Niao Ni

Chapter 244: Why Is It White Again?

The morning in Shangjing was unusually bustling today. Several groups of people had gathered in front of the delegation's residence. Northern Qi officials and the Embroidered Uniform Guard respectfully cleared a path, bowing slightly to the approaching woman. "Greetings, Miss Haitang."

Haitang's eyes were bleary, as if she hadn't slept well. Her hands were still tucked into the large pockets of her floral jacket. She yawned and asked, "What's all the commotion here?"

An official quickly stepped forward to report, "Your Ladyship, I am here by order to invite the Southern Qing's Envoy, Lord Fan Xian, to the palace. However, this guard of Lord Fan refuses to announce our presence."

More officials from the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Court of State Ceremonial came forward to state their purpose, all wanting to see Fan Xian.

Haitang was slightly taken aback. She seemed completely unaware of the events that had transpired in Shangjing over the past two days. A hint of bewilderment flickered in her eyes as she said, "Why haven't you announced them?"

The Tiger Guard, Gao Da, knew that this woman, despite looking like a country girl, was an important figure in Northern Qi. More importantly, Lord Fan Xian had been seen strolling through the streets with this unusual woman many times during the delegation's stay in Shangjing. Therefore, he didn't dare be negligent. He stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "My Lord drank too much yesterday and is feeling unwell. He is resting and should not be disturbed."

Haitang pondered for a moment and then said softly, "Let me go see."

After saying this, she walked towards the main gate of the delegation's residence. She had often come to the delegation to find Fan Xian these days, so the people of the delegation had long been accustomed to Miss Haitang's arrival. Seeing her step inside, Lin Wen, standing on the stone steps, couldn't help but feel a hint of panic in his eyes, but he didn't dare stop her.

Gao Da was single-mindedly protecting his master. His brow furrowed, and he grasped the hilt of his long saber, blocking Haitang's path. He said sternly, "Miss... Ugh!"

The last syllable turned into a muffled groan!

Haitang didn't attack. She merely turned her body slightly, the fabric shoes that seemed forever reluctant to leave the ground rustling softly. Somehow, she was already behind Gao Da.

Gao Da's long-accumulated true energy couldn't find a channel to release itself. His shoulders trembled slightly, and a fierce light shone in his eyes.

Haitang smiled, turned around, and gently patted his shoulder. A strange look appeared on her ordinary face. "Fan Xian and I are friends. I think he would want to see me right now."

As her palm landed on Gao Da's shoulder, an extremely gentle and warm current was transmitted to him.

Gao Da slowly closed his eyes. He gripped the hilt of his long saber tightly, and the saber spun violently beside him, plunging into the stone floor beside his feet. Fragments of stone scattered, and the tip of the blade sank more than three inches into the ground!

In this brief exchange, although Gao Da's skill was extremely high, he was still no match for Haitang's level. Moreover, the other party's identity was somewhat special, so he had no way to make a move and suffered in silence.

Gao Da knew that he couldn't stop Haitang, but he wasn't willing to let the "Lord" in the room face Haitang alone, so he followed the swaying figure into the courtyard with a dark face.

The Northern Qi officials and the Embroidered Uniform Guard behind them knew better than to follow. As long as Miss Haitang confirmed that Fan Xian was in the room, that would be enough. Why should they take the risk?

———————————————————————

"Good morning, Miss Haitang." Wang Qinian, holding a glass of lightly salted water and a miniature mace, appeared on the courtyard corridor that Haitang had to pass. Fan Xian's confidant had met Haitang a few times and could be considered familiar with her.

Haitang smiled slightly, knowing that the other party was stalling for time, but she wasn't in a hurry. She asked, "What is Lord Wang holding in his hand?"

Wang Qinian took the "miniature mace" out of his mouth and held it in front of Haitang, chuckling as he said, "My Lord invented it, a toothbrush."

"Toothbrush?" Haitang was slightly stunned and said, "To brush teeth?"

"Yes."

"Why not use willow branches?"

"Because this thing is easy to use, soft, and brushes finely." Wang Qinian said obsequiously, only realizing at this moment that putting a toothbrush that had been in contact with his stinky mouth in front of Miss Haitang was disrespectful. He quickly retracted it and apologized repeatedly.

Haitang smiled wryly, shook her head, and walked inside. Wang Qinian threw the bowl and the thing to his subordinates and scurried after her, running faster than a rabbit despite being almost forty years old. As he walked, he chatted with Miss Haitang, saying that Lord Fan Xian had drunk too much yesterday and was probably still resting. How about the Miss coming back later?

In fact, everyone knew that Haitang's sudden appearance at the delegation's residence this early in the morning couldn't possibly be a coincidence. She definitely wanted to see Fan Xian.

……

……

In the distance of the corridor, a figure in white clothes looked towards the two of them. Haitang was touched and turned to look. A hint of coldness involuntarily spread in her eyes. "So it's the talented Yun."

Yan Bingyun could tell that this closed disciple of Ku He was in a bad mood. Although he had been released by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he had been carefully hiding in the back house, not wanting to provoke the officials and people of Northern Qi. Before he was imprisoned, it was when Haitang returned to the palace. He had also met her once as the talented Yun. Meeting Haitang today, he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed and silently retreated.

Looking at the tightly closed wooden door in front of her, Haitang frowned and reached out to push it.

She was a young woman, and although everyone knew that she had some connection with Fan Xian, it was somewhat inappropriate for her to push the door open like this. Wang Qinian was startled and was about to block the door, but his qinggong was excellent, while his other skills were eighteen levels below this celestial woman. A gust of wind blew past, and the wooden door creaked open.

A drop of cold sweat dripped from Wang Qinian's forehead. He didn't know if it was too late.

Haitang quietly looked at the large bed in the room and suddenly said, "Lord Wang, please step back."

Wang Qinian didn't move.

A slightly tired and cold voice came from the room, "Wang Qinian, step back."

Wang Qinian took a deep breath, a hint of joy appearing in his eyes. He immediately regained his composure and bowed, "Yes, Lord Fan."

……

……

Haitang lightly stepped inside, and the wooden door closed silently behind her. She didn't seem surprised or anxious. She took a teapot from the table, poured a cup of cold tea, took a small sip, and then sat down on the round stool next to the large bed.

On the large bed, under the brocade quilt, Fan Xian, whose face was slightly pale, had a smile in his eyes as he looked with interest at the country girl sitting beside his bed. After a moment, he said, "Are you just going to keep looking like that?"

Haitang covered her lips with her hand, yawned, and said, "If the Empress Dowager hadn't asked me to come and see, do you think I'd be willing to come and see your ugly state this early in the morning?"

Fan Xian smiled and said, "Regarding my appearance, although I don't particularly like it, I also know that it has nothing to do with the word 'ugly'." He looked down and said, "I believe she is not an ugly person either."

Under the quilt, a supple woman with long, black, cascading hair was lying on Fan Xian's bare chest with his clothes open.

"Drinking and carousing for a whole day and night." Haitang seemed to not see the woman in his arms at all, yawned again, "She doesn't look very beautiful."

"Are you just going to keep looking like that?"

"I don't see that Lord Fan is trying to stop me from watching." Haitang said with a smile.

In the end, Fan Xian was embarrassed and said, "Please excuse yourself for a moment, so that the girl in my arms can get dressed." He said calmly, "You don't have to give me face, but you should at least give her face. Why make things difficult for another woman?"

……

……

After the courtesan tidied herself up, she still looked back at Fan Xian reluctantly. The slight resentment, shyness, and flirtatiousness in her eyes made Fan Xian praise her acting in his heart. The courtesan bowed slightly to Haitang with a hint of reverence and then lifted the hem of her skirt, taking small steps to leave the room, leaving only Haitang and Fan Xian.

Fan Xian was still lying in bed, his hands behind his head, not caring that Haitang had seen his bare upper body.

Haitang was also a wonderful person. She neither feigned shyness nor scolded him. She acted as if the young man on the bed was a piece of wood and said directly, "Do you know what has happened in Shangjing these past two days?"

Fan Xian was slightly stunned, but after a moment, he laughed, "Forget it, I'm too lazy to do these verbal tricks with you. Since I'm in Shangjing, how could I not know? This time, Shang Shanhu lost a batch of subordinates, and you killed Xiao En. I believe your teacher must be very happy. Congratulations, Miss, congratulations."

Haitang looked at him quietly, the pressure in her eyes growing stronger and stronger, but Fan Xian didn't seem to feel it at all and still smiled, "That's right, I knew this would happen, so to avoid suspicion, I had to lock myself in the delegation for two days. I believe you can understand."

Haitang didn't know if he was telling the truth, but earlier in the courtyard, with Wang Qinian stalling, she had given Fan Xian enough time. No one knew why Haitang would be willing to do this.

Since Fan Xian was in the delegation, Haitang knew that she wouldn't be able to get anything out of him. This seemingly pure and beautiful young official from the South was actually a person who acted flawlessly and would naturally not be caught by her.

She stood up, put her hands in her large pockets, and suddenly looked at Fan Xian's bare upper body with interest. Fan Xian secretly circulated his overbearing true energy, and his pure and beautiful face turned red appropriately.

"Why are you blushing?" Haitang asked with a smile.

"Radiant." Fan Xian suddenly felt a kind of inexplicable danger approaching. The mental exhaustion of one day and two nights made his complexion immediately turn pale.

"Why is it white again?"

Fan Xian took a deep breath and said with a smile, "The joys of spring night make one miserable."