At first, Qin Buwen thought she’d misheard.
She silently repeated three words to herself three times.
Impossible.
Impossible, impossible. There’s no way Ji Junjiao would be here!
This was a brothel. There was absolutely no way Ji Junjiao would—
“Miss A’Jin?”
The man’s voice behind her remained as cool and refined as ever.
Qin Buwen turned around so stiffly she might as well have been made of wood. Her eyes widened until they were practically the size of walnuts.
There stood Ji Junjiao, dressed in a moon-white robe, tall and elegant, every inch the picture of propriety.
Against the backdrop of scantily dressed women with honeyed voices, he looked utterly out of place.
Qin Buwen’s mouth fell open in utter disbelief.
“M-My Lord, you…”
Heavens above—
She, Qin Buwen, had spent years trying to uncover even the smallest flaw in Ji Junjiao’s spotless reputation.
She’d found nothing.
And now, after all these years, her lifelong wish had come true!
The shock in her eyes gradually gave way to unmistakable excitement.
Catching Ji Junjiao sneaking into a brothel… this deserves to be carved onto my tombstone!
Seeing the look on her face, Ji Junjiao more or less guessed what she was thinking.
He paused, pressed his lips together, and said rather stiffly, “It’s not what you’re thinking.”
Qin Buwen narrowed her eyes knowingly. They practically screamed I understand. She nodded repeatedly.
“Mm-hmm, don’t worry, My Lord! I absolutely won’t tell Changqing or Qingyue!”
The tips of Ji Junjiao’s ears turned faintly red.
“No, that’s not it. I’m here on official business…”
“I know, I know!” Qin Buwen chirped. “My lips are sealed~”
She clapped both hands over her mouth, though the grin stretching across her face nearly reached her ears.
“Hey… this girl’s not bad… looks nice and clean… hic…”
Ji Junjiao seemed about to explain further when a hand suddenly landed on Qin Buwen’s shoulder from behind.
She frowned slightly.
A drunken man stood behind her, grinning lewdly as he reached out to stroke her face.
Her first instinct was to snap his wrist in half.
But with Ji Junjiao standing here, she instantly changed tactics.
“My Lord!”
She cried out in alarm and hurried behind Ji Junjiao.
Clutching his sleeve with trembling fingers, she shrank against him, looking thoroughly frightened by the drunkard’s sudden approach.
Ji Junjiao frowned at the man.
The drunk glanced at Qin Buwen hiding behind him, then at Ji Junjiao.
“Damn… she’s already taken. What rotten luck…”
Still cursing under his breath, the drunk staggered off to bother someone else.
Only then did Qin Buwen cautiously emerge from behind Ji Junjiao, keeping her head lowered and refusing to stray more than half a step away from him.
The mischievous, impish girl from moments ago had vanished completely.
Ji Junjiao chuckled helplessly.
“You still haven’t told me. Why are you here?”
Head bowed, Qin Buwen murmured timidly, “A young lady asked me to deliver a message. I only found out after I arrived that she’d already gone out and isn’t here.”
Ji Junjiao looked around at the crowded hall.
“There are too many people here. I’ll escort you outside first.”
The moment she heard that, Qin Buwen hurriedly grabbed his sleeve again.
“My Lord… are you not going home tonight?”
He sighed.
“No, Miss A’Jin. I truly am here on official business.”
“Then… could you take me with you?”
Qin Buwen secretly pinched the inside of her thigh until tears welled in her eyes. She looked heartbreakingly pitiful.
“I’m too scared to go back by myself…”
Ji Junjiao had intended to refuse.
But seeing the girl’s slight frame still trembling, clearly shaken by what had just happened, he hesitated.
Pressing his lips together, he said, “Miss A’Jin, I’m about to meet someone very important.”
“That’s fine, really!” Qin Buwen waved both hands hurriedly. Standing obediently behind him, she looked soft and harmless.
“My Lord, I’ll just follow behind you. I promise I won’t cause you any trouble!”
Hmph.
I’d like to see just who Ji Junjiao considers important enough to meet in a brothel.
Ji Junjiao was still hesitating when a guard descended from the upper floor and bowed respectfully before him.
“My Lord, my master has been waiting upstairs.”
Qin Buwen raised an eyebrow.
Ji Junjiao nodded solemnly.
“My thanks. Please lead the way.”
After speaking, he glanced back at Qin Buwen.
Understanding immediately, she meekly followed after him.
She asked nothing, keeping her head lowered the entire time, looking every bit the timid, delicate young woman.
The guard stopped outside a private room upstairs.
Before he could even knock, Qin Buwen heard waves of feminine laughter spilling from within.
The guard tapped lightly on the door.
“My lord, he’s here.”
The laughter inside gradually subsided.
“Come in.”
The door opened from within.
Following behind Ji Junjiao, Qin Buwen stepped inside.
The room was saturated with the heavy scent of musk.
Her nose twitched instinctively, and she frowned.
Fortunately, Ji Junjiao carried the faint fragrance of sandalwood on him.
She unconsciously moved a little closer, finally feeling able to breathe again.
The spacious chamber contained a bed hidden behind hanging curtains.
The drapes were still closed, and Qin Buwen could hear the rustle of someone dressing behind them.
She stood quietly behind Ji Junjiao.
From beginning to end, he remained perfectly upright, eyes fixed ahead, never allowing his gaze to wander where it shouldn’t.
Only when the curtains were slowly drawn aside did Qin Buwen finally see who was inside.
The late emperor’s fifth son.
The current emperor’s younger brother.
Prince Xian, Song Chengxuan.
An old acquaintance.
Qin Buwen lowered her gaze, fixing her attention on the bridge of her nose as though nothing around her concerned her.
As the current Grand Secretary, Ji Junjiao enjoyed the privilege of entering court without hurrying and being addressed without the customary naming protocol. Even before Prince Xian, he merely inclined his head slightly in greeting.
“This humble official greets Your Highness, Prince Xian.”
Apparently his earlier amusements had been interrupted before reaching a satisfying conclusion, for Song Chengxuan’s expression was dark.
“Grand Secretary. It has been quite some time.”
Ji Junjiao said nothing.
He simply stood there, straight-backed as ever.
Song Chengxuan’s gaze shifted from Ji Junjiao to Qin Buwen standing behind him.
The moment he saw her, he narrowed his eyes and let out a derisive snort.
“The Grand Secretary’s taste…”
He looked Qin Buwen up and down before sneering.
“…is certainly unique.”
Qin Buwen wanted to curse him.
You bastard, Song Chengxuan. After all these years, you still can’t speak like a decent human being.
But outwardly she became even more timid, shrinking farther behind Ji Junjiao like a frightened little rabbit.
“So shy.”
Song Chengxuan suddenly looked interested.
“Have you received clients before?”
Ji Junjiao spoke evenly.
“Your Highness summoned this humble official here so late at night. May I ask for what purpose?”
Finding no amusement in Qin Buwen’s reaction, Song Chengxuan finally looked away.
He smiled at Ji Junjiao.
“Grand Secretary, please sit.”
Ji Junjiao calmly took his seat.
Qin Buwen remained standing at his side.
Song Chengxuan lounged against the beauty couch, one arm around a different beauty on either side, looking thoroughly intoxicated by the pleasures of paradise.
Both women were exquisitely beautiful.
One held a wine cup to his lips.
The other fed him morsels of food.
Song Chengxuan was enjoying himself immensely.
“Your Highness, have a grape~”
“Your Highness, drink this wine from your servant’s hand~”
“Your Highness…”
“Your Highness…”
Even Qin Buwen couldn’t help but find the scene enticing.
Then she looked at Ji Junjiao.
He sat properly in his wooden chair, composed and dignified, his handsome face serene, restrained to the point of asceticism.
Seeing his complete lack of reaction, Song Chengxuan clicked his tongue in annoyance.
“You.”
He casually pointed at one of the beauties.
“Go pour the Grand Secretary a drink.”
Ever since Ji Junjiao had entered the room, the beauty’s eyes had never left him.
Now that she had the chance to serve such an extraordinarily handsome man, she smiled sweetly, carrying the wine pot toward him.
“My lord…”
Her voice was soft as silk.
“Allow me to feed you a cup of wine.”