"Fire Spirit, Fire Spirit, what do you think of this one?" Chu Qing-Yan felt that she should establish good relations with people by Big Block of Ice's side, so she held a hat and asked for his opinion.
Fire Spirit's eyes were always taking note of the surroundings, at this time when he heard the Little Consort calling him, he turned around to look and immediately, the corners of his mouth twitched, a green hat?
"Good, looks good!" Fire Spirit replied in a tongue-in-cheek manner.
"Really?" Chu Qing-Yan's face spread out in a smile and she immediately stuffed the thing into his arms. "Since you like it, then I'll give it to you, no need to thank me!"
Fire Spirit's eyes widened, looking at the hat that was already in his arms. Who had nothing important to do than to wear a "being cheated on" green hat everywhere? They would be ridiculed by others, okay? Besides, he still hadn't gotten married yet. This was like being cursed by the Little Consort okay!
Chu Qing-Yan just tossed it to him and did not pay any more attention to him, she was still picking out treasures. When she finally finished picking things, she turned around and saw Fire Spirit holding that hat still frozen in place, so she curiously asked, "Fire Spirit, you don't like it? I thought it looked really good ah, in the summer, colors like yellow, pink and green are really eye catching, they also look soothing to the eyes. If you wear these colors on the street, you'd definitely win the women's attention and appreciation!"
Of course it's going to attract many gazes but not ones of appreciation. Instead, ones of disdain and laughing up their sleeves okay Little Consort? But this was what the Little Consort had given him, so even if it was Chinese goldthread (1), he had to choke it down.
"Like it, like it, like it very much." I like it so much I want to die!
As a result Fire Spirit hugged the being cheated on green hat and wanted to cry but lacked the tears.
This was the first time Fire Spirit had received a gift from the Little Consort.
It really was a day worth remembering.
Ah, a green hat!
Walking and stopping along the way, Chu Qing-Yan bought herself and the servants by her side many things. She also bought stuff for Big Block of Ice.
However, when she was about to buy something else for Fire Spirit, he had 'I don't want it' written all over his face. Chu Qing-Yan's mouth immediately twitched, it was rare for Big Block of Ice to give her so much money on this outing. He even told her that if it wasn't enough, she could get more from the housekeeper. She originally thought to give things to the people by her side, a pity Fire Spirit didn't appreciate her kindness. Forget it, she'll just buy stuff for herself.
As she continued buying along the way, she arrived at a place full of people coming and going. Everybody was rubbing shoulders, it was very lively.
And Fire Spirit who had always taken note of the surroundings suddenly saw two black figures flash by on top of the roofs. His eyes narrowed and he instructed the imperial guards from the manor. Then he immediately followed after them quietly.
Chu Qing-Yan and Xi Ning rarely had an opportunity to come out and play, so they naturally weren't paying much attention to the people at their side, moreover it was extremely crowded. They simply wouldn't know if there was one less person at their side.
Chu Qing-Yan held a mask and cheerfully turned around wanting to ask the people at her side's opinion when she discovered that Xi Ning, Fire Spirit and the others were nowhere to be found. There was only a sea of strangers behind her.
"Fire Spirit——"
"Xi Ning——"
After calling several more times and no one replied, Chu Qing-Yan raised a brow. Where did they run off to?
And at this time, that vendor inquired. "Little young master, do you still want this mask?"
Chu Qing-Yan having heard this, turned around and raised the mask in her hand. She smiled and replied. "I will take this mask and also give me the mask over there too." Her finger pointed to another mask.
That store owner beamed with joy and agreed. After Chu Qing-Yan paid the money, she took the matching masks for a golden couple and turned around to search for the missing people.
But after searching for quite a while, she couldn't find a single one of them. Chu Qing-Yan couldn't help but frown, maybe while she was looking for them, they were also looking for her. Maybe she should stay in the original spot to wait for them. Otherwise, if she walked around randomly and got lost, what was to be done then?
After making the decision, Chu Qing-Yan decided to look for a safe corner to wait for them to come find her. However, just as she took a step forward, several kids dashed head on into her. The one in front knocked into her waist, making her stumble and retreat several steps back. The golden boy mask in her hand was knocked flying, it spin in mid-air before falling towards the opening of a small alley.
Chu Qing-Yan clutched her waist and cast a helpless look towards those mischievous children, then she headed towards the small alley.
It really was such bad luck, to get into an accident while walking on the road.
Chu Qing-Yan had just picked up the mask and blown at the dust on top of it when she heard a strange rustle coming from inside the little alley. Her heart dropped, in the novels, the cold and desolate alley mouths were always a good place to commit murder for money. Could it be she had the misfortune of coming across it herself? Then she must run away quickly!
She grasped the mask tightly and didn't dare look back. She pretended to calmly walk back the road she came from.
Suddenly, an indescribable wind mixed with a slight chill attacked her from the alley. Her back went cold and just as she was about to break into a run, an inescapable force passed through her waist and grabbed her. Her eyes opened wide and as she was about to shout, the approaching person seemed to have detected her intent and a hand not allowing her to explain covered her mouth.
Her body was pressed to the person's behind her, and then with a whirl, she flew into the air before landing on a Chinese Parasol tree on the side. The person who seized her so easily then found a branch to sit on and her back was pressed into him as she sat in his arms.
The densely packed Chinese Parasol tree leaves concealed their figures. And this angle just so happened to allow them to see the people below, whereas the people wouldn't be able to discover the people hidden above.
Chu Qing-Yan's heart was about to jump out from her throat but she felt that although the person behind her had seized her, he didn't take further steps to harm her. So this soothed her mind a little bit.
And just at this moment, three to four figures appeared at the entrance of the little alley. It was headed by a girl dressed in red.
"Where is he? I clearly saw him heading this way, how did he disappear in the blink of an eye!" The red-clothed girl was a bit flustered and exasperated.
"Miss, young master Dong Ting had always come and gone without a trace. This time we pressed so close, I fear he ran even faster without leaving a trace!" The black clothed servant girl by the red clothed girl's side immediately said.
"I found him with great difficulty and let him escape again, simply too infuriating! Next time, I'll definitely catch him!" The red clothed girl stamped her foot, shamed into anger. Then she turned around and brought those people and left.
Chu Qing-Yan opened her eyes wide and saw this scene below. Then, after she waited until the red clothed girl's group had left, she realized that the hand holding her loosened and the person behind her was not as tense as before. He seemed to have relaxed.
Just at this moment, Chu Qing-Yan heard the person behind her mumble in a low voice. "Finally got rid of that loathsome girl."
His tone was charming like the low singing voice of a fairy at night. Chu Qing-Yan secretly sighed, what a graceful and magnetic voice.
Since it was in order to get rid of those people, then he probably wasn't a threat to her. Chu Qing-Yan moved her body, and the person loosened his confinement of her.
Chu Qing-Yan wanted to turn her head but she suddenly stopped. What if she saw his true face and he flew into a rage and killed her to silence her, then what would she do?
So Chu Qing-Yan had her back to him as she said. "Knight-errant, could you please send this one down?"
Because she was a woman dressed as a male, she therefore had to address herself using the male term this one.
"Knight-errant?" The person behind repeated these two words, full of interest. This was the first time he was called a knight-errant by someone, it was very amusing. He leaned close to her ear and laughed in a low voice. "This young master is not a knight-errant but a demon. Demons will only do bad stuff, therefore I'm only responsible for sending you up and not responsible for sending you down."
That mocking tone made Chu Qing-Yan's shoulders go stiff.
And the approaching scent of flowers seemed to be somewhat familiar.
1) Chinese goldthread: A flowering plant used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat bowel issues. I'm guessing it may also cause bowel issues in healthy people.