NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18: The Fox Demon Courtesan
Chapter 18: The Fox Demon Courtesan
“Master, that Xu Qingwan may have some skill, but she is far from qualified to instruct you in martial arts.”
On the speeding carriage, Wang Er looked frustrated. “And the price you offered her is way too high. If that’s the case… I think I could teach you myself.”
“Hm?”
Wei Changtian glanced at Wang Er’s robust figure and then imagined him giving personal guidance…
“Go teach someone else!”
Wang Er felt a bit hurt by these words but quickly remembered something. “By the way, Master, I have results on the investigation of Yang Liushi as you requested.”
Wei Changtian nodded, “Oh, do tell.”
“Yes.”
Wang Er lowered his voice and whispered, “Miss Liushi is from Qingzhou Prefecture. Her family was quite wealthy, but they all perished in a fire, and only she survived.”
“Afterward, she came to the capital to seek refuge with a distant relative. Because of her stunning beauty, this relative wanted to marry her off to Vice Minister Zhang from the Ministry of Revenue to secure a position for his own son.”
“But Miss Liushi would rather die than comply, so in a fit of rage, they sold her to the Phoenix Pavilion.”
“Who would have thought that once she entered the brothel, she would thrive. Last year, she even won first place in the Flower Competition.”
“Hm…”
Wei Changtian showed no expression on his face, but inside he was clear as a mirror.
Qingzhou Prefecture, family perishing in a fire, all of it was fake!
Yang Liushi wasn’t even human!
She was a demon!
A fox demon!
She came from the remote mountains of the southwest and infiltrated the capital to find an opportunity to rescue someone from the Mirror Division’s prison—no, to rescue a demon.
But that wasn’t the most crucial point.
The worst part was that she used illusions every time she entertained a guest!
The guests thought they had a great time, but in reality, they were only indulging in their fantasies.
Isn’t this outright consumer fraud?
This is too despicable, she must be taught a lesson!
Raising his eyebrows, Wei Changtian asked, “Which days does Yang Liushi entertain guests? Still the same schedule?”
“Yes.”
Wang Er answered truthfully, “Miss Liushi still receives guests on the first, fifteenth, and twenty-eighth of each month. The guests must hold a third-rank official position or higher.”
“But she will also be touring the Lantern Festival on a decorated boat in a few days, and there are rumors that she might make an exception that day. Many scholars and poets are waiting for that occasion.”
“Hm.”
Wei Changtian nodded and commanded, “Make arrangements. On the Mid-Autumn Festival, I want to be on Yang Liushi’s, uh, decorated boat.”
“Yes, Master.”
Wang Er lowered his head and accepted the order, secretly complaining in his heart.
Although the Master’s temperament has softened a lot recently and he hasn’t killed anyone for days, his lecherous nature hasn’t changed a bit!
…
“Woof! Woof! Woof!”
“Cluck! Cluck! Cluck!”
The sun had just begun to set when Wei Changtian returned to the Wei Residence.
Upon entering the courtyard, he saw Big Ghost chasing an old hen. The two animals were running from east to west and from south to north, creating a lively scene of “chicken flying and dogs jumping.”
“Where did the chicken come from?”
Wei Changtian walked to the eaves and asked Qiu Yun, who looked helpless, “Did Qiaoling bring it again?”
“Yes,” Qiu Yun replied.
Qiu Yun rubbed her forehead. “Miss said our courtyard is too dull, and this would make it livelier…”
“…”
After a moment of silence, Wei Changtian gritted his teeth and asked, “Where is she?”
“She’s inside, learning calligraphy from Madam.”
“Qiaoling? Learning calligraphy?”
Wei Changtian was stunned for a moment, then walked toward the house. However, he had only taken a few steps before turning back and running straight at the old hen.
“Cluck, cluck, cluck!”
“Thud!”
“…”
“Perfect, we’ll have chicken tonight.”
Inside the study, the air was filled with the scent of sandalwood.
At a specially made small wooden table, Wei Qiaoling was gripping the smallest brush, writing with a wild flair, ink splattering everywhere in a rather artistic manner.
Lan Jingyao stood nearby, her dress covered in ink spots, but she didn’t mind. In fact, she wore a rare smile on her face.
This was the first time Wei Changtian had seen her smile.
To be fair, saying she had a smile as lovely as a flower wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
“Brother, brother, you’re back!”
Hearing the commotion at the door, Wei Qiaoling, unaware of her “beloved chicken’s” fate, jumped up from the small table and ran towards Wei Changtian.
“Don’t move!”
Wei Changtian quickly grabbed her little ink-stained hands and used her clothes to help wipe them clean.
“Brother! Look at my writing!”
Wei Qiaoling, oblivious to being slighted, pulled Wei Changtian towards the small wooden table, proudly displaying her work.
The paper bore a few crooked words.
“Father, Mother, Big Brother, Sister-in-law, Big Ghost…”
“This…”
Wei Changtian was taken aback, regretting killing that old hen a bit.
Actually, Wei Qiaoling had been rather pitiful before.
Although the previous master had loved this sister, his main occupation was frequenting brothels, so apart from a few maidservants, no one in the large Wei Mansion could play with her.
No wonder this little girl loved raising animals and had quickly bonded with Lan Jingyao…
As Wei Changtian pondered whether to have someone buy another chicken, Yuan’er suddenly poked her head in from outside the door.
“Master, Sister Qiu Yun asked me to find out how you want to prepare the old hen.”
Wei Changtian: “…”
Wei Qiaoling: “… Big Cluck Cluck… Waaah!!!”
Half an incense stick later, Wei Qiaoling, wiping her tears, went to watch the chicken stew.
Then came the routine medicine application time.
Wei Changtian lay on the bed, bare-chested, while Lan Jingyao sat beside him, carefully applying the ointment.
Compared to Qiu Yun, who occasionally did rough work, Lan Jingyao’s hands were softer, and her movements were more gentle.
The faint sound of her breathing filled the room, and neither spoke throughout the process.
It wasn’t until the end that Wei Changtian noticed Lan Jingyao seemed to have something on her mind.
As he put on his clothes, he asked, “What’s the matter?”
Lan Jingyao hesitated. “Do you… want to learn calligraphy?”
“Hmm?”
Wei Changtian was surprised, then suddenly remembered the “poem” he had written for Lan Jingyao.
So she did despise my handwriting after all?
However, thinking about it, I do need to improve my calligraphy. He nodded generously. “Alright, if I have time, I’ll spend an hour each day learning from you.”
“Do you want to start now?”
Lan Jingyao stared at the tips of her shoes and whispered, “There’s still some time before dinner.”
“Sure.”
Wei Changtian asked, “Shall we go to the study?”
“Um… The study is a bit messy because of Qiaoling.”
Lan Jingyao murmured, “We can go to my room…”
Wei Changtian: “?”
I have every reason to suspect your intentions aren’t pure!