On this day, Liu Sanhu was on a date with Jiarong again. Jiarong was overjoyed when Liu Sanhu gave her some expensive looking makeup as presents. A bit sheepish, Liu Sanhu sincerely informed Jiarong that the makeup cost about half a month of his salary. Thoroughly moved, Jiarong immediately pushed Liu Sanhu into the corner with her well endowed bosom and fiercely expressed her adoration for his chest muscle with her puckering cherry mouth. 

There were two makeup bottles. After being wantonly “assaulted”, Liu Sanhu explained that he couldn’t figure out which one was better so he bought both. Of course, both of the bottles were good but one was slightly worse than the other. This was Physician Ruan’s idea- if both were great then most women would keep both for themselves. However, if one was slightly worse than the other, then it would be easier for a woman to give the worse one out as a gift to secure favors. 

Upon hearing Physician Ruan’s words, Liu Sanhu immediately expressed his sincere admiration and asked him in all seriousness if perhaps Physician Ruan grew up among a hoard of women. He really asked out of causal curiosity but who knew the usually gentle and easy-going Physician Ruan would immediately reward him with a body full of itching powder…making his very innocent self itch all over for days. 

Sure enough, Jiarong happily declared that she is going back to the inner manor to gift one of the bottles to a friend. Liu Sanhu was about to go deliver a document there anyway so he escorted her back. At the gate of the inner manor, he saw Qiu Shu waiting there. 

The man stood quietly at the door of the inner manor, calm and poised, even the small green hat on his head didn’t take away from his air of composure. Seeing Liu Sanhu and Jiarong coming together, the expression in the man’s eyes sharpened. 

Liu Sanhu felt the man’s gaze on himself, but perhaps, that’s not correct. 

“Qiu…” Liu Sanhu handed the box containing the document over and greeted him with a smile, “Have your buttocks been well?” 

Qiu Shu glanced at him, took the box, and said in a polite and courteous tone “Thank you for your concern, Guardsman Liu is sure lucky with a hug on the left and an embrace to the right, to have a beauty at your side, it sure makes people like me envious.” (“Hug on the left and an embrace on the right” is a Chinese idiom that is used to refer to playboys with their many conquests.)

Liu Sanhu’s face immediately turned stony. Jiarong shyly looks down at the ground, thinking vaguely inside, it is true that he is lucky to have a beauty at his side, but what’s with this hug on the left and an embrace to the right? 

“This miss is…” Qiu Shu looked at Jiarong, obviously waiting for Liu Sanhu to make an introduction. 

Liu Sanhu rolled his eyes before reluctantly saying “Miss Jiarong from the sewing room.” 

Assming this must a friend of her man, Jiarong shyly curtisied towards Qiu Shu’s direction, who promptly averts his body to the side and returned the greeting. Jiarong said, “If Brother Qiu needs any mending done, feel free to send a message over and I will make sure it’s done.” (By averting his body, Qiu Shu is being polite. Kind of like saying I am not worthy of such a grand gesture.)

That sounds like a simple enough favor but it’s actually not easy to do in a household with such tight security so it is more like polite meaningless words. Yet, Qiu Shu smilingly agreed and said a few more things before leaving. 

Liu Sanhu stared at his retreating back, then looked at Jiarong who had departed on the other path. Rubbing his chin, Liu Sanhu looked thoughtful. 

——————————

After a few days, the butler suddenly announced that a group of maids and servants have reached the age they should be let out. Taking advantage of the festive New Year’s celebrations, the maids and servants will be let out before New Year. Jiarong’s name was on the list, to be married to guardsman Liu Sanhu. 

Liu Sanhu took Jiarong with him to go express their gratitude but he still felt the timing is kinda odd. There was no news before the manor would be letting go of a group of servants so why now all of a sudden? He had originally planned on taking Jiarong out (taking her out of the manor…not killing her) after the whole matter is wrapped up but the schedule has been moved up now. Fortunately, he has found out most of what he needed so it’s fine to have Jiarong out now. 

When he asked Jiarong about it, Jiarong shyly confessed “I went and mentioned it to the butler…I am…not young anymore…” 

Hearing this, Liu Sanhu felt like something was off. This girl is not someone who is so decisive, who gave her the idea?

He took Jiarong out of the manor to live in town. Since his made-up background had him being a native, so naturally, he has a dilapidated house in town. He even has a fake mother and granny. His people are also stationed nearby but he himself rarely goes back there to avoid exposing any flaws. 

That night, a group of guards went to his “home” to drink and make a ruckus, yelling that he should hold the wedding right then and there. Of course, Liu Sanhu refused but those brutes promptly pushed him and Jiarong into the bedroom and locked it. 

Liu Sanhu turns around to see Jiarong shyly sitting on the bed, obviously quite willing to go along with those guards’ suggestion, seemingly ready to give herself to him on this night. After taking a closer look at Jiarong under the light, he realized now that the woman is out of the manor, she had cut back the thick hair, taken off the fake scar, taken a bath, and put on some light makeup. Under the candlelight light, the woman appeared stunningly beautiful. His chest tightened right then, thinking within himself that while he considers himself to be a rather disciplined strapping handsome young man but the trap of womanly beauty has always been formidable throughout the history of time. Others might be willing to trust him but he doesn’t dare to trust himself. So with that, Mr. Liu Sanhu escaped by jumping out of the window. 

He managed to escape but was captured by his guard friends waiting right by the window for him and dragged off to the tavern to drink as his punishment. Liu Sanhu laughed, thinking since he has no place to go for the night anyway so he might as well go drink. 

Stumbling home well after midnight, Liu Sanhu was about to go open the door but he suddenly saw a dark shadow darting out from the corner of his eye. 

The durnkeness was shocked out of him, Liu Sanhu spun around and gave chase. He at first thought that with the shadow’s stunning speed he might not be able to catch up anyway but who would’ve guessed the person even stopped to wait for him to catch up. The person would only run away again after Liu Sanhu gets close enough as if he was teasing the cat. 

His temper flaring, Liu Sanhu gave his all in the chase and was led a few rounds before it suddenly dawns on him– aren’t they just circling the town? 

This is obviously “Enticing the lion to leave the mountain”! (Chinese idiom that refers to the strategy of luring the enemy away from their stronghold.) 

Taking another look at the person’s figure, he is starting to look more and more familiar. 

Liu Sanhu stumped his foot, stopped chasing after the person and spun around to head back to the house. Rushing back, Liu Sanhu jumped up to the eaves and headed straight for his bedroom. 

*bang!*

He kicked open his own bedroom door. 

Then he froze in shock. 

There was no candlelight in the room, just moonlight coming in from the window but it was enough to see everything clearly. Enough to see Jiarong sleeping peacefully on the bed, enough to see a person slowly and calmly sitting up from beside her. 

The person turned around. Under the moonlight, his clothes were disheveled but his expression was composed, even his mask could not hide the cool noble air emanating from him. 

Qiu Shu, Ning Yi.

All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com

Liu Sanhu- Helian

Qiu Shu- Ning Yi

The outer manor servant Helian gave the map to- Ning Cheng

Physician- Zong Chen

Apprentice- Gu Nan Yi 

Jiarong- the maid Helian is romancing to get information. She has a mysterious background. 

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