The Daily Life of a Female Esper in Ancient Times - Chapter 239

Knowing that Li Xia had been bored staying at the mansion lately, Lu XuanNing didn’t object. The next day, the family of three went to Ten Mile Town. Qiu Chan and Jiang Chong escorted Lu Liucheng to the gaming area, which had developed many new games over the years of advancement.

Lu XuanNing and Li Xia went to a cosmetics shop. Qiu Ling was taken away by Xiao Changning, who had rushed over upon hearing the news. Qiu Kui stayed at the residence.

At the Xue Qing Shop, the store owner, Qing Niang, was a strikingly beautiful young woman dressed in somewhat exotic clothing.

“Madam wants to dye her nails green?” Qing Niang confirmed once again.

“I want to dye them green,” Li Xia answered affirmatively.

“Very few people are willing to dye this color. After I developed it, no one wanted to try it. You’re the second person who wants to dye this color,” Qing Niang asked Li Xia and Lu XuanNing to rest for a while as she needed to make some preparations.

“Who was the first?” Li Xia was curious about who shared her interest.

“His name is Zhou Heng,” Qing Niang’s words made Li Xia ponder for a moment before turning to Lu XuanNing, “That name sounds familiar, as if I’ve heard it somewhere before. Do you know where I might have heard it?”

“It’s a common name, maybe there are many people called that,” Lu XuanNing had barely finished speaking when Qing Niang loudly placed some items on the table.

“I know, Zhou Heng is working for you,” Qing Niang said with certainty.

“You haven’t actually researched how to dye nails green,” Li Xia said, somewhat disappointed.

“I have developed it. But you need to tell me where he is,” Qing Niang revealed she was here for Zhou Heng.

“Why are you looking for him?” Li Xia leaned back, ready to listen attentively.

“I like him,” Qing Niang was straightforward about her feelings for Zhou Heng.

“You look only seventeen or eighteen, he could be old enough to be your father,” Li Xia sized up Qing Niang.

“I don’t care, I just like him,” Qing Niang wore an expression that suggested she wouldn’t settle for anyone but Zhou Heng.

“Does Zhou Heng like you?” Li Xia asked the key question.

Seeing Li Xia ask this, Qing Niang huffed and sat down on a chair without speaking. After a while, she recounted what had happened.

Over the years, Zhou Heng had been collecting various prescriptions and seeking out famous doctors to ensure Li Xia’s safety. He even went to Miao territory to visit Miao doctors and shamans.

Qing Niang was an heir to a line of Miao doctors, learning medical skills from her father. She met Zhou Heng when he came to visit. Zhou Heng’s superior poison and medical skills, as well as his excellent lightness kung fu, made Qing Niang develop feelings for him.

Qing Niang was a straightforward girl. During a village gathering, emboldened by alcohol, she confessed to Zhou Heng. Zhou Heng accepted the gift she offered as a token of her feelings. “I didn’t expect him to run away that very night,” she said.

Li Xia and Lu XuanNing exchanged glances, not expecting that simply wanting to dye her nails green could lead to such an encounter. It truly was unsettling.

“What do you want me to do?” It was clear she hadn’t been brought here just to tell a story.

“Where did Zhou Heng go? I can’t find him,” Qing Niang couldn’t locate Zhou Heng, but she had discovered that he had spent several years with Li Xia at the border. Thinking of this, Qing Niang felt very jealous.

“I don’t know. He didn’t tell me,” Li Xia genuinely didn’t know where Zhou Heng had gone.

“I know where he went. However, he specifically instructed me not to tell a certain young lady,” Lu XuanNing spoke up from the side.

“He instructed not to tell, which means he hasn’t forgotten about me. I knew he liked me,” Qing Niang was overjoyed. After calming down, she looked at Li Xia, “I know Zhou Heng has been searching for medicine for you. If I stay with you, I’m sure to meet him eventually.”

“You’re welcome to,” Li Xia didn’t mind having Qing Niang by her side.

“However, you should first release the real owner of the Xue Qing Shop,” Li Xia’s words made Qing Niang wear an expression that suggested they had known all along. She went to the back room and released Xue Qing, the true owner of the shop.

“It’s you,” Li Xia hadn’t expected the owner of Xue Qing Shop to be Cuihong, who used to be by Li Shan’s side. The world was truly small.

“Second Young Miss,” the former Cuihong, now Xue Qing, came forward and curtseyed.

“It seems you’re doing quite well now,” Li Xia observed Xue Qing, noting her married woman’s hairstyle and good spirits.

“This shop was opened by my husband and me. He’s responsible for developing cosmetics, while I handle the sales. Young Miss Qing here helped me drive away a troublesome customer earlier,” Xue Qing explained the situation.

She then extended her ten fingers, showing several shades of green, “These are the latest colors we’ve developed. I’ve tried them all. Second Young Miss, which one do you like?”

Xue Qing had dyed her nails in four shades, ranging from light to dark. “Which one do you like?” Li Xia asked Lu XuanNing to choose for her.

“I like whatever you like,” Lu XuanNing’s answer wasn’t original, but Li Xia loved hearing it. She chose the dark green and asked Xue Qing to dye her nails.

As Xue Qing prepared to mix the dye materials, Qing Niang followed her with great interest. Li Xia and Lu XuanNing sat to the side, discussing Qing Niang and Zhou Heng’s situation.

“Just how much have you and Zhou Heng been hiding from me?”

“It wasn’t something easy to talk about, so we didn’t mention it,” Lu XuanNing’s answer clearly didn’t satisfy Li Xia.

“Indeed, Sister Hong was right when she said it’s better to believe in ghosts than to trust a man’s words,” Li Xia sighed.

“Xia Xia, what kind of person is this Sister Hong?” Lu XuanNing knew that this “big sister” Li Xia mentioned must be someone she knew in her previous life. He wanted to understand Li Xia’s past life.

Li Xia thought about how people around her in her previous life described Sister Hong, “A woman so charming that both men and women would fall for her.”

“Did you fall for her too?” Lu XuanNing felt a bit jealous hearing Li Xia praise another woman.

“Sister Hong said I was too young, she couldn’t bring herself to do it,” Li Xia’s answer didn’t please Lu XuanNing. “Appreciating beauty is everyone’s right. Just like that young lady and gentleman outside, they’re both quite attractive.”

Lu XuanNing didn’t turn to look out the window, only gazing at Li Xia, indicating that he wouldn’t look at anyone else. He would only look at Li Xia.

Li Xia reached out and held Lu XuanNing’s hand, “From now on, I’ll only look at you too.” Li Xia’s response satisfied Lu XuanNing, who withdrew his gaze and drank his tea.

Xue Qing mixed the nail dye and carefully applied it to Li Xia’s nails, then wrapped them carefully with cloth soaked in the medicinal solution. “Second Young Miss, you can unwrap them after six hours.”

With all ten fingers wrapped up, thinking about seeing beautiful green nails in six hours put Li Xia in a good mood. “Xue Qing, ask your husband to research how to paint flowers and plants on nails. That would be even prettier,” Li Xia said, gesturing for Lu XuanNing to pay.

“As you say, Second Young Miss,” Xue Qing noted Li Xia’s suggestion.

After paying, Qing Niang packed her belongings and followed behind the couple. Lu XuanNing carefully protected Li Xia along the way, making sure no one bumped into her. At the restaurant, because Li Xia’s hands were inconvenienced, Lu XuanNing fed her throughout the meal, showing great care and attention.

“Your husband is so good to you,” Qing Niang said enviously, wishing Zhou Heng would treat her the same way.

“Doesn’t Zhou Heng treat you well? Why are you still looking for him?”

“He always treats me like a child,” Qing Niang became angry just talking about it. Being treated like a child by the person you like, having everything you say dismissed as unimportant, made Qing Niang feel very frustrated.