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(Translator Note: This is not much related to the story but the protagonist of this chapter is the Young Man that Shi Qi encounters in the last chapter, but you can skip this if you want.)
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Notice: World's Supreme Fortress is hiring two maidservants. They must be well-mannered, skillful, and diligent. Monthly pay of 15 taels of silver. Interested parties can register at the gatekeeper Chi's office. Recruitment ends when full.
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Tang Xiu looked at the notice in front of him while smiling slyly. It didn't take any effort at all as his specialty was the art of disguise. Look at me, boldly going in to kill you, Xing Beiming!
The gates of World's Supreme Fortress were grand and majestic. Tang Xiu compared them to his own gate and felt a sour taste in his heart.
He explained his purpose to the two guards and was taken to the gatekeeper's office. There, he saw rows of young ladies, like in a beauty pageant. The gatekeeper, Mister Chi, was stroking his beard and inquiring about the basic information of the girls in front of him. Either nodding or shaking his head from time to time, just like the real deal.
Tang Xiu took small steps to the back of the line whole disdainfully glancing at the girls around him.
Step aside, I'm coming through!
Too ugly, no. Otherwise, it's a waste of space.
Too beautiful, no. Afraid of future schemes
Too tall, consider carefully.
Too short, no. Can't reach the table to work properly.
Slim and delicate fingers, obviously never worked hard, no. Thick and short fingers, maybe more efficient at work..
After this round, there were only a few people left. Tang Xiu stood in front of Mister Chi, smiling sweetly. "Mister Chi."
With a clear and sweet voice, Mister Chi's eyes lit up. He had a handsome appearance, average height, slender fingers with a bit of calluses, but most importantly, his voice was very pleasant, never boring to listen to.
Not bad! But can he work efficiently?
Tang Xiu rolled up his sleeves, poured a cup of tea using ordinary tea leaves but Mister Chi was surprised to find a pleasant fragrance wafting from it. Oh, he's also skilled in tea! Hired!
So, Tang Xiu proudly became the newly recruited maid of World's Supreme Fortress with a delicate face wandering around the castle and attracting many envious glances.
In a few days, Tang Xiu found that his role as a maid was more than he bargained for. He couldn't even enter the inner courtyard, let alone catch a glimpse of Xing Beiming's shadow. Every time he approached the inner courtyard, several imposing Shadow Guards would block his way with stern faces ordering him to leave quickly, leaving Tang Xiu frustrated and stomping his feet.
What's more frustrating was that he was being harassed!
"Xiao Xiu, where are you going? Let's go together?" A servant approached him with a lecherous face.
Couldn't you keep a bit of distance? I can see your nose hair, disgusting!
"Xiao Xiu, since you're free now, let's go to the city together. I heard there's a new fragrance powder on the market that girls love. Let's go?" Another servant had quite the courage and even put his hand on his shoulder!
Damn it, I only pretended to be friendly to gather information from you. Who wants to go shopping for fragrance powder with a face like yours? I don't need fragrance powder to smell good!
"Xiao Xiu..."
Alright, enough is enough, don't push it further. Are you trying to touch my chest? This is unbearable!
Tang Xiu kicked servant B unconscious, knocked servant A out with a crutch and scattered a packet of powder to stun the remaining servants...
Looking at the mess on the ground, Tang Xiu slipped away.
The missing maid Tang Xiu and the unconscious servants became the first mystery in Fortress.
Hmph! Are all the servants this despicable?
Tang Sleeve looked at the new job advertisement: World's Supreme Fortress is hiring four servants. Requires good conduct, no bad habits, positive attitude, hardworking and capable. Monthly pay of 20 taels of silver. Interested parties can register at the gatekeeper Chi's office. Recruitment ends when full.
Familiar with the way, Tang Xiu entered the gatekeeper's office. It was full of sturdy men. Mister Chi looked them over, even pinching their muscles. Tang Xiu was met with snickers from everyone.
Can this skinny guy do the job?
Hmph!
Tang Xiu sneered at them and walked to a small stone lion beside the flowerbed. He raised his hands and then... landed lightly on one hand.
Everyone gasped and Mister Chi's eyes lit up. Although he wasn't very broad, he had strength, and he looked good. Hired!
Tang Xiu flirted with the maids for two days, attracting a lot of attention. But soon, he became depressed...
Being a servant meant endless work...
Piles of clothes, bowls and dishes...
Someone said to him “What? Isn't this the servants job? If you don't want to work, just leave!” Tang Xiu was angry.
You should hire laborers if you can't handle it, why hire servants?
Finally, five days later, Tang Xiu smashed a pile of clothes and kicked over a basin of bowls and dishes. He decided not to work and left!
The missing servant Tang Xiu, the chaotic laundry and kitchen became the second mystery in Fortress.
After wandering around Yueming City for two days, Tang Xiu looked at the latest notice: World's Supreme Fortress is hiring a chef. Excellent knife skills, able to cook Sichuan cuisine. Monthly pay of 30 taels of silver. Interested parties can register at the gatekeeper Chi's office.
Tang Xiu's eyes lit up. The chef's food might be eaten by Xing Beiming. After eating Sichuan cuisine for so many years, he know how to show his skills. When the time comes, he will add something to the food Xing Beiming eats. Haha!
Applied for the job!
On the first day, Tang Xiu sprinkled unbeatable spicy powder in the food, the spicy aroma wafted into everyone's noses in the kitchen. The assistant chef drooled and said, "Tang Xiu, your cooking smells amazing. How does it taste?" Tang Xiu sneered.
You want to taste my cooking?
The head chef was asked if the food would be served to the Lord but she was cautious. "Why ask this? Tang Xiu, although your cooking is good, you need to stay grounded and not aim too high. You can't please the Lord with just one meal!"
On the second day, Tang Xiu learned about Xing Beiming's preferences and made sure that the food sent to each courtyard was mouthwatering. His efforts paid off when he received a message that the evening meal would be sent to the Main House, where Xing Beiming resided. Tang Xiu smirked while taking out a packet of powder.
Let's see what happens.
After preparing the special meal at night, Tang Xiu eagerly waited but nothing unusual happened even after falling asleep.
On the third day, Tang Xiu couldn't resist and secretly went to the vicinity of the inner courtyard to investigate. Everything seemed normal... impossible, did something go wrong?
Tang Xiu turned into the corridor while avoiding a few maids and sat down in a pavilion before placing his fingers on a plate of..
Ice Skin Pastries? Wow! My favorite!
It turns out those maids put Ice Skin Pastries there. Who's going to have them later? Sorry, I'll have them first!
Tang Xiu picked one up and took a bite.
Delicious!
He chewed and swallowed, then took another... Huh, I can't move?
Tang Xiu was puzzled. His vision suddenly flipped and his whole body stiff like a rock.
Why am I paralyzed?
Why did a petrification powder end up in my pastry?
Wasn't it given to Xing Beiming last night?
Tang Xiu lay in the pavilion for two hours before angrily smashing the entire kitchen and leaving stiffly.
Two days later, a handsome young man with a refined appearance approached the gate with two guards. "Brothers, I'm Tang Xiu. I've admired Lord Xing for a long time. Today I've come to pay my respects and hope that you can inform him."
The guard said. "Please wait, let me consult the steward."
Steward? If there's a steward, why hasn't he seen him in the Fortress earlier? Isn't the Steward supposed to manage all the affairs of the Fortress, big and small? Hmph, this Fortress's steward is so high-profile, probably only managing matters related to the Lord. No wonder he hasn't seen Xing Beiming's face after being in the Fortress for so long. It's all up to the Steward with eyes on top of his head.
The guard's words interrupted his thoughts. There was also a maid behind him. "Please come in, take Young Master Tang to Yunshu Pavilion."
Tang Xiu behaved like a graceful young nobleman, making the maid laugh heartily and her face red. She said, "Young Master Tang, please come in. I'll take my leave first."
Tang Xiu thanked her and confidently entered Yunshu Pavilion—
"Brother, Second Brother—why are you here?" Tang Xiu saw the two figures inside the pavilion clearly with his eyes widening like saucers. He wanted to run out but Tang Da grabbed him by the collar before lifting him up and said, "Lord Xing sent a message saying you're visiting here. Brothers are here to take you back! You've played enough, so it's time to go home. It's been a while since daddy's whip smelled the scent of human flesh."
"No—!" Tang Xiu's eyes filled with tears. He had put in so much effort to escape from home to roam the world. Going back meant either being beaten to death or mocked. He didn't want to go back!
Damn you, Xing Beiming, how ruthless—
Before the little guy could play any more tricks, Tang Da tied a rope around his waist, lifted him onto a horse and they set off together. As they rode quickly towards the outskirts of Yueming City, a carriage approached from the front. When the wind blew the curtains, the person inside was revealed.
Tang Xiu's eyes widened. Wasn't that Xing Beiming's face? He's not in the Fortress? Did I get played by him?
The cold face seemed to glance at him for a moment then reached out to lift the chin of the person next to him before kissing them affectionately.
The scene flashed by and it was clearly two men.
Tang Xiu's mouth hung open and the person next to Xing Beiming seemed familiar.
Where have I seen him before? It doesn't matter, what matters is, Xing Beiming is actually a cut-sleeve—just as I suspected when I first saw him on the Drunken Bliss boat, he's a lustful demon—played by such a person—
In the carriage. "Master, the cry of that person just now sounded familiar."
"Really? Just a little monkey being toyed with, no need to worry about it. Let me kiss you again..."
So, this is a story of the big fox playing with the little monkey even though the little monkey thinks he's a fox too.