Chapter 41: Encountering an Acquaintance at the House of Apparel, and a Thief?

At this moment, Luo Qianfan was standing on the second floor of the Pavilion of Exquisite Attire. These were the sample designs she had sketched during her idle moments, and she hadn't expected the finished garments to turn out quite so well. She couldn't help but marvel at her own talent in this field.

"Heaven borns my talent, it must be of use!" Such a modern phrase suddenly popped into her mind.

Luo Mo was completely bewildered, though she could gather that the young mistress seemed to be praising herself. But why mention being born with it?

"Young mistress, what did you just say? What is born with..." Before she could finish her sentence, she was interrupted.

"Hmph, some people simply love to pretend they understand when they don't. Heaven borns my talent, it must be of use? Are you talking about yourself... my dear sister!" Luo Yuhuan had thought that figure looked familiar from afar, but getting closer, she discovered the person was none other than Luo Qianfan.

What kind of place was this? This was the Pavilion of Exquisite Attire, a gathering place for the daughters of noble and influential families. How dared an illegitimate daughter who had been expelled from her family show her face here?

Luo Yuhuan hadn't expected to run into Luo Qianfan the moment she stepped out of the estate. The mere thought of having saliva sprayed all over her face yesterday made her blood boil with rage.

As it turned out, today presented the perfect opportunity.

Luo Qianfan narrowed her eyes and sized up Luo Yuhuan. She hadn't paid much attention yesterday, but today she suddenly realized that Luo Yuhuan wasn't nearly as breathtaking as the rumors suggested. On the contrary, every fiber of this person's being radiated hypocrisy.

"Oh, look who it is. If it isn't Luo Qianfan, the 'Great Arch-Fiend' of the Capital back in the day! Huan'er, you must be careful having a sister like this. What if one day she loses her mind and reverts to her old ways, harming you again?"

A young woman standing behind Luo Yuhuan possessed an even sharper tongue, immediately dragging up old scandals. Her words were laced with venom, striking Luo Qianfan with every single syllable.

Listening to them talk like this, Luo Mo felt a surge of anger rise in her chest. "Who do you think you're talking about, huh? If you don't know how to speak properly, keep your traps shut, or I'll tear your mouths apart!"

Luo Qianfan: "——"

She hadn't expected Luo Mo to be so fierce, barking at these young ladies right out of the gate. She hoped she wouldn't scare them too much.

The woman was clearly startled, her aggressive aura instantly deflating as a hint of retreat crept into her voice: "Just because you do things doesn't mean people aren't allowed to talk about them! Everyone knows that back then, it was Luo Qianfan who harmed Leng Qing'er. Fortunately, Leng Qing'er is magnanimous, otherwise...!"

The woman trailed off midway, leaving the remaining words full of sinister implications.

By this time, there were quite a few patrons in the Pavilion of Exquisite Attire, and hearing the woman's remarks immediately brought the past incident to everyone's mind.

"Luo Qianfan?"

"Is that the Luo Qianfan from back then? Why is she back?"

Someone else asked: "Who on earth is Luo Qianfan?"

Another replied: "You don't even know Luo Qianfan? She was a notorious, vicious arch-fiend! It was her who harmed Lady Qing'er all those years ago!"

"..."

Hearing these people talk, Luo Mo truly wanted to walk up and sew all their mouths shut. What "arch-fiend," and what "harmed Leng Qing'er"? Please, if her young mistress had wanted to harm someone, she wouldn't have needed to go through so much trouble.

The incident back then was most likely a conspiracy plotted by these noble daughters. Who knew what kind of roles each of them had played behind the scenes?

"I remember you. You're Luo Yuhuan's little lapdog, named... what was it again... Oh right, your name is Cui Qianqian." A faint smile hung on Luo Qianfan's lips as she looked at Cui Qianqian, finally managing to spit out the name.

Here was another person using past events to try and intimidate her! It seemed she really had caused quite a stir back in the day!

However, she refused to believe that she had intentionally harmed Leng Qing'er. Even though the original owner might have been a bit mischievous in her youth, she had always been an upright and open person. She was incapable of scheming against others—meaning someone must have framed her.

Was it Leng Qing'er? The answer was undoubtedly yes! Of course, there were probably others pulling strings in the background as well.

***

After all, the Luo Qianqian of those years had been a thoroughly formidable figure.

Cui Qianqian's face flushed with anger; she detested being referred to as a "lapdog" more than anything else.

Her father had originally been a minor local magistrate, but later, by riding on Luo Yuhuan's coattails, he secured an official post serving in the imperial palace. Consequently, Cui Qianqian obeyed Luo Yuhuan's every command, terrified of displeasing her.

She could endure all of that, but her self-respect would not allow anyone to call her a lapdog, especially not Luo Qianfan.

Luo Qianfan was merely an unfavored illegitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's estate; what right did she have to look down on her? To a certain extent, she herself possessed far more prestige than an illegitimate daughter like Luo Qianfan.

Yet, she couldn't afford to talk back right now. Once Luo Yuhuan discovered her internal resentment about being someone else's lackey, Luo Yuhuan would likely abandon her without a second thought.

If that happened, Lord Prime Minister would no longer protect her family. Without that backing, the life she led would be even more pathetic than that of a common servant.

At this thought, Cui Qianqian's pretty facial features twisted into a frightening grimace.

Observing Cui Qianqian's terrifying expression, Luo Qianfan could easily guess her thoughts: a woman who couldn't even set aside her own fragile pride could never genuinely bow down and pledge allegiance to someone else.

Luo Qianfan let out a cold laugh and offered a well-intentioned warning.

"If you're going to play the dog, you need to choose the right master. What if one day you bite the wrong person? Your master might not necessarily be able to protect you!" Luo Qianfan openly and mercilessly sneered at Cui Qianqian, completely disregarding her presence.

She considered herself far from a saint; her rule had always been not to meddle unless meddled with. But if someone had the audacity to pick a fight at her doorstep, she had no reason to hold back her fists.

"Why must Third Sister use such harsh words? Qianqian is following me, but our relationship is built on genuine sincerity with no falsehoods whatsoever. Therefore, I hope Third Sister won't make such remarks in the future, lest you hurt people's feelings."

Luo Yuhuan's tone was somewhat aggressive, her willow eyebrows furrowed deeply as if she were truly championing Cui Qianqian's cause, prompting a wave of murmurs among the assembled young ladies and noble daughters.

Shifting the topic abruptly, she continued, "Is Third Sister here to buy clothes today? I hear the Pavilion of Exquisite Attire has received quite a few new arrivals recently. If Third Sister likes any of them, just wear them away. Put everything on my tab."

Luo Yuhuan made a great show of generosity in front of everyone. Just as everyone expected Luo Qianfan to feel too embarrassed to accept, a mysterious and unfathomable smile suddenly surfaced on Luo Qianfan's face.

Luo Qianfan: "No regrets?"

Luo Yuhuan: "Of course no regrets!"

"Since the Fourth Young Miss is so generous, I would be ungracious to refuse. Luo Mo, take a good look and see if there are any clothes you like. Today the Fourth Young Miss is treating us, so make sure to pick carefully and not let her kind intentions go to waste."

Luo Qianfan acted as though she had struck gold, instantly beaming with excitement as she rifled through the items in the Pavilion of Exquisite Attire from top to bottom.

"I'll definitely pick some good ones," Luo Mo chimed in with tacit understanding.

Hearing Luo Qianfan address her as the Fourth Young Miss, Luo Yuhuan couldn't help but feel bewildered: Had her brain turned to mush upon returning?

"You're calling me the Fourth Young Miss?" Luo Yuhuan blurted out in a daze. Had she completely thrown caution to the wind in front of outsiders?

Luo Qianfan raised an eyebrow at Luo Yuhuan: It seemed the girl still didn't know she had already severed all ties with the Luo family; no wonder she was being so generous and magnanimous! But since someone was volunteering to be a generous benefactor, she certainly wouldn't refuse.

"Don't sweat the small details." With that, Luo Qianfan cast her gaze toward the gorgeous new dresses, bypassing Luo Yuhuan's question altogether.

Luo Qianfan very 'sensibly' selected several of the newest designs—all newly released limited-edition pieces with the highest price tags.

Luo Mo also packed up a large pile.

By the time the bill had to be paid, Luo Yuhuan felt as though her heart were bleeding.

All that silver came from her long-accumulated personal savings, funds she had originally intended to use to bid on the Youth-Preserving Pill. Now, it had all gone down the drain.

***

After fleecing Luo Yuhuan, Luo Qianfan was in high spirits. She immediately put on her new clothes and stepped out of the Pavilion of Exquisite Attire, only to be bumped into by a small child right outside the door.

Suddenly, a bad feeling washed over her.

"Luo Mo, that child just now is suspicious."

Luo Mo was startled, glanced down at Luo Qianfan's waist, understood instantly, and hurriedly sprinted off in the direction the child had fled.

Luo Qianfan, meanwhile, turned and took a different route.

On the bustling street, a little boy clutched tightly to the small pouch he had just swiped from Luo Qianfan, running while glancing over his shoulder.

Seeing Luo Mo's figure drawing closer and closer, the child hurriedly unzipped the stolen pouch and peeked inside, his face freezing in astonishment. There was no money inside at all—only a few silver needles.

What the heck? Just a few worthless needles, and she chased me across several streets! Judging by how flashily they dressed, I thought they'd be loaded, what a waste of all that time I spent staking them out... the child muttered under his breath.

Noticing Luo Mo relentlessly hot on his heels, the boy shouted back at her, "Is this really necessary? Over a few broken needles, you've chased me for half the city!"

Fingering the silver needles in his hand, the boy suddenly had a flash of inspiration. He halted his steps, hurled the silver needles toward Luo Mo, and pivoted to scramble backward.

Suddenly, his expression turned to sheer terror.

"What's the matter? You steal my things, and you still want to run?" Luo Qianfan emerged from behind him, blocking his escape route. By this time, Luo Mo had also dodged the needles and caught up.

"Y-You, you, you..."

"What about you? You little thief, daring to steal in broad daylight! Let me teach you a proper lesson on behalf of your parents." Luo Mo cupped several silver needles in her palm, her flushed little face filled with indignation and rage.

Kids these days were getting bolder by the minute! Without even checking who their targets were, they just lunged in and stole!

"Have mercy, miladies! I was just momentarily desperate and made a mistake, I'll never dare do it again, please spare me!"

Continuing to play the pitiful card, he wailed: "Oh, I have aging parents and young siblings to support! If I die, what will become of them?! Ahh...!"

The earth-shattering wails completely threw Luo Mo off balance. Exchanging a glance with Luo Qianfan, she stiffened her expression and said:

"What are you crying for? I haven't even done anything to you yet! Hey, stop crying... Fine, I won't give you a hard time anymore, okay?!"

The child instantly cut off his tears. Wearing a fawning smile, he showered them with flattery without missing a beat: "Thank you, big sisters! You truly are kind-hearted angels of beauty and mercy."

This abrupt transition left Luo Qianfan speechless as well.

In the end, Luo Qianfan tossed the child a silver ingot and let him go.

***

After walking around for a while, Luo Qianfan's stomach began to rumble. Figuring that Luo Yi probably hadn't eaten either, she led Luo Mo toward the Drunken Pavilion.

As soon as she stepped inside, she spotted Dongfang Yuyue sitting in a corner booth from afar. Her heart immediately wanted to beat a retreat; she had no desire to get entangled with Dongfang Yuyue in front of so many people, and she turned around, ready to leave.

Suddenly, a familiar voice drifted over to her ears.