Li Kui was completely unaware that he had inadvertently offended someone.
Just as Li Kui was feeling a bit confident, a woman walked out from inside.
"Xiao Lian Guniang!"
The crowd, who had been ready to retreat, instantly brightened their eyes. Although there was no chance for Qing Ya Guniang to stay overnight, if they could spend the night with Xiao Lian Guniang… that would also be wonderful!
Li Kui's eyes also lit up. He stared Stupid at Xiao Lian, thinking that just this Xiao Lian's appearance was no less than that of a top courtesan in an ordinary brothel.
If he could have Xiao Lian serve him tonight, then this night would not have been in vain.
As Li Kui thought this, he saw Xiao Lian Guniang greet the crowd and then walk straight towards him.
Li Kui's heart thumped. Was he… chosen?
Could it be that Xiao Lian Guniang saw his outstanding demeanor, somehow learned that his father was a Ministry of Revenue official, and was preparing to keep him, substituting for her master, to let him enjoy himself tonight?
Li Kui was imagining things in his mind, and then from the corner of his eye, he saw Xiao Lian Guniang glide past him and stop in front of Yang Xi, the person he had just wanted to befriend.
"Young Master, my Young Miss has invited you!"
Xiao Lian called out clearly, bowing to Xia Chen. Instantly, her pure white clothes clung tightly to her body, accentuating her graceful curves and revealing her rounded hips.
The sight made everyone present hold their breath, their eyes hot, and their breathing heavy.
But at the same time, they were also somewhat stunned. What? Qing Ya Guniang was keeping someone tonight, and it was this person?
Everyone still had some impression of Xia Chen; Qing Ya Guniang had lingered on him for an extra breath earlier.
But later, during the game, Qing Ya Guniang's gaze never rested on him, and Xia Chen himself performed quite ordinarily, so everyone stopped paying attention.
Several talented scholars who had performed well earlier immediately stood up, their faces showing displeasure.
Why should a latecomer take precedence? Was it because they didn't compete or contend?
Joking was a woman's business, but when it came to whether they could have a deep exchange with Qing Ya Guniang tonight, no one wanted to give up this opportunity.
"Xiao Lian Guniang, isn't this a bit unfair? This person's performance tonight was quite ordinary!"
Someone immediately asked loudly.
And Li Kui, who was standing next to Xia Chen, had already turned to stone. He had just said that Qing Ya Guniang couldn't possibly keep them overnight, and he himself had suggested going to a brothel and treating this Yang Xi to a good time, but then this Yang Xi was chosen?
Why? Everyone was wearing masks, so it was impossible to distinguish between handsome and ugly. Was it just because the other person's demeanor was slightly more outstanding than his own?
Seeing the somewhat agitated crowd in the courtyard and the slightly out-of-control situation, Xiao Lian took a deep breath, then smiled again.
"Gentlemen, whether you can ultimately stay overnight at Qingya Abode depends on my Young Miss's wishes. Tonight, my Young Miss has already made up her mind. Please come again another day!"
Xiao Lian finished speaking and then turned to look at Xia Chen.
"This Young Master, please!"
"You two go back first!"
Xia Chen stood up and said to Xia Qian and Li Xi behind him.
Xia Qian was about to say something, but Li Xi, with a smile, pulled Xia Qian and spoke first.
"Alright, Boss, but you'll have to get up early tomorrow morning. There's a mission at the camp tomorrow; I guess the Lantern Bearers need our help."
Li Xi whispered into Xia Chen's ear, then gave Xia Chen a look that all men understood.
Xia Chen didn't pay much attention to Li Xi and followed behind Xiao Lian, but as he passed the still-stunned Li Kui, Li Kui grabbed Xia Chen, his eyes shining as he looked at Xia Chen.
"Brother Yang, is there some secret to this? Why were you able to… be favored by Qing Ya Guniang!"
Li Kui paused slightly, finally not saying the words "pulling strings."
He also wanted to know how to pull strings; how wonderful it would be to pull Qing Ya Guniang's strings!
Xia Chen pondered slightly, then patted Li Kui's shoulder and said softly.
"Perhaps I am… more handsome than everyone else!"
After saying this, Xia Chen left without a trace of hesitation, leaving only a mysterious back view for everyone.
The others, especially the few who had performed well earlier, looked anxious, fearing that Xia Chen would indeed pull Qing Ya Guniang's strings tonight. They immediately wanted to go forward and follow, but at this moment, two burly men who had been standing in the corner stepped out and blocked their way.
The scholars glanced at the two big men's physiques, then silently retreated and sat back down in their positions, acting as if nothing had happened.
A scholar must be able to bend and stretch!
...
Xia Chen entered the room and found that there was more to it than met the eye. This courtyard was surprisingly large. Xia Chen quietly followed behind Xiao Lian, taking in everything he saw along the way.
"Young Master, we're here!"
Xiao Lian walked to a room in the inner courtyard and stopped, letting Xia Chen enter by himself.
Xia Chen stood at the doorway, hesitating slightly in thought. Looking at the graceful figure on the paper screen of the door, he no longer hesitated and pushed open the door directly.
As soon as he entered, Xia Chen smelled a fragrant scent. This scent was quite unique, like a floral fragrance, yet also like a woman's body scent, and it was extremely pleasant.
In the room, Qing Ya sat in front of the dressing table, ignoring Xia Chen and quietly doing her hair by herself.
A lotus-like face was reflected in the bronze mirror, and water droplets still clung to her hair tips, like tiny shattered jade sliding down.
She gently picked up a silk handkerchief and slowly wiped away the water droplets, her movements as soft as if caressing spring flower petals.
Then, she picked up a wooden comb and slowly combed through her cloud-like black hair, from head to tail, one stroke after another, each stroke bringing forth a faint, elusive fragrance.
Three thousand strands of dark hair gradually became smooth, gleaming with an ink-jade luster under the candlelight.
She was only wearing inner clothes, but not a single bit of extra skin was exposed. Her cheeks were rosy and lustrous, and her elegant demeanor made people imagine what would happen next, making the scene instantly alluring.
Xia Chen quietly watched this scene, not speaking to disturb her, and quietly appreciating it.
"Young Master is truly composed!"
Suddenly, a clear, cold voice sounded in the room. Qing Ya turned her head, revealing her stunningly beautiful face, capable of toppling kingdoms.
"Such a beautiful scene, if I were to ruin it, it would show my lack of appreciation for beauty!"
Xia Chen chuckled, appearing quite frivolous, like a Young Master.
"Young Master is already in my room, and still won't remove your mask?"
Qing Ya's eyes seemed resentful, quite provoking, as she slowly walked towards Xia Chen.
"I was thinking, wouldn't it be more exciting to wear the mask like this!"
Xia Chen smiled, and Qing Ya was stunned, not quite understanding why wearing a mask would be more exciting.
But she was intelligent and roughly understood that Xia Chen was talking about a deep exchange.
This made her inwardly snort: "Men, indeed, only covet a woman's body!"
Xia Chen proactively sat down at the table, then glanced at Qing Ya's graceful figure, especially her high bosom, which was definitely capable of unleashing the ultimate move, Three Thousand Thunder Movements!
"The moonlight is beautiful, and the night is long. If it's something you want to see, then we should indeed be honest with each other!"
Xia Chen smiled, then proactively removed his mask.
A handsome face, deep and bright eyes, a high nose bridge like a peak, and thin lips slightly upturned, carrying a hint of a smile. His skin was fair as jade, emitting a charming luster in the interplay of light and shadow.
Although she had seen Xia Chen's face once before with her special pupil technique, it was only a fleeting glimpse.
But now, at close proximity, Qing Ya's gaze was slightly fixed, unable to naturally move away from Xia Chen's face.