Nangong Yi poured a cup of tea and pushed it in front of Xiao Man. "Who do you think will win today's Flower Queen competition?"
Xiao Man's gaze fell on the stage below. "I don't know."
"I think it's Miss Ling Yan." Nangong Yi opened his folding fan, covered his mouth, and leaned closer to Xiao Man. "This Miss Ling Yan, not only is she beautiful, but she's also skilled in all the arts, from music and chess to calligraphy and painting. However, what truly makes people clap in amazement is her flexibility skill."
"Flexibility skill?" Xiao Man's eyes flickered. After all, she also knew flexibility skills, which were extremely lethal for close-quarters combat against enemies. Flexibility attacks targeted the most vulnerable joints of the human body.
"Yes, this Miss Ling Yan's body is as soft and boneless as a willow branch, her skin as smooth as the finest silk. Coupled with a pair of seemingly cold yet alluring eyes that hold the depth of autumn water." Nangong Yi placed a hand on his chest, his face rippling with lust. "If one could share a night of passion with her, it would surely be an ultimate ecstasy."
Vulgar, shameless, despicable, filthy!
Xiao Man cursed inwardly, but a smile played on her lips. "Hearing you say that, isn't this Miss Ling Yan quite the enchantress?"
"She's simply the enchantress among enchantresses!" Nangong Yi closed his fan and continued, "It's a pity you're a woman. If you were a man, you'd surely understand this exquisite beauty."
Hmph, Xiao Man couldn't help but spit. Nangong Yi glanced sideways. "Did you have an opinion of me just now?"
Xiao Man shook her head innocently. "No, you must have seen wrong."
Nangong Yi looked at Xiao Man suspiciously, but Xiao Man's face was so natural, showing no flaws, that he couldn't help but doubt. Had he really seen wrong?
Just then, the noise from downstairs suddenly reached an unprecedented peak, with screams echoing endlessly, causing Xiao Man's eardrums to ache. She couldn't help but cover her ears, her gaze drawn to the stage below.
"Fairy Ling Yan, Fairy Ling Yan!" The spectators below shouted Ling Yan's name.
A woman in a flowing red gauze dress, holding a brocade ribbon dangling from the ceiling, descended from the sky.
Countless flower petals drifted down with her. She landed steadily on the stage, her long legs alluring, her delicate feet captivating. She danced gracefully, truly like a siren, enchanting and bewitching. Her cherry lips parted, and a melodious sound filled the air, full of charm and tenderness, worthy of the title enchantress.
Nangong Yi rushed to the window, grabbing Xiao Man's sleeve. "Look, look! This is Fairy Ling Yan. Isn't she full of charm, a mortal enchantress?"
Xiao Man rested her elbow on her hand and her chin on her palm, nodding in agreement. "Indeed, she's a mortal enchantress. Even I, upon seeing her, feel my heart stirred."
"You've been going out less often lately. You don't know how much more wonderful the outside world has become. Ah, I think I've fallen in love with her!" Nangong Yi said, looking utterly infatuated.
Xiao Man chuckled. Nangong Yi's love was fleeting.
He had also said he loved Miss Hua Rui of Xianle Pavilion, but after the novelty wore off, he forgot her. And Miss Fei Fei of Bao Xian Tai, for whom he had trekked thousands of miles just to find a snow lotus to make her smile; now, they were all forgotten.
"Have you forgotten your Miss Hua Rui, your Miss Fei Fei, your Miss Ying Ying, your host of ladies?" Xiao Man said slowly. "You used to say you loved them too."
Nangong Yi tapped Xiao Man's shoulder with his fan. "You don't understand this. They are my darlings, but Fairy Ling Yan is my true love. If I could spend a night with her, I would gladly live ten years less."
Xiao Man looked disgusted. "Truly, 'to die beneath the peony and be a romantic ghost.'"
"You don't understand this. Another day, I'll take you to Lan Xiao Pavilion. That place is a haven for women, I guarantee you won't want to leave once you go." Nangong Yi smiled lewdly. "The male escorts there are all stunning, gentle and considerate, understanding, and most importantly, their skills in serving people are first-class."
Xiao Man's face darkened. She looked dangerously at Nangong Yi, who was leaning out of the window to watch Miss Ling Yan, and a wicked smile curled on her lips. She reached out and pushed Nangong Yi, who was leaning halfway out, over the railing.
"Ah." A scream. Everyone saw a figure fall from upstairs, landing on the stage, right at the feet of Miss Ling Yan. Nangong Yi looked up at her long, jade-like, alluring legs, and then further up. Two streams of blood trickled from his nose. Nangong Yi felt that the fall was absolutely worth it!
Xiao Man turned her face away, whistling silently, ignoring the guards who glared at her as if they wanted to kill her.
This sudden turn of events interrupted Fairy Ling Yan's performance, but she showed no anger. She reached out to help Nangong Yi up, her body coiling around him like a water snake, then drifting away as if not quite touching him, truly making blood surge and primal instincts awaken.
In another room, Nangong Yu withdrew his finger. A drop of tea water slipped from his fingertip. Even if Xiao Man hadn't pushed Nangong Yi down, he would have fallen!
Because Nangong Yi fell from the building, many people looked towards Nangong Yi's room. They saw Xiao Man leaning on the window, smiling with a knowing expression.
"It's her." Wen Mohan stood up from his seat in shock. Cen Yu beside him remained expressionless, his gaze shifting to Xiao Man. He noticed Xiao Man was also looking at him, even winking at him.
Cen Yu's eye twitched. His expression immediately darkened. He disliked Xiao Man even more and promptly shifted his gaze back to the performance. Nangong Yi had already come down from the stage, looking like a lost soul, and ascended the stairs with a foolish grin.
Xiao Man looked at Nangong Yi, who was grinning like an idiot, and shook her head. "Lust is a knife above one's head. This boy will surely fall because of women someday!"
"Your Highness, are you alright?" The guards rushed forward.
Nangong Yi wore a blissful, foolish smile. "I'm fine, I'm fine."
Xiao Man was truly disgusted. Because Fairy Ling Yan was performing, most of the windows were open.
Xiao Man's gaze swept across the other rooms. She casually saw Nangong Yu as well. Nangong Yi was wearing a black brocade robe tonight, his aura completely different. If Nangong Yu in white was like an immortal descended to earth, then Nangong Yu now was a demon from hell.
Xiao Man bowed towards Nangong Yu, a gesture of greeting.
Nangong Yu looked at Si Ye beside him. Si Ye immediately turned and left, then approached Nangong Yi's side. "Eldest Miss, His Highness requests your presence."
Nangong Yi finally calmed down. He looked towards Nangong Yu from the window. "Fourth Brother is here too. Didn't he always dislike these kinds of things? It's truly magical today. Even someone as divine as Fourth Brother would come to a pleasure house."
Xiao Man glanced at him. "You are what you are, and you think others are the same. Prince Qin is not here to visit a pleasure house!"
Xiao Man lifted her leg and followed Si Ye.
Nangong Yi wanted to follow, but he thought of his Fourth Brother's icy expression and stopped. He was here for enjoyment, no need to seek displeasure from his Fourth Brother. He gave up and continued to watch the beautiful performance.