Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 760 - 757: Little Brat_1

"Nanny, please send someone to tell Yue Shi that I need to change my clothes. Have him wait a bit," Bai Qingyan instructed Nanny Tong.

"Yes!"

On the way back to Boyun Courtyard, they had to pass by the Immortal Pavilion. Unexpectedly, Yue Shi was fast. By the time Bai Qingyan reached the Immortal Pavilion, he had already arrived.

From a distance, Yue Shi saw Bai Qingyan dressed in a blue single robe and frost-white skirt. He hurriedly walked out of the Immortal Pavilion and quickly greeted her.

After saluting Bai Qingyan, Yue Shi said, "Young Lady, the master’s elder brother has arrived outside Shuoyang City and requests to see you. Is it convenient for you to step out?"

Yue Shi knew that Bai Qingyan had always claimed to be ill. Now he came to invite her to go outside the city, which was a somewhat difficult request. But since Emperor Yan wanted to see her, Yue Shi had to come even if it was a bit thick-skinned.

"Doctor Hong has already informed me. You wait by the side gate. I’ll return to Boyun Courtyard to change my clothes and then go with you," Bai Qingyan told Yue Shi.

Yue Shi was filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Young Lady!"

When Nanny Tong heard that Bai Qingyan was going out, she pondered over whether to ask Lu Ping to accompany Bai Qingyan.

Returning to Boyun Courtyard, Bai Qingyan had Chun Tao help her into men’s attire.

Bai Qingyan looked tall and vigorous, wearing a Jade Official’s hat. Dressed in men’s clothes, she had an almost indistinguishable appearance, looking like a handsome young lad from a wealthy family.

As Nanny Tong buttoned Bai Qingyan’s robe, she said, "Young Lady, let me call Lu Ping to accompany you."

Bai Qingyan adjusted her sleeves, covering the iron sandbag underneath, and said, "Uncle Ping often travels outside. People know he is from the Bai Mansion. If he accompanies me, it will reveal that I’m from the Bai Mansion. There are Hidden Guards following me. Just call two guards who usually do not go out to accompany me."

What Bai Qingyan said made sense. Nanny Tong did not argue further. She went out to arrange for two unfamiliar guards from the Bai Mansion to accompany Bai Qingyan.

Yue Shi anxiously waited under the green shade of the willow tree outside the corner gate, leading his horse, but did not hear any movement from within the gate for a long time.

"You little brat!"

Yue Shi heard a voice, looked up towards the alley entrance, and saw the Hidden Guard, whom he had met at the posthouse before, calling him from atop a tall horse.

"Let’s go! Hurry!" The Hidden Guard said and then spurred his horse forward.

Yue Shi dared not delay, immediately mounted his horse, turned, and followed.

Bai Qingyan, dressed in men’s attire, rode ahead. They galloped out of the city straight towards Ying Lake. Yue Shi caught up with Bai Qingyan only after they had left the city.

Ying Lake was clear, with algae floating at the bottom, fish swimming around, and the lake surface mirrored the blue sky with drifting white clouds. The ornate painted boats on the lake seemed to float among the clouds.

As the boats moved, the water rippled, breaking the reflection of the clouds, as if slicing through the sky.

After galloping out of the city, Bai Qingyan’s horse slowed down.

The weeping willows along the lakeshore swayed with the wind. Occasionally, a willow leaf touched the lake, causing ripples that startled dragonflies resting on the fine grass on the lake’s surface into flapping their wings and flying away.

Recently, Ying Lake in Shuoyang had become very lively. A famous dancer from Xiliang named Na Kang had come to one of Shuoyang’s famous brothels. She was skilled in singing and dancing, could play the pipa to perfection, and even danced while playing it. Many young noblemen from Shuoyang admired her.

They said that Na Kang, the famous dancer from Xiliang, would soon go to the Capital. These days, she entertained a guest daily in the painted boats on Ying Lake.

During the day, those young noblemen would visit the painted boats, spending lavish amounts for a chance to become Na Kang’s guest at night and witness her celestial dancing skills.

Because of this Na Kang, Ying Lake had become as lively as a small marketplace. Girls strolled along the lakeside path, chatting and laughing in pairs; vendors sold tea, food, and trinkets, shouting their wares; children, undaunted by the sun, played cuju, laughing and running around.

An old man, wearing a straw hat and a sweat cloth on his shoulder, sold melons in coarse cloth clothing. He fanned away flies hovering around his sliced melons while haggling with women who had brought their children for a refreshing melon.

Scholarly young men fond of poetry sat in the painted boats, raising cups and reciting poems.

The bustling scene, accompanied by the sound of cicadas and vendors’ cries, became even more vibrant.

Murong Yu, Emperor Yan, stood at the front of a painted boat, watching the lively and noisy scene. This was what his mother and he had wished for: prosperity, a bustling environment that felt safe and reassuring. Murong Yu was envious.

Empress Ji, his mother, and he had always wished for all the people to live such a peaceful, carefree life.

Absorbed in the scene, Murong Yu did not notice Bai Qingyan’s arrival until the old eunuch Feng Yao beside him saw Yue Shi and stepped forward to whisper a reminder. Only then did Murong Yu come to his senses and look towards Yue Shi, immediately noticing the handsome young man in the sharp men’s attire, Bai Qingyan.

After a brief moment of surprise, Murong Yu understood why Bai Qingyan was dressed this way.

Bai Qingyan had claimed to be ill. Naturally, she would need to disguise herself to see him, and wearing men’s clothing made sense.

Murong Yu did not adopt an imperial demeanor. Instead, like a wealthy son from an ordinary family, he bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan, adopting a very humble posture.

Murong Yu, known as the most beautiful man in the world, lived up to his reputation. His features were more stunning than a woman’s, worthy of the words "absolute beauty." His long illness had left him pale, making his skin appear even fairer. He wore a bamboo green robe and a wide jade belt. Perhaps adapting to local customs, Murong Yu had a black jade dragon pendant hanging from his waist. In the sunlight, it gleamed with a lustrous sheen, clearly not an ordinary piece.

In the short span he stood at the boat’s front, Murong Yu had already attracted many women’s gazes. Bolder ladies from wealthy families even stood at their own boats, throwing sachets at the jade-like Murong Yu. Unfortunately, his guards lacked romantic sensibilities and threw all sachets back.

After a while, those eager young women dared not act recklessly and could only gaze longingly from afar at this celestial-like handsome man on the painted boat.

Bai Qingyan handed the reins to her guard and boarded the boat with Yue Shi, then smiled and greeted Emperor Yan, "Greetings, Emperor Yan..."

"No need for such formalities, sir. Please come inside," Murong Yu gestured invitingly to Bai Qingyan.

Bai Qingyan nodded and followed Murong Yu into the painted boat.

The girls, who had been watching Murong Yu, chattered excitedly when they saw another young, handsome man arrive.

Unfortunately, both the handsome young man and the beautiful man entered the painted boat, and they could no longer see them. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

Inviting Bai Qingyan to sit, Murong Yu lifted his robe’s hem and knelt opposite Bai Qingyan, separated by a small table.