Chapter 226
Chapter 226
Lu Jing was rather bewildered at the moment.
He looked at the card in his hand, then at the empty clothes rack beside him, his mind full of confusion. When he stepped over to the full-length mirror, well–now he was the one with nothing on.
Two words were written on the card: The Emperor.
A golden crown had rested on top of the card, and it was now perched on his head. That was not the important part. The important part was that the instant the crown appeared, Lu Jing discovered to his dismay that every piece of clothing on his body had vanished.
In other words, he stood before the mirror with nothing left on but his underwear.
What was going on?
Lu Jing remained dazed for a long time. His first instinct was to ask Qin Weiyi for help, but he was alone in the room.
He raked a hand through his hair, developing a headache.
He circled the room several times without finding a single piece of clothing. Even the clothes he had arrived in had disappeared. Before he could devise a solution, the Steward’s familiar voice came through the antique telephone in the room.
“The ball will begin in half an hour. Guests, please proceed to the ballroom.”
Lu Jing froze.
He was supposed to go to the ball like this?
This was going to be the death of him!
But Lu Jing could not remain here forever. In the end, he swept another glance around the room. There truly were no clothes, but heavy curtains hung over the window. Gritting his teeth, Lu Jing tore them down and wrapped one piece around his lower body and another around his upper body. At least he was covered now.
Only after finishing did Lu Jing walk toward the door.
Qin Weiyi and Qin Nan were the first to emerge from their rooms.
When they met in the Corridor and saw each other’s outfits, both men froze.
Qin Nan wore a heavy black Palace Dress. Qin Weiyi’s outfit was much simpler by comparison, but all those glittering sequins were positively blinding.
Still, the sight offered them both some comfort.
They were both wearing dresses, so neither had the right to laugh at the other!
Just then, Lu Jing opened his door and came out.
Qin Weiyi and Qin Nan turned toward him. When they saw him wrapped in curtains, both paused in surprise.
“Lu Jing, what happened to you?” Qin Nan asked.
Their dresses might be embarrassing, but at least they were normal clothes. Lu Jing, on the other hand… What was this bizarre ensemble?
Lu Jing glanced at their dresses. He almost wanted to laugh, but Qin Nan’s question robbed him of the impulse. Dresses or not, they at least had clothes. He had absolutely nothing.
“What happened?” Qin Weiyi asked worriedly.
Lu Jing looked deeply aggrieved. “I don’t know. All my clothes disappeared. I had no choice but to tear down a couple of curtains.”
Qin Nan and Qin Weiyi both stared.
Then Qin Nan’s gaze fell on the golden crown atop Lu Jing’s head. He swallowed and said, “The Emperor’s New Clothes?”
Lu Jing did not understand. “What?”
Before either man could answer, sounds came from the other rooms.
Xia Zeqin emerged wrapped in a wolf pelt. Yellow Hair came next. Though he had originally been a decent height, he was now no taller than a child, startling everyone.
After that, Yang Zhen appeared in a red cape and red hood.
Lin Junruo wore a lovely princess gown and a pair of Glass Slippers.
Zhou Jingying was dressed in heavily patched clothes and carried a basket containing what appeared to be–matches?
Shi Chen came next. He too wore a beautiful princess gown, but his eyelids drooped as though he might fall asleep at any moment.
The instant he saw everyone, he blurted, “I’m so sleepy.”
Before anyone could question it, the door to Jian Fan’s room also opened.
Jian Fan appeared before them.
Everyone’s outfits were bizarre, so no one reacted too strongly when they saw Jian Fan in a princess gown as well. Qin Nan alone burst into laughter.
Jian Fan frowned.
Was it really that funny? Qin Nan himself was wearing a dress.
Qin Nan finally managed to suppress his laughter. “Do you know what my role is?”
“What?” Lin Junruo asked for Jian Fan.
Holding back another laugh, Qin Nan answered, “The Queen who gave Snow White the Poisoned Apple.”
Lin Junruo paused, then looked at Jian Fan’s dress and could not hold back her own laughter.
Although several of them wore princess gowns or court dress, their colors and styles differed. The outfit Jian Fan was wearing was unmistakably the familiar Snow White costume from the animated film!
So Jian Fan had become Snow White, while Qin Nan was the Evil Queen.
Jian Fan: “…”
“Where are the other two?” Qin Weiyi asked, looking around.
There were only ten of them present, meaning two were missing. No one cared what had happened to Fang Kang, but one of their companions was absent as well: Mu Xin.
The moment he finished speaking, the final two doors opened. Yet no one came out.
While everyone was wondering what was happening, Mu Xin’s voice rang out.
“I’m exhausted. Why was opening a door so hard?”
Everyone stared.
Was opening a door difficult?
And they could hear Mu Xin, but where was she?
As they searched in confusion, Lin Junruo suddenly pointed ahead, her face filled with shock. “Y-you-you–you… Mu Xin?”
Everyone immediately followed her finger.
Right in front of it stood a girl no larger than the finger itself–and she truly was a tiny girl. A pair of wings grew from her back, and a closer look revealed that the face really did belong to Mu Xin.
“Yes,” Mu Xin said miserably.
She had still been a normal person when she entered the room. Who could have imagined she would become this after picking up the card?
“Thumbelina?” Qin Nan identified her role.
Mu Xin gave an aggrieved acknowledgment.
Seeing her companions’ circumstances only made Mu Xin feel even sorrier for herself.
Just then, Fang Kang’s voice sounded as well. He gave a cold, disdainful snort.
They heard him, but could not see him anywhere.
Everyone began looking around.
“Stop looking. I’m at your feet,” Fang Kang said coldly.
Only then did everyone look down.
The sight stunned them yet again.
Good grief.
At least Mu Xin still had her own face. Fang Kang had turned directly into a frog.
Looking at Fang Kang, Mu Xin suddenly felt comforted.
Apparently, she was not the worst off after all.
The others wanted to laugh too, but business came first.
“We have to get to the ball,” Qin Nan said, attempting to drag the conversation back on track.
Everyone finally snapped out of it.
The group headed toward the ball, chatting along the way.
Mu Xin flew onto Lin Junruo’s shoulder and let her carry her. As for Fang Kang, he was not close to anyone, so he could only hop along the floor under his own power. Even so, he soon fell behind.
No one cared about his predicament.