerful.

The deep voice pulled Qiu Yue back to reality.

"Thank you for saving me, young master. I will never forget it." Qiu Yue said softly, her face slightly flushed. She could almost

hear her own heart pounding.

"It's nothing, don't worry about it. Drink this porridge!"

Qiu Yue nodded obediently, stretching out her white, lotus-like arms to receive the porridge.

"Ah!" Qiu Yue screamed, "I...I...how could this happen?" Her once clear

voice was now distorted.

"Because you jumped into the river, the water was very cold, so you caught a cold. The doctor advised that it's best to..." The steady

voice explained.

"No! I mean I...I...How could I be..." Completely naked?!

When Qiuyue reached out, she realized that she wasn't wearing any clothes, only a brocade quilt covering

her naked body. But she couldn't bring herself to say the rest, her face turning as red as the sunset.

The man raised an eyebrow, seemingly puzzled as to why she had suddenly interrupted him.

"Excuse me...where...where are my clothes?" Qiu Yue asked softly.

"Oh! So that's what you mean." The man nodded knowingly. "When I rescued you from the river,

you were soaked to the bone in the icy water. There were no women's clothes here, so I had no choice but to take off your

wet clothes and cover you with a quilt to keep you warm. Like this."

What did he mean by "like this"?! She was a virgin! This man had seen her completely naked, and he acted as if

nothing had happened. There might even be others who had seen her body! What about her…?

Qiu Yue's face paled as her thoughts shifted.

The owner of the light brown eyes seemed to see through Qiu Yue's thoughts.

"Don't worry, I took them off myself. No one else touched you. Drink this bowl of porridge."

Don't worry? He had seen her completely naked, and he told her to relax?!

"You...you..." Qiu Yue was so surprised she didn't know what to say, only able to stare at

the man .

"Alright, stop talking, just finish this bowl of porridge." The man's patience seemed to be wearing thin.

"Then..." Qiu Yue still had a thousand questions in her mind, about to speak, when she was fed a spoonful of sweet porridge,

and reflexively swallowed the food in her mouth.

"Is it good?" the man asked with a slight smile.

This smile made Qiu Yue forget to reply.

His light brown eyes were deep and affectionate, his straight nose, delicate eyebrows, and thin lips added to his

dashing charm. His skin was fair, unlike the dark skin of most men, making him look like a refined and noble

young master.

What a handsome and charming man!

But he looked so familiar, as if I had seen him a long time ago...

"Finish this porridge first, we can talk later!" the man said, looking at the slightly dazed Qiu Yue.

Qiu Yue blushed and nodded, swallowing the spoonfuls of sweet porridge that were fed to her.

After a while, Qiuyue couldn't eat anymore. She lowered her head and said softly, "I can't eat anymore."

The man seemed a little surprised by Qiuyue's small appetite, but he didn't force her.

He casually placed the half-full bowl of porridge on the table and sat down by the bed.

"Alright, young lady, what do you want to know?" The man seemed quite relaxed, appearing leisurely

.

After finishing the porridge, Qiuyue, slightly regaining her energy, asked with her cherry-like lips slightly parted, "Who are you, young master?

Where is this place?"

The owner of the light brown eyes smiled slightly, "My name is Xu Qingyun. This is my pleasure boat,

and we are currently sailing on the river."

Oh, I see! No wonder she kept feeling the house moving!

"Brother Xu, my name is Qiuyue. I'm from Hangzhou and I'm going to Suzhou now. I'm really grateful for your

rescue ." Qiuyue nodded slightly.

"That's nothing. Hmm... Hangzhou to Suzhou is quite a distance, why would a young lady like you

travel so far? Is there some urgent matter?" Women don't usually travel, especially not far, and even when they do,

they're usually accompanied by servants. Xu Qingyun asked this because he saw Qiu Yue was alone.

"I'm on the orders of the Master to go to Suzhou to help the Zhao family," Qiu Yue said earnestly.

"Master?" Xu Qingyun raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, our Master is the owner of the number one manor in the world, the Xu Family Manor,"

"Xu Buyun?!" The relaxed expression on Xu Qingyun's face immediately vanished, replaced by

a chilling coldness.

"Brother Xu knows our Master?"

Xu Qingyun didn't answer, turning to look out the window, and the room immediately fell silent, creating a suffocating atmosphere.

Qiu Yue sensed it too. "Brother Xu, you—"

"Qiu Yue, what is your relationship with Xu Buyun?" Xu Qingyun interrupted Qiu Yue, abruptly asking.

"Huh?" Qiu Yue found the question strange, but out of politeness, she answered anyway. "I

have no relation to our master at all. I'm just a maid in the manor."

Maid? She didn't seem like one at all; she seemed more like a young lady from a wealthy family. However, when he helped Qiu Yue remove her clothes,

he noticed that she didn't have bound feet. If she were a rich heiress, she should have bound feet... Xu Qingyun was

half-convinced.

"Really?" Xu Qingyun emphasized, asking again.

"Yes!" Qiu Yue clearly saw Xu Qingyun seem to breathe a sigh of relief.

His facial features relaxed, and Xu Qingyun, who was previously dashing and handsome, turned to face Qiu Yue. "I

thought that lecherous man had already made his move on you!"

"Ah, our master isn't that kind of person. He... wait, Brother Xu called our master a lecherous man, then you

..."

"He's my older brother," Xu Qingyun said in a cold, emotionless voice.

URL 1:https://www.sexlove5.com/htmlBlog/178998.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=178998&aspx=1

Previous Page : Little Dragon Girl loses her virginity at Zhongnan Mountain

Next Page : Vast and turbulent sea

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

Jiangnan Beauty

comment Open a new window to view comments