Gu Ningning felt something being pinned into her hair. She raised her hands to remove it, but the other’s large palms easily restrained both her wrists together.
“No leaving.” Shen Que warned, neither harshly nor lightly.
“Oh.” It wasn’t heavy and didn’t interfere much, so Gu Ningning allowed the ornament to stay in her hair.
As night fell, Xiao Linzi helped her don the screen veil, and she followed Shen Que downstairs.
With the year’s end approaching, and this year being bountiful, people were generally free. Combined with the relatively open atmosphere in Yan Guo, the streets at night were even livelier than during the day.
Gu Ningning wanted to explore more. She glanced at Shen Que, but seeing his expression was not good, she didn’t dare speak.
Left with nothing else to do, she lifted a small corner of the carriage curtain to secretly watch the scene outside.
In the past, missions had been deadly, and she had never strolled so leisurely in ancient times.
Shen Que leaned to wrap an arm around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. “What are you looking at?”
Gu Ningning pointed at a group of men and women a short distance away, tugging at each other. “That.”
Shen Que was silent for a moment. “That’s a brothel.”
“Oh.” She only realized afterward that Shen Que seemed to dislike her exposure to such places. She sulkily tried to lower the curtain.
Yet finding people-watching natural, she sneaked a few more glances before letting it fall.
“That brothel belongs to Huai’an Wang. The top floor entertains high officials. Huai’an Wang trained a batch of courtesans, either to be gifted for favors or to gather intelligence.”
Shen Que said this with an expressionless face. Gu Ningning touched her chin, thinking this was truly villainous behavior.
Tsk tsk, enemies so shameless… it seemed only the hero and heroine together could deal with this.
Thinking so, she subtly moved slightly away from Shen Que.
The carriage traveled, not toward the Eastern Palace, but to the South Street.
Gu Ningning bought the last few jars of pear preserves. She instructed Xiao Linzi to carry them back to the carriage and divide them into four portions—for herself, Zhaoyi Bai, Meiren Lin, and Xiao Tao.
Shen Que looked at her for a while. “Any for me?”
Gu Ningning, reluctantly letting go of a portion, handed him a jar from her share.
Just as her heart ached from the sacrifice, she heard a joyful shout nearby.
“Brother Que!”
It was Lin Yinwan.
She wore a light green jacket and skirt, draped in a white fox fur coat. Her delicate, elegant face was heavily made up, lending her a maidenly charm.
Beside her was a tall man—Lin Yinwan’s brother, Lin Qiao. Knowing Shen Que wanted to keep a low profile, he nodded slightly in greeting. “Mr. Shen.”
Lin Yinwan exclaimed, “Brother Que! I spotted you from afar, but my brother didn’t believe me.”
Lin Qiao smiled helplessly. “My sister is willful. Please forgive her, Mr. Shen.”
Shen Que acknowledged with a slight hum, expression calm.
Gu Ningning instinctively stepped away, not wanting to interfere with the boss flirting with a girl.
Though this girl wasn’t the official match, the male lead and a scheming female lead pairing was still preferable to pairing with a cannon fodder.
Lin Yinwan, after being scolded by Gu Ningning last time, had cried at home. Her mother comforted her:
“Those who achieve great things care little for trifles. Look at His Majesty, your father, or other successful men. Who doesn’t have three or four wives? If you want him to be devoted, why not find a weakling instead? Since you’ve chosen this path, don’t waste energy fretting over whom he favors today or tomorrow. Be gentle in public, ruthless in private with those women—only then can you be the Mistress of the Household.”
Lin Yinwan immediately felt motivated. Rarely encountering Shen Que, she smiled and reached to cling to his arm.
Shen Que instinctively frowned and stepped back, avoiding her movement while positioning himself beside Gu Ningning.
Lin Yinwan’s smile froze.
Gu Ningning sensed that the script for this scene was off.
She tried to step back further, but Shen Que wrapped an arm around her waist. Immobilized, she had to stand her ground.
Shen Que’s gaze fell on Lin Qiao. “How is your mother’s health lately?”
Lin Qiao smiled. “A minor illness, mostly recovered.”
They exchanged pleasantries. Lin Yinwan’s awkward expression lasted only a moment before returning to normal, her innocent eyes glancing at Shen Que.
“Brother Que, did you bring the palace’s concubines out to play?”
She emphasized “concubines.” Shen Que replied with a hum, unwilling to elaborate.
Lin Yinwan’s eyes flickered toward Gu Ningning. The veil hid her face; she couldn’t tell who it was—Zhou Wan? Or Gu Ningning?
She pressed her lips together and reached to lift the veil. “Which sister is this? Let me see.”
Gu Ningning instinctively stepped back, but Shen Que moved first, shielding her. His phoenix-like eyes narrowed at Lin Yinwan.
“You’re overstepping.”
For a moment, Lin Yinwan’s eyes held mock grievance, then shifted to playful pouting. “Brother Que, don’t be angry.”
“A few days ago, my aunt asked me to discuss marriage with you. I thought I would eventually marry you anyway, so I wanted to get to know the household sisters first. Then it won’t be awkward when I marry in.”
Shen Que’s brows slightly furrowed but he didn’t reply. “That’s a matter for the future.”
Sensing tension, Lin Qiao quickly intervened. “My sister and I have other matters. We won’t trouble you further, Mr. Shen.”
He pulled Lin Yinwan’s sleeve and turned to leave.
Gu Ningning watched Lin Yinwan’s somewhat sulky retreat and felt a secret satisfaction, though she feigned concern. “She seems upset. Your highness is going to marry her eventually. Aren’t you going to pacify her?”
Shen Que glanced at her. After a long pause, he said, “You slipped up.”
Gu Ningning said “Oh,” thinking that Shen Que had indirectly saved her face today. She flatteringly added, “Your highness is wise and valiant!”
“Get in the carriage!”
Gu Ningning obediently boarded first, even offering him her arm.
Shen Que glanced at her, placed his large hand over her arm, and helped her up to the small couch inside the carriage.
“Ah!” she exclaimed, sinking into the soft fur blanket. She had thought Shen Que’s passion had returned, preparing for some raucous antics.
Shen Que only said, “Sleep with me.”
“Oh.”