"The southern breeze brings coolness, the nightingale sings gently, flowers beneath the moon all drift into dreams, only the Night-blooming Jasmine, releasing its fragrance..."
Greenwater City, Xiaoyao Lodge.
The Singing Empress, Jiang Mengting, was performing in the ballroom.
The ballroom wasn't a large dance hall; the one at Xiaoyao Lodge could accommodate up to thirty people and was used for gatherings.
Today, there were only two audience members: Li Qi and Ma Wu.
Ma Wu leaned in and asked in a low voice, "Old Qi, do you think she's pretty?"
Li Banfeng glanced at the Phonograph behind Jiang Mengting and nodded. "Pretty."
"Honestly, though," Ma Wu pressed, "do you feel there's something... different about her?"
Li Banfeng was quite familiar with Jiang Mengting. Ever since Xiaoyao Lodge had reopened, Jiang Mengting had left Hundred Joy Gate and returned to Ma Wu's patronage.
"She's loyal to you."
