Chapter Twenty-One: Fate

  After lunch, Pang Luoxue put on a veil and went to the Cuiwei Building with Qi Yao from the back door by carriage. The warm sunshine at noon made people feel lazy. After about an hour, the coachman stopped the carriage behind the Cuiwei Building. Qi Yao helped me down from the carriage, and as soon as we entered the door, we heard the faint sound of silk and bamboo coming from inside.

  This group of girls are all diligent, it's already this late and they still haven't taken a nap. I sighed emotionally.

  Mom also said that since you bought this building, they have something to look forward to. Qi Yao replied to me.

  I shook my head and smiled, after all, it's sister who is good at managing things

  Qī Yāo also didn't deny it, and directly supported me in going inside.

  Qī Yāo is indeed a young lady from a noble family, but she's actually a down-to-earth person with not a hint of pretentiousness. She makes people feel drawn to her.

  As soon as I entered, I saw a lively scene. Everyone was singing and playing the piano, making quite a commotion. When they saw me and Qi Yao enter, they stood up and bowed, saying: "We've seen the master of the house, we've seen the young lady."

  I raised an eyebrow and winked at Qi Yao, saying: "Hey, I just handed you over to them two days ago, and now these sisters have already put you in their hearts. Now I'm even ranked after you!" After speaking, I let out a sigh and looked heartbroken.

  Qi Ya looked a bit helpless, so she pulled me inside. She asked me to take a look at the decoration of the hall and see if I was satisfied. I raised my head and took a glance, seeing that all the furniture had been replaced with new ones. Qi Ya's taste was unique, and the simple yet elegant decoration made the hall look beautiful. There were several famous calligraphic paintings on the wall, and the wallpaper depicted beautiful women dancing. The stage was surrounded by plain white silk curtains, but they were embroidered with poems and lyrics, making them stand out. I nodded in satisfaction, and then people brought over many red decorations for the opening ceremony. They placed a few dozen pots of expensive flowers on the high tables made of purple sandalwood. Qi Ya joked with me, saying that it was worth spending money on this, but my little garden would soon be emptied. I saw that she still had the mood to joke with me, so I told her to go find the mistress and ask for the embroidered handkerchiefs back. The girls were delighted when they heard this and surrounded Qi Ya, while I sat aside, covering my mouth and smiling secretly. As I sat on the luxurious couch, watching Qi Ya distribute gifts, I felt a warm feeling of dependence and companionship. The moisture in my eyes was barely held back as I endured it time and again. I knew that I had to take revenge this lifetime, and I knew how difficult this path would be, so I had to harden my heart. Otherwise, these innocent girls, including Qi Ya, would become sacrifices. I couldn't harm them just for the sake of revenge. Qi Ya looked at me silently, giving me silent strength. She took me to see the new decorations. Here, she also left a room for me, built behind a screen in the deepest part of the hall. From the outside, it was impossible to tell that there was a room here. Inside, there was a comfortable bed, a luxurious couch, and a desk with bookshelves - everything one could need. I appreciated Qi Ya's thoughtfulness. So I told Qi Ya that we wanted to have our own power, but this amount of money would never be enough. We had to make preparations for a life-or-death struggle if we were going to contend with the prince. Letting Qi Ya find a new place was not just limited to the Cuiwei Building.

  Qī Yáo thought for a moment, then solemnly nodded. I was just about to discuss the song and dance with Qī Yáo, it must have new ideas. Mother came knocking on the door saying that Miss Lián Yè had arrived, already downstairs, I heard and got excited, pulling Qī Yáo mysteriously and said to give her a surprise.

  Qī Yáo saw me selling a pass and followed me to the downstairs. Lián Yè took out the rouge water powder that had been rushed overnight and placed it in the living room on the first floor, each bottle with the girls' names and different beauty patterns, all according to Qī Yáo's information, each having their own rouge water powder. Qī Yáo also jumped down, I raised an eyebrow at Lián Yè, hinting her to speak.

  Lotus Leaf smiled and said: My young mistress has just acquired a new estate, and coincidentally the peonies are blooming exceptionally well this year. So, from tens of thousands of peony petals, we selected several dozen of the reddest and most vibrant ones to make rouge, which I've brought for each of you ladies. I guarantee that in the entire capital city, you'll be the only ones with it.

  A woman dresses for her own pleasure, let alone those who make a living off their looks.

  People were assigned tasks one after another, and someone was asked to bring a guqin with a scorched tail to the Cuiwei Building. The dance was rearranged again, and people were ordered to design hair ornaments and the latest makeup looks.

  Mom and Qi Yao selected a few more top girls to be the pillars of Cuimicro Building. I made an agreement with Qi Yao that we would open for business once all the clothes were ready. Qi Yao, as the boss, appeared in front of the public, while I was responsible for making decisions. Since it would take several days for everything to be ready, she taught me martial arts, although I was a novice, my master was born into a famous family, and even though I didn't learn any skills that could help me make a living, at least my accuracy with throwing darts was getting better and better. Even Qi Yao praised my talent, but only when it came to accuracy. I myself felt hopeless, it seemed like becoming a master was not going to happen for me.

  Qī Yáo looked at me with a lack of energy, suddenly thought of something, and excitedly pulled my arm: "Xuě ér (Snow) may not be good at other things, but she's exceptionally accurate. My Shī Xiōng (senior brother) is an expert in poison-making, if he adds some ingredients to your Silver Needle, Crystal Emission, the power will be extraordinary. If Xuě ér thinks it's a good idea, I'll write a letter to invite him over. He's the personal disciple of the Poison King, but has a cold personality. I think if I ask him to come, he definitely won't refuse."

  It would be even better if he were willing to teach me. Pang Luoxue muttered, pinching her fingers.

  Qī Yáo smiled, what's difficult about this? I'll just ask him repeatedly, my father saved his parents, surely Shī Xiōng won't refuse.

  Pang Luoxue thought that her martial arts skills were hopeless, but she had to grasp this master tightly. Suddenly, the stars in her eyes shone brightly, and Qiuyao laughed helplessly.

  Qī Yáo smiled and shook her head as she sat at the desk writing a letter, which was then sent to Tiān Shān by a messenger.

  After finishing the decoration of Cuimicro Building, I let Lianye cover the flower petals with a net and dry them in the wind, and put them in a jar to keep as natural spices. When using, put the dried flower petals in the incense burner, and the fragrance of the flower petals can come out. I saw that the preparation was almost done, so I went back to the Pangfu with Qixiang, and the embroidery girls in the Embroidery Building were busy working hard. Qixiang and I were very satisfied with their speed, and at this rate, the clothes would be ready in three or four days. In order not to affect their progress, we quietly retreated and returned to my room, letting Lianou open the warehouse to find some famous calligraphy and painting, antiques to decorate the store. Qixiang opened a brocade box, inside which was a string of eighteen pink jade beads strung together, with a knot at the intersection, but this knot was quite complicated, and after studying it for a long time, I couldn't figure out how to do it. A bat-shaped jade pendant hung from the knot, with a transparent color that seemed to be overflowing. I saw Qixiang's hands shaking as she took it out. I was puzzled, this jade string was given by my mother's close friend in her boudoir, could it have something to do with Qixiang?

  Xue Er, can you send this jade pendant to me? Qi Yao's eyes are filled with expectation, and there is a glimmer of tears.

  This is naturally fine, Sister Yao likes it, take it away, this was given to her by Mother's close friend in the boudoir, I saw that she liked it and insisted on bringing it over.

  This was a gift from her good friend when she gave birth to a daughter, this kind of knot only my mother knows how to do, after saying that, she took out the jade pendant that she had been carrying with her and tied it up, indeed the knot was exquisite.

  It turned out that we had such a fate, and we smiled at each other. I personally put the bracelet on Qi Yao's hand.