Wine-scented Beauty

Chapter 100: Calamity

That night, Rouge changed her clothes and put on exquisite makeup before going out.

She had already learned about Ji Tianzhuo from her girlfriends. He liked beautiful women and frequented places like brothels and teahouses.

Dealing with someone like that is easy. I've already informed the mother in the building beforehand, so I can go in without any problems.

Even before nightfall, the number of customers had already increased.

She was playing the piano on a specially prepared platform inside the building when she suddenly heard several shouts outside, so she stopped.

He stepped out from behind the gauze curtain and saw a group of girls surrounding this young master Ji. In this small town, the Ji family was probably the most reliable, and besides, with his looks, he was only benefiting from the Ji family's good fortune.

She walked directly up to Ji Tianzhuo, her eyes alluring and her breath sweet as orchids, and leaned close to him, saying, "I wonder if you are free tonight, young master?"

Ji Tianzhuo recognized her as well, "It's you."

The two exchanged a knowing smile. Rouge immediately put her arm around him, and the two went upstairs to their room.

Once inside the room, everything outside was covered up.

"Tell me, what is your relationship with Ji Meiqing?"

Rouge smiled but didn't answer his question. Instead, she asked something else, "Who is Ji Meiqing to you all...?"

"Her?" Ji Tianzhu chuckled lightly, disdainfully saying, "She used to be a member of the Ji family, but was later kicked out."

"Oh..." She immediately understood.

Seeing her like this, Ji Tianzhuo couldn't help but ask again, "You wouldn't happen to be someone Ji Meiqing hired to deliberately mess with me, would you?"

"Her?" Rouge smiled. "She doesn't have that ability. I'm of high status. She's so poor she's about to sell herself, how could she possibly afford me? I just really don't like your concubine."

"Oh?" Ji Tianzhuo became interested and accompanied her on a roundabout way.

“Last time I bought cosmetics, it was the last box, and she snatched it away. I couldn’t stand it, so I deliberately made her pay.”

"You women are so petty." Ji Tianzhuo's words didn't seem sarcastic, but rather quite meaningful. "Just because of Tian Cuiwei... you've caused the Ji family to lose face. Aren't you afraid... of our retaliation?"

She immediately applied rouge, giggling sweetly, her waist swaying as she said, "Isn't this servant here to apologize to you, young master?"

"You're quite sensible." He touched her forehead, and Rouge immediately gave him a flirtatious wink.

The two immediately understood each other and went to the bed in each other's arms. Rouge blew the prepared incense on his face, and in just one breath, his eyes became hazy. Rouge pushed him aside, her expression turning cold.

She opened the cabinet door, and a girl was hiding inside. Before the girl could speak, she pointed at the person on the bed and ordered, "Take good care of him for me."

"Yes, miss." She glanced back at the bed, then looked away. Rouge straightened her clothes and makeup, and slowly left.

The smoke he was blowing was a hallucinogenic drug with aphrodisiac effects, and Ji Tianzhuo was probably enjoying it at that moment.

She laughed wildly.

Ji Meiqing had already gone home, and just then Li Ming came over to deliver the account books, and she listened to his recent situation.

She poured herself a cup of tea, and the two began to talk.

"Has the Qiu family been causing trouble lately?"

Li Ming shook his head, "I'm keeping an eye on things over there, and Brother Lu is also helping out. Even if the villagers don't care about me, they'll still have to give Brother Lu face."

“Perfect timing. I have some things to take care of these next few days. You can handle the brewing business first. Once I'm done, we can see if we can expand the business.”

“Okay, then Sister Ji, you go ahead and do your thing. I'll take care of things here.” He patted her chest readily, and the two of them smiled.

After finishing her business, she took the ledger and went back to her room.

Before I could even sit down, someone knocked on the door again. Thinking it must be Li Ming who hadn't finished speaking, I went to open the door.

"You still have..."

The face outside the door was that of a complete stranger, and Ji Meiqing stopped mid-sentence.

"who are you?"

"This servant is from the Ji family. Master Ji sent me to inform you of this month's family banquet."

Ji Meiqing's face immediately turned cold, and she spoke without any emotion: "I am no longer a member of the Ji family."

"Master Ji said that since you still bear the Ji family name, you have always been a member of the Ji family."

"Hmph..." She looked at the man, her tone becoming impatient. "I don't have time or money. Go back and tell him that I'm not going to the Ji family's banquet."

"Master said you must miss Young Master Tianci very much."

Ji Meiqing's heart skipped a beat, and her eyes sharpened considerably. "Are you threatening me?"

"I wouldn't dare," he quickly said modestly, bowing even lower. Ji Meiqing didn't know what to say, and could only give a cold snort to end the conversation.

After chasing away the messenger, Ji Meiqing returned to her study, somewhat uneasy. She couldn't concentrate on the account books; her mind was preoccupied with whether or not to return to the Ji residence.

But that kind of place is a nightmare to enter. Although Ji Tianci and she are related, they are both born out of wedlock, yet they are treated differently.

Besides Ji Tianzhuo, the only other male member of the Ji family in this generation is Ji Tianci, who are naturally more valued. Only she, being the unfavored one, is left out in the cold.

After thinking about random things for a long time, I finally threw down the ledger in my hand and lay down on the bed.

Lu Yu returned outside sometime earlier, and after the food was prepared, he came to call her to eat. But Ji Meiqing was in no mood for food; she didn't respond even after knocking on the door many times.

In the end, Lu Yu could only bring the food to her door and give her a few words of advice.

Whether she heard him or not, Lu Yu stood there for a while before leaving.

After a long while, she finally fell asleep, her mind heavy with worry. In her dream, she seemed to have returned to that time in her past, when she was constantly hungry and scolded…

She never had a full meal, even though it wasn't her income, but in this dream it felt like she was experiencing it firsthand.

The messenger returned to report, recounted the events, and then left the study, where he happened to run into Ji Tianci, who was coming over.

"Second Young Master."

"What did you just say?" He narrowed his eyes and threatened, "If you don't tell me, I'll let you experience the Beggars' Sect's three-day tour."

"Master asked me to invite Miss Ji... to this month's family banquet," he said in a flustered manner.

Upon hearing this, Ji Tianci immediately became excited, "You're saying my sister isn't dead?"

"not dead."

Will she come to the family dinner?

The messenger was on the verge of tears, but had to force himself to remain calm and replied, "It should be."

Upon hearing this, Ji Tianci immediately became happy.