Chapter 132: Her in a Long Skirt

The new year should bring a new look.

On the day before the new year, which is New Year's Eve,

Wu Yingxue was still as before, circulating the Azure Dragon Astral Qi alone, observing heaven and earth to comprehend the ultimate principles, and wielding her long spear to practice various spear techniques.

Once her martial practice was over,

she habitually wanted to go to the center of Pingshui County, to the place where Xu Xi was.

Was she going to do something?

Actually, no.

The girl simply felt that other matters were too dull, far less interesting than staying by the master's side, listening to him tell amusing little stories, or helping him handle administrative affairs.

"Huh, what's this…" she thought, her footstep just about to take her forward when Wu Yingxue realized something was off.

The red and white robe on her body, along with the exquisitely crafted light armor worn over it, had unknowingly developed fine cracks, with many gaps appearing as well.

For no particular reason, the young girl recalled the phrase 'new year, new look.'

Before the Prince Dingyuan's mansion was purged,

as the young princess, she had an endless supply of clothes every year. During festivals and holidays, she would always be radiant and beautiful, never wearing damaged garments.

But times were different now.

The young girl was no longer a princess.

Moreover, she herself had little interest in dressing up.

However, since it was the once-a-year New Year's Eve, it wouldn't be appropriate to visit the master looking so shabby.

"I'll find someone to mend it," Wu Yingxue thought.

She acted quickly.

With a leap, she jumped onto the rooftops, light as a bird. One step, one bound, and she swiftly passed over row after row of houses, heading toward her destination.

When she stopped, what appeared before her eyes were many women doing needlework.

They were either someone's mother or someone's wife.

Not skilled in fighting,

naturally gentle and soft,

yet they still wanted to do something for the Qiuhuo Army.

Thus, they were gathered together by Xu Xi and assigned to do simple tasks.

"Little Master Wu?" someone asked upon seeing Wu Yingxue's arrival, curious about her purpose.

The young girl did not hide it, honestly pointing to her clothes and saying she wanted someone to help mend them. It didn't need to be too meticulous, just patching up the holes would suffice.

Such a simple request

was naturally fulfilled.

The women enthusiastically took on the task.

But what happened next was completely unexpected by the young girl. The women pushed her from behind, forcing her into a room.

"Little Master Wu is planning to see Grand Master Xu, right?"

"We understand, we understand."

"We'll mend the tears and holes. As for today, Little Master Wu should change into a different set of clothes."

Wu Yingxue widened her eyes: "Huh!?"

This sudden turn of events was something the young girl hadn't anticipated at all. She had no idea what was happening. By the time she walked out of the room again, her clothes had already been changed.

It was no longer that dashing red and white martial attire.

Nor was there the fierce-looking external light armor.

Instead, it was a simple, pale green long skirt.

The skirt fluttered like ripples on a lake, showing the shape of the wind, smooth and flowing. Her waist was cinched tightly with a black silk ribbon, with two ends hanging down equally long.

Exquisite cloud-patterned fabric,

a swaying floral hairpin atop her head.

When the young girl walked, it was as if she had stepped out of a painting—graceful and delicate, with none of her usual boisterousness.

The clothes were beautiful, the accessories were beautiful, but what truly showcased this beauty was the young girl herself.

"Is this… really me?"

Wu Yingxue felt somewhat bewildered.

Looking at her full reflection in the bronze mirror brought by someone else, she couldn't help but feel astonished.

In Wu Yingxue's memory, when she lived in the prince's mansion, she had also worn such long skirts. Although not often, she had indeed worn them.

But in her memory,

none of those times looked as beautiful as now.

Could it be…

that this was what the elders in the mansion often called 'a girl changes eighteen times as she grows up'?

The young girl fell into deep thought, greatly astonished.

"It's a bit restrictive, but there's no other choice."

After the astonishment, Wu Yingxue frowned, gently tugging at her sleeves and then at her collar.

Accustomed to fighting in martial attire, she felt such a long skirt was too inconvenient. No matter what she did, it didn't feel as free and easy as usual.

However,

this was the only option available.

On New Year's Eve, if she still wore her original tattered martial attire, even the girl herself would feel embarrassed.

"I hope the master won't find it ugly…"

Muttering to herself,

the girl instinctively wanted to leap onto the rooftops but then remembered her changed attire.

Running across rooftops in a long skirt would be somewhat eye-catching.

After some thought, the young girl chose to walk properly. Under the astonished gazes of passersby, she walked in her long skirt toward the official residence in the center of the county town.

That was originally where county officials worked and rested.

Now it had become Xu Xi's office and warehouse.

The official residence was spacious.

If only Xu Xi lived there, it would be somewhat wasteful.

But people were unwilling to disturb him, afraid of startling Xu Xi while he handled administrative affairs or cultivated Martial Skills. Thus, Xu Xi was forced to live alone.

Others, including Wu Yingxue, lived in much narrower places.

Xu Xi did not wish to be the only one receiving preferential treatment.

Therefore, he converted the official residence into a warehouse, using most of the space to store items, leaving only a small area for work and rest.

"The master is getting more and more foolish lately. He doesn't even know how to treat himself well."

Muttering such words,

Wu Yingxue, familiar with the way,

circled around one messy warehouse after another, navigating through narrow paths, and smoothly arrived at Xu Xi's door.

She reached out her finger, about to pull open the door,

but froze mid-air.

At this moment, the young girl stood quietly before the door in her pale green long skirt. After much hesitation, she gently tidied her hair with her fingers.

The black strands in front of her forehead were fiddled with, now to the left, now to the right.

Was it too messy?

She thought this, adjusting the hairpin holding her long hair back and forth, again and again, tirelessly.

Her slender fingers pinched the collar of her clothes, meticulously and patiently smoothing it out, even though it was already neat enough.

What else was lacking?

The young girl pondered. Her usual style was bold and straightforward. Would dressing like this today make the master think it strange?

Well, let's pull the sleeves up a bit…

That might make her look less delicate.

But then again, if she usually had that style, maybe changing it occasionally would be something the master might like?

The girl struggled repeatedly, dwelling on various unnecessary details, hesitating for a long time.

Finally,

Wu Yingxue took a deep breath and patted her cheeks.

Summoning her courage, she pulled open the door.

Pretending not to care, she entered the room.

"Master, I'm here."

The room was empty and silent, with no response at all, nor the person Wu Yingxue wanted to see. Only a large pile of administrative affairs awaited on the desk.

Yes, Xu Xi was not in the room.

"Huh!?"

The young girl blinked her eyes.

If Xu Xi wasn't here, then all her earlier hesitation had been completely meaningless?

"I did something stupid…"

Wu Yingxue wanted to punch herself, but decided against it because she was afraid of the pain.

She walked to Xu Xi's work position, sat down, and began handling administrative affairs, both to relieve Xu Xi's pressure and to wait for his return.