Chapter Three: Side Quests

Back in her room, Mo Qi Hui sobbed as she recounted everything Mo Qi Yue had done to her, shouting at her father that she wanted Mo Qi Yue torn to pieces.

This put Mo Qi Feng in a difficult position.

His second daughter, Mo Qi Yue, had always been timid. Over the years, he had turned a blind eye, even allowing Hui’er to bully her, yet she had never shown any signs of retaliation.

So why had she suddenly changed her nature?

Could it be that she was possessed by some evil spirit?

Recalling the events of that night, Mo Qi Feng couldn’t help but feel a chill run down his spine.

“Give strict orders: without my command, the Second Miss is not to leave the mansion for a single step!”

-----------------

Two young maids were stunned by their mistress’s transformation.

The once meek and accommodating girl now refused to be bullied, and her previously resigned, indifferent gaze now radiated vibrant life.

“I have to leave the mansion!” Thinking of the mission given by the system, she planned to sneak out and discreetly observe that young master from the Gong Cheng family.

In her memories, Gong Cheng Ling was her childhood friend, but after her mother passed away, he had openly declared he liked her younger sister and cruelly pushed her away.

So why did he suddenly care about her again now? How laughable.

Qiu Fen quickly stopped her. “Miss, just now the master sent word forbidding you from going out. He wants you to stay inside and reflect on your mistakes…”

“Ah? Not even allowed to step outside?” Mo Qi Yue pouted.

She had no idea what she had done to offend her father, only remembering that since her mother’s death, he had suddenly grown cold and resentful toward her.

Ignoring the maid’s words, she lifted her legs and headed toward the front door.

Just as she reached the entrance, two guards appeared from nowhere and blocked her path.

Though frightened by the return of the “dead” second miss, the two still put on stern expressions and glared at her.

“You cannot go out,” they said bluntly, without any courtesy.

“Why not?”

“The master ordered it. The Second Miss must stay in her room and thoroughly reflect on her mistakes.”

“Ridiculous. What if I insist on going out?” Mo Qi Yue snorted coldly, a disdainful smile curling at the corner of her mouth.

“?”

“***”

[System: Hey, no swearing!]

-_-!

“Then don’t blame us for being rude.”

No sooner had the words fallen than several more guards rushed out, blocking her way.

Ha! She rolled up her sleeves, ready for a fight.

What a joke! This lady is a hand-to-hand combat expert. You think you can stop me? Dream on!

In no time, she dealt with the guards and strode out of the mansion with flair.

[System: Employee 51741 at your service. How may I assist you?]

“What’s the act today… Quickly get me a set of men’s clothes! And a fake beard.”

[System: Okay. But why the fake beard? Don’t you have disguise magic?]

Mo Qi Yue slapped her forehead. Oh, right! She’d forgotten.

---

With a swoosh, a set of smoky blue robes embroidered with willow leaf patterns appeared before her. After changing, she followed the task prompt toward East Street.

The ancient marketplace was indeed livelier than she’d imagined. The broad cobblestone street was lined with shops and vendors.

The bustling crowds, frequent carriages and horses, and the maze-like city streets filled the air with endless calls of merchants.

“No wonder this is the flourishing city; it truly is lively!” Mo Qi Yue marveled as she walked.

She casually entered a jewelry store and glanced into a bronze mirror.

To her surprise, she hardly recognized herself.

Knocking on the ring on her hand, she muttered, “Damn it, what kind of disguise magic is this? Apart from thicker eyebrows, darker skin, and a squarer chin, what difference is there from my real self?”

[System: Ahem, didn’t you notice the heroic aura between your brows and that perfect jawline?]

Mo Qi Yue paused, looked again in the mirror, and—well, perhaps so.

No, she almost got fooled.

“Can you be straightforward for once? Sometimes it’s 30% magic, sometimes it’s a rough version—so stingy!”

[System: Uh… don’t worry, upgrades are coming, they’re coming.]

Before Mo Qi Yue could retort further, the system vanished with a swoosh, and the lively street scenes returned.

As she walked on, she spotted a tea house in a prime location.

It overlooked a clear river; a stone arch bridge was just a few steps ahead, with black-canopied boats drifting beneath.

Very nice, very nice.

Mo Qi Yue thought it best to rest here for a while. After all, if she wanted to gather information, there was no better place than a tavern or tea house.

“Please, come inside, honored guest~” The waiter bowed respectfully and ushered her in.

She glanced around and chose a seat by the window, perfect for admiring the picturesque scene of the bridge, flowing water, and riverside homes.

“Sir, may I ask what you would like to order?” The waiter asked, bowing slightly.

“Cough, it’s my first time here. What specialties do you recommend?” Mo Qi Yue lowered her voice, trying hard to sound like a man with a rough voice.

The waiter’s eyes twirled as he appraised the young gentleman before him.

Dressed in a gray-blue robe, silver crown securing his hair, feet clad in boots embroidered with cloud patterns.

Though understated, his aura was extraordinary—clearly a noble scion.

Especially notable was the folding fan in his hand.

Just the ivory ribs alone suggested great value.

Though he was just a waiter and couldn’t afford such a thing, years of seeing all sorts had honed his ability to recognize people and objects.

“Ruyi pastry, peppermint cake, chrysanthemum pastry, red bean cake, chestnut biscuit, pea jelly, hawthorn cake, lotus pastry, peanut cake, golden cream pastry…”

“Perilla drink, agarwood drink, Erchen drink, fragrant mint drink, osmanthus drink, smoked plum drink…”

The waiter rattled off a long list like a rapid-fire recital, startling Mo Qi Yue into stopping him.

“Stop, stop! I got it—all specialties.”

“For snacks, one plate of each of the first eight except the peanut one. As for drinks… just the same as that table over there.”

Mo Qi Yue lightly waved her fan, indicating the tea drinks just brought to the neighboring table.

“Will you be able to finish all that alone?” The waiter frowned, never having seen one person order so much.

---

The waiter looked at the slender figure before him and wrinkled his brow.

“What? Afraid I’ll freeload?” Mo Qi Yue flicked a silver coin from her sleeve with a faint smile. “Is this enough?”

“Enough, enough, enough! More than enough.” The waiter bit his lip at the shining official silver and bowed deeply.

“Consider the rest a tip from this lord. After I finish these tea treats, I’ll have some questions to ask you.”

At that moment, any doubt in the waiter’s eyes vanished; he looked at Mo Qi Yue as if she were the God of Wealth himself.

Seeing the waiter’s eager hands cradling the silver, Mo Qi Yue put away her fan and waved.

“Thank you, sir! Your tea and snacks will be served shortly. Rest assured, whatever I know, I’ll tell you without reservation!”

Just as she was leisurely enjoying the delicacies, a gentle voice sounded beside her:

“Excuse me, sir, may I join you? I noticed this seat offers the best view in the house.”

Mo Qi Yue looked up.

Before her stood a man clad in a purple-golden robe embroidered with clouds and the moon, a twin-winged purple-gold crown atop his head, his face as flawless as jade.

Heroic spirit radiated from his brows, and his bearing was extraordinary.

“Of course,” she gestured invitingly.

The man sat down and glanced at Mo Qi Yue’s mouth full of crumbs as she ate, then asked:

“Is it really that delicious?”

Caught off guard mid-chew, Mo Qi Yue felt embarrassed.

Worried her manners might be bad, she quickly drank some smoked plum drink and patted her chest.

“Sorry to embarrass you. I’m usually not fond of alcohol, but this is my favorite.”

The man smiled lightly. “Pardon my boldness; I was just intrigued by your choice of tea.”

“No worries! This place’s tea and snacks are indeed excellent.” Mo Qi Yue pushed the plate toward him, inviting him to try some.

“Thank you, sir. May I ask your name?”

“I…” Mo Qi Yue hesitated. Oh no, with her changed appearance and clothing, she’d forgotten about the name.

“Is there some reason you can’t say?” he tilted his head, puzzled.

Thinking quickly, she countered: “Since you spoke to me first, shouldn’t you introduce yourself first?”

“Ha, fair enough.”

“I am Shang Ruohuai. Though from this bustling city, I grew up in Daizhou and today is my first time back here.” Shang Ruohuai laughed, waving his fan.

“I’m Yun Yushan, also from this city.”

As they spoke, suddenly a white light flashed, and a scroll of parchment appeared before Mo Qi Yue.

[Side Quest 1: Objective: Befriend Shang Ruohuai.]

[Quest Tracking: Converse with Shang Ruohuai, show him around the city, and help him resolve troubles.]

[Reward: White Jade Yi Disk Pendant.]

Wow, that startled me. So this is the side quest the system mentioned? What kind of troubles do I have to solve?