Chapter 111: Advice

Chi Nan Yi thought for a moment, smiled and said, "Since Brother Chi trusts me, I'll go with you for a while; the silver isn't the most pressing matter."

"Thank you, Southern First brother; if you truly can heal my grandfather, you will be a benefactor of the Chi Family." Chi Shao yuan clasped his hands and said, "The day after tomorrow I will set out for Nanpu; I wonder if at that time Southern First brother might go together?"

"Sure."

Two days will be enough.

Back in the room, Yun Shan asked softly, "Miss, are you really going with the Chi Family's second young master to Nanpu?"

"That's right," Chi Nan Yi nodded. "After these two days of business are done, you can return to the shop first; I'll go alone."

This time she intends to use the opportunity to escort the princess sent by Yuqin Guo for a marriage alliance out, and having Yun Shan follow would make things inconvenient.

Yun Shan, hearing that she plans to go alone, grew anxious and said, "Miss, the road to Nanpu is far, the border is in turmoil; you should let me accompany you."

"No need. Though the Chi Family's second young master is not in the best health, he still possesses some cultivation, and his Dark Guard is competent—though not as good as you, he should be able to protect himself. As for me, you needn't worry; I only have to return and look after the shop. Also, just tell my parents that I've gone out to procure a batch of medicinal herbs and will be away for a while, so they can be at ease."

Sensing the impermissibility in her words, Yun Shan could only agree.

The next day, Chi Nan Yi was strolling the street; when she passed the entrance of the Millennium Pavilion, two women dressed as maidservants stepped forward and said, "Southern First Young Master."

Chi Nan Yi immediately recognized that the leading maid was the personal attendant of yesterday's star courtesan at the Millennium Pavilion.

"Miss, what brings you here?"

"Our lady is waiting for you!" The maid glanced upward toward the Millennium Pavilion. Chi Nan Yi looked up and saw, behind a layer of pale pink gauze, a woman's silhouette, faint and tantalizing, enough to make one itch with desire.

"Southern First Young Master, please come upstairs."

"Thank you for your kindness, Miss, but I have pressing matters; please just tell Rulan that I will disturb you later."

After speaking, she politely nodded, stepped over the two maidservants, and left directly.

The maid's expression turned astonished; she hadn't expected anyone to decline the invitation of the Millennium Pavilion's star courtesan.

In the private room, Rulan watched Chi Nan Yi's departing figure, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

Chi Nan Yi, walking the street with Yun Shan, asked softly, "Miss, are we really still going to the Millennium Pavilion today?"

"Yes! What's the matter?" Chi Nan Yi, seeing the indescribable expression on Yun Shan's face, laughed and said, "Don't tell me this is your first time entering a brothel."

Yun Shan nodded, "Yes."

"Your family's Prince is dashing and graceful, like jade trees in the wind; could it be that he has never even been to a brothel?"

Yun Shan, hearing that, felt alarm bells ring and hurried to explain, "No, no, truly not." Perhaps finding the explanation too flimsy, he added, "The Prince holds high rank and authority, so countless women have vied for him, yet the Prince keeps himself pure, never getting close to any woman, nor arranging marriages; there is not a single lady in the household, not even a shared‑room maid."

It was still the first time Chi Nan Yi heard Yun Shan explain something in such a hurried and rapid tone.

Seeing he wanted to continue, Chi Nan Yi waved a hand and said, "Enough, stop. I'm not very interested in these."

The two strolled the street for a long while before Chi Nan Yi finally turned back toward the Millennium Pavilion.

Returning to the entrance, the two maidservants were still waiting downstairs, but the second floor no longer held Rulan's figure.

"Southern First Young Master, please come upstairs."

Chi Nan Yi nodded, opened a folding fan, assuming the appearance of a handsome young master, and followed the maidservants up to the mezzanine.

Before reaching the mezzanine, a heartfelt melody of "Phoenix Seeking the Phoenix" was heard.

Chi Nan Yi entered the private room, gazed at the delicate, forlorn silhouette, found a seat at random, sat down, closed her eyes, and began to appreciate it.

When the piece ended, Rulan placed her hand on the strings, slowly looked up and asked, "Young master, what do you think of today's composition?"

"Not bad, Miss, your skill is superb; across the world it's hard to find a match."

"Since you think it's good, how about I play another piece?"

"Fine."

She played three pieces in succession; Chi Nan Yi did not interrupt her. After the final piece, Chi Nan Yi smiled and said, "Rulan, I suggest you replace your zither; its strings are about to break."

Rulan lowered her head upon hearing this, looked down, and indeed the second string was already wobbling on the verge of falling.

Her gaze toward Chi Nan Yi now held a few more degrees of appreciation she hadn't even realized herself.

"It seems Rulan is making a fool of herself before a master." Just by ear one can hear the string about to snap; her skill must be above my own.

"Rulan, you are being modest."

"Young master, you haven't yet critiqued the next piece for Rulan."

"Rulan, you are deeply affectionate, yet why reach for someone you fundamentally cannot attain?"

Chi Nan Yi lifted her teacup, and in Rulan's shocked gaze said softly, "Good men are everywhere in this world; Rulan, you are a beauty that could topple a nation, yet you seek any kind of man, you must be like a moth flying into flame."

Rulan, hearing this, suddenly rose, her eyes full of astonishment.

"You… what do you mean by that?"

"What I mean, Rulan, you should understand clearly." Chi Nan Yi said lightly, "If you don't want the Millennium Pavilion you have painstakingly built to be destroyed in an instant, I advise you not to entertain other thoughts." Chi Nan Yi's gaze drifted beyond the private room, expression calm: "The Millennium Pavilion, as the largest information hub, could secure you a lifetime of wealth and honor; why must you leap into a fire pit? Moreover, the fire pit you aim for is too vast—once you jump, you won't even have a chance to turn over."

Chi Nan Yi's cryptic words left Yun Shan baffled, but Rulan understood perfectly.

"What do you mean by that?"

Chi Nan Yi glanced around, and Rulan turned to the attendants in the private room, saying, "You may leave first."

"Understood."

The maidservants filed out like fish in a stream, except one lingered, her gaze fixed on Chi Nan Yi for a long moment as she passed.

"Southern First Young Master, may I speak now?" Rulan's tone shifted from the earlier gentle water, her complexion slightly darkening: "What did the young master know from the start?"

"I don't know much, I just want to give the miss a piece of advice."

"What advice?"

"The man you consider a good match, who promises you three lifetimes together, flowers and moonlit nights, pledges that when he achieves success he'll have you by his side every day—such promises, he has made to every woman around him…"