Jian Wei re-entered his room, his presence a quiet authority that filled the space yet not too intimidating. The three courtesans, their task complete, giggled softly among themselves as they filed out, leaving the two alone. The room, now a sanctuary of solitude, allowed Jian Wei to focus solely on Lian Yan, his gaze taking in the transformation that had taken place.
"Hmm..." He moved around her, his eyes narrowing as he studied her from different angles. His scrutiny was thorough, his expression thoughtful. "You don't look like anyone's daughter now," he finally remarked, a low murmur of approval. "You look like someone new, someone who doesn't stir attention." A faint smirk played at the corners of his lips, a silent acknowledgment of the courtesans' skill.
"I guess one's look can make you seem like trouble," Lian Yan replied with a shrug, her voice a mix of resignation and acceptance. But the confines of the room began to weigh on her, the stillness of the air a stark contrast to the restless energy that coursed through her. She sighed, her patience wearing thin. "Can we go out now?" she asked, her eyes meeting his with a spark of determination. "Go ahead and test it out? I don't know if they will still come in here and turn tables, but I feel confident that no one will notice." Her confidence was palpable, a quiet assurance that the officials and guards would be none the wiser, unable to tell her apart from a commoner.
"Alright, if you are that confident," Jian Wei conceded, his voice a soft rumble of acquiescence. He moved to one of the chairs, a bundle of fabric draped over his arm. With a gentle motion, he laid the clothes down, the material a soft whisper against the wood. "Wear this at least," he instructed, he was looking for no argument. "You needed some new clothes. I won't be peeking," he added, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I am still a gentleman." With that, he stepped out of the room, his footsteps a quiet echo as he waited at the door for Lian Yan.
Lian Yan, grateful that she did not have to shout at him to leave, found herself breathing a sigh of relief. It seemed like an easier day than their first, the tension between them a faint echo of what it had been. She moved to the clothes, her fingers tracing the fabric with a sense of anticipation. The hanfu was simple, a soft pink material that was devoid of any embellishments or designs. It was a stark contrast to the elaborate garments she was accustomed to, but she found a certain charm in its simplicity.
"He really knows his stuff," she murmured to herself, her voice a soft whisper in the quiet room. She had a habit of talking to herself, her thoughts a constant stream that often found voice in the solitude of her own company.
Once she had finished changing, she hurried to meet Jian Wei, her footsteps a quiet patter against the floor. They met eye to eye, a moment of silent communication passing between them as they took in her new hanfu. "Huh, you do match pink well," Jian Wei remarked, his voice a low rumble of approval.
A faint blush colored Lian Yan's cheeks, her gaze averting as she tried to hide her embarrassment. "Where are we exactly testing it?" she asked, her voice a soft murmur of curiosity.
"Just here," Jian Wei replied, his voice a low rumble of amusement. He made it seem as though they were venturing far from the pavilion, when in reality, they were to remain in the same place. "I have a room for us already," he explained, his tone a soft murmur of reassurance. "Just follow me."
The Orchid Pavilion was a bustling hub of activity, its opulent halls filled with the murmur of conversation and the soft laughter of nobles and courtesans alike. It was a world away from the life Lian Yan was accustomed to, a stark contrast to the rigid formality of her father's household. Yet, she found herself navigating its labyrinthine corridors, her steps a quiet echo against the polished floors.
The pavilion was a spectacle of excess, its grandeur a testament to the wealth and power of its patrons. Nobles, resplendent in their finery, held courtesans close, their arms a possessive claim that did not sit well with Lian Yan. She averted her gaze, her discomfort a palpable presence that threatened to overwhelm her. Yet, she followed Jian Wei, her steps a quiet shadow to his confident stride. They descended from the second floor, the journey a slow procession that allowed Lian Yan to take in the sights and sounds of the pavilion, despite her reluctance.
As they made their way down, a courtesan and a nobleman ascended, their path a mirror to Lian Yan's own. She rushed to close the distance between herself and Jian Wei, her face a mere breath away from his back. She sought solace in his presence, a refuge from the unfamiliar world that surrounded her. Her fingers clung to the fabric of his hanfu, a silent plea for comfort and reassurance. Way out of her comfort zone.
Jian Wei, ever perceptive, could sense her discomfort. He could feel the tension in her fingers, the way they tugged at his hanfu, a silent testament to her unease. "Are you doing alright back there?" he asked, his voice a soft rumble of concern that cut through the din of the pavilion.
Lian Yan, her voice barely above a whisper, replied, "Just... this is not my everyday visual. So... it is not easy for me to just see every one of these people and knowing exactly what is bound to happen." Her words were a heartfelt confession, a testament to the culture shock that threatened to overwhelm her. Moments like this makes her wish that she had not taken her deal.
Jian Wei, sensing an opportunity to lighten the mood, decided to tease her. "Ah, you are ashamed?" he asked, his voice a playful taunt that belied the concern in his eyes.
Lian Yan, her discomfort momentarily forgotten, retaliated with a swift pinch to his back. Her fingers sought out the flesh beneath the fabric of his hanfu, her grip a silent warning that she was not to be trifled with. Jian Wei, caught off guard by her sudden assault, let out a hiss of pain, his body a taut line of surprise and discomfort.
"Ah ah! I got it! You are not ashamed," he conceded, his voice a soft murmur of defeat. He had not expected such a fiery response from her, a testament to the spirit that burned beneath her demure exterior. Yet, he found himself admiring her pinch, her willingness to stand up for herself in the face of adversity. It was a quality that he found endearing, a spark of defiance that set her apart from the other women in the pavilion, most of them that is.
As they descended the final step, Jian Wei gestured for Lian Yan to proceed ahead of him. The room they were headed to was just a short distance away, its entrance a welcoming beacon in the bustling corridor of the Orchid Pavilion. Lian Yan, her heart pounding with a mix of anticipation and trepidation, took a deep breath and stepped forward.
Just as she was about to make her way to the room, her path was abruptly interrupted. She collided with someone, the impact a sudden jolt that sent a ripple of shock through her body. Her face, the first point of contact, bore the brunt of the collision. Thankfully, the makeup that had been so meticulously applied remained intact, a silent testament to the skill of the courtesans who had transformed her appearance.
As she stumbled back and was caught my Jian Wei, her eyes widened in recognition. The person she had bumped into was all too familiar to her. Standing before her, his eyes a storm of indignation, was none other than Prince Hei An. A prince of the realm, a man of power and influence, his lineage tied to the current emperor and the crown prince. He was a man who had let himself go, his once regal form now obscured by a layer of unkempt hair that covered his face. He was a man who had once tried to take advantage of her, his actions a dark stain on her memory.
'Shit.' The word echoed in her mind, a silent curse that encapsulated the depth of her dismay. Lian Yan, a woman known for her forthrightness and candor, found herself at a loss for words. The usual retorts and rebuttals that danced on the tip of her tongue were conspicuously absent, replaced by a stark silence that threatened to betray her true identity.
"Who bumped into me?!" Prince Hei An's voice, a thunderous roar of outrage, cut through the din of the pavilion. His eyes, a blazing inferno of indignation, swept over the crowd, his gaze a silent challenge that dared the culprit to step forward. "Who dares bump into this royal?!" His words, a testament to his entitlement and arrogance, hung heavy in the air, a stark reminder of the power he wielded.