Chapter Twenty-Six: The Cross-Eyed Beauty

As she rose from the bath and began to dress, Lingran handed the cloth she’d wrapped herself in the day before to Biqing.

Biqing hesitated for a moment before understanding. She hurriedly wrapped herself tightly, cocooning her whole body. Lingran watched her, worried that she might bind her chest so fiercely that bruises would form.

But there was no time to worry about that. While everyone was busy dressing, Lingran quickly whispered something to Yuan’er.

Yuan’er lowered her voice, “Will this work?”

People were already turning to look at them.

Suddenly, Lingran shoved Yuan’er hard and shouted, “You’re so vicious! Trying to get me in trouble!”

Yuan’er seemed stunned, unsure how to react.

Left with no other choice, Lingran charged forward like a tigress and punched Yuan’er in the eye.

“Trash! Trying to set me up!” she spat, landing two more blows to Yuan’er’s eye.

Yuan’er clutched her face and crouched to the ground in pain.

Lingran thought, That should do it—she must have a black eye by now. Surely that old lecher doesn’t have such strange tastes? She recalled how he’d chosen men more beautiful than women, and reasoned that the uglier she looked, the safer she’d be. There was no better solution in such short time, so she could only let Yuan’er suffer.

Everyone else thought Lingran had gone too far and began to scold her, which drew the attention of the servants outside.

A stout and sturdy woman waved her plump hand and barked, “What’s going on here? What are you causing a scene for?”

“She said if the Minister took a fancy to me, she’d make me take her place! Shouldn’t I beat her?” Lingran accused, pointing at Yuan’er.

The hefty woman snorted, glancing between the crouching Yuan’er and Lingran, then sneered, “With your looks, you think you could catch the Minister’s eye? You’d make the sweepers in the manor laugh their teeth out!”

Hearing this, Lingran caught sight of herself in the mirror out of the corner of her eye—her eyebrows, painted thick and dark that morning, had smudged through the day, her hair a mess. She looked utterly absurd, like a clown. To preempt any accident, she quickly said, “You don’t know, Ma’am, but I have the kind of beauty that could shame the moon and make flowers blush! Let me dress up properly, and I’ll stun everyone!”

The stout woman was both amused and exasperated. “With that figure and that face? Save the rouge and powder for the rest of us! What’s the point of dressing up?” With a wave, she ordered everyone out, saying they were to wait at the Minister’s residence.

The seven women walked in silence, each lost in her own thoughts. Having just quarreled with Yuan’er, Lingran couldn’t bring herself to approach her. Biqing, quick-witted, came to support her, while Li Tangmei slowed her pace to fall behind with Lingran.

“I know you did that on purpose,” Li Tangmei said, taking Lingran’s arm and whispering into her ear with a note of grievance. “Don’t you consider me a friend? Won’t you think of a way to help me?”

Lingran coughed awkwardly, her face flushing. Li Tangmei had a good temperament and was strikingly beautiful—sooner or later, she’d be chosen for the Minister’s bed. Saving her today wouldn’t guarantee her safety tomorrow. Lingran was at her wit’s end, uncertain what to do.

Li Tangmei sighed softly, “If it comes to that, I’d rather die. I have no family left—nothing to keep me here.”

Lingran was suddenly filled with respect for her. Frowning in thought, she said, “I think that man cares a great deal for Young Master Hongxiao. If he chooses you, you must beg him with tears. If he truly loves Chu Xiang, he may not want women near him. If he has other motives, he might be moved to pity…” In truth, Lingran wasn’t sure what Hongxiao intended. She could only pray he wasn’t as twisted as Chu Liuxiang.

After a while, beneath the towering trees, a grand hall appeared, its flying eaves and ornate carvings illuminated brightly—almost as grand as the Palace of Heavenly Purity or the Palace of Earthly Tranquility in the Forbidden City.

The seven women were arranged in two rows outside the hall. An elderly steward in fine brocade, flanked by two young servants, awaited them. The matron introduced him as Chief Steward Yu.

He had the look of a loyal old servant, but only glanced at the women perfunctorily, then stood on the steps craning his neck in anticipation.

At this moment, regardless of their original intentions, the girls grew nervous—even Luo Xianghong, usually expressionless, kept twisting her sash anxiously.

Only Lingran, stifling yawns, recalled that otherworldly beautiful man, sighing in her heart at the waste.

Time trickled by, marked only by the dripping of the copper water clock. Eventually, lights flickered and shadows emerged in the woods beyond. Chief Steward Yu hurried up with his two young servants to greet the procession.

The lights drew closer, revealing Chu Liuxiang, leaning on Young Master Hongxiao’s shoulder, half-supported, half-carried. A train of attendants followed. Upon reaching the hall, they scattered in an instant, vanishing without a trace. Clearly, these guards were well trained—no doubt lurking nearby, even at night.

Chief Steward Yu moved to support Chu Liuxiang from the other side. The group passed before the assembled women, and Lingran noticed that the dazzlingly handsome Hongxiao was a full head taller than the old lecher, prompting her to reconsider who was the dominant partner.

Why, of all names, did this old lecher have to share one with the great Chu Liuxiang? She mentally lamented the injustice to the legendary thief. While she mused, Hongxiao and Chief Steward Yu had already escorted Chu Liuxiang up the steps and into the hall.

The women all knelt in silent salute. Lingran thought Chu Liuxiang must be drunk and wouldn’t remember them tonight, and was secretly relieved—until he suddenly opened his bleary eyes, glanced at them, and said, “Where’s the girl I picked? I heard she’s Xu Youzhen’s youngest daughter… Ha, just as well. Bring her in to serve me and Hongxiao.”

Chief Steward Yu responded, “Yes, sir. Besides Miss Xu, do you wish all the others to come in and serve you as well?”

What?

Lingran was startled. Did Chief Steward Yu mean they could handle seven or eight at once?

“Mm… Bring them all in!” Chu Liuxiang replied.

Lingran cursed Chief Steward Yu silently but had no choice but to follow.

Inside, the hall was lavish yet warm. The first thing that greeted the eye was an enormous bed veiled in fine red gauze descending from the ceiling. Behind it stood a massive golden peony screen; on either side incense burners sent forth delicate tendrils of fragrant smoke.

The hall was otherwise empty of furniture, only layers of trailing gauze upon gauze, unmistakably a place designed for pleasure. This old lecher truly knew how to indulge himself.

Hongxiao entered, released Chu Liuxiang, and with a flick of his robe leapt onto the great bed, reclining against a huge round pillow, his cold gaze fixed on the file of women.

Chu Liuxiang sat on the edge of the bed. A servant quickly offered a cup, saying, “Sober-up tea, sir.”

The seven women stood in a row, a few steps away. Lingran did her best to keep her head down.

Chu Liuxiang sipped his tea slowly, then said in a soft voice, “Raise your heads.”

Lingran’s heart hammered. She worried her eyebrows weren’t odd enough. She had a childhood talent—she could easily go cross-eyed. Without much thought, she rolled her eyes inward until the world doubled, then slowly lifted her head.

Chu Liuxiang’s gaze swept over each of them with evident fastidiousness, but showed not a hint of pleasure. When his eyes landed on Lingran, he let out a snort of laughter and turned to Hongxiao. “Have the women in the palace these last few years all become so unsightly? Liu Yongcheng actually paid a high price to buy me a cross-eyed ugly girl like this?”

“His eyes must be failing,” Hongxiao replied flatly.

“Keep Xu Youzhen’s daughter. The rest—get out and serve outside!” Chu Liuxiang ordered, then turned to Chief Steward Yu. “Old Yu, call in the maids from the house to serve us. Let these girls watch and learn how it’s done, so they don’t ruin our mood next time!”

Chief Steward Yu bowed and hurried to obey.

“As for the cross-eyed one, forget her…”

Hearing these words, Lingran finally breathed a sigh of relief, knowing she’d made it through this ordeal.