贵女撩夫攻略

Chapter 055

Chapter 55 – Watch a Play

The sun is setting beyond the western hills and daylight gradually faded. For Liuyue City, the busiest time of the day is about to commence.

The horse's hooves threaded along the bluestone road, accompanied by the rhythmic rumbling noises that sounded all over East Street. Amidst these endless streams of traffic, an inconspicuous double-wheeled carriage parked in front of Jingque restaurant. A man and a woman descended the carriage successively then walked hand in hand towards the crowded lobby at a slow pace. Upon closer inspection, it seemed there was some issue with the woman's legs.

"Chu Zhenghe has really chosen a good place."

The man grunted, obviously quite dissatisfied with this crowded restaurant but the woman reassured him in a soft voice, "The injury on my leg has healed, so it's fine. What's more, it's so boring to be cold and cheerless. This is more fun."

It turned out that these two people were Chu Jinglan and Ye Huaiyang. Their arrival to Jingque restaurant is actually for the appointment with Chu Zhenghe, who is now in a private room on the third floor. It's a long walk from the threshold and seeing Ye Huaiyang's pronounced interest, Chu Jinglan couldn't bear to snatch her wish away, so he accompanied her and strolled in leisurely.

The lobby was boisterous with theater booths set up in every direction, some imitated the hundred tongues* while others sang the ancient literature rap or pulled the face-changing performance. Both of them strolled in and halted. Although they did not participate in any of the booths, they stopped and watched from a distance for a long while that from time to time they would nestle close and whisper, appearing very intimate.

[T/N: 百舌 (Bǎishé) – a kind of bird that can change its voice]

[T/N: 诸宫调 (Zhū gōngdiào) – is a kind of ancient traditional folk art rap or narrative verses that composed of two part – rhyme and prose which normally accompanied by instruments like pipa.]

On the way to the top of the stairs, a group of richly dressed young masters and ladies were enthusiastically playing a guessing game. The enamel whorled flat square* appeared very exquisite that nothing much could be concealed under it yet no one managed to guess even after several rounds. Watching them, Ye Huaiyang's interest was piqued. So, she turned around and asked, "Can you guess what's under it?"

[T/N: 扁方 (Biǎn fāng) – a unique flat hairpin worn by the aristocratic women during the Qing Dynasty]

Without looking at it, Chu Jinglan blurted out casually as he pulled her up the stairs, "Green ring."

"Huh–"

A certain young lady over there raised her voice in surprise and turned her head to stare at the man. When a rich young master lifted the flat square, there was indeed a verdant jade ring under it followed by a burst of uproar.

"How did he know?"

"Yan'er, did someone see it when you put it there?"

Several young masters were evidently not won over and pestered the young lady with questions. Feeling vexed, the young lady flicked off her sleeves suddenly and exclaimed with displeasure, "You guys can't guess it right yourselves yet blame others for cheating, just because you can't bear it when someone is better than you! Hmph, I don't want to play with you guys anymore. I am going upstairs to watch the shadow puppet play!"

After saying that, she lifted her skirt then stomped several steps before running upstairs and deliberately glanced back when she passed Chu Jinglan. She was so shocked by the handsome peerless face, she couldn't move a step and stood there in a daze, as if she was somewhat dull-witted.