After this incident, no one dared to offend Zhang Qi anymore. After learning five characters, it was already time for dinner.

  After dinner, Zhang Qi came to the kitchen specified by Liang Shu, helping to tidy up firewood and clean. After doing it for a short while, she could go back to her room.

  At this time, the sun had just set in the west, and lanterns were hung everywhere in the house. Not far away, the fragrance of incense mixed with the scent of rouge floated around, and laughter could be heard from time to time.

  Its again become the hour of the day most liked by the nobles of Jiankang.

  Zhang Qi opened the gauze window of her room, looking at the twinkling lights floating among the trees, and turned towards the direction where the sound of Shengs voice came from. That place was familiar to her, it was where the Zhang family kept their concubines and songstresses, and also the most likely destination for a beautiful young woman like herself with a low social status.

  Zhang Qi raised her head, the bright moon shone high in the sky, and through the night fog that filled the air, she couldnt see any further. But even without looking, she knew that all households like hers, all the powerful and wealthy families, were at this moment filled with music and fragrance.

  In this world, there are not many beautiful concubines and maids in the mansion who can be shown off. I remember that day when Shi Chongyao, the richest man under heaven, showed off his wealth by using his beautiful maids as knives... Whenever a noble guest came, he would order the maids to persuade him to drink wine. If the guest refused to drink, he would cut off the maids head!

  He even killed more than a dozen beautiful concubines in one go.

  This matter has been widely circulated until now, and many nobles have imitated it. People like to mention this matter, not because Shi Cong regards human life as dirt, but because he is generous! Think of those beautiful maidservants, collected from all over the world, and then taught them piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, etiquette, dressing up, which one did not spend hundreds or thousands of gold on? But he said cut it off, without any heartache, that generosity is similar to his smashing of the priceless coral tree of the national general.

  Compared with those concubines, Zhang Gui, who had the blood of Jiankangs Zhang family, was even more noble. The higher the nobility, the more aristocrats and wealthy people liked to collect them.

  Zhang Qi took a deep breath and gathered her thoughts. When she turned around, her childish face was reflected in the blue porcelain vase.

  She reached out and stroked her face, Zhang Qi thought: There is still some time.

  There is still some time before her beauty fades.

  Back in her room, by the faint light from outside, Zhang Qi took out the brush she had received at school today and began to practice writing in the air.

  In this era, paper was precious and scarce. The Zhang family was also a wealthy household, but even such a rich and noble family would not take out large amounts of valuable paper and ink for someone as lowly as Zhang Gui to practice calligraphy. In order to avoid wasting brushes, she couldnt even dampen them on the stone table to practice.

  With rapt attention, he practiced stroke by stroke in mid-air.

  Zhang Gui had been practicing for a while and fell asleep early.

  ……

  Before she knew it, Zhang Qi had returned to the Zhang residence for three months. When she arrived, it was deep autumn, and now that winter has passed, they have entered early spring.

  In these three months, Zhang Qis height has increased a lot like a tender sapling, and the pale complexion on her face and body due to malnutrition has gradually been replaced by a fair and rosy glow.

  In a few months, Zhang Gui would be fourteen sui, and if she were a proper young lady of the Zhang family, she would already have begun to receive offers of marriage and be preparing to become engaged.

  In the room, Zhang Qi pressed down the copper mirror and picked up the scissors to cut her hair a little shorter... Her hairstyle, after careful consideration, just covered up three points of her beauty. With her current face having only five points of beauty, this one blockage could only be said to be clear and not dazzling.

  Just as she stood up, a clear voice of a maid came from outside, "A Qi A Qi, I heard that your father is back, do you know?" As she spoke, a round-faced and big-eyed maid, about 14 or 15 years old, pushed open the door and entered.

  Zhang Qi looked up and saw that the maid had applied light makeup, and couldnt help but smile: "Besides him, has the handsome young man also returned?"

  Her face was slightly embarrassed, causing the maid A Greens face to turn red. She pouted and hummed softly, then smiled again, "Youve been cooped up in your room all this time, of course you wouldnt know anything. Let me tell you, Xiao Shi Mo Lang is also here."

  As soon as this Xiao Mo was mentioned, Ah Lus face turned red and her eyes were about to well up with tears.

  Xiao Shi Mo Lang, Zhang Qi has heard for three months that his ears are all swollen. It is said that he is as handsome as a jade tree in the wind, and he is very talented at a young age. His poems are spread throughout the south of the Yangtze River.

  A Lu said to this, seeing Zhang Qi with a disbelieving expression, couldnt help but pout and say: "Im telling you Ah Qi, you havent seen Mo Lang before. Once you see him, I guarantee youll like him too."

  As she spoke, Ah Lus eyes rolled around and suddenly rushed forward, grabbed Zhang Qi heavily and dragged her towards the door.

  Zhang Qi suddenly pulled her into a stumble, and before she could react, she stumbled. By the time she came to her senses, Ah Lu had already dragged her out of the room door.

  Before Zhang Qi could speak, A Lu had already smiled and said: "Zhang Qi, isnt your father back? Youre so depressed here, when will he remember you as his daughter? I say, lets go to the front yard now. Maybe your father will catch a glimpse of you unintentionally and recognize you as his daughter. Then, with just one word from him, youll be living a good life like a proper young lady of the Zhang family."

  Zhang Qi smiled and said, "Obviously you want to go see Xiao Lang, but you came up with such an excuse." As she spoke, she still followed in Ah Lus footsteps.

  From here to the front yard, its at least half a time. Ah, Lu pulled Zhang Qi and ran all the way. When they arrived at the front yard, they were also panting, and the rouge on her face was also applied with great care.

  Wiping her face with her hand, Ah Lu regretfully exclaimed, "Its all your fault! You live so far away, and I wasted so much time just looking for you!"

  Upon hearing her complaints and seeing the distress in Ah Lus eyes, Zhang Qi couldnt help but smile wryly. She said softly, "Its just a ruined makeup, whats there to be angry about?"

  A Lu was about to refute, but saw Zhang Qi take out a handkerchief from her bosom and gently dab it on her face.

  Zhang Qis movements were gentle and rhythmic, and after wiping for a while, A Luji suddenly said: "Why have you been wiping my eyes and ears for so long?" Zhang Qi didnt respond, withdrew her fingers stained with rouge, and tidied up her disheveled hair again.

  Before long, Zhang Qi put away her handkerchief and Ah Lu pulled her forward again. As they walked, Ah Lu saw the pond beside them and muttered to herself: "Ill see if I can still see people."

  She ran to the edge of the pond and stretched her head out, then let out a startled cry. She stared blankly at the pond, her face slightly smaller, her eyebrows and eyes more delicate and charming than before. Just as she was about to say something, she patted the back of her own head and exclaimed: "The masters place is really different, even the water in the pond reflects people better than ours."

  As soon as this was said, Zhang Qi burst out laughing. Along with her laughter, a young mans bright and clear laughter also rang out at the same time.