76 Your enjoyment is not worth my reputation Part I
‘Zhaocaijinbao’ was the largest inn in the capital. It was also an inn that was only frequented by the wealthy because of its food and service price that guaranteed high quality.
Still, the noble loved to squander their money here, as seen from the number of customers that never decreased throughout the day. Both well-to-do travelers and the young nobles could use this inn as a meeting place without being seen as inappropriate.
This place was comparable to Siam area in Thailand. Its significance was not only as a place that served food but also as a social space. Furthermore, this inn was especially unique with its own space for young ladies and gentlemen to show their skills or duel with each other in various arts, namely, chess, qin, or poetry.
In Bai Yu’s eyes, this place only lacked gambling and fighting. If they could manage to arrange those, money would surely flow toward them like the name Zhaocaijinbao.
“Are you really going to go in alone, miss?” Xiao Xi was extremely worried about her miss. This place was full of misses and masters from various families, if one saw her miss together with Master Xu then a strange rumor would instantly spread.
“You wait here.” Bai Yu handed her puppy maid a bag of coins. “Use this to buy whatever you like. Come back here to meet me after one shichen.” In order to avoid complications, Bai Yu chose to enter the inn alone. She still saw Xiao Xi as a young girl, so she felt sympathy for her having to serve Bai Yu day and night without a chance to spend her youth properly. This was a great opportunity for Xiao Xi to go out and play.
As for Xiao Chang, she had gotten a large bag of coins to go ‘play’ even before Xiao Xi.
Bai Yu walked toward the three-story inn, as soon as she stepped inside a waiter came to greet her respectfully without mentioning anything else.
“Miss Bai, this way please.”
.....
The waiter who seemed like he had been waiting for her gestured toward the stair leading up. The second floor was the area both for ordering food and sitting down to converse, making the price here higher than the restaurant on the first floor.
While she was calmly following the waiter, glances were thrown toward the number one beauty who rarely visited this place. Even travelers or gentlemen from out of town all looked over their own shoulders, unable to take their eyes away from her while wondering about her background.
Bai Yu could feel every gaze directed toward her. Most were nobles with an average level of magic, except one group who had magic comparable to her own. It seemed like they were outsiders, though they knew manner enough to only steal a glance at her instead of openly staring.
“Please wait a moment.” When they reached her meeting place, Bai Yu was left to stand there alone since her table was somehow taken by a pair of women. The waiter realized he was facing a problem, yet he could remain calm enough to ask her to wait before going to speak to the manager who oversaw the inn’s second story.
“Sis”
“Shameless ones, too.” Bai Yu muttered.
“Are you talking about yourself?”
“I’m talking about those two women.”
Bai Yu did not point toward them. She only turned toward the person who suddenly appeared and called her. “How long have you been waiting?”
“Around one ke. But I have nowhere to sit.” The other person said while fanning himself with his feathered-fan.
“The table you reserved?”
“Women are sitting there.”
“And why don’t you just drive them away?”
“I’m a man.” He said as he tucked a strand of hair behind his ear.
Bai Yu gave him a look. “Didn’t you say you don’t like that word?”
“It’s the only reason holding me back from chasing those women away.”
“But I’m a woman.”
“And?”
“I can do what you said you can’t.”
“I already had the floor manager talk to them.”
“Unsuccessful, then?”
“Seems like they’re some kind of big shots,” Xu Luanle said, making his voice sound higher in an irritating tone.
“And you’re not as big as them?”
Let it be known then that the first son of the Xu family was not as powerful as people who Bai Yu knew at first glance were outsiders. Not only that, but they also seemed to be together with the group with high magic on the first floor as well. The reason Bai Yu knew was that there was no family here more influential than the Xu family and Bai family. Even the Emperor had to be mindful of them. Those two little girls were nothing!
“Actually, I just want to see you do something fun.”
Bai Yu rolled her eyes. She had expected this. How could a person like Master Xu just stand by and let others steal his reserved table? Zhaocaijinbao could even be one of his secret businesses.
“I guess I’ll go home.” Bai Yu turned and walked toward the stairs, ignoring Xu Luanle’s shock. He hurriedly came to block her path with a sweet smile.
“I’m just joking with you.”
“You’re testing me.”
“If you knew, won’t you show me what you’re capable of?”
“Seven part out of ten.” Bai Yu showed a graceful smile as if she was discussing the weather and not a business share.
“Half and half.” Xu Luanle folded his fan and held it in a grip. There was no trace of playfulness left on his face, only seriousness in front of Bai Yu’s business negotiation.
“Seven and three.”
“Only five.”
“Then I’m leaving.”
“Six and four. And you deal with those women.”
“Deal!” Bai Yu blurted out a language from her former life. Still, she was too happy to be concerned whether Xu Luanle understood her or not. Her hand snatched the white feathered-fan that coincidentally matched her outfit today, opened it, and slowly fanned as she headed toward the table that should have been her and Xu Luanle’s.
The alluring figure in a white dress walked forward. The butterfly embroidery on the hem of her full-length skirt and wide, long sleeves nearly touching the floor fluttered in time with her steps. It looked as if there were a group of butterflies following her. The beauty’s graceful pace made her sheer thin coat flow along the movements, matching with her pink shawl.
Bai Yu was more like a goddess drifting in the air rather than a walking mortal. However, no one there knew that this goddess was a villainess in disguise. A villainess who was preparing the act her part even without changing or losing her elegance at all.
“If I may ask, from what family are these two guniangs from?”
The two young ladies stopped short mid-conversation. Then, they looked up to see Bai Yu waving her fan with a smile that did not hide any pressure behind her words.
“Why would you want to know?” A plain-looking woman who seemed to be lower ranked than the woman with twin swords on her back flatly answered. There was no animosity or friendliness.
“Benxiaojie only wants to know to ask when would these two guniangs who don’t know their place get out of other people’s seat.”
“Whose seat are you talking about? My mistress and I saw that it was empty, and we have enough money to sit down and order.” Her flat tone turned harsher and louder, attracting attention from around them.
Bai Yu knew that these two must be from the martial world and had a connection to a major family. She could deduct that much from their hot-headedness and boldness, unafraid to raise their voice in public.
“This place is filled with people with money. Benxiaojie, too, has both money and manners...” Bai Yu glanced at the mistress who was silently looking at her teacup as if she was not worth her interest or time. “...But it seems like the two guniangs are only rich in wealth, but still lacking in manner.”
Smash!
“You!’
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