[Fantasy] Maiden Bai Yaya (Complete) - 1-3

[Synopsis]

A chaotic era... and a chaotic family. The coming-of-age story of a mentally challenged girl.

Many may love her, and she may love many in return. In this tangled web of relationships,

where will she go?

Chapter 1: Birth

Don't ask me how I got into this world... I didn't get into it by falling into water, a car accident, sleeping, reading, falling from a height, or just walking around...

I've never worn this before, how would I know how to get into it? The important thing now is, I'm in!

The passageway is moist and dark. This is a woman's body, the place where life is conceived. I close my eyes and wait, waiting for that powerful force to push me out... But the surrounding flesh walls show no signs of movement. Oh no, am I not going to give birth yet? What am I going to do? I don't want to wait for months… Amidst my inner wailing, the sound of tearing brocade rang out from above. Even with my eyes closed, I felt a rush of blood. I was shocked, feeling a cacophony in my ears. I tried to open my eyes to see, but the pressure prevented me… Violent shaking, pain… and then… ugh… I was surrounded by air, so cold. Was I born? I felt many people around me, a moment of chaos, and I was lifted upside down, then a slap landed on my bottom… I screamed, “Wah!”… The baby cried out…

“Little girl! Very healthy, hahaha,” a deep, cheerful male voice rang out.

A man? In the delivery room? Is this how casual men and women are? I swung my little arms wildly, my legs still being lifted upside down and shaken, furious.

Then another, even deeper male voice rang out, “Hmm.” How many men were watching my mother and me naked? I was completely drenched in sweat… It's a pity I can't open my eyes, otherwise, whoever hit me just now, I'd remember you. Want your sister to speak up? Why did you hit me? I felt someone gently take me in, a warm cloth wiping my body. I didn't resist; I was happy to be treated well.

"Brother, that woman didn't do anything good, it's no loss that she's dead, but at least she gave birth to the baby girl we've been hoping for, haha, and the name is already chosen." The cheerful voice continued happily, "How did you know this baby would be a girl? You've already come up with a name? Haha, Ya Ya, Bai Ya Ya... Hahaha, she'll definitely be a gentle and elegant little beauty in the future... Tsk tsk, that damn fortune teller..." Shock... I... my mother is... dead...??... I struggled to open my eyes and see clearly... but I was wrapped even tighter in an incredibly soft cloth. The person wiping my body and holding me finally spoke, a beautiful and soft voice rang out, so alluring it gave me goosebumps. Why? Because the voice was clearly a man's...

"Hehe, actually, the eldest brother just picked a name for the baby boy anyway, otherwise how could it be so magical... Third brother, you're too rude, you scared little Ya Ya." Warm breath sprayed on my face and neck, tickling me. I tried to open my tightly closed eyelids a crack. Daytime! Blinding... Then, through a blur, I saw a beautiful chin, like an ice blade. That chin slowly approached... magnified... The curve of its rose-colored lips was exquisite, then "pop," a wet kiss landed on my eyelid... ?? ??... Who is this person...? "Hehe, cute little thing, your face is wrinkled like a little monkey..." He kissed me without my consent and then accused me?!

"Second Brother, you...you've ruined Ya Ya's reputation first!!" The third brother cried out anxiously, snatching me away. It hurt! I'm a baby, please be gentle... A seductive laugh came from his mouth again, giving me goosebumps... Unfortunately, I was no longer in his arms. It seems the man who had only uttered an "Mm" from beginning to end was my father, and this rude uncle was my third uncle, and that effeminate pervert was my second uncle. Complicated relatives...I wonder if there are others.

When my second uncle snatched me away, I used my weak eyesight to look around the room. Judging from the decor, it was ancient, no doubt about it, but I didn't know if it was fictional or historical. There weren't many women in the room, but these three men were standing on the floor. I only caught a glimpse of the bed, which was blocked by the curtains, with a corner of a disheveled purple skirt peeking out from under the red curtains...I couldn't see anyone...or rather...a corpse. A slight sigh... That was my mother...

My father's large face suddenly appeared in my vision, so blurry that I couldn't make out his features, but I could see that his eyes were shining brightly. Then he smiled and said in a dreamlike voice, "Little thing, we will treat you like a princess... my daughter."

Looks like I didn't dress up as a princess... Disappointed...

Chapter 2 Childhood 1

My infancy was spent eating, sleeping, and being carried around... (Forgive the author's laziness...)

During this time, I figured out some fundamental things, such as what country this was, what dynasty it was, what our family's standard of living was, etc.

First of all, this is a fictional world. This place is called "Da Shun Kingdom," and the people are normal, not a matriarchal society. My family's surname is Bai, and we are a fairly normal, moderately wealthy family in the country. We are not royalty, not chivalrous heroes, just ordinary merchants. My family started by selling timber and is quite well-known in the Northeast. There are three people in charge of the family: my father, the eldest; my second uncle, the second eldest; and my youngest uncle, the third eldest. Their ages are unknown, but they are generally between 25 and 35. Their names aren't clear yet; they basically address each other as "eldest brother," "second brother," "second son," and "third son," and none of the servants dare to call their master by his given name. There are also several other brothers. I wondered why they were so eager for my birth; it turns out all three of them had boys because a fortune teller said the Bai family had no daughters. No, they didn't have any daughters; I was the only one. To be precise, I'm not really part of their family… I come from another time… I'm an anomaly.

I have four older brothers, my father's sons. They really have a lot of children… I have two cousins, both my third uncle's children. My second uncle has no children; if it weren't for his two concubines in the backyard, I would definitely think he was gay. To be precise, my biological mother was my father's first wife, but she was the daughter of a business rival. She had been married into the family for five or six years without having any children. I was her first child, and she died during childbirth. I was born via C-section. I overheard my third uncle talking to me, saying that my father personally performed the surgery. I'm a little embarrassed, but when I can talk, I'll definitely ask him: "Big brother, did you do this before? You really dared to do it..." My mother was a complete corporate spy. She pretended to be illiterate and secretly peeked at my father's accounts and business secrets. I heard that for the first two years, our family inexplicably lost clients. Later, it was my wise, powerful, and handsome father who discovered her, and my second uncle deliberately falsified accounts for my maternal grandfather's family to see, which helped them turn the tables. There's no mistress of the house now; the head housekeeper's wife acts as the de facto head. The concubines are only responsible for vying for favor, squandering money, and bearing children, but they all live in the back garden. The main courtyard is where the legitimate masters reside. My little garden is the closest to my father's "Xuanran Courtyard," a rather suggestive name, "Fengyue Tower," which I like. My brothers have been sent to the mountain forest farm to learn kung fu since they were five years old. Now, there are only three children at home—me, who is one year old; my four-and-a-half-year-old fourth brother; and my uncle's youngest son, Xingzhi, who is two months older than me.

The adults in the family all favor me. Fortunately, the other two little ones are still too young to understand anything. My fourth brother overheard the maids talking and said he has the same demeanor as my second brother when he was young—always out in the wind and rain, never still for a moment. In modern times, that would definitely be called ADHD. Little Xingzhi is much simpler; whether he's hungry, sleepy, cold, or hot, he just cries. I scoffed and ignored him. I want to be a well-behaved and normal child so people won't think I'm weird. What's with this "two-year-old can be literate and three-year-old can be martial arts" nonsense? Aren't they monsters? Where are all these geniuses?

Xingzhi and I were put together to play in the afternoon. Honestly, what could two one-year-olds possibly play? I watched closely as Xingzhi, drooling, knelt on the bed, his bottom sticking out, stuffing a huge orange into his mouth. The orange was many times bigger than his mouth. His drool dripped down the orange and onto the hibiscus-colored quilt, leaving a clear trail… I rolled my eyes at the carved bed frame, then kicked the orange and its massive head from the front. Xingzhi looked up at the orange, then at me, his lips trembled, and he burst into tears. The maids, jolted from their gossip by the cacophony, saw me sitting innocently half a meter away, playing with my fingers, while Xingzhi cried, snot streaming down his face… Amidst the commotion of the child's crying, everyone scrambled to their feet… I looked out the window. I tried to stay silent except for crying, though I couldn't quite make out the rhythm of each word. But Xingzhi's high-pitched childish voice was more intoxicating than a thousand birds chirping. I crawled over and looked at his clean, rosy face, his bright, glistening lips, and his innocent eyes brimming with tears. He was so cute… I cupped Xingzhi's face in my hands, bringing him closer… closer still… and then a wet kiss landed on his lips… The loud crying slowly stopped, and instead, he excitedly grabbed my ears and pounced on my little cherry lips, sucking and biting them. I guess the child was hungry and thought it was mealtime? I struggled desperately to get rid of this clingy guy. It's one thing for me to flirt with him, but it's another for him to flirt with me... Unfortunately, I was pinned down by his chubby little body... This kid has the skills of a Casanova... I was furious... The maids, who had initially been surprised, were now laughing hysterically and rushed over to pull us apart. Suddenly, I felt a lightness on my body. I looked up and saw that my father had grabbed the little guy by the collar and lifted him up... He casually tossed him into the arms of a maid who was giving greetings. Xingzhi was still restless, waving his little claws in my direction...

My father picked me up, and I wrapped my little arms around his neck. My mouth, still wet with Xingzhi's drool, "kissed" my father's chin. My father glared at me, annoyed, and told the maids, "Tell Third Master to let this brat go hungry for two meals." Hehehe, my handsome father, I'm saved! Actually, my father isn't particularly handsome, not as good-looking as my handsome second uncle, and slightly less so than my cheerful third uncle. But he has a unique, dashing charm. He doesn't talk much, and his face is always tense. The servants, including my two uncles, all respect him greatly—or perhaps fear him? My father is a very cool and manly man, exactly my type. His hands are incredibly beautiful—long, strong, dry, and with well-proportioned knuckles. I wonder how fortunate his wife and concubines are to be touched by such perfect hands; how thrilling it must be…

"Little princess, what do you want to do in the future?" My father carried me into the garden, gently patting my back, his voice as gentle as water. Only I could ever see this side of my father. "Little princess, do you want to inherit the family business with your eldest brother? Oh no, no, that would be too hard…"

"Haha, big brother, we can find a considerate, handsome, and learned son-in-law for our little princess to share the burden. Xiao Ya Ya will live a life of luxury without having to do anything. Oh, it would be best if he came to live with us, so the little princess will never leave you... Haha." My third uncle followed from behind, with a maid carrying Xing Zhi in her arms. The little devil was still drooling innocently. "Oh, why not marry our Xing Zhi? Anyway, I heard we're already related... Haha, oh... it's good to keep the good stuff in the family, right, big brother?" My father turned his head away, so I couldn't see his expression. In any case, it couldn't be too good, otherwise my third uncle wouldn't be able to be so charming. "It's alright, I'll teach you Xing Zhi properly." My father said coolly, then picked me up and left without looking back. But I'm a good girl, so I smiled foolishly at my third uncle from my father's shoulder to say goodbye. My third uncle grabbed Xingzhi's chubby little arm and waved at me...

Chapter 3 Childhood 2

Xingzhi and I were three years old, and my fourth brother was four and a half.

My only joy in the past two years was watching my fourth brother bully Xingzhi. Oh, I forgot to mention, ever since I started speaking in sentences, I've become another person to bully Xingzhi. My fourth brother is a very active guy. I heard that when he had his first birthday celebration, he grabbed the general's sword hanging in Dad's study, while Xingzhi grabbed a mouthful of osmanthus cake and was laughed at for a long time. Me? Are you kidding me? The Four Treasures of the Study? It's faster to kill me. An abacus and account books? I didn't transmigrate here to be a professional businessman. Knives, spears, and clubs? I don't want to become a muscle woman. Rouge and powder? Those things are too inferior to modern technology. So I only grabbed one thing---a gold bean. What can I do? Money is the primary productive force, right?

My fourth brother pouted. He hated Xingzhi's cowardly appearance the most, while I smiled slyly. Hehe, I secretly kicked Fourth Brother's favorite short sword under Xingzhi's robe. Xingzhi, clueless, didn't even notice. When we stood up after playing "Peace Under Heaven," Fourth Brother caught us. The moment Fourth Brother glared at him, tears welled up in Xingzhi's eyes. He innocently stammered, "I...I...I don't know..." Fourth Brother rolled his eyes, picked up the short sword, and casually tapped Xingzhi on the head. Tears streamed down his face, his lips trembled, and he looked utterly wronged. I put my arm around Xingzhi's shoulder. Who told him he was half a head shorter than me? Fourth Brother's gaze softened, because he knew...

"Xingzhi, be good, don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Sister Ya Ya loves you very much. Defeat the bandit bully, Little Fourth... Sister will protect Xingzhi!" It's so satisfying to take advantage of this little brother every time with this excuse. Who told Xingzhi to be like a wounded little animal, so pitiful and adorable! For my 24 years in my past life plus 3 years in this life, is calling him "little brother" too much of a disservice to him? Xingzhi leaned against my neck, his eyelashes tickling my skin... Oh, I like it too... He's such a cute boy! "Bai Xingzhi, you need to act like a man!" Fourth Brother's childish face, pretending to be a tough guy, was really hilarious. He even patted Xingzhi's shoulder with a spirited air, "Let's practice martial arts tomorrow." I almost choked on my food. Did little Fourth Brother think that running around the yard with a little stick every day was martial arts practice? Xingzhi raised his doe-like eyes and looked at him blankly before shrinking back against me. Fourth Brother shook his head and sighed, "A hopeless case..." He turned around, put his hands behind his back, and strode away... I was trying so hard not to laugh that my body was shaking...

"Ya, is Xingzhi really that useless?" He looked extremely aggrieved. "Xingzhi, my dear, did you forget to call Ya Ya sister again?" I glanced at him. "But, Daddy said that Xingzhi is older than Ya Ya, and Ya Ya will be Xingzhi's wife in the future..." He emphasized, clenching his little fists.

"Oh? What does 'Xingzhi's wife' mean?" I chuckled. "It's..." He was confused. "It's the person Xingzhi is closest to." "Closer

than your father?" "Closer than..." " Closer than your mother?" "Closer than..." "Closer than Osmanthus Cake?" "...Closer than..." "Closer than Hibiscus Pastry??" "..." "???????" "Equally close!!!" ... It seems Hibiscus Pastry and I are equal wives. "Hahaha, that idiot Xingzhi only knows how to eat, Ya." Fourth Brother squatted on the wall watching me helplessly walk out of the garden, laughing slyly. "Tell me the truth, how long do you plan to play this game of teasing him and then 'the beauty saves the bear'?" What do you mean, how old? How old are you? "Little 4, what are you doing squatting there?" I looked up at the boy in the breeze. The effect of looking up like that really made this boy in white clothes look exceptionally domineering. I wondered if the girls' "Brother Xian" was like this... "Hey, Ya Ya! What Little 4, Little 4, you should call him Big Brother." Little 4's eyebrows furrowed. "Haha, Daddy said you're the fourth one. The real Big Brother is at the forest farm. What are you pretending to be?" The Big Brother I've never met is eight years old. "Hmph, what Big Brother? I've never seen him. I'm the oldest in the yard!" He jumped down the not-so-low wall with a nimble hand, pressed my head, and said to me with a serious face, "In another six months, I'll be going to the forest farm too. Ya Ya, let me see if that Big Brother is powerful enough to be our Big Brother!" "7... Four years older than you. I could take you down with one finger!" "It's a little over three years old!! Hmph, what's so great about him? I, Bai Zhanfeng, am not so easy to deal with." Little 4 said fiercely, as if that person had no blood relation to him. "Little 4..." I was speechless... He was so determined...

"Let's not talk about that, Ya. Just tell me what you want. I've already talked to Father, I'll come back often." Little 4 reverted to his usual roguish demeanor, grabbing my hand. "Tell me, there's nothing you can't do."

"Why would Father allow that? Isn't it true that you can't leave the mountain until you've finished your training?" I asked, puzzled. "Oh, never mind that. With my intelligence, what's a little kung fu?"

"..." I looked him up and down suspiciously. "All right, all right..." Little 4 blinked. "Oh, by the way, don't actually become that idiot Xingzhi's wife. Even if Father agreed, I wouldn't, Ya..." Little 4 frowned, leading me back to the brothel. I was annoyed. Are all kids this precocious these days? Uh... it's hard to say. In my day, kids in kindergarten were already calling each other "husband" and "wife"... the next generation of our country...

Chapter 4 Childhood 3

Two years ago, after the New Year, I woke up to find my father and two uncles sending me to the forest farm. No matter how much I cried, they forced me into the forest farm's sedan chair. My cries were deafening and echoed all the way, causing everyone who heard them to shut their doors... I really didn't know whether to cry or laugh. My father also asked me if I should learn something since I was five years old.

I thought about it, and realized my biggest regret was not learning music. So I asked my father if I could learn the piano. He smiled and stroked my hair, which was draped over my shoulders, saying, "Good, my little prodigy..." I didn't like tying my hair up; it was troublesome, and besides, there were no perms these days. Every time I tied it up and let it down, there were marks—what was I going to do?

After my fifth birthday, my father brought several pretty little girls, around seven or eight years old, to the brothel. He let me choose a few to be my maids. I picked one with a pink rouge mark between her eyebrows and another with bright eyes that dared to look me directly in the eye. I named them Xiaoyue and Xiaobi. Bai Bi, Bai Yue...hehe, so refreshing! My father also said that when I grew a little older, he would assign me a shadow guard to protect me... A shadow guard? I was puzzled. Was it someone who would hide in the shadows day and night, spying on you?

Strolling through the garden, Xiao Bi and Xiao Yue followed behind. These past two years, without Xingzhi or Xiao Si, have been truly boring… The two little maids are quite considerate; Xiao Yue is gentle and considerate, while Xiao Bi is adorably cunning. Although they're only a year or two older than me, they're still children. While they sometimes joke and play around with me without any regard for seniority, they always have some sense of propriety. I don't force them. In this class-based era, a clear distinction between master and servant is beneficial for them, preventing them from becoming arrogant and suffering the consequences. After all, not everyone sees these things as unimportant as I do…

The garden is filled with dazzling flowers, winding corridors, and a pond, but it doesn't suit my aesthetic. Oh, I forgot to mention, before I transmigrated here, I studied design for four years in university—only advertising design, haha. This garden is beautiful but lacks personality. Once I've come up with a plan, I'll definitely renovate it to my liking, since this place will be with me for many years to come.

Seeing the distant canal water flowing over the wall, shrouded in a misty haze, carrying a faint fog in the early morning, I squinted, wondering why there was still steam in the summer. Could it be…?

I rushed over and dipped my hand into the water, startling Xiaoyue. “Master, what is this…” Sure enough, it was warm water… “Xiaobi, go find Steward Wang and tell him to come to Fengyue Tower when he’s not busy.” Xiaobi blinked her big eyes a few times but didn’t ask any questions, simply replying, “Yes.”

“Master, don’t play in the water. We finally got up early, let’s wash up and have something to eat. The teacher will be here soon.” Xiaoyue took out a handkerchief and gently dried my hands. “Alright.” Yes, my teacher is the most impatient, and I love to sleep in, but what can I do when he insists on teaching in the morning? Every time he saw me being helped out, still half-asleep and with my eyes still wet with sleep, he'd furrow his brow slightly. If he didn't see my genuine desire to improve the zither, he probably would have stormed off long ago, disregarding his father's feelings… After finishing the fish porridge and snacks brought by the governess, Xiaoyue picked out a wide-hemmed, peach-colored silk dress for me. Barefoot and with my hair down, I went to the music room. The teacher, dressed in a blue robe, was already seated, holding the sheet music. He glanced at me and said, "Miss, you look very well today, and you're more proper than usual," a sarcastic remark… I rolled my eyes inwardly. "Teacher, you're as handsome and refined as ever. Please, teacher," he said, a slight smile playing on his lips, and began his lesson. I dislike kneeling and always sit cross-legged like the teacher. He wasn't bothered by it, saying that sitting was for comfort while playing the zither, and that adhering to so many rules was too restrictive and boring. At that moment, I realized that although this guy was old-fashioned, he was also a free spirit, which suited me well.

I respectfully saw the gentleman out and met Steward Wang, who had been waiting outside. I invited him inside and asked Xiao Bi to serve him tea. He repeatedly said he wouldn't dare, and sat down to the side.

"Steward Wang, is the running water in my backyard a hot spring source?"

"Replying to Miss, the pond in your backyard is a tributary of the Mingchuan River in the manor, so it can't be considered a hot spring. However, there is indeed a hot spring outside the backyard wall. The tributary flows out of the garden and passes over the spring line, so it carries a little heat." I nodded and instructed Xiao Bi to properly invite Steward Wang out. There's even a hot spring in the house! I'm so surprised and excited. I wonder if I can claim it for myself? Build a Japanese-style outdoor bath in the garden? Hehehe...

This year, when I turned seven, my father hired two tutors for me, one to teach me Chinese and the other math. This is the extra burden for children in a merchant family. I clearly remember that other girls who transmigrated only needed to learn poetry, so why do I have to do it again? This adds two more pastimes to my carefree and boring daily life. Math is no problem for me, but learning classical Chinese is so frustrating… Why do I have to memorize ancient texts even after escaping Communist Party education? There are no other students in the classroom, so I can't doze off. Besides, I hate head-shaking, so I dragged Xiaoyue and Xiaobi along to study with me. That way, I can have someone else do my homework

for me, haha. In the afternoon, the sunlight was gentle. I lay on my side in the pavilion, propping my head up. Below, the pond rippled gently, pink lotuses were in full bloom, and the air carried a slightly sweet, fishy smell. Xiaobi fanned me, her eyes already closed, and started swaying aimlessly. Xiaoyue applied a hair oil paste made from sesame oil mixed with cream, spices, egg white, and powdered black sesame seeds to my hair, then combed it with a fine-toothed comb…

But sometimes, I still feel lonely. I wonder how Xiao Si and Xingzhi have been these past two years…

“What is my little princess thinking about?”

“Daddy…” I turned around and my gentle father gently pinched my nose. Xiao Yue pinched Xiao Bi and the two maids bowed and said, “Master…” My father took the comb from Xiao Yue’s hand and combed my hair himself. He then asked Xiao Yue to fetch some chilled plum juice.

"What were you thinking about so intently, little princess?"

"Ya Ya was thinking about how long it's been since I've seen Fourth Brother and Xingzhi."

"Oh? Speaking of which, even Xingzhi has been up the mountain for two years now. A few months ago, your Third Uncle came back from the forest farm and said that while Fourth Brother's other skills have been mediocre for the past three years, his lightness skill has improved significantly. I suppose everyone has their own destiny. It's just that Xingzhi is still like a young lady; he needs more training." Father smiled gently, though he never visited his brothers, he still cared about them. "What's wrong? Is our little princess bored because there's no one to bully or play with?"

"No, it's just brotherly love..." I tugged at Father's robe, pouting and acting spoiled. "What are the other brothers like? I heard from the steward that besides martial arts, they also have to learn many other subjects on the mountain!" I blinked my big eyes.

"Haha!" Father laughed heartily. "My dear daughter, I know you don't want to learn that nonsense from Master Zhu, but a daughter of a prominent family still needs to be literate. It's not about comparing yourself to other young ladies; you'll need to be literate to read our family's accounts."

"Oh, Father, they didn't say I wouldn't learn! But I'm not taking the imperial examinations, so what's the point of learning all that classical stuff? It's much more interesting to hear stories about local customs, the mountains and rivers." Actually, I knew nothing about this space.

"It seems my little princess has a broad mind. Thinking about it makes me want to cry..." Seeing my suspicious gaze, he chuckled and said, "I'm afraid this little garden in our mansion can't contain you." "

Father, don't worry! Ya Ya will take you everywhere!" I said innocently, climbing into Father's arms and greedily inhaling the fresh, herbal scent emanating from him.

Xiaoyue returned carrying a tray. On the pure silver tray sat a shaved block of ice, and on the ice sat a silver bowl filled with a deep red plum juice. Father lifted me down to sit and fed me spoonful by spoonful. “Speaking of which, little princess hasn’t met your other brothers yet. Your eldest brother has become more and more composed these past few years, already like a young master; your second brother is a bit impatient, but his martial arts are the best, and he’s also very honest; although the third brother is a twin brother of the second, his temperament is worlds apart from his. Your second and third uncles both say he should take the imperial examination to become the top scholar, haha, he’s the best at studying.” He finished speaking and gave me a sidelong glance, and I stuck out my tongue. “And then there’s your brother Xingzhi’s eldest brother, Mengzhi. That boy looks more like your second uncle than your third uncle, a real womanizer. All the girls working in the forest farm, the little maids, love to fawn over him. Even at such a young age, he’s already grown up with white teeth and red lips, prettier than any young lady.” Father shook his head slightly, but his eyes were full of smiles.

“Ya Ya has so many brothers, I really want to meet them all. It’s a pity we have to wait several more years…” What a pity.

“Hmm… well, the Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon, it’s time for a family reunion. And that matter should be taken care of too…” Father pondered for a moment, then placed the silver spoon into Xiaoyue’s tray.

“That matter? Which matter?” I opened my eyes wide. Father took a handkerchief and wiped the juice from the corner of my mouth.

“We’ll invite a few young ladies over for a visit, so our little princess can see what other young ladies are like, lest she become a little tyrant at home, hehe.” Father smiled mischievously, looking at my angry little face, and placed a kiss on my forehead. I instinctively wrapped my arms around my father's neck and cried, "Daddy's teasing Ya Ya, Ya Ya won't stand for it..." My father chuckled softly, patted my back, picked up the brocade slippers from the floor, and carried me with one arm towards the bedroom, instructing Xiao Bi to fetch water to wash off the hair oil. "You little rascal, you always like to mess around with these weird things, this hair oil, these shoes with two straps on the instep... so strange. You should practice the zither with your teacher these next two months, the young ladies all have to perform their talents, and who knows if they'll let you do one, don't let people laugh at you."

"Why do I have to perform talents? Aren't we guests?" Is there going to be a competition for the Mid-Autumn Festival?

"Don't ask so many questions, just do as I say, you'll find out when the time comes." With a deliberately stern face, my father handed me over to the governess outside the building and left the garden with the head steward, Wang, who had already been summoned.

Chapter 5 Night Raid

I and Xingzhi were 7 years old, my fourth brother was 8 and a half, my second and third brothers were 10, my eldest brother was 12, and my third uncle's eldest son, Bai Mengzhi, was 10.

Father had already told the teacher about his idea, and the teacher had chosen a piece for me to practice these past few days. Looking at the teacher sitting opposite me, tapping out a rhythm with his long, slender fingers, I asked, "Does the teacher know the purpose of our family's Mid-Autumn Festival banquet?"

"Oh? Miss doesn't know?"

"Father didn't tell his disciple." Isn't that obvious? If he knew, why would he ask you, sir?

"Hmm..." The gentleman pondered for a moment, "I've heard that these past few days, several daughters of prominent families in the city have been seeking masters to instruct them in musical instruments, dance, and compose music. I was wondering what this meant, but it turns out that this Mid-Autumn Festival, the eldest son of the Bai family, Young Master Bai, is going to pre-select the next matriarch." The gentleman's voice was calm...without any emotion. "Is it... my elder brother? But my elder brother is only twelve years old this year." I asked suspiciously. "The selection of the next matriarch needs to be carefully considered from a young age, followed by training. Actually, I guess these distinguished guests who have come here are already well-known to Master Bai based on their wealth, appearance, and talent. This banquet is probably for Young Master Bai to choose someone he likes, to build rapport, and then they can be engaged in a few years..." It turned out to be a matchmaking banquet. "But sir, what does my elder brother's return for matchmaking have to do with me composing music?"

“Miss, though you are young, you are a student of mine, and I have heard of you in this vibrant city. It's only because of worldly burdens and my slight reputation that you've achieved this.” The gentleman shook his head, presumably out of disdain for the mundane world. I knew he was a good friend of my second uncle; I guess he got my apprenticeship through that connection.

“Will you be attending our Mid-Autumn Festival family banquet, sir?”

“Hehe, Miss may perform a piece, and I, Liu, will certainly accompany you.” I smiled gently.

Little Four is coming back tomorrow… I really miss him, even more than I miss Xingzhi. I wonder if Little Four is still the same after three years. I sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed, chin in hand, continuing to ponder the accessories and clothes I needed for tomorrow night. My elder brother's potential wives were all dressed to the nines, so I didn't need to be too flashy and steal the spotlight. After all, I wasn't the main character, and I shouldn't choose anything too brightly colored… What a hassle…

“Master, it's getting late, go to bed,” Xiaoyue said, tightening the belt of my robe. Xiaobi combed my hair, saying, “Tomorrow is Mr. Liu's last lecture before the banquet, Miss, don't oversleep.” The nagging maid! I rolled my eyes. Xiaoyue smiled, “Abi is right, Miss.”

“I know, you all should hurry and prepare the rose petal juice for my nail polish and the silver paint for the roof beams.”

“Don't worry, everything's ready.” Then Xiaobi continued, “Miss is so strange. Using rose petals instead of red balsam for nail polish is one thing, but why use the paint for the beams?” Xiaoyue pulled her along, and they went out together.

In the middle of the night, the bed curtains were gently lifted, and something warm slipped in from the corner of the quilt, wrapping its arms around my waist. I was startled and was about to get up when I was pressed down. "Ya, it's me."

"Xiao 4??" Good heavens, is this a fake?

"Isn't it me?" Xiao 4's usual lazy voice rang in my ears. I pulled back the bed curtains, and the moonlight shone on Xiao 4's smiling face. He had grown quite a bit; his eyebrows and eyes were more angular than before, and there was a small bloodstain on his forehead. "How did you get this?"

"Oh, don't touch it," he grabbed my hand. "After having dinner on the way, they stayed at an inn for the night. I didn't wait for them and came straight back to see you. It was dark in the woods, and the branches scratched me." I quickly got out of bed and called for help. Xiao Yue came in fully clothed and lit a lamp. She was startled when she saw him. I then remembered that Xiao 4 had already gone to the forest when Xiao Bi and Xiao Yue entered the mansion.

“This is your fourth young master who came back from the forest farm. He walked a little faster than the others and just arrived at the manor.” I glanced at him, and he leaned back on the cushion with a half-smile. “Xiaoyue, go get the ointment. Tell Xiaobi to fetch some hot water…”

“Forget it, it’s the middle of the night, where am I going to get hot water so quickly? Come with me to the hot spring. I’m all sweaty anyway.” He pulled me up to leave. “You know it’s the middle of the night?” I pulled my hand away, and Xiaobi draped a robe over my shoulders for getting up in the middle of the night. "Aren't you going back to your courtyard?"

"Go back for what? It's dark and nobody's around. The servant boy is dozens of miles outside the city. If it weren't for my light-footed skill, would you even be able to see me?" Xiao Si said, pulling me into the garden. "If you don't go out through the main gate, how will you get to the back? There's only a lotus pond behind my building... Ah..." Before I could finish, Xiao Si picked me up around the waist and whispered, "Hold onto my neck." He then quickly and lightly floated onto the wall. I quickly hugged him and jumped to the edge of the hot spring pool. "This is much easier. You've gained quite a bit of weight in the years I haven't seen you." I quickly got down and glared at him. "Nonsense, I'm not fat, I'm just growing." He walked to the edge of the pool and started taking off his clothes, throwing them one by one onto the grass. His once small body now had some muscles that could be called muscles. He jumped into the water with only his underpants on, splashing me all over. I was stomping my feet when he swam to the shore and reached out to pull me up. I lost my balance and knelt on the edge of the pool, my hair covering his chest and face. Little 4 didn't push me away, but instead rested his face on my lap, nestled in my arms, and sighed softly... "Ya Ya, Ya Ya, do you know how much I miss you? Nobody knows why I practiced my lightness skill so desperately, everyone just thought I was a natural talent, but who knows I just wanted to be able to come down the mountain to see you without anyone noticing..." I gently stroked his head, untied his hairband, and ran my fingers through it to gently comb his hair. "I miss you too, you have no idea how bored I've been. How is my little brother Xingzhi?"

Xiao Si slowly retreated into the pool and said, "When I get back, I'll ask Xingzhi. That guy has always loved to cry since he was little. I wonder if he's some kind of woman reincarnated. Second Brother gets a headache whenever he cries. Luckily, I'm used to it." I chuckled and saw Xiao Bi and Xiao Yue coming over with some things. I took the soft towel from Xiao Bi and cleaned Xiao Si's wound. Xiao Yue put down the ointment and then she and Xiao Bi picked up the clothes on the ground. I instructed, "Take the clothes to Fourth Young Master's courtyard and bring back some clean ones. Then go straight back to our house. We're going back now."

Watching them leave, Xiao Si said, "You two girls are quite clever. You listened to your master and took away the dirty clothes, but you didn't even think about what I'll wear when I go out."

I thought about it and couldn't help but laugh. "I didn't think it through. Then Fourth Young Master will have to wear his sister's robe when he goes out." Xiao Si said helplessly, "Come down and wash with me."

"No, I don't have any clothes to change into."

"Then sit here and wipe my body."

"You're ordering me around."

"Ordering you around? I even got my head bleeding for you."

"...Alright, alright."

By the time we get back, it'll be time to finish the second update. Xiaoyue and Xiaobi closed the bed curtains, blew out the lamp, and left. Xiao 4 lay down beside me, holding my hand, his head resting on my neck, his face rubbing against me, murmuring, "Ya, I really don't want to leave..." and then he fell asleep. I smiled. Just now, I saw him and heard him say that he had matured a lot over the years, shedding much of his childishness, and only now did he seem like a child under 10 years old again. I suppose these past few years away from his parents, and with the forestry workers treating all the young masters equally, it must have been very hard for him...

Chapter 6 Reunion

The next morning, as I washed and dressed, I learned that Xiao 4 had gone to see his father early in the morning. His father only scolded him a few times for making others worry, and then let him go, sending a fast horse to inform those people. But that's another story.

Xiao 4 came back and we had breakfast together. He accompanied me to the music room to wait for the teacher. I sat down at the piano, while he lounged on the straw mat eating snacks. I rolled my eyes at him, and he said, "You practice yours, and let me see our young lady's piano skills." His tone was quite disapproving

. The teacher came in, saw Xiao 4, and didn't say anything, but said to me, "Miss, wait for me, Liu." His wide smile was quite irritating.

"..." I remained silent...

"Okay, play the piece for me first, and see if there are any mistakes."

After the piece ended, the teacher said that although his skill was still shallow and his transitions were not very flexible, he had already captured some of his style and feeling. I was delighted, knowing that resemblance in form is not as good as resemblance in spirit. We enjoyed playing together for those two hours.

After seeing the teacher off, Xiao Si accompanied me to the room to paint my nails, not letting Xiao Bi interfere, but Xiao Si said he wanted to help. Reluctantly, I agreed, and taught him to first apply a thin layer of light purple rose juice to the nails, and then use a special ultra-fine brush to apply silver paint to the edges of the nail tips. Xiao Si's years of practice had not been in vain; his strokes were very steady and even, probably at the level of a nail technician. Xiao Si looked at... Looking at the finished product, he praised, "The liquid is applied so thinly, almost transparent. The color makes the nails look round, healthy, and pink. And the silver trim... not bad." He then insisted on painting my toenails, but kept blowing on my skin. Afraid of ruining them, I didn't dare move and could only laugh and scream. Xiaoyue and Xiaobi watched us fooling around on the bed, smiling.

Dad called for lunch, and I glared at Xiao 4 before quickly getting dressed and going out with him. Entering the hall, I found both my third and second uncles there—a rare sight indeed. My third uncle saw Xiao 4 and laughed, saying, "Zhanfeng is growing more and more handsome, but he's a bit too impatient. Does he miss his third uncle that much? Or his father or second uncle? Is it our little princess?" Dad glanced at Xiao 4, who blushed slightly and said, "Third uncle is right."

"Hehe, so your third uncle is right?" "Second Uncle smiled and spoke, and Little Fourth's face turned even redder. Afraid that they would continue in this awkward situation, I quickly rushed into my father's arms and said, "Daddy, look at Ya Ya's new nail polish, isn't it beautiful?"

"The things you do are always beautiful," my father said, pinching my little hands and face, and smiling gently. "One day, I'll do some nail polish for Second Uncle too, it'll suit his temperament very well." I said mischievously. Third Uncle looked at my hands and then at Second Uncle, and burst out laughing.

"Little princess, you always bully your Second Uncle, how can I bear it?" Second Uncle pretended to be pitiful. "Come here and let Second Uncle hug you, to comfort my wounded heart."

"No way," I stuck out my tongue.

"Girls grow up and leave home."

"What? Second Uncle. What does this have to do with whether I stay home or not?" "My second uncle took me from my father's arms, scratched my face with his stubble, and winked at Xiao Si, signaling him to sit down quickly. 'Alright, Second Uncle, don't drool on my face!' Third Uncle laughed uncontrollably. 'How's your training at the forest farm going with your brothers?' Father asked Xiao Si.

'Reporting to Father, Second Brother's martial arts have already achieved some success. Master says he's a once-in-a-century martial arts prodigy. With a few more years of training and more experience in duels, it'll be hard for him not to be ranked among the top in the martial arts world.'

'Well, that's not necessary. The purpose of having you train in martial arts is to strengthen your bodies, not to fight. But it's good to have something you're good at,' Father said, gesturing for someone to serve Xiao Si some food. 'What about the others?'" "

From Master's perspective, Eldest Brother is calm and sturdy, a rare talent for leadership; Third Brother has made initial progress in military strategy, but his martial arts are somewhat lacking compared to Eldest and Second Brother; Brother Mengzhi's swordplay is unpredictable and beautiful, full of unexpected moves, and his lightness skill is also quite good; Xingzhi is weaker in all aspects, which may be related to his age and small stature, but he has a rare natural accuracy, hitting the bullseye with throwing knives and arrows from a hundred paces." Hearing Xiao Si talk about his two sons, Third Uncle's eyebrows danced with pride. "Xiao Si, you've been talking for so long, but you haven't mentioned yourself yet?" Second Uncle elegantly wiped the corner of his mouth, and a maid immediately took the used handkerchief from him. He glanced at his father and gave Xiao Si an encouraging look. "Reporting to Second Uncle, Zhanfeng is not talented. In the past three years, only his lightness skill has improved slightly."

"Zhanfeng, don't be too modest." Third Uncle put a chicken leg into Xiao Si's bowl. "Last time I went to the forest farm, your master said that you are hardworking and diligent, with solid fist and foot skills, and you prefer to use a short knife as your weapon." Every minute is a minute of danger; without extraordinary speed, how could one escape so nimbly? Before even touching the enemy, one would already be injured. Furthermore, your lightness skill is exceptionally outstanding, easily surpassing Mengzhi, who has trained for two more years than you. With your current level of skill, I doubt I'd even notice you entering the room without being fully focused. "

Third Uncle, you flatter me too much. It's probably because Zhanfeng is so young and light-footed." Little Fourth's face flushed again, seemingly unaccustomed to praise. Father nodded slightly, a slight smile playing on his lips. A son is always the best! "Father, look, isn't Little Fourth much more mature than before? He speaks like an adult!" I mimicked Little Fourth's manner and said in a deep voice, "Replying to Second Uncle, Zhanfeng is not talented." Then I giggled. "Ya Ya, that's your fourth brother, so disrespectful!" Father patted my head affectionately, and I smiled ingratiatingly at him. "Little princess, only you are so lucky, never having suffered," Second Uncle fed me a bite of bamboo shoot. "Our Bai family children have to be this strong from a young age. Do you think they only learn kung fu at the forest farm? They also have to learn academics, business, military strategy, and the art of managing people." "Back when your father was about Xiao Si's age, he was already capable of handling things on his own..." Xiao Si looked at her father with admiration. "Alright, let Zhan Feng eat more." Her father said in a deep voice, chuckling. He was also afraid of being praised. "Ya Ya, how is your zither practice going?" "

Replying to Father," I mimicked Xiao Si, "Master has already praised my daughter for resembling him."

"Resembling him in spirit but not in form, is that it?" Her father was both amused and exasperated. I stuck out my tongue. "Say what you will, anyway, last-minute cramming won't help." "..." Everyone was speechless and helpless.

Just after noon, the steward sent someone to report that the young masters had entered the mansion. Her father told Xiao Si and me to go to the main hall.

I chose a rose-colored, floor-length satin dress with wide sleeves, embroidered with butterflies and flowers and trimmed with silver thread. It wasn't belted, and I wore a matching ribbon in my hair, letting my hair down. I wore silver-trimmed, flour-soled slippers with a front cover, and without any makeup. I went to greet them with Xiao Si, who was dressed in a plain white dress embroidered with silver peonies. Xiao Si led me by the hand into the main hall. Everyone had already arrived and was enjoying tea and conversation. As soon as we entered, they all stopped and looked at me. I realized then that, apart from Xiao Si who had come with me and Xingzhi, whom I hadn't seen for two years, none of the brothers had ever seen me, the youngest daughter of the Bai family, the fifth sister. I smiled faintly, walked to the empty seat to my father's left, turned around, gave a gentle curtsy, and said softly, "Ya Ya greets all the brothers. Are you all doing well at the forest farm?"

"This is Ya Ya, the youngest daughter of our Bai family. You must have heard Zhan Feng and Xing Zhi mention her these past few years," my father said, gently pulling me towards the center with his hand on my shoulder. "Ya Ya, go and meet your brothers too." My second uncle sipped his tea elegantly, while my third uncle smiled broadly. Steward Wang walked over and said, "Miss, please." He walked to my seat to my father's left and said, "This is our eldest young master, Hao Lei."

"Greetings, Brother Hao Lei," I curtsied to him. Looking up, I saw a tall young man with deep-set features, straight eyebrows, and an air of authority. His dark blue robe added a touch of composure and sharpness. No wonder everyone said he had the demeanor of a head of the family.

Bai Haolei gracefully rose and lifted my elbow, saying, "I've heard from Third Uncle that my little sister is beautiful, lovely, and full of spirit. Today I finally get to meet her. Just call me Big Brother." He then took out an exquisitely carved mahogany box, inside which was a deep green jade pendant. "I obtained this when I went south two years ago. I'm giving it to my little sister as a gift."

"Ya Ya thanks Big Brother," I said, accepting the pendant with a cute and happy expression, and placing it in Xiao Bi's hand. Big Brother smiled slightly, lifted his hem, and sat back down.

"This is Second Young Master Wu Yang," Steward Wang led me to Bai Haolei's side. "Ya Ya greets Brother Wu Yang." This second brother had dark skin, and when he smiled, he revealed a set of extremely white teeth—he could be in a Gao Lu Jie commercial. He had unusually short, neat hair, but it was thick and stood upright. He wore a dark jade-colored long robe, but his chest muscles were clearly visible. Overall, he had handsome, purely masculine features and a cheerful smile—a truly exceptional sunny boy.

"Ha, Ya Ya, just call me Second Brother. My little sister's way of combing her hair is also quite unique, just like me, we're both considered oddballs." Saying this, she took a black leather sheath from her waist. Opening it, she saw that it was a dagger with a hollowed-out gold handle inlaid with rubies, turquoise, and blue sapphires. "I don't know if you're good at martial arts, little sister, so I didn't dare to sharpen it. After all, sharp weapons might hurt your fingers. Even if you don't use it for self-defense, it's fine to keep it for appreciation."

"Thank you, Second Brother." I don't want to become a muscle woman.

"This is the Second Young Master's twin brother, Third Young Master An Yang." Next to sit was the Third Brother, Bai An Yang. "Ya Ya greets Brother An Yang."

"Fifth Sister, you can also call me Third Brother." Bai An Yang stood up gracefully and gently placed a white jade thumb ring with red patterns on my left thumb. "This thumb ring might be too big, so Fifth Sister, you can keep it as a paperweight for now." This Third Brother had clear and bright eyes, extremely fair skin, and red and round lips. His smile was warm, and his light blue robe made him look like an immortal and proud young man.

"Thank you, Third Brother, Ya Ya likes it very much." Bai Anyang smiled slightly. "Fourth Young Master Zhan Feng..."

"Ya Ya greets Fourth Brother." Before Steward Wang could finish speaking, I bowed to Xiao Si. Xiao Si quickly helped me up, saying, "It's not easy to hear you call me Fourth Brother. I have to thank Father and all my brothers." Hearing Third Uncle laughing unceremoniously, Xiao Si's lips also curled into a slight smile. Compared to the three brothers, Xiao Si was the most handsome, with the look of a roguish bad boy, lazy and indifferent. His long, strong fingers gently pinched my arm...

"Who told me we're the closest? What did you give me? Why didn't you take it out earlier?" I wondered where he could have gotten something from, coming here empty-handed.

"Do you expect me to bring you a cup of tea when your brothers have something to give you as a greeting gift?" Little Fourth glanced at me, took out a small, long, red-lacquered box with gold accents from his boot, opened my palm and placed it inside, then said in a very low voice, "Open it when you get back," before raising his voice, "Here, you're not missing out, are you?" I looked up and saw Third Brother sitting next to me glancing at Little Fourth, so he must have overheard Little Fourth's whispered words...

"Thank you, Fourth Brother." Whew, put it in the boot...

Steward Wang led me to the right side of the hall, where Second Uncle and Third Uncle came down. One of them was a handsome young man, with a half-smile on his lips and a burning gaze fixed on me. As expected, Manager Wang said, "This is the eldest son of the Third Master, Young Master Mengzhi, Miss's cousin."

I gave a slight curtsy and smiled, "Yaya greets Brother Mengzhi

." Mengzhi grasped my hand, "Little sister, just call him Brother Mengzhi. Cousin isn't very affectionate." Bai Mengzhi gently stroked my hand, examining it closely, "I've long heard that you are intelligent and kind-hearted, little sister. Your nail polish is unique and very charming."

With Father present, I dared not say that it was Little Fourth who did it, so I could only say, "Brother Mengzhi, you flatter me. It's just a girl's little trinket, nothing to mention." I tried to subtly pull my hand away, but he wouldn't let go. This young man, though young, possessed a wicked air. His phoenix eyes were slightly narrowed, his beautiful eyes held a captivating charm, and his slender yet not weak figure contained explosive power like a leopard. I looked down slightly and saw that on the little finger of his right hand, which was holding mine, was a pure gold ring with a coiled snake spitting its tongue. The snake's eyes were two tiny red crystals, exceptionally alluring.

“Sister, there’s no need for modesty. Your unusual thoughtfulness reveals you to be a clever and perceptive young lady,” he said softly, his lips barely moving. A tingling sensation ran through the fingers he had grasped. Thankfully, he released them immediately.

“This is a homemade sachet. It’s nothing compared to the treasures and gold and jade of you brothers, but carrying it will protect you from common poisons,” he said, handing her an exquisite sachet made of yellow ribbon and purple satin.

"Brother Mengzhi is so thoughtful, thank you Ya Ya."

"Miss's little brother is Xingzhi. Miss is also familiar with him," Steward Wang said with a smile. "Xingzhi, how have you been these past few years? You seem to have lost some weight." I smiled and looked at little Xingzhi. He was wearing a close-fitting bright yellow robe with a pearl headband on his forehead and a large gold-lacquered bow on his back, which made his face look even more like a silver plate, fair and outstanding, a handsome young man, but he was still looking at me expectantly, just like when he was a child.

"Ya Ya, why don't you call me brother? I'm two months older than you." He looked aggrieved. "What did you bring me? It's not pastries, is it?" I quickly changed the subject, also very curious about what else this guy could have besides food. "As expected, little sister understands Xingzhi. In previous years, when he cried, we would coax him by saying that we would go down the mountain to buy pastries from the Imperial Kitchen before he would calm down," Second Brother laughed, which made everyone laugh as well. I saw that Eldest Brother just pursed his lips, with a slight smile.

"Ya Ya, no, that's not it." Xingzhi waved his hand, and a servant boy followed, dragging a square brocade box about a foot in size. Opening it, he found a set of exquisite porcelain bowls, spoons, and plates with silver rims, along with a pair of ebony chopsticks with silver trim.

"I knew it was related to food," his second brother laughed.

"Xingzhi, thank you, I really like it." Not wanting to see his face turn red, he quickly agreed. After sipping tea for a while, they chatted idly. "Alright, the relatives have been acknowledged, the gifts have been given, and the boys are all travel-worn. They should go back to the garden to rest and prepare for the banquet," his third uncle said with satisfaction. "Mengzhi, Wuyang, Anyang, freshen up and come over. You can also help us greet the guests at the banquet." With that, everyone dispersed. Xingzhi quickly came up and grabbed my hand. Little 4 hesitated for a moment before following. Mengzhi glanced back at me as she left, and I shuddered.
Chapter 7 of January 30th: Mid-Autumn Festival

. Along the way, Xingzhi, Xiao Si, and I chatted and laughed, a complete trio. Xiao Bi and Xiao Yue followed behind carrying a large pile of things. Xiao Si gestured to Dou Yu, the servant who had already returned with the main group, to help. A group of seven or eight people entered the brothel in a grand procession.

Xiao Si reluctantly sent Xingzhi to wash and change, then came into my room, retrieved the small box he had given me in the main hall, and took out a silver chain, handing it to me. I examined it closely; the craftsmanship was exquisite. Small fish, padlocks, bells, red crystals, and miniature Tai Chi symbols hung from the chain at varying lengths…

"So cute, Little 4! I love you so much!" I went over and hugged Little 4's neck, kissing his cheek. Little 4 leaned lazily against the bed, squinting his eyes and saying, "Come here." I went over and sat down. Little 4 lifted my skirt, revealing my ankles, and knelt down in front of me to tie it up for me personally. "Don't lose it, Ya, and don't take it off either." Little 4 was unusually serious and focused...

I looked up at him. Does this guy really only see me as a little sister?

When I woke up, the master had already arrived. I entered the music room and greeted the master.

"Does the master play the xiao?" I was sweating bullets... playing the xiao. "What brings you here, Miss?"

"Oh, nothing. I was just thinking that the effect of this piece might be even better if the qin and xiao were played together." Actually, I had only read the novel *The Smiling, Proud Wanderer*.

The gentleman pondered for a while, then said, "Miss, what an exquisite idea!" After another pause, he slowly added, "The sound of the xiao is light and penetrating, while the sound of the qin is deep and ethereal." He paced back and forth, then said, "Alright...alright...Miss, please sit down. I'll be right back."

With that, he turned and left. I wondered...what was he going to do? After the time it takes to drink two cups of tea, the gentleman returned with a xiao. "Here," he said, and then began to play the qin. "If you add the sound of the xiao," he continued, "there's a long note here...a transition here...a duet here..." The gentleman, like a child who had just received a new toy, enthusiastically explained and practiced with me. The piece indeed became richer and more flavorful. I suggested that the gentleman could play on the artificial rock opposite the banquet hall, while I would play the qin inside the hall, letting the sound of the xiao travel from afar, or perhaps become even more ethereal? On this festive full moon night, a xiao on an artificial rock under the moon would be fitting, wouldn't it?" "Miss, you certainly have a good idea. You are truly kindred spirits..." The gentleman nodded with a smile. There was still about an hour before the banquet, and Xiao Bi and Xiao Yue were already preparing me. We have guests at home today, and it would seem disrespectful to leave my hair down. Reluctantly, I had Xiaobi tie up only the top half of my hair, like a princess's hairstyle, loosely combing it into a high, side bun on the left side, secured with a delicate silver chain at the base, and adorned with a black wooden hairpin with a large pearl pendant. The rest of my hair remained loose and neatly combed. I wore a pair of ruby teardrop earrings and five or six delicate gold and silver openwork bracelets on my wrists, their tinkling sounds delightful. Underneath, I wore a fitted pale purple silk dress, over which was a semi-transparent white gauze robe, uncinched at the waist. I slipped on my thick-soled, silver satin slippers, and twirled around the room, the hem of my dress billowing, making me appear even more ethereal and light. Combined with the music playing today, the effect would surely be pleasing to everyone. Xiaoyue wanted to do my makeup, but after a moment's thought, I realized I wasn't the main character; there was no need to make my face look all colorful. I simply applied a thin layer of rose petal cream with a little oil to my lips, making them glossy and pink. Then I added a touch of pale purple blush to my cheeks, trimmed my eyebrows with a small pair of scissors (without drawing them), and finally, lacking an eyelash curler, I used a small wooden stick heated slightly over a fire to curl my eyelashes. A delicate, light makeup look was complete.

Xiaoyue looked at me, and Xiaobi nodded, saying, "Master looks so pure and sweet like this!"

"What? Isn't your master usually pure and sweet?" I feigned anger. "Hehe, of course Master is beautiful and cute all the time, but she looks even more exquisite after dressing up!" Xiaobi's smile was very obsequious. "Sweet-talking little girl! Want a reward?"

"I wouldn't dare, Master. Xiaobi is content just to be able to follow behind Master and admire her ethereal beauty."

"..." I gave Xiaobi a strange look. This girl said something so disgusting and didn't even laugh... impressive composure. I glanced at Xiaoyue; she immediately turned her head and stared intently at the bed beam, as if flowers were sprouting from it, her expression strange…

I rolled my eyes helplessly. “Let’s go, let’s go over there first.”

“Yes, Master,” their voices trembled…

“…”

Passing through the rocks, before even reaching the main hall, we heard a burst of laughter and chatter from behind the artificial hill. Turning my head, I saw several brightly dressed girls laughing and joking with two boys in the corridor. Upon closer inspection, the two boys were none other than Third Brother and Mengzhi. Third Brother sat with a gentle smile in the pavilion behind Mengzhi, a girl in blue sipping tea beside him, while Mengzhi was tapping the outstretched hand of a girl in yellow robes in front of him with a fan, speaking to her, while two other girls beside him covered their mouths with handkerchiefs and giggled. Judging from this, were they perhaps reading palms? Third Uncle, really, with Mengzhi’s methods and looks, was he testing the young lady’s composure by receiving the candidates for eldest brother’s fiancée? I smiled slightly and led Xiaoyue and Xiaobi towards the main hall. We hadn't gone more than 10 meters when I heard a sneer behind me.

"Oh, trying to sneak in so unceremoniously, perhaps hoping for good luck?"

I turned around and saw a portly man in his forties accompanied by a woman with jewels adorning her hair and a certain charm. The voice came from the woman. I sized them up and guessed they were probably family members of the ladies from the corridor. Apparently, they thought I was an enemy of their young lady and were trying to intimidate me first.

"Hmph, not even a proper greeting to an elder, truly ill-mannered. And not even that good-looking, it's a wonder Young Master Bai would even be interested..." She looked at me with disdain. "You... do you even know who she is? How dare you insult her? She..."

"Xiao Bi," I interrupted Xiao Bi, speaking up for me, and looked at the two who hadn't done their homework before provoking us. I said softly, word by word, "Madam is right... my daughter's upbringing isn't very good. Since you'll be seeing my father soon, why don't you speak to him directly..." I paused slightly, then said in an even softer voice, "...And now... my daughter is going to go in without any manners..." Without curtsying, I smiled sweetly and turned to leave.

"You little slut..."

"Shut up!" the man interrupted her outburst. He probably sensed something was wrong.

"Master, how can you allow them to insult you? Why won't you let Xiao Bi teach them a lesson?" I held Xiao Bi's hand; her face was already ashen.

“Xiao Bi, it won’t hurt me to say a few words. Let her have her fun here for a while, and her face will definitely look better when the banquet starts…” As the three walked away, I didn’t know that three people came out from the side—my father, eldest brother, and second uncle—who had obviously been watching for a while.

“So, without realizing it, our Miss Bai has grown up…” Second Master Bai chuckled. “Not spoiled, not impetuous, not prone to momentary verbal sparring,” Bai Haolei said. “This little sister is very composed.”

“Our seven-year-old princess is extraordinary,” First Master Bai said with a deep laugh. He hadn’t wanted worldly affairs to taint the pure world of his only daughter, so he hadn’t asked anyone to teach her the ways of managing people or business. Unexpectedly, this child had her own way of dealing with people. Could this be the bloodline of the Bai family?

The banquet was about to begin, and the young ladies and their parents were already seated on the right side of the hall. Maids served fruit, snacks, and wine, while Second Uncle, Third Uncle, Bai Wuyang, Bai Anyang, and Bai Mengzhi accompanied them on the left side of the hall, where light singing and dancing filled the air, making it quite lively. Father led me by the hand, followed by my eldest brother, Xiao Si, and Xingzhi, who entered the hall with smiles.

Father and eldest brother sat in the middle, the host's seats. To their left were my second and third uncles, first seat; my second and third brothers, second seat; Xingzhi and Mengzhi, third seat; and Xiao Si and I, at the very end of the left side. I glanced around at the guests. The couple from the garden were sitting at the head of the table on my right—no wonder they were so arrogant! They were looking at me too, their expressions shifting drastically, from red to white. I chuckled inwardly, but maintained a polite smile, raising my glass slightly towards them and taking a small sip behind my sleeve. They hurriedly downed their fruit wine. Xiao Si gave me a strange look, then glanced at the couple, her eyes narrowing. The man seemed fine, but the woman flinched. By this time, the dancers had left, and the hall fell silent.

"The presence of you gentlemen, ladies, and young ladies in our home is truly an honor," Uncle San said with a smile. "However, it inevitably makes it difficult for your families to be together..."

"Not at all... Uncle Bai, you flatter us..." "I, Bai, toast you all." With that, Father raised his cup in invitation, and everyone readily drank. "You have already met my sons Wu Yang, An Yang, and Meng Zhi... This is my eldest son, Bai Haolei; my fourth son, Bai Zhanfeng; my youngest daughter, Bai Yaya; and my third brother's youngest son, Bai Xingzhi. Come, greet all the gentlemen, ladies, and young ladies." We all raised our cups and drank them down in one gulp.

"What handsome children you have, Master Bai..."

"The Bai family has a worthy successor..."

"They're clearly exceptionally talented..." >＿< "A perfect couple..." - - "Chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp..." (-＿＿-)b "Chirp chirp chirp chirp chirp..." ╯﹏╰

Taking advantage of the opportunity to redistribute the dishes, Uncle San introduced us to the people across the table.

It turned out that the couple we had met before were a major catering family in the south of the city. They owned most of the catering business in our Angran City, and their name was "Juxilou." We heard that several of their chefs had gone to work for high-ranking officials in the capital, which explained their somewhat arrogant attitude. Their daughter's name was Li Feiwu, and she was only 7 years old. She had bright eyes, a charming smile, and was incredibly beautiful and well-behaved. She also had a sweet tongue, always addressing Uncle Bai and Brother Bai. On the surface, she didn't seem to have inherited her mother's shrewishness and meanness, which made a very good impression.

The second seat on the left belonged to the Yuan family, the textile tycoons of Angran City. Their family not only owned dye houses, cloth shops, and clothing stores, but also had relatives running similar businesses in the capital. Therefore, everyone in the area knew that Master Yuan's clothes were the most fashionable styles from the capital. Furthermore, the master tailors were incredibly skilled; several pairs of my slippers were made by them based on my designs, perfectly accurate. Their daughter was the little girl in the blue dress I'd seen from afar in the covered walkway. Her skin was fair and delicate, and remarkably, although she always wore a faint smile, she exuded an air of aloof nobility. This Miss Yuan, named Qinlan, was eleven years old, making her the oldest child after my eldest brother. Quiet and polite, she bloomed like a lotus flower in mid-day, serene and content. Looking at her, I liked her very much and couldn't help but give her a sweet smile. She was startled, then lightly raised her slender hand to invite me to drink. Now it was my turn to be startled, and I hastily raised my cup and drank. This girl had a magnanimous character, not bound by the conventions of a typical young girl; she was a rare find in this era. I glanced up at my older brother, but he seemed completely oblivious.

Little Four grasped my hand and asked, "Aren't you a little more restless, getting involved with all this wine?"

"Feng, what do you think of that girl in blue?" I blinked my big eyes at Little Four.

"Not as good as you," he said listlessly.

"Ugh, she's serious!" I pouted. "Very quiet, yet not pretentious, worth studying. But I'll have to trouble you, brother." He added, "Even though it's fruit wine, you shouldn't drink too much. Be careful not to catch a chill and hurt your head." He played with my delicate fingers, stroking them back and forth.

Next were the Nangong and Qiu families, who ran jewelry and bookstore businesses respectively. The two girls were quite nice, but not as pretty and charming as Li Feiwu, nor as composed and noble as Yuan Qinlan. Nangong Liyan was more alluring and unrestrained, while Qiu Ruoshui was more gentle and graceful. But what caught my attention was Miss Nangong in her red dress and white jacket. Her eyes were sparkling with desire, yet she deliberately feigned shyness, pretending to casually glance at Xiao Si and Brother Mengzhi. I laughed, "Little girl, you're already smitten. How old are you? Nine? Why are you acting like a little woman?"

I had to admire these people. They clearly knew it was a beauty pageant and matchmaking event, yet they were so perfectly in sync that they didn't say a word. They just kept talking nonsense, stalling for time. Although Xiao Si was beside me, Bai Mengzhi was also standing to my right, separated by a small gap. This person would chuckle occasionally and glance at me every now and then, making me feel like I was sitting on pins and needles.

Suddenly, Master Li burst into laughter, "I didn't prepare many gifts for this trip, but my beloved daughter has prepared a small performance for Master Bai, Young Master Bai, and all the gentlemen. I hope you won't find it laughable, hehehe."

"Not at all, not at all..." Everyone responded politely... The show was about to begin! "Feiwu, come here, I'll teach you, so don't hold back!"

"Yes, Father, I'm so happy to dance for Uncle Bai and Brother Bai, I'll give it my all!" With that, she smiled and turned around with a curtsy, her skirt fluttering. It turned out that the girl had changed her clothes sometime earlier, now wearing a pink, light gauze, waist-cinching, wide-skirted dance dress, which made the little beauty even more delicate and charming. The musicians were already prepared, and the music was extremely festive. Li Feiwu leaped and twirled around the stage like a little elf, always smiling. Even Uncle San couldn't help but clap along to the beat. I sipped my tea, not paying much attention, after all, I had seen better ones on TV. After a short while, Li Feiwu, her cheeks flushed and slightly out of breath, stopped. She had already struck her finishing pose, and everyone applauded enthusiastically.

Next up was Miss Qiu, also a dancer. She wasn't as good as Li Feiwu; her steps were soft and restrained, but she had a rare, beautiful waist that could twist at various angles… I rolled my eyes. Watching these little lolis perform… how boring…

I excused myself to check if Mr. Qiu had arrived and turned to leave the front hall. After all, it was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the moonlight was truly alluring. I strolled to the delicate bamboo bridge over the lotus pond, leaned on the railing, and looked up. The starry sky was like a painting, and I recalled that I had never seen such a beautiful sky in modern times… A smile unconsciously crept onto my lips… Suddenly, my waist tightened. “Father and uncles all call you little princess…” The warm breath on my ear made me tremble. It was Mengzhi! "Look, our little princess is hiding here all by herself, and I've caught her!"

"Brother Mengzhi..." I tried to get away from him, but he came closer and grabbed my waist even tighter. "Little Princess Yaya, do you know," he deliberately pressed his body against my pink back and pert bottom, his hands wrapped around my slender waist and crossed in front of me, "that Xingzhi has talked about you the most these past two years, and even said that Father wants you to be his wife."

"That was Uncle San's joke, how could I..." I struggled in vain and then gave up helplessly. After all, I'm a martial artist, and I can't shout, so I can only go along with his mood now...

"How can you believe it to be true?" He interrupted me, "Later I wanted to see what this fairy-like beauty who can make my brother never forget her looks like." He breathed into my ear, his lips almost touching my earlobe. Although this body is still young and incapable of understanding desire, the ambiguous actions made me extremely uncomfortable. The enchantress then said, "And then, I saw you, little girl." Without warning, he turned me around, and while I was still disoriented, our eyes were practically touching. He leaned down, his face close to mine, and I reflexively leaned back until my waist hit the railing. Only then did I realize that my upper body was dangling over the bridge. I gasped softly, and he frowned slightly, saying, "You have very beautiful eyes, as if... hiding many stories... captivating." His gaze was intense, as if he wanted to see into the depths of my soul...

I took a deep breath and calmly said, "Brother Mengzhi, can you let me go?"

"Heh," he suddenly laughed. "Look, does this sound like something a seven or eight-year-old girl would say in this situation?" He deliberately slipped his large hand under my waist, caressing my soft buttocks through my silk skirt... His right hand supported my suspended body weight under my waist. "Hmm... Brother Mengzhi, do you act like a ten-year-old boy?" From my father to my uncles, no one thought I was strange. How could he sense it? Could he also be from another world? This thought made me furious.

"Very good, besides being calm, you also know how to fight back, baby." His left hand, which had been caressing my buttocks, maliciously changed to wanton kneading. I blushed with anger. I gritted my teeth and said, "Father is waiting for me to go back. Please let go, big cousin."

He chuckled, "Baby," and helped me up, pressing me against his chest. A sweet, hazy masculine scent wafted towards me. His fingers gently combed through my flowing hair. "I really want to see what you'll look like when you're an adult... um..." He stuck out his warm tongue, about to lick my earlobe, when I stomped on his foot. Seeing his handsome face change color, I tilted my head back and grinned seductively, "Brother Mengzhi... but Ya Ya doesn't think you'll look good as an adult, what should we do?" Then I pushed him away, continued stomping on his injured foot, and strode away. This pervert, he really makes me angry.

I stood alone by the door for a while to calm myself down before going in, when suddenly the master's voice sounded behind me, "Why is Miss standing outside the hall?"

"Replying to Master, this disciple is waiting for Master."

"Miss waiting for me? Heh, perhaps you find it boring inside?" This guy is really unfair, he always sees through me. I chuckled awkwardly and went inside with him.

Originally, sir, you were a guest and should have been seated at the head of the table, but you insisted on refusing, preferring to sit with me. Thinking about it, it makes sense. Although you've never said you don't want to attend banquets, I can tell from your occasional expressions that you dislike pretense and insincerity. So you said you were used to sitting casually with your most trusted disciple, who is none other than yourself. Then, Bai Mengzhi walked in with unnatural steps, glanced at me, and I gave him a sweet smile.

“Yan’er just performed,” Nangong Liyan said plaintively. “Fifth Miss and Brother Mengzhi didn’t get to see it.”

Her father was alarmed, fearing that people would misunderstand that his precious daughter was trying to curry favor with Bai Mengzhi, that vixen. He immediately interjected, “Yan’er, don’t be disappointed. Although Miss Bai didn’t hear Yan’er’s flute playing, Miss Bai is a student of Mr. Liu. We can invite Miss Bai to play the zither first, and then when Miss Bai has time, she can give Yan’er some pointers. What do you think, Master Bai?”

“Miss Nangong, don’t be disappointed. When you have time, you can play it for Mengzhi and Ya Ya alone.” Father said. Little Fourth gave me a push. I understood and smiled at the teacher before saying, “Thank you for your kindness, Uncle Nangong. Ya Ya will play a piece on the zither for all the uncles, aunts, sisters and cousins.” Xiao Bi and Xiao Yue led the servants to bring out my “scarlet” seven-stringed zither and laid out a jade-colored mink cushion. I lifted my skirt and sat cross-legged on it, ignoring their surprised expressions and smiling with my eyes closed.

A melodious flute tune drifted in, its distant, wistful sound carrying far and wide. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd as they looked out. Atop the rugged artificial hill, beneath the bright yellow full moon, stood the scholar, his long hair and scholar's robes billowing in the wind.

His flute played a plaintive, almost mournful melody, captivating everyone, regardless of status. I lightly plucked the strings, the initial notes slow and gentle, almost imperceptible. Another gasp rippled through the hall, finally understanding. Father, uncles, and brothers smiled and nodded in agreement. I gradually added more melody, sometimes the flute's melody fast, sometimes the flute's slow, sometimes the flute's fast, like pearls falling onto a jade plate, indescribably clear and serene. At the climax, the harmonies blossomed like flowers, the beautiful melody showcasing its artistry. I kept my eyes slightly closed, a smile playing on my lips. A gentle breeze stirred the strands of hair behind my ears, brushing against my brows and eyes. I tilted my head slightly, revealing my fair and delicate neck, and my cherry lips parted slightly: "The autumn wind is clear,

the autumn moon is bright,

fallen leaves gather and scatter,

crows perch and are startled again.

When will we meet again, my love?

This time, this night

, my heart is filled with unbearable sorrow. This scene, this feeling..." These were the only lines that came to mind... I sang the melody I had practiced a thousand times, only this one time, only the first half. This was not pre-arranged; it was improvisation.

When the song ended, I stood up gracefully, and my teacher had already slowly entered the hall. Everyone applauded thunderously, sighing with admiration. My teacher and I smiled at each other.

After that, everyone suddenly lost interest in eating, drinking, and laughing. Even Miss Qinlan, who was originally scheduled to perform after me, decided to postpone her performance by several dances. When I sat down, the gentleman asked me what I had sung. He hadn't heard clearly from outside, only that I seemed to have sung a couple of lines. I told him about the three-five-seven-line poem by Li Bai that I had just recited. He asked if there was a second half, and I told him the second half: "Entering the gate of my longing, one knows the bitterness of my longing; long longing, long remembrance; short longing, endless longing; if I had known it would bind my heart so, I would rather we had never met." The gentleman listened silently, as if he had remembered something. I didn't disturb him, but smiled slightly and turned my head. I met Mengzhi's eyes, which were as dark as a deep pool. I was startled and was about to look away when he suddenly grabbed the back of my neck and whispered in my ear, "Little princess, don't run away, I'll wait for you..." His voice grew softer and softer, and when he released me, he licked my earring. I ignored him and quickly glanced around. Everyone was watching the graceful dance of the central dancers or chatting about the qin and xiao duet they had just witnessed. Those who saw us assumed we were talking. Only Nangong Liyan's eyes flashed with a hint of gloom, but it disappeared immediately. I thought to myself, "Kids these days are all quite clever; they can even hide their emotions."

Suddenly, the hall fell silent again. It turned out that Miss Qinlan, surrounded by her maids, had walked to the front of the hall. She gracefully curtsied and said, "I was quite intimidated when I heard my sister and Mr. Liu's celestial music." Everyone laughed. I thought to myself, this little girl's self-deprecating humor was a clever way to ease the atmosphere. Then I heard her say, "But thinking about how my sisters have already performed, I should at least come down and make a fool of myself. It would be good if my sisters and Mr. Liu could give me some pointers on my qin playing. It's a rare opportunity, and I don't want to miss it. Thinking like this, I'm not afraid anymore. Even though Father is afraid that I'll embarrass him and won't let me go on stage, I'm still going to go." It turned out she was also a qin player. "What a clever tongue! Regardless of her performance later, this girl is already a cut above the rest."

"Nonsense, nonsense!" Master Yuan chuckled, his expression one of delight, clearly pleased with his daughter's words. Now that she's here, she has to perform. It would be embarrassing if she couldn't beat me, but she can't stay silent. Miss Yuan's seemingly humble words, subtly praising me and my husband, were perfectly balanced. Even if she loses to me on the zither, no one will underestimate her.

I smiled, watching with anticipation. Such a clever girl's skills are unlikely to be lacking. If she loses, it's because she's not as good as my teacher, nor does she have a teacher to complement her. Besides, Yuan Qinlan's real opponent today isn't me…

Yuan Qinlan knelt before the zither, her smile fading, her expression focused and serious. With a flick of her slender hand, a "clang" rang out, and a young girl, barely out of school, strode to the front of the hall, dressed in a red outfit, holding a sword to her chest. Oh, so she was about to perform a sword dance. I was puzzled again. The difference between music and dance is that music with dance becomes background music, making it relatively difficult to highlight her. As Yuan Qinlan played her zither, the little girl began to dance in the center of the hall, her sword flashing. She was childlike yet her expression was dignified, both cute and amusing. Her movements were swift and beautiful, quite rare. After watching for a while, everyone felt something was off. This… it wasn't a person dancing with a sword to music. This… the little girl seemed to be controlled by Yuan Qinlan's zither music. When the music suddenly changed, she performed difficult flips; when the music was gentle, her sword flashed longer; when the music was fast, her steps were agile; when the music gradually faded, she slowly sat on the ground, twisting her body and finishing her pose with her sword.

I was the first to applaud, "Sister Yuan's zither playing is truly admirable!" It was indeed unheard of.

"Sister, you flatter me. This is just a crude little trick. I hope you and Mr. Liu will forgive my ignorance," she said with a slight smile, turning to lead the little girl back to her seat. Master Yuan also nodded and smiled, quite pleased with himself.

"Miss Yuan's zither playing is quite exquisite; this art has been lost for many years," Uncle Two suddenly spoke up. Yuan Qinlan raised her glass to Uncle Two, smiling faintly.

I turned to look at my husband, who said, "Miss Yuan is still too young to have heard of playing the zither. What Miss Yuan just used is called—Soul-Capturing Technique. Your Uncle Two and I witnessed its power firsthand back then. Once the skill is mastered, it can make you go east and not west; it's a terrifying martial art. We haven't seen it for many years, but today it's reappeared on a little girl... This little girl probably doesn't know it's a kind of evil art, otherwise she wouldn't have performed it in front of everyone. Her skill is also very shallow; she can't capture a person's soul. I wonder where she learned it from..." My husband and I both frowned.

Chapter 8 Peeping

That evening, after seeing off the guests, Father called everyone to the study. After everyone was seated, he asked for their opinions on my eldest brother's fiancée.

Third Uncle said, "I think Miss Li Feiwu is very likable. She's not only beautiful but also polite, and not arrogant at all." Father and Second Uncle exchanged a glance, recalling how Li Feiwu's parents treated the little princess in the garden.

"What about Second Brother?"

"Father, An Yang thinks Qiu Ruoshui is quite good. She's gentle and refined, like a little bird," Second Brother said, scratching his head. It seems strong men love weak women.

Third Brother didn't offer an opinion. Little Fourth said anyone would be fine, but definitely not Nangong Liyan. He was probably annoyed by her flirtatious glances all night. Xingzhi said Li Feiwu was the prettiest, while Mengzhi said it didn't matter.

I rolled my eyes and said, "I think Miss Yuan is quite good. She's elegant and noble, and speaks fluently. She's good material for a mistress."

"What does Haolei think?"

"It's all up to Father and Uncle to decide," my older brother said, and then he just left... The discussion ended in my confusion. That night, Xiao Si sneaked into my room, and before I could even scream, he covered my lips with his.

I glared at him. "...Ugh...Ugh..." This is going to kill me! "Don't make a sound. Come with me tonight and see

what you've got to do." "...Ugh...Ugh...Ugh..." What's going on?

"I'm going to sneak over to my third or second uncle's place at night. To see how good my lightness skill is." He smirked. "...Ugh...Ugh..." Let go of me!

"Keep your voice down, I haven't put any sleeping pressure points on your two little maids." He released me. "Why are you coming to me after you've caused trouble?"

"You have to come with me."

"No way, why?"

"Because if we get caught, we can say you thought it was fun and wanted me to fly you around a few times."

"I didn't want that."

"Pretend."

"No way."

"Ya, I'm doing this for you." He looked innocent and aggrieved. "...Don't talk nonsense, okay?"

"It's true, if they don't find me, I can come back to keep you company more often, and you won't be so bored, right?"

"...No way." He was a little tempted.

"I can also bring back lots of little trinkets for you." He continued to seduce me. "...I don't care." Actually, I really like the chain on my ankle. "Besides," Little 4 smiled mischievously, "Ya, don't you want to know what the adults do every day?"

"Of course, it's time to sleep at midnight." Maybe there's some sex involved. "Not necessarily. Second Uncle is always smiling, but he hasn't had any little brothers or sisters yet. Could he be gay?" "

..." What kind of nonsense has he been learning these past few years? "Third Uncle loves to drink, but he can't hold his liquor. Who knows if he's hiding somewhere and causing a scene while drunk... singing random tunes." "

..." No way... "Let's

go!" Before I could object, he picked me up and flew out the window. I was startled and quickly swallowed the scream that was about to escape my lips.

After searching for a while, I found out that Third Uncle was at Father's place, researching something. I had no choice but to shift my focus to Second Uncle. I would never go to Father's place. If I got caught, I would be in big trouble. Little 4 wholeheartedly agreed with me on this point. After hiding in the treetops and on the rooftops from several patrolling guards, I found that night raiding was actually quite interesting. I had never been so nervous that my heart was pounding since cheating on an exam in modern high school.

After a long and arduous journey, we finally reached my second uncle's building. Little Four went to survey the area first, but found no trace of him except for the servants. We squatted on the wall, whispering, "Huh? Why is nobody

here?" "Is he with Father?"

"No, there are only two shadows in Father's window."

"You were too scared to go over and didn't see clearly, were you?"

"What do you mean, 'too scared'? I'm just avoiding unnecessary trouble. Besides, only Father's servants and Third Uncle's are outside, not Second Uncle's.

" "Could it be the outhouse…?"

"…"

"I know, it's in the backyard!!!"

"That's right!!"

Little Four picked me up again and leaped out. Looking up, he was well-prepared, dressed in dark clothes, while I was still in my light-colored pajamas after being dragged out of bed. I could only pray that either everyone's eyesight was bad, or Little Four's skills were truly as amazing as everyone said.

Upon reaching the dimly lit, alluring backyard of the women's quarters, we wondered where Second Uncle's concubines were. Little Fourth resorted to his old method: checking where Second Uncle's servants were. But it was all for naught; the servants all slept in one room. Of course, with the masters staying overnight, the servants couldn't stand outside all night, could they? Little Fourth, arm in arm, explored the various alleyways and low walls, nearly bumping into several young maids. It turned out that one courtyard was brightly lit and bustling with people—several masters were playing mahjong all night. Finally, our efforts paid off, and we found Second Uncle's destination for the night. Little Fourth led me over the low wall, landing silently. He whispered in my ear, "You haven't practiced martial arts or learned to conceal your presence; you'll be easily detected. Later, you need to hold your breath, inhaling slowly and exhaling gently, understand?"... I was speechless. If you're easily detected, why bring me along? I rolled my eyes at him, and he smiled and patted my hair.

The closer I got to the window, the more eerie the atmosphere became. The candlelight flickered through the window. I tugged at Xiao Si's sleeve, glancing at him uneasily. He glanced at me, then tightened his grip on my hand. Suddenly, a woman's low moan drifted out indistinctly. My eye twitched… Could it be…? Then my suspicions were confirmed, for I heard the woman cry out, "Second Master… no…" I grabbed Xiao Si's hand abruptly. He turned to look at me strangely. I blinked and shook my head frantically at him. The guy thought I was scared and had changed my mind, so he patted my hand reassuringly, gave me a reassuring smile, and pulled me quickly to the window. I leaned weakly against the wall, rolling my eyes, because the woman's panting and the man's growling were now clearly audible…

"Ah, Second Master… oh oh oh… Xiao Yan can't take it anymore."

"Hmm… no… Cui Cui can't take it either…"

…Damn, a threesome… impressive, Second Uncle… I never would have guessed. I glanced sideways at Little Four, wanting to see his expression, but the little guy's ears were perked up, and he looked puzzled. Hmm, I nodded inwardly; an eight-year-old didn't seem to understand this kind of thing. I tugged at him, trying to get his attention from the three people inside to me, and mouthed, "Let's go back." But instead of paying attention, he straightened up and leaned to the window, poking a hole in the paper window with his saliva-dipped finger. I was shocked but dared not make a sound. Little Four, how could you peek at them doing their business, especially since the person inside was your elder... My goodness... I looked around warily, keeping watch for him. Thankfully, there was no disturbance; they probably all knew their masters were doing their business and had gone off to do their own thing. I looked up at Little Four; his expression was unpredictable. Suddenly he looked down at me, and I shuddered. He pulled me up. My second uncle was inside, so I didn't dare resist or struggle and had to obediently stand up. Without saying a word, Xiao 4 grabbed my head and brought it close to the small hole in the hole...

Well, I have to say... my second uncle actually had a great physique... a narrow, long body, strong arms, a slightly upturned buttock, phoenix eyes narrowed with lust, and long, strong legs like a galloping horse, riding with pleasure...

On the large, messy bed, my second uncle was grabbing a woman's slender waist and thrusting violently from behind. The woman's lips were slick with saliva, and she was moaning with her eyes closed. In her hand, she was holding a huge black dildo, which was being thrust into the honey hole of another woman with her white legs spread wide, in sync with my second uncle's speed...

"Cui Cui, what do you think of that thing down there?" my second uncle asked the woman who was constantly stroking her swollen breasts while the dildo was inserted into her lower body, his tone wicked as he thrust.

"Mmm...Second Master...you're so naughty...I...I won't come anymore," Cui Cui said with seductive eyes. "What about you?" Second Uncle slapped the woman's snowy buttocks hard, and the woman swayed her waist, the movement of the penis in her hand increasing in amplitude. Cui Cui groaned loudly again, arching her waist to meet him, and reached out to knead the pearl above her vulva. "Oh...Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan...right there...ah ah..."

"You...you little slut...Second Master isn't going to do anything to you...you're quite comfortable..." Xiao Yan's fragmented voice flowed seductively from her mouth. "Cui Cui, come here," Second Uncle said in a deep voice. The dildo was still attached to Cui Cui's honeypot. She crawled over, circled behind her second uncle, first pressing her huge breasts against his thick back, then slowly rubbing down, reaching out to touch his scrotum, which throbbed with her vigorous movements. She lowered her body, tilted her head slightly, and opened her mouth to take one of the dildos…

“Oh,” her second uncle growled… He reached out and held Cui Cui’s head, pressing it towards his crotch, making her take it even deeper… “This little girl is getting more and more lewd…” He then grabbed Cui Cui’s hair, pulled her up, pulled out his thick member that Xiao Yan had been tightly gripping, and forcefully pressed Cui Cui against the edge of the bed, lifting one of her white legs. “Come on, Cui Cui, let me see how wet you are…”

"Second Master...Second Master...I want Cuicui..." Cuicui kept twisting her body, stretching out her slender hands to pry open her labia, letting Second Uncle see clearly how the black, protruding dildo was inserted into her vagina. Second Uncle held the dildo and slowly rotated it, then thrust it in hard, and Cuicui cried out, "...gently...gently...oh...ahhh." Second Uncle pulled it out, and a stream of lustful fluid flowed from her tender red flower. "Second Master...I want..." With a chuckle, Second Uncle laughed and cursed the slut, then held the erect jade stem and buried it deep inside, causing Cuicui to tremble.

"Little Yan, show me how you play with yourself," Uncle said, looking up at the panting Little Yan. Little Yan immediately knelt down with a seductive smile, inserting her fingers into her still-wetting vagina and thrusting them in and out...

"Second Master... oh... Cui Cui... Cui Cui is coming... oh oh..."

My

face turned incredibly red, my neck stiffly turning slightly, almost touching Little 4's face, who was peeking at me from beside me... He was also looking at me, his face showing a mixture of understanding and confusion, his palms sweaty as he held my hand... I moved my pink lips, wanting to say something but ultimately remaining silent... A dark figure quickly scurried behind Little 4, and before I could even warn the already stunned Little 4, we were both carried out of the courtyard by that person, one in each hand. When that person realized it was us, a slight twitch appeared in the corner of his eye. It turned out that Uncle's shadow had discovered us.

"Fourth Young Master, Fifth Miss, I apologize for any offense." He knelt before us. "..."

"...Get up..." I was more sober. "I wonder what brings you here so late at night, Miss and Young Master..."

"Just strolling around."

"Passing by." ... Xiao Si and I answered guiltily... I saw the shadowy figure's eyes twitch again. "It's getting late, I'll escort you two masters back to your rooms."

"No need."

"You're busy, you're busy."

"..."

Xiao Si picked me up, turned around, and ran off without even a rabbit's agility...

Back in the room, the atmosphere between Xiao Si and me was rather strange.

“Ya…that second uncle…” He didn’t know how to continue. “Hehehehehe…this proves that second uncle isn’t gay…” I also told a very lame joke. “They…seem very…happy and also very painful…” Little 4 summarized his feelings about this restricted activity. “Little 4, we don’t understand, that…that…is something adults do…” I didn’t know how to explain it to him, feeling both pain and pleasure. “Adults…when we grow up, the two of us…”

“Stop. We are siblings, we can’t. That…only husband and wife can…” Incest. “Husband and wife? If Dad betroths you to Xingzhi, can Xingzhi do that to you???” His expression was not right. “…Theoretically, that’s correct, but I…” What is this? “I won’t allow it!!! Ya, I won’t allow it!!!!!” His face turned red, and he ran out angrily.

"Ugh...you..." I was annoyed. Big brother, you came in through the window, okay? Suddenly shouting and then going out the door will scare Xiaoyue and the others. "M-Master..." Xiaobi was the first to rush in to see if I was alright. "Fourth...Fourth Young Master...what are you doing here?" Xiaoyue followed. "Sleepwalking!" I lay back on the bed expressionlessly.

"..."

"..."

Chapter 9 The Palace

Xingzhi and I were 13 years old, Fourth Brother was 14 and a half, Second and Third Brothers were 16 years old, Big Brother was 18 years old, and Third Uncle's eldest son, Bai Mengzhi, was 16 years old. When I was thirteen, my palace was finally completed in the expanded Fengyue Garden. I incorporated the hot spring at the back into my territory and added a house with a high roof.

From the outside, the entire house was designed to be half a meter above the ground. Except for the side with the hot spring, which had no railings for easy seating, the rest of the house was surrounded by bamboo railings and bamboo floors. There were only two small bamboo staircases leading down, one at the front door and one at the back door by the hot spring. The hot spring is encircled by an irregular ring of unpolished jade stones, with two jade dragon heads standing on either side, spouting steaming water from their open mouths—a design inspired by dragon saliva. Thirty-two pillars encircling the main building on the bamboo corridor drape white gauze from their tops, swaying in the wind and reflecting the fiery maple and cherry blossoms and verdant bamboo railings outside, creating a scene reminiscent of a fairyland.

The interior is extremely simple, divided into three sections. On either side of the main entrance are two identical small side rooms; one is for Xiao Bi and Xiao Yue to rest, and the other is for storing essential items such as food or utensils for brewing tea and wine. A narrow passageway between these two side rooms serves as a porch, carpeted with fine wool, leading to the main room. At the end of the carpet stands a large, semi-transparent pearwood-framed screen embroidered with a scene of the Nine Heavens Goddess bathing. Turning past the screen, one enters the main room. The modern flooring, made of mahogany planks varnished with white wax oil, polished to a shine, and then coated with clear lacquer, elevates the main room by a full 10 centimeters above the porch. In the center of the room, five steps, crafted using the same technique, lead to a large sandalwood opium bed. Four pillars, reaching to the ceiling, surround the bed, each adorned with a large, pink, luminous pearl, casting a soft glow. Eight floor-length curtains of alternating deep purple and pale pink gauze drape between the pillars at the top. The curtains on the side facing the small staircase are gathered on either side, while a row of beaded curtains, interspersed with pink and white crystals, hangs from the beams, creating a private and tranquil sleeping space within the vast interior.

The right wall of the room, from ceiling to floor, is inlaid with eighteen frameless, dimly lit bronze mirrors, further enhancing the room's hazy and expansive feel. To one side of the mirror, an oval-shaped bathtub, flush with the floor, is embedded in the wall. Even while bathing, one can see a blurry reflection in the bronze mirror, creating a romantic and enchanting scene. Behind it stands a massive, floor-to-ceiling mahogany wardrobe at right angles to the mirror. This is a space-saving design for modern interiors, filled with silk, brocade, and cotton dresses hung on small wooden hangers I commissioned from a craftsman. It's much better than folding them up in a regular wardrobe, and much easier to choose from.

To the left of the room, beneath a white sheer curtain, is a small, square table with a chair on each side. Firstly, this room is purely my personal little relaxation space, and secondly, I don't intend to introduce this place to many people; there's no need for that. Beside the window, several small, shaped mahogany shelves are embedded in the wall, displaying various quirky trinkets, including gifts from my brothers over the years. Next to it was a huge, modern-style dressing table, with a large mirror hanging above and a flat table below. The chair was a small, round, cushioned vase. The dressing table had various small drawers and compartments for storing cosmetics, hairpins, and jewelry. Several tall, floor-standing silver candlesticks around the room made the room even more dim and soft, creating a wonderful atmosphere.

I brought Xiao Bi and Xiao Xiao to visit my newly built little palace, as if it were a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The two little maids gaped, chattering incessantly, calling me "mistress" this and "mistress" that, saying they had never seen a room like this before. One minute they said they liked the walls full of mirrors, the next they liked the sensual bed, then they liked the hot spring pool, but then they worried about being seen while soaking outdoors. I rolled my eyes at them. Fengyue Tower was located in the middle of Baizhuang; who would dare to come here to spy? Besides, although there's been a lot of construction here, everyone only knows that the young lady thinks the garden is too small and wants to expand it, but they don't know the specifics of what it will look like. Even with my father, I only mentioned wanting the hot spring outside, not that I wanted another building. I guess he could tell from the servants carrying materials in and out that I was up to something, but he definitely wouldn't have imagined it would turn out like this, so he didn't interfere much. My third uncle was even coming to visit, but I managed to brush him off with the excuse that the girls' bathing area couldn't be shown to others. Furthermore, the craftsmen were given hush money, and I told them not to reveal the appearance of the place or use the decorative techniques here, using the name of Baizhuang. Those people have built houses for several large families, and they inevitably encounter requests for secret rooms or hidden chambers; they know the importance of secrecy, otherwise they wouldn't have survived this long. Besides, no one else could possibly request these bizarre designs besides me.

"Master, Master!" Xiao Bi exclaimed excitedly, "What does it say on this plaque? What's the name of this unique house?" I looked up at the plaque above the main entrance, covered with a red cloth. I had the craftsman make it using the material of a bronze mirror, framed with pure gold, and with pure gold lettering. I pulled down the thin red rope, and with a "whoosh," the red cloth fell down, revealing a plaque that shone brightly in the sunlight, bearing four large, elegant characters: "The Mirror of Love and Lust."

I smiled. Besides those four words, I couldn't think of any place more suitable for my mysterious little world behind the Fengyue Tower… I really love it.

My daily life and receiving guests are still at the Fengyue Tower, because the Fengyue Treasure Mirror has become my secret, something I don't want to share. When the garden was rebuilt, the front yard wasn't touched at all; it's still the Fengyue Tower, still the covered corridor and lotus pond. Only the back is planted with tall white poplars that block the view. This other world is mine to enjoy alone.

Since my physical development began last year, I've had the kitchen bring me a bowl of braised pig's trotters with peanuts every day. In my past life, I knew that breast enhancement medicine was not as good as food, and a daily serving of braised pig's trotters with peanuts was the best. Unfortunately, I was too tired from work back then, and slow-cooking was too time-consuming and troublesome, so I was too lazy to do it. Now that I have such convenient conditions, it would be an injustice not to take advantage of them…

I've also arranged for someone to help my future sister-in-law, the former Qinlan family. I made a lot of clothes. Outerwear was secondary; after all, we couldn't really use our modern fashion aesthetics here. It was just minor alterations to ordinary clothes—like emphasizing the waistline or changing loose upper sleeves to fitted ones… The key was underwear. Modern people may not know much else, but the importance of a woman's figure is well-known. The ridiculous thing is that after hearing my requests, the master craftsman from the Yuan family, whom I'd specially invited to the garden, blushed furiously. All I wanted to do was discuss the design of bras and panties… It seems I underestimated the audacity of today's art and design workers. Luckily, I'm their young lady's future sister-in-law, so they couldn't refuse me. The master craftsman kept saying he was getting old and some of his ideas couldn't keep up with us young people, so he entrusted the discussion to his youngest apprentice. Then, saying he was in a hurry to get someone for me, he left without looking back. Looking at his brisk pace, who would guess he was over fifty?

Later, a young master arrived, claiming to be the last disciple of the best master craftsman in the Yuan family, someone who had never before come to someone's door to order a bra. Afraid of scaring him away again, I quickly went through the proper courtesies, serving him fine tea and snacks. When I nervously presented the pattern I had prepared beforehand, the young master merely glanced at me before returning to the paper to discuss the production process. I breathed a long sigh of relief.

"Miss Bai, could you explain the structure of this so-called bra to me?" He stared intently at the pattern he had never seen before. Seeing him so focused on the garment I would be wearing next to my skin, I couldn't help but blush.

"Well, to put it simply, it's a mold for the breasts! Similar to a mold for making pastries. So the key is to have a good shape, so that the body can grow according to this shape, but without restricting the body's growth. Its function is to support and regulate… cough, I wonder if you understand what I mean, sir?" Explaining the function of a bra to a man was truly embarrassing. I initially thought his master was very knowledgeable and could speak frankly, enjoying the embarrassment of others and feeling superior. But this young master wasn't embarrassed at all; it was my turn to feel awkward... Disheartened, I said, "Miss Bai, there's no need to call me 'Young Master.' I'm just a craftsman." The craftsman smiled slightly, quite carefree. "My surname is Lu, and my given name is Zhan. Miss, may you call me Little Lu like my master did?" Little Lu? I almost spat out my tea and quickly covered my mouth to cough. Little Lu hurriedly picked up a handkerchief and handed it to me. After I calmed down, he continued, "I understand Miss Bai's meaning a little better now. Making it like this is simple, but to provide support, a stiffer fabric is necessary. However, that kind of material is too rough, and I'm afraid it will be very uncomfortable for Miss Bai to wear next to her skin."

"Young...Young Master Deer," this name really doesn't suit me. "As for the material, you can make a double layer with ordinary silk and add cotton padding inside. As for the support function, relying solely on the fabric won't be enough." I took a sip of tea. "Oh? Miss Bai speaks frankly."

"You can insert metal, either strips or thick wires, into the bottom according to its shape, and that will fix it in place. But the material of the metal still needs to be considered. Silver is too soft and won't work. Perhaps gold would be better? Young Master Deer, do you have any suggestions?" There's no wire processing technology here, so I really don't know. "What Miss Bai says... has great potential. I'll try it when I get back. Also, as long as the silver wire is a little thicker, there's no need to worry about deformation..." Young Master Deer kept nodding as he looked at the diagram. "There's still one thing I don't understand. How will it be fixed at the back?"

"I'm not counting on buttonholes, metal clasps, or elastic bands," he said, then suddenly seemed confused. "..." Little Deer even blushed, stammering as if he wanted to say something. "??" I gave him a questioning look.

"Well... according to Miss Bai's requirements, it needs Miss Bai's... size, and... Miss Bai is still young... and will need to wear it in the future, and it will... grow as she grows... so..." Seeing his flushed cheeks, beads of sweat on his forehead, and his doll-like eyes darting around, I realized he was rambling on and on. He just wanted my bust size, and since I'm still growing, my bust size is constantly changing. I chuckled inwardly, thinking, "So you have your awkward moments too, huh?"

"I understand. Tell my maid what size you need and how to measure. As for when it will need to be redone... I'll have someone ask Young Master Lu to do it."

"Okay, okay," he nodded vigorously, letting out a huge sigh of relief. Having overcome one major challenge, the rest—underwear and slip dresses—were no problem. Underwear was easy to solve; as long as it had side ties, elastic or no elastic wouldn't matter. Seeing his embarrassed expression, I mischievously forced him to make a few thongs, hahaha. Slip dresses were easy to solve with the bra's construction. Just sew some sheer fabric or make it a single piece under the bra, the length just covering the hips. The back was a bit tricky because it needed to be pulled over the head, so buttons couldn't be used—buttoning a row would be too cumbersome. Besides, buttons on sheer fabric would affect the flowing feel. So, I changed it to a few thin strings tied at the back. I also made a silk strapless nightgown with side slits that reached all the way to the thighs. It's so alluring… I can't wait to see the finished product, paired with my voluptuous opium bed… So romantic! (01-30
Chapter 10 Extra - Ah Qing 1)

I am an orphan. I've never known who my parents are, and I don't have a name. As far back as I can remember, I've been in the Bai Manor. Everyone with the surname Bai here is my master. When I was three, my master touched my arm and nodded, saying I had exceptional talent. So I was moved from the servants' quarters to Shadow. Although it's called Shadow, it's actually a courtyard with very high walls. I've heard it's located deep within the Bai Manor. Every day, besides eating and sleeping, it's endless training. My master says that here, strength reigns supreme. Whoever is the strongest gets to choose the best room and pick the food first. There's no time for compassion. Our existence is to protect the Bai family's masters. Everyone here was rescued from various places by the Bai family's masters. Our master said our lives were given to us by the Bai family, and even if they wanted to take them back one day, we wouldn't flinch. Therefore, this place is the Shadow, and we are the Shadows, existing for the Bai family.

Every six months, one of the Bai family's three Shadow Guards, the Shadow of the three leaders, comes to check on our progress and skills. I know that's because the masters are selecting Shadows for their young masters. When a young master returns from their training in the forest, it signifies adulthood, the ability to stand alone, and the capacity to serve the family. A crucial step is choosing a Shadow for their future. Masters have only one Shadow in their lifetime, and a Shadow has only one master. The moment the blood pact is made, everything about the Shadow belongs to the master.

I had no friends around me; we were just under the same roof, and of course, they were all older than me, but I didn't think I should be weaker than them. When I crawled out of the forest alive, covered in blood, at the age of five, I told myself that only the ruthless survive in this world. That was a hell I will never forget. None of the 32 children were over 10 years old, and only 9 came out alive, and I was the ninth. Our master led us deep into the forest, each of us carrying a dagger. There was no food, no fire, and he told us he was waiting for us on the other side of the forest. He only needed the first 16 to come out. I thought we only needed to be wary of poisonous snakes and wild beasts, but I forgot to be wary of my companions. They ignored our master's order to leave half of us and killed each other to reduce competition, because everyone knew that in the Bai family, only those with a master's shadow were considered shadows; otherwise, they had no place to stand. And... there couldn't possibly be sixteen masters with the surname Bai waiting for us. I fell to the ground with several stab wounds, but fortunately, I dodged the fatal blows in time. Apart from bleeding, I wasn't too badly hurt, but it made me dizzy. Knowing they had already left, seemingly intending for me to fend for myself, I forced myself to find herbs to stop the bleeding and bandage myself. I cut off a dead man's arm with a dagger and carried it on my back as food; I didn't think I had the strength to hunt anymore. I staggered forward, following the tracks left behind… the corpses of my companions littered the path, and I wondered how many were still alive. Perhaps it was the cruelty and violence we had trampled along the way that prevented us from encountering any wild animals; otherwise, in my current state, I would have been half-dead. When I finally crawled to my master before sunset, I struggled to my feet. I didn't want to look at the faces of those I called companions. I told my master, "I want to become a Shadow!"

The next few years continued this inhuman life. Because the initial test was so brutal, although no one mentioned it again, it had left a lasting shadow on our young hearts. We were merely nodding acquaintances among our companions, and there was no longer any faction distinction. However, one thing remained: as I grew older, my appearance didn't become more imposing; instead, I became more refined and handsome. I had no problem with this development; after all, life is a gift from one's parents, and there's no point in complaining. On the contrary, the older companions looked at me with increasingly brazen gazes—some mocking, some confused, some infatuated, some filled with lust. I ignored them all. If they wanted to gain any advantage beyond words, they'd have to rely on their abilities. However, I became increasingly indifferent to my appearance, letting my hair hang loose and my clothes tattered. Later, I no longer needed to accompany my master and began to complete relatively difficult tasks on my own. Gradually, no one looked down on me anymore, and I started avoiding encounters with people outside of group activities. My master couldn't help but sigh at my transformation. I knew I wasn't the most outstanding among all the candidates for Shadow Guard, but I was the most patient. A lone wolf in hunger and cold can lie motionless in the snow for hours, waiting for the most opportune moment to catch prey, because unnecessary movements would not only alert the enemy but also waste its already limited energy. Once it strikes, it will inevitably target the enemy's weakest point—fatal, merciless. Perhaps this was my way of survival.

However, one day, everything would be different. I was twelve years old that year.

When she walked into the courtyard, she looked no different from the other girls, though I had hardly ever seen any. Her eyebrows were delicate, her skin as white as snow, and her lips were slightly pouting like ripe cherries. She was just a little more unruly than the other girls; for example, her long, waist-length hair was loose, and her embroidered dress with butterflies and flowers was casually draped over her shoulders, without a belt. I knew this was the youngest mistress of the Bai family, the fifth young lady. Today, the head of the Bai family had personally brought this daughter to choose a shadow guard, but I thought being her shadow guard wouldn't be easy, because judging from her gait, she had no martial arts skills whatsoever, not even the lightness skill. Being her shadow guard would be very difficult. But conversely, if she obediently stayed at home and married when she came of age, being a Shadow would be much easier and more comfortable, far removed from the conflicts and bloodshed of the martial world… My reverie was interrupted by this girl. “Father, do you really have to find someone to watch over your daughter day and night?”

“My dear princess, this isn’t surveillance, it’s protection.”

“But Father, this person has to watch over me all the time.”

“That’s their duty.”

“Including when a lady takes a bath or goes to the toilet?”

“…Ya Ya, don’t be silly. Once you’ve chosen a Shadow, it will be a part of your body, and you will control its life… This is the Bai family tradition, and it can’t be changed now.”

“…Then can I go to the toilet with you without him or her?”

“…Instead of worrying about that, why not go see if there’s anyone you like? The best Shadows are all here.”

Then her big eyes swept around the courtyard, passing over me before quickly returning, her pupils wide. I lowered my eyes, not wanting her to see the smile in them. Then, a pair of white satin slippers embroidered with little fish playing among lotus flowers appeared before me. The girl squatted down, the ends of her long hair falling to the ground, tightly gripping the hand that was about to help her retrieve the item, feigning composure. Surprised, her slender, beautiful fingers lifted my chin, a glint of shrewdness flashing in her large eyes. I was momentarily confused, but she still smiled innocently. She said, "Oh, you're so dirty and pitiful, but you're a pretty child. Would you like to follow me from now on? We'll eat good food together and wear good clothes together."

Master Bai smiled; I guessed he thought his daughter's words had a chivalrous,江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) feel to them…

The blood sacrifice process was simple. I poured out a bowl of blood, she drank it, she pricked her finger, and dripped a drop of blood onto my wound. Of course, this was mixed with the Bai family's secret herbal remedies. From the moment her blood dripped into my body, totem-like patterns began to meander from the wound…

These totems, depending on the characteristics of each owner, had different shapes, colors, and stopped growing at different times. However, I noticed that the three Shadow Guards and the others mostly wore deep red robes, with the totem only extending to their elbows. I chuckled, wondering what my totem would look like.

The blood sacrifice began. She and I sat cross-legged facing each other, with the master craftsman kneeling beside us. Only the three leaders, the three Shadow Guards, and the seven stewards were observing. As instructed by the master craftsman, I removed all my clothes to facilitate his recording of the totem's spread. As I removed more and more clothing, her eyes widened. When I calmly removed my last underpants, unexpectedly, she blushed and her heart raced. This little woman pointed her slender finger at my limp little dragon between my legs and yelled at the leader, "How come she's a man?" Everyone, including the master craftsman, exchanged bewildered glances. I understood their meaning; their eyes were saying, "Nobody said she was a woman." This little woman's expression was unpredictable, her gaze fixed on my little dragon. If it weren't for her fierce eyes, I think I would have reacted to her swollen breasts and tightly pressed, slender legs.

A silver knife sliced my left wrist, blood trickling down into a silver bowl. She frowned, muttering, "You could pay in installments... I didn't want to drink so much at once." Finally, after the master craftsman stopped the bleeding, she took the bowl with a sorrowful expression, pondered for a long time, and finally brought it to her lips. Seeing my blood trickling

from her mouth, a strange feeling slowly rose within me. This... woman who drank my blood. When that drop of blood fell into my wound, mixed with a secret medicine, it suddenly felt very hot. Then, totems resembling plant sprouts grew from the wound on my skin... black, slowly growing, slender in shape... quickly winding across my arm and up my back, finally stopping at my waist. Then we discovered that those totems were actually deep purple... a blackish purple.

Then, naturally, I followed her back to the brothel, naturally, I followed her every day. She said my eyes looked too lonely, and suggested I name her "A-Qing." She said to remember that people have feelings, and I said okay. When she asked me not to follow her while I bathed or used the restroom, I agreed, but it was just talk. I still respected her and made sure she didn't notice my presence. Watching her busily working on her "Love and Lust Treasure Mirror," although I disliked the outdoor hot spring, I didn't say anything to dissuade her. Seeing her embarrassed by the master tailor and then by the junior tailor while making new clothes, a smile unconsciously crept onto my face. After she finished making the clothes, she tried them on one by one. Although I had seen her youthful yet shapely body hundreds of times, this time it aroused me even more. At that moment, only one word came to mind—enchanting. That night was difficult… my lower body remained erect for her all night. At that time, I couldn't distinguish my feelings for her: mistress? The only woman in my life? The one I wanted to protect? The one I was one with?…

Chapter 11 Extra - A Qing 2

One day after that, someone came to the Mirror of Love and Lust… He completely turned our lives upside down… It might be the master's, or maybe mine.

That was the Fourth Young Master.

I had seen him before and knew him; he was the master's best brother, even surpassing Bai Xingzhi. As night approached, the Fourth Young Master stood outside the door, his fists clenched, looking indecisive. Should I go down and question him? But he was the master's closest brother. I was also indecisive, equally unable to understand why the Fourth Young Master, who should have been at the forest farm, was here in the middle of the night. Finally, as if having made up his mind, the Fourth Young Master stepped into the room, circled Bai Bi and Bai Yue's rooms, and then slowly walked towards the master's bedside… I was extremely conflicted, unsure whether I should stop him. I thought, it's not too late to wait until the Fourth Young Master makes a move that harms the master; perhaps… he just misses the master too much.

Actually, I guessed right. Fourth Young Master was simply missing his master too much, but it was somewhat different from what I had imagined…

Fourth Young Master just stood by his master's bedside, gazing at her sleeping face with a dazed look in his eyes. He remained like this for a long time. I wondered if Fourth Young Master had something to say to his master but couldn't bring himself to say it? Suddenly, his master habitually turned over, and Fourth Young Master began to breathe rapidly. Through the gauze curtains, I couldn't see what was happening inside. I leaped down from the tree, bypassed the Mirror of Love and Lust, and entered the room from the right side. Behind the full-length bronze mirror, his master said, "This is a secret passage left when the house was built." It turned out… the mistress rolled over, revealing her long, slender, jade-like legs and arms from under the brocade quilt. Her red lips were slightly parted, and her hair was scattered on the bed… The pomegranate-red nightgown she was wearing today, with thin straps on the shoulders, only covered her pink buttocks, and now, because of her posture, it revealed a small pomegranate-red underpants tied on the side…

I saw Fourth Master raise his hand and then lower it, ultimately unable to resist the allure of the beauty on the bed. He lifted his long robe and sat on the bed, casually pressing her pressure points to make her even more unable to wake up. Then I remembered that he had gone to Bai Bi and Bai Yue's rooms earlier, and he must have also pressed their pressure points.

I finally couldn't bear it any longer and floated out.

“You finally came out, hehe, are you Ya's shadow guard?” Fourth Young Master gently put his arm around the mistress's alabaster shoulders. Her full head of black hair was spread between Fourth Young Master's legs, and her long eyelashes were slightly curled.

“Fourth Young Master, please let go of the mistress.” I remained unmoved on the surface, but a huge wave was churning inside.

"How old are you?"

"...12"

"Oh? A year younger than Ya, but you look like a little girl."

"Although Master is your own sister, she is still a girl. Fourth Young Master's current behavior is not in accordance with propriety."

"She is my own sister. I am lonely in the mountains and miss her very much. What's wrong with rushing back to see her?"

"You can wake Master up, or have a maid dress her."

"So that's what it is. We used to bathe in the same pool." Fourth Young Master grasped Master's fingers and stroked them back and forth, his attitude ambiguous and unclear.

"..."

"What's your name?"

"Ah Qing."

"She gave it to you?"

"Yes."

"That's because she wanted to tell you that there is love in the world." The Fourth Young Master took his mistress's jade hand and kissed it gently, as if whispering to me, "She and I have a brother-sister relationship, but who knows what I feel for her..." The Fourth Young Master used his fingers to comb through her thick, black, seaweed-like hair strand by strand. "It's been a long time since I've seen you... you've become even more beautiful, but when you're asleep, you still look like a little baby." I watched as the Fourth Young Master's hand gradually moved to his mistress's slender waist, rubbing against the thin pomegranate-red gauze, her delicate skin clearly visible. I gritted my teeth, suppressing the urge to knock him unconscious. "I wonder if you, you heartless little thing, have missed me these past two years. I've been eagerly awaiting your letter, but haven't received a single word..." The Fourth Young Master lightly touched his master's red lips, stroking them with his fingertips, then tenderly licked them... I said in a low voice, "Fourth Young Master..." But he seemed not to hear, lost in his own world with his master. He rose to the bedside, lifted his robe, and knelt on the floor, taking his master's jade-like foot in his hand, stroking the chain his master cherished so much... "Luckily, you've always worn it," the Fourth Young Master smiled slowly. It turned out that the chain on his master's ankle was a gift from the Fourth Young Master. His delicate kisses landed around the chain, slowly moving down to his master's fair and exquisite instep. I felt a heat in my lower abdomen, because the Fourth Young Master had already taken his master's toes into his mouth and licked them, kissing each one from the big toe to the little toe, not missing a single one... I wanted to stop him... but I couldn't speak... Suddenly, "Mmm..." a heavenly sound softly escaped from his master's lips... I knew that my little dragon had already raised its head. From the Fourth Young Master lifting his master's jade legs, I could even see the sweet shadow between his legs... I couldn't help but think of his master's alabaster-like buds when he bathed, the soft, hairless flesh... The Fourth Young Master had already kissed his master's knees; indeed, a pair of feet alone was no longer enough for him. Or perhaps it was me. Glistening, wet kiss marks were left along the way; it seemed his master's knees were very sensitive... Years of martial arts training made me feel his master's rapid breathing... and my heart pounded along with it. The Fourth Young Master gently parted his mistress's slender legs, revealing a thin, pomegranate-red panty. The delicate straps on either side offered no protection, only making me want to feel the sensation of pulling them open myself… Clearly, that's what the Fourth Young Master thought… He pulled them open like unwrapping a gift, and the pretty panty immediately slid to the side without any concealment, revealing his mistress's tender, youthful private parts. I knew I should stop the Fourth Young Master's actions, yet subconsciously, I didn't want him to stop. The Fourth Young Master's long, slender fingers trembled slightly as he gently caressed her. I felt his mistress tremble slightly. He leaned down, lost in ecstasy, pressing his handsome nose between her folds, slowly rubbing, "Ya… oh… my Ya Ya," his warm, moist breath spraying onto his mistress's beautiful private parts, causing her to tremble slightly. His deep voice was like a dream. Finally, the Fourth Young Master opened his mouth and kissed his master's tender flesh, extending his tongue to lightly lick it. He saw his tongue slowly slide down into his master's crevice to the entrance of the garden. His master's delicate buttocks trembled slightly in his palm. The Fourth Young Master gripped his master tightly, deforming the flesh between his fingers. Sweat beaded on his forehead with excitement. With a forceful thrust, he pushed in. His master's brows furrowed slightly, and she let out a soft, sweet "Mmm," a sound that seemed like a sigh, pain, and intoxication. My desire had swelled to its limit, and I think the Fourth Young Master felt the same. His tongue thrust in and out forcefully, the sucking sounds ambiguous and slippery. Finally, he couldn't bear it any longer, spreading his master's long legs wide, her delicate calves draped over his shoulders, her beautiful toes curled. His face was completely buried between her legs…

“Mmm… ah…” His master's heavenly voice, soft as a cat's, echoed in the air. Both the Fourth Young Master and I were unable to resist. Watching him bury his face in that beautiful place, I felt jealousy, excitement, and gloom, but more than anything, I knew it was a burning desire…

"Ya Ya, my darling, oh...you little devil..." The Fourth Young Master looked up at his mistress's flushed face and slightly parted lips, while I saw that her bright red little orifice, now unobstructed, was flowing with glistening nectar, winding its way down her fair buttocks...instantly filling the room with a sweet fragrance...I so wanted to clean it up for her, such exquisite nectar...but the Fourth Young Master lowered his head instead...sighing, "Ya Ya, you're so sweet...is this...for me?" The Fourth Young Master's clean lips and tongue inadvertently... My fingers slipped onto my mistress's little pearl, and she let out a soft "woo..." as if crying. "Laiya, taste your flavor..." As he spoke, the Fourth Young Master kissed her lips, feeding her the sweet liquid... Her cherry lips became even pinker from the lust... I gasped, because I didn't know when, but the Fourth Young Master's enormous dragon had already reached the outside of my mistress's garden, rubbing against that delicate, slippery crevice... The head of the dragon was already wet with my mistress's nectar, and the petals couldn't stop it, turning outwards...

"Fourth Young Master..." I exclaimed, "You... are her own brother..." Only after speaking did I realize that my voice was already hoarse from desire...

"Yes... Ya, I couldn't control myself... forgive your brother." As if comforting himself, the Fourth Young Master kissed my mistress's cherry lips again, and the dragon rubbed against the water cave for a while before withdrawing from my mistress's body. Standing to the side, he could see that his master's clothes were half-undone, her honeyed vulva glistening with moisture, her cheeks flushed—truly an indescribable, lewd and alluring sight… The Fourth Young Master then took his master's slender hand and placed it on his own erection, a sigh escaping his throat, “Oh…” After calming down for a while, but to no avail, the Fourth Young Master had no choice but to leap out of the window, saying, “It's up to you now,” and then fell silent…

Looking at my master's current state, I soothed my throbbing erection with my left hand. Without hesitation, I bent down and pressed my erection against my master's honeypot. I held my master's legs together in front of my chest and thrust back and forth between her legs, right in front of her petals. But my master's honeypot was overflowing with lustful fluids... making my erection incredibly slippery, making it even easier for me to thrust. The touch of that tender skin was incredibly pleasurable, even though it wasn't my master's young vagina... I suppressed a groan, gripped my master's jade legs tightly, and used my erection to fiercely ravage the petals of the girl beneath me. Surprisingly, there were even splashing sounds... "Mmm... mmm... mmm... ah..." she moaned. My master actually felt something like this. I became even more excited and worked even harder. But then, hearing my master's sweet voice, I felt a numbness in my penis. I quickly used my hand to stop it... I ejaculated.

My face flushed red. After cleaning myself up, I buried my face in my mistress's petals, licking her nectar clean. Unconsciously, my lips pinched and kneaded her pearl. My mistress's body immediately stiffened. I stretched out a finger into my mistress's petals, and I quickly realized my mistake. The feeling of being tightly sucked was amazing. My penis, which had just been enjoying itself, immediately rose again... When I tried to insert it, it was so tight that I couldn't move forward even half a step. When I tried to pull it out, it was tightly sucked again. Is this... what a female body is like? I used my mouth and fingers to speed up the ravaging. My mistress's voice was incredibly sweet. Suddenly, my mistress raised her hand and grabbed my hair. Her body stiffened, and her waist arched, bringing her even closer to my mouth. A long, pure, natural sound of pleasure rang out, "Ah..." I opened my mouth and received the nectar that gushed from my mistress's body. As I continued to suck, my mistress's body trembled uncontrollably... The poor girl, who had finally reached orgasm under the constant teasing of the Fourth Young Master and me, fell into a deep sleep in my arms... I smiled.

Chapter 12 Extra - Ah Qing 3

If what the Fourth Young Master and I did to our mistress was the desire of two young men for their beloved girl, comforting ourselves without her knowledge… that was a desecration of her purity. Then the arrival of Young Master Meng was an absolute nightmare for our mistress…

Young Master Meng followed the Fourth Young Master. Standing outside the window, watching the Fourth Young Master embracing our mistress on the smoking bed behind the gauze curtains, it was clear our mistress was under the influence of acupuncture. The Fourth Young Master buried his face in our mistress's breasts…

Young Master Meng nodded and smiled as he watched the incestuous relationship between the siblings in the room, seemingly unmoved. But his deep eyes betrayed his heart. I knew that look all too well… it was the same look of desire that the Fourth Young Master and I shared. Suddenly, I felt utterly powerless. I was alright; in this life, my master and I were one, so loving her or not loving her made no difference… But for my master's older brother, the Fourth Young Master, and her cousin, Young Master Meng, their longing for her must be a nightmare. My master was the verbal betrothed of Young Master Meng's younger brother, and even more terrifying was the Fourth Young Master, who was my master's blood-related sibling… My master was an absolute demon to this family. I couldn't imagine the consequences of being discovered…

Young Master Meng left after a short while, his back view seemingly casual, but his clenched fists betrayed his inner turmoil…

The next night at midnight, I was surprised to find Young Master Meng standing outside my master's window. When did he arrive? I hadn't noticed at all. Was this the Bai family's top-tier lightness skill? Young Master Meng lifted his leg to step into my master's room. I sensed his intentions were not pure, but I found myself unable to move… This was far more terrifying than death for me. I hated the feeling of being out of control. At this moment, Young Master Meng glanced up at me, his expression cunning. I glared at him. Young Master Meng leaped up and easily carried me into the room, silencing me with a flick of his wrist. He then placed me kneeling beside my master's bed, smiling at me. Gazing at my master's sweet sleeping face, I suddenly felt like crying. I hadn't disturbed my master during Fourth Young Master's visits. Rather than saying I was certain Fourth Young Master wouldn't actually harm my master, I pitied his love for her. But Young Master Meng was different; his gaze towards my master always revealed a predatory intent. Among us, including myself, he was the one who would truly harm my master.

Young Master Meng cut his wrist with a knife, mixed a little powder, and fed the blood to my master's lips.

"Ah Qing, do you think Fourth Young Master is a fool?" Young Master Meng's low, seductive voice was incredibly alluring. “For the past two months, every seven or eight days he would disappear for three or four hours every night. Others might not know, but how could I not?” He sat beside his master, stroking his smooth cheek. “Tch, so he was waiting for this little vixen to grow up! He hid for so many years, and at only thirteen, he couldn’t resist making his move… He could fool others, but could he fool me? I knew just by looking at his face a few years ago.” Young Master Meng seemed to be talking to me, but he didn’t even glance at me, focusing intently on his master. I could only glare at him, but I was horrified to see his master’s face begin to flush… “These past few years he’s been practicing his lightness skill intensely. Everyone says he wants to surpass me… Heh heh heh, who knew he had this in mind? If I had known, I would have let my silly little brother practice more, then it would have been a natural progression, and I wouldn’t be here today.” I was seething with anger. I couldn’t believe such vulgar words could come from the mouth of this man, more beautiful than a rose. What did they take my master for? Someone they could pluck at will? "Don't be so angry. Judging from your expression, you've been eyeing this little girl for a while now. Even though you could have her if she slept with you and waited for her to marry, I'll teach you a few tricks today... Look how beautiful she looks... Tsk tsk, though she's still young, she's stunning..." The master's forehead was already beaded with sweat, his lips were moist and pink, his eyelashes trembled nervously, and his slender legs twitched uncontrollably... This guy drugged her! "My blood is very precious... but it's worth it to use it on this little girl today." If looks could kill, this man would have died a hundred times over...

"Ugh..." The mistress was delirious from the drug, her delicate white hands gripping the sheets tightly, rubbing her body against them to soothe her aching skin. Young Master Meng's long fingers gently teased the alluring buds beneath her thin nightgown, but the mistress let out a soft moan and pressed herself against him. "Where did this little vixen get this dress? It's even more alluring than the girls at Piaoxiang Pavilion!" Young Master Meng looked up at me, constantly stroking the mistress's exquisite body wrapped in a purple gauze nightgown. Under his caresses, the mistress's fair body was faintly visible beneath the semi-transparent dress. As Young Master Meng manipulated her, the mistress slowly swayed her jade-like body, her jade legs slightly parted, her breasts swaying, captivating the mind. Although Young Master Meng still wore a smile, I could see that his deep, still eyes had become even darker and more profound. He reached out and took off my master's underpants, inhaling them deeply for a while. Ignoring my astonishment, he pulled down my pants and placed the purple underpants, still carrying my master's scent, into my crotch. My little dragon was already erect, and now, touching my master's intimate body, it became even harder and more resilient against the fragrant undergarment. Seeing my flushed face and speechless expression, that devil told me to enjoy it! He himself placed his large hand over his master's garden instead of his underpants. His master immediately let out a soft moan and closed her legs, trapping the young master's wrist between her legs. The young master changed positions, his four fingers supporting his master's shapely buttocks, his thumb exploring the entrance to her garden… His master raised her fair arms, grasped the young master's arm, and pulled him close, her vagina writhing incessantly, seeking that little bit of comfort. "Oh… your master's little mouth down there is sucking me so tightly, I wonder what the little mouth up there tastes like?" he said, bending down to lift his master onto himself. He half-reclined on the smoking bed, this movement causing his thumb, already deep inside his master's delicate opening, to penetrate even further. His master groaned, "Ah…" and actively brought her cherry lips to the young master. The young master, at least, tightened his arms, bringing his master's breasts even closer, and deepened the kiss by taking his master's lips into his mouth. He squinted and fiercely ravaged his master's red lips, while his master swayed gently on his thumb, whimpering incessantly. "My little cousin's virgin flower is incredibly tight. That kid Zhan Feng must have been tortured by her too. I really want to take her first... Oh, don't get so excited, little princess. Although it feels good to be rubbed by you, it's making me feel even more uncomfortable here..." After saying this, Young Master Meng lifted his robe and untied the restraints, releasing his huge, slightly trembling dragon. With a sweet yet painful expression, he pulled out his thumb, which his master had been tightly sucking, and the honeyed fluid wet his palm. Young Master Meng pulled down the shoulder straps of his master's nightgown in a few quick movements, and her small, round, alabaster-like breasts bounced out, making one's heart flutter... Young Master Meng smeared the fragrant honeyed fluid on his master's breasts, and then slowly licked them clean with his tongue, but he didn't comfort her erect pink buds. Her mistress's breasts had swelled and become even fuller, her body flushed pink with desire, and her beautiful face was filled with a captivating, intoxicated expression...

Suddenly feeling her swollen little dragon growing painfully, she was both annoyed at not being able to protect her mistress and resentful that her most beautiful and alluring self had been aroused by another man. At this moment, her mistress, dissatisfied that her flower bud hadn't received comfort, anxiously held onto Young Master Meng's shoulders, thrusting her chest forward and twisting her body closer to his lips. Young Master Meng's tongue circled around her pink nipple, refusing to take it in. Her mistress swayed her buttocks, her moist flower vulva brushing against Young Master Meng's already eagerly awaiting dragon. Young Master Meng let out a muffled groan, gripping her round buttocks and rubbing them back and forth to soothe his surging desire. He opened his mouth and took most of one of her breasts into his mouth, sucking hard… “Ah…” Her mistress thrust her breasts even higher, as if she wanted to offer her entire tender and tempting breast into Young Master Meng's mouth. Hearing his master's seductive moans, Young Master Meng sucked even harder, making smacking sounds, his lower body thrusting upwards, striking his master's already soaking wet honey hole, the winding, glistening nectar flowing down Young Master Meng's purple beast. "Oh...it's killing me...Ya Ya, are you sent from hell? I can't hold back...I really want to penetrate you right now..."

I glared at him, how could he? Drugging and raping her for his master? His master's virginity...

"A Qing, come here." Young Master Meng said indistinctly, his mouth still on his master's nipple, "If she keeps acting like this, I really can't take it. Come here and make her feel better to relieve the effects of the drug." Young Master Meng didn't even look at me, casually tossing over one of his master's earrings, opening my long-sealed acupoints, but not my mute acupoint. "I just wanted to punish this little vixen, to make her seduce the fourth brother so much that he couldn't get enough. Who knew she would get herself into trouble? This little devil of hers is driving me crazy." Seeing that Young Master Meng's hands were constantly stroking his master's jade-like back, his lips were sucking on her two soft breasts, and half of the head of his purplish-red dragon had already entered his master's delicate and wet orifice. His master's eyes were tightly closed, and his expression seemed to be in pain, but more than that, it was desire. The mistress continued to writhe on Young Master Meng's head, her two labia innocently turning outwards, the winding nectar constantly flowing down Young Master Meng's massive beast. Young Master Meng's expression was one of restraint, fine sweat dripping from his forehead, his muffled groans a mixture of pain and sweetness…

Ignoring the numbness from the long-sealed acupoints in my legs, I rushed over and abruptly lifted the mistress off Young Master Meng. Young Master Meng let out a muffled groan, the mistress also feeling uncomfortable from the sudden emptiness, whimpering softly. Her long, bare legs were already wrapped around my waist, her wet private parts pressed against my already painfully erect penis through my trousers… My trousers were immediately soaked by her, my penis already feeling her wetness and passion, suddenly remembering the feeling of my fingers being tightly sucked there that day… I growled and hugged her tightly, pressing her deeply into the bed… She also moaned in my ear because of my forceful thrusting… Listening to this lingering music, it was both torture and sweetness…

"Heh," Young Master Meng chuckled as he looked at me, stroking his own erection up and down. "This girl is being trained like this by us all the time, she'll turn into a lustful woman sooner or later... Stop it, hurry up and comfort her, look, she's so pitiful, she's almost crying..." The master's beautiful eyes, slightly narrowed, glistened with moisture. Her face, flushed with surging lust, became even hotter, and her body pressed against my desire without any restraint, rubbing against it. Soft sobs escaped from her delicate voice. Seeing my mistress's unbearable desire, I steeled myself and kissed her rosy, pink lips deeply. She immediately responded by sucking on my tongue. I grasped her full breasts and gently kneaded them. Unexpectedly, she suddenly reached out and placed her hand on mine, kneading them even more vigorously. I was captivated by her passion. I left her sweet little mouth and kissed away the fine sweat on her chest, moving down to her flat stomach. She twisted her body even more vigorously, grasping and kneading her breasts with both hands. My heart warmed, and I took her already rosy nipple into my mouth. "Ah..." Her head tilted back slightly, and she arched her back. The young master, who could no longer restrain himself, swallowed all her moans. I finally inserted my tongue into her wet, tight, and tender little hole for the second time. "Mmm...

um..." With my increasingly intense thrusting, my mistress couldn't help but moan softly, as if in pleasure and satisfaction, her delicate body trembling slightly. I chuckled softly. The poor girl finally found some solace; in truth, she had already soaked a large patch of the embroidered silk sheet beneath her beautiful buttocks…

I lifted my mistress's long legs and pert buttocks upwards, thrusting into her tender opening while simultaneously caressing and rubbing my own penis. My mistress, in turn, gripped my shoulders tightly, moaning softly. Young Master Meng reached out and grasped my mistress's small hand, placing it on his throbbing purple penis… The stroking grew faster… My other hand's index finger probed my mistress's slightly parted lips, only to be caught and sucked by her pink tongue… Young Master Meng and I both groaned… What a vixen. Young Master Meng held his master's face, bringing the purple dragon close to her lips. His master opened her mouth and licked it slightly. Young Master Meng leaned forward again, and his master let out a soft moan as her pink tongue traced the deep purple dragon's head… “Oh… good girl, eat it up…” he said, then lifted his master's head and inserted half of the dragon. I, feeling resentful, sucked on his master's flower cave even more vigorously, my fingers pinching and kneading her clitoris. His master let out an “Ah…” and arched her back. As she opened her mouth, Young Master Meng had already swallowed the entire dragon. He let out a low growl and began to slowly thrust in and out. I saw his master's brow furrow slightly and thought she was uncomfortable, but who knew that her poor little hole was flowing with even sweeter, richer fluid… I also inserted two fingers, enjoying the pleasure of being tightly gripped by her, and comforted my little dragon even faster… I knew that the three of us had entered a state of frenzied desire…

Finally, Young Master Meng… Unable to resist, the master ejaculated onto his mistress's alabaster breasts after his hundredth low growl… Watching this lewd scene, I felt a numbness in my mouth and also ejaculated… We were both panting heavily… Young Master Meng waved his hand to release my speech acupoints, and I rushed over and punched him. He chuckled, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. “Now you're acting fierce? Why did you hug her the first thing after the acupoints were released?” I was so embarrassed and angry that my face turned red… “You…” “You really are a little brat, hehe.”

Young Master Meng and I carried our mistress to the hot spring to wash her. Our mistress kept rubbing against my body in my arms, and I knew that the effects of the drug hadn't worn off yet.

“Our little princess's mind is truly extraordinary. The construction of this hot spring is so exquisite and thoughtful.” Young Master Meng undressed while looking around.

After I removed all of our mistress's clothes, I jumped naked into the spring and immediately regretted it. Our mistress's alabaster body looked even more like a water sprite in the water. Her long, slightly damp hair cascaded over her shapely body, and as she found my warmth, she nestled against my chest, panting. Her soft breasts pressed tightly against my chest, her two fair arms draped around my neck, and one bare leg wrapped around my calf, rubbing against me. My limp little dragon immediately awoke, pressing against her smooth belly… Young Master Meng also jumped into the water, his strong body like that of a god. He pressed against his mistress's soft back and rounded buttocks from behind, his hands reaching under her armpits to grasp her tender breasts. Instinctively, I wanted to pull my mistress away from his embrace, but she let out a groan as if in protest. I looked helplessly at Young Master Meng's ambiguous smile, which appeared even more alluring in the misty hot spring and under the moonlight.

Young Master Meng gestured for me to sit on the edge of the pool, then had his mistress lie in my lap. He grabbed her slender waist, lifted her buttocks, and inserted his massive member between her legs. As he moved, her head lowered even further, her pink face pressed against my crotch. I was shocked; my erect member throbbed against her cheek… “Enjoy it, I’ll satisfy this little slut,” Young Master Meng said, reaching out to pinch her clitoris. “Mmm…” Her body trembled slightly, but she pressed herself even closer to Young Master Meng. He held his purple member, letting its head slide back and forth across her petals. Damn, I would occasionally give a light nip at the entrance of the garden, prying open the clam and inserting half of my dragon head. At this moment, both the master and he groaned. "Being tortured by you like this today makes me even more imaginative about when I can fuck you when you are awake... Oh... Fairy, then I want you to cry and beg me to play with you until I break you... Play with your tender breasts, play with your little cunt..." Young Master Mengzhi half-closed his eyes, and the master seemed to understand these lewd words, moaning and writhing incessantly, while my little dragon brushed against her face and lips. I pinched her tender breasts and endured it. "You're still a virgin and you're already so wanton. I wonder how wanton you'll be after your brother has had his way with you... Baby, I really want to see... Oh, good girl, squeeze me tight..." Young Master Meng held his master's slender waist tightly, thrusting rapidly between her tender legs. His enormous purple dragon ravaged her beautiful petals, his fingers kneading her little pearl and occasionally flicking it. His master moaned continuously, "Ah... Ah ah... Ah..." I couldn't bear it any longer and lowered her head to let her take my desire into her mouth. "Oh..." I sighed. The feeling of being eaten by her little mouth was simply too wonderful... Her tongue licked her lips, and I trembled with pleasure. I couldn't help but move up and down in her mouth. Looking up at Young Master Meng moving behind her in a position similar to intercourse was even more stimulating. I kept kneading her breasts into various shapes, and she seemed to like it. Her soft waist swayed incessantly...

Chapter 13 Doubt

I opened my eyes. My sore body felt a little uncomfortable, especially my chest and private parts. I pulled back my collar; my skin was as fair and tender as ever, nothing seemed amiss. I shifted my legs slightly, and a tingling, numb sensation made me groan, like the pain of being run over by a truck. My fingertips slid down, touching my dry lower body; a slight pain. Confused, what's wrong? Lately, I've been having frequent erotic dreams. Am I comforting myself in my dreams? The characters in my dreams keep changing—sometimes it's Xiao Si, sometimes it's A Qing, and there's someone I don't even want to remember: Bai Mengzhi! Looks like I'm getting old, starting to feel the stirrings of love?

“Ah Qing…”

“Master.” Ah Qing quickly came to the bedside.

“Last night… was there anything unusual?”

“No, Master.”

“Oh? Were you awake all night? Did anyone come by?”

“No, Master.”

“Hmm…” I looked at Ah Qing’s beautiful face, which was slowly revealing its angular features. His thin, red lips were glistening, and his jet-black hair had a beautiful drape, as if he had a perm… “Ah Qing, come here.” He hesitated for a moment before kneeling by the bed. I sat up and moved to him, leaning on the edge of the bed to meet his gaze. Oh… his eyes were also as deep as black holes, like two agates. I lifted his icy chin, ran my thumb across his lips, and pressed my lips to his. I felt him tremble and open his mouth to speak. I took the opportunity to stick my tongue into his mouth. The fragrance was like gardenia. This feeling seemed really familiar. I wondered, was I unable to distinguish between dream and reality? Or…

“Ah Qing, take off your clothes.”

“Master?”

“Do you want me to repeat myself?” I glanced at him sideways. Ah Qing quickly took off his shirt and started unbuttoning his pants. “Alright.” What is this guy doing? Does he think I’m going to force myself on him? I rolled my eyes at him. “Stand in front of me.” I knelt on the bed and carefully examined his body. The scars, large and small, seemed to have faded. How old is this child? It seems he suffered a lot in the Shadow Realm. I searched carefully, my fingertips following my gaze across his body, feeling his soft, shallow breaths and the rise and fall of his chest. Even his two red nipples were slowly hardening. I chuckled to myself; this kid really couldn't resist provocation. I maliciously ran my fingernail across those two tender protrusions. He gasped and closed his eyes, his eyelashes trembling slightly. I smiled gently and licked the little red fruit with my tongue. Sure enough, it became even redder and more erect. Ah Qing let out a soft "hmm..." and clenched his fists. "Turn around." His back was just as gruesome. It seemed only his face hadn't suffered... I carefully examined for any signs of lovemaking, but it turned out that apart from some suspicious red marks, there were nothing else. I frowned. These red marks didn't look like scratches. I carefully examined my hand, placing it on his shoulder blade along the direction of the red marks. This vague feeling left me clueless. I was discouraged.

"Alright," I patted his shoulder lightly. "Put your clothes on. Boys need to have some self-control, you know~" "

..."

"Go on, call Xiao Bi over, I need to take a bath. Ah," I stretched, "My body is sore, I need a massage." A Qing's body seemed to stiffen for a moment, then quickly disappeared out the door. I frowned.

After taking a bath, I nestled comfortably on the soft couch, pondering A Qing's puzzling expression. What was even more perplexing was that Xiao Si and Bai Mengzhi should be at the forest farm. The masters there strictly controlled the young masters' traffic; there was absolutely no way they could be at home. After thinking it over, I concluded that I must be overthinking it... But, oh, Chunmeng... Not only did a blush creep up my face.

I asked Xiao Bi to take the mirror and examine herself in it, admitting that she wasn't a stunning beauty. Her nose wasn't prominent enough, and her forehead was too big. She inherited her father's eyebrows and eyes, which were alluring when she squinted. Her lips were small, not very red, just pink. Perhaps it was because she was still young. Her skin was fair and smooth, without a single pore. Her most prized feature was her meticulously maintained head of black hair, absolutely smooth, silky, and with a beautiful drape…

I couldn't help but think of Little Fourth in my dreams. I was so vague, I couldn't see his face clearly, but my senses were unmistakable, it had to be him. Years ago, I realized that Little Fourth's feelings for me weren't just pure sibling affection, perhaps there was something else… But I could never quite figure out my feelings for him… That guy was sometimes mischievous and naughty, and sometimes incredibly gentle… As for his looks… absolutely top-notch… Uh… a top-notch little brat. Thinking about it, I couldn't help but feel a bit nauseous. Could it be that I have a pedophilic tendency? Do I like little boys? (It seems you're not that old yourself… Lolita and boy are a good match, right? *drifts away*)

As for Ah Qing, he's mine in life and in death, no need to think about it.

As for Bai Mengzhi… I smirked. Only a ghost would dream of him. I'll ignore him, block him out!!

According to ancestral tradition, Bai family boys can return home at 16 after completing their apprenticeship. Father said my eldest brother didn't return home at 16; he went directly to the capital to open a Bai family branch. He's been there for three years now, and it's said he's somewhat settled. Of course, his marriage is temporarily on hold due to the lack of a male lead. When I first heard this news, I suspected he did it on purpose! In a few more days, my second and third brothers should also be home, uh… and the fairy Bai Mengzhi too. The days have been passing so slowly, so slowly that I'm almost forgetting what my second and third brothers look like. I vaguely remember my second brother being sunny and my third brother being refined. As for my fourth child, it'll be over two years, and Xingzhi, needless to say, will be a year older than my fourth.

I'm still very happy; finally, I'm not the only child in the house anymore. It'll be more lively, and I won't be so bored every day.

Chapter 14 Return

The weather is slowly turning cold, and that stubborn Ah Qing still spends every day in the trees outside… Ying has such a strange habit; wearing black and hiding in a tree, doesn't anyone know you're up there? If you ask me, he should at least wear green, at least like a chameleon… cough, I digress. I suggested Ah Qing sleep in the house at night, it's warmer and closer to me. He refused, and finally, after I ignored him for an hour without any success in using threats or bribes, he gave in and agreed to sleep in the corridor, behind the screen in the bedroom of the "Fengyue Baojian" (a fictional bedroom). I figured there was a long-haired carpet behind the screen so he wouldn't get cold, and since it was separated from the room by the screen, it wouldn't be too inconvenient for men and women. I was just worried he might scare Xiao Bi and Xiao Yue when they went to the bathroom in the middle of the night… When I raised my concerns, he gave me a disdainful look and said: "What does Master think Ying means? It's to make sure no one notices." He disappeared in a flash... Oh well, Ah Qing's been elusive for a while now; he can vanish in a whole day if I don't look for him. I've wondered, where does he eat? Doesn't he sleep, day or night? When does he go to the toilet? He has a room at the brothel, and it's almost untouched... Overall, the Shadows are really strange people... For example, my second uncle's Shadow brother accompanies his master on business every day... Uh...

Finally, the day has come for the brothers to come home... The first snow has already fallen.

"Master, the master requests your presence in the front hall." I was reading a novel with a hand warmer when Xiao Yue arrived. "The Third Young Master and the Eldest Young Master are about to enter the mansion."

"Hmm, finally back! It's almost New Year's... Wait, Xiao Yue, you mean Third Brother and Bai Mengzhi? Where did Second Brother go?"

"It seems the Second Young Master is still on the mountain and refuses to come down, wanting to practice some kind of peerless martial arts."

"Uh..." Looking at Xiao Yue's adoring and serious expression, I was speechless... Peerless martial arts... Does that thing really exist? Wasn't it supposed to be hidden inside some treasure map or token? Wasn't it supposed to be an accidental fall off a cliff where a reclusive master would impart all his knowledge?

It wasn't until much later, after hearing from the person involved, that I understood. Actually, my second brother was afraid to go home and inherit the family business… Who could blame him when my eldest brother was in the capital, and he was the second son? He had no choice but to hide in the mountains and refuse to come down.

Xiao Bi lifted the curtain, and Xiao Yue helped me into the house to sit down next to my father. I glanced around; it was such a big day, but my second uncle wasn't there. My father pulled me close, nestled me in his arms, and affectionately pressed his nose against my head, saying, "Why is our fifth

young lady dressed so warmly? She looks like a little snowball." "Father is making fun of Ya Ya, isn't he? You know she's most afraid of the cold. I wanted to come out wrapped in a blanket, but I was afraid of embarrassing you, sir," I glared at my gleeful third uncle. He never missed an opportunity to make a fool of himself… What a boring man.

Father was pinching my cheek when an announcement came from outside that the young masters had entered the manor. Father and Third Uncle, according to seniority, were not in a position to greet the younger generation. I sighed and resignedly went out to greet my two elder brothers. Although the servants had cleared the snow from the roads, a chill still seeped up from my feet. There was no reason to take a sedan chair to pick up my brothers, so I could only shiver and hug the hand warmer even tighter. Halfway to the courtyard gate, I saw Third Brother and Bai Mengzhi. Third Brother was indeed less eye-catching than Bai Mengzhi. That vixen raised an eyebrow at me and strode over. Third Brother, dressed in a light blue robe and white cloak, nodded and smiled gently at me and followed.

"Little sister, you've become even more beautiful and delicate in the years since I last saw you. If Third Brother remembers correctly, Ya Ya is almost fourteen, isn't she?" Third Brother took my icy hand and asked gently. Third Brother is truly a gentle man. His face isn't strikingly beautiful, but it's adorned with a mesmerizing smile. Long, thick eyelashes obscure most of his eyes. Gentleness and unfathomable depth are perfectly balanced in this man… His smile seems… truly captivating… I can't imagine who could refuse if he made a request of a girl looking like that, even something as simple as, "Give me your body, okay?"

"It's really not easy to see the little princess while fully conscious." Mengzhi suddenly leaned closer, his phoenix eyes slightly narrowed. Turning around, I saw his handsome face magnified. What… what does he mean by that?

"Oh? So Mengzhi often sees her little sister when she's not fully conscious?" Third Brother's tone remained calm, but I suddenly felt a chill…

"No, no, it's that I often see the little princess in my half-conscious dreams…" Bai Mengzhi grabbed my hand from Third Brother's and pulled it into his arms. "Ah, the little princess's body is so cold. Let's go inside quickly. Come here, Mengzhi will warm you up." His breath on my face was sweet… the scent of lemon. Him? In his dream… he dreamt of me too? Could it be like I dreamt of him…? Looking up at his handsome face, capable of driving any woman mad, he was smiling strangely, and my face flushed… I didn't even realize I was pressed tightly against Bai Mengzhi's chest.

“What? Is Mengzhi back this time to propose marriage to Father?” Third Brother narrowed his eyes at Mengzhi's intimate gesture of walking with her arm around me.

“Ah… what virtue or ability does Mengzhi possess? I wonder if our family's precious little princess would be willing to marry me?” Hmm? Suddenly the topic shifted?

“Let's go in.” We'd reached the main hall; Third Brother calmly lifted the hem of his robe and went in first.

Mengzhi pretended to lift the curtain a little higher, then lowered her head and whispered in my ear, “Little princess, I'm serious…” Her breath tickled my ear and neck, making my heart flutter… This vixen, seducing me again.

Having been used as a puppet by these two men along the way, I couldn't help but feel a little discouraged. What was going on? These two guys were only 16, yet they were being so sarcastic and ambiguous! "I must have never had a childhood!"

Uncle San's eyes lit up when he saw Mengzhi's expression, and then he saw him with his arm around me, a knowing smile spreading across his face. Father, seeing us so close together, acted as if he hadn't seen anything and gestured for everyone to sit down. I sat down next to Father, and then Third Brother and Mengzhi followed, sitting down next to Father and Third Uncle respectively. Then began the pointless pleasantries of a long-awaited reunion. Third Brother answered gently as always, and Bai Mengzhi was unusually serious.

But I was pondering Bai Mengzhi's words. What did she mean by "rarely seeing me sober"? What did she mean by wanting me to marry her? I frowned, suddenly feeling that things were getting a bit chaotic. When did Bai Mengzhi and I get involved? It seemed like this was only the second time I'd met him, the last time being six years ago. I could say I didn't have any pleasant memories of him, so where did his familiarity with me come from? My head was spinning... a complete mess.

"Ya Ya? Are you willing?" Uncle San raised an eyebrow and asked me...

"Hmm?" Willing what? "I don't want to... I don't want to marry him!" Good heavens...

Suddenly, the room became eerily quiet. Father sipped his tea as if nothing was wrong, Third Brother smiled broadly, Bai Mengzhi looked innocent, and Third Uncle stared in disbelief... What was going on?

"Ahem, little sister... Your cousin Mengzhi said he's travel-worn and wants to soak in our family's hot spring, but Third Uncle says that the pool is currently in your yard. Would you be willing to let Mengzhi soak there?" Third Brother chuckled, helping me recall the situation...

"Ah...? Oh... Sure, sure... I'll take Brother Mengzhi there right now." My face must have been as red as a shrimp... Oh my god, in over 13 years, I've never been this embarrassed... What will people think of me? So presumptuous... I quickly glared at Bai Mengzhi and rushed out first, not even hearing Third Brother say he wanted to see his little sister's hot spring.

Xiaoyue followed and draped a cloak over me, while Xiaobi handed me a hand warmer with a strange expression...

"Don't laugh!" I gritted my teeth and continued running.

Suddenly, Bai Mengzhi flew to me like a gust of wind, scooped me up in his arms, and carried me straight to the brothel.

"Ah~~ Your cousin can't wait to take a bath! If your cousin is in a hurry too, this will be faster..." Xiao Bi and Xiao Yue were left watching their master being taken hostage, exchanging bewildered glances.

I looked up, biting my lip, glaring at Bai Mengzhi. This guy made me look foolish... I hate him 55555555

"Little princess, you've hurt my feelings so much~~ What's wrong with your cousin...? Why are you so disgusted...? You should know your cousin is dashing and handsome, a true gentleman and heroine of the martial world..."

"Shut up!"

"Hmm... Is the little wildcat throwing a tantrum? I have a better way to shut her up, little princess, would you like to try..." As he spoke, his excessively handsome face leaned closer, his phoenix eyes, filled with a sly smile, sweeping over my lips... I quickly closed my eyes tightly and screamed, "No, no!"... This guy is capable of anything...

I felt his chest vibrate; it turned out he was chuckling softly. He held me and continued to use his lightness skill, a slight sigh floating in the air, his words as delicate as silk, almost imperceptible, "My silly girl..." I secretly opened my eyes and saw him smiling as he looked ahead, not taking the opportunity to violate me, which reassured me. It seems... this guy isn't so bad after all~ His blue robe billowed in the wind... making Bai Anyang appear like an immortal floating in the white garden. But the expression in his slightly squinted eyes, meeting the sunlight, wasn't as calm as usual. He watched the departing figures of the two beautiful women… It seemed… something had already happened in a corner he couldn't see… It seemed the fourth prince had felt the same way back then… Interesting… May I get involved?

I shivered in Bai Mengzhi's arms…

“Is the little princess cold?” Bai Mengzhi's handsome face pressed against my icy cheek… “So cold… I'll go faster then!”

The wheel of fate has begun to turn again, and those who are drawn in, none can escape. Whether they fall or struggle to escape… it's all in vain. But what is there to fear? What awaits you may be more than just depravity…

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