Flower Arranging Nong Yu

"Nong Yu greets you, Young Master."

Nong Yu had no idea what Xiao Feng was thinking. She merely gave him a slight bow.

"Miss Nong Yu, there is no need for such formality."

Looking at the gentle and lovely Nong Yu before him, Xiao Feng immediately abandoned the notion of playing the living King of Hell. Smiling, he raised a hand and said, "I had already heard of Miss Nong Yu's great reputation back when I was in the Qin Kingdom.

It is said that Miss Nong Yu's skill with the qin is astonishing, even capable of bringing about the spectacle of Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix. Today, I have finally met you in person."

"You flatter me, Young Master."

Nong Yu smiled modestly, sat down with her qin in her arms, and gently plucked its strings with her slender, jade-like fingers.

It had to be said that Nong Yu's skill with the qin was truly extraordinary!

Although Xiao Feng knew little about playing the qin, he could still tell whether the music was good or bad.

The melody was winding and melodious, like a flowing mountain stream—clear and delicate.

As the music drifted on, Xiao Feng felt as though he had entered a magical dream. Captivated by the picturesque melody, he unconsciously closed his eyes and lightly tapped out its rhythm with his fingers.

Bang!!!

Just as Xiao Feng was immersed in the beautiful music, utterly entranced, the private room's door was suddenly yanked open with brute force.

(Note: Please provide the Chinese text you would like me to translate and revise.)

"Get the hell out of my way!"

A middle-aged man with a full beard and a face reeking of alcohol shoved aside the maidservants blocking his way. Burping drunkenly, he staggered into the private room.

The drunken middle-aged man before them was none other than Left Sima Liu Yi of Han Kingdom, as well as one of Ji Wuye's loyal hounds.

Some time ago, Ji Wuye had personally planned the Ghost Soldiers Robbery Case, stealing the one hundred thousand taels of gold in military funds that were meant to be transported to the border.

However, he had fallen into Han Fei's trap. The prize that had been within his grasp flew away, and the two sides became bitter enemies.

After Liu Yi learned of this, he began devising ways to deal with Han Fei in order to curry favor with Ji Wuye.

Since Han Fei was the Ninth Young Master of Han Kingdom, Liu Yi could not openly move against him. Thus, he deliberately pretended to be drunk and caused trouble at Purple Orchid Pavilion.

According to the intelligence Liu Yi had gathered, Han Fei had an unusually close relationship with Purple Orchid Pavilion's proprietress and often frequented the establishment.

As long as Liu Yi deliberately made a big scene and forced Zi Nu to invite Han Fei to mediate, he could drag Han Fei into the mess and, ideally, start a fight with him.

At that point, with a little covert encouragement from Liu Yi's men, gossip about a prince of Han Kingdom and a court minister fighting over a woman—even coming to blows—would spread throughout Xinzheng City at lightning speed.

If King of Han learned of this, he would certainly be furious. Not only would he severely reprimand Han Fei, but he might even strip him of his position as Minister of Justice.

Liu Yi knew that such a tactic would hurt the enemy by a thousand while costing himself eight hundred, and it would surely incur King of Han's displeasure. But as long as he could win Ji Wuye's favor, offending King of Han a little was no great concern.

"Roar—"

Just as Liu Yi was about to touch Nong Yu, a resounding dragon's roar suddenly came from behind him.

Bang!!!

Before Liu Yi could react, an immense force blasted him straight out the door.

Liu Yi rolled across the ground several times before barely managing to steady himself. Furious and humiliated, he shouted, "Who was that? Who dared hit me?"

"It was me!"

Xiao Feng snorted coldly. "I was enjoying the performance just now, and you suddenly barged in and ruined my mood. Shouldn't you be beaten?"

"Impudent! Do you know who I am? I am the Left Sima of Han Kingdom!"

"You are the impudent one!"

Xiao Feng slammed the table, his face as cold as frost. "Even Ji Wuye would not dare act so presumptuously before me. What the hell are you?!"

!!!

Liu Yi's expression changed drastically, and the way he looked at Xiao Feng became uncertain and suspicious.

Ji Wuye held immense power in Han Kingdom, practically shrouding the heavens with one hand. Even King of Han feared him to some extent, and he was also Liu Yi's direct superior.

Although Liu Yi felt that Xiao Feng was putting on a bluff, he was afraid that Xiao Feng might truly have an extraordinary background.

After all, ordinary people would not dare speak of Ji Wuye in such a manner. If word reached Ji Wuye's ears, they would likely end up a corpse in the streets that very night.

"Please calm down, both of you. Calm down, please~"

Just as Liu Yi found himself in an awkward position, a seductive voice suddenly rang out. A stunning purple-haired beauty with a cold, elegant aura swayed over with a willow-thin waist.

Zi Nu turned toward the two maidservants accompanying Liu Yi and scolded them with feigned displeasure, "What are you still standing there for? Can't you see that Left Sima is drunk? Hurry and help him back to rest!"

"My lord, let us go back and rest~"

"My lord, watch your step."

With the excuse Zi Nu had provided, Liu Yi hurriedly took the way out. Pretending to be thoroughly drunk, he left with the two maidservants.

Of course, that did not mean the matter was over!

Liu Yi would certainly find a way to test Ji Wuye's attitude tomorrow. If Xiao Feng truly was someone he could not afford to offend, then Liu Yi would simply admit his bad luck.

But if Xiao Feng was merely bluffing, Liu Yi would make him understand just how miserable the consequences of toying with him could be.

"This humble woman is Zi Nu, proprietor of Purple Orchid Pavilion. Greetings, Young Master Xiao."

After seeing off that pest Liu Yi, Zi Nu gave Xiao Feng another slight bow. "What happened tonight disturbed your enjoyment. It was truly Purple Orchid Pavilion's failure in hospitality. I hope Young Master can forgive us."

"It is nothing. Just a small matter!"

Xiao Feng waved his hand. "If Miss Zi Nu truly feels bad about it, then stay and have a few drinks with me."

"This humble woman cannot hold her liquor. I hope Young Master will show me mercy later."

Zi Nu was also curious about Xiao Feng's background, so she readily accepted his invitation.

Unfortunately, Zi Nu had not expected that Xiao Feng simply could not get drunk. Her plan to intoxicate him and extract information had failed before it had even begun.

Thus, over the next several hours, not only did Zi Nu fail to uncover any useful information, but Xiao Feng also took quite a bit of advantage of her.

It was not until midnight that the alcohol-scented Xiao Feng finally left Purple Orchid Pavilion in satisfaction beneath Zi Nu's resentful gaze.

Just as Xiao Feng was preparing to board Xiao Manor's carriage, his sharp brows suddenly lifted, and he looked up at Purple Orchid Pavilion behind him.

By a window on Purple Orchid Pavilion's fourth floor stood two figures, looking down at him from above.

One of them wore luxurious purple robes. Handsome and bearing a somewhat carefree air between his brows, he was none other than Han Kingdom's Ninth Young Master—Han Fei!

The other wore a black-and-gold long robe and had short white hair. His features were heroic, and his entire body radiated an aura that warned strangers to stay away. He was clearly Wei Zhuang, one of Ghost Valley's successors.