A fresh rain had just washed over the capital. The trees and grass gleamed a vibrant green, making it the most beautiful time of the year.
Jiang Yihuan, however, was anything but at ease.
Clutching her small blue cloth bundle tightly, she timidly asked the man standing before her,
“You just said… my brother asked you to come pick me up?”
The man stood tall and elegant, his posture as straight as a pine and his features sharp and handsome.
“That’s right,” Wei Zhao replied calmly.
“Then… where is my brother? He said he’d bring me to the capital so I could enjoy a good life. He promised there’d be a big house, beautiful clothes, and all the rouge and powder I could ever want.”
“Those are gone now,” Wei Zhao said flatly. “Your brother has been exiled three thousand li away. Before he left, he entrusted you to my care.”
Jiang Yihuan’s face instantly turned deathly pale.
“What?! Why was he exiled?”
“Because he had a death wish. He tried to assassinate Wei Zhao over and over again.”
Her beautiful eyes reddened as she clenched her tiny fists.
“Wei Zhao? I know that scoundrel! My brother said he’s a born traitor! My brother was carrying out justice on Heaven’s behalf! My brother is amazing!”
Wei Zhao fell silent.
The young girl looked at him with innocent admiration.
“Handsome big brother, since my brother entrusted me to you, you must be his best friend. May I know your name?”
“…My surname is Wei. My given name is Zhao.”
Jiang Yihuan blinked blankly.
“Impossible! My brother said Wei Zhao has a green face, protruding fangs, and pus oozing all over his body. He said he’s ugly enough to scare a full-grown ox to death. You’re so handsome—you can’t possibly be him!”
“…I am.”
She shook her little head earnestly.
“If I were you, I’d skin my brother alive. Why would you help take care of me instead?”
Wei Zhao let out a cold laugh.
“You’ll have to ask your dear brother that.”
Jiang Qianli had always been his sworn enemy.
The man regarded him as a thorn in his side and had attempted to assassinate him again and again. After finally capturing him, Wei Zhao had originally intended to execute him with a single stroke.
Instead, Jiang Qianli had confessed that the reason he kept trying to kill him…
…was because he liked him.
He claimed he admired him, desired him, and was infatuated with his body. Unable to have him, he’d rather die by Wei Zhao’s hand.
He even swore that after death, he’d become a lovesick ghost and haunt Wei Zhao day and night, never leaving his side again.
Wei Zhao decided that killing such a lunatic outright would be letting him off too easily.
So he had him exiled to the frozen wilderness instead.
When he later learned Jiang Qianli had a sickly younger sister living alone in the countryside, he simply brought her to the capital.
At least this way, Jiang Qianli wouldn’t dare stir up trouble during his journey into exile.
After hearing the story, tears streamed down Jiang Yihuan’s cheeks.
“Three thousand li? That’s so far… Waaaah… I want to go find him…”
Seeing her cry put Wei Zhao in an unexpectedly good mood.
“In your dreams. Come with me.”
“Waaaah… Where are you taking me?”
“To a brothel.”
The corner of Wei Zhao’s lips curled upward.
“I’m going to sell you.”
The martial maid Zhu Xian nearly burst into laughter.
Her master had been utterly disgusted by Jiang Qianli’s bizarre confession, so now he was venting his frustration by frightening the man’s little sister.
Jiang Yihuan’s frail body trembled violently as tears poured down her face.
“Carry her into the carriage.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Inside the carriage, Wei Zhao sat alone on one side.
Across from him sat Zhu Xian and Jiang Yihuan.
Zhu Xian secretly observed the pale little girl with curiosity.
She’d just been told she was about to be sold to a brothel.
How would she react?
Even Wei Zhao waited expectantly.
After wiping away her tears, Jiang Yihuan asked softly,
“Wei Zhao… who gets the money from selling me?”
“I do.”
“That’s fine. But I have one condition.”
“What condition?”
“Before I start entertaining customers… could you sleep with me for one night first?”
She blinked innocently.
“You can just treat the money from selling me as your overnight fee.”
Wei Zhao: “…”
Zhu Xian’s mouth opened and closed.
An… overnight fee?
Miss Jiang wanted to sleep with her master…
And even pay him?
Wouldn’t that make her master…
The naturally cheerful maid burst into ringing laughter, only to abruptly choke it back under the icy glare Wei Zhao shot her.
The carriage eventually stopped before a stately residence with white walls and dark tiled roofs.
Zhu Xian jumped down first.
“Miss Jiang, please come in. This is my master’s private estate.”
Jiang Yihuan looked around in confusion.
“But… weren’t we going to the brothel? Where’s the madam? Where are all the fat, rich customers?”
She turned to Wei Zhao.
“Wei Zhao… don’t tell me you want me to become your private prostitute?”
“Whenever you’re out, I’ll hang a green hat outside to let people know I’m accepting customers. Whenever you’re home, I’ll take the hat down and live as your wife.”
Wei Zhao’s expression darkened like storm clouds.
Just as expected of Jiang Qianli’s little sister.
That poisonous little mouth of hers…
He’d definitely teach her a lesson later.
Zhu Xian bit her lip so hard it nearly bled.
If she laughed again, her master really might kill her.
The courtyard was lush with greenery.
Pavilions, towers, and winding corridors filled the estate, while the mansion itself was spacious and elegant.
Jiang Yihuan’s eyes sparkled.
“So this is where I’ll receive my clients?”
She smiled brightly.
“Wei Zhao—”
Wei Zhao felt another twitch in his chest.
Zhu Xian hurriedly interrupted.
“Miss Jiang, my master is the Divine Might General, Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Chancellor of Guangling, Marquis of Wu’an, and also the Crown Prince’s Junior Tutor.”
“With so many titles, you can call him any one of them.”
“Even His Majesty wouldn’t dare address my master by his given name.”
Jiang Yihuan shook her head.
“I’m not very smart. I can’t remember all that.”
She looked at Wei Zhao.
“Wei Zhao, I want a bath.”
“Since you’ve captured me, you have to take care of me.”
Grinding his teeth, Wei Zhao ordered,
“Zhu Xian. Take her to the bathhouse.”
Inside the bathhouse, Jiang Yihuan’s eyes lit up.
“Wow… what a beautiful room!”
Compared to the tiny side room she’d lived in back in the countryside, this bathhouse was even larger than both her bedroom and main hall combined.
The floor was paved with elegant blue bricks etched with cloud patterns.
The shelves were carved from precious rosewood.
The folding screen was embroidered with exquisite Jiangnan needlework.
Even the bathtub was enormous, large enough to hold two or three people.
Two maids helped her remove her clothes and undo her hair before scrubbing her gently with fragrant herbal soap.
The sweet scent soon filled the room.
Closing her eyes in bliss, Jiang Yihuan sighed happily.
“My brother was right.”
“Coming to the capital really does mean living the good life.”
Zhu Xian almost pitied her.
This silly little rabbit had wandered straight into a wolf’s den.
She was happily enjoying herself, completely unaware that she was about to be roasted alive.
Had she not seen the murderous look on her master’s face?
“Miss Jiang,” Zhu Xian said carefully, “there’s something I need to tell you.”
Jiang Yihuan raised her delicate, jade-like face.
“Okay. Please tell me, Sister.”
“The Wei Clan is a prestigious family that has flourished for over a century. My master is the eldest legitimate son of the main branch. He commands the military affairs of seven provinces and holds immense power throughout the court.”
“Many people have tried to get rid of him.”
“But he got rid of most of them instead.”
“Wow.”
Jiang Yihuan’s admiration practically overflowed.
“He’s incredible! And then?”
Zhu Xian paused awkwardly.
“My master may be arrogant, temperamental, and cold-hearted…”
“But he does have one virtue.”
“He keeps himself impeccably clean when it comes to women.”
“So, Miss Jiang, if you’re obedient, my master will at least let you die quickly.”
Jiang Yihuan blinked in confusion.
“Does someone like him have a wife?”
“No.”
“But don’t get any ideas. My master’s standards are extremely high. He’s far beyond your reach.”
Her master was the dream lover of countless noble ladies.
Miss Jiang had wanted to pay to sleep with him the moment she saw him.
That alone proved just how irresistible her master was.
Jiang Yihuan sighed mournfully.
“I understand.”
“In my line of work, the greatest taboo is falling in love with a client.”
“That’s true despair.”
Zhu Xian felt a headache coming on.
Did her master realize exactly what kind of girl he’d brought home?
After finishing her bath, Jiang Yihuan changed into fresh clothes.
Only then did Zhu Xian notice that although her outer robe of coarse linen was neatly mended, her undergarments told a different story.
They were spotless, but had obviously been washed countless times.
The sleeves had become so thin they were nearly transparent, with threads already unraveling.
Was Jiang Qianli really that poor?
Just what kind of life had his little sister been living?
She refrained from asking, afraid of hurting the young girl’s pride.
“Come.”
“Follow me to see my master.”
Wei Zhao was sitting in the main hall, idly turning a jade sword over in his hand.
Hearing footsteps, he raised his eyes toward Jiang Yihuan as she entered.