Chapter 52

Wan'er led them to the Qingyin Hall of Yunshao Mansion. Even before they reached the main gate, they could hear the sounds of string and wind instruments. Inside, a rehearsal was in full swing.

Eight young girls dressed in white long skirts were dancing gracefully. Huo Xiaoru stood at the center, also in a white long skirt, holding a blue silk ribbon in her hands. Her delicate body tilted and spun, the ribbon swirling around her, creating beautiful curves that were a feast for the eyes, leaving one spellbound.

Muyan Feiyun finally realized that Hu Xiaotian's lover was the talented Huo Xiaoru. Huo Xiaoru was very famous, and she had come to the capital city specifically to rehearse the "Feathered Garment of the Rainbow Skies" for the Emperor's sixtieth birthday. Her arrival in the capital had caused quite a stir, and countless high-ranking officials and nobles considered it an honor to meet her.

The rhythm of the music grew increasingly urgent, like pearls falling on a jade plate, and Huo Xiaoru's body spun faster and faster.

Hu Xiaotian's mouth gaped open in amazement, never expecting Huo Xiaoru's dance to be so impressive. Just watching her made him feel dizzy.

Huo Xiaoru suddenly stopped and waved her hand. "No! It's still not right!" She was clearly dissatisfied with the choreography of this section.

The musicians stopped playing, and the eight accompanying dancers looked at Huo Xiaoru in confusion. Huo Xiaoru frowned slightly, lowered her head, and thought for a moment before softly saying, "Let's stop here. I need to think about it."

Wan'er said, "Miss!"

Huo Xiaoru turned around and only then noticed Hu Xiaotian and Muyan Feiyun. She was quite surprised, unable to understand why Hu Xiaotian would come. However, she couldn't deny that his performance at Yan Shui Pavilion had left a deep impression on her. Huo Xiaoru had always had high standards, and there were few men who could impress her. Hu Xiaotian was undoubtedly a man of great talent.

Huo Xiaoru smiled gently, her smile perfectly embodying the phrase "all the beauties of the six palaces pale in comparison." She gracefully approached Hu Xiaotian, gave a shallow bow, and said softly, "This humble woman did not know of Hu Gongzi's arrival, and I apologize for not greeting you properly."

Hu Xiaotian smiled. "I just happened to be passing by and ran into Wan'er, so I followed her here." The last time, Huo Xiaoru had been veiled, so he hadn't seen her true face. Today, he saw her for the first time, and she was indeed a beauty of unparalleled beauty and grace. Hu Xiaotian's gaze lingered on her face, unable to look away.

Huo Xiaoru knew her maidservant well and understood that the little girl loved to meddle. She smiled and said, "Let's go to the flower hall and sit down."

Hu Xiaotian shook his head. "I and Inspector Muyan were planning to have dinner at Tianranju. If Miss Huo is free, would you like to join us?"

Huo Xiaoru hesitated for a moment but finally nodded. "Please wait a moment, Hu Gongzi and Inspector Muyan. I'll change my clothes and be right back."

Hu Xiaotian immediately knew that waiting for a beautiful woman to change clothes was a long process. Huo Xiaoru took at least half an hour, and Muyan Feiyun grew impatient. She stood up and said, "How can changing clothes take so long?" She was naturally impatient and straightforward, and because of her profession, she never paid much attention to her appearance.

Hu Xiaotian, however, was more patient. He smiled, holding his teacup and sipping the fragrant tea. "A woman adorns herself for the one who pleases her!" This was clearly a way of flattering himself, implying that he was the one who pleased her.

Muyan Feiyun looked at him with the familiar disdainful gaze and gave him a very unfriendly evaluation. "A horse doesn't know its own face is long!" She didn't think Hu Xiaotian was the one who pleased her; in fact, she found him annoying. However, she had to admit that her impression of him had improved, as evidenced by her willingness to accept his invitation to dinner.

After a long wait, Huo Xiaoru finally appeared, wearing a lake-green long skirt. Her black hair, still damp from washing, was styled into a lotus bun with no additional accessories, just a silver hairpin. Huo Xiaoru didn't deliberately dress up, but her appearance always left a deep impression.

Her skin was fair and rosy, and she wore no makeup, looking as elegant as a chrysanthemum in autumn, ethereal and otherworldly, like a fairy who didn't partake in the mundane world.

Even Muyan Feiyun, a woman herself, was captivated by Huo Xiaoru's extraordinary beauty. She inwardly praised her, understanding why Huo Xiaoru was so famous. She was truly beautiful, and it was hard to imagine a dancer with such a pure and refined aura.

Huo Xiaoru apologized, "I kept you waiting for so long."

Muyan Feiyun said, "Hu Gongzi just said, 'A woman adorns herself for the one who pleases her.' For whom is Miss Huo dressing up?"

Hu Xiaotian was embarrassed by Muyan Feiyun's betrayal, but Huo Xiaoru smiled sweetly. "A woman adorns herself for the one who pleases her. What a profound statement. Only a man of great talent like Hu Gongzi could say something so philosophical." Her eyes sparkled as she spoke, like a feather brushing against the heart, truly captivating. Muyan Feiyun thought to herself that Huo Xiaoru's eyes were truly alluring, and even as a woman, she could feel her charm, let alone a man like Hu Xiaotian.

Even with his thick skin, Hu Xiaotian's face turned red. "Great talent!" These words were not his original creation. Reading more books was indeed beneficial. Ordinary words from the past could now amaze and impress others, making him seem like a man of great talent!

As they walked out of Yunshao Mansion, the rain had stopped, and the streets were clean and fresh. The willows were green, and the grass was like smoke. Walking between two beautiful women, Hu Xiaotian felt his steps become lighter, his heart filled with pride and confidence. The feeling of walking with two beautiful women was indescribably satisfying!

Liang Dazhuang and his group were still waiting outside, and when they saw their young master accompanied by two beautiful women, their eyes nearly fell out of their sockets. It turned out the young master had been out on a date! This term "dating" was something Liang Dazhuang had just learned from Hu Xiaotian. "Dating" meant "softly and persistently pursuing a beautiful girl," and the term was a stroke of genius, concise yet profound, capturing the essence of the act in just two characters. The young master was indeed a man of great talent!

Tianranju was not far away, and they didn't get into a carriage. After passing through the Dongsi Archway, they could see the sign of Tianranju. Outside, there was a couplet: "Guests come to Tianranju, truly guests from heaven." However, only the top line was written, the bottom line left blank, waiting for someone to complete it.

Hu Xiaotian had already thought about this couplet before coming. It was a cliché, a very cliché couplet. In the Qing Dynasty, Emperor Qianlong and Ji Xiaolan had already overused this couplet. A few scholars were standing in front, swaying their heads and pondering.

Huo Xiaoru saw the blank bottom line and couldn't help but look at Hu Xiaotian. In her mind, Hu Xiaotian's talent for couplets was unparalleled, as he had outshone everyone at Yan Shui Pavilion.

Muyan Feiyun was a regular customer here, and the owner, Yang Sanqi, hurried over, bowing and greeting her. "Inspector Muyan, it's been a while since you last came." In their line of work, troublemakers were common, and Yang Sanqi had no powerful connections. Thanks to Muyan Feiyun's help, he had been spared the harassment of local ruffians, so he was very grateful to her.

Muyan Feiyun said, "I've been meaning to come, but I've been busy with work and couldn't find the time."

Yang Sanqi said, "This meal is on me!"

Muyan Feiyun smiled. "No need. You have a rule that only those who can complete the top line can eat for free. I don't have that kind of talent, and I wouldn't want to break your rules."

Hu Xiaotian said, "I do!"

His words drew everyone's attention. Hu Xiaotian said, "Why are you all looking at me like that? This couplet isn't difficult!" He already knew the standard answer and was confident.

Yang Sanqi looked at Hu Xiaotian curiously, bowed, and said, "Sir, this couplet has only a top line, no bottom line. The top line was written by a high-ranking official in the past, and it has been hanging here for three years. No one has come up with a suitable bottom line. Many learned scholars have tried, but none have been quite right. If you can complete it well, as long as Tianranju exists, you can eat and drink here for free, without ever having to pay." The official he referred to was a former first-rank official, the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, Zhou Ruiyuan, who was later implicated in the Crown Prince Long Yalin's downfall and was demoted to a commoner, forced to leave the capital. Therefore, Yang Sanqi didn't dare to mention his name lightly.

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