Everyone waited with bated breath, yet Jun Moye was half-reclining, half-sitting in his chair, chatting with Miao Xiaomiao. “Miss Miao, isn’t it inconvenient wearing that veil?” Jun Moye asked.

“Inconvenient? Not at all! Why do you ask?” Miao Xiaomiao looked at him strangely.

“I just feel that… one shouldn’t wear this veil for too long. Read this on Shushu.com, it’s spring now, very dusty, and the veil certainly has a beautifying effect. But you can’t wear it every day; it’s actually bad for the skin. Spring wind and rain, autumn frost and winter snow—these are all Heaven’s blessings. One’s appearance also needs to be tempered by this wind, frost, rain, and snow to reveal a truly moving charm…”

“Brother Mo speaks with perfect reason, but this veil… it’s a long story,” Miao Xiaomiao sighed lightly.

“Oh… hehe. Just looking at the lady’s ethereal beauty is enough to intoxicate the soul. If I, Mo, could one day see the flower-like lovely face beneath the veil, what unimaginable good fortune that would be.”

Jun Moye rubbed his nose. Seeing that the other party didn't want to discuss the veil issue, and since he was just trying to pass the time, he offered a compliment and intended to stop.

But as soon as the words left his mouth, he saw Miao Xiaomiao’s gaze suddenly shyly dart away. Even through the white gauze, it was clear that her snow-white face had flushed crimson, like fire. It happened extremely fast, and even her neck turned completely red!

A few people nearby who heard his remark began looking at Jun Moye as if he were some kind of monster. The gazes of several young men were so fierce they looked as if they wanted to leap forward and bite him, treating him like the slayer of their father!

“Uh… what’s wrong? Did I say something wrong?” Jun Moye scratched his head, slightly bewildered. I just complimented her, why are you all so worked up?

“Since arriving at the Illusory Manor, Brother Mo, how many young women have you actually seen?” Miao Xiaomiao completely bypassed answering his question, which she didn't know how to answer, and countered with a question.

Shame still lingered in her eyes, but her tone had been forcefully brought back to calm.

Jun Moye started, and suddenly remembered: he had completely overlooked this biggest abnormality. Since coming to the Illusory Manor, he seemed never to have seen a single young woman. When he was in Cao Guofeng’s small courtyard, it was understandable, but what baffled him was that even in the City of Inner Illusions, he hadn't seen one! If he absolutely had to count, besides Miao Xiaomiao right here, there was only that little sprout! Do the girls of the Misty Illusory Manor never go shopping? The few women he saw on the streets all seemed to be of the 'auntie' level… What was going on?

Seeing the confusion in Jun Moye’s eyes, Miao Xiaomiao laughed and said, “Young Master is not from this Manor, so it is understandable that you don’t know the reason. In our Illusory Manor, we take the separation between men and women extremely seriously! Unmarried women are generally not allowed to go out… Even if they occasionally step out, they must wear a veil. Even at home, they must wear one when meeting unfamiliar guests…”

“In some families that place high value on tradition, the girls start wearing veils after the age of thirteen, and their own fathers are no longer allowed to see them. Only when they find their lifelong partner and marry, and their own husband personally lifts the veil, can they stop wearing it from then on…”

“Uh, uh…” Young Master Jun felt rare awkwardness. He never imagined that a casual remark of his had directly touched upon a young woman’s privacy and her lifelong happiness! This was truly…

“In our Manor, there is a poem that circulates…” Miao Xiaomiao’s eyes held a hint of mistiness as she chanted softly: “A maiden of sixteen, graceful and fair, wears a snow-white veil for life’s entire share; No other glance in this life she shall spare, until her destined love lifts it with care!”

Jun Moye’s eyes widened, his mouth agape. He felt like a complete pig! Whether she wore a veil or not was her own business, but why did he have to open his mouth and ask about it? Now that he had asked, he might have dug up a huge problem, a truly massive one…

The meaning of the poem, Young Master Jun naturally understood. He wasn't entirely unfamiliar with this custom. It was somewhat similar to customs in some nomadic minority groups he'd heard about… It bore a strong resemblance to the groom lifting the bride's red veil on the wedding night…

Miao Xiaomiao’s dreamlike voice came again, softly, “Almost all the maidens of our Illusory Manor hope that the person who finally lifts their white veil is their true beloved. If so, that is their happiest moment. Conversely, it might mean the arrival of a nightmare…” As she spoke, her eyes fixed on Jun Moye’s, filled with tenderness and expectation. It was unclear if she was anticipating the dream of all the girls in the Manor, or if she was imagining it for herself…

“Brother Mo…” Miao Xiaomiao’s gaze suddenly grew intense, and she looked bravely at Young Master Jun, biting her lip, “If Brother Mo truly wishes to see Xiaomiao’s real appearance, then…”

Jun Moye’s heart leaped; he suddenly felt his mouth go dry. Damn, have I really stirred up big trouble? What should I say now? Should I say I don't want to look? That I wouldn't look even if you killed me? That would surely earn Miss Miao’s resentment for a lifetime, plus a lifetime of sorrow, and possibly lead to the Miao family launching a manhunt! The favorable situation he had painstakingly built in the Illusory Manor would instantly collapse!

But to say he wanted to see? That was impossible too. The girl had the intention, but he didn't! This wasn't something that could be decided by just one person's willingness; he wasn't some beast! My mouth is truly shameless! Help me!

Miao Xiaomiao’s heart was pounding like a frightened deer. She naturally didn't know what this Mo Junye meant by asking that question! Did he truly not know the custom of the Illusory Manor? Or was he just using this as an opportunity to confess his feelings? If he truly didn't know… what should she do? Conversely, if he was indeed using the prestige of his victory over the Zhan brothers' faction to confess, and she rejected him… would he be severely disheartened? The opportunity would be lost!

After much thought, Miao Xiaomiao’s feelings became a tangled mess. For a moment, she couldn't even think straight; her mind was like a skein of chaotic thread. After thinking for a long time, she steeled her heart, thinking: In any case, my life is within the Illusory Manor… But I have seen all the young masters from the great families here. Although some are decent, they lack a certain spark… To entrust my life to them, I would truly rather remain unmarried my whole life!

And this Mo Junye, who possesses the legendary Ethereal Physique, caused a sensation upon arrival. Not only is his background considerable, but the learning he has displayed is breathtaking. His demeanor and temperament are even more pleasing, and subtly, he carries a fresh and pleasant scent that brings genuine comfort upon inhaling it…

This man, though his looks are ordinary, I can feel that he is absolutely someone worthy of entrusting my life to! If I don't like someone like this, Xiaomiao, who then should you like? What else are you hoping for? The opportunity is right in front of you; if you don't grasp it, it will vanish in an instant!

Besides, as I grow older, the marriage proposals arriving at home have increased recently. If it weren't for the unresolved matter of the Spirit Herb Garden, my marriage might already be settled. If one day my elders loosen their grip and marry me off to someone for the sake of family interests… then I would truly regret it too late!

It is better to seize this opportunity now to decide my lifelong fate! Even if my family arranges something later, and I already have someone in mind, that will be the biggest reason for refusal. Even if in the end I cannot be with him, having a memory as breathtaking as today’s, could I ever look at another man as highly for the rest of my life?

Although we have only been together a short time and don't know each other deeply, I can completely feel with my maiden's heart that this Mo Junye is definitely not a bad person to his core! Moreover, he once bravely warned me against common wisdom. And now, he is in direct conflict with the Zhan family; relying solely on Cao Guofeng might not be enough to protect him…

The thought that the Mo Junye before her might perish under the Zhan family's machinations sent a sharp, inexplicable pain through Miao Xiaomiao’s heart! This pain solidified the direction of her choice.

She raised her eyes to look at Jun Moye. She saw his tense expression, his slightly vacant eyes, cold sweat beading on his forehead, staring blankly at her, waiting for her answer… He seemed exceptionally concerned about her reply, showing both the helplessness of waiting and an inexpressible longing… This gentleman cares so much about my intentions! Miao Xiaomiao felt a surge of sweetness in her heart, and her face flushed red again. A priceless treasure is easy to find, but a true lover is hard to come by!

Forget it, let this dull-witted fellow be the one to unveil me.

It seemed Jun Moye was indeed extremely anxious about what Miao Xiaomiao intended to say. Although his goal was quite different from what Miss Miao imagined… Young Master Jun was internally panicking: Granny, stop talking in riddles! Just say what you mean! You’re killing me with suspense! Don’t provoke me anymore!

My little heart can’t take this intense stimulation! I really can't take off this veil! There's a whole harem of jealous women back home… If I took it off, I wouldn't live to tell the tale… especially Xueyan; our martial arts are nearly equal now, and if she wanted to torment me, I wouldn't dare fight back… My days would truly turn dark! Please, spare me… Pity me, I haven’t even seen what you look like, Heavens, Earth, all the gods and Buddhas, please open your eyes and spare this humble person…

As Young Master Jun was wailing his prayers to the heavens, Miao Xiaomiao finally spoke. But she kept her head bowed low as she spoke. Jun Moye could clearly see that the neck of the Illusory Manor’s number one beauty, usually like white jade, had turned completely red. Her voice was even softer than the sound of a mosquito’s hum… Miao Xiaomiao almost hummed the words: “If Brother Mo… truly wants to see… my true appearance… then you… you you, after winning today’s wager… I… I… I… I will let you look…” (To be continued. If you want to know what happens next…)