Nan Yanxiu stood quietly by the window, his slender fingers lightly tapping the window frame, his gaze as deep as night.
The clamor downstairs had yet to fade. Su Jianxuan was basking in the crowd’s flattery, his face brimming with confidence.
Yet Nan Yanxiu’s eyes remained fixed on that graceful, departing figure—
When Yue Linyan withdrew from the stage, the hem of her skirt lifted slightly, brushing almost imperceptibly against the Pearl Veil of the private room on the second floor, as if issuing a silent invitation.
He had originally thought Fuyun Lou was merely a pleasure house, and Yue Linyan nothing more than a dancer who relied on her looks to please others.
But in that fleeting moment earlier, the cold glint in her eyes was not something an ordinary woman of the demimonde would possess.
“Mo Yu.”
His voice was low, tinged with a hint of amusement.
Mo Yu immediately stepped forward, whispering, “Your Highness?”
Nan Yanxiu lightly tapped his Folding Fan with his fingertips, his gaze growing more focused. “Go and investigate. Find out exactly whose pockets the disaster relief funds allocated from the national treasury for the Jiangnan floods ended up in.”
Mo Yu was taken aback for a moment before understanding dawned. “You suspect… the Su family?”
A faint smile touched Nan Yanxiu’s lips, but it did not reach his eyes. “A thousand taels of gold is not a sum an ordinary official can casually produce.”
Mo Yu straightened, his expression serious. “I will investigate immediately.”
Nan Yanxiu raised a hand, signaling him to remain calm, his gaze still fixed in the direction where Yue Linyan had disappeared. “Return to the manor first and dispatch the shadow guards to keep a close watch on the Su family.”
Mo Yu hesitated. “And you, Your Highness?”
Nan Yanxiu chuckled softly. With a flick of his sleeve, his dark robes swept past like a night breeze, leaving behind only a faint, elusive scent of magnolia.
“This prince… will go and meet this Lady Yue Linyan.”
Before his words had fully faded, he had vanished behind the Pearl Veil, leaving only a half-finished cup of tea in the private room, reflecting the candlelight as it flickered gently.
Inside Yue Linyan’s room, candlelight cast a red glow, and a subtle fragrance drifted through the air.
She gently removed her veil. In the bronze mirror, a face of breathtaking beauty was reflected—
Her eyebrows arched like distant mountains, her lips as red as rouge. In the turn of her eyes, there was both enchanting charm and a sharpness that was not easily detected.
Dipping her fingertip in rouge, she lightly applied it to her lips, adding a touch of delicate allure.
“Heh… It’s about time.”
Hearing the approaching footsteps outside the door, the corner of her lips curved upward. She rose and walked behind the screen.
When she emerged again, she had changed into a sheer crimson gauze robe. Her snow-white skin was faintly visible, her waist as slender as a willow. Each step she took seemed to tread upon the very heartstrings of those watching.
She lazily reclined on the bed, holding a round fan embroidered with butterflies among flowers, gently waving it to stir the air with a subtle fragrance.
“Creak—”
The door was pushed open. Without lifting her gaze, Shen Shuangren cooed in a sweet voice, “Young Master Su has kept Lin Yan waiting for so long~”
However, the response that came was a deep, male voice, tinged with a hint of mockery—
“Lady Yue certainly isn’t picky. She can stomach just about anything.”
This voice… it’s not right!
Shen Shuangren abruptly sat up straight, her eyes sharpening as she looked toward the door—
There, leaning against the doorframe, stood a tall, slender figure. A dark robe outlined broad shoulders and a narrow waist, with golden thread patterns faintly visible on the cuffs in the candlelight.
His features were as exquisite as a painting—a high-bridged nose, thin lips curved in a faint, ambiguous smile, and a pair of phoenix eyes as deep as ink, studying her with keen interest.
This is… Memories from three months ago flooded her mind, the heart-stirring scene as vivid as if it were happening before her eyes.
Her heart skipped a beat, but her expression remained unchanged. Since it was necessary to conceal her true identity, the use of disguise techniques was naturally indispensable.
Thus, she said coldly, “Who are you? How dare you intrude into this lady’s private chamber?”
Nan Yanxiu did not answer, but instead approached with unhurried steps, his gait composed as if casually entering his own backyard.
As he drew near, a faint, crisp fragrance of magnolia drifted in the air, starkly different from the cloying incense in the room. It was like the first breeze of early spring, effortlessly piercing through the heavy, stagnant scents.
The fragrance was cool and refined, carrying a hint of aloofness, yet it tantalized the heart, stirring a subtle itch.
Shen Shuangren remained inwardly vigilant, her fingertips quietly reaching for the silver hairpin beneath her pillow. The cool touch of the metal steadied her nerves slightly.
Yet her gaze lingered on his face for an instant longer than intended—
His sword-like brows arched into his temples, sweeping sharply toward his hairline. Beneath them were eyes like cold stars, pure in their darkness and dazzlingly intense.
His nose was high-bridged, his lips thin and sharply defined, and the line of his jaw was clean and sharp as if carved by a blade, casting varying depths of shadow in the candlelight.
At this moment, his demeanor was composed, entirely different from what she had seen under the moonlight that night. Gone was the heart-palpitating, sinister allure, replaced instead by the innate elegance of a scion from a noble family.
The corners of his lips lifted slightly, a half-smile that made Shen Shuangren’s throat tighten involuntarily.
She distinctly felt her heartbeat skip a beat, then pound violently against her chest, almost deafening in the quiet room.
Nan Yanxiu seemed to notice her distraction. He chuckled softly, suddenly leaning closer. His slender fingers lifted a strand of her hair as he murmured in a low voice, "Miss Lin Yan’s dance just now was truly captivating…"
Shen Shuangren’s breath hitched briefly before she quickly regained her composure. Parting her red lips, she said softly, "Sir, barging into a lady’s chamber is hardly the act of a gentleman."
Nan Yanxiu raised an eyebrow, his fingertips idly toying with the ends of her hair. His tone was playful, "A gentleman? When did I ever say… I was a gentleman?"
Those words again… Was he testing her in some way?
Shen Shuangren’s eyes flickered subtly. Her fingers still pressed against the silver hairpin, yet a charming smile bloomed on her face.
She leaned in slightly, her breath as fragrant as orchids, "Since you are no gentleman, sir, have you come as a rogue seeking to steal kisses and favors?"
Nan Yanxiu chuckled lowly. He bent closer to her ear, his voice deep, "What if I said… I came to catch a thief?"
Shen Shuangren’s heart tightened, though her expression remained unchanged. Instead, she leaned in closer, her red lips nearly brushing his earlobe, "Oh? Then you’d better search thoroughly~"
Suddenly, he pulled her into his embrace, and she tumbled onto his lap.
His arm wrapped firmly around her waist, and through the thin fabric of her clothes, she could clearly feel the warmth radiating from his lean, powerful arm.
Nan Yanxiu’s hand clamped like an iron vise around her slender wrist, twisting it behind her back. The force was just enough to keep her from breaking free, yet not so harsh as to cause pain.
His thumb traced the pulse throbbing at her wrist, as if measuring her heartbeat.
His breath was close, carrying the crisp scent of magnolia mixed with a dangerous sense of oppression.
His warm exhale brushed against her ear, sending a faint shiver through her.
The distance was so close she could almost count the lashes of his lowered eyes, casting delicate shadows in the candlelight.
This scent—it felt so familiar.
Nan Yanxiu couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. The person before him resembled her, yet did not.
Her stature was similar, yet she seemed more slender than in his memory; her features bore a likeness, yet held an added touch of allure.
Only these eyes… these eyes, cold as frost yet sharp with hidden edges, were exactly as he remembered.
"You—"
She was about to speak, but Nan Yanxiu had already lowered his head and closed in, his thin lips almost brushing against hers.
His gaze was deep as a pool, carrying a hint of mockery and a touch of inquiry as it slowly swept over her brows and eyes, finally settling on her lips.
"Miss Lin Yan's enthusiasm is rather unexpected for this prince."
He chuckled softly, his voice husky, his warm breath sweeping across her lips.
Shen Shuangren's heart skipped a beat, but she refused to show weakness, lifting her face to meet his gaze: "Your Highness? So you're a nobleman, no wonder you're so… audacious."
Nan Yanxiu's eyes darkened slightly, his thumb stroking her wrist, touching the silver hairpin hidden in her sleeve: "Welcoming guests with a weapon—Miss Lin Yan's hospitality is indeed unique."
Shen Shuangren chuckled lightly, her eyes sparkling: "That depends on what kind of guest it is. If it's a lecher, naturally one must prepare some 'generous gifts.'"
Nan Yanxiu raised an eyebrow, suddenly leaning even closer, his thin lips almost touching her earlobe: "And what if… it's a guest like this prince?"
Shen Shuangren's breath hitched slightly, but she forced herself to remain composed.
The memory of that night—when he had pinned her down with such dominance—suddenly flashed before her eyes:
His scorching palms, his forceful strength, and those unfathomably deep eyes… She couldn't help but tense up.
She subtly bit her lower lip, forcing herself to calm down, and parted her red lips lightly: "Does Your Highness wish to hear the truth or a lie?"
"Oh?" Nan Yanxiu looked at her with interest. "What would the truth be, and what would the lie be?"
Yue Linyan raised the corner of her eye slightly, carrying a hint of provocation: "The lie, of course… would be that you are most welcome. As for the truth—"
Before she could finish her words, she suddenly lifted her knee, aiming for his waist!
Nan Yanxiu had been prepared, sidestepping the attack, but his grip on her did not loosen.
His eyes sharpened as he tilted his head to avoid the strike, then seized her wrist with his other hand, pinning her down on the bed!
"Miss Lin Yan's temper is fiercer than the rumors suggest."
He chuckled lowly, using one hand to pin both her wrists above her head while the other gripped her chin, forcing her to look up at him.
Shen Shuangren struggled in vain, then simply gave up resisting, a mocking smile curling her red lips: "Did Your Highness break into a lady's chamber in the dead of night just to spout such nonsense?"
Her long eyelashes cast faint shadows in the candlelight, concealing the flicker of panic in her eyes.
Nan Yanxiu gazed at her with a heavy expression, then suddenly leaned down, whispering in her ear: "Miss Lin Yan has gone to great lengths to meet Su Jianxuan—is there something important?"
His warm breath brushed past her ear, carrying a dangerous undertone.
Shen Shuangren's pupils contracted slightly, instantly realizing his intentions were far from pure.
Her slender fingers unconsciously tightened around the brocade quilt, but she feigned composure and lifted her chin: "Your Highness must be joking. As a woman of the pleasure quarters, am I not here at Fuyun Lou for wealth?"
Her eyes sparkled as she deliberately drew out her words, "Whoever offers the highest price, Lin Yan will follow."
With that, she smiled gently, parting her red lips: "If Your Highness offers a higher price than Young Master Su, then Lin Yan will serve Your Highness well."
Her pale, delicate fingertips lightly traced the edge of his collar, but her eyes remained clear and composed.
Hearing this, Nan Yanxiu felt an inexplicable surge of displeasure in his heart.
His eyes darkened abruptly, and his long fingers tightened around her chin: "Miss Lin Yan certainly speaks of this transaction with righteous confidence."
He leaned in close, nearly pressing his lips to hers. "I just wonder… how many unsavory schemes are hidden beneath this pretty skin?"
Shen Shuangren was forced to tilt her head back to meet his gaze, yet she still smiled coquettishly. "Your Highness, such words truly wound my heart."
She gently pushed against his chest. "Lin Yan is merely a weak woman—what unsavory things could I possibly…"
Before she could finish, Nan Yanxiu suddenly tightened his grip, firmly trapping her between the bed and himself.
In the flickering candlelight, their shadows intertwined upon the gauze canopy, the atmosphere growing tense and charged.