Chapter Twenty: Chess Pieces

  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 my sister who is good at managing things.

  Qī Yáo 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 an irresistible urge to get close 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.

  Qī Yáo looked rather helpless, and could only pull me inside. Let me take a look at the decoration of the hall, is it satisfactory? I raised my head and took a glance, seeing that all the furniture had been replaced with new ones. Qī Yáo's taste was unique, the decoration was simple and elegant, with several famous calligraphic paintings hanging on the walls, and delicate depictions of beautiful women dancing on the walls. The stage was surrounded by plain white silk curtains, but embroidered with poems and songs, giving it a distinct style. I nodded my head in satisfaction, and had someone bring over many red silk decorations for the opening ceremony. They placed purple sandalwood high-legged tables around the room, and put dozens of valuable flowers on top of them. Qī Yáo joked with me: "You've spent a fortune, your little garden is almost empty now."

  I see she still has the mood to joke with me, so I said, "Girls, the owner of the building personally brought you the embroidered handkerchief, why don't you quickly go find her and ask for it?"

  The girls were delighted when they heard this and surrounded Qi Yao, while I stood aside, free from disturbance, covering my mouth to stifle a smile.

  I sat on the imperial couch, watching Qi Yao distribute gifts, and suddenly felt that this feeling of dependence was really warm. The moisture in my eyes barely held back through repeated endurance. I knew that this life was about revenge, I knew how difficult this road would be, so I had to harden my heart, otherwise these girls including Qi Yao would all become sacrifices. I couldn't harm these innocent girls just to avenge myself.

  Qī Yāo silently looked at me, giving me silent strength. She took me to visit the new layout. Similarly, she left a room for me here, a secret room built behind the embroidered screen in the deepest part, and it was impossible to see from the outside. Inside, there was a comfortable bed, a noble couch, a desk, bookshelves, everything you could think of, showing Qī Yāo's meticulous care. The hidden room had special soundproofing treatment on the walls, so that from inside, one could see and hear what was happening outside, but people outside couldn't detect any movement or activity inside. Craftsmen had made sound insulation settings around the perimeter and carefully painted a picture of flying heavenly maidens on the outer wall, making it blend in with the surrounding walls without revealing anything improper to outsiders.

  It's still satisfactory, I think the view here is the best, you can see every move in the entire hall. Don't worry, only I and Lianye Lianou know about it. The door next to it leads directly to my room, of course, next time you come, just come straight to my room. That blue-bottomed lotus-patterned vase is the mechanism for opening the secret room, you must remember carefully. Qi Yao slowly told me.

  I followed her to the wall, pulled down the scroll and could clearly see what people in the hall were doing. Faint voices of conversation came in, although not very clear, but roughly audible. I nodded my head in approval: The hostess is really meticulous, this thing is indeed exquisite, how did you think of it?

  Qī Yáo nodded at my head and said: "This mechanism was invented by my master, it's just right to use it here to let you point out the mountains and rivers. The musician you asked to invite has already been taught, but there is no magic formula for the piano technique, although he has made a lot of progress, but still lacks a bit of spark. The dance is indeed the Surprising Swan Dance, your choreographed steps are not bad, but the lyrics for the pipa accompaniment have not been written yet." Qī Yáo had a worried look on her face, there were many things to do before the opening.

  Don't worry about that, the guqin is my treasured possession for many years. When the time comes, I'll pull down the curtains around us and play it personally. I'm confident that I can still grasp 70-80% of its sound. At that time, you just need to spread the word, and I will only play once a month. The lyrics are already filled in, and I'm sure Bao Jun will be satisfied. Pang Luoxue replied confidently.

  Since Xue Er personally came out, this listening session can't be cheap for others to go, so let's temporarily book it for a thousand gold coins first. Qi Yao held a fan, made of new white silk, fresh and clean like frost and snow, cut into a fan shape, round and bright like the full moon. But she looked at Pang Luo Xue with an eye gaze that seemed to be looking at a money tree.

  Pang Luoxue felt a chill run down her spine and hastily pushed her out, saying: "Hurry up and see what's still missing. Don't waste time teasing me here. If we can make a big splash this time, then we'll have more capital to fight against the imperial power. Otherwise, it's just a futile effort."

  Qī Yáo listened to me and also became serious: The things you ordered a few days ago have some clues, but the Jin Wang Fu is not easy to monitor. I went to investigate according to your words, and it's true that the steward of the Jin Wang Fu likes one of our girls, named Yuè Rú, who is very delicate and also one of the four great courtesans this time. Compared with Yuè Hé and Yuè Ru, although they are both beautiful, their minds are more meticulous. However, the wife of the Jin Wang's steward is notoriously fierce, and most importantly, she was personally gifted by the Jin Wang himself, so how dare he redeem Yuè Rú? Therefore, he can only come secretly every time. It's actually not bad for Yuè Rú, but we can't let them intervene in these matters for now. After some time, it will be a good opportunity to make them our allies.

  That sister waited for the steward to come and find Moon after the opening, had a good talk with Moon, and must take good care of her. Then let someone think of a way to tell the steward's wife.

  Xue Er, why is this? She won't make a big fuss about it. Qi Yao worriedly said

  Hehe, sister is not afraid, just afraid she won't make trouble, otherwise this matter will indeed get better and better, only then can we force that steward to leak the news to us. I suppose the steward is so afraid of the lady because the lady has the support of King Jin, this lady is King Jin's personal maid, and King Jin listens to her words and plans. I suppose King Jin relies on this lady to control the steward, her contributions are indispensable. As long as we give a little guidance, he won't dare not listen to us.

  Qī Yáo suddenly enlightened. The two exchanged a sly glance, this pawn of the housekeeper's wife cannot be wasted.