Chapter Seventy-Six: Cunning (Requesting Pink Votes)

Lu Ying saw the distinguished gentleman again in that same garden, inside the pavilion. Since fine rain still drifted from the sky, her hair was slightly damp, strands clinging to her cheeks. Walking there, muddy water had splattered on her shoes.

The gentleman, lounging in wait for her, glanced over and lazily waved his hand. “Take her away. Let her change before coming back.”

“Yes, sir.”

Soon, Lu Ying returned, still dressed in red, but this time it was a man’s robe. Her hair, thoroughly soaked, had been let down after washing. The garment fit her perfectly, clearly tailored to her measurements. Realizing this, her lips pressed together a little tightly.

The gentleman, reclining on the couch, leaned back slightly and smiled as he studied her. Dressed thus in a bright red robe, Lu Ying possessed a strange allure. Her inky hair, flowing over her shoulders, softened the cold sharpness of her features, lending her an air of ethereal grace. She radiated both masculine and feminine beauty—an exquisite ambiguity. With the black boots newly changed on her feet, she exuded a cool, dazzling freedom.

It was a beauty that inspired the desire to conquer.

Lu Ying sat at the low table. Lowering her lashes, she slowly poured herself a cup of wine, then raised it and took a small sip.

Turning her head, she met the gentleman’s smiling gaze and, raising her wine cup in a slight salute, said softly, “Thank you.”

He did not reply, merely kept smiling, watching her with lazy intent.

Feeling the weight of his gaze, Lu Ying frowned slightly and looked down, swirling the wine in her cup, watching the ripples spread.

Outwardly calm, inside she was anything but. Her response earlier had been rather headstrong, and now she felt the chill in the gentleman’s eyes. Sensing that coldness, she dared not act too boldly now. It was a reflexive caution. After all, he would not let her be endlessly arrogant; that was not the way to win someone over.

Her lowered lashes cast a delicate shadow beneath her eyes, and her beautiful face suddenly seemed fragile.

Yes—this young girl, not yet come of age, shouldering her family’s burdens alone, might appear strong, but she too was vulnerable.

That was only natural.

The gentleman gave a low chuckle. “Lu Yi.”

Lu Ying did not respond, but looked up at him. Against the red robe and her dark hair, her eyes shone black and bright, her skin pale as porcelain. She waited in silence for him to speak.

He swirled the wine in his own cup, drawling, “I hear you’re quite dissatisfied with me? Threw a temper just now? How about this—why don’t you say what’s on your mind to my face?”

Say it again? So he could settle the score directly?

Lu Ying pressed her lips together.

She fixed her dark gaze on him. Perhaps it was the intensity of her stare, or perhaps today she truly was fragile—for suddenly, her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

This beautiful “youth” in a blazing red robe, so cold and confident, was unexpectedly showing rare vulnerability before the gentleman.

Many eyes turned in their direction. The young man who had brought her, too, stared wide-eyed; it was his first time realizing that the unruly Lu family girl could ever seem so soft, so affecting.

The gentleman slowly set down his wine cup and rubbed his forehead. He hadn’t even done anything to her yet.

Though helpless, he let out a sigh.

Hearing this, Lu Ying lowered her eyes, hiding the keen intelligence within them. She slowly lifted her cup, drained it in a sudden gulp, then stood, bowed stiffly to the gentleman, and rasped, “I take my leave.” Her voice was hoarse, as if she were holding back powerful emotion.

Having said her piece, she abruptly turned and strode away, not bothering to ask permission. She left so hastily, her slight frame seemed utterly exhausted; hesitating only a moment, the onlookers saw her dart off like a startled rabbit.

Watching her retreating figure, the gentleman sighed again. “So, to turn the tables, a person too brash need only shed a tear.”

The two attendants behind him exchanged glances. The one on the left asked, “Sir, what do you mean?”

The gentleman did not answer, only stood up with lazy indifference.

What did he mean? Only that the Lu family girl switched so easily between extremes before him—arrogant when she pleased, and if that didn’t work, she’d conjure up a few tears to unsettle him.

Lu Ying in her red robe was dazzling indeed. Fortunately, she’d come prepared, carrying a handful of iron coins.

She hired a donkey cart to take her home. As soon as she entered the alley, she quickened her pace.

Just then, a voice called out suspiciously from behind, “Lu Yun?”

The voice was familiar. Lu Ying turned and found herself face-to-face with Wang Shang, the young man of the Wang clan, who stared at her in red male attire, completely stunned.

Strange—Yin Che had already left, so why was he here at the Yin residence?

Wang Shang had never seen Lu Ying like this before. Unconsciously, he swallowed, his throat working. Steadying himself, he gave a respectful bow. “A Yun, it’s been a while.”

But Lu Ying was in no mood for conversation. She nodded slightly and said in a hoarse voice, “Brother Wang, I am unwell. I must excuse myself.”

With that, she turned and left. Wang Shang stood staring even after her figure disappeared behind the gate.

Once inside, Lu Ying let out a long breath, washed her face with hot water, and pressed a towel tightly to her cheeks, thinking, This is getting harder and harder to handle…

After a while, feeling fully awake, she entered her room and slowly removed the red robe.

She folded it together with the other red garment—both gifts from the gentleman—and frowned. Both were tailored to her figure, made of exquisite materials, in styles unseen in Hanyang. She had gone there unexpectedly today; there was no way he had these custom-made on short notice. He must have had them prepared long ago. Who knows how many more he had?

But that was not the point. The point was that this gentleman had truly spent thought on her.

Each time he saw her act out before him, wasn’t he deliberately indulging her, letting her vent?

Thinking of this, Lu Ying massaged her brow. Truthfully, what she most desired now was to take control of her own fate. Whether it was the Ping family or the gentleman, she wished to keep far away from them both.

Just then, there came a knock at the door.

Lu Ying went to open it. Standing outside were Aunt Huang and A Qing. The two stood together—Aunt Huang beaming, while A Qing looked uneasy, her gaze apologetic.

“You’re here?” Lu Ying nodded. “Please come in.”

Her manner was perfectly natural, as though she had expected them.

Aunt Huang’s smile grew even more ingratiating. In fact, after yesterday’s events, everyone at the Ping residence viewed Lu Ying differently. She was not only favored by the gentleman, but this orphaned and destitute girl was clearly shrewd as well.

Just look at how she handled herself yesterday—how many girls could have done the same? Not just girls, even the young men of the Ping family might not match her cleverness.

With this new view, the Ping family’s strategy was now to treat her with kindness and frequent visits, waiting to find a way to deal with her more forcefully in future.

Seeing Lu Ying’s somewhat dejected expression, Aunt Huang sidled up with a grin. “A Ying, what’s wrong? You don’t look happy.”

Lu Ying glanced at her but said nothing.

The three entered the room. The small courtyard had only a few rooms, so upon entering, Aunt Huang immediately spotted the two red robes laid out on the bed.

In this simple, plain room, those robes, made from the finest silks and brocades, were dazzlingly luxurious. Aunt Huang’s eyes were immediately drawn to them. She had no awe of Lu Ying and so went over, touched the garments, picked them up and shook them out, exclaiming, “Good heavens! A Ying, where did you get these? See this edge? This is ‘Fang Kong’ silk—so rare, so delicate and light as mist! And here too—both edges are made from the finest Fang Kong gauze.”

As she spoke, she suddenly remembered—such precious fabric, never seen before in Hanyang, could only come from that gentleman. And these clothes were clearly made to fit Lu Ying. That gentleman truly cared for her.

Lu Ying was busy boiling water. Hearing Aunt Huang’s exclamations, she cast a careless glance over and said expressionlessly, “I paid him for the robes.”

“You paid him?” Aunt Huang stared, unable to fathom her thinking. After a moment, she asked curiously, “How much did you pay him? Do you have that much money?”

As far as she knew, even if Lu Ying sold all her books, she couldn’t afford even one of those robes. The material alone was priceless.

Lu Ying added another stick to the fire and replied, “Didn’t A Qing bring three hundred gold that day? I gave it all to him.”

A Qing and Aunt Huang exchanged glances.

Three hundred gold was a lot, but still far from enough.

Aunt Huang couldn’t help but ask, “He accepted it?”

Lu Ying nodded. “Yes, he had someone take it.”

Aunt Huang felt dizzy, unable to understand the relationship between the gentleman and Lu Ying. Normally, a gift of clothing would mean he valued her. But if so, why accept her money—such a pitiful sum at that?

She pondered this to herself, not noticing the keen glint in Lu Ying’s eyes as she glanced at her.

Though Aunt Huang missed it, A Qing caught it and quickly understood Lu Ying’s signal. As expected, after they returned and reported what had happened, the third and fourth branches of the Ping family each sent another two hundred gold.

Thus, having just spent three hundred gold on a red robe, Lu Ying turned around and earned four hundred more. Along with this gold came an even greater respect and caution from everyone at the Ping residence toward Lu Ying.