Hu Lihua fell silent for a moment, her hand still resting on Heiqi's head. The calm expression on her face didn't waver. She knew Hu Rui'an wouldn't stay idle for long.
Hu Lihua: [What's she planning to do?]
Xitong: [She's planning to frame you for theft!]
Hu Lihua's eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a faint smirk. "Oh? How creative of her," she murmured softly.
Xixi, who was pouring tea, looked up. "Miss, did you say something?"
Hu Lihua quickly shook her head and smiled. "Nothing, just talking to myself."
She resumed stroking Heiqi's head, then whispered softly, "Fine, let's play along with her game. Let's see who'll end up looking foolish this time."
***
Three days passed without any movement from Xiangyu Pavilion. Feeling bored at home, Hu Lihua decided to go for a walk with Xixi.
"Xixi, let's go out," Hu Lihua said.
"Miss, where to?" Xixi asked curiously while fetching Hu Lihua's cloak.
Hu Lihua gently pushed the cloak aside and said, "Xixi, find me two sets of new male servant clothing."
Xixi frowned, a little puzzled. "Miss, why do you need male servant clothing?"
"Obviously to go for a walk," Hu Lihua answered casually.
Xixi was stunned, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Miss, are you planning to disguise yourself and sneak out?"
"Shh! Keep your voice down!" Hu Lihua said, covering Xixi's mouth.
Xixi nodded quickly, like a chicken pecking rice. Once Hu Lihua released her hand, she asked in a hushed voice, "Miss, isn't this… wrong? What if Madam finds out?"
"She won't," Hu Lihua replied. She pressed Xixi, "Come on, we'll only be out for two hours and back before lunch. Mother won't notice a thing."
Xixi hesitated but eventually nodded, giving in to her miss's insistence. She hurried to the sewing room.
The busy season for making autumn clothes has passed. At the moment, there weren't many people in the sewing room, only a few servants sitting in the corners, their skilled hands sorting and preparing thick fabrics for winter garments. The soft sound of scissors cutting through fabric and needles piercing materials was the only noise filling the room. Morning sunlight streamed through the large windows, reflecting a gentle shimmer off the rolls of silk neatly arranged on the shelves. A faint scent of fresh fabric mixed with the aroma of tea placed on a small table for the workers.
An older seamstress noticed Xixi entering and greeted her warmly. "Xixi, what brings you here? Does the First Miss need something?"
"Ah, Aunt Lin." Xixi felt relieved to see Aunt Lin, a senior seamstress in the Hu residence who had always been kind to her.
Xixi quickly pulled Aunt Lin to a corner of the room, glanced around, and, after ensuring no one was paying attention, handed her two small silver pieces. "Aunt Lin, please lend me two sets of male servant clothing."
Aunt Lin's eyes widened. She was about to ask something, but Xixi was ready. She immediately covered Aunt Lin's mouth, knowing full well her reaction.
"Xixi… this…" Aunt Lin looked at the silver pieces in her hand, hesitating.
"Aunt, don't worry. We'll return the clothes in two hours," Xixi said, trying to persuade her. She added quickly, "Please don't tell anyone about this."
Aunt Lin was silent for a moment before finally agreeing. "Alright."
The silver was, of course, hush money.
Aunt Lin went to the wardrobe where the male servant clothing was stored. After a while, she returned with a bundle, whispering, "Go quickly and come back soon."
"Thank you, Aunt," Xixi said gratefully before rushing back to Yufeng Pavilion.
Hu Lihua's face lit up when she saw Xixi returning with the bundle. This girl was truly capable—she deserved to be her personal maid.
"Miss, come, let me help you change," Xixi said.
Xixi helped Hu Lihua into the male servant clothing. Once she was dressed, Xixi tied her hair into a simple bun and secured it with a gray cloth.
Xixi looked at Hu Lihua and sighed softly. "Miss, you look like a handsome young man!"
Hu Lihua chuckled and quickly said, "Hurry and change. Don't bother going back to your room; just use my dressing room. We don't have much time."
Xixi nodded and hurried to the dressing room. When she returned, she was also dressed as a male servant.
Hu Lihua observed her for a moment. Xixi's round, sweet face made her look like an adorable male servant rather than a convincing one.
Hu Lihua sighed helplessly. Could they even pass as real men?
No matter! The important thing now was to leave!
The two of them made their way toward the back gate of General Hu's residence. This gate was usually used as an entrance and exit for servants or horse carts.
As they got closer to the gate, Xixi's heart pounded wildly like a drum. She was terrified that the back gate guards would recognize them. If they got caught, the Madam would surely scold both of them.
Hu Lihua, on the other hand, remained calm. Her steps were steady, as if she truly were just a male servant accustomed to coming and going through the back gate. She kept her head slightly lowered, hiding part of her face behind the gray cloth tied around her hair. Xixi, meanwhile, tried to follow suit, lowering her head even further. Her hands were clenched tightly at her sides as tension coursed through her.
As they approached the guards, the lighthearted laughter and casual chatter of the gatekeepers only made Xixi's heart race faster. She felt as though even the slightest misstep would expose their disguise. Suddenly, Hu Lihua quickened her pace, grabbing Xixi and pulling her along. In the blink of an eye, they passed through the back gate without any trouble. Xixi could barely contain a sigh of relief.
Once they were already far enough from home, Hu Lihua felt a surge of excitement. She grabbed Xixi's hand, urging her to walk faster. Since arriving in this world, this was her first time stepping out of the Hu residence. Her eyes sparkled as she took in the magnificent buildings with curved roofs and the bustling streets filled with merchants and buyers.
Rows of stalls selling silk, jewelry, spices, and traditional pastries lined the streets, while the aroma of tea and local cuisine wafted from the teahouses. The vibrant colors of the citizens' silk robes reflected the prosperity and liveliness of the capital under the Zhang Dynasty. Hu Lihua was mesmerized by the beauty and vibrancy of the outside world—a world she had only imagined through the novels she used to read.
"Mi—uh, I mean, Young Master, where exactly are we going?" Xixi asked curiously.
"To the market," Hu Lihua replied with a small smile, her eyes gleaming with barely contained excitement.
"The market?" Xixi blinked. After a moment of silence, she hesitantly asked, "Young Master… have you never been to a market before?"
She leaned closer to Hu Lihua and whispered, "How could someone like you, a noble lady, go to a market?" The market was crowded and chaotic, filled with people from all walks of life. She feared Hu Lihua wouldn't handle it well.
Hu Lihua smiled and replied, "Xixi, you've forgotten. Before I returned to the Hu family, do you know how I lived out there? I've long since gotten used to these things."
Xixi fell silent, her heart aching at the thought of her miss's life before returning to the Hu family. Although she didn't know the full story, she could imagine the mistreatment Hu Lihua endured after being kidnapped by the servants back then.
After a while, Xixi took a deep breath and said, "Alright! I will take you there."
At this moment, on the second floor of a teahouse, a handsome man leaned casually against the window, watching the passersby below. Suddenly, two figures caught his attention.
"Xinghan, those two men down there… don't they look familiar?" the man asked his guard behind him.
Xinghan glanced at the two figures and frowned, trying to recall. After a moment, realization dawned on him, and he replied hesitantly, "Your Highness, isn't that… the First Miss of the Hu residence?"
"Oh?" Wang Tianyi raised his eyebrows. Yes, she did resemble the girl he saw during his visit to the Hu residence. No wonder she looked familiar.
The corners of his lips curled slightly, and he murmured softly, "An interesting woman…"
Xinghan, standing nearby, was momentarily stunned. Did he hear that right? When had the Crown Prince ever referred to a woman as interesting? No, he had said the same thing about the First Miss Hu back at the Hu residence. At the time, Xinghan thought he misheard. But twice? It couldn't be a coincidence.