Insufficient balance

  Bai Tao Xiao Yatou was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and upon hearing this, she almost jumped up, "What class? What class, from now on there won't be any classes!"

  As soon as he finished speaking, the footsteps outside paused noticeably, and Xiao Ting and Yang Liu couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  After laughing, Yang Liu quickly furrowed her brow again. Since becoming famous with "Phoenix Returns to the Nest" three years ago, she had established a rule here: without her nod of approval, even guests from heaven would be turned away. Had Ming Yatou forgotten? How could they bring someone in without asking her first?

  Bi Tao reluctantly opened the door to let the nanny in, but then blocked the guest from entering. The nanny first greeted Xiao Ting who was standing aside and smiled before she could speak, only to hear Yang Liu say coldly: "Nanny, have you forgotten the rules here? I don't see guests in the afternoons!" Her mood was already terrible, and encountering this situation made her tone even worse.

  In the entire Feng family, Ming's mother was a woman of great authority, but in this room, she was the lowest-ranking person. She didn't even dare to offend Bi Tao, the maid, so all she could do was smile and try to explain herself. But before she could open her mouth, she heard a young guest who was still blocked outside the door ask with a smile: "Not even 1,000 guan for the plaque removal fee?" His voice sounded youthful and lively, suggesting that he was a young nobleman.

  At this time, before anyone in the house had a chance to speak, Bi Tao, who was blocking the doorway, let out a cold snort. "Don't mention 1,000 or even 3,000 or 5,000 coins, when have we ever taken such things seriously? Our mistress has said that she won't see any guests today, so please leave!"

  "Huh? What a formidable little girl!" The young master exclaimed, then chuckled and said, "Indeed, she's worthy of being trained by the number one courtesan in Chang'an. She has a sharp tongue! ... Ming Yatou, are we going in or not?"

  "Wait, wait, you two young masters...," she said, pulling Yang Liu's golden mud clothes and pulling her to the corner, whispering something in a low voice. Then, Yang Liu's face changed from cold anger to helplessness.

  She looked at Xiao Ting apologetically, and Xiao Ting immediately smiled and said: "It's okay, I was just about to leave anyway. The painting is finished, the class is over, and I should be going!"

  Yang Liu smiled and said, "Bi Tao, let them in!"

  Green Peach reluctantly turned around and opened the door, suddenly turned around and ran into the inner room, then quickly ran out and hugged Xiao Ting's arm, but there was an extra small blue silk package in her hand. She looked up at Xiao Ting with her face raised, "I'll see you off downstairs!"

  Xiao Ting knew that this little girl had a stubborn temper, she was unwilling to serve tea and wait on others. She smiled and said, "Alright, then you can escort me downstairs!"

  The door swung open and the two young men outside walked in. Seeing them, Xiao Ting couldn't help but secretly admire their elegant demeanor, truly a fine sight!

  When the young master who walked in first had a snow-white delicate goose egg face, his figure was very full and beautiful, a tailored white sweater worn on him made him look even more slender and handsome. Although he simply wrapped a lake blue silk scarf around his head, it made him look even more extraordinary and outstanding, which made Xiao Zimei feel good at first sight - "This is the great Tang person!" He couldn't help but think to himself.

  Following the young master was a handsome and elegant young man, who looked like he was only sixteen or seventeen years old. He was born with an extremely tall stature, and judging by his appearance, he was almost as tall as Xiao Ting. He too wore the attire of a scholar, but at his waist hung a long sword with a red tassel, instantly adding three points to his heroic aura.

  "Even if they're on the opposing side, one can't help but give them a thumbs up, right?" Xiao Ting thought to himself, then chuckled mockingly. Looking at their attire and demeanor, it was clear that these two were young masters from noble families. He probably didn't even have the qualifications to be their enemy.

  "Hey, what are you smiling at? Ah, right, you're the boyfriend of Miss Yang, the talented painter and musician?" The young gentleman who had entered first didn't rush to look at Yang Liu, but instead sized up Xiao Ting from head to toe, as if he was more interested in Xiao Ting than Yang Liu.

  "Romantic partner? I'm not that lucky!" Xiao Ting smiled and turned to Bi Tao, "Girl, aren't you supposed to send me off? Let's go!"

  The young master who wore a sword stepped aside to make way, Xiao Ting led Bi Tao out of the door, and the young master who had entered first couldn't help but chase after them, "Hey, don't go, are you Yang Liu's teacher?"

  "Not at all!" Xiao Ting replied as he walked, and by the time he finished speaking, he had already reached the staircase.

  At this time, the old woman smiled with a flattering face, "Master... Ping Gongzi, you come in and sit!"

  Na Ping Gongzi heard the words but didn't pay attention to her, he stood at the door and looked at Yang Liu, then turned around and looked at Xiao Ting who was going down the stairs, and without avoiding the two people in the house, smiled and said to the sword-wearing Gongzi: "The teacher and lover of Chang'an's number one courtesan Yang Liu, this person is quite interesting. Du Gu, go follow him and find out what kind of person he is!"

  The young master known as Dugu nodded in response and turned around to leave.

  Then Ping Gongzi entered the house and directly asked: "Miss Yang Liu, have I delayed your good things?"

  After all, she had been a courtesan for several years. At this moment, Yang Liu had gathered her emotions and calmly set up the chessboard while saying: "If there's good news, no one can delay it. If not, where else would you go to delay? Your Highness, please play a game of chess with me?"

  Napeng Gongzi heard this and smiled, "Well said! However, you're quite bold, under the heavens there are hardly a few people who dare to say let me accompany him in playing chess!"

  As he spoke, he was about to sit down on the embroidered couch opposite the willow tree, but suddenly caught sight of a painting on the desk on the other side and walked over, scanning it with a smile: "Is this the painting that your teacher Qian and your husband sent you?"

  Yang Liu didn't admit or deny, but fell silent. Ping Gongzi looked at the painting and saw a delicate and charming beauty sitting in front of a copper mirror, dressing up. Her eyes were lazy, and it was hard to tell whether she was feeling spring melancholy or autumn nostalgia. Her slender wrist lifted, revealing two small white jade-like arms. Behind her, on the embroidered quilt that had just been thrown off the bed and hadn't been tidied up yet, a pair of golden pheasants were entwined in each other's necks, highlighting her loneliness...

  "What a great painting! What great brushwork!"

  "Alright, look at your little mouth pouting, it can even tie up a donkey! As they walked to the second floor, Xiao Teng couldn't help but reach out and pinch her cheeks, teasing her gently."

  "Why don't you admit that you are our young lady's lover?" Bi Tao asked persistently.

  "I wasn't to begin with!" Xiao Teng chuckled, "Besides, you two tender people, how can a poor scholar like me afford to raise you? I'm afraid I'm not qualified for this romantic role!"

  "Who said I'd raise you!" Bi Tao glared at him furiously, unable to resist pinching his arm hard, Xiao Ting let out a "hiss", "Little girl, you're really crazy today!"

  Bi Tao let out a soft hum, "Then why doesn't anyone acknowledge that Miss is their teacher?"

  "It wasn't supposed to be anyway!" He smiled, "All classes have already ended!"

  "Y...". Baitao stopped, pouting and on the verge of tears. Xiao Teng reached out to pinch her nose, "Alright, I'll send you off here, I have to go now. If I have time in the future, I'll come back to visit you and Yang Liu!"

  Bi Tao hummed again, relaxed her arms, and handed the small blue cloth package to Xiao Ting. "There are two pairs of shoes inside, one pair of green mandarin ducks is made by our young lady, and one pair of lotus flowers is made by me. Do you want them? If not, I'll throw them away!"

  Is this the gift that was supposed to be sent a long time ago? But... Xiao Teng was stunned, Yang Liu can actually make shoes?

  Bi Tao saw the doubt in his eyes, just now he was about to cry, but suddenly he blushed, his hands intertwined, and he lowered his head and said: "Originally wanted to make boots, but that's too difficult, even these shoes we learned from others for many days!"

  "After she finished speaking, she raised her head and said, 'If you don't want love, then throw it away!' After that, she ran upstairs with a patter."

  Xiao Ting stood on the stairs and opened the small package. Inside were indeed two pairs of shoes, but these two pairs of shoes made Xiao Ting laugh and cry at the same time.

  Two pairs of shoes were embroidered with red and green patterns, one pair looked like a water bird, which should be the so-called Green Water Mandarin Duck made by Yang Liu, while the other pair was Reflecting Sun Lotus...

  It's obvious that the two silly girls had been busy for many days with what they called a gift, which turned out to be two pairs of oversized embroidered shoes!

  This makes me wonder how a man should dress!