Qingyang set her teacup back on the table, looking in surprise at the little princess, who had never known the ways of the world and had been sheltered her entire life.
What had shocked her into this state? She hadn’t even learned to walk properly, yet she wanted to run before she was ready?
“Why do you suddenly wish to keep male companions?” Qingyang raised an eyebrow. “Does Father know about this?”
Si Huahuan had planned to act first and report later; naturally, she had said nothing to Emperor Jiaping.
“Didn’t the Second Sister once say that men are great fun?” She tilted her head, speaking casually, as if discussing the most ordinary matter in the world. “I have far too much free time, so I thought I’d amuse myself a little.”
Qingyang chuckled softly. “Has our little Kangle finally come to her senses?”
“If that is what you want, I can select a few carefully and send them to you.” She paused, a teasing glint in her smile. “However, you do not have a residence of your own outside the palace. You cannot keep such men within these walls.”
Huahuan frowned. She truly hadn’t thought that part through carefully.
“Here is what we will do,” Qingyang said, tapping her fingertips lightly against the tabletop as she came up with a plan. “First, go to the Plum Blossom Garden and summon a few refined entertainers to spend time with you. Get a feel for what you like in a man, so I know exactly what kind to find for you. Once you have asked the Emperor to grant you a residence outside the palace, I will send the best ones there for you.”
Usually, a princess of Great Yue was given a private mansion only after her marriage, to share with her consort. But Kangle was different; the Emperor doted on her above all others. If she asked for such a favor, he might well break tradition and grant it.
Huahuan thought her sister’s idea was excellent. Her eyes darted about, then she winked at Qingyang with a mischievous glint. “It doesn’t matter if Father refuses. I can keep them at one of my country estates, can’t I, Second Sister?”
Qingyang’s brows lifted slightly, and a flicker of appreciation crossed her eyes. Every princess possessed her own private property, including no small number of farms, villages, and shops. *What a clever girl—hiding her beauties in a golden house indeed.*
“Just remember to choose refined, well‑mannered men,” she warned.
Leaving Princess Qingyang’s residence, Huahuan took Wei Zi’s hand to board her carriage. “To the Plum Blossom Garden.”
“What garden?” Yao Huang asked, looking confusedly at Wei Zi. She saw the usually calm and composed senior maid’s expression change instantly.
Wei Zi’s hands tightened involuntarily. The Plum Blossom Garden was a well‑known establishment where young men provided companionship in the capital. While Great Yue was known for its open customs, they were not so open that a woman could visit such a place openly. Moreover, if word got out that a princess had been seen entering or leaving such an establishment…
“Y‑Your Highness, do you truly wish to go to that kind of place?” Wei Zi asked, her face pale with unease, her voice lowered to a whisper for fear passersby on the street might overhear.
Princess Qingyang was truly a bad influence on their young mistress!
A slender, jade‑white hand lifted the carriage curtain. Huahuan tilted her head slightly, her half‑closed eyes revealing an air of indolent authority that brooked no argument. “What? Am I not even allowed this bit of freedom? Drive on.”
The carriage turned down several streets and lanes before coming to a halt before an elegant compound.
Unlike ordinary houses of pleasure, there were no bright red lanterns hanging outside, nor entertainers standing about soliciting customers. Only a few white plum trees grew along the corners of the walls. Though it was not the flowering season, the place still exuded a sense of quiet refinement and distinct charm.
Wei Zi followed Huahuan to the entrance. She lifted her hand to knock, then hesitated and lowered it again. “Your Highness, if word of this should ever get out…”
Rap, rap, rap.
Huahuan had already stepped forward and knocked herself on the discreet rear gate. The door creaked open just enough to reveal a face covered in thick, heavy makeup.
The woman appeared to be in her early forties, yet her eyes were sharp and shrewd. She looked Huahuan up and down carefully, then suddenly broke into a wide, ingratiating smile. “Please enter, honored guest.”
Yao Huang produced a gold ingot and handed it to the woman. She understood the meaning immediately without a word needing to be spoken.
Seeing the rich fabric of Huahuan’s clothing and the exquisite gold phoenix hairpin adorning her hair, the woman’s smile deepened until the wrinkles on her face all but disappeared. Her gaze lingered on the hairstyle worn only by unmarried women, and she asked, “Is this your first visit, young miss? What sort of companions do you prefer?”
“What kinds do you have available?” Huahuan asked, looking around with an air of indifference.
The interior of the Plum Blossom Garden was furnished with exceptional taste. Above the entrance hung a plaque bearing the three characters for “Plum Blossom Garden,” written in a flowing, elegant style. With artificial mountains, flowing water, and the soft sway of bamboo shadows, it resembled the residence of a scholar or refined gentleman more than anything else.
“Oh, my dear miss, we have every kind you could wish for!” the woman boasted as she guided Huahuan inside. “We have those skilled in poetry and verse, those who sing beautifully, those trained in the art of massage. We have the cool and reserved type, the passionate and ardent type, those who are good at soothing tempers, those who are gentle and attentive, and even those with a fiery spirit…”
Quite a complete selection, Huahuan thought, the corners of her red lips curving upward. “Bring me one of each type. As long as they are handsome.”
The woman froze for a moment, then laughed even more heartily. “Miss, you truly have an impressive presence! But regarding the price…”
Another gold ingot dropped into her palm. Huahuan looked at her with a faint, knowing smile. “Is this sufficient?”
“More than enough! Please follow me, Miss!”
The woman hurriedly led the way, guiding Huahuan to a pavilion built over the water. This pavilion was lined with windows on three sides and faced south. Outside lay a pond of clear blue water where several golden carp swam lazily to and fro. It was indeed a place of rare elegance.
Wei Zi stood behind Huahuan, rubbing her temples with a headache.
Rather than trying to talk their willful mistress out of anything, she and Yao Huang would be better off thinking about how to explain this matter to the Emperor once they returned to the palace.
Before long, seven or eight young men filed in and gathered around Huahuan. Her back instantly went rigid. Some carried musical instruments, others held fruit platters or wine pots. In the blink of an eye, she was surrounded on all sides.
“Miss~”
The chorus of soft calls startled Huahuan so much she leaned backward, nearly striking her head against the screen behind her.
She had never been surrounded by so many men at such close range before, and for a moment she had no idea what to do.
When the Second Sister had said “amuse yourself,” what exactly had she meant?
*Oh dear, I should have asked her to explain before I left.*
She cleared her throat, trying to appear composed. “All… all of you, sit properly. Just do whatever it is you usually do.”
Mistress Qian, who ran the establishment, clapped her hands at the entrance and said with a smile, “These young gentlemen are the most considerate and perceptive in our entire establishment.”
Before she had even finished speaking, a youth dressed in blue had already stepped forward and placed a wine cup right at Huahuan’s lips.
She hesitated for a fraction of a second, then took a sip. It tasted sweet with a hint of tartness that melted perfectly on her tongue. Her eyes lit up, and her body slowly relaxed.
She rarely drank alcohol; the Imperial Physician had warned her that her constitution was too delicate to handle strong drink. Moreover, she usually found wine sharp and burning to the throat, so she avoided it.
But this deep‑red wine was deliciously sweet. A warm sensation spread through her chest only after she swallowed, nothing unpleasant about it at all.
As the young man in blue stepped forward to refill her cup, the gentle notes of a zither drifted past her ears.
Huahuan’s gaze fell upon the man in white playing the instrument. Clad in a simple, wide white robe, he looked slender and refined. Around his waist, he wore nothing but a pale blue sash. His whole being possessed the subtle elegance of a Chinese ink painting.
In a way, he reminded her quite strongly of that detestable person she knew so well.
Huahuan narrowed her eyes. The gold bracelets on her wrist chimed and jingled as she raised her hand. “You, come here. Pour wine for this… young lady.”
The youth in blue stood up somewhat reluctantly and stepped aside to let the man in white take his place. The man knelt obediently beside her. His movements as he poured the wine were fluid and graceful, and he presented the cup to her with both hands.
Huahuan stared at the fine, trembling lashes of his eyes, and suddenly grinned.
If only that scoundrel Xie Yun would show this kind of respect, life would be worth living indeed.
Amidst the continuous stream of flattery and praise from the young men around her, her cup was emptied and filled again and again.
After a while, Huahuan felt her cheeks growing hot. She had long since lost count of how many cups she had drunk. Her head felt light and airy, and she experienced a sense of comfort she had never known before.
She watched the man in white’s hands moving back and forth before her—long, slender, and fair. As if possessed by some strange impulse, she reached out and touched them, rubbing them gently a few times. They felt cool and smooth, like holding a piece of fine white jade.
She smiled, her eyes glazed and unfocused. “Your hands are so soft and smooth…”
The man in white quickly pulled his hands away, his smile freezing on his face. “Y‑Young miss…”
She lifted her head to look him in the eye, and suddenly her expression changed. She pulled her hands away sharply, her tone shifting into something sharp and accusing. “Always acting like you look down on everyone, arrogant and overbearing, aggressive and pushy! I don’t know what there is to smile about, always grinning that grin. It’s infuriating, absolutely infuriating!”
“I don’t know what is wrong with all those noble young ladies in the capital. Why do they all rush to curry favor with you… Heh, but you look much more pleasing to me when you act this humble…”
Wei Zi, standing nearby, was terrified at what she heard.
Seeing the deep flush spreading across her mistress’s cheeks and the unfocused look in her eyes as she began to ramble nonsense, she hurried forward. “Young miss, it is getting late. We must return home now.”
“Huh?” Huahuan pouted, looking thoroughly displeased. “But I haven’t finished playing yet!”
“Young Miss…”
Looking at Wei Zi’s stubborn and anxious face, Huahuan, contrary to her usual self, felt suddenly generous and kind. She agreed, her mood still excellent. “Very well then.”
She stood up but swayed unsteadily. Fortunately, Yao Huang caught her arm in time, preventing her from falling directly onto the man in white.
She took two steps forward, then turned back. She pulled a gold bracelet from her wrist and tossed it right into his arms. Suddenly she leaned down toward him, and a sweet scent of various fruits and wine washed over him. Her soft hand, nails painted with red lacquer, patted his cheek twice, not too hard, not too soft. She smiled and said, “You served me well. This is your reward.”
Her voice was naturally clear and pleasing to the ear. Drunk as she was, she drew out the end of each word into a long, melodious tone, like pulling a fine thread of sugar candy.
The man in white lowered his head even further, his lashes fluttering. He couldn’t help but swallow hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing visibly. “Thank you, young miss.”
It would have been fine if he hadn’t thanked her. But seeing him act so humble and obedient made Huahuan feel wonderful. She pulled every ornament she was wearing—gold bracelets, armbands, jade bangles, gemstone rings—everything she could take off, and stuffed them all into his arms until they were overflowing and clinking together.
Then she turned around, took the purses from Yao Huang and Wei Zi’s belts, and upended them, spilling silver and copper coins all over the table. Mumbling indistinctly, she said to the rest of the men, “This is for you all too.”
It was only when the palace gates came into view that the cold night breeze dispersed some of the fumes from the wine.
Huahuan rubbed her throbbing temples, trying hard to recall exactly what had happened just moments before. Slowly, she began to realize everything she had said and everything she had done.
She felt a flash of annoyance. She had gone there to enjoy herself, not to get drunk.
And worse, how had she ended up mistaking that man in white for Xie Yun and tormenting him instead?
She shook her head violently, trying to force that face out of her mind.
She held out her bare arms and looked at them. They were completely empty; she had nothing left.
*Oh well*, she thought, unconcerned. She had plenty of such trinkets back home; if she gave them away, so be it.
What she didn’t know was that any single item she had given away was worth enough to feed and clothe an entire wealthy household for a whole year.
Wei Zi saw that her mistress’s eyes had cleared somewhat and asked, “Are you feeling better, Your Highness?”
Huahuan pressed her hand against her aching forehead and ground out between her teeth, “You could have tried to stop me.”
Wei Zi looked at her helplessly. When the princess threw a tantrum or set her mind to something, how could she possibly be stopped?
Huahuan was carried back to the Palace of Eternal Peace in her sedan chair. Long before arriving, she saw her maids hurrying out to meet her. “Your Highness, the Marquis of Ming’an has arrived. He is waiting inside the main hall.”
Her heart skipped a beat. *What is he doing here?* But she showed nothing on her face, merely waving her hand casually to indicate she had received the message.
Stepping into the great hall, she saw Xie Yun sitting at ease, dressed in a pale moon‑white brocade robe. With his long, slender index finger, he traced the rim of a teacup slowly and absently. It was a casual pose, yet it radiated an innate nobility and dignity.
The fading light of the setting sun streamed through the entrance, gilding his sharply defined profile and highlighting his handsome, distinguished features.
Huahuan paused in her steps. For a fleeting moment, the figure before her merged with the man in white from earlier, yet she immediately realized they were not alike at all. Xie Yun’s natural, effortless grace was truly superior.
*Ugh, stop it! Why am I praising him in my head?*
“Have you stared enough?” Xie Yun turned his head suddenly, a faint, elusive smile playing about his lips.
Trained in martial arts since childhood, his hearing was exceptionally sharp. He had heard her footsteps long ago but had deliberately waited until she drew near to speak.
Huahuan instantly composed her face into a stern expression. “What are you doing here?”
A night breeze swept through the hall. Xie Yun’s nose twitched slightly, and the smile in his eyes vanished instantly. He stood up and walked over to her in a few strides. “Where have you been?”
“What business is it of yours?” Huahuan huffed. “Do I need to report my every movement to you, your Lordship?”
She turned to leave, but he caught her wrist in a firm grip.
“I could smell the alcohol on you all the way from outside the door. You actually went out of the palace and drank yourself into this state.”
His voice was low and pleasing to the ear, possessing the spirited energy unique to young men, yet laced with an undeniable, commanding strength that brooked no refusal.
“The Marquis of Ming’an concerns himself with far too much. I will go where I please and do as I please. You are in no position to lecture me.”
She struggled to pull free, but he simply pulled her toward him instead, causing her to stumble half a step forward.
Xie Yun looked down at her. The strength in his grip was perfectly measured—firm enough to keep her from escaping, yet gentle enough not to cause pain.
As they pulled and tugged against each other, there was a loud *rip*. The wide sleeve of Huahuan’s robe was torn clean off, exposing her slender, fair wrist and forearm.
The air in the room seemed to freeze instantly.
Clothing in spring was made of lighter material. Her robes were crafted from the finest silk—thin, light, and soft. Xie Yun had never intended to tear it.
Huahuan stared at the piece of fabric in his hand. With a sharp jerk, she pulled the remaining sleeve away from her arm. She spoke rapidly, as if terrified of being interrupted.
“Perfect! Clearly, Heaven itself wishes for us to sever our ties and end our friendship. From this moment on, we part ways and go our separate paths. Do not interfere with me, and I shall not bother you!”