Chapter 165: Alone on the High Tower
Chang'an’s night was a kaleidoscope of colors.
This was a sight Liu Sheng had never witnessed before.
After eating their fill, Liu Sheng saw everyone else reuniting in small groups, so she walked to the private room’s balcony, leaned on the railing, and took a deep breath of fresh air.
Oh, Ling Xiaoshu was also beside her.
“Sister, I’m so tired listening to them talk.”
“Hmm, I’m tired too.”
“But, will you become like them? If you pass the Imperial Examination, will you become like that Elder Brother Jiang?”
After Ling Xiaoshu attended elementary school, her entire perception changed. And as a rare tree species from the Universe, her foundation was already good, and her learning ability was strong, so she could finally understand many things.
“Oh? What kind of person do you think that Elder Brother Jiang is?” Liu Sheng was a little surprised that Ling Xiaoshu could already judge people.
“Hmm… just fake, like he’s wearing a mask.”
Liu Sheng thought for a while and said, “No way? I don’t think I can become like that.”
“That’s good then.” Ling Xiaoshu said seriously, her small face solemn.
Liu Sheng chuckled and patted her head.
“What are you looking at that makes you so happy?” Wang Dongdong’s voice came from behind, and then she leaned on the railing with her.
Liu Sheng shook her head, smiling, and said, “Nothing, just thinking of some happy things.”
Wang Dongdong sighed softly, looked back, and saw that the balcony was a little distance from inside the private room, so soft whispers probably wouldn’t be heard.
Only then did she quietly say to Liu Sheng, “I’m sorry, Sheng Sheng, I shouldn’t have dragged you here.”
“It’s fine, how else would I get to eat Taibai Restaurant’s signature dishes if I didn’t come?” Liu Sheng knew Wang Dongdong felt bad and comforted her.
“I also hadn’t seen them for too long, I almost forgot their bad habits.”
“Not entirely, right?” Liu Sheng hinted.
“Yes, Sister Shao Yan, Ruan Shizi are quite good. Jing Hao is actually a good person too, but he’s just quiet and cold-faced.”
Then Wang Dongdong said annoyingly, “I used to think Brother Cai Zhi was also quite good, but I don’t know why, he’s become a bit different.”
Liu Sheng shook her head. Perhaps he hadn’t changed, but was just more uninhibited in showing his true self.
Wang Dongdong wanted to say more, but someone was walking towards the balcony, so both of them stopped talking.
“Dongdong, you’re finally back.” The voice was low but gentle, it was Shao Yan.
She also followed Wang Dongdong and Liu Sheng, leaning against the railing, looking at the bustling nightlife of Chang’an.
“Sister Shao Yan… do you also think I’m willful?” Wang Dongdong sounded a bit wronged.
“No, I understand you.” Shao Yan shook her head and said gently.
Her eyes were very bright, looking directly at Wang Dongdong, “You have your own thoughts and decisions, different from ours.”
“Sometimes I think, I should be like you, go out of Chang’an and see, perhaps then I wouldn’t be in such pain now.” Shao Yan lowered her long lashes, concealing her bright eyes, and also the regret within them.
“Sister Shao Yan, isn’t the Weaving Bureau good?” Wang Dongdong finally understood.
“Sigh, there are many situations now that you don’t know about.” Shao Yan spoke vaguely.
“Perhaps it’s my problem, after all, my background is a bit different from yours.”
Shao Yan said with a bitter smile, seeing Liu Sheng’s puzzled expression, she took the initiative to explain, “I am not from an official family; my family is in business and has a slight family fortune.”
Liu Sheng nodded, finally understanding why Shao Yan seemed a bit out of place with the others. The most obvious thing was a rare humility and low-key demeanor.
After all, scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—merchants were at the bottom.
In Tang Country, even after God Manifestation First Year, this rule was still followed.
That’s why Wen Weilan wouldn’t have gone into business unless she had no other choice.
But while business couldn’t grant power or social status, at least Lingtual was in hand.
Looking at Shao Yan, one could tell that resources could still be invested to allow her to rise, and finally participate in the Imperial Examination to enter officialdom in one go.
Liu Sheng herself was also like this, relying on Miss Wen to support her studies until now.
If it were her in the past, she would probably have truly scrimped and saved to get to Chang’an, and then been eliminated in the first round.
Shao Yan saw that Liu Sheng’s expression hadn’t changed, as if she didn’t care about her background. However, after thinking about it, she couldn’t help but laugh wryly; after all, Liu Sheng’s family was ten thousand times more humble than hers.
“I’m sorry, I was rambling just now and hadn’t properly welcomed you.” Shao Yan said apologetically to Liu Sheng.
“No matter, I am the uninvited guest.” Liu Sheng said seriously, “Who is treating this time?”
“Why do you ask that? It was a gathering organized by Jiang Cai Zhi and Cai Bin.” Shao Yan said.
So Liu Sheng put away her intention to pay.
“Shouldn’t Young Master Jiang avoid suspicion?” Liu Sheng thought of their earlier refusal.
Shao Yan laughed, “He should avoid suspicion, but he hadn’t seen Dongdong for a long time, so he wanted to gather.”
“I might not be free later. Elder Brother Jiang is busy with the Imperial Examination, and you also need to participate in the Imperial Examination, so it’s a rare opportunity.” She added an explanation.
Wang Dongdong was a bit angry, “The result was that they said it was a gathering, but they kept being sarcastic with me.”
“But you left in a hurry back then, Jiang Caibin was a bit angry…” Shao Yan whispered, looking back at the private room, “Oh, where did Xiao Bin go?”
It’s always better to confirm if someone is present before talking about them behind their back, or it might get awkward if they overhear.
Wang Dongdong didn’t care at all, “Maybe he went to relieve himself.” Then she said indignantly, “Why should he be angry?”
Shao Yan was a bit amused, “You can’t think of anything?”
“Think of what?” Wang Dongdong looked bewildered.
Shao Yan chuckled. It seemed she hadn’t caught on yet. Oh well, that boy wasn’t a good match anyway.
At the same time, Liu Sheng also smiled beside Wang Dongdong.
Their eyes met, knowing they had thought of the same thing.
“Speaking of which… I always feel like your name is a bit familiar, is it the ‘Sheng’ from ‘Sheng Xiao’?” Shao Yan suddenly remembered something.
Liu Sheng’s heart skipped a beat, remembering that Wen Weilan had said someone from the Weaving Bureau was watching her.
“Yes, it might be a common name.”
“It’s not that common, but I can’t remember where I heard it. Let me think about it.” Shao Yan frowned, trying hard to recall.
Their conversation ended there, as they had just met.
Therefore, Liu Sheng deliberately moved a little further away, leaving Shao Yan and Wang Dongdong to have their private conversation, while she quietly stood by and looked out at the view beyond the building.
Suddenly, she glimpsed a familiar figure in the dimly lit area downstairs and couldn’t help but let out a soft sound of surprise.
Although she had only seen him once, it was enough to leave a deep impression.
Because his appearance was the most striking among all the men she had seen so far; even she, who suffered from face blindness, could remember him clearly.
He was accompanied by two women, who from a distance also appeared graceful and extraordinary, and with their luxurious attire, they were likely noble ladies from the capital.
Wang Dongdong and Shao Yan were close enough to hear Liu Sheng’s sound and were curious why she reacted that way, so they followed her gaze.
“It’s him!” Shao Yan’s eyes widened, and she suddenly realized.
“Wen Xuanning, the favored son of heaven, whose name now fills the capital.”