Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress

Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Wandering_1

Bai Qingyan watched Chen Qingsheng’s methodical dealings with the shopkeeper, feeling increasingly satisfied with Chen Qingsheng. In the future, when Third Sister goes into business, Chen Qingsheng will definitely become a strong supporter for her.

She turned her head and said to Lu Ping and the accompanying guards, “Uncle Ping, you all stay downstairs and do not act rashly. Follow my instructions.”

Lu Ping cupped his fists and agreed.

“Miss Bai, the shopkeeper has already arranged a private room! Though Manjiang Tower is a newly opened establishment and not as famous as the neighboring Que Tower, it is more serene.” Chen Qingsheng led Bai Qingyan to the stairs, saying, “Miss Bai, be careful of your steps.”

“Yes, yes! The best private room was cleaned up for Miss Bai early this morning! When the sun sets, Miss Bai can push open the window, lean against the beauty railing in the corridor, and view the red lanterns lining the street. It’s an absolutely perfect spot! Not inferior to the viewing position in the private rooms of Que Tower next door!” The head shopkeeper followed behind with a smile.

“Shopkeeper, you are very thoughtful! You may go about your business. We will attend to Miss Bai.” Chun Tao said with a cheerful smile.

“Yes, yes!” The shopkeeper stood downstairs, nodding repeatedly.

Chen Qingsheng opened the door to the private room for Bai Qingyan, knowing she feared the cold. He hurried inside to close the facing windows and said, “Miss Bai, although this room has a good location, the windows are too close to those in the private rooms of Que Tower next door. I’ll close them for you first.”

Chen Qingsheng arranged things meticulously. Probably worried that Bai Qingyan might get bored sitting here, he placed a chessboard under the carved wooden window and a chess manual on the small table.

Bai Qingyan unclasped her cloak and walked straight to the chessboard. Her eyes glanced over it briefly. This endgame, wherever Chen Qingsheng found it, was new to her and piqued her interest.

The private room was brightly lit with candles and had five braziers burning fiercely, making it feel warm even though the window had just been opened.

Seeing the waiter standing at the door with tea, Chen Qingsheng quickly stepped forward, took the tea, and tipped the waiter.

As he poured the tea, he said, “The shopkeeper of Manjiang Tower took over this place just half a month ago. About half a year ago, the owner of Que Tower next door became an in-law with an official from the street supervisory yamen. Later, when Que Tower expanded, it occupied half of the adjacent alley to Manjiang Tower, blocking the light from this window! Because of this, the former owner of Manjiang Tower sued Que Tower, but after losing his fortune without resolving the matter, he returned angrily to his ancestral home.”

Chen Qingsheng indeed knew everything about the big and small matters of Dadu City.

“Miss Bai, please have a seat. I will keep watch downstairs. As soon as the carriage enters the city, I will come back to report.” Chen Qingsheng bowed deeply to Bai Qingyan.

“Chun Tao, I saw some figurine makers by the roadside when we got off the carriage. Please go with Chen Qingsheng to buy some for the young ladies in the household and bring them back later.” She took a sip of tea, smiling warmly.

Normally, Chen Qingsheng and Chun Tao seldom had the chance to meet, as one was in the inner courtyard and the other in the outer courtyard. Bai Qingyan knew this and wanted to give them an opportunity to be alone, wishing that in this life, they could come to truly know and cherish each other, not miss each other and regret it for life as before.

Chen Qingsheng and Chun Tao both blushed deeply, hurriedly bowing out of the room.

In the spacious private room, only Bai Qingyan and Chun Yan were left. Not looking at Chun Yan’s greatly aggrieved face, she said, “Stand guard at the door.”

Chun Yan’s eyes reddened instantly. She bowed and exited, sniffling.

The heat from the fire was too much, and Bai Qingyan felt a thin layer of sweat forming after sitting for a moment. She pushed open the two windows, raising her eyes to meet the deep, well-like eyes of a man across the way.

She was taken aback.

Xiao Rongyan, who stood by the window opposite, was also quite surprised. His hand, which had been rubbing a jade cicada, paused unconsciously.

Dressed in a white robe, Xiao Rongyan stood tall and slender in the light. His gaze was calm as water. Although he appeared gentle and noble, in that moment when their eyes met, Bai Qingyan clearly saw the depth and steadiness of his hidden designs.

In an instant, the warmth in Xiao Rongyan’s eyes replaced the imposing cold authority of moments before. He gently nodded at her, looking like a completely different person from the powerful and cold ruler.

The two windows were only three feet apart. In both this life and the previous, she had never been so close to Xiao Rongyan.

Closing the windows hurriedly would appear too cowardly and show a lack of composure. Thus, she stiffly straightened her back and slightly bowed.

From the private room in Que Tower, Lu Yuanpeng’s voice arguing fiercely could be heard: “What I said is true! If you don’t believe me, ask Brother Xiao if Miss Bai isn’t truly unparalleled in beauty. Miss Bai is far more stunning than Princess of Nandu, Liu Ruofu, who is reputed as the first beauty, isn’t she, Brother Xiao?!”

Xiao Rongyan didn’t turn his head, gazing calmly at Bai Qingyan’s exquisite features. The light smile almost hidden in his dark eyes, he responded, “Indeed… unparalleled.”

The low, warm voice, steady and rich, made her face instantly heat up.

How could this person… be so audacious?!

“See! See!” Lu Yuanpeng slapped the table excitedly, “And you said I exaggerated! Now that Brother Xiao has spoken, you should believe it! You have no idea, under the snowy red lanterns, Miss Bai, in her white fox fur, standing in the corridor, was like a scene from a painting…”

She hurriedly closed the two windows, her sleeve sweeping the chess pieces to the ground with a clatter.

Chun Yan quickly pushed the door open and came in, seeing Bai Qingyan’s ears and neck turn red as she bent down to pick up the chess pieces. Chun Yan hurried forward, “Miss, let me pick them up!”

Bai Qingyan nodded. She wiped her sweaty hands with a handkerchief and subconsciously turned to the already-closed window. Outside, she thought she could still vaguely see Xiao Rongyan’s figure, making her heart beat even faster.

As Chun Yan picked up the chess pieces, she noticed Bai Qingyan’s flushed face. She put the pieces back in the box and said with a smile, “Miss, your face is all red. You must be hot. Shall I open the window for some air?”

Her heart pounding like a drum, Bai Qingyan grabbed Chun Yan’s hand as she reached for the window. Her voice was sharp, “No need!”

“Miss?!” It was the first time Chun Yan had seen her lady so flustered, and she was startled.

Bai Qingyan’s throat tightened. She withdrew her hand from Chun Yan’s arm, trying to hide her inner anxiety, and said sternly, “Go guard outside the door!” @@novelbin@@

Feeling even more wronged by Bai Qingyan’s recent sternness and distance, Chun Yan choked back her tears, bowed to Bai Qingyan, and stood guard outside the door.

Once again, alone in the private room, Bai Qingyan turned to look outside the window. Noticing the person across the window was no longer there, she felt a little more at ease.

Although the window opposite was open, Lu Yuanpeng’s rowdy voices from the group of dandies in Dadu City kept drifting over. Occasionally, a “Brother Xiao…” reached her ears, inexplicably making her uneasy.