[GL]Whose Wife Is Always Acting Pitiful? Oh, It Turns Out It’s Mine 13

Chapter 13: Music Star Mu Ruo

“Half a life’s chivalrous dream walks with the wind, gratitude and grudges intoxicate the heart. Whistling sword shadows, cold light pierces through, success or failure, who is here to stay…”

On the high stage in the main hall of the Xue Star Tower, a woman sat before a sandalwood guzheng. Her singing voice was melodious and deep, carrying a trace of desolation. Hearing it, the audience below felt the trials and tribulations of the Jianghu drenching their hearts, leaving mottled traces.

The woman was dressed in a snowy-white long dress, tied with a gold thread belt. Her shoulders were adorned with a few golden light feathers. Her jet-black hair was spread smoothly in front of her. Her eyes were as deep as a black pool, her gaze like moonlight reflecting on snow—lonely and cold, yet revealing a hint of tenderness and sorrow as she softly chanted that song of chivalry and tenderness.

When the song ended, the silent guests were already entranced. Only after coming back to their senses did they begin to applaud enthusiastically, handing the golden flowers on their tables to the shop girls. The shop girls then collected the golden flowers and handed them to the head accountant, Xue Duanhun, by the counter.

The Xue Star Tower used gold and green jade to make flower-shaped ornaments. Guests who came to eat and drink at the Xue Star Tower would receive a golden flower. When the Music Star, Dance Star, or Opera Star of the day finished their performance, guests could give the golden flower in their hands to their favorite candidate.

Within a week, the woman who received the most golden flowers could hold a one-hour evening talk session at the Hour of the Rooster (5-7 pm) on the first day of the following week. She could chat freely with guests, discussing poetry, songs, anecdotes of the Jianghu, and local customs.

In short, the content of the conversation was unlimited, but it could not involve any insulting or vulgar topics. If guests used inappropriate language or tried to flirt, they would immediately be expelled by the Guardian Stars in the tower.

Many Guardian Stars were also experts who had retired from the Jianghu. Usually, the Guardian Stars trained by the Xue Manor were responsible for patrolling inside and outside the tower. Only when the guests’ martial arts were too strong would these experts step in to drive them away.

“This week, it must be Maiden Mu Ruo who takes the top spot again.” Xue Xue looked inside from outside the vermilion main gate and asked the Guardian Star wearing a silver wolf mask at the door, “Xue Wuluo, don’t you think so?”

Xue Wuluo stared silently ahead, hands clasped behind his back, ignoring Xue Xue.

“You block of wood, so boring,” Xue Xue said huffily.

Just then, her sharp eyes caught a glimpse of a red figure appearing at a small door behind the pavilion. Her face was full of astonishment, surprise, and joy. “Oh my! When did the Young Mistress come to the Xue Star Tower?”

Xue Wuluo said in a hoarse voice, “A quarter past the Hour of the Rabbit today.”

Xue Xue flew into a rage. “Why didn’t you say anything when the Young Mistress came?”

Xue Wuluo said, “You didn’t ask me about the Young Mistress’s whereabouts.”

Xue Xue: “…”

Having returned from soaking in the cold pool in the backyard, Xue Mu changed back into her red clothes. Tossing a golden flower in her hand, she looked at Mu Ruo on the stage with a beaming smile and placed the golden flower on the shop girl’s tray.

“Young Mistress!” Xue Xue rushed in like a whirlwind, looking Xue Mu up and down. Under the gaze of those guests, Xue Mu knocked on Xue Xue’s forehead. “Follow me.”

The two went upstairs. Mu Ruo’s gaze followed Xue Mu, then she curtsied to the guests. After a graceful squat, she left lightly, leaving behind guests with disappointed faces who sighed continuously.

**

“Young Mistress, Young Mistress, you—”

“Little Snow, I haven’t seen you for only a day, are you so anxious?”

Xue Mu sat generously on the wooden table. Xue Xue wanted to close the door of the private room, but Xue Mu stopped her. “No need to bolt the door.”

Xue Xue understood and giggled. “Young Mistress wants to see Maiden Mu Ruo again. But Young Mistress has a wife now. If you call Maiden Mu Ruo to the private room again, people will laugh at you.”

“Mu Ruo is going to host the evening talk session again this week.” Xue Mu picked up a green fruit from the table and took two crunchy bites. The juice was sweet and clear, with a hint of sourness. “She holds evening talk sessions too often; it’s easy for people to fixate on her.”

“Yes, this evening talk session only started a year ago. I didn’t expect the demand to be so high.” Xue Xue stood by the door and whispered, “That woman Yuan’an from the Dugu family… does she treat you well?”

Xue Mu smiled. “What, are you afraid your Young Mistress is being bullied by her?”

Xue Xue pouted. “After all, you were forced into marriage. If that Yuan’an woman deceives you, what should we do?”

Xue Mu said, “Although that woman has heavy thoughts, she won’t lie to me on this matter—alright, I just got married, I didn’t give my life to them. You don’t need to worry about me.”

“…Tower Master Xue.”

A shadow moved at the door. Xue Xue hurriedly went to open the door and happily took Mu Ruo’s hand. “Maiden Mu Ruo, come in and sit quickly.”

Xue Mu jumped down from the wooden table, threw the fruit core into an empty dish on the table, cleared her throat, and said, “Mu Ruo, sit quickly.”

Mu Ruo’s eyes and brows were smiling. Without standing on ceremony, she sat down directly. Xue Mu wiped the wooden table with a handkerchief and heard Mu Ruo say, “Young Mistress seems to be in a pretty good mood.”

Xue Mu laughed loudly. “Yes, did you think I would be unhappy marrying into the Dugu Manor?”

Mu Ruo pursed her lips in a smile and said nothing.

“Little Snow, go to the Kitchen Star and ask for two plates of fresh fruits, two plates of cold dishes, two plates of hot dishes, a plate of pastries, and a pot of sake,” Xue Mu said. “As for the silver, deduct it from my account. Don’t deduct the silver for Mu Ruo’s food in the tower today.”

Xue Xue said cheerfully, “Yes!” With that, she ran out and thoughtfully closed the door.

Xue Mu cupped her face and looked at Mu Ruo like that. Mu Ruo also looked at her and suddenly smiled. “How does Young Mistress feel about marrying into the Dugu Manor?”

“Just married, don’t feel much yet,” Xue Mu said. “I came here, so Dugu Yuan’an must know by now!”

Mu Ruo frowned. “Why did Dugu Yuan’an want to force you into marriage?”

Although Xue Mu got along well with Mu Ruo, she naturally couldn’t casually mention the Soul Cold technique, so she said, “Hero Dugu and Madam Dugu felt it would be better for me to marry her. I think that’s why.”

“The Dugu couple are not the kind of people who ignore your feelings. They must know you were unwilling,” Mu Ruo sighed. “If Dugu Yuan’an hadn’t insisted on coming to propose the betrothal, how could they have followed? Little Treasure, you’re going to suffer there.”

Xue Mu wondered, “Why do you think that?”

“Dugu Yuan’an never goes out. She must be bored to death at home and doesn’t communicate with outsiders. Your reputation in town is too big; she definitely would have noticed you,” Mu Ruo said seriously. “She has designs on you.”

Xue Mu said, “True, I’ve thought about that too. The Xue Star Tower’s business is too good. Dugu Yuan’an marrying me… it’s unknown whether the Dugu Manor will come to want a share in the future.”

Mu Ruo sat quietly and properly. Xue Mu also cupped her face and didn’t speak.

After a moment, she said, “A-Ruo, will you sing a song?”

“Intoxicated by flowers on the dusty road, deep feelings flow secretly with tears…”

Mu Ruo began to sing softly just like that. She had been picked up and raised by the Xue Manor since she was young and had a very good relationship with Xue Mu. Because she loved singing and could play the zither, Xue Mu invited her to be a Music Star in the tower when the Xue Star Tower was built.

Listening to the desolation in the song, Xue Mu felt that there were many stories in her childhood. She didn’t know what major event she had encountered to end up wandering alone in the world.

“Sword breaks tender heart, what is there to seek? This heart has no regrets, dreaming of sharing a boat with you. Asking heaven, it’s hard to resolve the sorrow of fate. One promise in this life, together in life and death until white-headed…”

Xue Xue suddenly pushed the door open and came in. Mu Ruo had just finished singing a verse. Xue Xue smiled and said, “Maiden Mu Ruo’s singing voice is truly too beautiful. Xue’er really wants to stay in Maiden Mu Ruo’s room every day.”

Xue Mu scolded laughingly, “You girl, letting your imagination run wild. Hurry and urge the Kitchen Star to bring up the hot dishes!”

Mu Ruo smiled. Just as she picked up her chopsticks, Xue Xue, who had walked outside the door, suddenly screamed.

“Young Mistress, the Dugu family has brought people to break into the Xue Star Tower!”