Chapter 5, Lǚ Zhōu Yī Lán (Middle)

Fu Mingyuan's body suddenly burst through the window and flew far away, landing with a splash in the water. She was thrown out by Yan Kaitiang with a powerful embrace. The incident occurred unexpectedly, and taking advantage of the natural difference in size and strength between them, Fu Mingyuan was caught completely off guard and offered no resistance.

He pointed with his hand, indicating the table where the young man had been sitting earlier. After saying this, he ignored Lvzhu and strode towards that direction

Green Pearl was momentarily at a loss, staring directly at the young man. He seemed to glance back at her inadvertently, and only then did her tense expression relax.

Before Yan could say anything, Fu Mingyuan coldly remarked: "What, are we not welcome? Now that Yilan Zhou has also gained a prominent reputation, can we no longer come?"

Fu Mingyuan originally intended to say something, but was interrupted by Yan Kaiting. After hesitating for a moment, he followed along.

Of course, Fu Mingyuan's skills would not allow her to drown in the river; she merely got her skirt and stockings wet before rising from the water. However, she could not use levitation spells in the city, so she could only rely on her lightness technique to barely stand on the water's surface

The first floor is an entirely open hall, with long floor-to-ceiling windows fully opened. The white curtains appear translucent, fluttering in the wind, dancing gracefully alongside the elegant figures of the dancers in the hall

Upon taking a closer look, the guest was instantly filled with a desire to cry without tears

What is evidently taking place in the hall is a casual gathering, a format that has become quite popular in recent years. There is no specific theme, and participants can engage in multiple activities within the same space according to their interests. This not only satisfies the social gathering needs of individuals but also offers flexibility, while avoiding the boredom that participants might feel if they are not skilled at or do not enjoy a particular activity.

Green Pearl finally let out a breath, one hand gripping the window frame, the other patting her heaving chest, and with lingering fear, she scolded: "Master Yan, you are being too reckless, aren't you? That is the wife of the Fu family!"

Green Pearl suddenly felt embarrassed, and judging by her expression, she likely did not expect Lin Xi to be alone with a guest in this situation; otherwise, Green Pearl would never have pointed out Lin Xi's hiding place

However, there was completely no such issue with Yan Kai Ting, as the deep crimson and rich purple accentuated the slightly sickly pallor of his face, giving it a hint of menace. If it were not for his demeanor being so languid to the point of listlessness, perhaps he could have displayed a degree of imposing presence befitting his status.

Green Pearl pointed to a corner enclosed by the curtain, "The guests at Linxi have just played a piece of music and are currently resting. Later, she will host a literary gathering. Would it be acceptable to move your seat over, Master Yan?"

The expression on the green pearl was subtly nuanced for a moment, making it difficult to ascertain whether this gentleman was speaking with hidden meaning or simply making casual remarks. Having encountered many people, she quickly responded in succession, "Yes, yes, yes, thank you, Master Yan, I will arrange a seat for you right away"

Lü Zhu noticed that the two individuals seemed to have something to discuss, so she quickly stepped back a few paces. Before she had fully turned around, an unexpected change occurred between the two by the window

The position of that table is excellent, located at the back end of the hall. On one side, there are gilded columns that reach up to the ceiling, creating a natural separation from the other seats. Facing the aisle, there is a half-carved screen, elegant and tranquil

Yan opened the court and said: "No need, I will sit there"

The two whispered to each other for a long time. The attendant, seeing that the esteemed guest had been on board for a while and that he was still being held back by Li Liang, could not help but feel anxious. "Brother Li, your master is indeed a person of high status, but we also cannot afford to provoke the one from the Fu family!"

The charming girl first exploded with anger, "No..." Before she could utter another word, she was interrupted by the young man at the forefront

Go home, this is not a place for you to play

A significant reason is that most of those present are not from Yujing and do not know Yan and Fu at all. Although a few people who glanced at them are from the city, they usually have no dealings with either family. Yan Kaiti and Fu Mingyuan also find their faces somewhat familiar, but their surnames and affiliations are completely unknown to them.

Yan sat down with a fierce demeanor, as if an unwelcome guest had arrived at the door

Li Liang, ignoring the watchful gaze of Ming Yuan beside him, strode over with great strides. He was also aware that he could not speak loudly in front of others, so he pulled the host aside to whisper.

Li Liang cast a sidelong glance at the host. While this reasoning is indeed valid, the fact that Yi Lan Zhou could so decisively and neatly break the appointment is still related to the underlying animosity between Lin Xi and the Yan family elder.

Fu Mingyuan shouted in anger: "You, Yan..."

Zhi Ke made up his mind, leaving Li Liang behind, and rushed back to the Yilan boat, instructing to set sail. What does it matter? After all, the sky won't fall; there are people on the boat taller than him to hold it up.

Please," the young man raised his hand to signal

Yan looked around the hall and smiled ambiguously, saying: "I saw her off, you should be thanking me."

Yan opened the court, clearly showing impatience. Instead of using the gangway, he directly leaped over the water's surface and jumped onto the deck, closely followed by Fu Mingyuan. With people already on board, who would have the audacity to confront these two?

Yan smiled and unexpectedly declined, saying, "A rough person like me would not want to be a nuisance. It is likely that everyone at Linxi has invited renowned scholars and gentlemen from elsewhere, so I shall not disturb her enjoyment."

Yan stood in front of the four-person table and said, "Do you mind if I take a seat at the table?" Although his tone was inquiring, it felt as if he could sit down at any moment

Green Pearl did not dare to provoke these two deities, and with a light laugh, she called for someone to come and arrange seats for them

His right hand pressed against the table, a cold light flashed, and a large hammer appeared out of thin air, causing the table to sink down immediately

Yan stood at the door, glanced around the entire hall, and stepped inside

Originally sitting opposite the young man was the tall, thin man. Upon hearing this, he stood up, offered his seat to Yan Kaoting, and moved to sit beside another man.

Yan opened the court and said: "Let's not rush, where is everyone from Linxi?"

With a cry of "Oh!" the green pearl lifted her skirt and rushed to the window to look down. If this delicate girl from the Fu family were to encounter any trouble here, regardless of who instigated it, she would have to bear the consequences herself

The host of Yilan Boat, Madam Lü Zhu, is a captivating beauty who is descending from the second floor. Upon seeing Yan Kaiting, her expression subtly stiffens, and when she notices Fu Mingyuan behind Yan Kaiting, she can no longer maintain her composure, and her smile instantly freezes on her face

The people present are engaged in various activities, lively yet not noisy, and they do not interfere with one another. Some are watching a dance, some are attending a literary gathering, some are chatting, and there are even those playing chess in such an environment

The green pearl still awaits to exchange a few smiles, when suddenly a person emerges from behind the curtain, who is none other than the young man leading the four, specifically turned back by Yilan Zhou to greet them.

Beneath the court robe, Yan is adorned in a heavy purple garment, where the deep hues of crimson and purple create a strikingly vivid combination that is quite eye-catching. The primary concern is that such brilliantly colored attire can completely overshadow the presence of the wearer.

The two individuals continued to argue, when a red cloud swept past before their eyes, followed closely by a touch of emerald green

Yan did not glance over there a second time as she opened the court session, instead turning to Ming Yuan and saying, "Second Madam, please come here for a moment." As she spoke, she walked towards a secluded long window.

At this moment, her landing point is already quite close to the shore, somewhat far from the boat, and the roar loses all its momentum over such a long distance

The Yilan boat, like most flower boats, features a three-story cabin layout, providing ample space

This principle is quite simple. Although Yan Kaiting is notoriously ill-tempered, he must put on a facade in front of the woman he wishes to pursue. The second daughter of the Fu family is usually dignified and graceful, and is known alongside the third daughter of the Tu family, Tu Yurong, as the "Jade Capital's Twin Beauties." However, once she loses her temper, there are few in the Jade Capital who can earn her respect.

Yan burst into hearty laughter, removed the outer crimson robe, and with a flick of his hand, threw it out, perfectly enveloping Fu Mingyuan's wet body and her remaining curses.

Behind him, Linxi revealed half of her beautiful face, resembling an elegant orchid, clearly having risen intentionally to see him off. This was a privilege that no one had received since her rise to fame in Yujing.

When Yan Kaiti and Fu Mingyuan walked in, they did not attract much attention; only a few people glanced at them, and no one came over to greet them