Chapter 51 : I'm Very Much Looking Forward to It
"This is truly a case of not judging by appearances! Who could have thought that little girl in the wheelchair could consecutively beat all of us drunkards?"
"I'm ashamed—I thought she was just here to play around."
After three rounds of drinks, the guests at the banquet were slightly tipsy.
As the saying goes, alcohol emboldens the timid. Many words they hadn't dared speak earlier due to fear of her background could now be voiced.
Though their voices were still kept quite low.
"By the way, does anyone know that young lady's background? I know the three constables, but I've never heard that young lady's name in all of Heyang City."
"Really never heard? You must have!"
A wealthy young master with some connections smiled.
The man was displeased: "How would I have heard?"
The wealthy young master looked around, especially confirming that Mu Qinglan and her group weren't looking their way, then leaned over and whispered:
"Western Campaign General, Prince Qi's legitimate daughter, Princess Qinghe—dare you say you haven't heard this title?"
"Hiss..."
The man earlier drew in a sharp breath, feeling his alcohol had sobered him.
"Heard it, heard it!"
"So it's her!"
"Who could have thought... if I hadn't had the fortune to see her once a few years ago..."
"But gambling skill doesn't distinguish between noble and common birth. Even though that lady has exalted status, facing Fat Li on Sun Bamboo Pole's side, I'm afraid..."
"Let's keep watching. Princess just slapped my face loud and clear earlier!"
"True..."
At the head seat, the famous Heyang courtesan Yoo Shi silently listened to the guests' conversation, her heart churning like turbulent waves.
Initially, she indeed hadn't recognized Mu Qinglan's identity.
Because there were so many nobles in Heyang City—how could a mere courtesan recognize them all?
But after the gambling started for a while, when the madam sent someone to secretly tell her the identities of several distinguished guests present, only then did she realize—
The girl who had threatened her earlier was actually the legendary Heyang villainess, Mu Qinglan.
She was indeed quite villainous.
But where was the rumored lack of learning and skill?!!
You idiots have all been deceived by her!!
Yoo Shi felt numb inside but didn't dare speak of this, fearing she might one day be hacked to death by three hundred axe-wielding soldiers hiding behind screens for playing a wrong note.
Telling Prince should be fine—Mu Qinglan had indicated this to her too—but beyond that...
She wisely prepared to bury this secret in her heart.
Yoo Shi sighed, her elegant hands lightly stroking the qin. The music flowed leisurely, dispersing among the toasts and cups in the pavilion, fading into the guests' laughter and conversation.
But everyone knew.
When this melody ended, it would be time for the final two gamblers to decide victory.
Behind the pearl curtain.
Listening to this smooth and melodious qin music, Bai Yuyu felt nothing special. She was just a bit worried, having heard that Sun Bamboo Pole's teammate was a drunkard who had been immersed in gambling for many years.
"Mu Mu, I believe in you!"
Bai Yuyu held the white-haired girl's hand and drank a large gulp of fruit wine to bolster her courage.
Indeed, the fruit wine brewed by Red-Cherishing Courtyard was something special—sweet and not particularly intoxicating. Even Bai Yuyu, a little girl who didn't drink, had tasted a few sips. (tl/n: prev. Xihong Courtyard, I thought that translate it it more literally would be better)
The price was a flushed face.
After all, fruit wine was still wine—saying it had no kick would be false.
Mu Qinglan raised an eyebrow, smiled peacefully, lifted her cup, and after clinking glasses with the little girl, took a light sip.
She said indifferently:
"After all, we have two people."
Bai Yuyu was slightly stunned, completely captivated by her current reliable and trustworthy expression.
And when she came to her senses.
Her gaze had already followed the wine liquid sliding from the white-haired girl's lips, trickling down her porcelain-white cheek, sliding past her smooth, delicate chin, crossing her swan neck white as early winter snow...
Landing on the white collar at the girl's chest.
And seemingly feeling her cheek was a bit wet, the white-haired girl even extended her pink little tongue to lightly lick the corner of her lips.
"..."
Though it was just a very simple, ordinary action, for some reason, under the influence of alcohol, the little girl's face inexplicably reddened for a moment.
She even secretly swallowed and guiltily averted her gaze.
'Oh my, how embarrassing…'
The little girl thought to herself.
At this moment, the qin music outside the curtain quietly ended.
The conversation at the banquet also gradually weakened as if the volume had been mysteriously lowered.
"Is it coming?"
"It's Fat Li, that old drunkard who's been gambling for over ten years... Princess Mu is in danger..."
"Shh! You talk too much!"
The gambling addict called Fat Li drank the last drop from his cup. After hearing a sound like tearing silk from the qin, riding on his drunken momentum, he forcefully slapped the table:
"I'm up! Want to win? Ask Old Li first!"
He was the Crown Prince faction's last hope.
Absolutely couldn't lose!
Moreover, just a crippled princess—what was there to fear!
While the last hope over there was burning with drunken fervor, the hacker miss who had bought off the house beforehand wasn't panicked at all.
She was even thinking,
Hopefully this old gambling addict would put up a good fight—ideally the two could tangle for several rounds in the gambling match to make little cutie Bai Yuyu even more nervous.
Though Bai Yuyu's mood was already nervous enough.
"Go, Mu Mu!"
Bai Yuyu shouted loudly.
She had originally wanted to comfort Mu Qinglan by saying it was fine to lose, but after thinking it over, she swallowed those words back—too inauspicious.
"I'll borrow your auspicious words," Mu Qinglan smiled lightly and said: "But I'll have to trouble you later. My voice isn't loud—I'll still need little Bai."
"Mm-hm."
From beginning to end, Mu Qinglan had never said things like "I'll do my best" or "I'll definitely win."
Because saying such things was useless.
A truly skilled PUA bad woman would never give such empty promises. What she wanted was emotion, emotional value!
What did victory or defeat matter?
If she made Bai Yuyu happy, so what if she lost? Of course, the bad woman definitely wouldn't lose—she was just speaking hypothetically.
So she only kept telling Bai Yuyu: my throat isn't good, I need your help; my mobility is limited, I need your help—creating a feeling of "I can't do without you."
—This is our shared victory, you know?
Of course, the bad woman felt this wasn't enough.
So she pulled out the foreshadowing she had laid long ago.
'Now is the perfect time to reveal the secret to her…'
-Later, when she's most nervous, most expectant, most excited, when her emotions are most beyond her control, I'll seemingly accidentally expose it to her…'
'I wonder what you'll think when you discover that I was the one who covered your retreat in the Human Gate?'
Mu Qinglan glanced at the silly Bai Yuyu, her eyelids drooping.
Her lips curved slightly.
'I'm very much looking forward to it.'