Legend of Fu Yao

Helpless, Lord Yuan Bao grabbed a fine, broken branch, put a foot forward and raised a claw. It was a swordplay posture that Meng Fuyao had first witnessed Zhangsun Wuji executing when breaking a sword formation.

The intimidating pose startled the young cat and caused it to take a step back. Lord Yuan Bao immediately pointed the branch at it and assumed the second pose –

Unfortunately, the snow white fur on his bum gradually became moist.

Meng Fuyao burst into laughter before whipping the horse and leaving poor Yuan Bao to battle the cat in his pink dress.

Making a turn after another, Meng Fuyao gradually caught a glimpse of an embroidered curtain in the alley in front.

It was especially well made.

Just a second later Meng Fuyao desperately slapped her horse, screaming, “Turn around. Turn around!”

The horse wasn’t able to make the turn as the alley was too narrow. It spun in circles on the spot, leaving her without a choice but to squat on it and greet the two handsome men who were stuck in the alley. “Nice to meet you, nice to meet you.”

Zong Yue quietly observed a rare-shaped flower in the alley, and without raising his head, he said, “The spiritual air in this alley is indeed stronger. It’s no wonder your stroll is covering half the city. Not easy.”

Zhan Beiye hugged his chest tightly and cast her a side glance. He was standing in a hand-drawn circle, to which Meng Fuyao saw and was left speechless. “I didn’t exit the circle,” he pointed out slyly.

“Come here, we’re not done. You sure have come a long way to relieve yourself,” he then added.

Meng Fuyao had a mental breakdown. Hopeless, she dropped her rein and reversed.

“Why leave when you’re already here?”

Someone smiled, grabbing hold of her as she shot away like as cannonball. Conveniently pinching her cheek, he continued, “The beancurd here is indeed fragrant and soft.”

Meng Fuyao let out a lovable laugh and nodded sheepishly, “It’s quite alright, quite alright.”

‘Has anyone seen handsome men accompanying a male brothel visitor? Or has anyone seen people bringing a pretty girl along to have a fun time with pretty women?’

Meng Fuyao was convinced that she was the first ever to try something like that, and she had not one but three handsome fellows with her.

It really was life’s greatest… tragedy.

She had already planned to return, but the jersey decided to stay for the experience since they were already there. They were interested to see the kind of men Meng Fuyao was attracted to and would lie her way through to meet them. If they were worth learning from, the trio wouldn’t mind finding a master to guide them.

Stuck in the middle, neither unable to escape nor able to scold them, Meng Fuyao decided to go all out like a dead pig would be unafraid of hot water. She reached her left and right hands out to pinch Zhangsun Wuji and Zong Yue respectively, smiling lewdly. “Hey there beautiful little boys, come give me a little kiss.”

Meng Fuyao kept her eyes on the respectable men, expecting them to get triggered and go home. Instead, Zhangsun Wuji smiled slightly, responding, “Dear Sir, it’s 3,200 a pinch. Thanks for visiting.”

“There’s poison on my face, dear sir. Your hand is going to itch for the rest of the day.”

Squeezing into the courtyard through the narrow path they spotted an old duck[1], whose gaze contained interest and even a tinge of excitement, similar to that of pimps before luring a beautiful lady into their business. The three men possessed a beauty that took his breath away, and Meng Fuyao, disguised as a man, had a fresh look and was good stuff as well.

Meng Fuyao bit down on her teeth, angered by the man’s gaze. However, not displaying it on her face, she demanded, “Give me only the best beauties. 4 of them. We’re going to get rooms.”

“Go all out, no worries. This gentleman is paying,” she reassured, pointing at Zhan Beiye.

Having seen all kinds of people, the old duck could immediately tell that the group wasn’t there to patronize. Nevertheless, Zhan Beiye waved dismissively and snorted, “Go. Get the best. I… want to get acquainted with his taste and preferences.”

Meng Fuyao whipped her head toward the sky. ‘Gentlemen, you’ll never understand the pure and passionate heart of a Fujoshi[2]…’

“Beauties… it’s really the fortune of a lifetime for me to have met you, brother…. Oh my god…” Meng Fuyao held onto the manager’s hand gratefully, but before she could finish her line, she rushed to the side to gag. When that was done, she cursed, “What is this? Is this skinny? Can this be called skinny? With a waist slightly slimmer than an elephant?”

“Thank you, next!” Zhan Beiye waved.

The other two played chess, and Zhangsun Wuji occasionally looked up to comment. “This is alright. Better than the white sesame face from earlier. Just make do, won’t you?”

Slapping a chess piece on the table Zong Yue chimed in, “I think this is cleaner, the other had some mud behind the ear.”

Exhaling loudly Meng Fuyao asked, “Can we go now? I’m done playing.”

“No,” said Zhan Beiye. “I have yet to understand what your type is.”

Lord Yuan Bao, who had been rescued earlier, crawled out from his owner’s sleeve, gloating over her misfortune.

“Meow!” Meng Fuyao let out a ruthless hiss, prompting him to shrink back into darkness.

“Beauties… it’s really the fortune of a… ohhhhh…”

“Beauties…. it’s really the… ohhhhh…”

“Beauties… it… ohh..”

“Mother, I’m done!” Meng Fuyao threw her hands up upon clearing when the bile in her stomach. “No chrysanthemum, only a life lost! Kill me if you want to, but I’m not going to—”

“Feng Mo is here.”

The refreshing yet graceful and gentle voice, carrying a slight thrill at the end, reminded listeners about a flower drifting along with the morning breeze or a shooting star grazing the star-filled night sky.

Meng Fuyao turned around abruptly and spotted a poised man, dressed in scarlet clothes, with jet black hair and skin brighter than snow. He also had a pair of long, slim legs, and a pair of starry eyes.

A rare beauty for sure!

Meng Fuyao’s jaw dropped, and she wondered if he had come onto the wrong path.

“Careful, you’re drooling,” Zong Yue warned coolly.

Snapping out of her reverie, Meng Fuyao rushed over and greeted, “Beauty… Brother…”

Only upon greeting him did she notice that he wasn’t young. Fine lines were hiding at the corner of his eyes, but they did not reveal his actual age. Instead, they gave him charisma usually present in older men. She stared at his red lips, gasping inwardly. ‘Woah, a privilege only belonging to queens…’

As if in deep thought she stroked the little stubble attached on her chin.

‘Could it be that she appreciates old ones?’

Zhangsun Wuji paused the game and looked up at Feng Mo, his brows gradually wrinkling up.

The man appeared easygoing, and before receiving an invitation, he walked himself in. Glancing about he smiled. “Which Sir here needs serving?”

Meng Fuyao enthusiastically stepped forward. “Let’s chat, let’s chat…”

The three men threw her a hard gaze, instantly causing her back to sweat. She bit her lips, unwilling to let the man go. ‘No. It’s a chance only entitled to queens, and it doesn’t come often.’ She could brag about it when she returned to the modern world.

Meng Fuyao tried hard to fight against their gaze and pulled Feng Mo away to have a chat. They talked about everything, and she soon realized that she wasn’t able to catch up with him. He was actually extremely knowledgeable in diverse topics like history, old scriptures, medicine, astrology, zither, chess, calligraphy. The only topic he knew nothing of was martial arts. Other than that, conversation flowed well on his side.

She was enjoying her time a little too much. ‘What a top grade candidate. So smart. Such a waste to be a ‘trap[3]’ in this world.’ She studied him with glistening eyes, thinking about the possibility of becoming his pimp.

Zhangsun Wuji and Zong Yue had ended their chess session a long time ago, and they were listening quietly to their conversation from a corner indoors. Zhan Beiye slowly held onto his sword while not uttering a word.

Meng Fuyao glanced into the room and back out. The four outstanding men – noble, gentle and graceful, handsome, clean and easygoing – had her shocked for a moment, and she appeared to be lost in paradise.

She slowly turned quiet, reflecting on her tour in this world. Was her affinity with such eligible males fate or an evil plot?

Feng Mo was an interesting fellow, and upon noticing her change, he stopped and lifted his sleeves to raise the teapot on the table. “It’s fate that led to our meeting today. Let me offer you, four gentlemen, a toast.”

Meng Fuyao immediately downed her cup while Zhan Beiye snorted and finished his too. Zong Yue, on the other hand, apologized. “I don’t drink.”

Zhangsun Wuji raised his cup and approached Feng Mo with unhurried steps. “You’re an impressive man, Sir Feng Mo. I should be the one offering a toast to you since you have come here today.”

“I don’t deserve it,” Feng Mo responded, lowering his gaze. “I’m from a humble background and dare not pine for your praise.” At that, he extended his cup forward with both hands and bumped it against Zhangsun Wuji’s. In that instant the latter’s cup jolted, sending the colorless wine spilling out and onto the former’s body.

“Oh my, how careless of me,” Zhangsun Wuji commented and quickly retrieved his handkerchief to wipe it off Feng Mo. However, Feng Mo dodged it and smiled. “No worries. There’s no need to trouble you. I’ll go get changed. Farewell.” At that, he backed away politely.

Zhangsun Wuji placed his cup down, seemingly deep in thought.

“No skills?” Zong Yue questioned.

“Yeah. Maybe I’m overthinking this, but since when did a person like him appear in Huazhou? Rather strange,” Zhangsun Wuji answered only some time later.

Meng Fuyao laughed. “You’re a prince and not a spy, Your Highness. You’re going to die from exhaustion if you’re going to harp on the emergence of a new beauty in a brothel in a region under your jurisdiction.”

“A beauty is all you see,” Zhangsun Wuji replied, casting her a glance. “You’re always ignoring things you can see, instead of seeing them clearly.”

“It’s late. I’m going back to rest. I’ll send men to monitor here,” Zong Yue informed after looking up at the sky color.

“Oh my, it’s noon time!” Meng Fuyao shouted all of a sudden, springing onto her feet and striding out. “My business’ ribbon cutting!”

[1] A pimp.

[2] Girls who enjoy yaoi (a genre in Japan that contains sexual and/or romantic relations between two men); literally translates to “rotten girl”.

[3] Usually found within an anime/manga/ero doujin, this is when a male (usually a young teen) who is small and skinny dresses in women’s clothes, creating a dangerously effective illusion in which they present themselves as female. This terrifyingly deception technique is the reason that they were given the name ‘traps’.