Wei Xuan immediately stood up, smiling: “Naturally I don’t mind. Please, Mr. Rong.”

Her complexion appeared normal, but Tie Ci inadvertently glanced over and noticed her cheeks and earlobes slowly turning red.

She looked up at Rong Wei once – what a charming fellow who attracts bees and butterflies.

Rong Pu was also one to attract bees and butterflies. He had a naturally delicate and romantic disposition, but his temperament also carried a hint of coolness, easily arousing women’s tender affection.

Rong Wei, however, had features that were far too extraordinary and transcendent, with magnificent beauty that seemed to flow with jade-like radiance and vermillion splendor, possessing a stunning presence. When people saw him, it was like witnessing a brilliant sea of flowers in full bloom – their gaze couldn’t turn away, unconsciously drawn to him. Yet those flowers bloomed for themselves, truly undisturbed by the surrounding clamor.

Just like at this moment, Wei Xuan was not a coy person, yet naturally displayed a shy demeanor beside him. He, however, remained composed and unperturbed, not even sparing her an extra glance from the corner of his eye.

His gaze shifted and he saw the dish in front of Rong Pu, smiling as he said: “Pu’er has good food, but insists on hiding it for himself?”

Rong Pu’s mouth twitched as he glanced at this fellow who was even younger than himself, yet dared to pose as an elder.

He simply pushed the remaining dish toward Rong Wei, laughing: “Shiba has already eaten, and I’m full too. Let me honor my teacher with this.”

The implication being: you’re eating our leftovers.

Rong Wei took it and placed it in the center of the table, saying: “Pu’er is stingy, only sharing one piece with you all. You haven’t eaten your fill, have you? Come, come, everyone share together.”

Tie Ci rolled her eyes, unable to understand why these two started bickering the moment they met.

Rong Pu lazily smiled: “Oh right, I forgot to introduce everyone. This Mr. Rong is a distant relative of mine. I suppose we’re of the same generation, and he comes from Liaodong.”

Rong Wei raised an eyebrow, and Tie Ci paused her chopsticks.

She hadn’t expected Rong Wei to be from Liaodong. Her heart stirred, then she heard Rong Pu continue: “Originally he was also in the Central Plains area, but later that branch had people traveling between Liaodong and the Central Plains for business, gradually accumulating wealth. They used silver to purchase official positions in Liaodong and moved there – it’s been two generations now.” He then addressed Rong Wei: “However, Liaodong ultimately belongs to Great Qian. In the future, when the Crown Princess marries the Eighteenth Prince of Liaodong, relations between Liaodong and us will surely become closer. Brother, you should be able to seek a position at court.”

In recent years, the King of Liaodong had virtually established independence, with many aspects severed from Great Qian. Officials serving in Liaodong had their career paths in Great Qian completely cut off. Tie Ci was somewhat surprised that Rong Pu suddenly brought up this rather sensitive matter at the dinner table. Just as she was about to stop him, unexpectedly he suddenly mentioned her own marriage arrangement. She was stunned, then saw Rong Pu suddenly turn toward her: “Brother Shiba has been in the capital for a long time and is said to have some friendship with the Crown Princess. You should know the Crown Princess’s attitude toward the marriage, right? How is it? Does the Crown Princess like the Prince? Should we prepare gifts early to curry favor with the future Prince Consort?”

Tie Ci instinctively said: “That’s not really necessary.”

“What, the Crown Princess doesn’t like the Prince?”

Tie Ci thought to herself that this sickly obsessive fellow was at it again, insisting she admit to not liking Liaodong’s Little Eighteen. Did he think that would give him a chance?

She smiled: “I’m not the Crown Princess, how would I know if she likes him or not? But ultimately the imperial decree has been issued. When the time comes for the formal betrothal ceremonies and grand wedding, that will be that. Imperial marriages are just like this – if they can live peacefully and harmoniously for a lifetime, raising their eyebrows in mutual respect, that would be proper enough.”

“It sounds like she’s not particularly invested.” Rong Pu smiled slightly.

Dan Ye laughed heartily: “They haven’t even met face to face, and the portrait is ugly as a dog. I heard the Crown Princess threw a dart at the portrait with her rear end facing it, and that’s how it landed on that fellow. It’s just that guy’s luck – what’s there to be invested in! But then again, is the Crown Princess blind? With so many fine young men available, she specifically chose an ugly monster. Isn’t she afraid of nightmares at night?”

Tie Ci also chuckled: “Weren’t all those fine young men busy declining the marriage? I heard there was one fool who even sent an express letter by swift horse from a thousand li away, saying he wouldn’t marry a waste. Then in a flash he had a senior moment and started slapping himself.”

Dan Ye: “……”

Dan Ye was instantly deflated by that slap.

Someone suddenly sat down at the neighboring table, and that person picked up the conversation: “A man’s ambitions span a thousand li – how can he become an appendage to an ignorant and useless woman? This humble one also declined marriage to the Crown Princess back then, and would never regret it even unto death.”

Dan Ye angrily said: “Qi Yuansi, haven’t you been beaten enough by me yet!”

The one who sat over was indeed Qi Yuansi. He smiled with apparent good temper, ignoring Dan Ye completely, his eyes gazing sincerely only at Tie Ci. He had naturally phoenix eyes with upturned corners that carried a hint of moisture. When looking at people, they naturally conveyed a gentle, moist quality – no wonder despite his gloomy disposition, he was still called “Spring Breeze for Ten Li.”

He spoke gently and softly: “Brother Ye, having heard your brilliant discourse in strategy class that day, and learning today of your punishment of Ma De, this younger brother has always most admired Brother Ye’s courage, wisdom, heroic spirit and bold character. Previously there were many offenses – please, Brother Ye, show magnanimity. I only hope past matters can be wiped clean with one stroke, and this younger brother would be willing to follow in Brother Ye’s wake hereafter, rendering the service of dog and horse.”

Tie Ci: “……”

Rong Pu: “……Pfft.”

Dan Ye: “……Hahaha!”

“No, don’t back down first.” Tie Ci said gently, “Being a little brother isn’t impossible. But don’t think you can muddle through. Wait until the wager is finished – when you lose, eat your fill of shit first, then we’ll talk.”

Everyone: “……”

Qi Yuansi: “……!!!”

After a long moment, Qi Yuansi, trembling all over, pushed his plate away. He didn’t even finish eating and departed decisively under the loving gazes of a group of female students.

Tie Ci continued eating with unchanged expression.

This kind of face-slapping would have to be repaid to her sooner or later.

Rong Pu watched Qi Yuansi slink away dejectedly, suddenly feeling somewhat fortunate that he had become the only one who hadn’t declined the marriage back then.

He picked up the previous topic again, turning to ask Rong Wei: “Sir, coming from Liaodong, have you heard of that Eighteenth Prince? The imperial decree has reached Liaodong – the Eighteenth Prince must be extremely delighted, right? How are the dowry preparations going?”

Rong Wei said: “This humble one doesn’t know how the preparations are going, but isn’t the Crown Princess afraid this one might also decline, so she eagerly sent many pearls and jade objects? I heard that at the Eighteenth Prince’s mansion now, even the chamber pots are made from imperially bestowed jade vessels.”

Tie Ci: ……Hehe.

“How can he be so unappreciative? It’s clearly the Crown Princess’s heartfelt intention.” Rong Pu said, “I heard that the Eighteenth Prince held a banquet for his brothers on the very night the rewards were bestowed, not only displaying the jewels and jade objects all over the floor, but also boasting to the other princes about the love letters the Crown Princess sent him, even reading them aloud publicly. I thought the Prince also had feelings for the Crown Princess… turns out the rumors are quite unreliable!”

Tie Ci: ……What love letters?

Was that idiotic prince a flower-obsessed fool or a late-stage delusional patient?

“The Eighteenth Prince is supremely talented, and the Crown Princess is in the bloom of her youth – writing a few love letters isn’t strange at all.” Rong Wei calmly changed the subject, “Eat, eat!”

Supreme your head, bloom your sister.

Tie Ci smiled: “Yes, so ordinary, yet so confident.”

Rong Wei glanced at her, and Rong Pu also glanced at her. Tie Ci was mashing her rice and didn’t notice the scheming gazes of these two cunning boys.

She didn’t really care about that so-called Murong Eighteen – she couldn’t even remember the name of that thing. Was it Murong Yi or Murong Yu? An unremarkable son of a border king from the outer territories, how dare he use her name to fabricate wild stories!

When she originally shot that dart and hit that ugly portrait, she was too lazy to change candidates. She just temporarily needed this pretense to block the Empress Dowager’s schemes. Who knows when they might go to war with Liaodong – this way she could break off the engagement early.

Now it seemed she needed to arrange to break off this damned engagement as soon as she returned!

If he’s ugly, so be it, but he also loves to cause trouble!

Tie Ci sat there with vacant eyes, viciously spooning rice while harboring malicious thoughts. Beside her, Wei Xuan was serving food to Rong Wei: “Sir, today’s three-silk tofu is quite good, please try some.”

Rong Wei’s gaze deliberately or inadvertently swept over Tie Ci, who was absent-mindedly accepting the food Rong Pu once again served her.

Rong Wei paused, accepted the food, and smiled his thanks.

The smile at the corners of Wei Xuan’s lips became even sweeter.

Tie Ci paid no attention. After finishing her meal, she took out her handkerchief, folded it properly and wiped her mouth, bid farewell to everyone, saying she needed to return to her quarters to rest.

Rong Pu said: “Go ahead, see you later.”

Tie Ci thought you’re about to go to class while I’m skipping – see you later for what? But she was too lazy to correct him. She went to the academy office to collect her reward money and requested leave. This time they approved the leave quite readily – many people had heard about Tie Ci’s battle with the Supervisor’s wife and knew she was a fierce one.

When Tie Ci returned to her quarters, not having come back last night, she noticed today that the only remaining bed had also been furnished with new bedding and even had bed curtains.

A new person had arrived?

Hopefully not another coldly arrogant fellow like Tong Rushi.

Tie Ci didn’t care much and buried her head for a nap. After getting up, she fetched water for a bath. She originally thought it wasn’t Wu dormitory’s hot water time and someone might make difficulties, but unexpectedly the steward said nothing and even assigned someone to help carry the water bucket.

Tie Ci was disguised as a man, so bathing was problematic. Taking advantage of the midday absence of people, she hurriedly enjoyed a thorough bath. Halfway through washing, she suddenly heard footsteps outside.

She immediately called out: “Who’s there?”

Rong Pu’s voice came from outside: “It’s me, coming back to get something.”

Tie Ci was confused – coming back? What coming back?

Rong Pu’s footsteps were approaching. She snapped to attention and said: “I’m bathing.”

The footsteps stopped.

Tie Ci was glad it was Rong Pu and not Dan Ye. If it had been Dan Ye, knowing this he might have barged in even faster.

There was no more sound outside, and she thought Rong Pu would leave. She continued washing leisurely.

After a while, footsteps sounded again, then Rong Pu’s voice rang out right at the door: “Brother Tian, please wait. Someone is bathing inside.”

Fat Tiger’s thin voice had no inhibitions: “Eh, bathing? So what? Let’s go in. I’ll step around the water on the floor.” As he spoke, he lifted the door curtain.

The curtain lifted then fell again. Rong Pu’s voice remained calm as ever: “Ye Shiba is bathing – he doesn’t like to be disturbed.”

Fat Tiger was an honest man and immediately stopped, standing outside to wait. After a while, unable to bear the loneliness, he said with envy: “Brother Shiba isn’t a woman – why fear people seeing him bathe? I heard he fought like a snake this morning and beat up Ma De. He’s truly a real man – his body must be rippling with muscle, very robust and strong…”

Tie Ci looked down at her own chest.

If we’re talking about rippling, it would probably be here.

“…Brother Rong, you and Brother Ye have a good friendship, right? You’re both from Shengdu, surely childhood friends. Have you seen him bathe?”

Tie Ci: ……What kind of soul-searching question is this!

“……No.” After a moment, Rong Pu added: “I should be able to see in the future.”

Tie Ci: “……”

So ordinary, yet so confident, part two.

At this time more footsteps arose, and this time Fat Tiger and Rong Pu said in unison: “Brother Li, Ye Shiba is bathing inside – he doesn’t like people disturbing him.”

Li Zhi also obediently stopped immediately. After a while, Li Zhi said to someone: “……Ye Shiba is bathing.”

Then someone else passed by, and four voices said: “……Ye Shiba is bathing.”

……

Someone outside asked: “Why are you gentlemen standing at the door without going in?”

A soulful silence.

Probably except for Rong Pu, the other three didn’t know why they were guarding here.

Tie Ci could almost imagine the scene – three grown men standing in a row at the door, telling everyone they met: “Excuse me, Ye Shiba is bathing, please do not enter.”

She couldn’t continue washing.

She splashed up to her feet with a whoosh, not caring that there was still soap in her hair that hadn’t been rinsed off. Just as she stood up, she seemed to see the door curtain lift open a crack.

She raised her hand and a silver needle shot from her fingertip.

The door curtain quickly fell back. The needle silently embedded in the edge of the curtain, its silver light flickering like a blinking eye.

Tie Ci hastily dressed. Inadvertently seeing the Western watch pressed under her pillow, she realized she had slept until evening – it was dinner time. Tian Wu was forgetful and had probably forgotten to bring back his food bowl to fetch his meal. The other few should have returned after eating.

She had slept and woken up without checking the time, thus causing this bathing-guard disaster.

At this time, flying footsteps sounded outside. After those several transmission-machine-like door guards, the person outside excitedly said: “It’s fine, Brother Ye and I are good friends – he won’t mind.” As he spoke, he was about to rush inside.

That voice was Dan Ye’s.

Rong Pu tried to stop him, but he had already nimbly squeezed past Fat Tiger and slipped inside. Upon entering and seeing the steamy atmosphere, he rolled up his sleeves and loudly declared: “Brother Ye, I’m here to help you……”

The steam dispersed somewhat. Opposite him stood Tie Ci, properly dressed with slightly damp hair, methodically fastening her arm guards.

Dan Ye’s words “scrub your back” got stuck hard in his throat. Opposite him, Tie Ci looked up and said: “Wolf Lord comes at just the right time – please help me carry out that water.”

She had just finished bathing, with slight steam still rising from head to toe, making her long hair appear even blacker and her eyelashes adorned with tiny water droplets. When she lifted her eyelids to look over, they sparkled with lustrous light, further emphasizing her elongated eye corners and flowing gaze. In this evening’s hazy, misty atmosphere, she naturally gained three parts allure.

Her robes clung tightly to her still slightly damp body, and from the side one could see the startlingly smooth curves below her slender waist.

Dan Ye stood transfixed, suddenly feeling as if he had returned to childhood, when his parents first led him out of the tent to see the long river and setting sun over the great desert, the deep red sunset glow setting the golden expanse ablaze.

That moment of breathtaking sensation.

His throat was inexplicably somewhat dry. He coughed once and, for the first time ever, didn’t banter with Tie Ci. He grabbed the water bucket and splashed his way outside.

Tie Ci put on her outer robe and went out to liberate her roommates. Outside the door were Rong Pu, Tian Wu, Li Zhi, and Tong Rushi. Tie Ci first asked Rong Pu: “How did you come here?”

“Please allow this humble one to recommend myself.” Rong Pu nodded toward the new bedding inside, “Rong Pu, your new roommate.”