Even with Wei Linxia’s request, Tai Qing’s appearance at the mountain’s base surprised her, and she laughed freely, as no outsiders were present. Tai Qing had stuck black rice grains on her face, drawn thick eyebrows with charcoal, and dotted a large black spot by her mouth—initially ugly, but upon closer inspection, even worse.
Tai Qing wiped her face and smeared it on Wei Linxia, transforming her appearance.
Outside Huo City, only the Ji River passed through the city, where a crowd of men and women gathered. Tai Qing walked quickly, habitually shadowing couples, and soon lost Wei Linxia. Realizing finding her would be difficult, Wei Linxia decided to return to their carriage to wait for Tai Qing. As she squeezed through the crowd and caught her breath, a sharp cry rang out. Ignoring it, she took a few steps when her hair was suddenly grabbed by a beautiful woman with delicate features, who shouted, “Wretched girl, where did you run off to? Where’s the water the young master wanted?”
Wei Linxia, confused by the accusation of being a maidservant, was approached by another girl in a similar dress who whispered to the beautiful woman. “So, you can let go now!” Wei Linxia said. Instead of releasing her hair, the woman tightened her grip and demanded, “Tell me, do you have some ulterior motive?”
Dressing like my maidservant – are you trying to sneak into the mansion and climb social ladders? “You ugly monster, look at your own face.”
“Niangniang, calm down, be gentler,” a voice from behind interrupted before the woman could finish. She immediately released her grip, her fierce expression transformed into that of a docile lamb. Wei Linxia thought she must be seeing things.
A young man with bronze skin, curved eyes, high nose bridge, and thin lips appeared before her. He looked around nineteen or twenty, resembling the eldest son of the King. Wei Linxia quickly stepped back for a clearer view.
“Are you done looking? Can you tell me your name and why you’re wearing a maid’s clothes from my residence?” His seductive voice was innate. He studied the round-faced girl, who surprisingly showed no signs of blushing—oh, her face was too dark for that.
“If you want to be a maid in my residence, I can agree. Just tell me your name,” the man continued.
