Chapter 3 First Meeting at an Inn

Mo Xuetong and her handmaid Mo Lan left through the main gates of the Qin Manor. Madam Yu had one of her best carriages prepared for them. On this surface, she’d been very kind to Mo Xuetong this visit but both girls heaved a sigh of relief as they rode into Cloud City. They wasted no time going to the inn, afraid to miss the mail carriage. No matter what else Moe Xuetong did in this life, she needed to make sure Auntie Fang’s upcoming plan failed. The carriage sped towards House of Treasures. It was the most popular place for young ladies to get clothing and accessories in all of Cloud City. The most discrete way to the inn involved walking right into through front doors of the shop. Behind House of Treasures was a narrow alleyway. At the end of the alley sat an unassuming door. It was usually shut, but if a customer knew the shopkeeper, he would gladly open it for them. Mo Lan was about to ask Mo Xuetong to wait there as she got the shopkeeper when she saw her mistress was already pushing on the door. It creaked open. The door took them right into the back of the inn. As they rushed to the front, they could see the carriage just about to leave. Face hidden behind a hat and scarf, Mo Xuetong hurried forward. She held onto Mo Lan for support and curtsied to the middle-aged man in front of the carriage. “Hello Uncle Shi!” The Cloud City innkeeper had worked with Mo Huawen and had been on good terms with him, so she’d played here often growing up. The coach driver had a daughter about Mo Xuetong’s age as well, so when he saw Mo Lan, he knew who was hidden under the scarf and hat. “Third Miss Mo, where are you going?” “Uncle Shi, please help me send a letter,” Mo Lan said, holding it out to him. Mo Lan helped Mo Xuetong press her gold seal onto the letter. The middle-aged man took the letter curiously. The neat handwriting said it was to be sent to the manor of the old lord. It was getting late, and it was not odd for a girl to want to write her own grandfather, so he thought no more of it. He waved them farewell and rode off. Mo Lan helped Mo Xuetong back inside. She could feel her mistress’ clammy palms and knew she could not stay upright much longer and helped her back towards the alley door. “Miss, you wait here, and I’ll get a carriage. You rest while I fetch it, and we’ll get on right away.” Mo Xuetong released Mo Lan’s hands and steadied herself against the wall. She removed her hat and scarf and took a deep breath. She nodded. Even staff didn’t come this way, so she didn’t have to worry about being seen. Besides, she was dressed as a maid. She could not wear the scarf and hat of a young noble lady. Once Mo Lan was sure Mo Xuetong was steady, she let go and ran towards the main street. The alley door was open a crack and the sunlight was too bright. Mo Xuetong narrowed her eyes and reached out to close the door. She’d overtaxed her tired body getting here and needed to close her eyes and rest. Instead, a gust of wind pushed the door open. She reached out on instinct and heard somebody shout. Her eyes flew open and she was clutching a purple robe. She quickly released her grip and backed away, but found she was already pressed against the wall. There was nowhere to run. She looked around in fear. “You caught me and just let me go? You don’t regret releasing a catching like this?” The voice was naturally pleasant, but the tone was cold and lazy. It was like a rich wine that would quickly get the listener drunk. The door opened the rest of the way and sunlight streamed in, giving her a proper view of the man. He looked fifteen or sixteen. His purple robe was lined with black around the collar and shone with embroidered golden clouds. The same gold trimmed his robe, a long, sweeping garment he wore a bit open, showing the black shirt underneath. The colors complimented each other and gave him a devilish, mysterious look. He was exquisite but felt as if there was some vast power inside him. A pin of lavender jade was placed casually in his black hair. His face was gentle, but his smile was impossible to read. He had sweeping eyes that could make hearts speed up and faces glow red. Even Mo Xuetong, who was not easily moved by such things, felt herself blush and her pulse begin to race. The stranger looked Mo Xuetong over and smiled as if he had discovered an interesting plaything. “They’ve sent a beautiful one this time. It’s just that it’s too small. Why don’t they feed them and make them more solid?” He reached out to touch her face, grinning. She felt this judgement was unfair. Compared to him, who would look beautiful enough? Moe Xuetong recovered from her shock and turned her head away. “Young sir, please have some self-respect!” “If you wanted us to have self-respect, why did you pull on my robe? I like you. I’m giving you my time, so why are you objecting?” His face was still gentle, voice warm as nectar, but Mo Xuetong sensed danger. He was still walking towards her. “Young Master, you are mistaken. I was resting here with my eyes closed and didn’t see you enter. I heard a sound and reached out in fright. I thought there might be something dangerous. I apologize if I offended you.” She had not seen this man before, not in either of her lives. Even in ordinary clothes, he would have looked like a noble. He flashed that devilish smile again, and though his voice was fond and relaxed, there was something about it that could strike fear into even brave hearts. She had hidden here while Mo Lan got the carriage to avoid making trouble, and yet she still gotten into this mess. No wonder the door had been left ajar. It had been purposely left that way for someone else. If she’d known, she would have just gone with Mo Lan. “Something dangerous? Me? You pull my robe the second I’m through the door, and now you call me a dangerous thing. Dare I ask what you’re trying to say?” She could feel his breath against her ear. “What is it? Are you being coy?” Mo Xuetong turned to look at him and met his passionate gaze. She could almost feel the heat off him and her own face flushed. She tried to move off to the side, but he leaned against the wall, blocking her way. He was almost embracing her now. She bit her lip, calming her heart, and looked him square in the eyes. “Young sir, please move your arm and let me past. Men and women don’t even sit at the same table past age seven. Will you really be this boorish?” “If we aren’t even supposed to be at the same table, why did you grab me just now?” He showed no sign of getting out of her way. “Young sir, I have already explained that what happened just now was an accident. Furthermore, this is a passageway. If you can pass through it, why can’t I?” Mo Xuetong told him, no longer nervous. She had found her anger again. He seemed somewhat shocked by her rebuttal, then laughed. “You seem like such an innocent and pretty girl. Why do you have such a nasty temper?” “My temper is not your business, young sir. Please let go. My young miss will come soon. If she sees you blocking me, she’ll wonder if I did something to you,” Mo Xuetong said coldly. “If she thinks I upset you, she’ll make things difficult for me back at the manor.” She was dressed like a maid, so it was easiest to go along with it. She just wanted to get as far away from him as possible. “You’re a maid?” he asked teasingly, looking her over again. “Would I be here, being tormented by you, if I were not a maid?” “What a pity! Would you like to work for me then? Nobody would make things difficult for you. I’d even dote on you. How about that?” He said it gently, like a whisper to a lover, and Mo Xuetong flushed again. His breath brushed her ear like a warm breeze across the heartstrings, but that would no longer work on her. She was starting to overflow with anger. “Young sir, how can you be so disrespectful?” “Am I disrespectful? Here I am, deigning to compromise with you. Do you not find me even the slightest bit attractive?” His eyes flashed and a smile played across his lips. “You are so-” Mo Xuetong didn’t know how to finish tthat, so she gave up on speaking. Instead, without hesitating, she grabbed the hand in her way and yanked it downwards. Mo Lan would return soon, and if she called her ‘miss’, her identity would be revealed. This was near the House of Treasures, and somebody might recognize her. When her mother was still alive, she’d made friends with the other young noble ladies here. Cloud City was small, so it was easy to run into familiar faces. The man clearly did not expect her to be bold enough to grab him. He looked at the slender hand on his arm. Next to the butterflies on her sleeve, his own embroidery came alive. Instead of clouds, it became flowers drifting in the butterflies’ wake. A warm and elegant voice suddenly called form the alley behind them. “Eighth brother, what are you doing? Hurry up!”