Chapter Sixty-Four: Enraged

He was so close to her that the warmth of his breath brushed against Lu Ying’s ear, making the fine hairs there stand on end. That deep, magnetic timbre of his voice added a subtle intimacy to the air between their breaths.

...With his status and looks, there probably weren’t many who had been treated in such a way.

Lu Ying sighed inwardly once more.

She leaned back further, until she was looking him straight in the eye. Her jet-black, glossy eyes met his gaze—eyes that seemed to hold a smile and a hint of affection, yet never reached the depths of his own. Their eyes locked for a moment, and then Lu Ying curved her lips into a faint, cool smile. In a low, clear voice, she asked, “My lord, do you so wish for me to fear you?”

The two of them were so close that only a few inches separated their noses. If he leaned down just a little, he could claim her lips, rob her of her innocence, and change his own fate. The faintly sweet breath she exhaled landed on his face as well.

Such closeness, such silent gazes. Yet in the reflection of herself in his pupils, Lu Ying’s expression remained unmoved, her gaze as calm and cold as ever.

...Even for a nobleman, this was a first.

Regardless of his background, with his looks alone, to be so intimately close to a woman—breaths mingling, faces nearly touching—and yet that woman could still remain so composed and unruffled; he had never witnessed such a thing. Even the most renowned courtesans could not maintain such cold and tranquil eyes in a moment like this.

This was true, unshaken composure, as if the young girl before him had always known what she wanted, always known what she could obtain. Therefore, she calculated everything with a calm mind, even mastering her own emotions to the smallest degree.

So young, and yet...

Truly intriguing.

The nobleman leaned in even closer.

The gap between them was already less than three inches; now, their noses touched. If he closed the distance a little further, her innocence would be lost forever.

Unaware, a smile flickered in his eyes as he waited for her reaction.

She did not react. Even as their breaths tangled, his face filling her vision, Lu Ying’s gaze remained as cool and tranquil as ever, unflustered and undisturbed.

Interesting—far too interesting!

Unable to hold back, the nobleman let out a soft laugh. He slowly straightened, withdrawing his looming shadow from over her.

He stepped away, but she did not relax. Her eyes remained as calm and cold as before.

With a smile, the nobleman took two steps back and sat on the couch the maids had just arranged. His hands folded across his abdomen, he asked amiably, “What brings you here, A-Ying?”

He exuded an innate authority. With that question, his aloof, commanding presence returned.

Lu Ying retreated from her seat, and after two steps, she bowed deeply to the nobleman. In a clear, resonant voice, she declared, “Since childhood, I have been devoted to study, with a thousand volumes in my family’s collection, all committed to memory… Now, learning that Your Lordship has come to Hanyang, I, humble as I am, wish to follow in your wake and pursue my aspirations.”

She was saying that, having read so many books, she was volunteering herself to seek a position under his patronage.

...

No matter how composed, the surrounding guards and maids exchanged bewildered glances, their minds a muddle.

It seemed that, in this era, there had never been a woman holding office. No—more accurately, for centuries, no woman had even sought official position.

Staring at the solemn, unwavering Lu Ying, the nobleman could not help but sigh. “Lu Ying, you never cease to surprise me.” Her earnestness only made her request seem all the more absurd.

Lu Ying raised her gaze and met his eyes. In a clear, cool voice, she replied, “Now that I am clad in men’s robes, I am as a man. If a man, why should I not take on duties? Furthermore, I did not come solely to seek office, but to follow in your wake and fulfill my lifelong ambitions.”

She meant: Since I am wearing men’s attire, treat me as you would a man and assign me work accordingly.

The nobleman smiled. “In truth, there is another path to achieving your ambitions, A-Ying.”

He leaned toward her, speaking slowly, “You could offer yourself as my companion…”

No one knew that this was the first time he had ever spoken to a woman in such a gentle, suggestive tone.

Indeed, with his status, if she joined him, not only her younger brother, but the entire Ping clan, the whole of Hanyang, could ride his coattails to glory.

Lu Ying lifted her gaze, her clear, unblemished eyes meeting his, and calmly replied, “I sell my talent, not my body!”

...

No one knew who started it, but several stifled snickers escaped.

Sell her talent, not her body? How dare she utter such words? Did she take him for some brothel patron? How many women had wept and begged for a place at his side, how many had tried to climb into his bed wherever he went? Now, when he offered himself to her, this unremarkable slip of a girl dared to refuse him so boldly?

The nobleman’s face darkened instantly. As his expression changed, the laughter around them died abruptly, the air growing tense. Those who had just dared to laugh now trembled with fear.

With a loud slap, the nobleman struck the table and sneered coldly, “Lu girl, you’re bold—very bold!”

His words chilled the air further.

Lu Ying lowered her head, standing motionless, eyes fixed on her toes, not daring to make a sound.

The nobleman was truly angry. He barked, “Get out—!”

At his command, Lu Ying turned on her heel and hurried away. Watching her retreating figure, a woman stepped behind the nobleman and whispered, “Master, should we…?” This country girl had dared to enrage her master—should she be taught a lesson?

The nobleman’s face was once more impassive. Accepting a handkerchief, he wiped his lips and said coolly, “Get out!”

“Yes, yes, your servant will leave at once!”

In an instant, the garden was emptied of maids and guards.

Lu Ying strode out of Yi Garden.

In Hanyang today, every household of power and influence had their eyes fixed on the nobleman’s every move. So, not long after Lu Ying left Yi Garden, word of what had happened had already reached several clans.

Naturally, that included the Ping family.

By the time the old Madam Ping received the news, it was evening.

“What? What did you say?” She shot to her feet, her face dark with rage. “Repeat that again!”

The steward standing before her quickly recounted the story.

With a heavy slam, Madam Ping struck the couch with her palm, not caring that her hand turned purple. Her face, wrinkled like orange peel, was flushed with fury as she gritted her teeth and spat, “That wretched girl! That fool! The nobleman’s favor is a blessing earned by eight generations of incense-burning ancestors! And yet—this fool, so ignorant and ungrateful, dares to squander such a heaven-sent fortune!”

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“Phoenix Moon Unbound” will be going premium on the eighth. Today is the last free chapter. There was supposed to be one more update today, but I’ve been feeling unwell and couldn’t finish it. Tomorrow, I’ll offer eight thousand words to make it up to everyone. Please, for the sake of my diligence, subscribe to the official chapters after we go premium and send me some pink tickets to help boost the new book on the charts.