Mei Qingxue gradually came with a mournful face. Her starry eyes, like shimmering water waves, were slowly filled with sorrow. After a long sigh, she finally said, "Handsome Young Master, you don't know. Well... That woman may dance hotly and have an alluring figure. Every smile and dimple of hers seems to be able to captivate people's hearts..." Here, one thousand wonderful adjectives are omitted... After all, it's herself. How could she not praise herself a bit?
"However, when you get closer, you'll know how terrifying the face under her mask is. Her face is full of poisonous sores. Once she opens her mouth, she can stink all the live fish on the whole street to death. The scariest thing is her stinky feet that can kill people! She was originally a woman who fled from the Western Regions. The madam of the Xiangxiao Courtyard kept her only because of her excellent dancing skills. Otherwise, she might have starved to death on the street long ago."
Saying this, Mei Qingxue still looked as if she was in fear. After pretending to pat her chest, she continued, "Handsome Young Master doesn't know. Just now I was attracted by her on the stage and couldn't wait to go backstage to find her. But who would have thought... As soon as I lifted the white veil, I, I couldn't help but vomit..."
While Mei Qingxue was vividly describing all this, Du Guqing was looking at her with great interest. He really didn't know what kind of noble family could raise such a naughty girl.
The reason he thought she was from a noble family was that she was able to appear in the imperial palace that night. He guessed that she must have come with her family to attend the palace banquet and was probably the family member of some court official.
"Oh? Is it really so? Or is Young Master Luo just afraid that I'll take your beauty away and say so?" A face full of poisonous sores and stinky feet that can kill people. He really admired her imagination.
"How could Handsome Young Master not trust me? I told you this only because I don't want you to be deceived. If you really want to see that girl's true face, I won't stop you." Mei Qingxue pretended to be angry. She was taking a gamble, a gamble on how much the Handsome Young Master trusted her.
"You're joking, Young Master Luo. She's just a woman. It doesn't matter if I don't see her. However, I have one thing I don't understand. Since this woman is so unbearable, why are you afraid that she'll be bought by others?"
I knew you'd ask this. I've already prepared my speech! "Well, if it weren't for the request of an old acquaintance, I wouldn't have done such a thing."
The Handsome Young Master suddenly seemed to understand. "I see. Then I'll surely do my best to help you, Young Master Luo."
"Thank you so much, Handsome Young Master."
While Mei Qingxue and the Handsome Young Master were chatting, the voting over there had already ended. The relevant people were counting the votes on the stage. They did this to ensure fairness and justice and to prevent anyone from cheating.
Soon, the vote - counting was over. Everyone's attention was attracted by the girls on the stage, especially Yue Ru, who was pretending to be Mei Niang. Almost everyone on the scene was looking at her. Yue Ru, who had never seen such a big occasion, was so scared that she almost cried. But after thinking of Mei Qingxue's words, she still persisted.
"Everyone, everyone, the result of our statistics is out! This year's flower - queen is Mei Niang from the Xiangxiao Courtyard, who won with 200 votes! This year's flower - queen is Mei Niang from the Xiangxiao Courtyard!"
"Hahaha... Hurry up and bid. Hurry up! I have plenty of money. I'll take that charming girl tonight. Hahaha..." Before the middle - aged woman's voice had faded away, a fat and chubby man in the appearance of a young master shouted loudly.
As soon as his voice fell, others also started to make a racket.
"Okay, okay, okay. Gentlemen, don't be in a hurry. These beautiful ladies will spend a wonderful night with the gentlemen who bid the highest price tonight."
"I want to buy that young lady from the Xiangxiao Courtyard. How much is the starting price? Don't waste my time."
Mei Qingxue felt very uncomfortable seeing these men treat the women on the stage like auction items. Although she understood in her heart that women had no status in ancient times, she still couldn't help feeling angry when she saw it with her own eyes. She would surely not let these stinky men look down on her in the future. Who says women are inferior to men? Stinky men, just wait and see!
Although Du Guqing was looking at the stage, he had been observing Mei Qingxue from the corner of his eye. When he saw her gloomy face, he thought she didn't like this kind of scene. So he called his attendant, whispered a few words in his ear, and then the attendant left understandingly.
"Don't worry, Young Master Luo. No one will be able to bid for that girl today. There are too many people here. Let's leave first."
Mei Qingxue subconsciously wanted to refuse. Her cute Yue Ru was still on the stage. What if she was molested? Actually, she really wanted to say, "How can you be so sure that she won't be bid away?" But when she saw his deep, dark eyes, she somehow followed him away.
Yue Ru, forgive your miss! Although she had never seen what the Handsome Young Master looked like, she was sure that he must be a great beauty. So, having no great resistance to handsome men, she just followed him away...
"Don't worry, Young Master Luo. My people will surely protect that girl well."
"Since the Handsome Young Master has said so, what else do I have to worry about? Do you think I don't trust your character?"
"I know there's a very unique teahouse in the capital. Anyway, I'm free today. Would you like to go there with me, Young Master Luo?"
"How could I not accept the invitation from the Handsome Young Master?"
"Please, Young Master Luo."
For some reason, Mei Qingxue felt that the Handsome Young Master's attitude towards her seemed a bit different, but she couldn't tell what had changed. Anyway, it just felt strange.
Forget it. Why think so much? Anyway, this matter is settled. But she also owed the Handsome Young Master a big favor. She would pay it back slowly when she had the chance.
Du Guqing took Mei Qingxue to a painting gallery by the river. There was a small teahouse made of bamboo on the gallery. The teahouse was not big, but it was decorated very elegantly.
There were not many people in the small teahouse. Everyone was savoring the fragrant tea in their cups carefully. Even their voices were soft, as if they were afraid of disturbing the people nearby.
The first impression Mei Qingxue had of this small teahouse was naturalness and tranquility. It seemed like a place isolated from the world. The noisy world outside couldn't disturb the people who were tasting tea here at all. As soon as she walked into the teahouse, a fresh bamboo fragrance unique to bamboo assailed her nostrils, which made her feel refreshed. The faint bamboo fragrance brought people into a wonderful natural realm.
The two of them chose a seat near the river. As long as they tilted their heads slightly, they could see the scenery on the river. Mei Qingxue couldn't help sighing that it was really a poetic and picturesque place.
"I like to come here to taste a pot of fragrant tea when I'm in a bad mood on weekdays. I just sit quietly for an afternoon, thinking about nothing. After a while, the annoying thoughts will gradually calm down, and my heart will be as calm as still water."
"Yes, this is really a rare good place."
"May I ask if you're from the capital, Handsome Young Master?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Then you must be quite familiar with every place in the capital?"
Actually, a plan was already forming in her mind. The things that had happened recently showed that she must become stronger. Only when she became stronger could she have the ability to protect the people she loved.
"Actually, I want to do some business in the capital, but there are many things I don't understand. So I want to find someone who is familiar with the capital to consult."
"Oh? You want to do business in the capital, Young Master Luo?" How could a woman like her want to do the things that men did? Was it because there were some difficulties in her family?
"Yes. Maybe I'll come to consult you when I don't understand something, Handsome Young Master?"
"Of course, there's no problem. If you have any difficulties, you can also tell me. I'll surely do my best to help if I can."
"I'm really lucky to make a friend like you, Handsome Young Master. This time, I'll take the tea as wine and drink first to show my gratitude to you." After saying that, Mei Qingxue picked up the teacup and drank it all in one gulp. She was really happy to make such a friend.
But when she knew the truth in the future, she could only sigh that fate played tricks on people.
"You're being too polite, Young Master Luo."
The sun was gradually setting in the west. Unconsciously, Mei Qingxue and Du Guqing had sat here for almost an afternoon. It was really a pity that time passed so fast. The two people who were chatting happily didn't even notice the change.
"It's getting late. I have to go back to the mansion first. I'll surely pay you back all the silver spent on buying that girl in the future." She didn't expect that they had chatted for so long unconsciously. The two of them seemed to have endless things to talk about and could always agree with each other. This time, Yue Ru would surely blame her for not taking care of her.
"Don't worry. You can pay me back whenever you want. That girl is now in the carriage outside. The coachman will take you back to your mansion."
"Thank you so much, Handsome Young Master. I'll take my leave first."
"You're welcome, Young Master Luo."
After Mei Qingxue walked out of the teahouse, she saw a carriage parked not far away. Her impression of the Handsome Young Master increased by two points. He was really a careful man.
She lifted the curtain of the carriage and saw Yue Ru sitting upright in the carriage with a veil on.
"Miss, you're finally back. I was really scared just now. You don't know how many people there were!" As soon as Yue Ru saw Mei Qingxue, her tense nerves immediately relaxed. She had never seen such a scene in her life.
"Of course I know. Those men below were almost crazy about you."
"Miss, don't talk nonsense. They like the dance you danced, not Yue Ru who was just standing there. " Yue Ru was very embarrassed by what Mei Qingxue said. She had never dared to imagine that there would be men going crazy for her.
"Hehe, you also contributed."
"Have you made it clear to the Handsome Young Master, Miss?"