Xiao Yuheng furrowed his brows, enduring the discomfort in his ears as he spoke gently:
“I appreciate the young ladies’ kindness, but I cannot accept these gifts. Today, I have important matters to attend to and hope you will grant me some space.”
The young ladies were already stunned by his beauty and didn’t hear a word he said. They stood frozen in place, their eyes filled with heart-shaped adoration.
Their gazes were exactly like the Queen of Women’s Kingdom looking at Tang Seng.
Seeing that everyone was intoxicated while he remained clear-headed, Changfeng knew the opportunity had arrived.
He swiftly extended his sword sheath, pushing the crowd backward, then immediately cracked the horsewhip.
The carriage started moving again. Xiao Yuheng sat back in his seat with a frown and said to Changfeng outside, “Next time we go out, use a more discreet carriage.”
“Understood.”
Changfeng responded while urging the horses to gallop forward. They passed through Chang’an Jie, entered Furong Alley, and finally stopped before the entrance of Mantingfang.
Xiao Yuheng alighted from the carriage and, after confirming there were no familiar faces around, strode through the entrance heading straight for the private room on the second floor.
Soon after, ambiguous laughter between men and women could be heard from upstairs.
On the opposite rooftop, Shen Yue couldn’t help but snort coldly. So this kid said he was attending a banquet, but he’s actually visiting a brothel!
Somehow, she recalled Teacher Zhao Zhongxiang’s famous line: Spring has arrived, all things revive, it’s the season for animals to reproduce again…
Mantingfang was the largest brothel in Sifang City. The women inside were all stunning beauties, accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting – most appealing to wealthy young men. It seemed Xiao Yuheng was no exception.
But this was none of her business. She only needed to fulfill her duties.
This place was filled with all sorts of people. Besides them, there were bound to be other skilled individuals around, so proper security measures were necessary.
Shen Yue jumped down from the rooftop and assigned the shadow guards to positions on the roof, outside windows, atop trees, and before the doors. She herself found an excuse to slip away.
Having finally gotten out, she needed to take care of some serious business.
She came to the street, bought a veiled hat to wear, then made her way to Songhe Hall.
The owner of Songhe Hall was an eighty-year-old man. He examined her small pill repeatedly, sometimes frowning, sometimes stroking his beard.
Shen Yue grew impatient waiting and asked, “Well? Can you make it?”
The old man lifted his eyelids. “This is an antidote for Shi Gu San. Young master, who exactly are you?”
“That’s not your concern. Just tell me if you can make it!” Shen Yue didn’t want to waste words with him, tapping the table impatiently.
The old man shook his head. “Shi Gu San is exclusive to Netherworld Hall. Not only can I not produce the antidote, even if I could, I wouldn’t dare get involved in this mess.”
“I knew it.” Shen Yue pursed her lips displeased, snatching back the pill to leave.
“Wait!”
The old man came around the counter to her, his voice barely audible: “You definitely won’t find this in ordinary medical clinics or pharmacies. Young master, you might try your luck at Wanbao Pavilion in the eastern city’s Black Market.”
“Thank you, old sir!”
Shen Yue adjusted her hat brim as she left the shop, thinking to herself:
Riding to the eastern city would take about half a shichen, plus time for negotiation and purchase – the round trip would take two full shichen.
Even if Xiao Yuheng was exceptionally vigorous, he couldn’t possibly spend two shichen without leaving Mantingfang. By then, her unauthorized absence would definitely be discovered.
Forget it. She’d better find another opportunity to leave the mansion tonight.
Having made her decision, she prepared to head back.
A gentle breeze wafted by, carrying the sweet scent of pastries that drifted into Shen Yue’s nostrils, reminding her that she still needed to buy Peach Blossom Cake for that damned prince.
Following the direction of the fragrance, she soon came upon a pastry stall.
The small table was laden with freshly steamed treats—osmanthus cakes, hazelnut cakes, mung bean pastries… and of course, Peach Blossom Cake.
“How much for the Peach Blossom Cake?” she asked while habitually scanning her surroundings.
It was a mercenary’s instinct: no matter where she was, she would subconsciously assess the environment to prepare for any potential emergencies.
And this time, her vigilance paid off.
Near a jewelry stall about ten meters away, a man fiddled with a jade bracelet while occasionally casting glances in her direction.
Simultaneously, a corner of a black hair ribbon peeked out from behind the rooftop on the other side.
So someone had sent people to follow her, distrusting her movements. Truly a cunning fox.
“Young master, young master?” The shopkeeper’s voice pulled her back to reality.
“Two coins per piece of Peach Blossom Cake. How many would you like?”
“Ten pieces.”
Shen Yue took out some copper coins, placed them in the shopkeeper’s hand, and accepted the oil-paper bag. With a light leap, she landed steadily on the rooftop.
The man who had been tailing her had already vanished, leaving only the rustling wind that fluttered her sleeves, making them billow and snap.
Without a second thought, she tapped her toes lightly and soared onto a treetop, heading straight for Mantingfang.
As she flew, she couldn’t help but marvel: the original owner’s lightness skill was truly impressive!
Returning to the rooftop of Mantingfang, she found no one from the Second Division there. Glancing down, she noticed Xiao Yuheng had already arrived outside the door, bidding farewell to a man and a woman.
The woman, with jade-like beauty and a delicate, coquettish demeanor, was Cheng Sijin, the top courtesan of Mantingfang.
Rumor had it she exclusively served high-ranking officials and nobles, and her daily outings were even more extravagant than those of a chancellor’s daughter.
Shen Yue hadn’t seen the man before, but judging from the fabric of his clothes and the gem-encrusted ornamental sword at his waist, he was likely a young master from a military family.
The man murmured something while shamelessly caressing Cheng Sijin’s lower back.
Cheng Sijin blushed coyly, pretending to be annoyed as she playfully tapped his chest twice before sidling up to Xiao Yuheng to coo:
“Your Highness, look how shameless Song Shizi is! I much prefer someone as reserved as you, Your Highness…”
Shen Yue couldn’t help but chuckle. Reserved? If he were truly reserved, he wouldn’t ignore all those fine young ladies and come to Mantingfang to play three-person games with you.
It was only today that she realized people in ancient times could be just as wild as those described in modern risqué novels.
“Heh… hehehe…”
Standing on the rooftop, Shen Yue rolled her eyes skyward, completely unaware that the man below was looking up at her.
“Shen Er, come down at once!”
“Ah, yes! Coming!”
Noticing Xiao Yuheng’s displeased expression, she hastily jumped down from the roof.
In her rush, she nearly twisted her ankle upon landing, causing the man to frown.
“I was only gone for half an hour, and you still managed to sneak away. It seems you have no interest in being the Director.”
“Ah, no… How was I to know you’d be back so quickly, Your Highness…”
As she spoke, Shen Yue’s gaze unconsciously drifted toward his waist and abdomen.
A flicker of stiffness crossed the man’s face. “What do you mean, ‘so quickly’?”
“Uh, I meant there was a pastry shop nearby, so I went to buy Peach Blossom Cake. See!”
Shen Yue swiftly changed the subject, eagerly opening the oil-paper bag as if presenting a treasure.
Xiao Yuheng fell silent for a moment before withdrawing his gaze.
“Get in the carriage. I need to inspect the goods.”
Shen Yue: ???
Wait, what is there to inspect? The boss said these were made from the first batch of peach blossoms in early spring, with generous portions—how could they possibly be fake!
But regardless, the prince’s command was not to be disobeyed. In the end, she climbed into the carriage with a sullen expression.