Peerless Dancer

Chapter 8: The Maid Mei Jin

Led to our new quarters by the burly man, I was astounded by the sheer opulence. I had seen luxurious rooms before, but never one so lavish and full of character. Touching and examining everything around, a sense of joy started to creep in. It seemed being a star had its perks!

Dragon Dan was in the next room but soon joined me, closing the door behind her. "Do you think they intend to have us perform indefinitely?" she asked.

Still riding the wave of excitement, I absently replied, "It’s not too bad!"

Dragon Dan grabbed my arm and pinched it hard.

Wincing from the pain, I exclaimed, "You’ve turned into a man but still can’t stop being a pain!"

Dragon Dan laughed, "You turned into a man and still don’t stop being ridiculous?"

I shot her a glare and said, "You saw the current situation! How about we talk to Hua Mama?"

With a grimace, Dragon Dan responded, "You go if you want! Just hearing that old woman’s voice makes me want to die. Asking me to go is like sentencing me to death!"

I thought to myself, ‘Why didn’t you consider that I might feel the same way?’ and said, "If we die, we die together!"

Dragon Dan chuckled, "Really! You never want to share any burden. Won’t cook, won’t wash clothes unless I remind you. I must have owed you in a past life! We need to understand our current situation first and then plan." She nearly roared towards the end.

There was nothing I could do. Despite my usual bravado, in front of her, I was always subdued. She was my nemesis.

Covering my ears, I retorted, "Look at the situation we’re in! And you’re still being so bossy!"

She brought a bronze mirror and said with a mischievous smile, "Afraid to look in the mirror? Look at yourself!"

I hesitated briefly but curiosity won. When I brought the mirror up, I nearly fainted!

As a woman, I was considered quirky and cute. Now as a man, I looked like a refined scholar, full of grace!

Feeling somewhat proud, I laughed and said, "If I grow a beard, it’ll be even better!"

"Don’t worry, it’ll grow soon enough! Then you’ll have to figure out how to shave without a razor. Maybe you’ll have to borrow a butcher’s knife!" Dragon Dan teased.

Imagining myself shaving with a huge butcher’s knife made us both laugh harder.

As we were messing around, Hua Mama entered with two maids carrying fruits and snacks.

Hua Mama’s sycophantic smile and her red silk handkerchief made me cringe as she exclaimed, "Young Master Wu, Young Master Long, oh! Busy, I see!"

She glanced towards the bed with a peculiar expression, making me shiver with disgust.

Dragon Dan whispered in my ear, "She thinks we’re lovers!"

Suppressing my laughter, I glared, "How dare you! We need to ask Hua Mama something, is it convenient?"

Hua Mama’s face lit up, "Convenient! Very convenient!"

The maids had set the table. Hua Mama sat down and I avoided her foul breath by sitting across from her. Dragon Dan pretended to admire the paintings on the wall.

Internally cursing her, I maintained a smile, "Hua Mama, sorry to trouble you!"

Hua Mama stood hastily, "Young Master Wu, don’t say that! It was a sin to lock you in the basement!"

"Unintentionally offending is not a crime!" I waved my hand, "Honestly, we’re not familiar with the customs here. Could you enlighten us?"

Inside, I was seething. If not for our lives, I wouldn’t be so courteous!

Hua Mama signaled, and a maid came to peel fruit. This maid, about fourteen or fifteen, had alabaster skin, delicate features, and a fresh, youthful air. From the moment she entered, she couldn’t stop glancing at Dragon Dan. Standing nearby, I caught a faint whiff of ginger blossom.

Hua Mama slapped her, revealing her fierce side, "You lowly maid! How dare you look at Young Master Long!"

She called out, "Eight, get this wench out of here!"

I was shocked, "Wait! Hua Mama, may I say something?"

The strict hierarchy of the Shen Chui Kingdom’s lacquer king era meant a maid’s slightest mistake could be fatal.

I couldn’t let this girl die before my eyes. She knelt in terror, shaking and speechless.

"Speak, Young Master Wu!" Hua Mama said.

Dragon Dan understood and joined, listening as I said, "Hua Mama, this maid only looked at Young Master Long. He doesn’t mind, could you spare her for my sake?"

This was a test. If she agreed, it meant we’d earned some security from our performance. If not, we were still in danger.

Acting nonchalant, I toyed with a snack, hiding my anxiety.