Misty Veil

"Yes," A Zhu pouted. "I tried all sorts of methods, but none of them could make the fragrance last."

Song Qingshu saw that her skin was soft, smooth, and crystal-clear. Smelling the sweet scent on her body, he thought she truly was a sweet and lovely young beauty. Good heavens... I was influenced by the 1997 version of Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils and never thought much of A Zhu's looks. Who knew she would be so sweet and adorable?

"Young Master?" Seeing Song Qingshu staring blankly at her, a blush spread across A Zhu's delicate face.

"Oh." Song Qingshu came back to himself, somewhat embarrassed as well. "Miss A Zhu, I do happen to know a method that can make a fragrance last..." He deliberately stopped there and looked at her with a faintly teasing smile.

A Zhu was a sharp-minded girl. Seeing this, she knew he wanted something in return. Alarmed that he might mean Murong Fu harm, she nevertheless smiled brightly. "What would Young Master require before you are willing to tell this servant the method?"

"How about I ask Young Master Murong to give you to me?" Seeing her charming appearance, Song Qingshu suddenly felt mischievous and deliberately teased her.

"Young Master, please do not joke." A Zhu's smile stiffened.

"Haha, I'm teasing you." Song Qingshu laughed. "I can teach you how to preserve fragrance, but you have to teach me Disguise Art."

A Zhu froze. Song Qingshu thought she was unwilling and secretly regretted being too hasty. He should have brought it up after they had become more familiar. But he might leave Yanziwu tomorrow, so he could not help being anxious.

"Oh my, I thought it was something serious." A Zhu burst into laughter. "Ever since I was little, I loved dressing up as other people for fun. The more I imitated, the more convincing I became, and gradually I figured out a set of methods. It is not some rare skill. Since Young Master likes it, I will explain it to you."

As she spoke, A Zhu suddenly gave a soft exclamation and looked curiously at Song Qingshu. "How did Young Master know this servant knows the art of disguise?"

"Didn't A Bi tell you that I am the Jianghu Hundred-Know-All, capable of divination and calculation?" Song Qingshu raised a brow and spoke mysteriously.

A Zhu remembered that A Bi had indeed quietly mentioned this to her earlier. She glanced at him, half believing and half doubting.

"I am a grown man; I cannot let a young lady suffer a loss," Song Qingshu said directly, knowing that people of this age valued promises. "I will first teach you the Method for Fixing Fragrance."

"Young Master Song, you truly are a very good person." A Zhu gazed at him with a smile.

Getting handed a good-person card by a beautiful young girl for no reason, Song Qingshu said gloomily, "To make the scent of floral dew linger for a long time, you must add a fixative. You can use ambergris, sandalwood, musk, Orris Root... whichever is convenient for you. Different fixative ingredients will produce different effects on the fragrance..." As he spoke, Song Qingshu remembered how he had specifically crammed knowledge about perfume when pursuing that woman in his previous life. He had never expected it to come in handy now.

A Zhu's beautiful eyes shone with admiration. "Young Master Song is truly learned and talented. You even understand these little things women use."

By the time they finished talking, they had reached the guest room. Song Qingshu stopped and asked, "When will Miss A Zhu teach me Disguise Art?"

"Tomorrow, perhaps?" A Zhu said hesitantly. "It is already late today..."

"But I will be leaving Yanziwu tomorrow..." Song Qingshu's meaning was obvious.

A Zhu thought that he had been so frank, teaching her the method first, and she could not let him think poorly of her. Gritting her teeth, she tugged Song Qingshu toward the room. "Young Master, it is inconvenient outside. It would not be good if someone in the household saw us. Let us go inside and speak slowly."

As an unmarried young woman, A Zhu could not help feeling awkward being in a man's room late at night. She cautiously sat far away from Song Qingshu and began explaining Disguise Art in a gentle, flowing voice. "The key to Disguise Art lies in making molds and in the material of the Human Skin Mask..."

At first, A Zhu lectured from far away, but Disguise Art could not be taught without hands-on instruction. She had no choice but to take a bottle of ointment from her pocket, come over, and demonstrate on his face.

Feeling A Zhu's cool fingers against his face and smelling the waves of sweet fragrance coming from her, Song Qingshu could not help sighing inwardly. Murong Fu had two such excellent maids, as well as a cousin who could be called a martial arts grandmaster, yet he had still ended up in such a miserable state.

Song Qingshu admired Murong Fu's fighting spirit, but he had always looked down on his intelligence. If I were Murong Fu, would restoring the kingdom really be so difficult?

The Imperial Consort of Western Xia was his relative, and he often moved about within the Western Xia First Class Hall. With such uniquely favorable conditions, he still had not won over Princess Yinchuan of Western Xia, leaving him to participate in a public marriage contest in the end.

Even if he did not take the Western Xia route, if he had simply treated Wang Yuyan better, would not the martial arts of the Xiaoyao Sect all have fallen into his hands?

Even if he did not pursue martial arts, A Zhu alone was a weapon of terrifying potential in his household. Honestly, Song Qingshu felt that A Zhu's Disguise Art was more precious than any Nine Yin Nine Yang. If used well, could its effects possibly compare to those of an ordinary martial artist? If Murong Fu put some effort into it, bribed several ministers and eunuchs, then disguised himself as an emperor or prince and took over their place, he could become emperor without lifting a finger...

Looking at the lifelike Murong Fu in the mirror, Song Qingshu exclaimed, "Miss A Zhu, your skill is truly miraculous."

"Young Master praises me too highly." A Zhu gave a slight curtsy, as though she were facing the real Murong Fu.

"A Zhu, it is so late. Warm this young master's bed." Song Qingshu's eyes turned as mischief rose within him. Wearing Murong Fu's face, he gave the order.

"Pah!" A Zhu spat lightly, her face red. "Since Young Master Song has learned enough, this servant will take her leave." With that, she fled from the room as though escaping.

The next day, Murong Fu led his group to Mantuo Mountain Villa. At first, Song Qingshu had looked forward to seeing just how beautiful this Fairy Sister was, but as they walked, his interest gradually faded. Thinking that he had no abilities at all now, he realized that no matter how beautiful a woman was, she had nothing to do with him. Even if she did, he could not protect her. His heart gradually settled into calmness.

"Cousin~" A voice like heavenly music drifted over from afar. Song Qingshu was startled when he heard it. No wonder a single sigh from Wang Yuyan had once left Duan Yu utterly bewitched.

"Cousin, you came to see me. I... I am so happy." A girlish blush rose on Wang Yuyan's fair, tender face, making her breathtakingly beautiful.

Only then did Song Qingshu have the chance to examine her closely. He saw a young girl dressed in a lotus-colored gauze robe, her long hair cascading down her back and lightly tied with a silver ribbon. A misty veil seemed to shroud her entire body, and he could not even see her features clearly.

Song Qingshu was startled. When he had seen Zhao Min that day, she had seemed surrounded by the brilliance of a blazing sun. When he first met Madam Hu, she had appeared to be enveloped in a piece of pure crystal glass. Now that he saw Wang Yuyan, misty clouds seemed to surround her as well. Could this be the natural aura of peerless beauties?