Xiaofen's eyes widened at the sudden appearance of an agitated rearing horse. Before she could react, she felt herself being pulled by an outstretched hand with impressive force. The hand was fair, with slender fingers, and the grip, though gentle, was firm.
"Ouch!" Xiaofen exclaimed as she slammed hard into his chest, regaining her balance from the slight dizziness. She realized she was in the arms of a stranger, presuming him to be her savior. His robes were exquisitely tailored, hinting at his wealth, and beneath the layers of clothing, she could sense his well-built torso.
Looking up, she found herself staring directly into his captivating azure eyes.
Whoa! He looked at Xiaofen intentionally, her beauty was unusual yet mesmerizing, her unique feature was her eyes, it was bright and beautiful, warm and drawing anyone in.
"Be careful, the streets are dangerous," he cautioned, his voice calm and gentle, resembling ripples in a lake.
"Thank you for saving me," Xiaofen said, her voice cold and devoid of warmth.
He gazed at her indifferent expression, a soft smile playing on his lips. Amusing, he thought.
"Never mind, young miss, it's the least I can do," he replied casually, adjusting his clothes. "I am Bingwen and you are..." he trailed off as he noticed her figure moving farther into the distance.
"Young Master?" his subordinate inquired.
Bingwen shook his head, there were some things he preferred to do himself.
Xingfen maneuvered through the dense crowd, sensing someone tailing her. She quickened her pace to elude the intruder, aware that Bingwen was discreetly following her from a distance. He found himself drawn to her, captivated by her demeanor and cold exterior. Unlike others who sought his favor, she remained indifferent, a mystery he couldn't unravel.
She made her way towards the area with beauty stalls, where she noticed people pointing and whispering. She caught snippets of the gossip as she passed by.
"She's cursed, why is she allowed in the city?" one person whispered.
"I don't know, but abominations like this should be caged and never allowed in the open," another responded with disdain.
"I heard she works at Xanadu House," another voice chimed in.
"She's shameless, cursed, and downright atrocious," someone else added.
"A shameless girl at that, she's cursed and she can't be more atrocious? "
"Cursed and filthy. " another butted in.
"I heard she uses charms and black magic to charm the patrons, bending them to her will. "
The other gossip exclaimed in disbelief.
"No wonder, she is black.
The crowd looked at her disapprovingly, some scowled, and others disdained.
As Xiaofen gracefully made her way past the judgmental crowd, she couldn't help but feel hurt by the false accusations and racial remarks thrown at her. Despite the negativity, she maintained her composure and reached the beauty stall, where an older woman sternly commanded her to stop. She quickly selected the cosmetics, as the woman's disapproval was portrayed in her tense expression.
Xiaofen was suddenly hit with a nostalgic flashback.
"Whoa, sister Xiaofen, look!" Xiaotian called out, showing her a beautiful dress that fit perfectly. Xiaotian's sadness was evident as she walked away, knowing they could never afford it. But Xiaofen was determined. She glanced at the price tag, realizing it wasn't too expensive. She diligently saved up the money she earned from harvesting.
"Get out of here!" Xiaofen was forcefully thrown out of the shop, and accused of stealing the money. The woman lashed out, beating her and taking the money.
"Cursed," she spat with contempt. Suddenly, Xiaofen snapped back to reality as the trader tossed the bag of cosmetics at her. With a smile, she wiped her hands clean, placed the money on the table, and walked away.
From his vantage point, Bingwen witnessed the entire ordeal, his expression betraying a silent rage and indignation.
Familiar with the harsh treatment she endured, Xiaofen resigned herself to being treated like garbage. Feeling a surge of empathy, Xiaofen decided to seek solace at the steamed bun stall. As she approached, the kind-hearted old lady Huan greeted her with a warm smile, unfazed by Xiaofen's cursed existence.
"Good day, Xiaofen. What can I get for you?" After receiving her order, Xiaofen turned to find Bingwen standing behind her. Angrily, she exclaimed, "Stop stalking me! Leave me alone!"
Bingwen paid for the steamed buns and ignored her tantrum, offering a kind gesture. Xiaofen, however, interpreted it as pity and sympathy, fueling her anger as she stormed away. Old Huan observed the scene with a smile, relieved to see someone standing up for the young girl. Despite Xiaofen's headstrong personality, he felt a strong urge to protect her as he watched her go.
Xiaofen hurried to the brothel and spotted Liuying dancing to entertain the customers. She quickly made her way upstairs to set down the new supplies, where she noticed her younger sister, Xiaotian, peeking into the dressing chamber in the hallway. Xiaotian was captivated by the beautiful clothes and accessories on display. Xiaofen's face lit up as she called out to her sister, asking
" Do you want to help your big sister?" Xiaotian eagerly nodded, a big grin on her face.
The duo got to work, with Xiaotian distributing accessories and makeup to the maids, while Xiaofen took care of the outfits and errands. Just then, Madam Liling entered the chamber with a bright smile, clearly excited about something significant.
"Marquis Wen has arrived!" she announced, causing the chamber to erupt in cheers and whispers. The courtesans quickly issued orders to prepare for the arrival of their esteemed guest. As they rushed to the main hall, Xiaofen looked at the mess of laundry and scattered cosmetics.
Xiaofen efficiently organized the dresses and cosmetics and went out to fetch cleaning supplies. As she stepped onto the balcony, she couldn't help but glance and spotted him once more!