Lin Zhaoyue’s lips curved slightly as she turned around, adopting the tone of a seasoned patron:
“Oh? A true peerless beauty? Was the proprietor planning to keep this one hidden?”
The proprietor chuckled: “How could I dare? He only arrived yesterday, and is currently in an unsightly state. Please wait a moment, miss—I’ll have someone clean him up and bring him to you.”
“No need. I’ll accompany you.”
Hearing Lin Zhaoyue’s words, the proprietor hesitated:
“That place is filthy and foul, and may soil your noble person.”
“It’s fine.”
With those two words, Lin Zhaoyue gestured for the proprietor to lead the way.
They arrived at the basement of Hidden Fragrance Pavilion. When the door opened, a foul odor wafted out—a mix of sweat, feces, and urine—so pungent it was overwhelming.
Even Seventeen, following behind, instinctively covered his nose and mouth. The stench was so strong it made tears stream from one’s eyes.
No light penetrated the room; it was dark as if sealed from the sky.
The proprietor pulled a fire starter from his sleeve, blew on it, and lit a candle inside. Only then did Lin Zhaoyue see everything clearly.
The basement was large, containing over ten iron cages. Each cage held a boy dressed in ragged clothes. The floor beneath the cages was damp, stained with yellow and red substances.
The damp liquid was urine; the yellow was dried or fresh feces; the red was blood.
Even the proprietor found this place unbearable.
“Miss, perhaps you should wait outside?”
In her previous life, when she was in the Cold Palace, her circumstances were similar—even the food was sour rice, some already infested with worms. Lin Zhaoyue could endure it, and simply asked:
“Where is he?”
Seeing the young lady’s determination, the proprietor pointed to one of the iron cages, which held only a single person.
Lin Zhaoyue lifted her skirt and approached. Inside the cage, the boy was curled up, with heavy shackles on his hands and feet that had rubbed his skin raw.
His hair was messy, and his ragged clothes wrapped around him like a dirty shroud.
The cloth shoes on his feet were worn through, exposing filthy toes.
Even dirty, the shape of his feet was pleasing.
“Wake up.”
The proprietor shouted, tapping on the iron door.
The boy in the cage showed no reaction, as if dead.
Lin Zhaoyue’s heart skipped a beat. She said to the proprietor:
“Open the door. I want to see him.”
“Miss, this child, you shouldn’t look at him…”
“Open!”
Lin Zhaoyue had been Empress in her previous life. When she grew stern, she carried an undeniable authority that commanded awe.
The proprietor said nothing further, took out a key, and opened the door.
Having arrived only yesterday, the cage was relatively clean, without excrement.
Lin Zhaoyue stepped inside and crouched down, intending to tap him.
Suddenly, the boy staggered upright, gathering strength like a young leopard and lunging fiercely toward Lin Zhaoyue, snarling two words:
“Die.”
Lin Zhaoyue couldn’t evade quickly enough. He slammed her hard against the iron cage. The swift movement lifted her light veil, allowing the boy to see her face clearly.
The girl’s almond-shaped eyes were clear, her skin like ice and snow, her features delicate and charming. With just light makeup, she was already peerless in beauty.
Under the girl’s gaze, the ferocity in the boy’s eyes gradually faded.
He had never seen such clean eyes—crystalline and untouched by dust.
Unlike any he had ever encountered before.
Lin Zhaoyue looked at the youth before her. His face was so dirty that his original features were unrecognizable, yet she could still vaguely make out the familiar contours.
With just one glance, Lin Zhaoyue could confirm that the person before her was the one she had been searching for.
Almost simultaneously, Seventeen’s sword was already at the youth’s neck, a hair’s breadth away from taking his life.
“Seventeen, it’s fine.”
As she spoke, Lin Zhaoyue pushed aside Seventeen’s sword.
The youth felt the girl pushing him, his eyes darkening as he almost blurted out:
“Take me with you. I’ll do anything.”
Hearing his words, the girl paused for a moment, then reached out to gently pat his head, whispering softly:
“Alright.”
“Ugh—”
The sound of retching came from the doorway, drawing everyone’s attention.
Lin Zhaoyue looked over and saw two people standing at the entrance.
The man was dressed in black robes, his hair tied up with a single white jade hairpin. His features were deep and striking, made even sharper by the backlight. His dark eyes were fixed intently on her, and even from a distance, Lin Zhaoyue could sense the aura of violence emanating from him.
The overwhelming pressure of someone in a position of authority swept over them, causing the shopkeeper’s heart to tighten in fear as he nervously asked:
“Are you here to select goods, sir?”
The man did not answer, his gaze fixed solely on her hand as it rested on the youth’s head.
Xiao Yan?
Did he recognize her?
What was he doing here? Was he looking for a catamite?
She remembered that in her past life, he had been chaste and upright, with no such inclinations.
Could he be here to find someone, just like her?
Lin Zhaoyue’s brows furrowed slightly as she withdrew her hand and cleared her throat, frantically signaling to Seventeen.
Unfortunately, Seventeen had not been with her long enough to develop that level of tacit understanding, and with Lin Zhaoyue’s face hidden behind a veiled hat, he was even less able to understand her hints.
Finally, Lin Zhaoyue deliberately lowered her voice and said to the shopkeeper:
“I’ll take him.”
Lin Zhaoyue had never practiced voice modulation, and though she intentionally lowered her tone, anyone familiar with her would recognize it immediately.
Shen Yanzhou, who had just finished retching and was rinsing his mouth with water, spat out a mouthful upon hearing Lin Zhaoyue’s words.
First, he never expected that the beauty who had captured Xiao Yan’s attention and led him here was actually Lin Zhaoyue. Second, her words, “I’ll take him”—could it be that the future Crown Princess intended to keep a catamite?
Lin Zhaoyue’s words snapped the shopkeeper back to reality. The joy of landing a big sale dispelled the fear the man had brought, and he happily replied:
“Ah, yes, esteemed customer. This one is truly a peerless beauty, and I assure you won’t be disappointed.”
Peerless beauty?
Assured not to be disappointed?
Xiao Yan’s expression darkened as he stared at her, as if waiting for her to speak or perhaps for an explanation.
However, Lin Zhaoyue was determined to pretend not to know him. She had Seventeen support the youth as they drifted past him.
Xiao Yan knew that if he didn’t speak up, she would truly leave:
“Planning to leave just like that?”
Lin Zhaoyue halted her steps, realizing Xiao Yan had recognized her. She turned around and gave a slight bow:
“Does the young master have any instructions?”
Watching the impeccably courteous Lin Zhaoyue, a flicker of restlessness passed through Xiao Yan’s ice-cold eyes.
Even through the veil, he knew that Lin Zhaoyue had not once looked directly at him.
Xiao Yan glanced at the youth beside her, his voice cold:
“Has the young lady perhaps forgotten her own status? Do you not know what is appropriate and what is not?”
“You need not remind me, sir. After your patient admonition last time, I am quite clear about what I should do…”
Seeing that they knew each other and sensing a brewing argument, the shopkeeper closed the door and quickly stepped out to mediate:
“Would you two like to talk in the Private Room? And perhaps let the young gentleman wash up first?”
Lin Zhaoyue looked at the frail youth and nodded in agreement.
While the youth was taken to wash and tidy up, Lin Zhaoyue also went to bathe and change clothes.
When she came out, she did not see Shen Yanzhou, only Xiao Yan sitting upright beside the tea table, seemingly waiting for her.
“Is the Crown Prince waiting for me for something?”