Chapter 1744 - 1730
Feng Luo closed the door, leaned against it irritably, with her mind spinning quickly. How could she stay in the room peacefully? Impossible! She had to figure out a way to sneak out!
Thinking like this, Feng Luo walked over to the window at the back. Behind this window was a small fish pond, and if she climbed out through the window, a slight mistake could land her into the pond.
Having fallen in once before, she learned her lesson.
Feng Luo opened the window, then found a stool and was about to step on it and jump out when suddenly a shadow flickered in front of her eyes, "Miss, where are you going?"
The person who came was none other than her little follower, Tie Dan.
Feng Luo covered her nearly startled heart, looked at him irritably, and said, "Tie Dan! Are you trying to scare me to death?"
Tie Dan chuckled and scratched his head, "It’s Miss who wasn’t paying attention, can’t blame Tie Dan."
Feng Luo balanced on one leg on the windowsill, elbow on her knee, leaned down and looked at Tie Dan, asking, "Are you here to monitor me too?"
Tie Dan shook his head rapidly, "Miss, what are you saying? I’m not that kind of person!"
In this Beggar Gang old mansion, aside from Tie Dan calling her Miss, others either called her Elder Feng Luo or Miss Feng Luo. It wasn’t that they did not see her as the Beggar Gang’s Miss, but they believed beautiful women have tragic fates. From childhood, Luo Qi ordered them not to call her Miss.
As for Tie Dan, who joined the Beggar Gang later, he was assigned to work in Feng Luo’s courtyard, and Feng Luo found him quite smart, so she kept him as her little follower.
Tie Dan always referred to Feng Luo as Miss, and Feng Luo, having been called Miss by others since childhood, found it refreshing and did not correct Tie Dan.
"Then what are you doing here?" Feng Luo glared at him angrily, startled by his sudden appearance!
Tie Dan pursed his lips and chuckled, "Miss, everyone knows you want to go to the recruitment site, but Elder Jiu specially instructed us. We can’t openly let you go."
Feng Luo’s bright eyes flickered as she thought carefully and then said to Tie Dan, "You just said can’t openly?"
If not openly, then secretly? Feng Luo’s lips curled into a mischievous smile. She chuckled at Tie Dan and said, "Alright, just pretend you didn’t see me today!"
Saying this, she pressed Tie Dan’s shoulder and jumped down.
Tie Dan watched Feng Luo’s departing figure and shook his head bitterly. He was helpless, with masters on both sides, neither of whom he could afford to offend.
Not long after Feng Luo left, Dan came around from the front and asked in a low voice, "How’s it going? Did she leave?"
Tie Dan nodded, "She left. Dan, if Elder Jiu finds out about this, won’t he blame us?"
Dan shook his head, "Don’t worry, even if Elder Jiu really wants to blame us, Miss Feng Luo will protect us."
Tie Dan was a bit aggrieved, "I don’t understand what Elder Jiu and the others are thinking. Miss is doing this for the benefit of our Beggar Gang, yet Elder Jiu keeps blocking her. I really don’t know what they’re thinking."
"Good for what!" Dan glared at Tie Dan, "Do you know what it’s like on the battlefield even if you haven’t seen it? You’re letting Miss Feng Luo go to the battlefield? With her meager skills? In the Beggar Gang, everyone lets her win, pretending they can’t beat her, but once she’s out, Miss Feng Luo will surely suffer!"
Dan’s point was clear to Tie Dan; they were worried she would have no one to care for her on the battlefield, where death lurks in every shadow of swords and spears.
Tie Dan silenced himself; he didn’t understand this. He only knew that Miss wants to stand up for them!
...
Feng Luo walked all the way out of the old mansion, encountering a few Beggar Sect disciples along the way, but those disciples pretended not to see Feng Luo, acting as if they were walking past her.
The usually bustling streets had fewer people. At this time each year, the liveliest place would be the recruitment site, filled with music and dances, and numerous vendors would set up stalls there.
Feng Luo glanced at her clothes and nodded contentedly. Dressed like this, if she weren’t so well-known in Shuo State, people certainly wouldn’t guess she was disguising herself as a man!
She strode towards the recruitment site...
Arriving at the site, despite knowing the recruitment area would be packed, she was astonished by the scene before her.
In previous years, the recruitment site was held outside the city walls, where the open space could accommodate tens of thousands.
But now, it was divided into several sections: one with a stage for singing and dancing, with thundering gongs and drums, and another for lanterns, adorned with a variety of beautiful lanterns despite being daytime.
Feng Luo was a bit tongue-tied, "This year’s arrangement is exceptionally grand."
She squeezed into the crowd, intending to head to the recruitment registration area, which was set at the far edge, forming a long dragon-like queue. Feng Luo noticed most of the people in line were young, with only a few older ones though they looked at most in their early thirties.
Feng Luo took a deep breath, "How long will I have to wait with the line so long?"
As she was about to leave, a familiar figure emerged from the queue. Feng Luo saw that it was none other than Little Shunzi.
Didn’t Little Shunzi leave? Why did he come to register?
Feng Luo was puzzled, instinctively feeling Little Shunzi’s registration wouldn’t lead to anything good. She followed him and indeed saw him meet Ye Liang. The crowd was noisy, making it impossible for her to hear what they were discussing.
"Hmph, whatever they’re discussing, it can’t be anything good!" Feng Luo thought angrily. They used a flimsy excuse to escape back at the old mansion; this time, they won’t find it as easy to evade responsibility!"
Feng Luo wanted to get closer to hear them, but as she took a few steps, someone bumped into her, almost causing her to fall. When she regained balance and looked towards Ye Liang, he was already gone.
Frustrated, she stamped her foot, "Such bad luck! I missed catching them again!"
These two must be plotting something! Earlier, she saw Little Shunzi come from the recruitment queue, he must have already registered! Could it be that Chu Ge really registered?
Feng Luo pondered as she glanced towards Chu Ge’s direction. They were on the city tower, a bit distant amid the throngs; she didn’t notice Ru Xue there.
From a distance, she saw Prince He Shuo’s gentle expression, like a spring breeze, assuming he was smiling at Chu Ge.
Prince He Shuo had never shown such gentleness to their Beggar Gang, including Luo Qi, not even in formal occasions. He was always reserved!
She scoffed under her breath, what’s so special about this, isn’t it just for saving the Princess Consort?!