The Villain Recognizes the Female Lead as His Master [Transmigration] - Chapter 23.2

Yuan Shao pulled the quilt over them both. Watching Chi Jinnian’s sleeping face, she reached out and brushed a fingertip against the girl’s cheek.

The softness was comforting. Seeing her sleep so peacefully, Yuan Shao closed her eyes as well.

Watching fireworks isn’t such a big deal. No need to be so cautious. If you want to see them, I’ll just go with you.

The next day, when Chi Jinnian opened her eyes, the sun had just risen.

Her head rested on Yuan Shao’s shoulder, and with every breath, the scent of mint enveloped her. A quilt had been draped over her at some point.

She turned slightly. Yuan Shao’s eyes were still closed she hadn’t woken yet.

She gently lifted the thin quilt beside her and quietly got up, only to feel something pressing against her waist. Looking down, she saw the embroidered pouch containing the protective charm and the water-mirror-turned-glazed bead.

Though this peace charm was originally meant for Yuan Shao, he didn’t seem to like it and had repeatedly returned it to her.

After a moment’s thought, Chi Jinnian took out only the glazed bead and placed it by Yuan Shao’s pillow before tiptoeing out of the room.

The moment the door closed, the person on the bed opened their eyes. Their gaze then shifted to the glazed bead by the pillow.

Yesterday, she had heard A’Nian speak highly of this object, so why had she refused to accept it time and again? Yuan Shao picked up the bead, weighing it in her hand twice.

Could it be that she didn’t like it?

If she didn’t like it, then she could just replace it with something she did.

Back in the palace, Chi Jinnian gathered the people in her hall to assign tasks for the evening.

“Cai Wei, you’re responsible for coordinating with the fireworks team to ensure the first firework blooms in the sky precisely at Hai hour tonight. Dong Nan, you two find the most luxurious and impressive restaurant no matter the cost, it must be reserved for tonight and decorated exactly like this.” As she spoke, Chi Jinnian handed them a diagram. “Remember, the tables must be covered with flowers, and keep the candlelight soft and hazy. Also, find a musician to play the qin in the background.”

She continued assigning tasks: “Xi Bei, you two go to the riverside dock and buy out the stall selling lanterns. Then, stay there. If you see the person who drank tea with me at the teahouse the other day, make sure her lantern stands out it should be instantly recognizable among all the others on the river.”

“What about me? What about me!” Seeing everyone else with tasks, Cai Yue grew excited. Last time, the young mistress had mentioned acting, and she found it incredibly fun. She wondered what role she’d get this time.

“You? You won’t be performing today. You’re in charge of styling.”

“Styling?” This was the first time Cai Yue had heard the term, and she didn’t understand what it meant.

Chi Jinnian explained, “First, take Young Master Su from yesterday to get fitted for new clothes, make him look as dashing as possible, the kind that would make any girl’s heart flutter. Also, get a set for my shizun, designed to resemble the celestial beings in the most popular storybooks right now. Just tell the tailor at Yi Hui Hall to make it according to the measurements of the gentleman acting opposite me he’ll understand.”

Cai Yue nodded, though only half-comprehending.

With that, Chi Jinnian pulled out a wooden board from behind her, clearly displaying a timetable: “The most crucial thing today is timing. Every second counts. At Xu hour, the target will enter the restaurant and take their seat. After the time it takes for one incense stick to burn, the music starts. The first dish must be served at Xu hour and one ke, and the final dessert must be served before Xu hour and three ke. The moment Hai hour arrives, the fireworks must light up the sky on schedule! Understood?”

Just as she finished speaking, a man’s voice came from the doorway: “Requesting an audience with the young mistress.”

Why did someone always interrupt during script readings? This time, it was a guard.

After seeing Chi Jinnian, the guard clasped his fists in salute: “Young Master, this humble one is under General Wei’s command. General Wei has instructed me to relay a message to you. He said that the matter you promised him yesterday, he wishes to collect on today and invites you to his residence for a discussion.”

Of all times, why now? You truly are my nemesis. Chi Jinnian rubbed his forehead, first dismissing the crowd before replying: “Go back and tell General Wei that I keep my word and won’t go back on it. But today, I really can’t get away. Tell him that after today, he can have whatever he wants. I won’t refuse a single thing.”

“This…” The guard hesitated momentarily, but since Chi Jinnian was the Young Master, he had no choice but to reluctantly give up and report back truthfully to General Wei.

Meanwhile, everyone was busy with their respective duties. Though Caiyue had quarreled with Su Tingxi the day before, out of respect for the Young Master, her attitude today was relatively amicable.

The waiter from Yihui Hall led the two directly to the second floor. Caiyue cracked melon seeds while waiting for Su Tingxi to try on clothes.

However, their tastes seemed to be on completely different wavelengths. Su Tingxi changed three outfits in a row, but Caiyue either found them too plain or complained they didn’t flatter his figure, making him look puffy like a bear. The last white outfit was even worse, Caiyue looked at him with concern and asked, “Young Master, have you encountered some misfortune lately? Why are all the clothes you picked so.” After some thought, she replaced the word “unlucky” with “inauspicious.”

Su Tingxi:

After several failed attempts, he lost his patience: “Then I’ll trouble you to pick one something vibrant, figure-flattering, and auspicious!”

“Fine, I’ll do it!” Caiyue brushed the melon seed shells off her hands and walked over to the clothing rack.

On the other side, Yuan Shao appeared at the entrance of Yihui Hall. The shopkeeper recognized her at once by the jade hairpin in her bun.

Just moments ago, the Young Master’s personal maid had brought a man upstairs, how could another one show up now!

Though it wasn’t unusual for someone of the Young Master’s status to have multiple admirers, bringing two to the same place at once.this was…

The old shopkeeper couldn’t quite grasp the situation but hurried forward to greet her.

“Young Master!” The shopkeeper cupped his hands with an ingratiating smile. “Has Miss Chi sent you with another request?”

“No, I came on my own to look at something.”

Hearing that her visit had nothing to do with the pair upstairs, the shopkeeper wisely avoided mentioning Caiyue and Su Tingxi. If he accidentally ignited a fire in the Young Master’s harem, he doubted he’d come out unscathed. Besides, the one upstairs was merely a maid buying clothes for a man, while this one had been personally gifted a hairpin by the Young Master, their respective standings were clear at a glance. The shopkeeper adjusted his glasses. “What might you be looking for, Young Master?”

Yuan Shao blinked her bright eyes twice, her ruby lips parting slightly as she replied, “A bracelet.”