The moonlight of the night sprinkled like water into the elegant courtyard of the Prime Minister's mansion, casting a hazy and graceful glow on the flowers and trees within.
Silence enveloped the surroundings. Two figures dashed towards the back garden, only to unexpectedly find no one there, save for the occasional yawn.
Liu Liu let out a cold laugh. This Prime Minister father was truly a fox; surely he feared she would escape through the back gate and had ordered some house guards to watch the backyard entrance.
“Miss?” Cui’er pointed to the moving figures in the backyard. It seemed the master was guarding against the young lady, but he didn’t know that she knew martial arts. Let alone these few house guards, even if several martial arts experts were sent, they might not be a match for the young lady.
Liu Liu completely ignored Cui’er. With a shift of her body and a flick of her toes, she flicked a small stone. A few thuds sounded in front of the backyard gate, and everyone there collapsed obediently. Cui’er gazed at her young lady with admiration. Her young lady was indeed formidable.
“Alright, let’s go,” Liu Liu took a few steps without hearing Cui’er’s voice, so she quickly turned back to remind the stunned maid. Why did this Cui’er always get stunned by her? Perhaps she admired her? This feeling was good, very satisfying.
Cui’er snapped back to reality and quickly followed her young lady’s footsteps.
The two ran to the front of the backyard gate, where it was locked. Liu Liu was too lazy to search the house guards’ sleeves. With one hand, she grabbed Cui’er’s body and used her lightness skill to fly over the wall. Cui’er’s eyes widened with excitement, almost to the point of screaming.
“Miss, you are so amazing,” Cui’er trailed behind Liu Liu, almost clapping her hands.
Liu Liu abruptly stopped and glanced at Cui’er and herself. She raised her willow-leaf eyebrows slightly and reminded Cui’er, “From now on, I am Young Master Qi Ye. You must call me Young Master Qi, understand?”
“Oh, I understand, Miss,” Cui’er nodded respectfully. Liu Liu immediately flicked her forehead and said coldly, “What did you say?”
“Young Master Qi, I understand,” Cui’er said with a mournful face, rubbing her forehead. She quickly corrected herself. The young lady was too harsh, changing like this, how could she remember?
“Let’s go,” Liu Liu walked ahead with satisfaction. The streets were deserted, with only a few hurried travelers.
Cui’er looked around, afraid that someone would notice that she and her young lady had run away from home. Unfortunately, it was already late. In the dim lamplight, only long shadows flickered; no one paid attention to others.
“Young Master Qi, if Duanmu and the others saw Young Master Qi going to the Yun Xiao Pavilion so late, would they be too excited to sleep?” Cui’er guessed.
The thought of Duan Sen’s exaggerated reaction when he saw the young lady gave her a headache. He knew the young lady was a woman, yet he still hugged and embraced her. Moreover, the young lady wasn't angry and even put her arms around him. What kind of propriety was this?
If the master knew, he would skin her alive. How could Cui’er’s life be so bitter? Cui’er followed Liu Liu, lamenting her fate.
“Yes,” Liu Liu nodded. That fellow was always exaggerated when he saw her; she knew that. However, enthusiasm was better than indifference. She felt that Duanmu was much better than that cold Chu Feng.
That somber-faced man, it was as if he owed someone 108,000 taels of silver his entire life. Although he was handsome, he didn’t need to act so cool.
“Ah? Why doesn’t Young Master Qi teach him a lesson? You always let him act recklessly.”
“You know you are a young lady of status. It’s infuriating that he dares to be so presumptuous, knowing you are the Prime Minister’s daughter. Young lady should chop off his hands first, then his feet, and throw him into the wilderness,” Cui’er suggested ferociously. Liu Liu stopped, wondering when this maid had become enemies with Duanmu.
“Do you have a grudge against him? Why are you so venomous?”
Cui’er angrily kicked a small stone by the roadside and said indignantly, “Who told him to say I was ugly in front of so many people last time? I draw little circles every day, cursing him to break his hands and feet, so he’ll think twice before calling me ugly next time.”
Liu Liu heard this and realized it was a girl’s emotional issue. She laughed heartily. Cui’er, unwilling to be outdone, asked, “Young Master Qi, if he gets too close to you again, will you chop him off?”
Liu Liu shook her head, “No, he’s useful.” Cui’er’s face immediately darkened upon hearing this, showing her displeasure. Liu Liu then added, “However, for our Cui’er, I will kick him down the stairs.”
“Alright,” Cui’er reluctantly accepted this fact. Being kicked was better than not being kicked at all, especially since the young lady’s kick was no joke. It could probably send him from the second floor to the first, perhaps rolling a few times, so that he would be more mindful of his words next time.
A crescent moon hung in the sky, and the bright moonlight cast a pale and cold radiance. The streets seemed to be covered by a thin veil, with every household closed.
Only their two shadows ambled towards the black market. Along the way, Cui’er was exhausted, almost like a dog. The young lady, being skilled in martial arts, didn’t feel it, but she was truly exhausted.
Fortunately, the Yun Xiao Pavilion was not far ahead. Cui’er took a few deep breaths, feeling fortunate that the young lady waited for her and didn't abandon her.
“Yu’er, tomorrow you should also practice some martial arts to strengthen yourself. Your body is too weak. You’re already as tired as an ox after just a few steps. Is it that tiring?” Liu Liu spoke with composure, a playful and unconventional smile on her lips.
She knew Cui’er was most opposed to learning martial arts, and as expected, the little maid immediately jumped up and waved her hands repeatedly.
“Young Master Qi, I’m not that tired yet. Let’s go over,” Cui’er immediately rushed towards the Yun Xiao Pavilion ahead, vigorously knocking on the door and shouting inside, “Duanmu, open the door! Your Young Master Qi is here! Open the door!”
The door suddenly swung open, and a figure rushed out, embracing Cui’er tightly and exclaiming, “Boss, you’re finally here! Great! I missed you so much!”
Cui’er felt like she couldn’t breathe from being held so tightly, and the constant shouting of “Boss, Boss” made her face turn green. She raised her leg and kicked him, roaring, “I’m not your boss! Open your dog eyes and look properly before you hug!”
Upon hearing Cui’er’s voice, Duanmu quickly released his arms. Looking up, he saw the boss standing beside him. He realized he had indeed hugged the wrong person and muttered, “So I hugged an ugly monster.”
The voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for Cui’er to hear. The darkened eyebrows on her face twitched, and her pupils fixed on the man in front of her with a chilling gaze, wishing she could devour him for satisfaction. She pounced forward and landed a series of kicks on Duanmu, shouting, “You damned man, you called me ugly again!”
Unfortunately, the man seemed oblivious to her kicks, while she herself yelped in pain, her teeth gritting.
Duanmu had already quickly rushed over and hugged Liu Liu’s body, shouting excitedly, “Boss, you’re finally here! If you hadn’t come, I would have come to find you. Have you forgotten about us?” He then proceeded to pound Liu Liu’s back forcefully.
Chu Feng, who had just walked out the door, saw Duanmu’s excited demeanor and said coldly, “Boss will probably be beaten to death by you.”
Another charming voice chimed in, “Yes, then the two of us will bury you.”