Chapter 12

“Yes, Miss.”

As if hearing the most ordinary words, Liucai responded calmly and turned to make the arrangements.

From the very first day she served Tangxiu, Liucai had realized that her mistress was unlike anyone else.

Miss Tangxiu was not gentle or gracious, not virtuous or dignified. She had her own set of standards for how she lived her life, and her thoughts and actions were considered unconventional by the outside world. As far as Liucai knew, before Tangxiu came of age, many noble young ladies in the capital had refused to befriend her, afraid of being tainted by her unconventional habits, believing that she was too unlike a proper young lady.

As a female official, Liucai had initially found it difficult to adjust to such a mistress.

How could an unmarried girl sleep until she woke up naturally, only greeting her parents when she felt like it, and otherwise staying in her room, never following the proper rituals of morning and evening greetings? How could a girl dislike dressing up and wear robes all the time, even going to the palace without changing into formal attire, and even going so far as to ask the emperor for a decree exempting her from punishment for her convenience?

But the influence of a person is strange. After serving Tangxiu for a full month, Liucai no longer found anything wrong with her.

This meant that whether it was Tangxiu choosing to marry the Duke of Jiangxia, whom many noble young ladies avoided, or her decision to divorce, or even her current request to find a low-ranking official, Liucai never showed any signs of shock. She simply followed her instructions as always.

Finding a low-ranking official.

As she arranged for someone to drive into the city before it got too dark, Liucai thought to herself, if it weren’t for the fact that Miss had only asked for one, she would have wanted to find seventeen or eighteen, so that Miss could enjoy them at her leisure.

Miss’s satisfaction was paramount.

Adhering to this principle, Liucai didn’t immediately take the official to see Tangxiu after the carriage returned.

She lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the official sitting inside.

“Are you sure he’s the most popular one right now?”

“Yes.”

“He’s never served anyone before?”

“No.”

Listening to the conversation, the official didn’t speak. He just smiled softly at Liucai.

The smile was innocent yet subtly seductive, very alluring. It was clear that he had been carefully trained at great expense.

An ordinary woman would have been smitten by such a smile, but Liucai was like a blind man being given a wink. She remained unfazed, even scrutinizing the official with a critical eye, finding him acceptable before stepping back to let him out of the carriage.

“Do whatever you’re told. Don’t do anything you’re not told to do,” Liucai whispered as they walked towards the bedroom. “If you can satisfy Miss, you’ll be handsomely rewarded.”

The official had guessed before getting into the carriage that the person who could snatch him away from those wealthy women must be a noblewoman they couldn’t afford to offend. When he arrived at the estate and realized that was indeed the case, he immediately resolved to give it his all and serve her well. He naturally responded respectfully.

This noblewoman, if she even dropped a single coin, it would be enough for him to live in luxury for several lifetimes. If he could serve her well enough to win her favor…

The young official couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement.

He was young and had only recently gained fame, not yet polished enough to be smooth and charming. Liucai saw through his thoughts in an instant.

Liucai didn’t say anything.

He was easy to manipulate, someone with shallow thoughts. If he really caused any trouble, she could just bribe him with money.

After a few more casual words of warning, Liucai raised her hand and knocked on the door.

“Miss, I’ve brought the person.”

“Come in.”

Liucai led the official inside.

The official had prepared himself thoroughly, deciding that no matter what the mistress looked like, even if she was old, ugly, fat, or disabled, he would still have to perform perfectly and win her favor. When he heard her voice, he felt a stir in his heart. She seemed quite young.

He dared to look up and was immediately stunned.

A delicate figure behind a sheer veil, a beautiful woman emerging from a bath.

This was unexpected. The official’s eyes couldn’t help but widen, forgetting all about his performance.

The beauty in front of him frowned slightly.

Liucai immediately understood that she was dissatisfied. Without waiting for the beauty to speak, she quickly took the official away.

As they crossed the threshold, the official finally came to his senses. “I haven’t…”

“Shut up.”

Liucai hissed, ordering someone to send the official back to where he came from.

The carriage had only been resting for a short while before it returned the same way, leaving Liucai standing at the door, a little worried. Even the most popular official in the capital couldn’t withstand her mistress’s beauty. Where could she find someone who could?

These young officials nowadays were really something. They didn’t even have basic composure. How could they be called popular? They were more like greenhorns.

Just as she was thinking this, she heard a low cough from a distance.

Liucai was startled.

She was about to call for the guards, but then an idea struck her.

“…Duke?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, a figure emerged from the shadows nearby. It was none other than Chen Yue.

Liucai felt a little awkward.

Could it be that he had seen everything that had just happened?

He hadn’t stopped it? What was he thinking? Did he think that Miss would definitely look down on that official’s behavior, so he sat back and waited, only stepping out now…

Liucai felt more and more awkward.

She was trying to think of an excuse to explain what had just happened when she heard Chen Yue say, “She’s not satisfied?”

Liucai paused.

He had seen everything.

She nodded in agreement.

Then she saw Chen Yue glance in the direction the carriage had left and say, “I’ll do it.”

Liucai: …

Liucai wasn’t stupid. She understood immediately what Chen Yue meant.

Liucai actually thought it was a good idea. After all, she hadn’t heard Miss say anything bad about the Duke in the days since the divorce. She figured Miss was still satisfied with him in that regard.

But she still hesitated. “But…”

What if Miss recognized the Duke?

Miss had specifically asked for a low-ranking official, not mentioning the Duke at all. It was clear that she didn’t want to be involved with him anymore.

If she recognized him, she would definitely be unhappy. How would she handle it then?

Chen Yue said, “If you turn off the lights, she won’t recognize him.”

Liucai thought about it for a moment and slowly nodded.

She went back to the bedroom, where the maids were tending to Tangxiu’s hair.

Seeing Liucai return so quickly with someone else, Tangxiu was a little surprised, but she didn’t think much of it. She figured Liucai had anticipated her picky nature and had arranged to find several people beforehand. Liucai was always the most reliable.

Tangxiu looked at the new official in the mirror. He hadn’t looked up at her, but at least he knew to bow to her. He was much better than the last one. She told him to go wash up.

Liucai took him away.

When she came back in, Tangxiu was already on the bed, reading a book.

Hearing footsteps, Tangxiu was about to look up, but just as she did, Liucai blew out the two lamps that provided the best lighting by the door. The room grew darker. Tangxiu hadn’t planned to continue reading anyway, so she put the book down and said to the official, “Come closer, let me take a look.”

The official obediently took a few steps forward.

But before Tangxiu could take a closer look, Liucai blew out another lamp.

The room was even darker.

Tangxiu’s vision blurred. She couldn’t see the official’s face clearly. She could only vaguely make out that he had a good physique, tall and muscular, under his simple clothes. He was quite to her taste.

But why did he…

Feel so familiar?