Chapter 107: A Twist of Fate

Watching Lu Ying quietly step into the wooden bathtub, the two maids gathered around. Lu Ying, feeling at ease as the four small hands rubbed and scrubbed her skin, cast a sidelong glance at the clothes placed to the side.

She took a look and asked, "Are these for me?"

"Yes."

"Bring them here."

One maid handed the garments to her, while the other carefully supported the edge so it wouldn't drag on the floor.

Lu Ying unfurled the clothes to inspect them, nodding as she remarked, "Top-grade Shu silk, the cup-shaped patterns are exquisite. Not bad." She then casually handed the garments back to the maid, instructing her to return them to their place.

The two maids had initially pegged her as a girl from a humble background, but seeing her calm, composed demeanor and the authoritative air with which she critiqued the clothing, they exchanged glances and lowered their heads in unison. Unconsciously, a sense of awe toward their new mistress took root in their hearts.

Having said this, Lu Ying leaned back against the rim of the tub, closed her eyes, and commanded, "I am hungry. Go and prepare a serving of fragrant braised rabbit."

It was a haughty, commanding tone.

The young lady before them was the first one their master had forcibly brought home. Perhaps, before the mistress of the house arrived, she might become the most favored in the household. Besides, the master would likely favor her tonight; at this moment, no one dared to refuse any request she made.

Lowering her head, one maid replied, "Yes."

With that, she slowly retreated.

Not long after the maid left, Lu Ying stood up and ordered, "Bring me the clothes."

"Yes." The other maid turned around.

Just as she turned and reached for the clothing placed to the side, a sharp pain struck the back of her head. Lu Ying had picked up the wooden basin and struck her with force. With a spurt of blood, the maid’s vision went dark, and she collapsed to the floor.

Lu Ying caught her and checked her breath, confirming she had merely fainted. She laid the maid on the floor, stepped out of the tub, bent down, and stripped the maid of her clothes to put them on herself. She then mimicked the maid's hairstyle, pinning up her damp hair. Finally, she walked over, picked up the wooden box that had held the clothes, and retreated with her head bowed.

Because Lu Ying had acted so obediently, the two servants who had been guarding the outside had wandered off elsewhere, and no one noticed her emergence. Seeing that the situation was favorable, Lu Ying quickened her pace.

Reaching the side of a corridor, she hid among the lush foliage to change into the new garments. She styled her damp hair into a simple maid’s bun and then walked boldly toward the East Courtyard, the busiest part of the Zhang residence.

The path to the East Courtyard was smooth; her expressions and movements were so natural and composed that servants would lower their heads to bow as she approached.

Before long, Lu Ying entered the East Courtyard.

In the East Courtyard, laughter echoed everywhere, accompanied by the scent of wine and meat and the sounds of zithers and lutes.

It appeared the Zhang residence had many guests. In addition to servants dressed differently from those of the Zhang household bustling about, one could see richly dressed men and women.

Lu Ying looked up to scout the area; servants were passing through the corridors, but she could not see the exit of the estate.

*Zhang Feng did say his home had many guests these days, didn't he? With many guests, there must be many people coming and going. If she blended in, she would not be conspicuous at all.*

However, she could not ask anyone.

Lu Ying continued to stroll along at a leisurely pace.

In the corridors, people came and went. When the servants saw Lu Ying, who was dressed in vibrant, high-quality fabric, they lowered their heads in respect. As for the masters, they would occasionally cast a glance at her.

Dressed in women's clothing, Lu Ying was beautiful, but not breathtakingly so, and such beauties were not rare in this household.

Thus, they only glanced at her a few times.

Following the corridor, she arrived in front of an exquisite pavilion laid out in a "pin" (three-part) configuration, with a garden to its right. At that moment, Lu Ying’s eyes narrowed.

To the right of the garden was a small lake, and at the end of the lake was a large gate where an ox cart had just driven in. It seemed that was the path leading outside.

She only needed to get through that gate.

Lu Ying headed toward the garden.

Just then, a familiar laugh rang out. Amidst the laughter, she heard Zhang Feng’s smug voice: "That is where you are mistaken. It is too late for A-Xu to do anything now, hahaha."

As Zhang Feng’s voice faded, several young men chimed in with laughter. At this point, one person exclaimed, "They say this melody originated from the Shang and Xiao Wen households, based on the story of Sima Xiangru and Zhuo Wenjun. It is very fresh and unique; all the major pleasure houses in Chengdu have started imitating it."

Another youth added, "I heard the same from people in the Shang household. They say the original sound is best when the zither is accompanied by the sound of bamboo leaves, and it requires someone to sing as well. But as you know, while there are many who can play the zither, where can you find someone who can make music by blowing on bamboo leaves? So, although many have imitated it since, the people from the Shang household say it is nowhere near as good as what they first heard."

A chorus of surprised questions arose. Faintly, Lu Ying heard Zhang Feng’s lowered voice, "The performers today are masters; they certainly will not disappoint you."

Mingled with these voices was the sound of a zither.

Lu Ying did not stop, continuing toward the garden ahead.

Just as she reached the entrance to the garden, several young ladies approached from another corridor. These maidens were exquisitely dressed and followed by their own maids.

Seeing Lu Ying, one maiden called out, "Hey, who are you? Why have I not seen you before?" She tilted her head, scrutinizing Lu Ying with a look of familiarity, as if she had encountered an acquaintance.

The girl's voice startled those nearby.

Lu Ying turned back, looked at the girls with a smile, lowered her eyes, and bowed to them. She said calmly, "The third daughter of the Xiao clan, greets you, sisters."

It was simply too calm and natural.

One girl frowned and muttered, "The Xiao clan? Which Xiao clan? Was anyone from the Xiao clan invited?"

Though she was suspicious, she couldn't dwell on it. Anyone facing Lu Ying’s composed, indifferent face would not suspect her origins.

The girl who had spoken first immediately chimed in, "So it is Sister Xiao. Hehe, I haven't seen you for the past two days." Clearly a lively one, she rushed over happily and said, "Sister Xiao, why are you going into the garden? Aren't you coming with us to listen to the zither? They say the zither and flute duet tells the story of Sima Xiangru and Zhuo Wenjun. It originated from the Shang and Xiao households, and it is lovely."

As she spoke, she tugged on Lu Ying, moving with them toward the three-part pavilion.

Lu Ying smiled faintly and whispered, "Forgive me. I have some business to attend to." With that, she waved to a nearby maid and summoned her, saying, "Take me to the dressing room."

Before the maid could answer, the mischievous girl who had been pulling Lu Ying chimed in crisply, "I know, I know, there is one over there." She pointed toward the pavilion and pushed Lu Ying to walk faster.

Lu Ying frowned slightly.

With this delay, the sound of the zither and the laughter of the young men grew closer and louder.

Lowering her eyes, with no further excuses, Lu Ying saw herself getting closer and closer to Zhang Feng and couldn't help but smile bitterly to herself: *I wonder if any of those boys or girls are people I know?*

The only people she knew were the likes of Xiao Yan and A-Ti; Chengdu was so large, and there were countless children of wealthy families. She truly did not hold out much hope.

As Lu Ying pondered, clusters of willow trees blocked her view. Beyond the willows, in the garden in front of the three pavilions nestled in the lush, verdant trees, a beauty sat on the pavilion playing the zither, while not far from her, a dozen or so young men sat or gathered.

The girl pulling Lu Ying giggled, "Because of those people from Luoyang, this year's Flower Appreciation Gathering is too late. The peach blossoms have already fallen—what kind of flowers are we supposed to appreciate?"

As her voice trailed off, another girl laughed, "Even if it is flower appreciation, it is also people appreciation. Does the Tao family sister not know this?" As these words fell, the girls began to tease each other. Hidden within their coy voices were bursts of laughter.

And with their arrival, the dozen or so young men on that side all looked over.

Lu Ying looked up.

At the very moment she raised her head, Zhang Feng, who was sitting with the young men and engaged in high-spirited conversation, glanced over as well.

He did not see Lu Ying. At this moment, Lu Ying had a maid in front of her and the now-composed girls at her side; she was also intentionally obscuring her figure. Zhang Feng looked for a while but could not spot Lu Ying among the twenty or thirty maidens and their attendants.

After Lu Ying surveyed the people in the garden, she groaned inwardly: *There is truly no one here I recognize.*

However, upon arriving, these young girls, whose hearts were just beginning to stir, clearly had their minds set on the young men nearby and paid her no further heed.

Lu Ying slowed her pace, intending to fall behind and slip away quietly.

At this moment, the Tao family girl who had just let go of her turned back. Looking at Lu Ying, she giggled, "Sister Xiao, why have you gone to the back? Shall we go over there and look at the lake? Hehe, the dressing room is right over there." Seeing Lu Ying stop, she stepped forward and hugged her arm again, saying, "Sister Xiao, my third brother is just as stern as you are. He is the best to me, so I liked you the moment I saw you."

"Is that so?" Lu Ying gave a bitter smile.

Helpless, she was dragged by the skipping Tao girl toward the side of the lake.

Watching the Tao girl circle a willow tree and listening to her joyful laughter, Lu Ying curled her lips and looked around.

Seeing she was distracted, the Tao girl called out again, "Sister Xiao, didn't you want to go to the dressing room? I will call my maid to take you." Saying this, she raised her voice, preparing to shout.

Lu Ying quickly stopped her, saying softly and gently, "Lower your voice, I will simply ask someone when I get there." With that, she stepped away.

Just then, faintly, she heard a girl on her right ask in a low voice, "Was the Xiao residence invited to this year's Flower Appreciation Gathering?"

"I don't think I heard anyone mention it."

"That girl said her surname is Xiao. I wonder which Xiao residence she is from?"

"Didn't they add a few new maids this year? It wouldn't be strange if a Xiao maid came along."

"That's true." Amidst the discussion, the girls seemed to lose interest.

Lu Ying sighed inwardly.

Having walked less than ten steps, Lu Ying was suddenly called out by a voice: "You, turn around!"

The voice sounded a bit familiar. In a flash, Lu Ying remembered—it sounded like the young man named A-Xu she had seen at the city gate, the one who had designs on her!

After calling out, the man walked toward Lu Ying with long strides. Just then, Zhang Feng shouted from behind, "A-Xu, A-Xu, come here for a moment."

"..."

A-Xu ignored Zhang Feng. In the blink of an eye, he was behind Lu Ying.

His command reached her: "This girl, who are you?" His tone was laced with doubt; he clearly suspected her.