Chapter 728: Chapter 728

He Jinxia did not understand the reason but was hurriedly pulled along for several miles before they stopped, with the grand gates of the Red Courtyard looming vaguely in the not-too-distant proximity.

Heaving for breath, Lv Zhu spoke with righteous indignation, "Miss, there are too many gossipmongers in this world. Don’t mind them, don’t listen to their nonsense. As long as you live well, that’s enough!"

"Moreover," she added, "the fact that the Sheng Family looks down upon you shows their lack of discernment. Miss, you are talented in so many ways. Even if your beauty has been marred, your talents alone are worth a suitor’s pursuit. Don’t lose hope. As long as you don’t become a female Taoist priest, there is still hope for everything!"

Unable to help herself, He Jinxia chuckled, her eyes curving like willow leaves, bright as stars, which left Lv Zhu utterly mesmerized.

Unable to resist, Lv Zhu murmured softly, "Miss, you actually look quite pretty. Even with half of your face covered, one can tell you were once a beauty. If you were to replace the silk handkerchief on your face with a sheer one and dress up a little, you would surely captivate many a young gentleman."

He Jinxia’s smile faded from her face, and her eyes once again returned to their usual stillness, like dead water, as she said faintly, "Lv Zhu, I have resolved to leave the Red Building. Even if I don’t go to the Daoist Temple, I cannot continue to stay here, not to mention—"

She paused, "I have been chosen by the Sheng Residence to be the wife of the Eldest Son of the Sheng Family. In a short while, they will bring over the betrothal gifts."

Lv Zhu froze, momentarily stunned, and then stammered, "Wi-Wife... You say... you’ve been chosen by the people of the Sheng Residence?!"

Towards the end, Lv Zhu could not help raising her voice.

He Jinxia nodded with a smile, "Yes, I’ve been chosen."

"Humph, I thought you two were whispering about something, blocking the guests from entering. I came over to see, and it turns out you’re daydreaming in broad daylight!" A sharp female voice rang out, laced with ridicule and a face full of contempt.

This woman did not come alone; she was followed by several other women, all crowding around the woman in the center.

The woman had her hair styled in a lily bun, with a plum blossom-shaped golden hairpin slanted on top of her head, a red pomegranate pendant headdress on her forehead, agate double-lotus gold bracelets on her wrists, and she was dressed in a vermilion palace satin plain silk skirt, exuding a genuine radiance of jewels and treasures.

Compared to her attire, the woman’s appearance was also exceptional, graceful and lovely. With just a slight frown, she resembled a sorrowful Xi Shi, causing the young men to willingly alleviate her troubles, just to see her smile.

This was the Red Building’s newly emerged Oiran—He Yaqin.

Seeing again the person who had entrapped her in a fire to meet her death, this so-called sister of righteousness, He Jinxia initially thought she would feel intense hatred, but now she realized all that remained in her heart was calmness.

Despite He Yaqin’s harm, she had given her an opportunity to travel to the modern era and experience the splendors of the future world.

Now, upon her return, with Sheng Yan also back, He Jinxia’s deep-seated grievances had completely dissipated.

He Yaqin reprimanded the woman who had spoken earlier and, with an ethereal grace, approached her and bowed lightly, softly saying, "Big sister." Thıs text ıs hosted at novelꞁire.net

He Jinxia did not step back but stood there directly, her eyes curved, "Don’t call me big sister, as I cannot bear a sister whose heart is intent on causing me death."

He Yaqin’s complexion subtly changed as she frowned, her eyes brimming with tears as she said, "Sister, that day I didn’t not want to save you. I tried to get in, but a servant from the Red Building stopped me, I..."

He Jinxia interrupted, "You say a servant from the Red Building stopped you, which implies that the Red Building had already given up on me. Then why, after I rushed out of the fire, did the Red Building still take care of me for two months?"

A woman couldn’t help but say, "You really have some nerve, acting as if you’re someone of great importance. It was the young miss who pleaded desperately with the nanny, begging her to summon a doctor to treat your illness, to keep you hanging onto life!"

He Jinxia glanced at her with a sideways look and smiled, "I remember you. Two months ago, you fawned over me, asking for a job to do, claiming that you weren’t afraid of hard work and that you’d be satisfied just to serve by my side.

"Yet two months later, you’ve switched to serving another master."

The woman, hit where it hurt, turned shades of red and white, unable to restrain herself from cursing, "What do you know, you ungrateful wretch, ignoring the good hearts of others. It was my young miss who saved you!"

Since a group of people was standing at the entrance of the Red Building, a crowd had unknowingly gathered around. Even some of the ladies who enjoyed watching the spectacle from inside the Red Building had come out to watch with interest from one side.

He Yaqin took a step forward, scolded the servant, and said in a hushed voice with furrowed brows, "Sister, there’s no need to be upset with a servant, she’s headstrong and doesn’t take well to discipline."

He Jinxia gave a faint smile, shook her head, and said leisurely, "He Yaqin, ten years ago I took you in as my sworn sister, and I taught you all you know. Considering the favors I’ve extended, didn’t I deserve your help in saving me?"

About to say something, He Yaqin was interrupted by He Jinxia raising her hand, "Hold on, let me finish."

"As my sworn sister, the moment I fell into trouble you swiftly took my place as the Oiran, becoming the Red Courtyard’s hot new sensation. Wherever you went, you were followed, and a single performance could earn you a fortune.

"Looking at it this way, you’re the one who has benefited from my misfortune. That big fire two months ago was suspiciously timely, plainly the work of an arsonist. Am I wrong in thinking that it was you who tried to harm me on purpose?"

He Jinxia’s gaze sharpened as she moved forward a few steps, pressing He Yaqin confrontationally,

"I managed to escape the flames, and by all rights, being my sworn sister, who is supposed to be as close as my own hand, you should have saved me. You discarded me publicly even before I had died; does this not confirm the rumors that you intentionally harmed me?"

"It’s quite absurd, isn’t it? Since when does a sworn sister have to be grateful and thank her sister for saving her life, isn’t that to be expected? When I was at the height of my glory, I gave you so much, did I ever make you speak the word ’thanks’?"

"Don’t talk about your unruly, indisciplined servant. Since you’re her master, the servant reflects the master. If she is in the wrong, then you are in the wrong! If that’s what she thinks, could it be also what you think?"

He Jinxia’s every word backed He Yaqin into a corner, forcing her to continuously retreat.

With tears, He Yaqin tried to explain, "Sister, it’s not like what you think. Me becoming the Oiran was the nanny’s idea, then the other sisters unanimously elected me. It wasn’t as though I just could become one if I wanted. You’ve misunderstood me. As for Xiaxia, I..."

"Xiaxia?" He Jinxia suddenly raised her voice to interrupt, "You still claim you don’t mean me harm, yet your servant shares the same name as I, what’s your intention with that, to suppress me so that I can never rise again?!"