Chapter 24 : Red Feather Villa
24: Red Feather Villa
The next day, the group split into two parties. One followed the other three Peak Masters to their respective territories to oversee the establishment of Martial Supervision Halls. The remainder, led by Lu Wencheng, proceeded to Red Feather Villa to offer birthday congratulations.
Perhaps to make up time, the party heading to Red Feather Villa traveled much faster than before. The carriage jolted so much that Fu Peibai couldn't catch up on sleep even if she wanted to. Dizzy and slightly nauseous, she sat swaying outside the carriage. Finally unable to endure it any longer, she weakly called into the carriage, "Peak Master, may I come inside and sit for a while?"
"You may."
Fu Peibai lifted the curtain and climbed in, leaning weakly against the carriage wall. Her expression looked rather miserable.
Lu Yanran glanced at her and asked, "What's wrong?"
"A bit dizzy." After saying this, Fu Peibai closed her eyes, fighting down the discomfort in her stomach.
Lu Yanran looked at her for a moment, then set down the book in her hands and said softly, "Hold out your hand."
Fu Peibai opened her eyes, looking puzzled.
"Your hand."
Fu Peibai slowly extended her hand. The next moment, it was held by Lu Yanran. A cool sensation spread through her entire palm.
Lu Yanran channeled her internal energy and pressed several points on Fu Peibai's palm with firm pressure before withdrawing her hand.
Fu Peibai was still in a state of shock, having even temporarily forgotten her physical discomfort. All she could remember was the cool touch of those pale, slender hands supporting the back of her own. She looked up to find that Lu Yanran had already picked up her book again and was saying indifferently, "There is an acupoint in the center of the palm. Pressing it can relieve stomach discomfort."
Hearing this explanation, Fu Peibai finally understood the Peak Master's intention. She withdrew her hand and unconsciously rubbed her palm, feeling the discomfort in her stomach truly fade by more than half.
"Thank you, Peak Master."
Lu Yanran gave a soft hum and continued reading.
Fu Peibai's mind was somewhat unsettled, though she couldn't say why. Then she thought of what had happened the previous night and recounted it. Afraid that Lu Yanran wouldn't believe her, she earnestly added at the end, "Peak Master, that person really looked very much like you."
Lu Yanran lifted her eyelids and stared fixedly at her, asking, "Deep in the night with heavy fog, you could tell it looked like me just from a silhouette?"
"Well..."
Lu Yanran leaned forward and continued, "Though we are on the same peak, you and I rarely meet. Why would you think a silhouette looked like me just from its form?"
Fu Peibai's eyes widened slightly. Her entire back pressed against the carriage wall as she stared dazedly at the woman slowly approaching her.
"I..." She couldn't say more. Her throat felt dry.
Finally, Lu Yanran stopped less than three inches from her face. Their eyes met.
"Could it be that you've dreamed of me at night? That's why you're so familiar with my form and gait?"
Fu Peibai's heart gave a violent start. She looked away, guilty and nervous. She had indeed dreamed of Lu Yanran, right after that night when she had accidentally seen her bathing in the cold spring. That very night, she had dreamed, and the dream had been a recreation of that very scene.
She swallowed unconsciously and replied dryly, "No... I haven't."
Lu Yanran stared at her face. After a moment, she gave a soft laugh.
This laugh of unclear meaning entered Fu Peibai's ears, making her scalp tingle instantly and her heart pound like thunder. She practically fled from the carriage.
"Peak Master, I've rested enough. I'm going outside."
It wasn't until she sat back down beside Xing Guang and the breeze blew against her that the violent pounding in her chest finally subsided.
Xing Guang glanced at her sideways and said, "Your face is red."
Fu Peibai started and subconsciously touched her face. It did feel somewhat hot. "No, it's not. Why are you being so loud? I don't. I just feel a bit hot." After saying this, she tugged at her collar and gave a stiff smile.
After that, Fu Peibai sat obediently outside the carriage and never again entertained the thought of going back inside.
……
Night fell slowly. The caravan had entered the territory of Red Feather Villa. From afar, one could already see the large manor ablaze with lights, and the crowd standing outside waiting.
Fu Peibai jumped down from the carriage and stood quietly to the side. Lu Yanran also descended with A-Fu's support and walked toward the manor.
Beneath the archway of Red Feather Villa, Lu Wencheng was already exchanging pleasantries with He Yangyao. "Brother He, long time no see."
"Indeed. Though we've been apart only a few months, it feels like years since I've seen Brother Lu."
Lu Yanran walked over and bowed to He Yangyao. "Yanran greets Uncle He."
He Yangyao nodded repeatedly, appearing quite satisfied with Lu Yanran's gentle and refined demeanor.
"Miss Lu, long time no see." He Cong stepped out from the side, his eyes fixed ardently on Lu Yanran.
"Long time no see, Young Master He."
He Yangyao waved his hand. "Alright, alright. Don't stand here. Fine food and wine have been prepared long ago, just waiting for you and your party, Brother Lu."
Lu Wencheng and He Yangyao entered the manor first, chatting and laughing. Lu Yanran and He Cong followed closely behind, and then came the vast procession of the Heavenly Pole Sect.
Fu Peibai, following the other guards, was assigned to the courtyard where the servants ate. The courtyard wasn't large, but it was filled with four or five tables of food. Everyone remarked that Master He was indeed generous and open-handed, treating guests well. They set down their weapons one by one, took their seats, and began to feast heartily.
Fu Peibai also found a table and sat down. Having eaten nothing but dry rations for two days, she naturally salivated at the sight of the table full of delicacies. She reached out and picked up a chicken leg, just about to put it in her mouth, when the small door to the courtyard was kicked open with a bang.
He Cong entered, leading two attendants. He swept his gaze around, locked onto Fu Peibai, then strode forward and shouted, "Who gave a mere servant permission to sit at the table and eat?"
Fu Peibai didn't want to cause a conflict, nor did she want to engage in a war of words. She set down the chicken leg and stood up to leave. But He Cong wouldn't let it go. He stepped forward, blocking Fu Peibai's path. "I haven't finished speaking. Where are you running off to?"
He Cong was more than half a head taller than Fu Peibai. Though she was looking up at him, there wasn't a trace of fear in her eyes. She said calmly, "What do you want to say?"
He Cong gave a cold laugh. "After taking those lashes from Brother Mo last time, you certainly healed quickly."
Fu Peibai frowned, not wanting to engage with his mockery. "I'll trouble Young Master He to step aside. I have matters to attend to."
"Heh. What matters could a servant possibly have? Since you're so eager to keep busy, I'll assign you a task. How about cleaning horse manure in the stables?"
Fu Peibai raised her eyes and looked straight at him. "I am not a member of your villa. You have no right to order me."
He Cong laughed in anger. However, he was more composed than Mo Qingyuan and wouldn't lose his reason over a few words. He casually pointed at the guards sitting at a table and announced loudly, "I'm telling all of you to go clean the stables right now. Any objections?"
Those guards looked at one another. In the end, they picked up their swords and left the courtyard.
He Cong narrowed his eyes and said to Fu Peibai, "They are also from the Heavenly Pole Sect. How is it that I can order them but not you? Or perhaps I'm blind and failed to recognize that you're someone of great importance?"
Fu Peibai clenched her fist and said coldly, "Where are the stables?"
He Cong clapped his hands. "Come, take our Young Master Fu to the stables."
An attendant said with a false smile, "This way, Young Master Fu."
Fu Peibai followed the attendant to the stables. Relying on his master's status, the attendant became increasingly arrogant. "The rest of you can go. The Second Young Master said that Young Master Fu here should clean up alone."
Among those men were some who knew Fu Peibai. They felt somewhat reluctant and hesitated to leave. Fu Peibai gave them a look indicating it was fine.
Soon, Fu Peibai was alone in the stable. She rolled up her sleeves, took a large broom, and began clearing the horse manure. After sweeping the manure, she took a brush and groomed the horses until A-Fu came looking for her.
A-Fu covered her nose, retreating two steps from the stables' offensive smell. "Little Bai, why are you here?"
Fu Peibai thought for a moment. There wasn't much point in mentioning He Cong's deliberate bullying. The Heavenly Pole Sect and Red Feather Villa had been on good terms for generations. A lowly servant like herself suffering a small grievance wasn't worth mentioning. So she said casually, "These horses have been traveling for two days. I had nothing to do so I thought I'd give them a brush."
"Stop doing that. Come with me quickly."
"What's happened?"
"The Peak Master wants you to come with me to help serve wine and dishes at the birthday banquet. Hurry up and change your clothes with me, and wash off that smell properly."
Fu Peibai was somewhat surprised, but she obediently washed the smell from her body, changed into clean clothes, and followed A-Fu into the main hall.
At this moment, the banquet was filled with distinguished guests, drums and music playing in unison. Amidst the crowd and noise, Fu Peibai spotted Lu Yanran at a single glance, sitting quietly to one side.
She quickened her pace and walked over, standing beside the table as she had done before. "Peak Master."
Lu Yanran's expression was indifferent. She gave a soft hum.
Fu Peibai knelt down, picked up chopsticks, and looked at the various exquisite delicacies on the table. Not knowing what dishes the Peak Master preferred, she hesitated for a moment, then picked up a piece of boneless steamed fish belly and placed it in Lu Yanran's bowl. She quietly observed the other's reaction.
Soon, Lu Yanran picked up the fish meat and put it in her mouth, chewing it in small bites. Her expression revealed nothing about whether it was good or bad.
Fu Peibai reasoned that since the Peak Master had eaten it, it couldn't be unpleasant. So she picked two or three more pieces of fish and placed them in the bowl. Then A-Fu came over with a wine pot, saw this, and exclaimed in surprise, "Peak Master, don't you never eat fish?"
Hearing this, Fu Peibai quickly apologized. "Ah, I'm sorry, Peak Master. I didn't know you don't eat fish. Shall I take the rest out for you?"
"It's fine. This fish is fresh and tender. It's palatable enough." As she spoke, Lu Yanran picked up her chopsticks again and finished the remaining fish in her bowl.
Although Lu Yanran said it was fine, Fu Peibai didn't serve her any more fish after that. Instead, she selected various meat dishes and put them in the bowl: rose goose breast, steamed lamb, glutinous rice duck, imperial concubine chicken. Whatever was meat, she served.
A-Fu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Alright, alright, Little Bai. Stop serving. The Peak Master prefers vegetarian food, and you're giving her nothing but meat."
Fu Peibai stopped and looked at the white porcelain bowl, which was now piled into a small mountain, stacked with all kinds of meat.
She said somewhat awkwardly, "I... how about I pour wine for the Peak Master instead? I'm good at pouring wine."
"No need. Just stand there." Lu Yanran took a fresh empty bowl, then picked up some green vegetables and put them in her mouth.
Fu Peibai made a sound of acknowledgment, feeling an inexplicable sense of defeat. She had wanted to serve the Peak Master properly during the meal, but instead had bungled it.
She stood by the table, watching Lu Yanran eat while thinking to herself: the Peak Master is really too thin, she should eat more meat. The Peak Master is so elegant even when eating. She really is beautiful.
Her thoughts wandered aimlessly until she suddenly felt a heavy gaze land on her. She looked up and saw He Cong directly opposite, drinking a cup of wine while staring at her with eyes like flying daggers.
She found it baffling. If Mo Qingyuan bore a grudge against her because of their initial conflict down the mountain and later losing face in the competition, why would He Cong harbor such baseless hostility toward her?
The two held each other's gaze until Lu Wencheng walked over to Lu Yanran's table with a wine cup in hand. Only then did she withdraw her gaze and stand with her head bowed to the side.
"Yanran, come. Accompany me to offer a toast to your Uncle He."
Out of the corner of her eye, Fu Peibai saw Lu Yanran rise with her wine cup and follow Lu Wencheng to the opposite side. She didn't know what they were discussing, but she secretly looked up and saw a faint smile on Lu Yanran's lips. Her entire face had softened, unlike her usual cold and frosty demeanor.
This piqued her curiosity. She quietly shifted forward two steps, then two more, until she reached a position where she could roughly hear the conversation across the way. Only then did she stop. Though her eyes remained lowered and her head bowed, her attention was entirely focused on her ears.