My Wife Is A Sword Immortal
Chapter 571 - 366 I Really Don’t Want to Help You Comb Your Hair (Part 3)

Chapter 571: Chapter 366 I Really Don’t Want to Help You Comb Your Hair (Part 3)

Right then, Luo Xiu, the center of everyone’s attention, gracefully passed by the table where Zhao Rong was seated, tilting her head slightly midway. Nonetheless, she continued walking past everyone and ascended to the stage.

Zhao Rong looked at a plate of fish, seemingly seeking a spot to place his chopsticks, and leisurely said, "Stop gazing, gentlemen, the dish is almost cold. We are respectable scholars... we cannot afford to waste food."

"Ah? Oh, oh, oh."

Gu Yiwu and the other respectable scholars hurriedly returned to their senses, some clumsily or awkwardly picking up food or drinking tea to cover their expressions.

Everyone straightened their backs, sitting up neatly.

However strangely, none of them looked towards the distant stage any longer, instead focusing solely on their meal, eyes not straying.

Zhao Rong glanced at the once again quiet table and suddenly said to a burly man, "Brother Yiwu, what do you think?"

Gu Yiwu’s expression was serious, "Ziyu, I must admit, she indeed is a beauty; forgive me for losing my composure just now. It’s only human..."

"I was asking about the most expensive dish at Zuixian Building," Zhao Rong said with a smile he could hardly suppress, helplessly gesturing around the table.

"......"

Gu Yiwu gazed at Zhao Rong with a ’mournful’ look, ’You’re definitely doing this on purpose.’

Zhao Rong laughed and patted his friend on the shoulder, not teasing him any longer.

Without a second thought, Zhao Rong directly reached for the fish on the table, snatching up the fish head, ah, eating the fish head as someone pleads...

The others couldn’t help but laugh, easing the atmosphere.

Some scholars teased Zhao Rong about eating the fish head, leading to another round of laughter.

Gu Yiwu suddenly enlivened said, "Ziyu, did that girl Luo Xiu just steal a glance at me a moment ago?"

Er, really now? Are you sure it’s not one of life’s three great illusions?

Zhao Rong couldn’t help but glance at his friend.

He tried hard to keep his mouth’s curve under control and said earnestly, "Huh, is that so?"

"Hey, Ziyu. I’m serious."

"So am I. I always knew Brother Yiwu, even amidst a crowd, has such a presence that cannot be suppressed, leaking out, allowing that little fairy Luo Xiu to shrewdly pick up on it. Unexpectedly, she’s also a discerning fairy of humble grace and sharp eyes. Not even she could overlook it."

Gu Yiwu scratched his head, examining Zhao Rong’s solemn face, and suspiciously asked, "Ziyu, do you really think so?"

Zhao Rong put down his chopsticks, leaned back, and sighed, "I ask, who here doesn’t know that."

Gu Yiwu looked around as the scholars at Justice Hall solemnly nodded in agreement.

"How embarrassing, but being with you all, I’m probably a bit conspicuous indeed. Sorry to trouble everyone."

"It’s okay, it’s okay."

"Brother Gu is being modest."

"Brother, if you talk like that, I might get upset... You’re so excellent yet so humble!"

Although those present were chatting and joking, their eyes never strayed to the scene on the stage, but most of them were all ears, secretly paying attention to the movements on stage.

On the central stage of the hall, there was a low table with a seven-stringed zither placed upon it.

After Luo Xiu ascended the stage, she bowed her head and eyes in silence, sitting quietly behind the zither table.

Strumming the zither without a word.

The pretty maid with twin braids following her stepped forward, facing the entire audience, unshaken, her voice clear as a nightingale:

"Tonight, our fairy is making her debut on this stage, and everyone should know why."

She boldly scanned the crowd.

"This event, for us women of the demimonde, is of utmost importance, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity..."

The pretty maid began her tearful speech garnering sympathy, generally about how hard life is for demimonde women, how difficult it is to start and end well, and most importantly, finding a worthy man to entrust oneself to.

The stunning girl named Luo Xiu, sitting quietly behind her, lips as red as dawn and teeth like white jade, was gently biting her lip, silent.

Who knows what she was thinking about—her tragic life or the hope for a worthy man?

Many men beneath the stage secretly glanced sideways, and upon seeing the sight, most of them looked pitifully moved.

The pretty maid spoke while her gaze swept over the audience below.

At the spots her gaze touched, the crowd of men proudly puffed out their chests or fanned themselves, all attentively focused.

Zhao Rong twisted a peanut into his mouth and took the pink handkerchief handed by Qian’er to wipe his fingers, while he surreptitiously watched his peers around him who were eagerly anticipating.

On the stage, the pretty maid finally got back to the point.

"Lords, thank you for gracing Zuixian Building with your presence. Tonight our establishment will choose a fortunate and deserving young master to comb the hair of our Fairy Luo Xiu. However, tonight’s rules are different from the usual rules for combing sessions known by you all,"

she paused in her speech and playfully teased the audience.

Many men below, already itching with curiosity, now felt almost unbearable anticipation, as if they would have started cursing had a male steward been there dragging his words.

But as it was a playful young maid doing the teasing, their tolerance was unconsciously magnified.

In one of the seats closest to the stage, a slender young master in pink garments with a pale, powdered face visibly grew impatient.

He tossed his folding fan backward, and the strapping guard behind him caught it adeptly, holding it with both hands.

The young master in pink, with a somewhat haughty and arrogant tone and a dismissive attitude, puffed up his chest.

His posture strikingly reminded Zhao Rong of Gu Yiwu’s chest-puffing action during a kickball game that he had once seen.

However, the young master in pink clearly didn’t realize his own hidden sports talent but harshly commanded, "Little maid, tell this young master quickly."

The audience took the opportunity to join in, "Yes, come on, tell us, stop keeping us in suspense."

Zhao Rong glanced at the impatient young master in pink and, at that moment, his lips curved into a smirk.

Seeing the lively and restless atmosphere in the hall, the pretty maid finally grinned and began speaking.

"Fairy Luo Xiu has been docile and lovely from a young age, deeply cherished by our mistress of Zuixian Building, who raised her as her own daughter. For over a decade, she has been untainted by the dust of the world... Although tonight is about her hair-combing ceremony, it is not like the vulgar transactions and flesh trade of ordinary brothels,"

The crowd marveled, looking at each other. Was this... setting up a virtuous image?

After reading the room, the maid continued:

"It’s not just the mistress; all the sisters at Zuixian Building want Fairy Luo Xiu to find a good place to belong. So tonight, we’ve decided... to let her choose the young master for the hair-combing herself!"

Ariad uproar ensued below.

"And our Fairy has refined tastes, desiring nothing like the treasures of Spirit Stone. She adores Confucian poetry, so we’ve set the rule that she will present a word later, and each person will compose a poem or chant about it. It only needs to catch our Fairy’s eye for her to nod her approval, and that person will be tonight’s guest of honor,"

the pretty maid immediately added, "If he finds favor with our little Fairy, they might even discuss entrusting her life to him, to accompany the young master for the rest of his days!"

A massive wave of noise surged through the venue, as if it could blow the roof off Zuixian Building.

To be chosen by a poem for Luo Xiu’s hair-combing ceremony? And possibly even earn a lifelong commitment?

Good grief, talk about hitting the jackpot...

Beneath the stage, the closest young master dressed in pink couldn’t help but stand up; he looked somewhat surprised by the announcement but soon smirked smugly, reaching for his fan to slowly fan himself.

He seemed well-prepared and confident.

Off to one side of the hall, Gu Yiwu and other students from Justice Hall brightened up at the words.

Amid the noise, they exchanged smiles.

Gu Yiwu couldn’t help but laugh, "Ziyu, oh Ziyu, who would have thought Fairy Luo Xiu would still admire our Confucian poetry and propriety? The women of Li Territory aren’t only beautiful but also elegant and refined, ha ha ha, exactly to my liking."

Zhao Rong nodded with a smile.

He suddenly turned his head, looking towards the stage where that quiet figure sat aloof amidst the roaring crowd.

The next second, the usually reserved Fairy looked up suddenly amidst the clamor.

Facing countless gazes, some appraising her as merchandise, others filled with pity intending to provide her a home, Luo Xiu flashed a brilliant smile.

It was as if at that moment, the fireworks blooming in the night sky of Xingzi Town marked the time had come.

And no one knew if she was easily cold.