Lu Meng had no idea that she hadn’t returned for two days, and Wu Dagou simply couldn’t hold back any longer. Those ancient literary heroes, after ultimate evolution, were nothing but scoundrels—fragile as sand the moment you touched them.
But Wu Dagou was still just a little pup, unrefined and lacking resolve.
Meanwhile, Lu Meng was boldly enjoying herself, escorting Zhangsun Xianyun through the various entertainments of the ancient city.
The moment Lu Meng stepped in, the shopkeeper who had previously sold her the Wenhua Tower received the notification and hurried out to greet her, calling her “Master” with a beaming smile. If it weren’t for his large belly, his head and feet might have nearly touched when he bowed so deeply.
Before Lu Meng could say a word, he had already arranged all the food and entertainment in meticulous detail.
“Master, on the third floor in the elegant private room, several ladies of the city are playing the flower lottery,” the shopkeeper bent even lower, despite his age, bustling about like a busy little bee as he said to Lu Meng, “Would you like to join them for some fun?”
The manager of Wenhua Tower was also one of Wu Linxuan’s most capable assistants, named Wen Xuecheng. Usually slippery and sly like an eel when it came to handling affairs, he was truly a master businessman.
He spoke to people according to who they were—flattering those who needed flattery, and cutting through others like a ghost. Wu Linxuan had entrusted Wenhua Tower to him for many years, and despite all kinds of visitors—powerful officials, nobles, even members of the royal family—no one had ever managed to uncover the real owner behind the scenes.
The last time Lu Meng came to buy the tower, she was accompanied by Xin Ya, a trusted aide who managed Prince Jian'an’s city and even provincial properties, bearing the prince’s intimate seal.
Wen Xuecheng, upon seeing the prince’s favored concubine coming to buy a building, didn’t utter a word. His eyes flickered as he deliberately sold at a low price.
He wasn’t without ulterior motives. Reading his master’s mind, he guessed that this seemingly empty-headed concubine was allowed to act recklessly because the master was backing her. Perhaps she was being pushed forward as the “official owner” to take the fall for something.
So all the respect and friendliness Wen Xuecheng showed back then was just him waiting to see how this naive concubine would stumble.
As for the deed to Wenhua Tower? Everyone belonged to Prince Jian'an, so whether it was genuine or fake, it was all just a matter of appearances.
But Wen Xuecheng had been waiting all this time, waiting for the Southern General to return to the capital, waiting for this “brain full of courage” concubine to rise to fame after a decisive battle in the palace.
Now, in the Wenhua Tower, the ladies gathered there all spoke of the now-famous “rising star” — Prince Jian'an’s favored concubine, Zhangsun Lumeng.
Naturally, Wen Xuecheng lowered himself as much as possible when he saw Lu Meng.
Just because she, single-handedly, had stirred up the stagnant palace politics for years, and now still looked healthy and rosy enough to come to Wenhua Tower for leisure—this was a woman he dared not offend.
He guessed at her intentions. When he said “several ladies of the city,” he meant the official wives of high-ranking officials.
Among them was even Madam Zhou, wife of the current Grand Marshal. Such gatherings were rare. These ladies’ meetings were often more important than the ministers’ own appearances, for many messages were privately conveyed through these wives on behalf of their husbands.
In the imperial harem of the previous dynasty, the ministers and their wives together wove a vast web called “The Empire’s Realm.” Every single thread in that web was crucial and indispensable.
Wen Xuecheng was clearly laying the groundwork for this so-called “Madam Meng” to rise. She was now the talk of the town among the ladies, a rising star in the world of noblewomen. As long as she connected with these influential ladies and quietly earned merit for the prince, her official recognition was just around the corner.
But all of Wen Xuecheng’s schemes and plots were nothing more than scraps of food for pigs when faced with Lu Meng.
Lu Meng shook her head and said, “What’s the point of all this fuss? Just make sure to arrange a room far away from all the noise!”
Lu Meng had no idea what kind of characters the innkeeper meant by “the city’s madams,” but from her experience as a heroine in a tragic romance, the only people she’d encounter on the streets were eccentric oddballs.
She couldn’t even dodge them properly—why on earth would she want to get closer? That would be madness.
Lu Meng continued, “Make sure it’s somewhere quiet, and I want a room with a direct view of the river. My sister and I are here purely to enjoy ourselves today.”
She looked up and glanced at the hostess’s offerings. The Wenhua Tower was grand, and that was for a reason. Countless plaques, densely packed like the memorial tablets in a temple, hung under the corridor. When the wind blew, they clinked softly, producing a crisp, pleasant sound with a meditative quality.
Lu Meng looked over the menu of food and entertainment. She skipped over the complicated characters she didn’t recognize, having learned a few from Xin Ya before. At least she could stumble through and identify most of the words.
Carefully, Lu Meng selected entertainments suitable for herself and Zhangsun Xianyun.
She plucked a few plaques down and tossed them into Wen Xuecheng’s arms.
“Arrange all these immediately.”
“Oh, didn’t you say there’s hot spring water, drawn from the mountain?”
Lu Meng said, “Prepare plenty of fresh fruit, chilled and cut, and have some light, non-intoxicating drinks ready.”
She then looked at Zhangsun Xianyun and said, “Shall we have a light drink together today?”
Zhangsun Xianyun nodded but cast a glance at Wen Xuecheng. She felt uncomfortable with his slick, mercantile demeanor.
But since he was respectful to Lu Meng, she averted her piercing gaze and relaxed a little.
Wen Xuecheng, holding the pile of plaques, wore a flattering expression, but his eyes flickered with a complex mix of emotions—especially when he noticed that among the plaques were requests for two male qin players.
He barely managed to keep a straight face, muttering “Alright, alright,” as he stepped out.
Soon, two maidservants arrived to escort Lu Meng and Zhangsun Xianyun.
As they walked, Lu Meng asked, her tail wagging almost to the sky, “Sister, what do you think of this place?”
Zhangsun Xianyun naturally knew the Wenhua Tower. Who in the imperial city didn’t? Even if you combined all the taverns, brothels, and eateries in the city, none could match the fame of Wenhua Tower.
Ordinary people weren’t allowed here; it was the favorite haunt of the powerful and wealthy.
Yet now her own sister was the owner of this very Wenhua Tower?
Zhangsun Xianyun was far more thoughtful than Lu Meng.
She grabbed Lu Meng’s arm and leaned in close, asking, “Did you buy this place from that man we just saw?”
Even Zhangsun Xianyun was curious about who was truly behind the Wenhua Tower, but whoever it was, it certainly wasn’t the man who had just greeted them.
He was at most the nominal manager.
Lu Meng nodded and leaned over the railing, gazing out at the river view. She took a deep breath and said with satisfaction, “Yeah, it cost nineteen hundred and ninety-nine taels of gold.”
Impossible!
A single heavy iron blade alone cost four thousand taels of gold.
Zhangsun Xianyun frowned, but Lu Meng gave her a little tug and said, “Sister, look—the colorful silk-draped boats floating in the middle of the lake are all flower boats. After we soak in the hot springs, we’ll go for a boat ride on the lake. I’ve even booked two musicians with particularly romantic, flowery names.”
Lu Meng turned to smile at Zhangsun Xianyun. The breeze lifted her loose hair, brushing it across her face, making her look mischievously adorable. Lu Meng didn’t care about the custom that married women must pin up their hair.
Taking advantage of Zhangsun Xianyun’s presence, today the maid had styled her hair like an unmarried lady’s, and even chose a delicate set of pearl ornaments for her.
She winked at Zhangsun Xianyun. “Don’t worry, sister. It’s just a boat ride. I didn’t hire any handsome male attendants to accompany us. Since your husband’s off fighting on the battlefield, he won’t mind.”
Zhangsun Xianyun sighed in resignation and joined her at the railing, gazing down below.
The Wenhua Pavilion nestled against the mountain by the water, with its open corridor facing the river. Standing there, even just looking out, one could feel completely refreshed.
Having seen mountains and rivers in the southern borderlands, Zhangsun Xianyun probably didn’t find this view particularly extraordinary.
But the flower boats on the river were truly eye-catching, like spring blossoms blooming on the water—lush and dazzling. Faint sounds of drums and music drifted over, making one feel as if they were in a world apart, yet not lonely.
Here, the beauty was not only in the scenery but also in the mood it evoked.
“Let’s go,” Lu Meng pulled her gaze away and said to Zhangsun Xianyun, “We’ll come back up tonight. When I bought this place, the manager told me the river looks its best at night.”
“At that time, the river will be covered with floating lanterns, and the boats will be hung with all kinds of colorful lanterns. It’ll be no less spectacular than the Lantern Festival.”
Zhangsun Xianyun curled her lips and shook her head slightly, thinking her little sister was such a child. What was so great about all this flashy stuff? Better to practice swordsmanship.
But since she was here to accompany her sister, she would go along with whatever plans Lu Meng had.
Yet when the two of them were led by a maid to the highest floor, to the largest room, Zhangsun Xianyun found an opportunity to say, “The Wenhua Pavilion has long been famous and is a gathering place for the powerful in the imperial city. It’s not something that could be bought for a mere two thousand taels of gold.”
“Yinyin, don’t let yourself be used as a scapegoat.”
Lu Meng smiled at her words, looking completely unconcerned.
“Sister, I didn’t expect to be able to buy it either, but I checked the deed—it’s real.”
“As for the intentions of the person behind this... who cares?”
Lu Meng adopted a ‘seize the day’ attitude and said, “Sister, some things don’t need to be thought through too clearly. Whatever happens at the Wenhua Pavilion won’t fall on my head.”
“The deed must be worth fighting over by those in the court. I can resell it for a sky-high price.”
“If worst comes to worst and trouble arises, I can just tear it up and claim ignorance.”
Lu Meng said, “I’m the buyer. They gave me the deed, and the only one I signed for was the one I took with me. Even if something else suddenly pops up, what does that have to do with me?”
“At the time, the only ones who knew I bought Wenhua Tower were the shopkeeper just now, Xin Ya, and the others.”
Lu Meng pinched her cup of tea between her fingers, walked over to the grand window, and stretched lazily.
She said, “If that shopkeeper wanted to frame me, could he really outsmart Prince Jian'an?”
“If… haha.”
Lu Meng let out a light laugh.
If Prince Jian'an Wu Dagou wanted to harm her, to have her take the fall or something like that, being falsely accused is pretty common for the suffering female lead in these melodramatic novels.
But Lu Meng would never willingly take the blame for the male lead. If Wu Dagou dared to mess with her and make her life miserable, then no one would have it easy.
The purchase of Wenhua Tower went so smoothly that day, and there haven’t been any troubles since. Did she not have a clue who was behind it all?
She was just too lazy to think about it.
Besides, in this ridiculous melodrama, it’s always the female lead who suffers abuse, while the male lead is the one who fights among heroes and ultimately rises to the top.
Since Lu Meng opened her eyes in this world, she has never forgotten the four words hovering over her head: “suffering female lead.”
The fact that everything has been so calm until now isn’t because the male lead or the storyline has been merciful—it’s because she has carved out a different path for herself.
Some of the unspoken rules in this world have already revealed everything to Lu Meng.
If this wonderful Wenhua Tower doesn’t belong to Prince Jian'an Wu Dagou, then whose is it?
Thinking too much just gives her a headache. She only cares about eating, drinking, and having fun.
Who knows what kind of hellish plot twists await her later? Better to enjoy the moment while she can.
Zhangsun Xianyun was momentarily speechless. How could her sister have such a reckless, give-up attitude?
But truly, they were kindred spirits who hit it off instantly.
Besides stirring up an even stronger desire in Zhangsun Xianyun to achieve glory and protect her sister, she also felt that maybe this wasn’t such a bad thing.
Things had come to this point—if the jar was broken, it wouldn’t magically heal itself by not smashing it further.
In the imperial city, very few dared to make a move against Prince Jian'an’s head. The only ones brave enough were her and Feng Beiyi.
If Prince Jian'an dared to act recklessly…
Zhangsun Xianyun narrowed her eyes and ran her hand along her side. She hadn’t brought her long sword today, only a short dagger.
A flicker of coldness appeared in her eyes.
“A distinguished guest, the hot spring is ready.”
A gentle voice from a maid behind Lu Meng and Zhangsun Xianyun interrupted their respective “wild thoughts.”
The two of them changed clothes and were then led by the maid down a hidden corridor, all the way to the back of Wenhua Tower, in front of a courtyard billowing with steam.
This season wasn’t the best time for hot springs. Back in her own world, Lu Meng preferred to soak in hot springs during the winter.
She’d gather with her girlfriends, soaking in the warm water while eating fruit and sipping wine, chatting about family matters, bizarre blind dates, and how delightfully carefree life could be.
Now, Lu Meng had no girlfriends. In this world, aside from her relative Zhangsun Xianyun, only the two maids, Xiuyun and Xiuli, were close to her.
She simply didn’t dare to treat the girls in this world as girlfriends.
After all, in these tragic romance stories, the heroine never really has any true sisters. Even if she does, they’re bound to stab her in the back—either with a literal dagger or by trying to steal her man.
Lu Meng and Zhangsun Xianyun were led by maidservants into a room, where a warm, misty air greeted them. Approaching the pool, they saw that fruits and wine had already been prepared.
Lu Meng had initially thought the hot spring was just a gimmick. After all, in the modern world, many so-called “hot springs” were really just bathhouses boiling tap water.
But this ancient world was surprisingly genuine. The moment Lu Meng stepped inside, a strong sulfur scent hit her nose.
What’s more, the pool was built from jade stones. Although the quality of the jade wasn’t the finest, it was still incredibly luxurious. Layers of curtains hung throughout the room, giving the whole place an ethereal, almost otherworldly atmosphere.
Two maidservants, dressed in bathing attire, knelt on either side of the pool, ready to attend to Lu Meng and Zhangsun Xianyun.
Lu Meng clicked her tongue inwardly.
Once again, she was grateful she wasn’t a maid—having to kneel and serve others was a fate she would rather die than endure.
Waving her hand, Lu Meng told the two maids, “You can leave now. We don’t need any assistance here.”
The maids responded promptly and left. Lu Meng and Zhangsun Xianyun then stepped into the pool one after the other.
The water was slightly hot—almost scalding—but once they got used to it, it felt just right.
Lu Meng leaned against the edge of the pool and smiled at Zhangsun Xianyun.
Looking around, she realized the pool could easily fit ten or so people.
A cracked bamboo pipe extended from outside the courtyard, continuously pouring water into the pool. Several recessed channels along the pool’s edge allowed any overflow to drain away.
The thick curtains trapped the rising steam inside the room, but when Lu Meng looked up, she noticed the roof was open to the sky.
If she soaked here at night, she might even catch a glimpse of the stars—quite romantic, actually.
The gentle sound of flowing water filled the air. Lu Meng moved closer to the slightly uncomfortable Zhangsun Xianyun, pulled over a small table of fruit, peeled a grape, and brought it to Zhangsun Xianyun’s lips as she sat upright in the pool.
“Relax, sister. Soaking in a pool like this will do wonders for those old injuries of yours that ache whenever it rains.”
“If you didn’t have to go fight in the southern frontier, I’d bring you here to soak every day…”
Zhangsun Xianyun ate the grape, soaking in the warm water while enjoying the chilled fruit—a luxury even the palace concubines rarely experienced.
She murmured, “Forget it… I still prefer fighting.”
Lu Meng laughed heartily, and gradually, Zhangsun Xianyun relaxed as well. Lu Meng herself melted into a puddle, completely sprawled out by the poolside.
The jade pool was cleverly designed, with varying depths. The deep section allowed the body to float, while the shallow part featured a large jade slab with a slight slope. Lying flat there, the water would cover only half the body, leaving the other half exposed to cool off, preventing anyone from overheating and fainting.
After a while, Lu Meng moved to the deeper area, gripping the pool’s edge to let her whole body float effortlessly.
For a while, she lay on her side like a big green frog, resting on the smooth jade stone slab, soaking in the shallow water, chatting with Zhangsun Xianyun about the private gossip shared between sisters.
It was incredibly comfortable—so much so that Lu Meng squinted her eyes, drifting into a drowsy haze.
But no matter how wonderful the hot spring was, you couldn’t soak for too long. After more than half an hour, they had reached their limit. Zhangsun Xianyun didn’t seem affected, though her cheeks were slightly flushed.
If they stayed any longer, Lu Meng would probably pass out. After all, she’d only been training her body for two months, and her exercise routine was limited to pedaling an imaginary bicycle under the bed canopy every night.
She was still too weak.
Reluctantly, Lu Meng got up. Their clothes were stored in two small cabinets by the water’s edge.
The waiting maids outside immediately came in to help them change as soon as they heard the sounds of them emerging from the water.
Zhangsun Xianyun, having trained in martial arts for years and spent a long time in the military, was completely unused to being served by maids.
So while the two maids were busy with Lu Meng alone, Lu Meng’s cheeks flushed a deep red, like two ripe apples.
She kept smiling at Zhangsun Xianyun with genuine warmth, saying, “Sister, you’re leaving in a few days, but I really can’t bear to see you go. Being with you has been so wonderful.”
Not only wonderful, but most importantly, it was a perfect escape from the storyline!
Lu Meng even felt the urge to run away with Zhangsun Xianyun right then and there. Even if it meant never speaking a line again and becoming mute for life, it would still be better than staying by Wu Dagou’s side, trapped in a living hell.
The system, probably worried she would actually run off, suddenly spoke up after “resurrecting,” saying, “Running away with Zhangsun Xianyun is pointless. She’s heading off to the army to fight. You, dressed as a maid, won’t survive that kind of hardship.”
Startled by the system’s sudden voice, Lu Meng retorted in her mind, “Get lost!”
And just like that, the system really shut up.
Zhangsun Xianyun quickly finished changing. While tying up her hair and hanging the dagger at her waist, she smiled and replied, “I’m very happy to be with Yinyin too, but I have to return to the army. Otherwise, why don’t you come with me, Yinyin?”
Of course, Zhangsun Xianyun was joking, but after the system’s warning, Lu Meng realized it really wouldn’t work.
Although she hadn’t personally experienced marching or fighting, she knew it would be unbearably tough.
After they finished freshening up and dressing, the maids led them to enjoy the next activity.
The next treat was a classic favorite throughout the ages—massage. Not the blind massage type, but two burly, slightly older women.
Lu Meng and Zhangsun Xianyun lay on separate small beds, each attended by one of the older ladies, who pressed and kneaded them until they groaned.
Zhangsun Xianyun found it hard to adjust. She always dressed herself and was used to being independent. She couldn’t stand being “handled” by others—especially since years of martial arts training made her want to fight back the moment someone touched her.
Lu Meng, on the other hand, lay completely relaxed. No matter where the masseuses twisted or bent her body, she looked utterly content.
Watching Zhangsun Xianyun twitch and squirm like a fish on a chopping board, Lu Meng couldn’t stop laughing.
Her infectious laughter filled the entire room, even coaxing the two masseuses into chuckling along.
They didn’t know who Lu Meng really was, but they understood that a woman of her age coming to a place like this to enjoy herself must be someone of noble status.
Relying on their limited medical knowledge, these women had secured a position at the Cultural Pavilion, and normally, they would never speak out of turn.
But today, this young lady seemed so delightfully happy—so much so that just being around her made others want to laugh along.
One of the older women couldn’t help but chuckle and remark, “Miss, you smile so often; you must be blessed! Your chubby cheeks are so pretty!”
Lu Meng’s smile almost froze in place. “Chubby cheeks pretty?” Wasn’t that just a polite way of saying she was fat?
Well, fine—she was fat. But Lu Meng didn’t suffer from body image issues; health was what mattered, especially since she was still growing.
Besides, if Wu Dagou didn’t like her because she was a bit plump, that would actually be for the best.
After the massage was over, they were supposed to have acupuncture next, and only then did Lu Meng realize these two women were the city’s medical practitioners.
But when they brought out the silver needles, Lu Meng shook her head vigorously, refusing. Ancient acupuncture needles were only disinfected by briefly burning them with fire—definitely not discarded after one use. Cross-infection was a serious concern! Zhangsun Xianyun didn’t like it either, so the two of them skipped the acupuncture.
Instead, their maid led them to the next activity: a flower boat ride.
Night had fully fallen by then, and rows of floating lanterns lit up the river.
The flower boat, draped in colorful silk and glowing lanterns, looked like something out of a fairy tale from afar.
Lanterns throughout the Wenhua Pavilion were lit as well, from the back courtyard to the front, making the whole place increasingly lively.
Zhangsun Xianyun actually felt it was time to head back. She hadn’t practiced her swordsmanship today. Having just soaked in the bath and been massaged by the medical women, her body felt soft and comfortable. If she practiced a couple of sword forms now, she was sure she’d sleep especially well tonight.
But Lu Meng was bubbling with excitement, and naturally, Zhangsun Xianyun didn’t want to dampen her sister’s spirits.
Wen Xuecheng had arranged everything meticulously. When the two boarded the boat, everything Lu Meng requested was already prepared.
All kinds of fruits, snacks, light wine, and even the two musicians Lu Meng had chosen earlier were already in place.
Lu Meng was thoroughly pleased.
Zhangsun Xianyun scratched her head, feeling oddly uncomfortable in such an atmosphere.
The flower boat began to glide through the river, moving steadily over the water.
The boatman stood at the stern, wearing a bamboo hat that shadowed his face.
Whenever the breeze blew, the wind chimes hanging beneath the lanterns tinkled softly.
A strand of colorful silk fluttered and brushed against Zhangsun Xianyun’s face, making her a little unsteady at the bow. She felt as if she had stepped into a scene of “sleeping among flowers and resting by willows.”
Meanwhile, Lu Meng quietly cheered, taking a big gulp from her cup.
She had already been slightly tipsy back at the hot spring, and now her laughter blossomed like a flower in full bloom, her behavior growing even more uninhibited.
She spread her arms wide, imitating the iconic pose from Titanic’s lead characters. From behind, she wrapped her arms around Zhangsun Xianyun, lifting her hands up.
“Sister, close your eyes and listen to the wind!”
Although Zhangsun Xianyun felt a bit conflicted inside, there was no denying that she didn’t truly dislike this kind of indulgence.
Who wouldn’t know what’s truly good?
She closed her eyes, a smile playing on her lips.
At that moment, the sound of a zither drifted through the cabin. The two musicians, their faces hidden beneath veiled hats, began to play.
Lu Meng wasn’t one to appreciate ancient music; the zither’s notes were slow and gentle, drowned out by the tinkling wind chimes, leaving her feeling somewhat empty and detached.
Who wants to listen to zither music on a pleasure boat as if it were a Buddhist chant?
A flower boat slowly glided past their side, and at its prow, a dancer in flowing robes swirled gracefully.
“Sis, look! So beautiful! If I’d known, I would’ve hired some dancers too. These two zither players look like they haven’t eaten, and they won’t even show their faces…”
She had chosen musicians who performed their art without selling their bodies, but their veils were even more concealing than a nun’s, which left Lu Meng both amused and exasperated.
Zhangsun Xianyun patted Lu Meng’s head upon hearing this. It was unclear whether one of the musicians inside the cabin overheard Lu Meng’s words.
One of the musicians slightly lifted his veil, seemingly peeking past the beaded curtain toward Lu Meng’s direction.
Then, with a flick of his wrist, the music suddenly grew intense.
Lu Meng glanced back, thinking, “Oh wow, they’re really getting into it now?”
Squinting, she fixed her gaze on the musician’s hands. They were beautiful—veins prominent, slender, and fair. But they didn’t look like the hands of a typical zither player. Instead, like Zhangsun Xianyun’s hands, they were strong and powerful, as if suited to wielding a sword or dagger… Could this be a man?
Judging by his build, it probably was the male musician.
As the male musician changed his tune, the slightly shorter musician beside him immediately followed suit.
Their fingers flew over the strings in a rapid dance. Lu Meng felt the boat’s pace quicken with the rhythm, almost catching up to the flower boat that had just passed them.
Zhangsun Xianyun turned to look as well, then exclaimed in surprise, “Is that a march?”
Soon, the two boats sailed side by side again. Lu Meng’s eyes were practically glued to the dancer on the other boat.
Zhangsun Xianyun touched the dagger at her waist, drew it, and said to Lu Meng, “Stop craning your neck. If you fall into the water—since it’s a march, I’ll perform a dagger dance for you!”
Lu Meng immediately turned away, her cheeks flushed as she clapped excitedly.
She was unsteady on her feet—clearly drunk.
Zhangsun Xianyun took a few steps forward, lightly tapping her toes at the bow. The dagger flashed coldly as it was drawn.
In midair, she stretched her body like a butterfly, her robe fluttering elegantly. Her movements were sharp and fierce, dazzling to watch.
Especially the curve of her waist as she bent in midair—she instantly outshone the dancer on the neighboring boat.
The men on the other boat, who had been watching the dancer with great interest, all turned their heads toward this side.
Many of the city’s well-known playboys crowded the cabin on that boat.
Lu Meng didn’t recognize a single one, but with a proud lift of her chin, her eyes shone with admiration as she watched her sister.
Her world was now filled with Zhangsun Xianyun—the stirring music and her sister’s fierce moves blended together perfectly, as if made for each other.
Lu Meng couldn’t help but steal another glance at the qin player inside the cabin. A sudden gust of river wind lifted a corner of the musician’s hood…
Beneath the glow of the lanterns, the interior of the boat was awash in a kaleidoscope of colors, hazy and enchanting like the rippling river itself. Lu Meng was struck by the exquisitely delicate jawline.
The curtain soon fell back into place, and the qin player suddenly slammed a palm down on the strings.
The long zither under his hand seemed to seethe with anger. Lu Meng was startled; the music abruptly stopped.
“Splash!” Someone fell into the water.
At that moment, Zhangsun Xianyun finished her final move. The dagger in her hand slipped free and flew straight into the cabin of the neighboring flower boat!
Earlier, the rowdy group of rich brats had been crowding to watch this side, blocking the view of the dancing girls. One of those brats had even shoved a girl into the river.
The girl didn’t scream or call for help—she dared not disturb the young masters’ amusement.
But it was obvious she couldn’t swim. She flailed desperately in the water, drifting past the stern, unable to grab onto the boat. No one was waiting for her to resurface.
Zhangsun Xianyun’s dagger sliced through the air, and a chorus of shocked cries arose from the other side. The dagger had pierced the cabin where the brat who had pushed the girl was sitting—he was now trembling in terror, collapsing onto the deck.
Lu Meng turned her head to look, only to see Zhangsun Xianyun’s white robe soaring through the air like a bird spreading its wings, darting across the gap between the two boats. In the blink of an eye, she had landed on the other boat.
With just a few steps on her toes, she reached the stern, grabbed the boatman’s pole, and went to rescue the drowning girl.
“Elder Sister Zhang…” Lu Meng called out, admiration in her voice.
With Zhangsun Xianyun’s martial skills, not only could she save that girl, but she could’ve easily taken down all the obvious drunkards and wastrels on the other boat without breaking a sweat.
Just as the cheers started to rise, Lu Meng felt an arm grab her.
She turned around and collided with the qin player’s hooded figure, startled, instinctively leaning back—only to find her waist tightly embraced.
Lu Meng was pressed flush against the man’s chest, uncomfortably close.
In this ancient world, even falling into a lotus pond would ruin a woman’s reputation—let alone being held by a man like this.
What was going on?
She had only come to listen to the music, not to get involved in any scandal.
How was the plot getting so intense already? While Zhangsun Xianyun was busy rescuing the girl on the other boat, was this messy love entanglement really happening to her now?!
Lu Meng’s eyes widened as she pushed at the man, her mind reeling in shock. She shouted, “What are you doing? Aren’t you supposed to sell your art, not your body?”
“You… mmmph!” The qin player covered her mouth.
Out of the corner of her eye, Lu Meng saw Zhangsun Xianyun already pulling the girl out of the water.
Lu Meng frantically pounded on the qin player’s shoulder, struggling desperately to catch Zhangsun Xianyun’s attention and get her to come back quickly!
But Zhangsun Xianyun hadn’t noticed the commotion here yet. The qin player, with one arm firmly gripping Lu Meng’s waist, forcibly dragged her into the cabin.
Lu Meng was now filled with nothing but fear, her mind racing with curses.
She was so scared she woke up from the alcohol!
She thought to herself, this is way too chaotic!
Is this really how the plot’s going to unfold in broad daylight? No logic at all?
“Ugh ugh ugh ugh!”
Lu Meng was grabbed around the waist and dragged into the ship’s cabin, like a piglet caught in human arms, her legs kicking and arms flailing wildly.
She kept shouting something that was useless in a dangerous situation, but still had to be said: “Let me go!”
She tried to reach up and grab the hairpin on top of her head to stab him, but since she had just soaked in the bath and had a massage, her hair was still damp. She had taken off all her hairpins and only tied her hair back with a ribbon to avoid any trouble.
Seeing the other qin player close the cabin door, Lu Meng struggled even more fiercely.
These two qin players were working together!
This was bad — was her purity about to be lost today?
Lu Meng didn’t really care about her purity, but the qin player had just slammed his long zither so hard — he clearly had some serious skill.
If he used that strength on her, Lu Meng felt her head would explode like a watermelon.
How could she not struggle?
Her mouth was covered, so she couldn’t shout, but she kicked wildly like an animal, trying to reach the teapot on the cabin table to fight back.
Then she heard a sharp “smack” — the male qin player slapped her hard on the butt.
Lu Meng’s whole body stiffened instantly.
Her butt went numb — literally numb.
She sensed the danger and slowly relaxed, deciding not to struggle anymore and try to reason with this guy.
If he wanted purity, fine — just no rough stuff.
Then Lu Meng was actually set down on the floor.
But as soon as her feet touched down, the hand covering her mouth didn’t let go; instead, it grabbed both her cheeks and forced her face up against the edge of the table.
Lu Meng’s eyes welled up with tears from fear, and her waist almost broke — the position was too twisted, she really couldn’t take it!
She thought desperately, where was Zhangsun Xianyun? Why hadn’t she come back yet?
Then, with a grunt, she bit down hard on the qin player’s tiger’s mouth.
Her hands were shoved into her mouth — if she wasn’t going to bite, then when?
“Shh!” The qin player gasped sharply, but he was ruthless and didn’t loosen his grip.
He pressed Lu Meng against the table in this strange posture, looming over her with fierce intent, then bent down…
From beneath the curtain’s gap, Lu Meng caught an unexpected glimpse of the qin player’s true face.
Usually, in this kind of situation, Lu Meng would have shut her eyes immediately, so the assailant wouldn’t realize she had seen his face — or else he’d silence her.
But Lu Meng didn’t close her eyes. Instead, her eyes widened so much they nearly popped out.
This time, she sharply sucked in a breath.
A breath as long as a bowl of cold noodles.
What the hell… what is going on here?!
Lu Meng’s mind exploded with curses.
The qin player was none other than Wu Dagou!
