< Mysteries beauty >
The far side of the woods shimmered in the soft light of late afternoon. Shafts of golden sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, catching on floating motes of dust and casting dancing patterns on the forest floor. The air was rich with the scent of pine and damp earth, mingled with the faint sweetness of wildflowers hidden among the undergrowth. Somewhere far off, a brook murmured, weaving its gentle song through the quiet rustle of leaves.
Amid this serene tapestry stood a lone figure, striking even among the forest's natural beauty. Her golden-brown eyes gleamed like molten amber, curving into a mischievous smile as the wind teased her hair, making it ripple and shine like threads of silk. Each step she took was graceful, yet full of life, her presence demanding attention without effort.
"Master!"
Her voice rang clear, bouncing off the trees like a bell, and she hurried toward a middle-aged man standing beneath a tall cedar, dressed loosely in pale robes. Even in this tranquil forest, he exuded the weight of experience, his posture calm yet tired, as though every breath carried decades of responsibility.
"You're already this old, yet you still act nothing like a Miss of the Su family," he said with a sigh that blended into the wind. "If your father hadn't asked me to take you out to see the world, I wouldn't have even bothered bringing you along."
"Oh, stop complaining," Su Yuxian teased, letting her gaze wander to the guards stationed at the edge of the clearing. "I'm the Su family's treasure—you should count yourself lucky."
"I see your hair is back to black," she added with a playful tilt of her lips. "It suits you much better."
"Thanks for the compliment," he muttered, shaking his head. "If you hadn't asked me to sneak into the Zhang family, I wouldn't have witnessed such a… show."
She smiled softly, memories flickering through her mind like sunlight through the branches.
"That boy… Zhang Wei. He's cute," Su Yuxian murmured to herself, the corners of her lips lifting in a quiet grin.
"He's not suitable. He's already a father, no longer a virgin, and he's not in a strong position. Besides, you're three years older than him—don't even think about eating swan meat at your age," her master said with a scoff, only to receive a playful smack in return.
"I'm not like that! And why can't I eat swan meat? I can, so what?" she said proudly, standing taller, chest lifted with confidence.
"Who could ignore this face and figure? Even the princesses envy me every time I walk past them," Su Yuxian added, brushing a stray strand of hair from her cheek, letting the wind lift it again.
Her master hissed quietly at her words, unconvinced but unsurprised.
"You're hopeless. So… you wish to marry Zhang Wei?"
"No, I don't think so," she replied, her golden eyes glinting with mischief. "He's handsome, yes, but I'm beautiful too. I need time to think."
"But I do prefer men who are weak. So, Master… what do you think?"
"He's pitiful, but not foolish enough to marry you," he answered, voice firm.
"Always so boring," she said with a teasing laugh. Her gaze sharpened, mischievous and determined. "But it's a bet—I'll make him mine. That, I promise you."
The wind rustled through the trees again, carrying away her words like a whisper of promise, and the sunlight caught her hair, turning it to gold.