The time will come.
With just a bit of maneuvering, I can easily manipulate Ye Liuyun into doing my bidding.
Thinking this, a smile involuntarily appeared at the corner of Mei Jiās lips.
āDonāt worry, Sister Liu, I can avenge you soon!ā
...
Inside the Imperial Music Bureau.
The performance underway is still by the previous Courtesan, Ruo Xi.
However.
Dressed in plain white attire, Ruo Xi at this moment fails to captivate the attention of the spectators.
Once it ends, someone immediately starts shouting.
"Whereās Mei Ji? I came specifically for Mei Ji!"
"Thatās right! Bring out Mei Ji quickly."
"Mei Ji, I want to see Mei Ji."
...
Listening to this clamor, Ruo Xi calmly stepped down from the stage.
Backstage, the maid following Ruo Xi looked over with a worried expression.
"Miss!"
Ever since Mei Ji became famous, Ruo Xiās position as Courtesan has turned increasingly awkward. Donāt assume itās a brothel, and thereād be no rivalry.
Quite the contrary.
Precisely because it is a brothel, the competition inside is even fiercer than one might imagine.
Previously, when Ruo Xi was the Courtesan, she overshadowed all other women in the Imperial Music Bureau. Did those women really have no grievances against Ruo Xi?
Impossible!
Now that Ruo Xi has been overshadowed by others.
In recent days.
Ruo Xi has heard quite a lot of open and hidden ridicule directed at herself.
"Letās go back!"
Faced with the maidās worried gaze, Ruo Xi simply chuckled lightly and said.
Eyes that usually felt disappointed now revealed a hint of relief instead.
"Finally, I can leave this place!"
Though a pure entertainer not selling her body, as Courtesan, Ruo Xi has saved enough money over the years to redeem herself.
However.
Because of the Courtesan status, even if Ruo Xiās money is sufficient, the people of the Imperial Music Bureau arenāt foolish enough to let their cash cow go for some redemption money.
But now the situation is different.
With a new Courtesan as a replacement, it seems getting herself redeemed will be much simpler!
"So, thatās what Miss has been planning!"
The maid, initially worried, immediately understood upon hearing this.
No wonder.
Ever since Mei Ji rose to fame, Miss has been unworried all the time; so thatās what she had in mind.
"Miss!"
However.
Upon realizing something else.
The maid then looked pitifully at Ruo Xi.
"Donāt worry."
Seeing this, Ruo Xi couldnāt help but laugh, lightly tapping the maidās forehead with her fingertip.
"If I leave, Iāll surely take you with me!"
After all, the maid has been with Ruo Xi ever since she entered the Imperial Music Bureau; how could Ruo Xi possibly have no feelings for her?
"Hehe, thank you, Miss!"
Upon hearing that she too might have a chance to leave the Imperial Music Bureau.
The maid was overjoyed.
The look of worry on her face from earlier disappeared completely, turning into an expression of happiness as she followed alongside Ruo Xi.
Just at this moment, Mei Ji, already dressed and groomed, descended from upstairs.
The two glanced at each other.
Even Ruo Xi had to admit, Mei Ji looked as stunning as a celestial being.
"No need to thank me."
Seeing this, Mei Ji tilted her neck and smiled as she spoke.
Clearly, Mei Ji had heard the conversation between Ruo Xi and her maid, not on purpose; itās just difficult not to, given her Innate Martial Artist abilities.
Mei Ji hadnāt genuinely come to the Imperial Music Bureau to be a Courtesan.
Her main goal was Ye Liuyun; she harbored no malice towards Ruo Xi, and if her presence could aid Ruo Xi in leaving this place brimming with smoke and dust.
Mei Ji didnāt mind.
...
Seeing Mei Ji speak this way.
Ruo Xi was momentarily stunned.
Then she couldnāt help but laugh, bowing slightly to Mei Ji before leaving.
...
The previously noisy Imperial Music Bureau.
Quickly fell silent due to Mei Jiās appearance.
Unlike the gentle music before, Mei Jiās melody was imbued with vigor and hope, perhaps indicating Mei Jiās heart is filled with aspirations of revenge.
Soon.
The performance came to an end.
But amid the crowdās cheers, Mei Ji did not leave directly.
Instead, she announced the selection of a guest to join her privately.
Sure enough, this announcement stirred excitement among many.
Even if unable to achieve anything, being in a room with such a beauty, chatting and drinking, is a delightful affair.
Many began shouting.
The wealthy began bidding, those with some status started mentioning their fathers.
Where Ye Liuyun was.
There seemed to be no movement.
"My lord, Mei Ji is truly clever!"
Si Nan was no fool and immediately grasped Mei Jiās intention.
Her plan is likely to make Ye Liuyun the private guest.
"If she werenāt clever, how could she have survived till now!"
After Liu Qingqingās death.
Yan Fuhai surely gave the order to eliminate all members of Qingshui Pavilion, yet some survived; if they were truly dimwitted, theyād have died long ago and never made it this far.
Being told this.
Si Nan nodded in agreement.
Indeed, if they were truly dimwitted, theyād never have survived till now.