"Ladies, sorry to have kept you waiting. This round tests your painting and calligraphy skills. There are writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones in front of each of you. Please complete your paintings and calligraphy within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn." After saying that, the madam walked down from the stage.
Hearing this, Mu Fengqie was a bit surprised. Almost all the women remaining in this round were beautiful. Why would a brothel like this test the women's painting and calligraphy skills? Could they be selecting ladies from well - bred families?
Despite her doubts, Mu Fengqie obediently picked up the brush. Painting was a piece of cake for her, and she was also quite proficient in calligraphy.
In no time, Mu Fengqie put down her brush. She saw that the women beside her were also about to finish their works. This round was much easier for them.
When the time of the incense stick was up, almost everyone stopped writing. The madam quickly stepped onto the stage, picked up all the paintings and calligraphy on the tables, and then mysteriously left the second floor.
"What on earth is the Fenghua Brothel up to? Why is it so mysterious? I almost thought it was a prince choosing a concubine..." A Ru frowned unhappily.
"Maybe it's just a gimmick to attract customers. Let's wait and see." Yuan Yuhan also waited in confusion.
Not long after, the madam came out with the paintings and calligraphy in her hands. The passing works were hung on the wall. Mu Fengqie and her group, along with Tule Haojia, advanced to the next round. The original more than twenty people were suddenly reduced to ten.
"Congratulations to the ladies who have advanced to the next round. Of course, this round is the same as before. Ladies can choose the men they like. The other ladies just need to pay a hundred taels of silver to enter the next round."
The group resolutely chose the latter. After going up to the third floor, the scene was much better than on the first and second floors. At least these men were no longer naked like in the erotic pictures.
Mu Fengqie had a sharp nose, but there was no peach blossom fragrance on the first two floors, which meant the person they were looking for wasn't there. This narrowed down the scope. So as soon as she got upstairs, she carefully searched for the peach blossom fragrance, but she didn't smell even a trace of it.
This meant that the descendant of the Ruan Family they were looking for was of a higher level in terms of appearance. Only by passing this round could they possibly find that person.
She turned to look at Tule Haojia. He had been passing the rounds with them. What on earth was his purpose? Mu Fengqie was afraid that Tule Haojia's purpose was the same as theirs.
While Mu Fengqie was in a daze, the madam came out. "The next round tests the ladies' piano - playing skills. Ladies, please come forward in order."
The madam's words left everyone puzzled. Why did the brothel's selection seem more like a selection for ladies from well - bred families?
Although people were confused, they still obediently went forward one by one to pass the level. It was soon Mu Fengqie's table's turn. A Ru was the first to take the stage.
Her piano sound was very lively. One could tell at once that she practiced often. Yuan Yuhan also showed a pleased smile when he heard it.
Next was Mu Fengqie. Before Mu Fengqie could take the stage, Jing Xunce grabbed her and slowly said, "It's okay. You don't have to force yourself."
Jing Xunce knew that Mu Fengqie had grown up in the countryside since childhood. The fact that she could know medicine, painting, and dancing had already surprised him a lot. He never thought Mu Fengqie could play the piano.
Mu Fengqie smiled at Jing Xunce. "Don't worry. I have my own way."
Just when everyone thought Mu Fengqie was going to give up, she walked into the cubicle gracefully.
There was a thin curtain in the cubicle, and there was a person lying inside, but one couldn't see the person's real face clearly. However, Mu Fengqie was sure that there was no peach blossom fragrance on this person.
The moment the person saw Mu Fengqie, he sat up abruptly and looked at Mu Fengqie with a playful expression, as if expecting something.
Mu Fengqie looked at the musical instruments in the room and chose the guzheng. She played "High Mountains and Flowing Waters" skillfully. The melody was gentle and melodious, as if it could make people feel as if they were on the scene.
Jing Xunce and A Ru outside the cubicle both widened their eyes in disbelief. Could such a beautiful melody really be played by Mu Fengqie?
The person inside the curtain was also shocked when he heard the sound. He didn't expect this woman to play such a wonderful piece of music. It seemed that today she really gave him a surprise. He began to take an interest in Mu Fengqie.
After playing the gentle and melodious "High Mountains and Flowing Waters", Mu Fengqie returned to Jing Xunce's side. At this moment, Jing Xunce found that he didn't seem to really understand Mu Fengqie.
When on earth did she learn to play the piano? If it was said to be an inborn talent, he would never believe it. Playing the piano was a skill. A girl like Mu Fengqie who had probably never even touched a piano, how could she play it?
This also left A Ru and Yuan Yuhan puzzled. Almost everyone who knew Mu Fengqie knew that she had grown up in the countryside since childhood. How could she play the piano?
When Mu Fengqie noticed that everyone was looking at her with strange looks, she finally realized what was going on. Her expression became tense. She couldn't tell others that she didn't originally belong here and had time - traveled, could she?
If so, wouldn't they treat her like a monster? But now it seemed there was no way to explain this situation. She began to quickly think about how to explain it to them.
"Sister, was that really you playing just now? When did you learn to play the piano?" A Ru blinked her big, watery eyes and asked in confusion.
Mu Fengqie twitched the corner of her mouth and stammered, "If I said it wasn't, would you believe me?"
Now everyone knew that the piece was played by Mu Fengqie. Jing Xunce still kept sizing her up, which made Mu Fengqie feel creepy.
"What are you looking at me for? Is there something on my face?" Mu Fengqie asked pretending not to understand.
Jing Xunce's eyes were fixed on Mu Fengqie. He slowly said, "Qie'er, I seem to have never really understood you. Who on earth are you?"
An ordinary person simply couldn't do this, but Mu Fengqie, who had grown up in the countryside, actually did it. Could it be that Mu Fengqie wasn't the real Mu Fengqie? Otherwise, there was no way to explain it.
Mu Fengqie felt very guilty when asked. She simply didn't dare to look Jing Xunce in the eye. She always felt that Jing Xunce's current look had the momentum of seeing through her.
"I'll explain this to you later. Isn't the most important thing now to find the descendant of the Ruan Family?" Mu Fengqie explained with her eyes closed.