Don't mess with that Miao boy, he's sickly and perverted.

Ouyang Rui finally managed to carry this huge log to the Huanyin Pavilion, and he was almost half dead from exhaustion.

This log should have been carried by that guy named Wu Li.

Just now in the shop, seeing that the three were about to leave, he hurriedly invited Xiaomi to bring her friends to visit the Ouyang residence the next evening.

To everyone's surprise, Xiao Mi burst into tears, nodding and sobbing, saying "No problem." Then she looked at him, her voice still thick with a nasal tone, and asked, "Then... could you please help me with this piece of wood?"

The fairy shed tears.

How could he refuse?

And so, this pampered young nobleman, who was the number one nobleman on the list that the young lady of Qianwu Town wanted to marry, ended up doing hard labor in front of everyone.

In order not to appear weak in front of his beloved, the servants who were secretly following and observing him were terrified and wanted to lend a hand at any time, but he glared at them and refused.

What's this called? Being so concerned with saving face that you suffer for it.

That's it right now.

After handing the wood over to the servants of Huanyin Pavilion to help carry it away, Ouyang Rui slumped onto the stone steps in front of the door, panting heavily, his hair wet and sticking to his forehead.

Seven or eight servants who had been waiting nearby rushed over with a "whoosh".

One massaged the shoulders, another pounded the legs, and a quick-handed person held a freshly brewed small dragon ball tea, carefully blew on it a few times to cool it down, and then gently offered it to the young master's lips.

A servant in blue leaned closer and whispered, "Young master, I've already checked. There are four people with that young lady: two men, one woman, and a pure white cat."

"You brainless idiot! I told you to investigate people, why are you investigating cats?"

Ouyang Rui pushed the teacup away, his brows furrowing slightly. "The tea is too hot. Keep blowing on it."

The servant smiled sheepishly, took the teacup, carefully blew on it, glanced at his young master's face, and hesitated before saying, "Also, that girl is probably already engaged. In the Illusionary Sound Pavilion, she shares a room with that heterochromatic-eyed young man."

"There's another matter. When they entered the city, the guards questioned several of them and heard that the boy with the heterochromatic eyes was from Miao territory. Young master, it would be best if you avoided provoking him. Although Miao territory is divided into untrained and trained Miao, the untrained Miao mostly live in seclusion. But what if he happens to be an untrained Miao, and the most unpredictable and treacherous witchcraft clan at that..."

"Then we should stay as far away from each other as possible."

"He is from the Wugu clan. I saw with my own eyes that the Crimson Blood Silkworm was removed from his body. I estimate that the rare item is already in my father's hands by now." Ouyang Rui said calmly.

He always dismissed these rumors as mere bluster.

Having lived this long, he has never even seen a real demon. Apart from the nightmares he has every night, there is nothing that can frighten him.

"The witchcraft clan?!" The servant was completely dumbfounded. He had only meant to remind him of the topic, but his words had come true.

"What are you afraid of?" Ouyang Rui pondered for a moment. "Doesn't my father's treasure vault contain a lot of magical artifacts? There should be some that can ward off poison and curses. I'll go and search for them later."

"But, young master... that girl is already taken. There are plenty of fish in the sea, why be hung up on just one?"

Ouyang Rui raised his eyes, looked at the Illusionary Sound Pavilion, and a slight smile appeared on his lips: "She's not some flower, she's a fairy."

It's over.

The young master is probably possessed by an evil spirit, and that girl might be a witch doctor!

The servant was terrified, thinking he had to hurry back to the mansion and tell the master.

*

Chai Xiaomi strode heavily up the stairs, the wooden planks beneath her feet thumping loudly.

The night was deep, but the Illusionary Sound Pavilion was just beginning its bustling activity.

In the center of the openwork waterside pavilion, there is a dance platform where a flower maiden dressed in a light purple gauze dress, with flowing sleeves draped over her slender arms, dances gracefully with bare feet.

The water sleeves in her hands moved gracefully, sometimes flowing, sometimes rolling, and when she turned, they resembled a delicate butterfly, drawing cheers from the audience.

But Chai Xiaomi noticed that they weren't cheering for her dance moves, but rather for her subtly undulating figure, especially her smooth ankles that occasionally peeked out when she spun, and her toes adorned with brightly colored nail polish.

The purple gauze was as thin as mist, and the close-fitting bodice and inner skirt were faintly visible under the gauze, arousing the imagination. The skin that was inadvertently exposed made the crowd excited.

The flower ornament on the flower maiden's forehead was placed perfectly, and her charm seemed to seep out from her very bones.

When Chai Xiaomi reached the skybridge at the top floor, she couldn't help but stop and look.

Although from her height it looked like she had bought a ticket to the top of the mountain, the angle allowed her to take in the entire dance hall and stands.

Just then, she noticed the beaded curtain at the corner of the dance hall.

There sat a girl playing the guzheng, providing music for the flower girls on the stage.

Her cheeks were round and chubby, still retaining a touch of childishness, making her very cute.

She was surrounded by three screens and beaded curtains, as if isolating herself from all the noise around her, allowing her to immerse herself only in her own music. Her fingertips danced lightly, and flowing notes from the strings poured out, overflowing the bustling sounds of the room.

She looked two years younger than her, yet she had fallen into prostitution.

Chai Xiaomi felt a sudden pang in her heart.

Just as I was lost in thought, a muffled thud suddenly sounded beside me.

Someone bumped into a pillar.

Chai Xiaomi turned her head and saw the young man who had been humiliated by the barbarians yesterday. He was now bowing hastily before the pillar, apologizing repeatedly: "It was my fault for being so blind, I'm so sorry, so sorry..."

"..." Chai Xiaomi's lips twitched, so to avoid embarrassing him, she answered for Langzhu: "It's okay."

The interior of the Illusionary Sound Pavilion was decorated in a seductive manner, with even each pillar draped with gauze curtains. Last time, I heard from Mama Liu that he was half-blind, which explains why he mistook this pillar for a person.

As she spoke, she couldn't help but glance behind her.

On their way back, the two of them had a disagreement and, quite tacitly, went their separate ways, ignoring each other.

Wu Li walked behind her at a distance that was neither too close nor too far, never exceeding her height but always keeping a certain distance between them.

At this moment, the tall figure behind him stood still, pretending to rest against the pillar.

They walked too fast while they were arguing, and Song Yueyao was left far behind.

God knows if he was resting or waiting for someone.

The young man in front of him seemed slightly taken aback upon hearing the response.

That voice was clear and crisp, unlike the ones he was used to hearing, which were either critical, contemptuous, or even worse, would directly call him "blind" or kick him away.

The voice was not the seductive tone of the courtesan in the pavilion, but rather somewhat resembled that of Xiangyun.

So he bowed respectfully to the source of the voice and gently reminded her, "Miss, are you a guest of the Illusionary Sound Pavilion? At this hour, it would be best to return to your room. Many high-ranking officials and nobles frequent the pavilion, and among them are many lustful men who bully others with their power, just like wolves and tigers... Miss, please be careful."

Hearing his well-intentioned advice, Chai Xiaomi couldn't help but scrutinize him closely.

She noticed a strong sense of incongruity about the young man.

Judging by his appearance alone, half of his face was covered with hideous scars, like burn marks, and his eyes were wide open, but his gaze was clear and untainted.

The dark gray short jacket and trousers he was wearing had been washed until they were almost white, and there were several patches of different colors on the cuffs and knees. The stitches looked very fine and even, and it was clear that the person who did the embroidery was skillful.

He was holding a chamber pot in his hand, seemingly about to wash it.

Mother Liu said he was a servant in the palace, but Chai Xiaomi could clearly see a gentle and dignified upbringing in his bowing, speech and behavior.

It was even more proper than when Ouyang Rui had bowed to her before.

This is what made Chai Xiaomi feel such a strong sense of incongruity.

The young man's upright and humble demeanor was so different from his environment and status.

Chai Xiaomi sincerely said, "Thank you for the reminder."