“Your Majesty rarely leaves the palace, so you should enjoy yourself to the fullest. I know of several restaurants nearby with excellent cuisine. Since it’s almost noon, would you like me to recommend one?”
Song Yun Chu walked alongside Jun Li Luo through the imperial city streets. Unwilling to draw too much attention, Jun Li Luo had only brought along the Imperial Guards commander Shen Yue.
“Hmm, we should indeed find a place to settle. Yun Chu, lead the way. Remember to address me differently when we meet outsiders later.”
“Brother Luo is right.” Song Yun Chu responded with a smile. “There’s a Zhenwei Restaurant not far ahead. Their signature dishes are excellent in appearance, aroma, and taste. I believe Brother Luo will find something to his liking.”
The surname Jun belonged exclusively to the royal family in Tianqi Kingdom, uncommon among ordinary people. Therefore, Jun Li Luo used the pseudonym Luo Li outside the palace.
The three of them arrived at Zhenwei Restaurant and selected the most spacious private room. While waiting for their food, Song Yun Chu’s gaze drifted through the window toward the diagonally opposite Yafang Pavilion.
Yafang Pavilion was one of the famously glamorous male brothels in the imperial city. Two days ago, while passing by its entrance, she had seen two handsome young men holding pipas who smiled invitingly at her. Though they made no sound, their eyes were full of seduction, as if saying: Customer, come in and play.
The male courtesans at Yafang Pavilion were quite remarkable in both appearance and expression control.
However, having seen many handsome men and beautiful women, those two pretty faces weren’t stunning enough to impress her. What she wanted to see was the most tragic male supporting character from the original work – Hua Kui Gongzi Liu Xichen – and discover what he truly looked like.
The original work described him as elegantly refined and transcendent, with captivating musical skills. He sold his arts but not his body. He operated only once every three days, receiving just one customer each time. This so-called reception involved only drinking and conversation companionship. Yet even without selling his body, he could drive many men and women wild with desire for him.
Unable to contain her curiosity, Song Yun Chu had long wanted to see him. Unfortunately, she had missed his previous operating days. Today was another of Liu Xichen’s working days, coinciding with her day off, but the damned emperor wouldn’t grant her freedom.
Naturally, Song Yun Chu didn’t know that her current complaints were all overheard by Jun Li Luo across the table.
Jun Li Luo glanced toward Yafang Pavilion, a trace of mockery flashing in his eyes.
This scoundrel Song Yun Chu had previously thought about visiting brothels while in the Imperial Study, and now sitting in the restaurant, she couldn’t take her eyes off the street-side male brothel.
Moreover, this fellow wasn’t just lustful and promiscuous – did she swing both ways? Otherwise, why would she be so eager to see Yafang Pavilion’s Hua Kui Gongzi?
After eating and drinking their fill, the scout Jun Li Luo had sent out returned to report: “Your Majesty, Miss Jiang is currently at Xianyi Workshop in Qingyun Alley.”
Jun Li Luo asked: “How many people?”
“She only brought two maidservants accompanying her.”
Jun Li Luo stood up and walked out of the private room, with Song Yun Chu closely following. She asked lightly with a smile: “Is Your Majesty planning a coincidental encounter with the Phoenix Woman?”
“I am indeed somewhat curious about her. I must meet her eventually.”
From Zhenwei Restaurant to Qingyun Alley was only two streets away.
The three soon arrived at Xianyi Workshop, a shop specializing in making clothes for young men and women. At first glance, fine silks hung on all four walls of the store.
“Your Majesty, the young lady in light white clothing over there is Miss Jiang.” Shen Yue whispered near Jun Li Luo’s ear, pointing toward the corner of the shop.
Jun Li Luo and Song Yun Chu both looked over simultaneously.
The girl appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen years old, with a portion of her raven-black cloud-like hair pinned up while the rest cascaded over her shoulders. Beneath her willow-leaf eyebrows, her eyes were dark and bright, and an elegant white dress hugged her figure, accentuating her graceful curves.
She was chatting with her maids, seemingly discussing which garments were the most beautiful. When the conversation turned cheerful, her smile shone brilliantly.
Song Yun Chu raised an eyebrow slightly.
[The original text described Jiang Rumin as having snow-white skin, refined elegance, and peerless beauty. Seeing her today, she truly is a stunning beauty.]
Beside Song Yun Chu, Jun Li Luo cast him a sidelong glance.
This lecherous scoundrel—has he taken a fancy to her?
It wasn’t surprising. Jiang Rumin was indeed exceptionally beautiful, her appearance and aura standing out conspicuously among the female guests.
But for him, the Son of Heaven, a pretty face alone was hardly enough to stir his heart.
In the future foreseen by Song Yun Chu, he would one day compete with his imperial uncle Jun Tianyi for Jiang Rumin’s affections—and suffer a crushing defeat.
How absurd. He was a man destined for great deeds; he would never lose his head over romantic entanglements in this lifetime. Even though he trusted his own self-control, he had to eliminate all possibilities.
He tilted his head and signaled to Shen Yue with a glance.
Shen Yue nodded and turned to leave Xianyi Workshop.
He had already confirmed that Jiang Rumin was indeed the Phoenix Woman. He had assumed His Majesty would favor her, never expecting he would be ordered to eliminate her.
And His Majesty’s outing from the palace today was precisely to witness the Phoenix Woman’s demise.
Noticing Shen Yue’s abrupt departure, Song Yun Chu asked Jun Li Luo curiously, “Brother Luo, where did Brother Shen go?”
“He said he was thirsty and went to buy tea across the street.”
Song Yun Chu didn’t dwell on it, more concerned about Jun Li Luo’s impression of Jiang Rumin.
As he pondered, Jiang Rumin and her maids began heading toward the entrance.
As she brushed past Song Yun Chu, he caught a whiff of a delicate fragrance—not floral or herbal, but subtle and pleasant.
[An extraordinary scent, refreshing and captivating—truly befitting of the female lead.]
Jun Li Luo waited until Jiang Rumin and her servants had moved some distance away before stepping out to follow.
“Brother Luo, are we just going to follow? If you’re interested in the Phoenix Woman, we could create an opportunity to get acquainted.”
[Perhaps I should make Jiang Rumin embarrass herself to lower her favor in the dog emperor’s eyes. As long as the dog emperor doesn’t covet her, I can find a proper supporting female character to be his virtuous partner.]
Hearing Song Yun Chu’s inner thoughts, Jun Li Luo felt slightly puzzled.
Given Song Yun Chu’s formerly decisive and ruthless nature—where he would rather mistakenly kill than spare a potential threat—why had he not even considered eliminating Jiang Rumin? Instead, he only thought of humiliating her.
Such soft-heartedness seemed unlike Song Yun Chu.
But Jun Li Luo quickly considered another possibility.
Perhaps Song Yun Chu was captivated by Jiang Rumin’s beauty and felt protective, unwilling to harm her?
If that were the case, how pathetic!
Jun Li Luo inwardly scoffed, though his expression remained neutral, his gaze fixed on Jiang Rumin and her two maids ahead.
As expected, Jiang Rumin, who had a sweet tooth—especially for sugar figurines and candied hawthorn—was drawn by the street vendor’s calls and the sugary aroma in the air. She couldn’t resist approaching the sugar figurine stall.
After exchanging a few words with the vendor, he cheerfully handed her a freshly made sugar figurine.
Jun Li Luo watched this scene with a cold gleam in his eyes.
That sugar figurine was laced with a deadly poison—if Jiang Rumin ate it, she would surely die!