The night was pleasant, and the Feihua Tower was packed. Nangong Yi immediately led Xiao Man to his private room and called for a musician to entertain them.
Nangong Yi leaned closer to Xiao Man, looking down at the stage. He saw a woman dancing gracefully in the center and introduced her to Xiao Man, "This is Miss Feifei. Miss Feifei excels at dancing, and her posture is the most graceful."
Xiao Man glanced at Nangong Yi. "You're getting married soon. It's time to rein yourself in."
Nangong Yi's expression shifted, and he lowered his gaze to hide the emotions in his eyes. "Does getting married mean I have to become someone else?"
"After marriage, you won't just be yourself. You'll also be a husband, and later a father. You need to be responsible for your wife and set an example for your children. Naturally, you can't continue to indulge in debauchery like before." Xiao Man's eyes scanned the crowd. Being at the Prince of Chu's estate, it wasn't easy to send messages out. To avoid arousing Nangong Yan's suspicion, she had barely left her residence.
"I don't want to get married, and I don't want to marry Du Yulan," Nangong Yi whispered, playing with Xiao Man's long hair.
"It's an imperial decree for marriage. You can't be frivolous," Xiao Man said. She had found the person she was looking for, and a glint flashed in her eyes as she communicated with them discreetly.
Nangong Yi was somewhat distracted and didn't notice Xiao Man's anomaly. "If your father forced you to marry a woman you didn't love, would you marry her?"
"No one can force me," Xiao Man stated decisively. She had already made the choice that was most advantageous to her, a survival instinct honed by her long tenure in a high position, rather than waiting to be coerced.
Nangong Yi's gaze inadvertently swept over the rooms upstairs. He suddenly tugged Xiao Man's hair forcefully. Xiao Man cried out in pain and looked at Nangong Yi displeasedly. Nangong Yi quickly let go apologetically.
"I'm sorry, did I hurt you? I was just surprised to see my fourth brother arrive." Nangong Yi immediately looked towards the room where Nangong Yu was seated. A woman sat beside Nangong Yu, her beauty exceptional. Even though she was merely sitting quietly, she exuded a captivating charm.
"That's Liu Xuer, the new top courtesan at Feihua Tower. Tsk tsk, I didn't expect my fourth brother to be smitten too." Nangong Yi spoke while observing Xiao Man's expression.
To his surprise, Xiao Man merely glanced at her and then looked away. Little did she know, a gaze had already locked onto her from the shadows!
"Who is in the private room opposite?" Murong Shengrui stared intently at Xiao Man and asked the person beside him.
Xiao Xiang, dressed in men's attire, accompanied Murong Shengrui to the brothel. Upon hearing his question, she peeked over and immediately recognized Nangong Yi. "That's Prince Qi's private room. Prince Qi, Nangong Yi, is on the left."
"Who is the person beside Prince Qi?" Murong Shengrui was more interested in the person with Nangong Yi.
Xiao Xiang examined them closely. "I don't recognize her. She's probably Prince Qi's guard."
"Her attire doesn't look like a guard's," Murong Shengrui's heart pounded. It was her. He wouldn't mistake her, even in men's clothes or disguised. He knew it was her!
Murong Shengrui looked at Wei Wuji beside him and signaled him to investigate the identity of the person opposite. Wei Wuji quietly left the private room. Xiao Xiang deliberately moved closer to Murong Shengrui, her body almost pressing against him.
Murong Shengrui's mind was entirely on Xiao Man, and he didn't notice this. "Young Master Sheng, what do you think of Feihua Tower's top courtesan?"
Murong Shengrui's expression was clear. "I don't like her."
"Then what kind of women do you like, Young Master Sheng?"
A faint smile appeared on Murong Shengrui's face. "Gentle and demure, yet with a mind of her own. Unflustered even when Mount Tai collapses before her. Capable of vying for the throne, yet also possessing the virtue of a good wife and mother."
A hint of joy flashed in Xiao Xiang's eyes. "I originally thought you'd prefer sheltered young ladies from noble families, but it seems not."
"Mere back-alley ladies who are prone to jealousy are beneath my notice," Murong Shengrui said with a bright smile, his gaze fixed on Xiao Man opposite, who was whispering with Nangong Yi. His expression grew even gentler. "I like strong women."
"The world loves women who are like little birds needing protection. Only you are different," Xiao Xiang said quickly. "Do you have someone you admire, Young Master?"
"Yes."
Xiao Xiang's smile almost faltered. "May I ask which lady has caught your eye?"
Murong Shengrui looked at Xiao Xiang meaningfully. "Her? She is far away, yet right before your eyes."
Xiao Xiang's heart pounded like a drum. Did this mean he was interested in her?
"Do you like her very much?"
"Like her?" Murong Shengrui's gaze drifted to the opposite private room, his eyes filled with adoration. "It's more than liking her. Just seeing her fills me with joy. Without her, I would die."
A smile bloomed on Xiao Xiang's face once more. Young Master Sheng liked her too. That was wonderful. If someone like Young Master Sheng were to propose to the General's estate, neither her father nor her elder sister would refuse.
"Will you propose, Young Master?" Xiao Xiang asked shyly, lowering her head. She didn't notice that Murong Shengrui wasn't looking at her.
Murong Shengrui's gaze returned to Xiao Man opposite. "Naturally, I will. As long as she is willing, I am willing to pour out all I have and cherish only her."
Xiao Man excused herself, claiming to be stifled, and went out to get some air. As she rounded a corner, she encountered Wei Wuji walking towards her and immediately hid.
Why would Wei Wuji be here? He always stayed by Murong Shengrui's side. Could it be that Murong Shengrui was also here?
Thinking this, Xiao Man's brows furrowed. She didn't want Murong Shengrui to recognize her, especially since her identity was sensitive. If Murong Shengrui discovered her true identity, she would be in danger.
Just as Xiao Man was about to slip away, a hand reached out from the darkness and pulled her in.
Xiao Man looked at Nangong Yu, who stood before her with a smile, and felt a headache coming on. "Your Highness Prince Qin, what do you want this time?"
"That's what I should be asking you. Just a few days ago, you were a maid at the General's estate, and now you're a guest at the Prince of Chu's estate," Nangong Yu said, leaning against the wall with one hand and playing with Xiao Man's earlobe with the other. "You're playing with fire, you know?"
"Staying at the Prince of Chu's estate is safer."
"Third brother isn't like me, the thirteenth prince. He's not so easily fooled," Nangong Yu said, his playful demeanor gone. "Come to my Prince Qin's estate. That way, I'll be more at ease."
Xiao Man wriggled out of Nangong Yu's grasp and sat down beside him. "To your princely estate? I don't feel safe there."
Nangong Yu was momentarily stunned. "Do you have to put yourself in danger?"
"This isn't putting myself in danger; it's strategic concealment," Xiao Man said. She poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of Nangong Yu. "No one would ever imagine I'd hide in the Prince of Chu's estate, especially since my relationship with the Prince of Chu isn't deep."
Nangong Yu sat down beside Xiao Man. "You went to the Prince of Chu's estate with a purpose, didn't you?"