cold clothes

Leng Yi's shamelessness was a bit much for Wu Xue to handle, but she still patiently taught Leng Yi the dance steps. However, she seemed to be bad at teaching others; while she danced gracefully and fluidly herself, she appeared hesitant and awkward when explaining the movements to Leng Yi. Leng Yi noticed that Wu Xue felt inferior because of her clumsiness and quickly said:

"I'm a bit difficult to teach, haha, thank you for your hard work."

Wu Xue was stunned by Leng Yi's cheerful smile. After opening her mouth for a moment, she whispered, "No, that's not it."

Although it was only three ambiguous words, Leng Yi seemed to understand her meaning.

Afterwards, Wu Xue was clearly much more relaxed, slowing down to allow Leng Yi to keep up with her rhythm, quietly tapping her feet. The girl seemed to have a deep love for dance, unconsciously immersing herself in it. Leng Yi watched her dance with her eyes lowered and a smile on her face, her heart also touched by this pure joy.

"You dance so beautifully, even more beautiful than summer flowers."

Leng Yi couldn't help but say what she had always wanted to say. Seeing Wu Xue's somewhat dazed look, she felt a strong urge to tell her how beautiful she was: "I'm telling the truth. I think you're very beautiful too. When you dance, you're like a fairy descending to earth. Why do you feel that you're not as good as Xia Hua?"

Seeing Leng Yi praising her so earnestly, as if she were standing up for her, Wu Xue suddenly found it somewhat amusing. She had never spoken to Leng Yi before, and Wu Xue had never paid her any attention. Why was Leng Yi so indignant after just a few words? Wasn't she being a bit too honest and straightforward? Strangely, however, looking into Leng Yi's clear blue eyes, she also felt an urge to confide in her. There were things she had never dared to tell anyone, but with Leng Yi, she seemed to have found an outlet.

"Actually, I hate it when people here say I'm beautiful." Wu Xue gave Leng Yi a strange, bitter smile.

"Why do you say that?" Leng Yi pressed.

"It feels like being called beautiful here isn't a good thing..." Wu Xue said, glancing nervously at the door and seeing the maids and servants walking around outside with fear on their faces.

Seeing that Wu Xue dared not continue, Leng Yi became somewhat anxious. The task Yun Qiu had given her was to be carried out tomorrow, and if she could learn something from Wu Xue, it might be to her advantage. With a quick glance around, Leng Yi feigned innocence and said, "Actually, I feel the same way, especially when others look into my eyes. That kind of look scares me. It feels like... like... someone who has been starving for a long time seeing a steamed bun and just wants to eat it."

"Hehe..." Wu Xue chuckled, then began to dance. After a graceful turn, she looked at Leng Yi: "I heard that you chose to come to Fengyue Tower yourself?"

Leng Yi jumped up with Wu Xue: "I guess so. I had just escaped from the refugee camp and didn't know where to go."

"Then you're really unlucky to have come here."

“I think it’s pretty good…” Leng Yi paused for a moment, noticing the strange look in Wu Xue’s eyes, and continued, “Having food and drink, and being able to study, is something many people envy. You may not know that many people are living a life of homelessness and hunger these days.”

"Hehehe, you're so naive."

Wu Xue pretended to raise her lips to retort to Leng Yi, but she interrupted her, "However, Yun Mei's death made me realize that life here is still uncertain. The difference is that a beggar might die a violent death in the street, while a prostitute might die in—a man's bed."

“It’s not possible, it’s certain.” Wu Xue suddenly said decisively, her eyes, which belonged to a ten-year-old girl, were filled with a dejection and sorrow beyond her years.

“It’s not possible, it’s certain.” Wu Xue repeated in a low voice, “In fact, our ending will be the same as Yun Mei’s. We can’t escape it. We will all die.”

Leng Yi was stunned by this answer. "Why?"

"Why, ha, you don't know anything... Then let me tell you." Wu Xue gave a bitter smile, leaned closer and lowered her voice to say, "As far as I know, Liang Shuyun is Yun Mei's enemy, Yun Mei's only target. After Yun Mei successfully gained Liang Shuyun's favor and trust, her death was just around the corner."

“It seems a bit hard to understand,” Wu Xue smiled at Leng Yi’s surprised and doubtful look, and then added, “Actually, it is that Liang Shuyun is the culprit who brought Yun Mei to Fengxiang Pavilion, and Yun Mei took revenge by dying.”

"Wait, if it's revenge, why is it Yunmei who died? What's the point? Liang Shuyun is still alive and well." Leng Yi asked, puzzled. She felt completely confused; brothels, prostitutes, revenge, death... the combination of these elements was terrifying.

"Do you think Yun Mei can kill Liang Shuyun?" Wu Xue retorted. "The people who come to Fengxiang Pavilion are all rich and powerful. If anything happens to anyone in Fengxiang Pavilion, it could lead to the destruction of Fengxiang Pavilion. That's why we are destined to die. For lowly people like us to seek revenge against the powerful is like an ant trying to shake a tree or a moth flying into a flame."

"But we have no choice but to shake the tree and put out the fire, because we are just sacrifices to Madam Hu. She is the greatest avenger in Fengxiang Tower."

She is the greatest avenger in Fengxiang Pavilion.

Wu Xue's voice trembled as she spoke these words, seemingly out of fear, yet also out of a long-suppressed sense of catharsis. Her usually dark and calm eyes shone with a frightening light, revealing a profound sorrow.

Leng Yi felt suffocated by her sorrow, her throat dry and bitter: "So, Yun Mei's death was actually premeditated, right? Yun Mei approached Liang Shuyun, let Liang Shuyun kill her, and then what? So that Liang Shuyun would have something on Hu Mama?"

“That’s right. Madam Hu has this leverage that she can use to kill Liang Shuyun. But I don’t know when Madam Hu plans to kill Liang Shuyun. I’m just a pawn in her game.”

"So, according to you, the women at Fengxiang Pavilion are all persecuted by the powerful and wealthy, right? The guests they entertain are their enemies, and their goal is revenge." Leng Yi had a sudden realization, and it seemed that everything she had felt was amiss before had finally come together.

"If they weren't persecuted, who would become a prostitute? The nobles and aristocrats who indulged in drinking, gambling, and whoring every night had blood on their heads, and prostitutes were their creditors."

Wu Xue's sharp words silenced Leng Yi for a moment, then she said, "It seems that Fengxiang Pavilion is not just a brothel, but also has many conspiracies behind it... Your original status must have been quite high, right? Poor people would not build a brothel to train prostitutes to take revenge on the powerful. You seem to have practiced dancing since you were a child, so you must have been born into a wealthy family."

When the topic turned to her own background, Wu Xue's expression changed drastically. Her pale lips trembled as she said, "I advise you not to pry into other people's pasts at Fengxiang Pavilion. No one wants their scars to be reopened."

"……sorry."

Wu Xue closed her eyes, turned around and said, "I've said enough tonight. Don't be naive anymore. For someone like you with a blank background, Aunt Hu might torment you even more. Your future is uncertain. Good luck. I'm leaving now."