Ten Thousand Books, But Only One You

14 Laying Plans

(A/N: This chapter introduces many more characters as well as the plot of "The Eighth Verse". For a summary, please see the list of characters and locations at the end of this chapter! :>)

Chapter 14: Laying Plans

In a side hall of the Wuchang Manor's secondary residence located in an obscure but reputable part of town, two outer disciples sat opposite each other on a raised platform, separated by a low tea table. One of them reclined against an armrest with a book in one hand while reaching for a tea cup with the other. Without lifting his eyes from the page, he brought the cup to his lips before downing the mouthful of warm tea in a manner that would cause anyone to suspect that he was secretly a young master of an noble family. In contrast, the other disciple indifferently sat with one leg crossed and one knee up, whining loudly about the lack of entertainment around the house.

"If you're bored, go finish the chores that you are supposed to. If you don't want to, why not spend the time going through the book again?" The outer disciple who carried a dignified air about him snapped suddenly, his brows furrowed but his eyes still fixed on the words in the book.

The other disciple froze up but her grouses resumed a second later, this time softer and in a pitiable tone. "I know it so well that I'm bored. I just feel so uncomfortable without constantly checking my phone or having my laptop with me... I'm so bored doing nothing exciting all day. No one to talk to, no one to play with. I didn't think that you are such a boring person."

"Me? A boring person? Wow, Yuhan. If I didn't have to live together with you for the past week, I wouldn't have thought that you'd be so talkative, full of complaints, and annoying." Ruijie, who had naturally assumed the role of the more refined disciple, straightened himself and placed the cup on the table heavily.

"Talkative, full of complaints, and annoying?" I exclaimed in a stentorian voice, stomping my foot against the ground. "Talkative—maybe. But full of complaints? You have complained more than me ever since we set foot in this residence. You've complained about the bed and pillows being hard, the bath water not being hot enough, the work that you have to do around here as an outer disciple—the list is unending!"

Squinting his eyes, Ruijie glowered at me from behind his book. He couldn't defeat me in an oral debate so he could only show his displeasure with his expressions. A chill ran up my spine and I shuddered.

"Ok, fine! I won't disturb your leisure time anymore." I rose up to my feet, prepared to march out of the hall to find something to do. Ruijie had been entertaining during the first two days when we arrived. But after we were done exploring around the house and the nearby marketplace, besides acting his part as a talentless outer disciple in front of the NPCs in the residence, he would only read the non-fiction books that he had brought along or dabble in landscape painting.

"I'm going to tell Du-mama that you are slacking off your job," I harrumphed just as I left the room, only to hear Ruijie shout after me to retort: "Then I'll tell her that you've been making me do your chores for you."

Ignoring him, I marched down the hallway and back to my room, feeling apprehensive and unsettled. Perhaps it was because I still hadn't familiarised myself with my surroundings, maybe it was because I didn't know the exact date and time that Fu Wanxi would arrive, or maybe it was the fear that I would not be able to do things right and would foil the mission.

Walking past the dressing table, my reflection in the mirror caught my eye and I saw myself pout immediately. My heart further sunk as the thought that this appearance suited me crossed my mind. It was a very plain willow green dress without any matching accessories or jewellery, except for the ear studs that I had worn into the book. The simple furnishings in the room also seemed to be reminding me of my place and purpose in the book.