Seeing that Chu Qingmeng looked as though she was about to start drooling, Mo Liujin couldn't help letting out a soft chuckle. It seemed he had discovered yet another of her "hobbies": before it was gold and silver, and now it was physiques? Was his appearance really that bad? To think she would stare so intently at his waist while refusing to raise her eyes to look at his face! Seeing her so drunk and yet completely unbothered, he felt much more at ease, turned around, and left.
At that moment, Chu Qingmeng lay sprawled limply on the bed, feeling as though she could see right through the clothes of the man standing before it straight to his abdominal muscles. She really, really wanted to reach out and touch them a couple of times, but alas, her body refused to cooperate and she had no strength at all! Ah, ah, ah? Why did the handsome guy leave? My hunk! My abs! I hadn't touched them yet! Chu Qingmeng wailed inwardly, yet she could do nothing to stop the handsome man from walking away. Before long, the overwhelming waves of drunkenness finally surged into her stomach, and Chu Qingmeng, who had just been lamenting the departure of the handsome man, let out a loud "blech" and vomited. The sound startled Xiazhi by the bedside, who hurriedly got up to take care of Chu Qingmeng, leaving her awake the entire night...
Around noon the next day, Chu Qingmeng finally sobered up and woke from her sleep, sitting blankly on the bed. Did she have a spring dream last night or something? Why did she seem to remember seeing a handsome guy with an eight-pack? Ah, next time she had a dream like that, she should be more proactive and just pin the handsome guy down to have her way with him. Thinking of this, Chu Qingmeng couldn't help letting out a sly, shameless giggle.
"My lady? My lady?" Chunhe walked in with a basin of water just in time to see Chu Qingmeng giggling foolishly to herself. "What's wrong with you, my lady? What are you thinking about to laugh so happily?"
"Ah? It's nothing, nothing." Caught in the act of giggling shamelessly, Chu Qingmeng wore an awkward expression.
"My lady, someone came from the Commandery Princess's side this morning to pass along a message asking if you'd like to go along and see them off tomorrow, as several of the young masters are heading to the imperial examinations. The Second Young Master and Third Young Master are taking the provincial examinations this time," Chunhe said while styling Chu Qingmeng's hair and makeup.
"Are they going to be staying at the examination halls for many days?" Chu Qingmeng asked.
"Yes, my lady," Chunhe replied. "The Second Young Master and Third Young Master already passed the imperial examinations last autumn, which is why the Third Young Master, Fourth Young Master, and Sixth Young Master had the free time to escort the Commandery Princess to the borderlands to find the Prince."
Chu Qingmeng nodded and told Chunhe to let Mo Wushuang know that she would go together with them the next day to see off Mo Liuyuan and Mo Liujin. In her heart, she also calculated that it was about time for her to set off according to her plan. Now that she had money and leisure, it was no different from a life of lying flat; she should also wander around, take in the prosperity and beautiful scenery of this world, and when she had played enough, find someone to take her on a trip into a tomb so she could go right back whenever she pleased. Wasn't that wonderful? She was also glad that she was an orphan with no ties or burdens holding her down, able to play for however long she wanted.
Early the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, Chu Qingmeng was dragged out of her blankets by Chunhe. Yawning, Chu Qingmeng watched as Chunhe applied her makeup. After a thorough session of fussing over her, Chu Qingmeng couldn't help gasping in astonishment when she saw herself in the bronze mirror: a sky-blue ruqun gave her waist the graceful, slender look of a weeping willow in the breeze, the subtle embroidered patterns on the fabric shimmered and vanished with her every movement, the skin of her neck and face resembled congealed mutton-fat jade, the bridge of her nose was straight and defined, her cheeks were lightly flushed, and her pair of eyes were like pools of clear spring water sparkling like fine jade. Just as Chu Qingmeng parted her thin lips to speak, she blurted out: "Good grief! Chunhe, are you trying to send me to a beauty pageant? Why put on such heavy and gorgeous makeup?!"
Chunhe covered her face and sighed inwardly: *Oh, my dear lady! You really are no better off without this mouth of yours. It feels like the moment you open it, any good makeup goes completely to waste!* While silently complaining about Chu Qingmeng in her heart, she pushed her out the door.
Outside the estate gates, a group of servants had already prepared everything, waiting only for the masters to emerge. Mo Liuyuan and Mo Liujin, who had been waiting by the entrance, both had their eyes light up the moment they saw Chu Qingmeng. Mo Liuyuan almost failed to recognize the pretty woman standing before him; had he not seen her walk right out of the main gates of the Chu Residence, he probably wouldn't have known who she was at all!
Mo Liuyuan couldn't help chuckling as he teased, "Little sister Qingmeng, I haven't seen you in a few days, and you're getting prettier by the day."
Chu Qingmeng: "Were you given quite a scare? Haha, let me tell you! I had no idea Chunhe's skills were this good! I almost didn't recognize myself!"
Hearing this, Mo Liuyuan burst into laughter. "Ah, little sister Qingmeng, you're better off not speaking! When you don't open your mouth, you look like an icy beauty. The moment you speak, half your beauty vanishes into thin air! Hahaha!"
Upon hearing this, Chunhe nodded her head furiously on the inside! *The Second Young Master is spot on!* Chu Qingmeng glared at him upon hearing his words, fell silent, and stood by to wait for Mo Wushuang to come out.
Standing to the side, Mo Liujin had been left completely dazed from the moment Chu Qingmeng stepped out. Ever since they first met, she had never carefully dolled herself up; even when the servants tended to her, she only ever had them tidy her up a bit. Never had he imagined she would look so breathtaking when fully dressed up! Every flicker of her expression and every smile seemed deeply imprinted in his heart, and at that moment, the love in his eyes could no longer be concealed.
Mo Liuyuan laughed heartily and turned back to wipe away a tear of mirth, only to catch a glimpse of the surging affection in Mo Liujin's eyes. He raised an eyebrow in sudden understanding. So this aloof younger brother of his had someone he fancied after all! The fellow had always maintained an air of serene detachment; little did he know there was actually someone who could stir up entirely different emotions in him.