“So that’s how it is…”
He Xiuyuan nodded in understanding as he listened.
“Judging by Brother He’s words, are you truly here to seek the Baihua Fairy?”
The scholar who spoke was surprised when He Xiuyuan didn’t deny it.
He had only meant it as a joke, but seeing He Xiuyuan’s reaction, or lack thereof, surprised him.
Was He Xiuyuan really here to find the Baihua Fairy?
“I happened to hear of the Baihua Fairy’s name, so I thought I’d come here to see if fate would allow me to meet her.”
He Xiuyuan replied frankly when the other person asked.
He had come specifically for the Baihua Fairy, so there was nothing to hide.
“It seems Brother He has been misled by others.”
The scholar in front of him shook his head upon hearing this, then pointed to an empty seat nearby and said,
“If you don’t mind, Brother He, you can sit here and wait.”
He Xiuyuan readily complied and sat down, but the word “misled” that the other person had just used struck him as odd.
“Brother He, you mentioned being misled. Where does that come from?”
Wu Fangyu smiled and shook his head upon hearing He Xiuyuan’s question. “Brother He must be from out of town; it’s normal not to know about this.”
“Over the years, the innkeepers of this wine house have secretly spread rumors outside, saying that in the Hall of Hundred Flowers, the Baihua Fairy appears at night, and if one is fated, they can catch a glimpse of her.”
“Those rumors describe the Baihua Fairy as incredibly stunning and captivating, making people wish to see her immediately.”
“However, there is no Baihua Fairy in the Hall of Hundred Flowers at all. These are all rumors secretly spread by these innkeepers to attract people and then raise the prices of their rooms, just to make a big profit.”
“Hasn’t Brother He noticed that all the rumors say the Baihua Fairy is only seen by chance at midnight?”
Wu Fangyu’s analysis was well-reasoned.
After listening, He Xiuyuan couldn’t find any flaw in his words.
Seeing this, He Xiuyuan couldn’t help but feel a bit stunned.
Could it be that these were really just rumors secretly spread by the innkeepers?
“Brother He, don’t be upset. Regardless, the flowers in the Hall of Hundred Flowers are indeed about to bloom soon, and when they do, the garden will be truly beautiful.”
Seeing He Xiuyuan in a daze, Wu Fangyu offered a comforting remark.
After the flowers in the Hall of Hundred Flowers bloomed, the scene would be breathtakingly beautiful, so He Xiuyuan wouldn’t have come in vain.
He Xiuyuan snapped back to attention upon hearing this, then relaxed.
If he could meet her, that would naturally be best, but if he couldn’t, it seemed there was no need to force it.
Thinking this, He Xiuyuan looked around and asked curiously, “Judging by Brother He’s appearance, it seems you’ve been here many times and are very familiar with this place?”
He Xiuyuan now looked at the other person without any trace of awkwardness, guessing if he had been here many times.
Wu Fangyu nodded. “The flowers here, when they bloom, are truly beautiful, so I’ve come here many times. And the flowers here are only most beautiful right after they bloom; after a while, they’re much less so.”
Saying this, Wu Fangyu extended his hand to introduce his friends around him.
His friends included a master painter, a scholar who played the flute, and even a woman carrying a food box.
They all seemed to have very good relationships with each other.
After Wu Fangyu finished introducing them to He Xiuyuan, he asked curiously, “Brother He, did you come here alone?”
They had all come together, but He Xiuyuan seemed to be by himself, which looked a bit lonely.
“Yes, I have no ties, so I thought of traveling through Great Zhao. If I could encounter some strange tales or events, it would count as broadening my horizons.”
He Xiuyuan nodded in agreement.
Wu Fangyu heard this and immediately understood, looking at He Xiuyuan with a hint of envy.
“I was thinking Brother He was alone and might feel a bit solitary, but hearing your words, I feel you live a wonderfully carefree life.”
At this point, his face also showed envy.
For people like them, it was very difficult to come out even once; there were many things to consider.
He Xiuyuan smiled upon hearing this, then chatted with the other person while waiting for the Baihua Fairy to appear.
However, even as dawn approached in the distance, He Xiuyuan and the group saw no sign of the Baihua Fairy in the Hall of Hundred Flowers, and the flowers there had not bloomed either.
It seemed tonight’s wait was in vain.
Wu Fangyu and the others seemed to be used to this; they had already been waiting here for several days.
Next, the day the flowers bloomed should not be far off, but the exact day was unknown.
Seeing the sky brighten, and recalling the rumors about the Baihua Fairy only appearing at night, He Xiuyuan and Wu Fangyu and the others left together.
After He Xiuyuan returned to the wine house, he extended his room for three more days with the attendant, then turned and went back to his room to rest.
And over the next few days, He Xiuyuan also went to the Hall of Hundred Flowers every night, waiting for the Baihua Fairy to appear.
Unfortunately, she never showed herself.
However, over these few nights, he had developed some friendship with Wu Fangyu and the others.
.......
“It seems I won’t be able to wait for this Baihua Fairy.”
As night fell, He Xiuyuan came to the Hall of Hundred Flowers again, looked at the bright moon in the night sky, then shook his head and chuckled.
This was already his fourth day staying at this wine house.
Over these four days, the daily expenses were not small. He Xiuyuan didn’t have much silver to begin with, and these four days of expenses amounted to more than one tael of silver, which pained He Xiuyuan greatly.
If he didn’t see the Baihua Fairy tonight, He Xiuyuan was prepared to leave directly.
Wu Fangyu, sitting nearby, couldn’t help but smile upon hearing He Xiuyuan’s words. “Brother He, even now, you’re still thinking about that Baihua Fairy?”
“Brother He must want to catch a glimpse of that worldly charm.”
Du Linhui, the master painter sitting nearby, also chuckled in agreement.
He Xiuyuan smiled upon hearing this, his gaze falling upon the Hall of Hundred Flowers ahead.
The varieties of flowers in this Hall of Hundred Flowers were indeed many, but there was no sign of them blooming yet.
It seemed he would have to wait for another opportunity to see them in the future.
“Brother He can’t wait for the Baihua Fairy, and it seems we also can’t wait for the day these flowers bloom.”
Wu Fangyu also sighed at this moment. They had been here for quite some time, and by their calculations, it was almost time to leave.
He Xiuyuan pondered slightly upon hearing this, thinking that not being able to see the Baihua Fairy felt a bit unsatisfying.
With this thought in mind, He Xiuyuan immediately cleared his throat, then stepped forward and cupped his hands to the surroundings.
“Is the Baihua Fairy here? Could she perhaps show herself?”