As soon as Ye Junyi spoke these words, Gu Xu was so shocked she could not utter a sound.
How could even such a noble prince have taken a liking to Gu Qinghan? But Ye Junyi continued without pause: “As a royal descendant, I am not without ambition for the highest position. Miss Gu and I are in the same situation.”
“I believe no one in this world understands Miss Gu better than I do.”
“Why should they be superior? We share the same surname Ye, yet how is it that our circumstances are so different?”
Upon hearing this, Gu Xu could not help but feel her heart surge with emotion. Yet the thought of Gu Qinghan marrying into the royal family and enjoying wealth and glory was a sight she could not bear to see.
“Why must it be Gu Qinghan?”
“Because of General Gu. If I can gain his support, ascending to the throne of the supreme ruler should not be difficult.”
Gu Xu opened her mouth, wanting to ask what benefits she herself would gain.
As if already aware of her thoughts, Ye Junyi immediately said, “All you need to do is make Gu Qinghan lose her purity, forcing her to marry as a concubine. Once the deed is done, I will take you as my principal consort.”
Gu Xu was overjoyed, nodding in agreement without even taking time to think.
“Your Highness need not worry. This humble girl will surely accomplish it.”
She did not stop to consider that a petty schemer like Ye Junyi, who only plotted in dark corners, would never keep his promise in the future. For now, he was merely using her.
The Western Regions envoy, who had been listening from the side, took out a bottle of incense from his robe and handed it over. Gu Xu accepted it and tucked it into her sleeve.
The three of them felt victory was within reach, each envisioning the scene of their future success.
In Ye Junyi’s mind, he had already pictured himself ascending to the throne. He wanted Ye Muyan to witness with his own eyes how he would take everything from him.
Gu Qinghan, that supreme position—he wanted it all.
Gu Xu, meanwhile, imagined herself dressed in phoenix robes, embodying the noble grace of a mother to the nation.
At that time, she would wear the most exquisite jewelry and use the finest things.
Everything she had would surpass Gu Qinghan’s!
All three harbored ambitious, wolfish hearts. Just thinking of such scenes filled them with uncontrollable delight.
They raised their cups together—elegant in appearance, filthy at heart.
With a “clink,” they clinked their cups in satisfaction.
Just then, the waiter arrived with the dishes: “Esteemed guests, please enjoy your meal. These are our restaurant’s specialties, all made with fresh ingredients delivered this morning.”
With that, he carried the tray out of the room.
The attendant behind Ye Junyi tested each dish with a silver needle. After waiting a moment and finding nothing amiss, he signaled that they could begin eating.
Ye Junyi and Gu Xu discussed their plans and methods for the future, with him occasionally placing a morsel of food into her bowl. Though it was only their first meeting, they were already as sweet as honey.
To an outsider, they might have seemed intimately familiar.
Although the Western Regions envoy was cut from the same cloth, witnessing such behavior still made him curse inwardly at their shamelessness.
Meanwhile, Gu Qinghan took a bite of bamboo leaf cake, her eyes suddenly lighting up.
“Sister Chun Tao, you must try this too!”
Chun Tao picked one up and savored it carefully—crisp yet soft, refreshingly sweet, and slightly cool to the taste, perfect for summer.
“Shall we hire this chef to make pastries exclusively for you at the mansion?”
“No need. It’s just a novelty to try pastries from outside. Sister Chun Tao’s cooking is still the best.”
Chun Tao smiled, pursing her lips. “You’re going to sweeten me to death, Miss. Have a few bites of the main dishes first. This bamboo leaf cake is still a bit too cool.”
The atmosphere between the two was warm and pleasant as they ate and chatted lightheartedly.
Suddenly, a sound of something falling came from the private room next door, followed by the successive crashes of porcelain and screens, accompanied intermittently by sounds that made one blush and hearts race.
Gu Qinghan thought to herself, so quickly? Their self-control is truly lacking.
Chun Tao hurriedly covered Gu Qinghan’s ears. Though she couldn’t help blushing herself, she didn’t want her young lady to hear even a hint of such indecent matters.
Gu Qinghan blinked and said to Chun Tao, “Wake me when they’re done.”
Meanwhile, Ye Muyan’s informant reported, “Miss Han had someone add an aphrodisiac incense to that room. Those inside are likely already ensnared.”
“Ye Junyi has always been a fool, but today truly takes the cake.”
“Once Qingqing finishes, we’ll leave. Ye Junyi is laughably foolish—nothing worth catching. Let him keep jumping around.”
“Understood!”
After a while, Chun Tao heard the waiter knocking on the door next door.
His voice trembled slightly, “Honored guest, is everything all right?”
There was no response from inside, but the noise had grown so loud that everyone in the tavern could hear it. If word of this spread, the tavern’s reputation would be unimaginably tarnished, and the sign of the capital’s premier establishment would be shattered.
Gritting his teeth, the waiter pushed open the door to the private room.