Chapter 3: Compensation – A Subtle Game

The man, however, couldn’t decipher her expression.

Yihuan ignored him, and she turned to Ah-miao, saying, “Go and ask Jinxiu Tavern (Restaurant+ bar) if they plan to move their wine jars. If they want to move them, they’d better do it by today.”

Ah-miao hesitated, but she followed her instructions and left.

The man stood awkwardly, unsure whether to stay or leave.

Yihuan glanced at him and asked, “What is your name, sir?”

Thinking she had accepted his occupation of the shop as fact, the man grew smug. Puffing out his chest, he proudly declared, “My surname is Lu, given name Shi. I’m the second-in-command of the blacksmith shop next door.”

Yihuan smiled slightly and asked, “How many workers does your blacksmith shop have?”

“Eight,” Lu Shi replied.

With a soft laugh and arched brows, Yihuan said, “Being the second-in-command, that’s quite impressive. Business must be booming, I assume?”

Lu Shi completely missed the sarcasm in her tone. Pretending to be modest, he replied, “Barely enough to make ends meet.”

Yihuan exchanged a few more pleasantries before dismissing him.

A while later, Ah-miao returned, looking distressed.

Yihuan observed her expression and guessed, “Jinxiu Tavern isn’t willing to move either, are they?”

Pouting, Ah-miao nodded. Her youthful, slightly silly demeanor made Yihuan chuckle.

Leaning closer, Yihuan whispered, “Ah-miao, come here…”

Ah-miao bent down to listen, her narrow eyes widening in surprise at what she heard. “This… Will it work?”

Yihuan smiled, her eyes sparkling with charm. “Why wouldn’t it? Let’s do it tonight.”

Still uneasy, Ah-miao nodded hesitantly.

Meanwhile, Lin Yiran’s stomach growled audibly. It was almost noon, and the three of them hadn’t eaten a single grain of rice.

Yihuan instructed, “Try to boil some water for Yiran. At least let him have something warm. I’ll go find some food.”

She glanced at her belongings. Aside from the silver hairpin in her hair and the white jade earrings on her ears, she had nothing of value. Though neither item was particularly valuable, she decided to pawn them at a local shop and resolve their immediate hunger.

With that, she lifted her skirt slightly and stepped out of the shop.

Just as she reached the street, the clatter of hooves sounded urgently behind her.

Instinctively turning around, she saw a young man galloping out of Tianshui Alley at full speed. His sword swung at his side, and his fine robes billowed in the wind.

The man was strikingly handsome. His jet-black hair fluttered in the breeze, and his garments rippled dramatically, drawing the gaze of onlookers.

Yihuan paused, momentarily stunned. Her mind raced: Wealthy person spotted!

The gallant rider sped forward, and the pedestrians naturally stepped aside. Just as he exited Tianshui Alley, he spotted a plainly dressed girl standing squarely in the middle of the road.

With a sharp, cold shout, he yelled, “Move!”

Startled by his commanding tone, Yihuan hesitated and failed to dodge in time. Panicked, she stumbled and fell to the ground.

The rider pulled sharply on the reins. His horse neighed loudly, rising on its hind legs and pawing the air.

Reining in his steed, the young man kept it under control as it paced back and forth. He addressed her coolly, “Are you alright?”

Lying on the ground, Yihuan tilted her head up to look at him. Her large, round eyes shone brightly, her small nose delicate, and her lips parted slightly. Trembling, she murmured, “I… I feel faint…”

Her delicate complexion had lost its color, and her left cheek appeared slightly swollen—possibly from hitting the ground. Her wide, innocent eyes gazed at him, brimming with vulnerability and pitiful charm.

The crowd, ever eager for drama, quickly gathered around.

“Isn’t that the heir of the Qi royal family, Young Master Liu? Galloping through the streets and injuring someone…”

“The Qi family heir? Not surprising. Coming out of Tianshui Alley at noon—he probably hasn’t even sobered up yet…”

“Tsk tsk tsk…”

The young man, Liu Hexiao, frowned. His sharp, cold expression now carried a trace of irritation. Dismounting swiftly, he strode over to Yihuan and looked down at her silently.

By this time, Ah-miao and Lin Yiran had come out, alarmed by the commotion. Seeing Yihuan lying on the ground, Ah-miao rushed to her side. “Miss! Are you alright?”

Yihuan caught sight of them and signaled subtly with her eyes. “I… I’m feeling nausea… My old condition has flared up… It hurts…”

She pressed her hand weakly to her chest, her frailty inspiring sympathy.

Ah-miao was at a loss, but Lin Yiran understood immediately. Clearing his throat, he began crying loudly, “Sister! Please, don’t let anything happen to you! Waaahhhh!”

At that moment, another rider approached—a robust man dressed in tight-fitting attire that radiated strength and authority. Spotting the crowd around Liu Hexiao, he dismounted quickly and hurried over.

This was Cheng Lingwei, Liu Hexiao’s personal guard.

Seeing the growing crowd and hearing the murmurs, he approached Liu Hexiao. “Young Master, what’s going on here?”

Liu Hexiao said nothing.

Lin Yiran, his voice high-pitched and childlike, cried loudly enough to arouse sympathy among the onlookers. As more people gathered, he turned to Liu Hexiao, his small face puffed with righteous indignation. “You scared my sister so much that her heart condition flared up! What if something happens to her? How could you possibly compensate us?”

Liu Hexiao snorted derisively. “Me? Unable to compensate?” His tone was mocking. “Your sister—what, is she more precious than a courtesan?”

Most people would have been enraged by such a comment, but Yihuan remained calm, her expression serene.

With the help of her maid and younger brother, she stood up, smiled faintly at Liu Hexiao, and said weakly, “Sir, I’m fine. You may go.”

Her gracious demeanor only deepened the crowd’s sympathy. Even Liu Hexiao blinked in surprise, frowning once more.

The onlookers began murmuring.

“She’s probably just afraid of offending him…”

“Exactly. Scared out of her wits, yet she doesn’t dare complain…”

“Well, what can she do? The Qi family wields immense power!”

Cheng Lingwei, uncomfortable with the chatter, whispered, “Young Master, perhaps we should give her some silver to appease the crowd. If the Duke finds out, you might have to kneel in punishment again…”

“Silence.”

Liu Hexiao glanced at Yihuan. Though her hair was slightly disheveled, her beauty remained undiminished. Her delicate skin glowed, and her eyes sparkled like pearls. Beneath her frailty was a quiet resilience, hinting that she was no ordinary woman.

A celestial-like figure… How had she ended up in such dire straits? Perhaps she wasn’t faking after all.

Reaching into his robe, Liu Hexiao retrieved an item and tossed it to Lin Yiran. “Take her to see a doctor.”

Lin Yiran caught it and, upon seeing what it was, appeared momentarily startled.

But having grown up in the Minister’s household, he was no stranger to valuable objects. He calmly tucked it away.

Yihuan smiled faintly at Liu Hexiao and said sweetly, “Thank you, sir…”

Her voice was soft and saccharine, even making herself cringe at how overly “tea-scented” it sounded.

Note: The phrase “茶裏茶氣” (tea-scented) is modern slang for someone who appears overly sweet, often with manipulative undertones.

Liu Hexiao blinked in mild confusion, then coughed awkwardly. Without another word, he mounted his horse and rode away with Cheng Lingwei.

As the crowd dispersed, Yihuan watched Liu Hexiao’s retreating figure with a victorious smirk.

Ah-miao asked with concern, “Miss, should we go to the medical clinic?”

Yihuan shot her a playful glance and replied, “Silly Ah-miao, we’re going to a restaurant instead.”