Chapter 26: Style
The agent pushed open the door. Houses in this area were expensive, but from time to time, they would hire women to clean them thoroughly.
It didn't cost much, yet whenever a new tenant arrived, they could always see a spotless and refreshed house.
If the place were covered in dust and cobwebs, the rent would surely be bargained down.
These days, there were plenty of people who could barely afford to eat. For a few copper coins, many were willing to take on such work.
There was a small courtyard in front of the siheyuan, with a stone table and chairs beneath a tree.
The yard was also well-maintained, with no fallen leaves or weeds in sight.
"We have people clean this place regularly," the agent said, bending slightly and gesturing for them to go inside.
Li Yingling stepped in first, her gaze sweeping around the courtyard.
Naturally, it was nowhere near the size of her family estate, but compared to that dilapidated temple, this was leagues better.
At least it was clean and tidy, and she wouldn't have to fix a door that leaked wind.
She walked to the stone table, ran her hand lightly across its surface, and lifted her palm to find not a speck of dust.
Choosing a side room on the right, she pushed open the door and took a look. The room was neatly arranged.
There was no mattress or quilt on the bed, but the desk and chairs were all intact.
Chu Xingchen also entered the courtyard, glanced around, then asked Li Xingtian beside him, "What do you think?"
"As long as Master is satisfied," Li Xingtian replied calmly.
He truly didn't care much about living conditions; otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen to sleep behind a broken temple before.
The agent paused slightly upon hearing that.
Master? The relationship between these people wasn't what he had assumed.
"Master, this place is really nice," Li Yingling said as she stepped out from the side room, her expression clearly pleased.
The agent immediately flattered, "Of course. In all of Yuzhou City, this location and these houses are among the finest."
Seeing the satisfied look on his disciple's face, Chu Xingchen decisively took out twenty taels of silver.
"Rent it for six months first. Handle the paperwork and give it to me once it's done."
The agent's eyes lit up instantly. He hurriedly agreed, took the silver, and respectfully handed over the keys.
"Alright, here are the keys. I'll deliver the rental certificate to you tonight."
After Chu Xingchen took the keys, the agent tactfully withdrew and left.
Li Xingtian, seeing his master had rented the place, immediately carried their belongings inside and began putting pots, bowls, and utensils in their proper places.
"Master, why did you decide to come to Yuzhou City?"
Li Yingling asked curiously. She had thought her master would take her to some remote mountain again.
Her question was a good one. Chu Xingchen did, in fact, have unavoidable reasons for coming to Yuzhou City.
"A good question… I'll explain everything tonight. For now, see what we're missing and buy what's needed. We might be staying here for some time."
As he spoke, Chu Xingchen untied the silver pouch from his waist and tossed it to Li Yingling.
"Alright, Master~" Her eyes brightened as she caught it. "Junior Brother, come on, let's go shopping."
"Coming…"
After setting down the bundle, Li Xingtian came out of the side room, though his first glance still went toward his master.
Chu Xingchen nodded. "Go ahead. Follow your senior sister and buy the necessities."
"Yes, Master," Li Xingtian replied.
Soon, Li Yingling spiritedly dragged her junior brother out to shop.
She had probably planned to buy quite a lot, as she even told Li Xingtian to carry the bundle he had just set down.
As their footsteps gradually faded into the distance, Chu Xingchen closed the outer gate, then subtly placed a few concealment formations in hidden spots.
These formations weren't particularly powerful—they merely alerted him if someone entered and allowed him to glimpse them through spiritual perception.
They didn't require spirit stones to function; Chu Xingchen left a few strands of his own spiritual energy to sustain them until his return.
After finishing everything, Chu Xingchen's figure suddenly vanished from the center of the courtyard.
——————
If one were to ask where in Yuzhou City was the best, the answer would naturally be the Full Spring Courtyard. The young ladies there were as radiant as the season itself, bringing spring wherever they went.
Gentle breezes, drizzling rain, refined elegance—everything could be found there.
Yet, if one were to speak of the place with the highest level of taste, that would undoubtedly be the Bamboo Jade Pavilion.
Although the Full Spring Courtyard offered every kind of pleasure, from refined to vulgar, from elegant to indulgent, anything that could be easily obtained lacked true refinement.
After all, what could be solved with money was merely decoration. For wealthy young masters, anything that could be bought held no real challenge.
The Bamboo Jade Pavilion was entirely different. Even the servant girls who poured tea were not to be touched or spoken to harshly.
As for the courtesans responsible for the arts of zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting within the Pavilion, each was colder and prouder than the last.
Even if one were to offer a thousand taels of gold, they might not grant an audience—sometimes not even a glimpse through a layer of silk.
Those who had ever seen the courtesans' uncovered faces were exceedingly few.
Yet everyone who had seen them described their beauty as that of celestial maidens.
Moreover, the power behind the Bamboo Jade Pavilion was said to be immense. In all of Yuzhou City, none had ever forced a meeting with a courtesan who did not wish it.
Thus, the unattainable elegance of the Pavilion became the highest pursuit among men.
Anyone who had caught a single glimpse beneath a courtesan's veil could boast of it across all of Yuzhou City.
Strictly speaking, the Bamboo Jade Pavilion consisted of two parts. The front section, where guests were received and music was performed, was the Pavilion itself.
Behind it lay the residence of the courtesans, known as the White Jade Tower.
At this moment, Chu Xingchen was within the White Jade Tower—in the private chamber of the courtesan Yaoqin.
It was a simple and serene room, devoid of unnecessary ornaments; not even rouge or powder could be seen.
Before the tea table, Chu Xingchen lightly sipped a cup of delicately flavored tea.
Across from him sat a young maid with a round, adorable face and large apricot eyes. Her cheeks puffed in annoyance as she glared at his leisurely expression.
She was tending the teapot as he drank.
In truth, Chu Xingchen didn't know the art of tea-tasting. He only knew the tea was expensive, likely far beyond his means, so he decided to drink a few more cups while he could, since it cost him nothing now.
"Click, click." He drained his cup in one go. Though he couldn't tell what made it so special, he still made his comment.
"The flavor's too light. Next time don't be stingy—use more leaves. It's got no taste."
The maid almost fainted from anger, wanting nothing more than to smash the teapot over his shameless head.
Did this man have any idea how expensive this tea was?!
Did he know that even this tiny portion had been left untouched only because her lady couldn't bear to drink it herself?
Usually, even catching a whiff of its aroma would be a luxury for her.
She snorted coldly, fuming. "If you don't know how to drink it, then don't drink!"
"Do not be rude, Xiaoling."
A cool, graceful voice came from outside the door.
At once, Xiaoling trembled, leapt to her feet, and obediently stepped aside.
Chu Xingchen lifted his gaze toward the doorway.
There stood a tall woman in a long white dress, her face veiled in white silk, her smooth black hair bound by a white jade hairpin.
Though her features were hidden, her cold, elegant eyes were breathtaking.
Even without seeing her full face, it was clear she was a beauty beyond compare.
She held a zither in her arms, her gaze fixed directly on Chu Xingchen, who sat calmly in the chair.
"It has been a long time, Miss Yaoqin," Chu Xingchen greeted first.
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