The Villainous Classmate is My Lucky Star Chapter 147
Translated by Pure (ko-fi)
Chapter 147 Exposed (1)
Wen Yantong was afraid that the meaning of her clues would not be conveyed properly, so she had to go and see it first hand. She knew when the killer would attack Cheng Yanchuan, and also knew which cup was poisoned. As long as she was allowed to go to the scene, she would be able to save Cheng Yanchuan's life.
Chi Jingxi was also really busy. Wen Yantong didn’t see him for the next twenty days, but he would occasionally send a servant to inquire about her well being. Wen Yantong was relieved, this meant that Chi Jingxi should have already started preparations.
In a blink of an eye, the 20th of the second lunar month was here. All of the legitimate children of the major officials in Chaoge received an invitation from Cheng Yanchuan. No matter if the crown prince knew them personally or not, they were all extended an invitation.
The Hundred Flowers Banquet was very vast, with pavilions, small bridges over man-made lakes, verandahs leading to many directions, exquisitely carved rockery and statues. The garden had two large entrances, surrounded by guards. Everyone’s carriage must stop before the entrance and park outside. Entry would only be allowed after the invitee shows their invitation card, been given a body search, and have their identity recorded on a booklet.
All processes are orderly, anything deemed dangerous would be confiscated.
Wen Yantong entered through the side gate with Hua Mo. She was wearing dark clothes and carrying her xiqin on her back. As soon as she entered the gate, she saw bare flower stalks on both sides of the road, a rather disappointing sight.
But it made sense, it was only the second lunar month, how could flowers bloom in such cold weather?
She followed Hua Mo and made several turns before reaching a small building in front of patches of lush bamboo. There were already people coming in and out of it.
Hua Mo explained, "I specially reserved that last room at the end for you."
Wen Yantong thanked her repeatedly, and after entering the door, she found that although the room was not spacious, it was divided into two compartments. Her clothes were hung on a bamboo rack. It was a dark crabapple-red, with silver coiling cloud pattern embroidered on the collar. The top layer was a thin ink-color muslin with wide-sleeves, which fell to the ankles. This somewhat opaque material caused the overall color of the outfit to look not as bright.
But it was still too flamboyant to call it mens’ wear. Wen Yantong looked at Hua Mo suspiciously.
Hua Mo laughed, "This is a banquet, so naturally you should dress nicely!"
She pulled Wen Yantong in front of the bronze mirror. On the table were all kinds of floral hairpins and hair ornaments, it was a dazzling line-up. There were also a variety of different sized bottles and jars, they were all not labeled, so Wen Yantong didn’t know the usage for them.
Hua Mo divided the flower hairpins into groups, two were only hairpins, and the other two were only flower ornaments. "You will be wearing these later, pick one from each group."
Wen Yantong was speechless, she wasn’t prepared to dress up so gorgeously at the banquet. But it made sense, this was not an ordinary banquet after all. Moreover, there was nothing wrong with dressing up regardless of one’s gender. In the past, there was even a dynasty where it was especially popular for men to wear flowers on their heads and draw floral patterns on their arms.
"You go to the inner room and change into this set." Hua Mo rolled up her sleeves. "I'll dress you up before I leave to take care of the other matters."
Wen Yantong nodded. She took off her outer coat, opened the cotton curtain, and went to the inner room. She stood behind the screen and quickly changed her clothes. The clothes fit her like a glove. She looked down at her ankles, where the clothes seams ended. The black muslin added a touch of a fairy-like-feeling to the overall outfit.
Especially like those fairies flying in the sky in those wuxia TV dramas.
Wen Yantong imitated the posture of a fairy with her hands out as she pranced out. Hua Mo walked to her side. "What are you doing? Come sit down, we’re rushed for time."
Wen Yantong oh’ed, and hurried to sit down. Hua Mo first tied up her hair in a relatively simple style. She leaned close to her face to look at it, then picked up a bottle; when she uncorked it, the room was filled with the fragrance of sweet-scented osmanthus.
Hua Mo took a brush and explained, "After I apply this, your face will become whiter."
Wen Yantong closed her eyes and allowed Hua Mo to do what she needed to do. In fact, all qin musicians do a similar style of make up, no matter if they were men or women. When they performed, they naturally had to dress up more delicately; women turned into beauties, and men turned into pretty boys.
Hua Mo spoke while brushing the applicant on her face, "Your skin is quite supple."
Wen Yantong smiled and replied, "I don’t go out much. My face doesn’t get exposed to the wind and sun much, so it's naturally more tender."
The transparent ointment felt a little cool on the face, after Hua Mo finished applying, she went to sit beside her and told her to wait obediently.
But not long after, someone knocked on the door and called Hua Mo's name.
They must need Hua Mo’s assistance elsewhere. Hua Mo tried to negotiate with the person at the door, but was unable to avoid her responsibility. Reluctantly, she came back to Wen Yantong and explained, "Wait about the time it would take to burn half a stick of incense. If I don't come back in time, you can just wipe your face with the brocade cloth on the table. I will try to come back as soon as possible."
Wen Yantong couldn't open her eyes, so she just casually hummed back in response.
After Hua Mo left, the room fell silent. Wen Yantong waited but became bored rather quickly. She didn’t know how long the half a stick of incense would last, so she decided to wait for the ointment on her face to dry before wiping it off.
While waiting, the door opened again. Thinking Hua Mo had returned, Wen Yantong said, "Hua jie, my hair seems to have come loose, can you tie it up for me?"
Footsteps approached softly, and stopped behind Wen Yantong. Her hair was soon gathered together by two hands, and painlessly rebounded into a more tighter hairstyle. The hand stretched forward again, the sleeves brushed against her ears, and landed on the table in front of her.
It seemed a hairpin was picked up and gently inserted into her hair.
Wen Yantong originally wanted to pick the decoration herself. But she also had no objection if Hua Mo picked them instead; the hairpins all look quite similar anyway.
"Hua jie, you have to pick out the good ones for me." Wen Yantong said with a smile.
The person behind her didn't respond.
Wen Yantong suddenly felt something was amiss, so she quickly reached out to feel for the brocade cloth on the table. The person behind saw her intention, so they also reached out to pick up the brocade cloth. Fortunately, Wen Yantong managed to find it at the same time, but when she touched that person's hand, it didn’t feel like a woman’s hand at all.
Wen Yantong hurriedly wiped her eyes, and the moment she opened her eyes, she saw the person reflected in the mirror.
It was Chi Jingxi wearing a light yellow gown with dark gold embroidery patterns. His attire was overall bright in color, contrasting his dark eyebrows and eyes. His long hair was tied up and held together with a white jade crown, giving him a spirited and heroic look.
His head was currently lowered, slowly pushing a vermilion ivory hairpin into Wen Yantong's hair.
Wen Yantong instantly relaxed. "Little Marquis, you should have made a sound. Scared me to death."
Chi Jingxi raised his picturesque face and looked at her in the mirror. There was a smile-like look in his eyes, but it was difficult to make out. "So you were no longer afraid once you saw it was me?"
"I’m so happy to see you! Why would I be afraid?" Wen Yantong turned her head and saw the hairpin in the mirror, "It doesn’t look like one of Hua jie’s hairpin..."
"It’s my gift to you." Chi Jingxi lightly replied.
Wen Yantong was surprised. "Why the sudden gift, Little Marquis?"
Chi Jingxi didn't answer her question, but picked up the uncapped rouge from the table. He lightly dabbed a bit on his index finger, twisted Wen Yantong's chair with his feet, and slowly bent down.
Wen Yantong was a little scared, she shrank back and asked, "Little Marquis, what are you doing?"
"Don't move." Chi Jingxi pinched her chin, smeared the rouge on his index finger on her tender lips. The deep red instantly made Wen Yantong's face look even more delicate.
Chi Jingxi gently applied a few more layers, and the soft fingertip slid down her lips to her neck, leaving a red trail down her fair neck. Wen Yantong felt this sensation and swallowed nervously.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
Chi Jingxi's dark eyes were profound. He suddenly hooked his fingers, and the collar button on her clothes was loosened, revealing her thin and beautiful collarbones.
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The author has something to say:
[Chi Jingxi's Little Diary]
The second day of the second lunar month.
She’s always been lying to me.
But I'll allow it for now.
