Chapter 111: The Foremost Songstress of the Dongguan Kingdom

The fox mask worn by the person walking past was bought at the same time as the red fox mask in Luo Yue’s space—how could she not recognize it?

They merely brushed past each other, the low, muffled chuckle of Chong Li still lingering in her ears. A gust of breeze swept by, and Chong Li had already ascended the stage. Luo Yue decided to stay within the palace for a while longer.

Clad in a robe of deep, ink-black silk, Chong Li appeared refined and elegant. Even as he simply sat down, his extraordinary aura drew murmurs from the crowd.

"Is this truly the master painter... Chong Li?"
"To think I would witness Chong Li painting in the imperial palace! I, old Pig, am truly blessed by His Majesty’s grace!"
"A painting by Chong Li is worth a fortune; to see it in this lifetime is a wish fulfilled!"

The guests whispered among themselves, but their chatter did not affect Chong Li’s focus. With elegant strokes of ink, he traced a woman’s graceful silhouette on the paper: crimson lips, a pale purple gown, an ice-blue zither, and a bright red floral forehead ornament. Was this not Lian herself?

The figure in the painting bore a slight resemblance to Luo Yue, yet if one looked closer, it was only the clothing and makeup that matched; the facial features clearly belonged to another woman entirely. Luo Yue knew well that Chong Li had painted the woman’s true appearance, not her own.

The guests and the Emperor frowned in confusion. The figure was indeed Lady Luo Yue, yet not quite. Could it be that in Chong Li’s mind, this was the celestial beauty Luo Yue truly possessed? Surely, one could search the entire continent and never find a woman as breathtaking as the one on the paper.

Immersed in his own world, Chong Li finally added a crimson fox mask to the hands of the woman in the painting, completing his masterpiece.

The Emperor was puzzled. "Master Chong, is this Lady Luo Yue?"
The Empress, equally curious, looked toward Chong Li, hoping for a response that was more than mere nonsense.

Chong Li bowed slightly. "Your Majesty, what I have painted is Lady Luo Yue, yet it is not. Perhaps in my heart, this is how Lady Luo Yue should appear."

This remark left everyone present speechless; perhaps this was the unique perspective of an artist. Even more surprising was that Chong Li did not present the portrait to the Emperor. Instead, he promised to paint a portrait of the Emperor and Empress together—a scene of a dragon and phoenix in harmony—in the near future.

With this promise, the Emperor’s lingering dissatisfaction vanished. If they could obtain a painting from Chong Li later, it proved he was not arrogant; perhaps he had simply been struck by the ethereal beauty of Lady Luo Yue and had felt compelled to capture her most stunning moment.

Unbeknownst to her, Luo Yue had fallen asleep backstage. Chong Li went to the back, gathered his painting, exchanged a word with the attendant, and swept Luo Yue up in his arms. As a top courtesan, Luo Yue was strict about her figure and rationed her meat intake at every meal. Chong Li weighed her in his arms; she felt no heavier than ninety pounds, as light as paper.

They made a handsome pair, and as they departed from the back, they drew many envious glances. Luo Yue, fast asleep, remained entirely unaware.

When she woke, she was lying on her bed at the Bieying Pavilion, still wearing the gown she had worn to the banquet.

"Sister Luo Yue? You’re awake?" Lian Wu had been sent by Madam Hong to bring her food.

Luo Yue rubbed her temples; she had slept so deeply that her head felt heavy and foggy. "How did I get back?"

Lian Wu set the food on the table gently. "You don't know, Sister Luo Yue? You were carried back by a masked gentleman with a refined air. He even left this painting for you before he left!"

Lian Wu’s eyes were filled with admiration, completely devoid of jealousy—it was purely the romantic fantasy of a young girl. Luo Yue took the painting, smiled faintly, and set it aside. The meal was as plain as ever, but she was grateful for her slender frame; otherwise, Chong Li might not have been able to carry her back.

Seeing there was nothing else to do, Lian Wu turned to leave. "Oh, by the way, Sister Luo Yue, the Pavilion Master returned this morning and brought back his long-lost younger sister. We should go see them together when we have time. I’ve been here for so many years and have never even seen what the Pavilion Master looks like..."

Luo Yue was also curious about the Bieying Pavilion Master; in her memories, he had never once appeared.

...

Ever since the Fengyue Pavilion had lost to the Bieying Pavilion, their customer traffic had barely been enough to cover their expenses. It was only because Lady Yue had tricked and lured Nan Yan into the pavilion that they had managed to maintain a foothold in the Yanliu Alley.

Mu Liao’s face was dark. Lady Yue dared not look at him; looking at him was annoying, and not looking at him was even worse, so she simply pretended not to hear him.

"Lady Yue, do not treat my words as wind passing your ears. Do not forget that your parents are still in my hands."

Stung by his words, Lady Yue looked up reluctantly. "The Fengyue Pavilion is not what it used to be. Even with Nan Yan holding things together, the whole city knows that the current Emperor has bestowed gifts upon Luo Yue of the Bieying Pavilion. How many more good days do you think the Fengyue Pavilion has left?"

She poured out her frustrations in a single breath, then fell silent, staring at the floor, regretting her outburst. But the expected scolding did not come.

"Lady Yue, I know you have been handling all the trifles in the Fengyue Pavilion. But as long as the Bieying Pavilion stands, I cannot rest easy. Gu Ying returned this morning with a young woman. My spies report that she is likely his sister. If you can find a way to bring her to the Fengyue Pavilion, I will send your parents back to their hometown."

Gu Ying? That was not his real name, but a moniker the Bieying Pavilion Master had chosen for himself. He was rarely seen, dedicated entirely to searching for the sister he had lost fifteen years ago.

Lady Yue felt a sense of disdain. She wondered what the Pavilion Master could have possibly done to Mu Liao to make him target even his sister. She had long been disillusioned with Mu Liao, calling him "Master Mu" to his face but using his full name in her heart.

After much deliberation, she agreed to the villain’s demands. If she succeeded, she would quit the Fengyue Pavilion and return to the countryside to live a peaceful life with her parents. If she failed—well, her life was already miserable enough; the worst that could happen was that Mu Liao would keep her from seeing her parents. Fortunately, he still possessed enough humanity never to physically harm them.

"I agree, but Gu Ying is protective. If I fail, you cannot blame me, and you must promise not to harm my parents!" Her gaze was sharp and piercing, enough to make Mu Liao feel a chill.

Mu Liao thought to himself that after all these years, it was unexpected that Lady Yue would grow rebellious. He felt pathetic as a Pavilion Master.

Lady Yue swayed her hips as she walked downstairs, her figure vanishing around the corner. Mu Liao watched her go, his eyes cold and venomous, like a snake waiting to strike.