Chapter 110: Dress Me

Within the residence of the Lady of Xiangcheng, Wei Linglan sat in the floral hall, dressed in light, close-fitting attire, gazing alone at the full moon hanging in the night sky. On the small low table within arm’s reach sat a bottle of potent spirits from Yushu Bay.

It had only been two days since Miao Xiaoyu and her sisters left, yet Wei Linglan already felt her manor was somewhat desolate. No one outside knew that this noble lady of high status and immense wealth was, in truth, a person who craved liveliness. Born into the Duke of Lu’s household and doted upon by all, Wei Linglan had not only studied literature like a man but also delighted in wielding blades and practicing martial arts. Before she was married, the Duke of Lu would playfully tap his youngest daughter’s forehead and remark, "You girl, with your love for blades, poetry, fine wine, and bustling crowds—if only you had been born a man, your spirit is so forthright."

*If only I had been a man.*

Among her siblings, there were whispers that Wei Linglan lacked nothing compared to a man, yet she cared little for such talk. She possessed a naturally free-spirited character; what others said could not influence her thoughts or actions. It was precisely because of this that the Duke of Lu had agreed to his youngest daughter’s unconventional request to live alone in the city of Jiangling.

Upon arriving, she had amused herself by teasing the young dandies who coveted her, building the Hengtong Trading Firm with her own wits, and leveraging her status as the new Emperor’s aunt to extort military commanders and form her "Daughter’s Army." Each exploit had been truly fascinating. Yet, once these tasks were completed, Wei Linglan would once again succumb to a sense of boredom. She was a restless soul who loved fresh and beautiful things; a bottle of fine wine or a good poem could keep her happy for a long time. However, the world was ultimately unfair to women. Even if she did not care for the stigma of appearing in public, she could never be as unbridled as a man.

Ever since she encountered the Yushu Bay caravan outside Jiangling, she had felt a pervasive sense of novelty. The silly but kind-hearted Miao Xiaoyu, the amusing "Six Little Ones," and even the honest and steady Sun Xiuying—all offered her interactive experiences she had never encountered before. Then there were the nine-flower jade dew, hand-crossbows, and high-proof spirits... these rare and curious items gathered around her as if by chance.

In truth, the clever Wei Linglan had long realized that the source of all this—the center around which both people and objects revolved—was none other than Zhao Hengyi, the man who always stole glances at her!

Whenever she thought of that little thief, a playful, inscrutable smile would inevitably grace her lips. Unlike others, he was a thief with the desire but not the nerve. He would peek at her uncontrollably, yet act as if he were deliberately trying to distance himself, dodging and equivocating at every turn. It was precisely because of this that Wei Linglan felt he was unique.

When other young talents met her, regardless of their intentions, they were like peacocks fanning their tails—if they possessed ten parts of talent, they would strive to display twelve! Wei Linglan, far from naive, knew that while the Duke of Lu’s youngest daughter might not be enough to satisfy those men, a wealthy and beautiful young widow was a prize everyone wished to taste.

Only that little thief was different.

He… he looked at *her*, at Wei Linglan, not at the Lady of Xiangcheng, not the Duke’s daughter, not the mistress of Hengtong Trading, and not a widow for whom no one felt responsible! As an intelligent woman, Wei Linglan could distinguish the nuance in a man’s gaze. Zhao Hengyi’s furtive, thief-like manner made her chuckle secretly to herself more than once. This was a novel experience for her, one that even her late husband had never provided. He had been a good man, but after their marriage, they were as the books described: "respectful as guests." In his eyes, she remained the Duke’s pampered daughter and the noble Lady of Xiangcheng, never truly his wife.

A flush crept onto Wei Linglan’s cheeks; the Yushu Bay spirits were truly potent.

"My Lady, news from the Hibiscus Garden! Master Zhao has composed a new lyric, and everyone in the city is saying... they say many scholars tonight might not even dare to present the works they have prepared for so long."

Xiao Tao, dressed in her goose-yellow maid’s uniform, ran into the hall, slightly breathless from her hurried pace, clutching a neatly folded letter. "Master Zhao is truly amazing!"

Taking the letter and spreading it out, Wei Linglan intended to see what masterpiece had intimidated those prideful scholars, all while teasing her maid with a smile: "It is Master Zhao who is amazing, not Wang Erhu. What are you so happy about?"

Xiao Tao lowered her head shyly, her face flushing a visible pink that spread down to her slender, porcelain-white neck. Master Zhao had already spoken to her Lady about proposing on behalf of that fool Wang Erhu. Her Lady had asked her about it in private, but... she did not want to leave her Lady or her sisters. Her Lady had made it clear that she would keep her for a while longer, promising to let her leave the manor to marry that fool once she turned eighteen. In half a year, Xiao Tao would be eighteen.

Seeing her personal maid’s lovesick expression, Wei Linglan chided her with a laugh. Just two days ago, the date for her departure had been set, and already her heart was wandering, even as she claimed she didn’t want to leave the manor or the Daughter's Army... little liar!

As she unfolded the letter, the neat calligraphy met her eyes, and then, Wei Linglan’s heart was struck by something, instantly forgetting the fickle little maid beside her.

If the previous *Qing Yu An* had been like wild, cursive calligraphy or splashed ink—beginning with the first stroke as if to capture the most magnificent scene of that night in Jiangling, compressing all that joy to the limit and presenting it vividly before you—then this *Shui Diao Ge Tou* was like a slow, flowing stream. It began from the most tranquil place, then unfolded with natural, effortless, and lingering elegance.

Though she loved the bustle and the bright, beautiful things, at this moment, Wei Linglan could not help but compare them in her heart, and she found herself preferring this *Shui Diao Ge Tou*. Both were top-tier works; otherwise, the former would not have spread across the land, and the latter would not have rendered the scholars of Jiangling too intimidated to present their own works. While the paths taken were different and the styles distinct, the caliber was the same. It was not a matter of which was better, but rather that Wei Linglan’s current state of mind favored the latter.

Besides, that *Qing Yu An* had been written to celebrate a woman’s birthday. While Wei Linglan felt no jealousy or malice, the thought of that little thief telling her she wasn't good at poetry made her feel a slight, simmering resentment.

They say the person closest to the water sees the moon first, yet what had she gained from being near that little thief? A math textbook full of typos? Accounting methods for merchants?

It always felt like something was missing.

"Xiao Tao, help me change. Once Master Zhao returns, I have important business to discuss with him."