Jiaojiao is getting married, and the male leads fall for her and fight over her.

Chapter 50 Top Performer: She Was Personally Chosen by a Nobleman

Despite Shen Shuyi's insistence, Sun Wang did not try to dissuade her. Instead, he presented the problem: "Pei Xizhou is searching the whole city for Su Su and Lao Wang. If I go to Baixianglou again, I might expose my whereabouts and be traced back to you."

Shen Shuyi felt that this was indeed a problem.

She didn't want Sun Wang to appear in front of the Pei brothers, nor did she want anyone to know that she had a close relationship with Sun Wang.

"How about this, I'll find an opportunity to drug the top courtesan at Baixianglou and take her place as the top courtesan for a day. That might work."

Shen Shuyi made a decision and called A-Jian to her side.

A-Jian felt a chill run down her spine under Shen Shuyi's gaze: "What does the young lady want to do?"

"If I have to stay outside the Marquis's residence for twelve hours a day, only you can help me cover it up. If anyone comes to Fusang Courtyard looking for me, you should impersonate me and get away with it. Especially at night, no one should know that I'm not coming home at night." Shen Shuyi felt that this was the most important thing.

A-Jian was extremely flustered: "This servant is afraid of being exposed."

"Just wear my clothes and sleep in my bed. When we get home, I'll give Aunt Dai a few more instructions, and you two can work together. Besides, no one might be looking for me, so don't be too nervous."

A-Jian nodded blankly, but why did her heart feel so flustered?
Shen Shuyi is a woman of action; once she makes a decision, she starts implementing it according to plan.

In addition, there's a time limit, so she has to hurry.

Four days after this matter was settled, Bai Xiang Lou's new top courtesan of the month finally left Bai Xiang Lou.

The top courtesan was named Haitang, and she won the title on the first day of the eighth lunar month.

Haitang enjoys tea, and Shen Shuyi seizes the opportunity to drug Haitang in a teahouse, also knocking out the maidservant beside Haitang.

Shen Shuyi quickly changed into Haitang's clothes. Her height was similar to Haitang's, and her voice was also similar. In addition, she had studied oral performance, and after putting on her specially made veil and imitating Haitang's tone, she felt that there would be no problem.

She gestured to Sun Wang, who nodded, indicating that he would hide Haitang and her servant well. She then left the teahouse with peace of mind.

When the sedan chair carrier Lao Zhong, who was waiting outside, saw her come out, he thought she was Haitang: "Miss, are you going back to Baixianglou now?"

"Go back."

Just as Old Zhong was about to order his men to carry the sedan chair, he suddenly realized that Haitang was missing someone.

Then Shen Shuyi said that she had asked her maid to run errands for her and that she would return to Baixiang Tower later that evening. Old Zhong, without suspecting anything, escorted Shen Shuyi back to Baixiang Tower.

Shen Shuyi stepped into Baixianglou smoothly, her heart pounding.

She's pretending to be the top courtesan right now. What if a customer wants to buy her for the night tonight?

If such a moment were to come, it would be easy for her to sneak in, but difficult for her to escape.

However, when she saw Haitang's face before, it wasn't that beautiful. Sun Wang had also inquired and learned that Haitang was a skilled dancer, which was why she won first place in the last competition.

If a patron specifically requests a crabapple blossom, it's usually to admire the blossoms dancing in the air.

The best outcome would be if no customer bought any crabapple blossoms tonight, otherwise she wouldn't know how to handle the situation.

She specifically asked the system for some details and only felt at ease after confirming that she didn't need to receive guests.

She entered Baixianglou around noon and will be able to leave by this time tomorrow, so the best course of action right now is to stay alert and get through tonight.

When she went to get lunch, she ran into Peony. Peony was puzzled to see her wearing a veiled hat: "Why are you still wearing a veiled hat?"

"I have a rash on my face, so I'm embarrassed to be seen, and I'm even more afraid of scaring the guests." Shen Shuyi imitated Haitang's tone of voice very well. Mudan didn't notice anything wrong, but a woman's face is the most important thing, so she specially found some ointment for Shen Shuyi, who quickly thanked her.

After that, Shen Shuyi hid in her room, staying hidden for as long as she could. Until the madam came, she had heard from Mudan that Shen Shuyi had developed a rash on her face and was worried that something was wrong with her face.

Worried that the madam would insist on removing her veil, Shen Shuyi simply hid on the bed: "I am ashamed to see anyone right now, Mother, please don't worry, I will be fully recovered in a couple of days. I can wear the veil and dance tonight without any problem, but I'm afraid I won't be able to serve the guests."

The madam chuckled at this: "How could you possibly perform in your condition? Just rest and recover."

Shen Shuyi thought to herself that if she didn't show her face, she wouldn't be able to advertise the dress she made.

However, that's secondary; completing this task is the priority.

Thinking about it this way, she felt relieved.

After dismissing the madam, Shen Shuyi settled down in her room to rest.

If she only needs to stay in the room for one night tonight and leave tomorrow, how much less trouble would that be?

The day passed smoothly, and soon night fell, and Baixianglou gradually became lively.

Shen Shuyi thought she could get through the night peacefully, but unexpectedly the madam came over and said that a distinguished guest had come to Baixianglou and ordered her to dance.

"What kind of distinguished guest is this that I have to perform a dance? I can't show my face to anyone. What if I offend such a distinguished person?" Shen Shuyi was most afraid that the other party would ask her to offer herself.

"Didn't you say you could wear a veil and dance? This is a very important person. As long as you don't show your face and don't frighten him, that's fine," the madam reassured Shen Shuyi.

Shen Shuyi originally didn't want to pursue that dress anymore, but since she still needed to go out and make an appearance, she might as well take this opportunity to promote her newly opened clothing store.

"Since they are such important guests, I should be more respectful. I just bought a new dress, and I'll go with my mother after I change into it." Shen Shuyi finally decided to give her new dress a chance to be seen.

The madam had no reason to refuse.

When Shen Shuyi appeared in her new dress, the madam's eyes lit up.

This is a long, turquoise dress, as elegant as the misty rain of Jiangnan, with a cross-collar and wide sleeves that subtly evoke the style of the Wei and Jin dynasties.

The collar and shoulders are adorned with fluffy, snow-white fox fur, which trembles slightly with movement, like fresh snow about to fall from a branch.

The cinched waist design accentuates a woman's slender waistline, while the full curves of her hips showcase her stunning softness and sexiness.

The dress reached to the ankles, revealing a glimpse of the woman's fair skin.

The blue and white colors flowed between the hem of her clothes, possessing both the elegance of ink painting and the grandeur of a classical lady.

"Wonderful, this dress is really beautiful. But how are you going to dance in it?" the madam wondered.

“I can’t dance while wearing a veil, so I plan to play a tune for the distinguished guest.” Shen Shuyi had already come up with the idea.

The madam thought it was worth a try, so she led Shen Shuyi to a private room...

On the other side, at the Pingyang Marquis's residence, in the Fusang Courtyard.

When A-Jian heard the commotion outside, he lay motionless on his young lady's bed until someone suddenly burst into the room. It was none other than the young master.
As soon as Pei Dongzhou entered the main room, he lifted the covers. The moment he saw A-Jian, he asked in a deep voice, "Where is my cousin?! Is it true that my cousin Xia said she hasn't returned home yet?"

(End of this chapter)