Chapter 330 - 318: Fickle (Part 2)

Chapter 330: Chapter 318: Fickle (Part 2)

Before his departure, Zhou Shuwei had found Chen Li and told him to bring some, suggesting it could be a way to test the waters.

Chen Li hadn’t held out much hope.

If that failed, he could always force a visit, as long as he confirmed she wasn’t a Grandmaster. But he hadn’t expected the plan to actually work.

Bai San said smugly, "Heh, the maid took the gifts inside and came rushing out a moment later, saying Miss Nanyue would see you. That Jiang Nanyue seemed to adore the material, asking me again and again where I got it. I explained that I was just a runner and that my master wished to visit her in person. She agreed almost instantly and scheduled a meeting for noon tomorrow on her painted boat."

"Well done."

Chen Li nodded in approval.

...

「The next day.」

The river’s shimmering waves cast reflections like shards of gold.

Chen Li arrived for the appointment on time, with Linglong and Bai San in tow.

The painted boat was a tasteful dark red, adorned with intricately carved railings, painted beams, and classic upturned eaves. Two simple yet elegant silk palace lanterns hung from its bow.

The maid who had accepted Bai San’s tip the day before saw the trio arrive. She had the gangway lowered and curtsied. "Honored guests, please come aboard. My lady has been expecting you in the cabin."

Guided by the maid, the trio stepped onto the deck and entered the main cabin.

The cabin was quite spacious, and light filtered softly through the carved window lattices.

The floor was covered with a thick woolen rug from the Western Regions, the walls were hung with calligraphy and paintings by famous masters, and antiques were displayed on a curio shelf.

A delicate fragrance of pear blossoms filled the air, crisp and pleasant.

Rounding a rosewood screen inlaid with mica, they saw a woman sitting on a spotted bamboo couch by the window.

She wore a long, pale yellow dress of soft-smoke silk gauze. The style was simple, yet it accentuated her slender, tall figure.

Her skin, nurtured by the Jiangnan water towns, was a flawless porcelain white, so fine as to be almost poreless.

Her lustrous black hair was loosely pinned up, with a simple jade hairpin set at a slant. She wore no makeup, her face fresh and unadorned.

Her brows were naturally sharp, her lips naturally red, giving her an air that was a blend of languid grace and captivating charm.

But this was more than just a beautiful face.

The arch of her brows, the shifting of her gaze, the curve of her lips—all were just right. Any more would be vulgar, any less would be dull.

Her every expression, her every movement, possessed a charm that could effortlessly stir the emotions.

Jiang Nanyue had been sitting primly on the bamboo couch when the trio entered.

She lifted her gaze, which first landed on Linglong. A flicker of genuine surprise crossed her features; she clearly hadn’t expected them to be accompanied by a woman of such stunning beauty.

Her eyes then moved to Chen Li at the head of the group.

At that single glance, the casual smile on Jiang Nanyue’s face stiffened.

She put down her teacup and rose from the bamboo couch.

This movement stunned both the maid and Bai San, who was standing behind them.

From what Bai San had seen the day before, this Miss Jiang Nanyue was the very picture of aloofness. Even a lavish patron who spent five hundred taels had to wait on her pleasure. When had she ever stood up to welcome a guest?

But now, Jiang Nanyue was moving with graceful purpose. The hem of her pale yellow skirt swept across the plush rug as she came forward with a smile, her voice crisp and melodious, tinged with the perfect measure of surprise and respect.

"When Master Bai visited last night and presented such a treasure, this one knew today’s guest would be extraordinary. Please forgive my poor reception. These are humble quarters, and I fear they are not worthy of you. I hope you will overlook any shortcomings."

As she spoke, she turned aside in a fluid motion, indicating for Chen Li to take the seat of honor.

She then personally took a cup of freshly brewed tea from the tray held by a young maidservant nearby.

The brew was a vibrant green with a delicate, refined aroma.

Her hands as pale as jade, Jiang Nanyue held the cup and personally placed it on the small table in front of Chen Li.

"Please, have some tea, honored guest. It’s an early-spring Dragon Well. I hope it is to your liking."

This whole sequence of actions was fluid and natural, radiating a warm and thoughtful hospitality.

She was like a completely different person from the one Bai San had described.

HISS!

Trailing behind Chen Li, Bai San’s eyes bulged, his jaw slackening. He almost gasped aloud.

He blinked hard, almost thinking he was hallucinating.

’What the hell, lady?!’

’Last night, you were totally standoffish to a room full of people who spent five hundred taels. You played a song, performed a dance, and left without even bothering to lift an eyelid. Where’s that ice-queen attitude?!’

’What happened to that high-and-mighty "I’m doing you a favor just by being here" act?’

’Sure, he, Bai San, had been around the block. He knew the women of the pleasure houses were masters of changing their tune, that sizing up a patron was a fundamental skill. But the speed and sheer scale of this transformation... it was just ridiculous.’

’Last night, for patrons spending five hundred taels, she was the remote and divine Nine Heavens Profound Lady. But today, for a master who hasn’t even flashed a single coin, she’s instantly transformed into a warm and attentive confidante?’

’The switch from arrogant to subservient was completely seamless!’

Chen Li, too, was slightly surprised.

Seeing her in person, he could naturally sense that this woman’s Cultivation was only at the Spirit Realm Seventh Level: Inner Mansion Pass. She couldn’t be considered an expert.

In terms of sheer beauty, she was certainly a match for Linglong, though each had their own unique appeal.

But so-called famous courtesans and beauties often relied on more than just their looks.

Exquisite beauties may be rare, but the world is never lacking for stunning women.

Their true strength—the skill that allowed them to thrive and leave even more beautiful women in the dust—was the ability to perfectly fuse their looks with talent, emotional intelligence, and the very ’emotional value’ they provided. It was how they cultivated fame, built networks, and established their own rules.

This Jiang Nanyue, it seemed, was not just familiar with this art; she was a master of it.

"You’re too kind, Miss Nanyue."

Chen Li’s expression remained neutral. He gave a slight nod and calmly took a seat as the guest.

Linglong sat quietly just behind him, while Bai San quickly schooled his expression, made himself small, and found a stool in a corner.

Jiang Nanyue gracefully returned to the host’s seat, her lovely eyes smiling as they rested on Chen Li. She got straight to the point: "You honored guests have gone to great trouble to come here. It probably isn’t just to gift Nanyue some exquisite silks, is it?"

Chen Li took a light sip of the Dragon Well tea. Its aroma was crisp, the aftertaste mellow and sweet.

Putting down the teacup, he met Jiang Nanyue’s gaze and was equally direct: "I have indeed come today because of this silk."

"Oh?"

Jiang Nanyue arched an eyebrow. "Then it seems I have presumed and guessed incorrectly. Would you care to enlighten me, honored guest?"

Chen Li said, "This silk is woven with a secret technique known only to my family. We are the sole producers in the world. I trust the material is to your liking?"

Jiang Nanyue’s voice softened. "You must be joking, honored guest. A wondrous material like this... the way light and shadow flow across it is dreamlike, and it’s so soft it feels like nothing at all. I have never seen its equal. To say it is merely ’to my liking’ is an understatement—I absolutely adore it. After receiving your gifts last night, I must have spent half the night just looking at them, my delight beyond words."

Chen Li nodded. "I am glad you like it. This Floating Light and Shadow fabric is difficult to produce, so the yearly output is limited. However, I am willing to gift you, Miss Nanyue, twenty bolts each year."

Twenty bolts of Floating Light and Shadow.

A flicker of surprise crossed Jiang Nanyue’s eyes.

The fabric was priceless; you couldn’t buy it on the open market. Its value far surpassed that of ordinary gold and silver.

She stood and gave Chen Li a graceful curtsy. "You are too generous, honored guest. I am unworthy of such favor, but I thank you."

Her curtsy complete, she sat back down, her bright eyes fixed on Chen Li. Her gaze was a mixture of understanding and curiosity. "But... for such a generous gift... I am but a humble woman with no way to repay you. I must ask, honored guest, what is it you would have me do?"

She asked with a frankness that suggested she was long accustomed to such transactions.

Chen Li shook his head, his tone flat. "I don’t need you to do anything in particular. Simply have the fabric made into dresses and wear them in public often. That is all."

Jiang Nanyue froze for a moment. Then, realization dawned, and a look of understanding flashed in her eyes.

’He wanted to use her name and influence to promote the Floating Light and Shadow fabric. He wanted her to be his living advertisement.’

For her, this wasn’t a burden at all. On the contrary, it was the icing on the cake.

Being able to consistently wear such a rare and beautiful fabric would only further elevate her status and unique appeal.

What looked like a gift was, in reality, a business proposal.

She let out a light laugh, the sound as clear as pearls spilling onto a jade plate. "You are a clever man, honored guest. An arrangement this good is more than I could ask for. However..."

Her tone shifted, and an apologetic expression crossed her face. "This fabric is precious, and your gift is too generous. I would feel terribly guilty if all I did was wear the clothes. So, how about this... you allow me to do one small thing for you, as a token of my gratitude? Otherwise, I won’t be able to rest easy."