Chapter 16: My Dearest Shixuan Is the Most Beautiful!

Hearing the commotion outside the elegant chamber, Bai Muge turned his head and, glancing through the door curtain, caught sight of the young woman dressed as a noble maiden. Her face wore a trace of pain, her brows slightly furrowed, as though the fall had left her quite sore.

From the girl's lips came a few faint sounds of pain.

At the same time, where her white garment parted near her collar, there was a glimpse of something that made it hard to look away.

Yes, a little generous in size, and a little delightfully round...

"Miss, are you all right?"

Before Bai Muge could speak, Li Shixuan, seated across from him, had already asked the young woman with concern. She began to rise in order to help, but Bai Muge stopped her with a single glance.

Seeing this, Li Shixuan stuck out her tongue playfully, then obediently sat back down and offered the fallen girl a gentle smile.

Bai Muge could not help but steal a couple more glances, then smiled faintly and returned his attention to his fine wine, assuming a posture of aloof indifference.

[Trying to use beauty as a ploy against me?]

[Not a chance!]

For situations like this, Bai Muge had witnessed far too many in the past and had long since learned to watch with cold detachment.

Ha, women are all spicy chicken feet!

["???"]

Yet at this moment, Chen Rushuang, who had fallen, was completely bewildered and confused within.

[What kind of people are these?]

[Here I am, a maiden of peerless beauty, as if a fairy descended to earth, and after falling before them, not a single one comes to help me up?]

[And that scoundrel Bai Muge even smiles at me while sipping his wine?]

[Is it a smile of encouragement that I need?]

[No, what I need is the chance to strike!]

Just then, Feng Qi, the maid who had been pursuing her, hurriedly caught up from behind.

But upon seeing her mistress sprawled on the ground, while Bai Muge and the others looked on indifferently and did not move to help, she too was momentarily dumbfounded.

She nearly forgot that she should at once rush forward to support her young mistress, Chen Rushuang.

[What kind of scheme is Miss playing now?]

[Hmm, it seems... this little trick of falling flat hasn't worked at all on that scoundrel Bai Muge...]

"Ah..." Chen Rushuang's delicate voice of pain once again sounded in the air, finally snapping Feng Qi back to her senses. She hurried over to help her mistress up. "Miss, are you all right?"

"I'm... I'm fine," Chen Rushuang replied, her face flushed with embarrassment as she gracefully patted the dust from her clothes.

[I must remain composed!]

[I cannot lose my temper or reveal any flaws!]

[He must not see through me!]

After silently encouraging herself, Chen Rushuang steadied her heart, then offered a slight bow toward the chamber and apologized, "I am truly sorry. My carelessness has disturbed your meal."

"It's nothing," Li Shixuan replied with a gentle smile, saying no more and treating it as a simple accident.

Having received Bai Muge's earlier warning glance, Li Shixuan understood that her identity as a princess must not be exposed, or it would surely bring unnecessary trouble. She had no wish to cause Bai Muge any difficulties.

Meanwhile, Bai Muge, noting that this young lady was not only beautiful but also so polite and well-mannered, did not appear to be feigning or plotting, and so he paid her no further mind.

However, outside the curtain, Chen Rushuang and Feng Qi were both stunned and, in the same instant, deeply alarmed.

[Could it be that our little ploy has already been seen through by Bai Muge?]

[Otherwise, why would that scoundrel say nothing at all?]

[He truly is a man of deep cunning!]

With this thought, Chen Rushuang quickly bowed once more and, together with Feng Qi, hurried back to the neighboring chamber.

Only after sitting anxiously for some time, when they realized that no one came to question them, did the heavy stone weighing on their hearts begin to lift.

Still, the plan to assassinate Bai Muge had ended in complete failure.

"Whew..."

Taking two long, nervous breaths, Feng Qi lowered her voice, watching warily as she said, "Miss, that scoundrel Bai Muge is far too terrifying. Let us leave at once!"

"Not yet!" Chen Rushuang's expression was resolute as she shook her head. "If we leave now, the imperial troops may already have the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion surrounded. We would only expose ourselves!"

"Ah—" Feng Qi was instantly panic-stricken, her face filled with dread. "Then... what should we do, Miss?"

"Let us wait and see. Stay calm, and do not lose your composure!" Chen Rushuang cautioned quietly.

"Uh..." Feng Qi sat there, nerves taut and mind in turmoil.

...

In the neighboring chamber, Li Shixuan recalled the young woman from before. Though her fall was far from graceful, her beauty was undeniable. And though Bai Muge had scarcely spoken, he had cast more than one glance her way, which caused Li Shixuan's heart to grow uncertain.

"Muge..."

After hesitating for a long while, Li Shixuan summoned her courage and asked, "Was that young lady... was she prettier than me?"

Yet as soon as the words were out, Li Shixuan's cheeks flushed crimson with embarrassment.

Seeing her reaction, how could Bai Muge not guess her thoughts?

"No," Bai Muge replied at once with a gentle smile and a shake of his head. "My Shixuan is the most beautiful of all!"

"Mm..." Reassured by Bai Muge's answer, Li Shixuan was both overjoyed and bashful, lowering her head and gulping her wine as if it were but water.

Bai Muge laughed in spite of himself. "Slow down, that's wine, not water!"

"Ah—uh..." Li Shixuan covered her burning cheeks in embarrassment.

For a moment, silence fell between them.

Cao Zhengchun had by now returned, bringing several others with him, and arrived outside Bai Muge's private chamber in the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion.

As they passed by the chamber occupied by Chen Rushuang and her maid, Cao Zhengchun paused, casting a glance inside.

Though he could not see clearly, his experience and martial cultivation allowed him to detect a palpable sense of hostility!

Clearly, those within were skilled in martial arts.

He could not tell, however, whether their resentment was aimed at Bai Muge.

"Young master," Cao Zhengchun said, after a brief hesitation. He approached the chamber door, bowed, and deliberately raised his voice: "The Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion is now heavily guarded outside. The remaining Dragon Society rebels hiding within are surely doomed!"

Bai Muge frowned slightly, set down his wine cup, and looked toward Cao Zhengchun.

At the same moment, in the neighboring chamber, Chen Rushuang and Feng Qi were both seized with shock and froze where they sat.

[So our identities have truly been discovered by that scoundrel Bai Muge!]

"Feng Qi, we're leaving!"

Without another word, Chen Rushuang snatched up her sword and, pulling Feng Qi with her, hurried to leave.

But their obvious fear had already been detected by Cao Zhengchun. At this point, fleeing would not be so easy.

"Protect the young master!" Cao Zhengchun ordered at once, then sprang toward Chen Rushuang and her maid, shouting, "You rebels, do not try to escape! Surrender your lives!"