The maid pouted,
"He asked me to tell you that he’s sorry for the trouble over the past few days. As a son, he cannot disobey his mother, and he can only ask you to endure a few more days.
Once he visits the General Zhen Nan, he’ll recruit you to work for the General Mansion’s subordinates, and you won’t be treated poorly."
Chen Xuantian chuckled,
"The Young General is too kind. I’m just a newcomer, with no achievements to my name, incapable of winning over the crowd. How could I have the merits or talents to serve in the Overlord Residence?
Being able to have you given to me is already a generous favor, showing considerable indulgence. How could I still have the face to accept an official position?
Please inform the Young General that currently, with the Mage’s tribute and a lovely companion, I am already very satisfied."
The maid hummed,
"At least you know your place, come, here’s a shrimp for you."
She stuffed a shrimp into Chen Xuantian’s mouth, wiped her hand on his monk robe, and then lifted her hair, picked up a crystal pear, crossed her legs, and casually talked while nibbling on the pear,
"Hey, have you really been to lots of places? Surely you’ve been to the Three Constellations, right?"
"Of course, the Capital Three Walls, the heart of the world, I have naturally visited."
Chen Xuantian, buoyed by the wine, skillfully picked up chopsticks and tapped them on the bowl, singing loudly,
"The hundred courtyards of the Immortal Carriage meet the vastness, the thousand gates of the Heavenly Que welcome the dawn. Jade paved roads stretch three hundred miles, silver tiles cover nine thousand mansions.
A thousand fragrant carriages ride through the clouds, ten thousand frost porcelains shine with the new day. Jewels from the Nine Provinces are presented to the Purple Palace, jade grains from the Eight Deserts fill the divine storehouse.
North Palace’s jade steps, night glow gems, South Sea Bright Pearls are as cheap as sand. Coral trees stand at twelve feet tall in the East Market, Ling Luo fills the streets with sunset colors in the Western district.
Finery in the Copper Camel alley is dazzling, melodies and dinners in the Gold Valley Garden are fragrant. Ten districts of singing stages and crystal towers dancing, glazed lanterns light up the nighttime endlessly.
Tribute paths add new taxes every year, palace maids change new clothes every year. Where are the embroidered riches now, a city filled with lamps and numerous golden windows."
The maid listened, spellbound for a moment, murmured,
"Such a wonderful place..."
Master Lu, off to the side, heard this and sighed deeply, raising his cup in salute.
Chen Xuantian faced him from afar, raised his cup and drank, then looked at the maid,
"What’s it, you want to go there?"
The maid shook her head, stood up to pour him more wine,
"I don’t actually want to, just... curious...
My mother kept thinking of returning until she died, my big brother sold me to the Nangong Family just to buy a ticket back.
So I’ve been wondering... what kind of place is the Three Constellations exactly...
Why would they rather give me up just to return there..."
Chen Xuantian paused in silence for a moment,
"Maybe it’s just homesickness."
The maid looked at him, handed him the wine,
"Home... Hey, where’s your home?"
Chen Xuantian shook his head, drank it all, and stood up.
"No more drinking."
The maid stood up with him,
"Oh."
"Why are you following me, I’m going to the toilet."
The maid scoffed,
"I know, I’m accompanying you to change, afraid you haven’t seen much of the world, making people laugh. This way."
"Just pee off the bow... Fine, fine, alright let’s go..."
Chen Xuantian was speechless, unable to say it was just a simple escape to pee, he had no choice but to follow the maid turning into the inner room, winding through the corridors, and after seven or eight turns, finally found a small door amid sparse bamboo and pine.
Surprisingly, Chen Xuantian couldn’t have found this place himself. Not only was the entrance obscured by potted bamboo and stones, forming a secluded scene, the opening door revealed not just a restroom but a large pristine room, at first glance seemed like a tranquil meditation room.
The anteroom was spotless, walls coated with spice clay for its warm fragrance. Right in front, mica brocade silk formed the screen for the toilet area, a gold-patterned Boshan incense burner emitted orchid and musk. On the right, a maid holding a platter sculpture supported a Han White Jade chamber pot, a shark silk towel, and Western Regions soap and aromatic balm.
Passing beyond the screen, there was a sandalwood seat in the middle of the inner room, with a hollow frame and a surface covered in plain brocade. The base filled with plant ash to cover dirt. Next to it, a bronze dew tray stored fresh water for cleansing, and a small gold-patterned stove burned incense day and night.
The inner room also had pearl curtains partitioning off an area with a yellow wood bathtub, equipped with ceramic pipes for running water, discreetly connected to the canal. Additionally, ingeniously crafted copper fish and jade toads served as water outlets, the full water had gentle sound.
The maid adeptly prepared a sachet and balm, soaking orchid and iris in the Silver Basin with warm water,
"You’ve worn that outfit for three days, haven’t seen you change, it’s become smelly. Here’s some incense, take it off and I’ll manage it for you."
Having come this far, Chen Xuantian shrugged, and handed her his monk robe.
The maid glanced over, her face flushed, her eyes full of amusement,
"Oh, I thought something felt different. So, you fat one, have some muscle like a bear, huh~"
Chen Xuantian couldn’t be bothered to respond to her, walking past the screen...
"Uh, how did you get in here?"
It seemed like the maid had made some kind of resolution. Carrying the silver basin, she knelt at his feet, blushing, biting her lips, wetting the shark silk towel, and gently wiping his legs,
"Of course, I’m here to serve you changing..."
Chen Xuantian looked at her,
"What, aren’t you pretending anymore, really want to serve?"
The maid was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice,
"Do you despise me? But he really hasn’t touched me..."
Chen Xuantian shook his head,
"Despise or not, it’s not about me, it’s about you.
Since the Nangong Family has repeatedly arranged for you to come, it means there’s indeed some fate between us in the Mingming.
People like us who cultivate, face difficulties head-on, cut calamities when they encounter them, and when the opportunity arises, we certainly won’t run away.
However, everything can’t be done more than thrice, I won’t accept someone half-hearted."
With her lips bitten, probably fueled by alcohol, the maid gritted her teeth and said,
"Then, then... If I’m willing to follow you, would you accept me?"
Chen Xuantian looked at her,
"Have you thought it through? If it’s just a whim, there will be no chance to turn back."
The maid momentarily lost her breath, her body trembled, hugging Chen Xuantian’s leg, clenching her teeth, with tears in her eyes,
"I, I won’t turn back... I can’t turn back! I used to be naive, offended many people, and now they all want me dead! In these past two days, they nearly succeeded in killing me!
Li Hu’s letter also said that this time the diplomatic corps’ display is grand! The court sent him over five hundred maids! All of them are of national beauty and heavenly fragrance! Stunning looks!
I, a house slave, am dull-minded and ill-tempered, he, he wouldn’t even glance at me now! Please, would you take me?
I, I’ll serve you as a maid? I don’t want to die, nor do I want to be sent around and ruined by those old geezers! At least you have a good temperament, please take me in!"
Chen Xuantian was silent for a moment, then nodded,
"Alright, I will take you away from the Nangong Family. No matter if the General of the Southern Pacification or General Zhen Nan comes to claim you, I won’t return you to them."
"Really! Good! Great! I’ll go with you!"
The maid, in a moment of elation, started to tremble all over, and instinctively leaned towards Chen Xuantian.
Chen Xuantian held her, saying softly,
"Get ready, we depart tonight."
The maid was momentarily stunned,
"Tonight? Isn’t it too sudden?"
Chen Xuantian looked at her seriously,
"The Nangong Family is harsh and unkind, even someone like you who’s been with him for so many years in the secret mansion is not treated well, let alone an outsider like me who has offended him?
Just because I took something of his, he disregarded the life-saving grace! Not to mention heavenly and earthly treasures or offering positions and promises, he won’t even see me! How could he tolerate me in the future?
He’s only holding back now because he’s worried about revealing his true nature too early, being ungrateful, and chilling the hearts of his soldiers!
Once he becomes an official tomorrow, receives his seal, and leaves the territory, no one can control him! When his murderous intent arises, he can find some excuse to righteously have someone like me beheaded!
Even as a dignified Core Formation Master, he views me as worthless, and what about a slave girl he bought himself? You see him as the Young Master, but truthfully, he treats you like worn shoes! Trampled and discarded! No pity at all!
You came to find me tonight due to a realization, indicating you have a sliver of life left, so let’s leave tonight, don’t delay! Not touching you for three days shows he’s already got a thorn in his heart! Staying longer will eventually cost you your life too!"
The maid’s face shifted between pale blue and red for a while, then she slowly shook her head.
Seeing this, Chen Xuantian sighed and let go,
"I’ve said all I can, if you still don’t believe me, there’s nothing more I can do, perhaps we’ll meet again..."
"No! No! It’s not that I don’t believe!"
Shivering all over, the maid quickly embraced Chen Xuantian, whispering in his ear,
"Tonight, it’s my turn on duty, and I have the keys to the Nangong Family’s treasure vault. I’m afraid, I’m afraid I can’t escape..."
Then Chen Xuantian, gentle and soothing, held her in his arms and softly comforted,
"Don’t worry, leave everything to me. Listen to me, there will be a way."

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