Seducing the Heart - Chapter 4

As the night deepened, Yun Jin listened to the steady breathing inside the room and raised an eyebrow slightly. After quickly changing into her prepared clothes, she nimbly flipped out of the window.

Nangong Ning had been waiting outside for a long time. Like thieves, the two evaded the manor’s guards and flipped over a corner of the wall to make their exit. Yun Jin did not know that shortly after she left, the person she assumed was sound asleep on the couch opened her eyes, stood up, and looked toward the window with an unhurried gaze.

“Prince.” As they approached “Envyless Immortal,” that extraordinarily lively place, Nangong Ning suddenly reached out and stopped Yun Jin.

“What is it?” Yun Jin asked, puzzled, thinking Nangong Ning had discovered some sort of anomaly.

“You won’t stay still even after taking your medicine every day. You just have to go to ‘Envyless Immortal.’ If you must go, is it not enough to just look at the ladies and listen to music? You simply have to let people persuade you to drink. Once the medicinal properties are scattered by the alcohol, it is as if you drank it for nothing. You have no idea how much I pity my precious medicinal ingredients! You truly are a person who leaves one no peace!” Nangong Ning scolded incessantly with a stiff face, leaving Yun Jin momentarily stunned.

Due to her temperament, Nangong Ning rarely showed expressions. This kind of display inevitably felt a bit unnatural. Yun Jin was familiar with Nangong Ning’s character and knew she would never truly oppose any of her actions. These words sounded much more like something Xie Lianjing would say.

Although Nangong Ning’s face did not reflect the kind of indignation Xie Lianjing usually showed, she had managed to mimic the other woman’s momentum and rapid speech quite accurately. After relaying the words Xie Lianjing had ordered her to say, she cupped her fists. “Please forgive me, Prince. Sister Jing insisted that I speak these words to you.”

Yun Jin’s expression showed no trace of annoyance. She simply waved her hand and said with a helpless smile, “Senior Sister Jing most likely pities the medicine I drank tonight. But if I don’t drink it, she won’t allow that either.”

Pity was one thing, but even though she knew that alcohol would reduce the medicine’s effectiveness to only thirty or forty percent, Xie Lianjing always forced Yun Jin to finish every drop. At most, she would vent her frustrations once the Prince returned. Earlier, when Nangong Ning went to ask her for a sobering pill, Xie Lianjing knew without even guessing that the “Master” wanted to go to “Envyless Immortal” again. She had rolled her eyes on the spot and indignantly instructed Ah Ning to repeat those words to Yun Jin right before she entered the establishment.

She couldn’t stop her, but she could at least dampen her spirits. However, this clearly did not have much of an effect on Yun Jin. Nangong Ning watched as Yun Jin finished listening with a slight arch of her eyebrow, knowing that Xie Lianjing’s words had once again fallen on deaf ears.

When “Envyless Immortal” was within reach, Nangong Ning stood still and watched Yun Jin enter. She was not comfortable with the perfumed atmosphere inside, and it was improper to enter while carrying a sword.

Yun Jin was a frequent visitor, but her appearance tonight took Aunt Hua by surprise. After settling a few difficult patrons, Aunt Hua walked over to Yun Jin. “Master Yun, you are newly married. How do you have the time to visit my ‘Envyless Immortal’?”

Yun Jin habitually took out some silver and ignored the question, asking instead, “Aunt Hua, I heard Miss Yaoqin is performing tonight, is that right?”

Aunt Hua took the silver, and her expression brightened considerably. “You are well-informed, Master. Go on, take your usual seat. She has been in a poor mood these past few days; seeing you might cheer her up.”

As Aunt Hua watched Yun Jin’s retreating back and turned to leave, she noticed several new girls in the building stealing glances at the guest. She couldn’t help but sigh and complain privately, “To think how much money I’ve made over the years relying on my top courtesan’s cold indifference, yet this noble has stolen her soul away.”

Whether falling for this noble would be Yaoqin’s blessing or her tribulation, she truly did not know.

Yaoqin had been depressed for several days, unwilling to perform or deal with the various young masters and talents. Aunt Hua knew the reason but had to pretend she didn’t see through it, allowing her to stay off the stage. However, since she stayed at “Envyless Immortal” under Aunt Hua’s protection, Yaoqin felt she couldn’t keep making things difficult for her.

Tonight, she had finally adjusted her mindset and agreed to perform. Out of habit, she looked toward that familiar seat before taking the stage. To her surprise, she actually saw the person she longed for. Yaoqin’s eyes suddenly lit up, casting off her previous gloom and regaining her usual elegance.

Many people had come specifically for Yaoqin. Seeing her appear, they were overjoyed and began shouting from below the stage, wanting to reward her for her dance. Yun Jin knew Yaoqin had seen her and simply smiled, raising her wine cup slightly. Yaoqin understood the meaning: a request to drink together later. A touch of joy rose in her heart.

Yaoqin was impatient to go to Yun Jin’s side to talk, but the crowd below was looking at her eagerly, so she had to deal with them first. She was no longer frustrated by who she had to deal with tonight. Yun Jin was here.

Yaoqin smiled, dazing countless people below the stage, and then danced a song according to her heart’s desire.

“Alright, the dance has been seen, and now we come to the most exciting moment of the night. I believe no one is a stranger to the rules of ‘Envyless Immortal.’ Without further ado, let the bidding begin!”

Bidding was an unwritten old rule of “Envyless Immortal.” The highest bidder could be accompanied by the designated lady for the night, either to chat or drink. Of course, if something else were to happen, it wasn’t impossible, but it required the lady’s own consent and mutual attraction. If anyone dared to break the rules and offend the lady, they would pay the price. Although it was a place of romance, there were bottom lines that could not be crossed.

“I bid one hundred taels!” a scholar in green shouted first, only to be met with a chorus of mockery.

“What is this person thinking? He has the nerve to shout one hundred taels?” “Exactly. Does he not know the rules? Even a single look at Miss Yaoqin is worth more than that.”

Lin Lan blushed with shame amidst the discussion. Feeling he had lost face, he dejectedly retreated from the crowd. It was indeed his first time at “Envyless Immortal.” He had heard it was a sophisticated flower house and had come specifically out of curiosity, not expecting to cause such a scene.

“Is the Master leaving already? Actually, you could see if there are other ladies who catch your eye. They aren’t all this… expensive.” Aunt Hua approached and advised him tactfully. Her years of business experience ensured she would not let any guest lose face.

“Thank you, Aunt Hua, but no, no.” Lin Lan bowed. Before leaving, he looked back at the person who eventually placed the highest bid. Seeing that the man had an extraordinary aura, he felt inferior and left willingly.

“The Prince actually appeared in this building. Yaoqin thought I would never see you again.” Yaoqin said in a neutral tone while pouring wine for Yun Jin.

Yun Jin took the wine cup and pretended to be a bit disappointed. “So, Yaoqin actually does not want to see me?”

Yaoqin could not bear to see Yun Jin like this, but she knew she was faking. Thinking of how depressed she had been for days, she hardened her heart and said, “Yes, I did not want to see you.”

“But I wanted to see Miss Yaoqin.” Yun Jin drained the wine in her cup and looked up at Yaoqin.

“Alright, Prince, do not act like this.” Yaoqin sighed helplessly, eventually admitting defeat. This person truly… even though she knew every time that Yun Jin wasn’t entirely sincere, she simply couldn’t find it in her to stay angry.

Yun Jin smiled and stopped teasing her. Instead, she took out the gift she had prepared. “Here, the latest rouge from Yunxiang Gallery. It’s very popular. This is for you.”

Yaoqin’s furrowed brow indeed relaxed. She unscrewed the lid to test the color and found it quite good.

“The Prince’s grand wedding took Yaoqin by surprise; I didn’t even have time to send a congratulatory gift.” Yaoqin sat opposite Yun Jin and lowered her eyes, continuing to refill the wine cup. Yun Jin reached out to take it, but Yaoqin drank it herself.

Just as Yun Jin was about to say something, she was interrupted by a cold voice.

“Your Highness is in high spirits.” Qin Zhanluo was followed by several personal guards, looking down at Yun Jin with a calm expression. “I woke up and saw the Prince was gone. I thought a villain had kidnapped you. I didn’t expect…”

Her gaze shifted to Yaoqin, and she smiled with an ambiguous meaning. “It turns out you were lured away by a beauty.”

“…” Yun Jin felt a bit embarrassed in her heart, but she maintained her composure. “Where is Ah Ning?”

“I told her to go back first. The night is deep and the dew is heavy. How could I let her wait outside for the Prince forever, don’t you agree?”

Some people in the building saw Qin Zhanluo enter with guards and guessed she might be a wife coming to catch her husband in the act. The room went quiet for a moment as they waited to watch the drama. Qin Zhanluo glanced to the side, and the guards behind her were discerning enough to leave “Envyless Immortal.” Seeing that she wasn’t causing a scene, the crowd lost interest and returned to their own ladies.

Qin Zhanluo sat down beside her. “Why didn’t you say a word when you came out? When does the Prince plan to return?”

Yaoqin observed Qin Zhanluo for a long time, knowing she was Yun Jin’s newly married Princess Consort. Regardless of status or background, her own beauty, which she had always been proud of, was easily surpassed by the other woman. So this was what a Princess looked like. Standing with Yun Jin, they were a perfect match.

Yaoqin felt a sting in her heart, but she could not lose face. She stood up gracefully. “Since the Prince’s wife has come looking for him, you should return early.” Yaoqin thought for a moment, unable to reject Yun Jin’s kindness after all, and took the rouge from the table. “Thank you for the gift, Prince.”

Yaoqin left so quickly that Yun Jin didn’t even have time to ask her to stay. She looked at Yaoqin’s hurried back and couldn’t help but say, “She’s leaving just like that…”

“What, does the Prince want me to compensate you?” Seeing Yun Jin holding a wine cup, Qin Zhanluo easily snatched it away while she was distracted and drank it herself. The wine was fruit-flavored, much milder than ordinary wine. It appeared it was prepared specifically for Yun Jin.

“Was that lady the person in Your Highness’s heart just now?” Qin Zhanluo poured another cup for herself, occupying Yun Jin’s cup and refusing to return it. “She looked quite gentle and elegant.”

Yun Jin did not answer, choosing to deflect instead. “How did the Princess Consort find this place?”

“I guessed, naturally. Who in the capital does not know that the Prince loved to frequent ‘Envyless Immortal’ before the wedding? I figured this late-night outing most likely had to do with a beauty, so I came to try my luck.” A smile played on Qin Zhanluo’s lips. “I didn’t expect to actually see Ah Ning not far from the entrance.”

Yun Jin remained noncommittal. She took a new cup from the table and poured some wine, gesturing for Qin Zhanluo to drink with her. Although being caught by Qin Zhanluo was a bit embarrassing, Yun Jin had no intention of explaining, and Qin Zhanluo did not truly pursue it. They acted as if they had simply come to drink together, finishing half a pot of green plum wine.

“Princess Consort, let’s return to the manor.” Yun Jin suggested with a smile, standing up and reaching out her hand. Qin Zhanluo allowed Yun Jin to pull her up, and they left “Envyless Immortal” together to walk back to the manor.

A light evening breeze blew, scattering some of the alcohol’s effect from them. Just as Yun Jin thought the night could end this way, Qin Zhanluo spoke a single sentence as she stepped into the still brightly lit manor.

She said, “The gift the Prince gave to that lady looks quite familiar.”

Yun Jin stood there, finally unable to maintain her composure. It was indeed exceptionally embarrassing: of the two boxes of rouge she had bought, she had given one to Yaoqin, and the other…

The other had been given to Qin Zhanluo by Yun Jin the night before.

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