Volume Three: Those Years I Was a Wangye
Hualang Game1
On the way back to the residence, Wen Nuan kept wondering about the reason for the decrease in the female lead’s blackening value.
【Could it be that the female lead heard you returned and is happy?】the System guessed.
Wen Nuan’s movement of closing her fan paused, and she said with an awkward expression, “Her? Happy?”
The System thought about it and also felt it was impossible: 【Then why is it?】
The two looked at each other, both expressing their confusion.
【Overall, a decrease in the blackening value is a good thing.】
Wen Nuan nodded. “That’s true too, whatever the reason, as long as the blackening value can be lowered.”
She was quite open-minded about it; after all, the purpose of her return this time was precisely to lower the blackening value.
Wen Nuan’s Wangfu2 was on Anning Avenue, separated from Lin Tinghan’s residence by only a small, nameless alley.
Living on Anning Avenue were all court officials of the Jianing Country. At a glance, the Xian Wang’s3 Wangfu occupied the largest area, its mansion the most imposing and luxurious. The plaque of the Wangfu was personally inscribed by the Nuhuang4, a precious imperial gift.
Someone was already waiting at the entrance of the Wangfu early on; it was her shiniang5 Sun-gugu6 and her personal maidservant7 Lianqiao8.
The two saw Wen Nuan’s figure from afar and immediately ran over.
Sun-gugu called out anxiously, “Xiao Wangye9…. Xiao Wangye….”
“Wangye…. Wangye…..” Lianqiao ran behind Sun-gugu.
Wen Nuan waved her hand. “Run a bit slower, it’s not like I’m going to run off again.”
As soon as her voice fell, the two ran up to her and burst into tears, lamenting.
“Xiao Wangye, how did you get so thin?” Sun-gugu didn’t dare to touch Wen Nuan, her eyes full of heartache and pity.
Lianqiao cried jiji10, “Wangye, you’ve lost so much weight! You’ve suffered. Lianqiao missed you so much.”
Wen Nuan looked at the two people before her, already tear-streaked, and smiled helplessly. “Alright, I’m back now, what’s there to cry about? If I’ve lost weight, we’ll just eat to gain it back, won’t we? Stop crying. Wiping tears on the road, aren’t you afraid of being laughed at?”
Lianqiao and Sun-gugu each supported one of Wen Nuan’s arms.
“Xiao Wangye, are you hungry? Are you tired? Is there any discomfort in your body? Did you sleep well while you were away?” Sun-gugu hurriedly asked.
“I am a bit hungry, not tired, my body is fine, and I slept quite well,” Wen Nuan squeezed Sun-gugu’s hand reassuringly. “Sun-gugu, rest assured, I am well.”
Sun-gugu carefully examined Wen Nuan. Seeing that apart from being a bit thinner, Wen Nuan was fine in other aspects, she felt relieved.
She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and said with a hint of complaint, “You, ah, you were out for over a year and didn’t even write a letter home to report your safety. During the time you were away, Her Majesty the Nuhuang sent people over almost every day to ask if there was any letter from you. She was very worried about you.”
Still writing letters?
The original body had already been thoroughly cold (dead) during that year.
If the System hadn’t readjusted the original body’s data, when Wen Nuan transmigrated back, the original body would have been a pile of white bones.
Wen Nuan patted Sun-gugu’s shoulder. “It’s my fault. I won’t leave anymore from now on. I’ll stay in Jiajing, alright?”
“Really!?” Lianqiao said happily. “Wangye, are you really not leaving anymore?”
“En en, not leaving.” Wen Nuan walked into the inner courtyard, saw the meal already prepared in the main hall, and immediately sat in the seat of honor11, beckoning, “Alright, let’s eat quickly. I’m starving to death.”
Sun-gugu and Lianqiao were considered her family. Wen Nuan didn’t care much about the distinction between superior and inferior; in the past, they always sat at the same table and ate together.
Sun-gugu kept putting food on Wen Nuan’s plate, asking about this and that.
Wen Nuan ate while responding. She always enjoyed the care from elders in every mission world, perhaps because she never had it before, so she cherished it all the more when she encountered it.
After eating and drinking her fill, Wen Nuan returned to her room to rest. She had been busy all day and had also reduced a bit of the blackening value.
Overall, she had gained quite a lot from this return.
Late at night, the crescent moon was like a hook.
The Lin Residence was silent, like a deserted house that had been empty for a long time.
The attendants and maidservants in the Lin Residence all moved very lightly, because the master of the Lin Residence could not bear any noise or laughter.
The study door was pushed open. Lin Tinghan watched Ruilin12 walk in carrying a bowl of medicinal soup.
“Miss, it’s time to drink your medicine.” Ruilin placed the medicine in front of Lin Tinghan. “The doctor said that your body cold constitution13 needs to be nurtured. You’ve been staying up late every night recently, how can your body endure it?”
Lin Tinghan took the medicine bowl and drank it down without even frowning, then placed the bowl on the tray. “Too talkative.”
“Yes, yes, yes, this servant is too talkative, but this servant is worried about you.” Ruilin looked at the oil lamp beside Lin Tinghan; the candlelight was faint, illuminating only a very small area.
“Miss, this oil lamp is about to go out. Let me add some more pine resin14 for you.” Ruilin turned to get it.
“No need, I can see clearly.”
Lin Tinghan glanced at the moonlight tonight; it was cold and desolate.
“Miss, you’re like this again. This servant knows your eyes are sharp and you can see at night, but it’s ultimately not good to keep staying up like this. The doctor also repeatedly warned you to take good care of yourself, but you just don’t listen.” Ruilin brought the pine resin, added some, and the candlelight instantly brightened considerably.
Lin Tinghan sighed, closed the account book in her hand, and looked at the still chattering Ruilin.
Her voice was faint as she said, “Too talkative.”
Ruilin: “……”
The room was quiet, save for the zizi15 sound of sparks falling into the lamp oil.
“Fanglan Courtyard caused trouble again today?” Lin Tinghan picked up a teacup from the side. The cup was warm, but when she took a sip, she found the tea had long gone cold.
Ruilin’s face was displeased, and she sighed, “They did, and it was particularly fierce this time. I don’t know who has such a loose tongue, to tell him…” She glanced at Lin Tinghan and muttered in a low voice, “…the news of Xian Wang’s return. He kept shouting that he wanted to go out and see Xian Wang.”
Lin Tinghan lowered her eyes. “Tell him, in two days, I will let him go find his beloved Xian Wang Dianxia16.”
Ruilin glanced at Lin Tinghan and replied in a low voice, “Yes, Miss.”
“You may leave.”
Ruilin exited the study and closed the door behind her.
Lin Tinghan turned, took a scroll painting from the bookshelf, opened it on the desk, and examined it carefully.
The places illuminated by the candlelight were not as clearly seen as by her eyes.
A sigh quietly echoed in the silent room, then it returned to tranquility.
It was when the sun was three poles high17 that Wen Nuan woke up in a daze.
The System was constantly shouting in her ear, 【Get up and do the mission!!】
Wen Nuan yawned. “What’s the hurry? Isn’t the male lead only appearing tonight? Besides, with the female lead’s wealth and extravagance, are you afraid she won’t be able to bid for the male lead?”
【I’m worried there might be changes. Now that the female lead has blackened, I’m afraid the original plot might change. If the female lead doesn’t go to Qingfeng Lou18 tonight, then she and the male lead will miss each other.】the System said with some concern.
Thinking about it, that made sense. In the first two worlds, the female lead and male lead had already met, and the plot naturally continued to develop.
But now, the male lead hadn’t even appeared yet, and the female lead had already blackened. Such a big change would definitely affect the original plot, and perhaps even cause the male and female leads to miss each other.
Thinking of this, Wen Nuan immediately perked up, got out of bed, washed up, and dressed.
Lianqiao had been waiting outside the room all along. Even though the sun was high in the sky, she didn’t dare to go in and disturb Wen Nuan’s sleep, because her Wangye was good at everything except for having a bit of morning grumpiness.
Hearing sounds from inside the room, Lianqiao guessed that Wangye was up and immediately knocked on the door, asking, “Wangye, are you awake? Shall Lianqiao come in to help you wash up and dress?”
“Come in.”
Lianqiao immediately pushed the door open and went in. “Coming.”
After washing up, Lianqiao tied a fine white jade pendant to Wen Nuan’s waist. “Wangye, where are you going?”
“Out to play.” Wen Nuan picked up the fan from the table. “I haven’t been back to Jiajing for a year, I’m afraid many new interesting things have been added. Going to take a look.”
“Then shall Lianqiao accompany you?”
Wen Nuan nodded. “Alright.”
After everything was sorted out, Wen Nuan was just in time for lunch.
Under Sun-gugu’s worried and complaining gaze, Wen Nuan repeatedly assured her that she was just going to play around casually within Jiajing city and wouldn’t disappear without a word like she did a year ago.
Seeing Wen Nuan taking Lianqiao with her, Sun-gugu felt somewhat relieved and instructed, “Good, Xiao Wangye, have fun. Lianqiao, take good care of Wangye, understand?”
Lianqiao nodded emphatically. “Yes, Sun-gugu.”
The news of Xian Wang’s return to Jiajing had already spread throughout the streets and alleys of Jiajing.
Only now, upon seeing Xian Wang in person, were the common people of the city certain that this romantic and unrestrained Xian Wang had truly returned.
The sun was still hanging high in the sky. At this time, Qingfeng Lou’s main doors were tightly shut, with a wooden sign hanging that read “Closed for Rectification.” The notice board at the entrance stated the reason for the rectification: to prepare for tonight’s “Hualang Auction.”
“Is Wangye interested in Qingfeng Lou’s Hualang Auction?”
Wen Nuan looked at the person who had approached. The woman wore a simple long gown19, held a banner20, and was dressed somewhat incongruously. A barely perceptible hint of calculation flashed in her sharp eyes.
“A bit interesting,” Wen Nuan gestured towards Qingfeng Lou with her chin. “Listening to you, have you played before?”
The woman shook the wooden hairpin on her head and grinned, baring her teeth. “The Hualang Auction is Qingfeng Lou’s exclusive attraction. The owner of Qingfeng Lou buys men from various countries at high prices. After several months of careful selection and training, three exquisite men are chosen, called ‘Hualang.’ The owner of Qingfeng Lou will issue an announcement and conduct the Hualang Auction. Anyone can participate, and the highest bidder wins.”
Qingfeng Lou did not exist a year ago. This place was originally a restaurant. Later, the restaurant owner’s business declined, and she sold the restaurant. The buyer transformed the restaurant into a pleasure quarter21, named “Qingfeng Lou.”
And this buyer was Lin Tinghan. In the entire city of Jiajing, apart from Wen Nuan who knew that the boss behind Qingfeng Lou was Lin Tinghan, no one else knew who the person behind Qingfeng Lou was.
Wen Nuan fanned herself, smiling faintly. “You seem to know quite a lot, ah?”
The woman adjusted the banner in her hand. “Not much, not much, people just call me Jianghu Baixiaosheng22, that’s all.”
The banner prominently displayed the three large characters “百曉生” (Baixiaosheng), giving off a bit of a charlatan vibe.
Wen Nuan gave Lianqiao a look. Lianqiao took out an ingot of silver from her purse23 and handed it over. “A reward from Wangye.”
Baixiaosheng’s eyes crinkled into a smile as she accepted it with both hands. “Many thanks for Xian Wang’s reward.”
“Since you are Baixiaosheng, you naturally know a lot. Then do you know which of the three Hualang selected by Qingfeng Lou this time is the most beautiful?” Wen Nuan asked curiously.
“Wangye, you’ve certainly asked the right person. Based on this humble one’s24 experience of judging countless people, the third Hualang is the most beautiful.” Baixiaosheng took out a portrait and slowly unfurled it before Wen Nuan’s eyes. “Qi Hanrong25, from Zhangqing Country, with an outstanding figure, exceptional temperament, and looks that are simply heavenly.”
She leaned closer to Wen Nuan and said in a low voice, “This Hualang’s beauty is almost comparable to Lin family’s Eldest Miss, Lin Tinghan.”
Wen Nuan raised an eyebrow. She couldn’t make out much from the portrait; it was somewhat blurry.
But hearing Baixiaosheng say this, her interest was immediately piqued. “Is he that beautiful?”
Baixiaosheng nodded. “Absolutely true. This humble one once unintentionally caught a glimpse of Qi Hanrong, and it was simply breathtaking.”
“Then do you think Lin Tinghan is superior, or is this Qi Hanrong a case of the student surpasses the master26?” Wen Nuan hadn’t seen the male lead yet, and now that Baixiaosheng had described him like this, she was very curious about the male lead’s appearance.
Baixiaosheng frowned deeply, pondered for a long time, and said with extreme difficulty, “If we are to say… who is more beautiful, the Eldest Miss Lin from a year ago was superior.”
Wen Nuan was surprised. “Why the Lin Tinghan from a year ago, and not the current Lin Tinghan?”
“Because….” Baixiaosheng also knew some street rumors. She glanced at Wen Nuan and said tactfully, “Eldest Miss Lin hasn’t smiled for a long time and often wears a cold expression. If she could smile like she did a year ago, she would undoubtedly be an unparalleled beauty, incomparable to anyone. It’s just a pity….”
Wen Nuan’s brow furrowed slightly. She looked at Baixiaosheng and changed the subject, “You are quite an interesting character. Tonight, at the Hualang Auction, would you like to accompany This King27 and have some fun?”
Baixiaosheng said in pleasant surprise, “For this humble one to accompany Wangye is a blessing from heaven, a sign of impending merit, fortunate for three lifetimes….”
“Alright, alright, quickly put away these messy words, they’re too cloying to listen to,” Wen Nuan said with a look of disdain.
This Baixiaosheng was too damn good at flattering; her little phrases came one after another.
Baixiaosheng smiled. “Yes, Wangye.”
“However, before that, you need to do something for me,” Wen Nuan’s lips curved upwards as she leaned close to Baixiaosheng’s ear and explained in detail.
Baixiaosheng listened with a completely bewildered expression, but since Wen Nuan had requested her to do it, she had to carry it out accurately and without error.
“Yes, Wangye, this humble one will definitely handle this matter properly and flawlessly.”
Wen Nuan nodded in approval and waved her hand for Baixiaosheng to leave.
“Wangye, this servant doesn’t think that person looks like a proper sort. Why do you still want her to do things for you?” Lianqiao said, unwilling to accept it. “If Wangye wants someone to do things, this servant can also do them for Wangye.”
Wen Nuan closed her fan and smiled. “There are some things you are not suited to do, but she is.”
Lianqiao was puzzled. “What kind of things are those?”
Wen Nuan looked at the notice on the board, her gaze profound. “Spread rumors to mislead the public.”
This Baixiaosheng had a clever tongue; she was articulate and eloquent.
She could talk the dead into being alive, and black into white. In the Jianghu, she was known as “Clever-tongued Ji Chenwei28,” and she was also the tragic female supporting character of this world.
Why tragic?
Because she died trying to save the male lead, Qi Hanrong.
The author has something to say:
Wen Nuan (picking her nose): There’s a female supporting character in this world, so what am I?
System (smiling): Get to know cannon fodder29.
Extra chapter for a reason, are you surprised by me?!
My tenosynovitis has gotten better recently, so I’m giving you an extra chapter. Still a habit from [platform name], no breaks during serialization. If my wrist is in good condition, I’ll add more chapters.
Love you all yo.
✨ Unlock Early Access to Chapters! ✨
Choose your perfect membership at bamboopandatl.net:
📚 Full Access ($4.99)
• Advanced chapters of ALL ongoing novels
• Access to complete finished novels
• Ad-free reading experience
📖 Single Novel Access ($1.49)
• Advanced chapters of ONE specific novel
• Ad-free reading for chosen novel
PayPal is the only current payment option!