Seeing Tao Er coming in, I was startled for a moment. And in my moment of trance, Lian’er had already passed the towel to Tao Er, left silently, and closed the door.

I shuddered, walking over to him silently. I pulled the towel and wrapped it around me.

How come he had not changed the habit for so many years? I admitted that it was my fault to break into his hot spring when he was bathing. But there was no need to take it to heart, and to break into when I was taking a bath from time to time.

In fact, it really wasn’t my fault. At that time, I just fled from the imperial capital and sneaked into Baihong Heights. I heard that Tao Qing, the owner of Baihong Heights was kindhearted and righteous. How could I ever know that he was a niggard who was extremely hard on servants? I was brought up in the Prime Minister mansion. Though I was not a clean person by nature, I, influenced by Master Shifu, could not bear a lack of bathing for a long time.

There was a maple leafed hot spring in Baihong Heights that I had been coveting for a long time, but I heard that only the owner could take a bath in it. I, inevitably, complained privately and sneaked in by excellent Lightness Skill, completely ignoring the rules and guards. I also brought wines. I planned to take a sip when I was taking a bath in hot spring.

But somehow, I fell asleep on a stone when I was drinking. When I woke up in a daze, I heard the sound of water nearby.

You know, I was still a “gyrfalcon” at that time. I was good at hiding the breath even in my sleep. So if I didn’t drink the wine and fall asleep, I should have perceived someone coming into the hot spring.

At that time, my clothes were far away from me. There was only one piece of white cloth at hand. I calculated in my mind: It was said that Tao Qing, the owner of Baihong Heights, was the greatest in martial arts. Although it was not eminently believable, he was definitely very powerful. Though I might not be a match of him in martial arts, I was confident in my lightness skill. I could jump behind him in a flash, grabbed the clothes, and run away. But then he would see me. But that didn’t matter, as by then I should have flied too far away for him to catch up. And I was sure that he would not chase me because he was certainly not too shameless to run nakedly in the mountain…

The problem was, he would definitely see me, and I only had a piece of white cloth in my hand. So here came the question: where should I cover?

Chest? Or the lower part of the body?

Alas! There was no time for me to think further. I covered my face with the white cloth, jumped out of the water, grabbed the clothes, turned around, and ran.

I glimpsed the extremely shock in the eyes of Tao Qing in the mist. He subconsciously jumped out of the water and chased me, which rankled for a long time. He always used this as an excuse to threaten me to take responsibility for seeing him naked. While I would always argue that he should just let me go! He couldn’t catch up, of course, and there was nothing good to see.

He was blue in the face at the mention of this, “Well, nothing good to see?”

All right, perhaps I should hold my tongue…

Anyway, he didn’t catch me. It didn’t matter even if he saw everything because my face was covered. He wouldn’t know who I was. However, he actually called up all girls from thirteen to twenty-three years old of Baihong Heights to undress so that he could check!

Although it was those mammies who checked for him, the fact told how shameless he was! I was wily, too. I disguised myself as a man. Hey, hey…

It happened in a flash although I recalled for a long time. Tao Er snatched the towel to help me wipe my body and ordered in a low voice when I twisted my body, “Don’t move!”

I froze immediately.

It was strange that he became serious. He dried my body quickly and helped me get dressed. I asked confusingly, “What happened?”

I felt extremely nervous and wondered if they were going to interrogate me again!

Tao Er said with a grave expression, “You’ll see.”

I became more afraid when hearing this as if I would be sent to the guillotine.

I grabbed his cuff and said tearfully, “I’m sorry. Please forgive me this time, and I’ll never do it again!”

Tao Er said nothing, veins throbbing in his temples.

I remembered the strange man who I ran into in the Men’s Room and asked cautiously, “Tao, the man… who is the man with you?”

Tao the Second Childe was shocked for a while. He was embarrassed as if he was caught cheating. Of course, he disguised well but I saw everything.

“Just an ordinary friend.”

I had the experience that anyone who emphasized “ordinary” was usually not ordinary at all.

I snorted and felt sour. Tao, you should at least find a man better than the ones in Li Mansion if you wanted to go whoring!

Tao the Second Chile held me to Yan Garden directly after I got dressed. I felt surprised, “Why is he in such a hurry?”

Yan Garden was brightly lit, and all childes were there. Yan Wu’s jars and bottles were spread in profusion.

I was stunned.

I screamed quickly.

I just went to the brothel. How could you do this to me?

Yan Wu glanced back at me and said, speechlessly, “Stop it. I just want to help you to disguise.”

“Disguise?” I was startled. “Why should I disguise?” And I said sadly, “Do you think that I now look ugly…”

Heavens! I, Li Yingyu, used to be the most beautiful girl in our village…

Qiao the Fourth Childe looked away and sighed, “…”

I replied, aggrieved, “How do I know if you don’t say it? You know that I’m so stupid that I can’t even solve lantern riddles.”

Tao Er said, “Someone will come this evening, and he may stay with us for a while. You must avoid him because he has a complicated background.”

But then I had an idea. “Is he your ‘ordinary’ friend?”

Tao nodded and stared at me, “Are you very impressed with him?”

Sure, there would be no second chance for such a historic meeting in my life. But considering my reputation and integrity, it must be kept secret. I said vaguely, “I have met him once in Triplet Pleasure Boat. He looks a little familiar.”

But I didn’t expect that they would be terrified by my words, all freezing for a second! I looked around questioningly, but the next second they all went about their own business as if nothing had happened.

I jumped off the table and walked to Yan Wu, “It only took you a while to disguise a man before. Why does it look so…complicated this time?”

“Wearing a mask for a long time will cause damage to the skin. This mask is designed just for you, which can nurse your skin instead.” Yan Wu said proudly.

I touched my face, which was as smooth and soft as a shelled egg. I really appreciated Yan Wu’s help.

After a little while, the mask was finished. I lay flat on the bed with my eyes closed. Then Yan Wu put a thin and cool mask on my face, his deft fingers rubbing my face. The coolness on my face disappeared after a while. The mask seemed to have melted into my skin, and I couldn’t even feel it.

Yan Wu was really a master. It was a great pity that he was my personal doctor!

I opened my eyes, and touched my face. I felt no difference from before, but I was startled when I looked in the mirror.

In fact, it was acceptable except the darker skin. I had not changed much, but, strangely, I looked mediocre, so mediocre that I would easily be ignored in the crowd.