"Aze, I'm entrusting Xiao Wu to your care," Xiao Man said, standing straight. "Her emotions are a bit unstable. Let her stay with you tonight."
"This is not proper," Qin Ze Yan immediately declined. He was always by the book, and he couldn't do something like letting a woman stay overnight.
"It's late at night, do you want to throw a weak woman out to fend for herself? The weather is so cold, if she encounters ruffians or anything bad happens, how will you live with yourself?"
"I can escort her back to the Princess's Mansion," Su Dan Novel Network
"The Princess's Mansion is full of the Empress Dowager's spies. If she returns to the Princess's Mansion at this time, she'll likely have nightmares."
"Then she can go to the General's Mansion."
Xiao Man placed a hand on Qin Ze Yan's shoulder. "At this time, the General's Mansion is the last place she should be associated with, otherwise the Empress Dowager will suspect her of treason."
"But I..."
"A true man, if he can't even protect a weak woman, how can he protect the world?" Xiao Man said earnestly. "I trust your character, you are certainly not a hypocrite who takes advantage of weakness. I can rest assured leaving Xiao Wu with you, please!"
Qin Ze Yan watched Xiao Man vault over the wall and leave. He slowly lowered the hand he had extended. Fine, seeing her so heartbroken and helpless, he would take her in for tonight, but only this once!
At Feihua Tower, Murong Sheng Rui sat in his usual private room, looking at the closed window opposite him with an unreadable expression. If he had personally captured her last time, he wouldn't be unable to find her whereabouts now.
"His Highness Prince Qi, you haven't been here for a long time," the proprietress's voice came from downstairs. "His Highness Prince Qi, you haven't come since you got married. I thought Your Highness had changed your ways."
Prince Qi tossed the proprietress a pouch of silver. "There's a saying, it's easier to change mountains and rivers than one's inherent nature. How could this humble prince change his ways?"
"I knew Your Highness couldn't bear to part with my girls. By the way, where is young Master Qin who used to accompany you often?"
"Her..." A flicker of disappointment crossed Nangong Yi's eyes. "She hasn't been feeling well lately, and her family is strict, not allowing her out."
"Oh, I understand, I understand." The proprietress swayed her handkerchief, smiling. "Too much indulgence, young people just don't know moderation. His Highness Prince Qi, shall I have Ling Yan accompany you?"
"Good." Nangong Yi entered his private room. A maid served wine and food and then left. In a short while, Ling Yan entered, still dressed boldly, revealing her arms and legs, with alluring peach blossom makeup. He used to be most fond of such charming and alluring women, but now looking at her, he didn't feel much.
"Your Highness, you haven't visited me in a long time," Ling Yan said, walking towards Nangong Yi with a delicate laugh and nestling into his embrace.
Nangong Yi's expression was indifferent. With a beauty in his arms, he couldn't muster any amorous feelings. He used to be extremely excited when he went to brothels and casinos with Xiao Man, wishing he could transform into a wolf, but now his heart was as still as water.
"Is Your Highness unhappy?" Ling Yan noticed Nangong Yi's low spirits and took the initiative to pour him wine. Nangong Yi held the cup, playing with it, but hesitated to drink. His gaze inadvertently swept across the opposite side and he saw the person in the private room there looking at him.
Seeing Nangong Yi look over, the other person immediately raised his wine cup and drank it down.
Nangong Yi chuckled, downed the wine in his cup, and stood up, asking, "Brother opposite, may I invite you for a drink?"
"The wine is on me. I wonder about your drinking capacity?" Murong Sheng Rui turned sideways, allowing Nangong Yi to see the array of wine pots on his table.
Nangong Yi clapped his hands. "I'm afraid your wine won't be enough to drink!"
Nangong Yi immediately went to Murong Sheng Rui's private room. Wei Wuji saw Nangong Yi approaching and quickly opened the door to let him in.
"Please, sir."
Nangong Yi's gaze swept over Wei Wuji. Pale-faced, beardless, with a sharp voice and no Adam's apple, he looked like a eunuch who had undergone castration from a young age. The person in the room was either wealthy or noble.
"Brother, you've finally arrived. Please," Murong Sheng Rui invited him in. "My surname is Sheng, and my given name is Rui. May I ask your esteemed name?"
"Nangong Yi."
"So it's the famous Prince Qi, I've long admired you!" Murong Sheng Rui immediately poured a cup of wine and handed it to Nangong Yi. "This cup of wine is in honor of His Highness Prince Qi."
"Brother, your background must also be extraordinary." Nangong Yi glanced at Wei Wuji outside. The eunuch's breathing was long and difficult to detect; he was definitely a master of internal arts.
"I am traveling alone, and my family was worried, so they prepared a guard for me," Murong Sheng Rui said with a smile. "My family was pushing me hard for marriage, and I didn't want to marry the girl they arranged, so I eloped."
Nangong Yi laughed when he heard this. "Is your fiancée not beautiful?"
"She is beautiful, but unfortunately, she's beautiful without personality!" Murong Sheng Rui said as he poured wine for Nangong Yi. "I heard that the Princess Consort is as beautiful as a celestial maiden. Your Highness has great fortune with beauties."
"There are countless beauties in the world. If I love beauty, what kind of beauty can I not obtain?"
"Oh?" Murong Sheng Rui was puzzled. "Does Your Highness not like beautiful women and prefer ugly ones?"
Nangong Yi downed the wine in his cup. "Brother Sheng, between a woman who can bring you a great future and the one you love, who would you choose?"
"Naturally, the one I love."
Hearing this, Nangong Yi felt bitterness well up in his heart. "I also want the one I love, but I am held back everywhere, I don't even have the qualifications to compete!"
Murong Sheng Rui understood. Of the four princes of the Yu Sheng imperial family who survived, there were Crown Prince Nangong Qing, Prince Chu Nangong Yan, Prince Qin Nangong Yu, and Prince Qi Nangong Yi. There was originally Prince Han, but he unfortunately died in the struggle.
"As a prince, you still can't get the woman you love?"
"What's the point of being a prince if she doesn't value it at all? As long as it's what she likes, she treasures even a commoner. If she doesn't like it, even royalty is like dirt."
"It seems the young lady Your Highness fancies has a lot of personality."
"More than just personality," Nangong Yi's lips curved into a proud smile. "She dares to scold princes and grandchildren from above, and commoners from below. Looking at the entire capital, besides the Emperor, there's no one she doesn't dare to confront."
"Unafraid of power?"
"Power?" Nangong Yi laughed. "Do you know what she said the first time I was beaten by her?"
"What did she say?"
"She said I was like a weak chicken and dared to talk about power!"
Murong Sheng Rui burst out laughing. "I like this kind of personality."
"Bah!" Nangong Yi immediately spat. "Why do you like her?"
"Your Highness misunderstands. I meant that I admire this young lady greatly. I wonder what her name is, perhaps you could introduce me sometime?"
Nangong Yi, a bit drunk, wagged his index finger. "I won't tell you, lest you see her and can't move your legs."