"Milord, this lass is quite interesting," said the gray - clad man as he withdrew his gaze, blinked his gray eyes, and turned to look at the white - robed young master sitting opposite him. He found that the young master was still looking out of the window.
The young master was dressed in a long robe as white as snow and wore a veiled hat that covered his face, showing only half of his chin.
Suddenly, his rosy diamond - shaped lips parted slightly, and a voice as pleasant as celestial music emerged.
"There are countless beggars in the world. If one were to give alms like this girl, even a mountain of gold and a sea of silver would be exhausted. She's really a fool."
The gray - clad man looked at the young master, squinted his gray eyes, picked up the wine flagon, and poured some wine into the wine cup in front of the young master. He laughed and said, "Milord means that this girl doesn't know how to be thrifty and can't do arithmetic?"
The white - robed young master withdrew his gaze, looked at the gray - clad man, and said softly, "It's a good thing to show pity for beggars, and there's nothing wrong with giving alms."
The gray - clad man was a bit confused. He shook his head, blinked his gray eyes, and said, "Milord, are you saying that what this girl did is wrong or right?"
Suddenly, the gray - clad man had an epiphany. He said in a slightly teasing tone, "Milord, are you feeling sorry for this girl?"
Under the thin veil, the beautiful diamond - shaped lips curved slightly, but the young master said nothing.
On this brightly lit night, the lakeside of the leisure courtyard was bustling with people enjoying drinks and conversations. Willow branches drooped over the water, and the aroma of wine wafted from the houses. The moon rose above the small building and cast its light on the lake.
Under the Xie Bridge, the surface of the courtyard lake shimmered with moonlight. A flower - decorated boat floated on the water. From afar, one could see the warm lamps connected and people feasting. The mortal world was just like this, with the moon, one's own shadow, and the reflection on the lake making three. The laughter of the charming women in silk and gauze dresses drifted across the lake, and a faint, melodious sound of the flute came, showing the luxury and splendor of the flower boat, which silently told the enchantment of the night.
Su Xiaoliu looked up at the flower boat and found it quite strange. She was not the only one who thought it was novel. Usually, the lake in the capital was very quiet at night, but tonight there was a flower boat, which made many people stop and watch.
Having just been driven out of the house by her third husband, Su Xiaoliu didn't want to return to the Su family. She just wandered around the capital all day. It was not until evening, when a cool evening breeze blew, that she realized she had nowhere to turn to. This feeling only lasted for a moment. The next second, all her attention was drawn to the flower boat.
Su Xiaoliu mingled with the crowd and got on the flower boat. Amid the noisy voices in her ears, she managed to catch a few words.
"The daughter of the boat owner is throwing an embroidered ball to choose a husband. All the tea and snacks are free tonight..."
As soon as she heard that the tea and snacks were free, Su Xiaoliu got excited and struggled to squeeze inside.
Looking up at the crowded place, she saw a young girl in a peach - colored silk dress with half of her face covered by a veil standing on the second floor of the flower boat. The girl had a soft gold belt around her waist, gently arched eyebrows, and a face like a peach blossom. One couldn't see her expression clearly, but one could faintly sense her peerless beauty.
It was her that everyone was looking up at.
Su Xiaoliu didn't care about this. She lowered her head and squeezed forward. At the front, there were several tables of banquets set up to entertain the guests.
Suddenly, the crowd surged to one side, and Su Xiaoliu, who was tightly squeezed in the middle, was pushed to one side as well.
"Don't push! Don't push!" Su Xiaoliu struggled to free her hands and held them above her head, shouting loudly.
In the crowd, her voice was quickly drowned out. Everyone was only focused on the second floor...
Su Xiaoliu was squeezed so much that she felt dizzy and her head was heavy.
Suddenly, a not - too - heavy object hit her head. Su Xiaoliu reached out and grabbed it.
She was already a bit impatient because of the crowding. Now that her head had been hit, she was so angry that she shouted at the top of her lungs, "Stop pushing! Someone's going to get killed!"
The commotion in the crowd did stop. Su Xiaoliu felt that the space around her had become a bit more spacious. She looked around and found that everyone was staring at her, or rather, at her hand...
Su Xiaoliu lowered her arms and looked down at the object in her hand. In an instant, her almond eyes widened...
In her palm was an exquisite embroidered ball wrapped in red cloth...
Su Xiaoliu looked up woodenly and saw that the young girl on the second floor was also looking at her.
Beside the young girl stood a maid - like figure. The maid was also dressed in fine clothes. The young girl whispered something in her ear. Then the maid straightened her body and shouted to Su Xiaoliu, who was looking up at them below, "Miss, our young lady asks you to come up."
Su Xiaoliu stared at her with almond eyes and pointed at herself, saying, "Me? But I'm a girl..."
The maid interrupted her and said, "Our young lady said that once the embroidered ball is thrown, whoever catches it counts."
What a joke! She hadn't even gotten married yet, and now she was supposed to marry someone?
Su Xiaoliu thought it was funny. She looked up at the two of them and said, "Even if your young lady is willing, I'm not. Does your young lady have a thick head? Throwing herself away with just one embroidered ball. What kind of a good marriage can this be?" As she got angry, Su Xiaoliu thought of the several marriages arranged by her father, all of which ended unhappily. All those things about parental orders and matchmaker's words always went wrong.
As her voice fell, the crowd became restless. For a moment, sighs spread across the flower boat.
The maid on the second floor looked extremely embarrassed, and the young girl beside her lowered her eyes and remained silent.
The candlelight was dim, and the room was very quiet.
A black - clad man walked behind a middle - aged man in a black and gold brocade robe, bowed his head, clasped his fists, and whispered, "My lord, there's someone causing trouble on the boat. The plan has failed."
The middle - aged man stood with his hands behind his back. Hearing this, he slowly turned around. His face was shrouded in darkness, and only his emotionless voice could be heard.
"Continue. I only want that sword."
On the flower boat, the crowd was noisy, and the crescent moon hung high in the sky.
Su Xiaoliu looked at the second floor and was about to say something else. Just as she opened her mouth and before she could make a sound, her hand was suddenly grabbed by a cold hand.
Su Xiaoliu was startled. She turned her head, and the next second, the embroidered ball in her hand was taken away.
"Hiding a dagger in the embroidered ball. This method is rather despicable. Or is it that you can't think of any other way?"
A voice as pleasant as the sound of a zither rang out, and everyone's attention was drawn to the speaker.
The white - robed young master in front looked up at the second floor. One couldn't see his expression clearly under the veiled hat. His beautiful diamond - shaped lips opened and closed. A gentle breeze blew, slightly lifting the veil, and one could faintly see his nose as white as jade. This young master looked very familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere...
Su Xiaoliu stared blankly, but after hearing what he said, she was as shocked as everyone else.
Hide what? A dagger?
Su Xiaoliu stared at the embroidered ball in the young master's hand, her face pale. She had almost become a victim of this embroidered ball...
The young girl standing on the second floor took a step back. The maid's eyes darkened, and she flew towards them using light - footed skills.
"Ah..." Su Xiaoliu heard the white - robed young master beside her let out a soft laugh, which was a bit alluring.
In a moment, Su Xiaoliu came to her senses. She had no intention of admiring it. She turned around and was about to run away.
The crowd scattered in an instant. People stepped on each other's feet and pushed each other. For a moment, it was in complete chaos.
"Follow me." Her arm was grabbed. Su Xiaoliu looked up and saw that it was the gray - clad man who was with the white - robed young master. Su Xiaoliu found it strange that he had a pair of silver - gray eyes.
Without time to think, after coming to her senses, Su Xiaoliu followed the gray - clad man and made a few turns. The gray - clad man stopped, pointed ahead, and said to her, "You can escape from here. This flower boat is a scheme by people in the martial arts world. They're after the young master's sword. Don't come back after you escape." Then he let go of her arm and walked back without looking back.
Su Xiaoliu couldn't help but look back. She could faintly see the white - robed young master standing on the boat deck, holding a green - silver sword in his hand... So that sword was so valuable.
Hearing the sound of weapons colliding, Su Xiaoliu was startled. She quickly squatted down and climbed down the ladder from the flower boat.
It really scared her...
Su Xiaoliu reached out to calm her pounding heart. After hearing a clear sound of swords colliding, she quickly turned around and ran away.