Chapter 124: Please Unveil
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Since there was somebody who specially waited in the wind to welcome him, Fang Zhengzhi naturally stopped, and looked at this girl in the green dress who wasn’t considered exceptionally beautiful, but was still rather pretty.
He felt that he should display his elegance and refined personality.
For example, praise the lady’s personality, or, describe the lady’s polite manner.
As he thought.
Fang Zhengzhi instinctively blurted out a dialect that circled the Northern Mountain Village for many years.
"This lady looks devilish handsome!"
The sentence left his mouth…
The wind in the entire riverside seemed to have silenced. Every scholar stared at Fang Zhengzhi with an expression of shock. They were really unable to believe that this was the double roll champion who defeated all the scholars in the River of Trust Capital.
The lady in green dress was also taken aback.
Having followed Yun Qingwu for so many years journeying through the country, she could indeed be considered experienced and knowledgeable. Else, she wouldn’t be tasked to wait at the riverside. However, she still hadn’t understood the meaning behind Fang Zhengzhi’s words.
Was he flirting with her?
Or…
He liked people who were like her?
Fang Zhengzhi gazed at the green skirt lady who was stunned, rooted to the ground, and sighed inwardly. He initially wanted to liven up the atmosphere, but, it looks like not every situation allowed him to make jokes?
"What I meant was, a lady dressed in green skirt waiting at the riverside of the River of Trust beside the willow tree, in the cool breeze, this style is indeed comparable to the winter-sweet in the snow!" Fang Zhengzhi helplessly rephrased his words.
"Thank you for Young Master Fang’s praise, the wind at the riverside is strong, Young Master Fang, please board the boat!" Her tone changed. The lady in green dress evidently managed to react.
Fang Zhengzhi didn’t move. All along, he understood one rule. It was easy to board the s.h.i.+p, but hard to leave the s.h.i.+p.
Just like the previous time he brought Yan Xiu to the Moonview Restaurant. After eating and drinking, it was extremely tough to settle the bill. If he hadn’t encountered Su Jiu, he would definitely be held in the restaurant for that meal.
If he didn’t guess wrongly, Yun Qingwu’s status was more or less the same as the restaurant owner in his previous world.
Even though Yun Qingwu was definitely the best among the restaurant owners, she was someone that the average person wouldn’t pay attention to, and if one wanted to meet her, it was as hard as climbing into Heaven.
But, she also lived through hards.h.i.+ps and uncertainties, even if she personally invited him, silver and treasures were definitely unavoidable.
The lady in the green dress saw that Fang Zhengzhi didn’t intend to board the boat, and was somewhat confused.
"There is something that I must make clear first, I am only here to listen to music and eat. I don’t have any money to give, nor did I bring any presents." Fang Zhengzhi thought for a while, and finally decided to speak his mind.
Even though when Yan Xiu heard that Yun Qingwu had invited him, he gave him a pearl that was as big as an egg. However, he didn’t accept it.
Taking a friend’s treasure to drink in the company of women?
He really couldn’t bring himself to do such things.
"He actually didn’t bring any present!"
"This person is indeed thick-skinned. If he claimed to be number two, n.o.body would ever dare to claim they were number one! He is really too shameless!"
"He actually didn’t bring any presents when meeting Yun Qingwu, quick, chase him away!"
When the stunned scholars suddenly heard Fang Zhengzhi’s words, they instantly expressed the anger in their hearts. Which person meeting Yun Qingwu wouldn’t bring along a treasure?
"Young Master Fang, don’t worry. This time, lady had personally sent out the invitation, a present is naturally unnecessary!" The lady in green dress covered her mouth and laughed gently, then once again, waved lightly to Fang Zhengzhi.
"A present is naturally unnecessary?!"
When the surrounding scholars heard this, they all felt like they were struck by lightning, and stood completely stunned on the spot.
To be able to be invited by Yun Qingwu is already a blessing from Heaven, he actually still didn’t bring any presents? Even in the entire Great Xia Dynasty, n.o.body would be able to accept such a thing?
"Then, let me board the boat and listen to a piece!" Fang Zhengzhi very reluctantly nodded his head.
…
As the scholars stared at Fang Zhengzhi’s figure from the back and gritted their teeth, Fang Zhengzhi was leisurely admiring the layout of the pleasure boat and the beautiful ink paintings...
Yun Qingwu’s pleasure boat was indeed uniquely poetic.
Not even mentioning the various beautiful jewelleries, each of them positioned perfectly to match the boat, just the various kinds of paintings and poems that adorned the body of the pleasure boat itself were amazing.
It seemed like the jewelleries were grown on the body of the boat, as if they were naturally.
"This boat looks like a work of art, but…"
Fang Zhengzhi didn’t say it, because, based on the positions of the jewelleries, he deduced very quickly that Yun Qingwu was not only proficient in poetry, singing, chess and paintings, she was also well-versed in the formations of The Art of Becoming Invisible.
Yun Qingwu…
Is probably not as simple as she seems on the surface?
"Please sit, Young Master Fang. Lady will arrive soon!" The lady in green dress led Fang Zhengzhi into an elegant room on the boat.
Fang Zhengzhi felt that these words seemed to cause people to fantasize.
He sat, and waited quietly.
Then, a few ladies in green dresses began to send in plates of exquisite snacks, and placed them on the table in front of Fang Zhengzhi, then slowly withdrew.
When the refreshments had all been served, an elegant figure appeared from behind the pearl curtains.
Wearing a simple yet elegant white dress, with a simple ink lotus embroidered onto it, her hair fell like a waterfall to her waist. She didn’t wear any jewellery on her head, and she radiated the air of purity.
But, as usual, her face was covered by a black veil. The snow-white shoes on her feet moved, and she bowed lightly towards Fang Zhengzhi, then, quietly sat in front of the piano table opposite Fang Zhengzhi.
Yun Qingwu, a lady that caused the scholars in the entire Great Xia Dynasty to go crazy over her.
"Young Master Fang, thank you for waiting!" Yun Qingwu spoke, her voice as clear as the chirp of birds.
This was indeed a one-to-one date. Who knew how many scholars could only dream for such an opportunity. However, Fang Zhengzhi wasn’t too excited.
The reason he was here to see Yun Qingwu was because he was somewhat curious.
He was curious about why Yun Qingwu would confidently bet that he would attain the theory examination roll champion, and was also similarly curious about Yun Qingwu’s real purpose in coming to the River of Trust Capital.
But, this curiosity didn’t require any rus.h.i.+ng.
Hence, Fang Zhengzhi smiled gently, and bowed towards Yun Qingwu.
"Thank you Lady Qingwu for your invitation!"
"What would Young Master Fang like to listen to?" Yun Qingwu pointed at the guqin in front of her.
"How about the Ancient Tune of Guangling?" Fang Zhengzhi thought that since Yun Qingwu had asked, why not he choose something that was harder. He wished to see whether Yun Qingwu knew this ancient piece that was rumoured to be lost in history.
"Ha ha…" Yun Qingwu laughed gently.
Unfortunately, the black veil concealed her beautiful smile, and n.o.body was able to see the style of her smile.
"Looks like Young Master Fang is someone who cherishes the world. However, this Ancient Tune of Guangling is divided into the parts Jingli, Quhan, w.a.n.gshen, Hanzhi, Liefu, Chenming, Toujian, Junji, Weixing, I wonder which part would Young Master Fang like to hear first?" Yun Qingwu smiled, then asked back.
Fang Zhengzhi felt that he had played a little too big. He never thought that Yun Qingwu would actually know how this. If he couldn’t deduce whether the tune Yun Qingwu played was authentic, wouldn’t that be a little embarra.s.sing?
"It is still early, let’s start from Jingli." Fang Zhengzhi pretended as if there wasn’t a problem.
"Alright!" Yun Qingwu nodded.
…
At the riverside of the River of Trust, very quickly, countless scholars heard the melodious and cla.s.sical Ancient Tune of Guangling. The melodious sound of the guqin floated in the air, as if whispering the stories of home.
Instantly, the scholars were overwhelmed.
In reality…
That was the greatest reason why they gathered at the riverside of the River of Trust.
After the Jingli ended, the second part, the sound of Quhan very quickly sounded out…
Fang Zhengzhi listened to the music within the pleasure boat, and helped himself to the exquisite snacks. On the other hand, the scholars stood in the cool breeze, and revelled in this beautiful guqin music.
…
The song ended, and the guqin was kept.
Yun Qingwu sat quietly on the chair, and her jet-black eyes looked towards Fang Zhengzhi.
Fang Zhengzhi, on the other hand, also looking at Yun Qingwu. However, a layer of black veil lay in between them.
Then, Yun Qingwu spoke.
"Young Master Fang, can you guess why I would invite you here?"
"Before I guess, can you remove your veil?" Fang Zhengzhi didn’t reply Yun Qingwu’s question immediately, and instead asked her back.
"Ha ha… looks like Young Master Fang already has a plan. Since Young Master Fang wants to see, why not you act the same way as you did last time?" Yun Qingwu similarly asked back.
The edges of Fang Zhengzhi’s mouth gradually curved into a light smile, then, he stood up from the chair and walked towards Yun Qingwu.
"Young Master Fang really dares to unveil my veil again?" Yun Qingwu looked at Fang Zhengzhi’s movements, but didn’t seem to bother dodging. Instead, she enquired softly.
"Why wouldn’t I dare?"
"The previous time, during the Hundred Flower Gathering, after Young Master Fang unveiled my veil, you managed to escape… this time, in this pleasure boat, I believe you wouldn’t be able to leave so easily." Yun Qingwu looked around, and reminded him softly.
"If I really wouldn’t be able to leave today, what difference does it make if I unveil you?" Fang Zhengzhi understood very well the meaning behind Yun Qingwu’s words. Once he boarded the s.h.i.+p, he had already known that it wouldn’t be so easy to leave.
"Young Master Fang is right, then, come and unveil!" Yun Qingwu lightly nodded her head, then, stood up and signalled that Fang Zhengzhi could begin unveiling.
Looking at Yun Qingwu’s easy-going expression, Fang Zhengzhi laughed again, then, lightly waved his hand and walked, step by step, towards Yun Qingwu.
On the other hand, Yun Qingwu didn’t attempt to move back, and instead stood quietly on the spot.
The room wasn’t big.
Even though Fang Zhengzhi didn’t walk quickly, but, he still managed to arrive very quickly in front of Yun Qingwu.
The distance between the two of them was less than an inch. Fang Zhengzhi could even smell the faint fragrance that emanated from Yun Qingwu’s body.
"I am going to unveil!"
"Since young master wishes to do so, then please go ahead!"
Fang Zhengzhi lightly nodded his head, then, he moved. His right hand grabbed towards the black veil on Yun Qingwu’s face, with a speed as fast as lightning. It was very fast, and didn’t carry any sound of breaking through the air.
And right at this moment, or, it could be said that once Fang Zhengzhi’s right hand moved, Yun Qingwu also moved. Her curved and elegant figure at this moment revealed an extreme flexibility.
One feet tapped the ground lightly, and the other rose off the ground. However, she didn’t lean back, and instead, with her one feet anch.o.r.ed to the ground, she quickly turned towards the left, and at the instant she turned…
Her snow-white dress flew up, just like a white lotus flower that had suddenly bloomed.