Untouchable Lovers-Chapter 145 - 133: The World’s First Beauty

Chapter 145: Chapter 133: The World’s First Beauty

“The World’s First Beauty?” Chu Yu had heard this phrase before, and this so-called World’s First Beauty had been in Jiankang for two days already.

The World’s First Beauty’s name was Zhong Niannian. Her background was a bit complicated; originally the daughter of a merchant family, financial decline had forced her into a courtesan’s life at sixteen. But she was unlike other courtesans; she traveled everywhere, met talented people, and always sang the songs she loved.

If she met a man to her liking, she would spend the night with him. If not, she merely sang for money.

Zhong Niannian had connections with many wealthy aristocrats, so she rarely faced coercion. In the seven years since her debut, her name had spread throughout Jiangnan. As she traveled, she met many renowned aristocratic families, and nearly everyone who saw her considered her the World’s First Beauty. She was extremely talented in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting; many scholars who befriended her fell under the spell of her literary talents.

Zhong Niannian had been to Jiankang four times, once annually from four years ago until last year. However, Shan Yin’s Princess had no interest in women, so she had never bothered to see her. Even had she gone, the current Chu Yu would have no memory of Zhong Niannian.

This time in Jiankang, Zhong Niannian had sent out a wave of invitations to the elite of Jiankang City, including Chu Yu’s recently risen persona, “Yu Zichu,” and the persona Huan Yuan used, “Yu Ziyuan,” each receiving an invitation.

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Carefully examining the finely crafted invitation in her hand, Chu Yu looked smilingly at Huan Yuan, who also held an invitation, “What do you think, Huan Yuan? Shall we go see the beauty?”

Huan Yuan’s face was as calm as still water, his eyes focused inward, “Please instruct me, Princess.”

Seeing his straightforward response, Chu Yu immediately lost interest in joking any further and said, “Alright, don’t be so serious. I really do want to see what the World’s First Beauty looks like. Brother Ziyuan, come with me.”

Liu Se had just walked into the room, carrying a ledger, when he heard Chu Yu’s last sentence, and casually joined the conversation, “The Princess wants to see Zhong Niannian? Last year when she was in Jiankang, I happened to see her by the roadside; she truly is a beauty.”

Chu Yu turned to look at Liu Se, who, since Moxiang left, seemed much more subdued and no longer tried to dress himself up or manipulated his demeanor to seduce. It seemed that Moxiang’s departure had struck him hard.

The current Liu Se was silent and reserved, occasionally lost in thought, a stark contrast to his previously flirtatious demeanor.

Upon hearing that Liu Se had seen Zhong Niannian, Chu Yu, driven by curiosity, asked, “Is this Zhong Niannian very beautiful? How beautiful exactly?”

Upon Chu Yu’s inquiry, Liu Se blushed, momentarily forgetting that the Princess was a woman too. How could he praise another woman’s beauty in front of a woman?

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Seeing Liu Se stumble for words, Chu Yu guessed what he was thinking and found it amusing, so she didn’t explain but just watched, grinning, to see how he would handle it. After struggling for a while, Liu Se finally had no choice but to speak, “It’s different, the Princess is the imperial family’s foremost beauty, while Zhong Niannian is merely a civilian beauty. How can their statuses be compared?”

His answer was clever. By the title of First Beauty alone, Zhong Niannian must indeed be more beautiful than Shan Yin’s Princess. If Liu Se falsely claimed that Zhong Niannian was not that beautiful, Chu Yu, looking for faults, could accuse him of deception. And if he honestly said Zhong Niannian was more beautiful, he might anger Chu Yu. Thus, he cleverly differentiated between their statuses. Both were the First Beauties, but comparing them was unnecessary because of their different statuses.

Amused by his response, which admittedly bordered on flattery but also showed Liu Se’s quick wit, Chu Yu chuckled and then shifted the conversation to another topic, relieving Liu Se from his tension.

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Two days passed, and Chu Yu changed into men’s clothing, taking Huan Yuan with her to attend the invitation of the World’s First Beauty.

The venue for the invitation was a mansion outside Jiankang City belonging to a member of an aristocratic family. Zhong Niannian did not own fixed property in Jiankang City; she always stayed in other people’s houses when she visited, and even her gatherings were held on other’s premises. In previous years, various locations were used, showcasing the allure of Zhong Niannian, since many young, proud gentlemen competed to lend their homes to her.

This time, the gathering was held in a large hall, with a vast maple forest outside.

As Chu Yu approached the entrance of the hall, she glanced inside, where rows of tables and cases were placed along the walls, each backed by beautifully patterned screens. By now, many people had already arrived, likely drawn by the beauty.

Chu Yu’s eyes scanned the hall, but she did not spot anyone who might be Zhong Niannian. Knowing that the other party had probably not yet arrived, she was in no hurry to take a seat and instead turned her gaze towards the adjacent maple forest.

Perhaps because the peak season had not yet arrived, or perhaps due to the poor quality of these maples, the forest didn’t quite meet Chu Yu’s expectations of frost leaves being more crimson than February flowers. About half the leaves were turning red, but the other half remained greenish, mixing red and green in a bustling yet not quite magnificent manner.

However, outside this maple forest stood a person, hands behind his back, thoroughly enjoying the scene.

Chu Yu let Huan Yuan go ahead into the house and quickly walked over to the man, raising her hand to pat his shoulder, “Brother Yizhi, you are here too?”

Wang Yizhi, his shoulder patted, was not surprised but merely turned around with a smile, casting a glance at Chu Yu with a laugh, “How could I miss an invitation from the World’s First Beauty? But what about you, Brother Zichu? Have you too developed an interest in the World’s First Beauty?”

Chu Yu replied with a smile, “Why not? Just because you all admire the World’s First Beauty, should I not have the chance to see her as well? But speaking of which, Brother Yizhi, if you’re here for the beauty, why aren’t you inside, instead lingering out here?”

Wang Yizhi spoke casually, “I was just wondering why Zhong Niannian arrived so late this year.” He gestured for them to walk and talk.

“Oh, how so?” Chu Yu asked inadvertently.

“In previous years, Zhong Niannian arrived in Jiankang mostly during spring and summer. Yet this year, she’s only just come as autumn begins. I find it a bit strange…” Wang Yizhi trailed off, then suddenly let out a light laugh, “Never mind, it’s none of my business really. Perhaps I’m just overthinking it; it’s needless, isn’t it?”

After he finished speaking, the two of them had reached the entrance of the great hall. Wang Yizhi fluttered his sleeves and took the lead entering.

Wang Yizhi, known as the most charming man under heaven, together with the false identity Chu Yu had deliberately created as Yu Ziyuan, captured the attention of many present as they entered. This was Chu Yu’s first public appearance since that tea party, and she suddenly felt a surge of nervousness as many eyes focused on her.

But before her nervousness subsided, a gentle and tender voice was heard, sweet as honey blended with the most delightful spring water, “I apologize for keeping everyone waiting, it was truly Niannian’s fault.”

The voice seemed to carry a sedative quality, causing anyone who heard it to feel a bone-deep softness instantly. Although Chu Yu was a girl and not overly susceptible, she couldn’t help but shiver all over.