Chapter 167: The Miraculous Bee Cave

Lian Yue was stunned by the scene before her, exclaiming inwardly at how such a thing could be achieved.

The stage, shaped like a lotus flower, the lotus-pod-style private booths, and the slowly flowing clear water—it was clearly the same main hall she had entered just moments before. This was simply miraculous.

Lian Yue moved away from the aperture, looking at Chai Mengqing standing behind her with eyes full of amazement. "Did Lady Hua leave this behind as well?"

"That’s right!" Chai Mengqing replied as if it were a matter of course. Such an ingenious design was unique throughout the entire Nishang Empire.

Lian Yue gained a new layer of respect for this legendary woman. She couldn't help but peer into the other apertures. Each one revealed a different scene—some showing rooms, others hallways. In short, with a device like this, as long as one stayed before this honeycomb-like sphere, everything happening within the Wanyue Pavilion could be kept in full view. If the person watching also happened to know how to read lips, it would be even more formidable.

Lian Yue now had a vague concept of why the Yanyu Pavilion’s intelligence was so accurate.

Such places were always favorites among high-ranking officials, refined scholars, and elegant gentlemen. Lian Yue noticed one of the apertures was covered with a lid and, out of curiosity, reached out to open it.

Seeing her movement, Chai Mengqing quickly stepped in to stop her. She was joking; that was not something to be looked at casually. If she really let Lian Yue see what was inside, who knows what the girl would think of her?

At the same time, Chai Mengqing felt a wave of embarrassment. She didn't know what the original owner of the pavilion had in mind when she specifically set up those rooms. Could it be that she had some peculiar hobby?

Seeing Chai Mengqing’s resistance, Lian Yue dismissed the thought, feeling a hint of awkwardness herself. This perhaps involved the secrets of the Yanyu Pavilion, and to be so rash without the owner's permission was truly impolite.

"I... I didn't mean anything by it."

"It's fine," Chai Mengqing said, naturally not explaining what could be seen through those particular lenses. She shifted her gaze. "Young Master Yuwen seems to have been waiting outside for a long time. Shall we go down?"

Reminded, Lian Yue remembered his presence and her own plans. A flash of mischievous light crossed her eyes. She instinctively wanted to see what Yuwen Lingxi was doing, but after stretching out her hand, she recalled the previous incident. She turned to Chai Mengqing, asking, "May I take another look? I promise I won't touch those ones."

Chai Mengqing nodded, unable to help but smile bitterly. She didn't even need to guess what Lian Yue wanted to see. She was merely curious: given that Lian Yue had shown interest in An Ming, the Palace Master of the Rakshasa Palace, at the banquet yesterday, why was she now concerning herself with her own fiancé?

Lian Yue didn't care about the turmoil in Chai Mengqing’s heart. Using the peculiar tool, she quickly found Yuwen Lingxi, who was drinking tea alone—or at least, he was alone aside from the man named Mu Shan standing behind him.

Lian Yue felt a pang of disappointment, cursing inwardly: *Why didn't he call for a lady to keep him company? What a giant iceberg; he’s so insensitive.*

She also thought that Yuwen Lingxi’s patience was truly remarkable. She had been here for at least an hour, and he had actually sat there for that entire time. Her mind began to race, calculating how she could pull a prank on him.

Seeing her so engrossed, Chai Mengqing looked through an aperture from a different angle and quickly located Lian Yue’s target. She was fine before, but upon looking, Chai Mengqing noticed something different. At yesterday's banquet, she had paid special attention to this future head of the Yuwen family, and she had told Lian Yue that his coldness was fake. But looking at him today, she felt something was off.

As the man sat there, though he remained calm and composed, he exuded an aura that warned others to keep their distance. Perhaps Lian Yue wouldn't notice, but Chai Mengqing did: even the waitresses serving in the main hall were subconsciously staying away from his position.

*Could I have been wrong yesterday?*

Before she could sort out her thoughts, she heard Lian Yue muttering beside her: "This 'adhesive plaster' just had a marriage decreed yesterday, and today he’s back to his old habits, visiting a brothel."

The only one who had been granted a marriage yesterday was the Sixth Prince, Qiao Zhi. "Adhesive plaster"—Lian Yue’s description was certainly unique. As Chai Mengqing thought this, she noticed Qiao Zhi, dressed in fine silk robes and a jade belt, entering through the door. When she saw the serving girl rush up to greet him, her eyes filled with amusement.

*I wonder if Qingruo will get her wish today.*

Chai Mengqing moved her eyes away from the aperture and said to Lian Yue, who was still watching with interest, "Little Sister Yue, haven't you always wanted to meet the Fairy of Zither Music? Shall I take you over there now?"

"Okay!" Lian Yue also recalled the relationship between Qiao Zhi and the Fairy of Zither Music, realizing that Qiao Zhi was here to meet his paramour. Gossip was every woman's nature.

Since Yuwen Lingxi couldn't give Lian Yue a surprise, perhaps she could find some unique amusement from Qiao Zhi.

Once they were properly dressed, Lian Yue followed Chai Mengqing out of the room via the white jade stairs. As the wall behind them rotated, Lian Yue returned to the room she had been in earlier.

Seeing movement, Zi Zhu, who had been waiting outside, finally set her anxious heart at ease. After all, Lian Yue had been inside for quite a while, and Zi Zhu had changed several pots of tea while waiting.

Chai Mengqing walked behind Lian Yue. When Zi Zhu saw her, she couldn't help but admire the aura she radiated, though compared to Chai Mengqing, Zi Zhu still preferred her own young mistress.

After leading Lian Yue out of the room, Chai Mengqing pointed to a room opposite. Lian Yue understood immediately; the Fairy of Zither Music must be in that room. All they had to do now was wait for Qiao Zhi to come up. As for whether it would be an "accidental" meeting, Lian Yue didn't care.

Before long, Qiao Zhi appeared on the stairs, just as expected, with Yuwen Lingxi trailing behind him. Lian Yue realized that Qiao Zhi must have known she was upstairs, which meant her imagined scenario of seeing his surprised expression was ruined. She cast a glare of pure spite at the meddlesome Yuwen Lingxi.

Yuwen Lingxi was truly wronged this time. Although he had seen Qiao Zhi, he had initially intended to exchange simple greetings and continue waiting for Lian Yue. But when Qiao Zhi saw him, his eyes lit up, and without waiting for consent, he spoke a single sentence that cut off any chance for Yuwen Lingxi to decline.

Yuwen Lingxi had no choice but to follow, having specifically ordered Mu Shan to wait downstairs and notify him if Lian Yue came down. Now, it seemed that had been entirely unnecessary.

The person he was waiting for was standing right there on the floor above, and by the looks of it, she had been waiting for Qiao Zhi all along.

Qiao Zhi had just said he wanted to see the Fairy of Zither Music, Qingruo. So, this girl must have found out and come to watch the show.

She hadn't learned much from staying with Yaoyao, but she had certainly mastered the art of watching a good show. And the look she was giving him was clearly one of resentment for him following along. Heaven knows, Qiao Zhi hadn't even asked why he was there, nor did he know Lian Yue was present.

Qiao Zhi was in a state of chaos himself. After the retired Emperor decreed his marriage yesterday, the Empress Dowager had sent two palace maids to his residence that evening. There was no need to guess what that meant. Then, first thing this morning, he received a letter from Qingruo. There was simply no peace.

Qiao Zhi had no time to look around; he was entirely focused on how to brush off Qingruo. His care for her was merely a favor he had promised to someone else—he truly had no other intentions. But he had needed a certain reputation in the past, so he had never explained things to Qingruo. To outsiders, however, it probably looked as if he and Qingruo were inextricably linked.

*It’s fortunate I ran into Yuwen Lingxi. This guy is a master of music. I’ll find an excuse for them to discuss music later. Once they’re engrossed, time will pass quickly.*

*Then, I’ll take the chance to slip away. Qingruo won't notice. I remember when I met that old man in Heluo last time, it worked just like this.*

Having made up his mind, Qiao Zhi quickened his pace. To Lian Yue, this looked like he couldn't wait to see the Fairy of Zither Music. Her heart grew even more indignant. *Since there is someone you care about, why didn't you fight for her yesterday? You are simply too cowardly.*

Lian Yue couldn't help herself and shouted toward the stairs: "Coward!"