Dreams of the Ancient Mountain: The Cat's Masquerade | Chapter 122 | By Her Side | Novela.app

Chapter 122 - By Her Side Wei Qingming took advantage of the moment to pull me into her arms, pressing me against her chest. She leaned down, her breath warm against my ear as she chuckled softly. "Why bother listening to the affairs of others?" I was about to let out a long sigh of relief when I felt her hand begin to wander upward from my waist. Her fingers brushed against my neck, grazing the pristine white fur trim of my collar. The sensation sent a delicious, tingling warmth through my heart. To be honest, this was the first time we had been apart for so long since our wedding; she surely missed me as much as I missed her. As our breaths mingled in the narrow space, the restraint we both held began to fray. I barely had the presence of mind to consider that we were still in a public place before the world went dark. Wei Qingming, with the uncanny stealth of a seasoned operative, had already scouted a secluded dressing room in the shadows and spirited me inside. I couldn't help but sigh inwardly—why was it that these professional espionage skills of hers were always put to such scandalous use in her hands? My mind was a chaotic whirl of emotions. I could only offer a faint, playful reproach. "What took you so long just to change your clothes?" "I ran into a few dignitaries," she murmured, her fingertips sliding across my cheek with a hint of restless agitation. She leaned in as if to capture my lips, but then hesitated, mindful of my carefully applied makeup. With a reluctant sigh, she restrained herself. Similarly, out of consideration for my appearance tonight—not a single wrinkle marred my silk gown—she didn't dare pull or tug at my attire. Instead, she settled for a gentle embrace, burying her face in the crook of my neck and inhaling my scent deeply to calm the surging tides of her passion. Perhaps the makeup was only a secondary excuse; the truth was, she simply couldn't bring herself to desecrate me in such a place. The light in the room was already dim, and with a flick of her sleeve, she sent a gust of wind to extinguish a few more candles. Beyond the thin partition of the door, the sounds of the brilliant, hedonistic crowd filtered in—a cacophony of laughter and music that made it seem as though this era of prosperity would never end. Yet, for some reason, I found myself recalling the half-finished melody I had heard earlier outside the tower. I particularly remembered the lyrics of the second half that had yet to be sung: *“Though heaven and earth endure, they have their end; alas, this sorrow stretches on, never to cease...”* We held each other in the quiet dark, sharing soft whispers of affection. Sensing a trace of exhaustion in Wei Qingming’s voice, my heart ached for her. I reached up to massage her temples gently, suggesting that she take a short nap and that it wouldn't matter if we were late to the banquet. She took me at my word, pulling me into a firm, inescapable embrace and leaning her head against my shoulder. Before she drifted off, she exhaled a slow, lingering sentence into my ear: "Tonight, perhaps we needn't wait for the banquet to end. We can return home... early." The suggestion left my imagination running wild, yet I could do nothing but watch as the "Great Wei" fell into a peaceful, contented slumber in my arms. As fate would have it, when we finally emerged, Wen Jiang and her "Lord Duan" had not yet departed. They had changed into fresh robes and were leaning against the corridor railing, laughing and flirting. Upon seeing her cousin, whom she hadn't encountered in years, Wen Jiang’s expression flickered with brief surprise before melting into a flirtatious smile. Her shimmering gaze swept over me, filled with a knowing glint. "My, if it isn't Qingming," Wen Jiang purred. "It has been many years. I trust all is well?" "Very well," Wei Qingming replied, offering a formal salute with her sleeve before reaching back to draw me to her side. "Zhenzhen, this is my cousin from the Wen family, Wen Jiang. She is the eighth among her siblings." "Greetings, Sister," I said with poise, offering a graceful bow. I followed up with a few warm compliments on her appearance, which caused Wen Jiang’s face to bloom like a flower as she giggled incessantly behind her hand. Curiously, she made no move to introduce the person beside her. It was only when I took the initiative to acknowledge her that the woman in men’s clothing cupped her hands and announced herself. "I am Duan Qingmo of Zhaozhou. A pleasure to meet you." Facing anyone other than Wen Jiang, her demeanor turned instantly cold. Her introduction was delivered with a lazy, detached air, but the name sent a jolt of shock through me. So, this was the head of the only prominent Yao merchant family in the capital—the Duan clan of Zhaozhou! Though they originated from Zhaozhou, the Duan family had been rooted in Pingjing for centuries. Her accent was pure, standard capital dialect; she only cited her ancestral home out of a desire for discretion. Moreover, the name Duan Qingmo was legendary. As the younger sister of the current clan head, she was known for her ruthless efficiency and held nearly half of the family’s vast enterprises in her grasp. At this realization, I didn't bother with sycophancy. I offered a standard smile, and Wei Qingming gave a polite, albeit plain, courtesy before preparing to lead me away. Wen Jiang’s sweet smile widened suddenly, though her words carried a sharp edge. "Qingming, do you truly intend to bring Miss Zhenzhen to the banquet?" Wei Qingming turned back, her expression unreadable, but her grip on my hand tightened, making her stance clear. I gave a soft laugh and, pointing toward Duan Qingmo, tossed back a retort: "Sister, why not ask Lord Duan? If she hadn't sought you out tonight, what kind of mood would she be in as she spent this fair night alone?" Wen Jiang’s smile didn't falter, but her eyes widened slightly. Her lips parted as if to deliver a stinging sarcasm, but she merely curled her mouth and let out a faint, ambiguous huff of laughter. Once we had walked a distance away, Wei Qingming chuckled. "Quite the sharp tongue, Zhenzhen. You left Eighth Sister speechless." "Oh? Do you think she'll give me a hard time at the table later?" I stuck my tongue out playfully. "What is there to fear?" Wei Qingming said steadily, interlacing her fingers with mine. In truth, I wasn't afraid at all; I simply wanted to act spoiled. I didn't actually need her to fight my battles, but I wanted to hear her say those words. Having heard them, my eyes curved into crescents of joy, and I clung to her arm as we walked. In the private booth on the third floor, many members of the Wen family had already arrived. The guest of honor, Wen Sili, had arrived early and was currently sprawled across a daybed, munching on fruit while chatting loudly. The person he was talking to was merely a guest from another table; upon seeing us, he offered a respectful greeting to Wei Qingming and took his leave, allowing the cousins their privacy. After years apart, Wen Sili had acquired the weathered look of the frontier. His skin was tanned dark by the sun, and he sported a bit of stubble, giving him the rugged aura of a bold military commander. Seeing Wei Qingming arrive with a "beloved lady" in tow, he lowered the foot he had propped up on a stool and sat up straight. He stood up with a vigorous stride and grabbed Wei Qingming’s arms, laughing. "Still looking like a proper gentleman, I see! And with a beauty by your side, no less. Life seems to be treating you well!" Wei Qingming gave a faint smile and drew me forward. "Zhenzhen, this is Fifth Brother." "Greetings, Fifth Brother," I said with a beaming smile. "Are you the young General Wen who serves under Excellency An Kedao, the Military Commissioner of Xihe Circuit? I heard that just last month, you hunted a thousand-year-old Lightning Mink in Qingzhou. What incredible marksmanship! Is that the very one wrapped around your neck?" Most people considered hunting tigers or leopards the mark of a true warrior, but in terms of pure archery, small and agile spirit beasts were far harder to hit. My praise was not the idle chatter of an ignorant woman; furthermore, such a minor detail wasn't the kind of news published in official war reports. It suggested that I had connections within the military and that my information was exceptionally well-sourced. Sure enough, Wen Sili raised an eyebrow in surprise. He took a proper look at me and let out a "Hoh!" toward Wei Qingming—a sound that clearly meant *'this girl of yours is something else'*—before laughing. "It was a pair. This one is only eight hundred years old; the thousand-year-old one was given away." As he spoke, he raised a hand and beckoned a woman over. To my surprise, it was Jinzhu. When I first saw her during the Chunan Night Banquet, Jinzhu and Yindeng had been inseparable. One could see the connection even in their names. However, their backgrounds were worlds apart. Yindeng was an orphan who had fled to the capital and was chosen by the Yingzhao Temple primarily because she was alone and her life was considered expendable. Jinzhu, on the other hand, was the biological daughter of the owner of the Wangxiang Pavilion and a madam. She had been raised like a wealthy young lady—haughty and overbearing. Unless one managed to win her favor, ordinary wealthy patrons couldn't even catch a glimpse of her. Yindeng had stood out among the girls the Yingzhao Temple had planted in the various brothels, securing her place as a top-ten courtesan of the Music Department through her own intelligence and resilience. Just as she had treated the young Wei Qingming, the Temple provided her with no assistance. Jinzhu, meanwhile, needed a foil who acted like a servant—someone to master musical skills for her, to smooth over her insults to patrons, and even... to offer themselves in her place when necessary. In such an unequal relationship, how could there be any true friendship? Yindeng had long since surpassed Jinzhu, securing her status as a premier courtesan with her divine musical talent, not to mention her secret identity as a High Emissary of the Yingzhao Temple. She didn't even have to give face to her superior, Wei Qingming, let alone Jinzhu. Yet, that didn't stop Jinzhu from relying on her family's status to act vulgarly toward her, continuing her life of indulgence and arrogance. Today, Jinzhu was dressed with excessive opulence, draped in more jewels and heavier makeup than even I. A mink stole was draped loosely around her neck. She reached out with a smirk to hook her arm around Wen Sili’s neck, flirting shamelessly. "Why are you calling for me? If you don't have a good reason, you'll be sorry!" "I'm just letting them see the mink I gave you," Wen Sili replied, unbothered. He gave a roguish grin and began to toy with the mink’s tail. However, beneath his boisterous, dissipated exterior, I sensed a deliberate posture—as if he were using wine and women to drown out a sorrow he couldn't express. The cheerful, carefree Fifth Brother of the past had changed after five or six years on the battlefield. When Jinzhu realized it was I who wanted to see her stole, her disdain was palpable. In truth, she and "Su Zhenzhen" were of the same social stratum and should have felt some kinship, but short-sighted people often reserve their greatest jealousy for those most like them. She narrowed her eyes and said pointedly, "How could this lady possibly care for my little mink? She wears furs made from hundreds of Hanzhou snow foxes and robes tailored from ten types of Yuezhou tribute silk. She just throws them on like they're nothing." It seemed Jinzhu was not only a poor character but also lacked wit. I almost felt sorry for her, but Su Zhenzhen was not one to let an insult slide. I smiled and said, "Sister, please don't say that. A trophy hunted by Fifth Brother’s own hands is a gift of affection that outweighs a thousand pieces of gold." Jinzhu finally realized the blunder in her words and hurriedly began to act spoiled toward Wen Sili. "I didn't mean that I disliked your gift..." Wen Sili wasn't one to hold a grudge against her. He laughed heartily and gave her a playful slap on the backside. Jinzhu, who in the past might have slapped him back, didn't dare this time; she merely giggled and leaned into his chest, letting the moment pass. Meanwhile, Wei Qingming had been surrounded by several Wen family cousins who had come over upon hearing the commotion. Her gaze, however, flickered toward me every few moments, her expression never losing its protective concern. Fearing that she would grow weary of this tedious feminine bickering, I offered a graceful bow to Wen Sili to signal my temporary departure. After exchanging a few pleasantries with the other cousins, I gave Wei Qingming a gentle nudge toward the inner room. The crowd began to cheer, "Everyone is here! It’s time to start the feast!" and we all took our seats. The inner area was mostly occupied by the female relatives—the Wen sisters and the young daughters-in-law of the manor. Once the formal greetings were finished, I inevitably became the center of attention. The "proper" ladies found the situation awkward; they were too demure to look at me directly, instead casting furtive glances. The men, however, found it perfectly normal, directing their conversation toward Wei Qingming. We each handled our respective audiences. In the end, only Wen Xiang showed a look of indignation, while Wen Gan sat quietly, occasionally tugging at Wen Xiang’s sleeve under the table to signal her to stay calm. Wen Shu and Xiao Xuelin had not yet arrived. I understood Wen Xiang and Wen Gan perfectly. No one knew better than I how close Wen Qi and Wei Qingming had once been. To suddenly have an unknown woman of questionable background take precedence was naturally infuriating to these close sisters. As we sat, Wei Qingming placed a hand on my shoulder with natural ease, seating me right beside her in the place of honor. Seeing this, Wen Xiang immediately stood up, smoothed her skirts, and marched over to sit on my other side, clearly determined to stand up for "Wen Qi." I found it both amusing and nostalgic; during my very first meal at the Wen Manor, the people sitting on either side of me had been these two as well. Before more than a few dishes had been served, Wen Xiang began to pour me wine. "Sister Su, we finally meet today. We must have a drink." I struggled to keep a straight face. "Sister, you flatter me too much," I said softly. "It is I who should toast you." As I spoke, I called for a cup the size of a bowl. I picked up the flask and filled it with lightning speed, finishing before Wen Xiang could even fill her own small cup. I lifted the large vessel, tapped it against her small cup, and drained it in one go. Wen Xiang clearly hadn't expected a social climber to be so bold and straightforward. It actually suited her temperament. She poured her two small cups into a larger one, refilled it to match mine, and matched the toast. The two of us began to drink in earnest. Wei Qingming knew my limits and said nothing, but Wen Xiang’s husband, a Director in the Ministry of Rites, tried to intervene. He had barely opened his mouth when Wen Xiang shot him a glare, forcing him to swallow his words.