Seducing the Heart - Chapter 7

Opening the window, a gentle warmth immediately poured into the room, causing one to squint in comfort. Yaoqin felt a sudden impulse; the weather was lovely today, and perhaps she could go out for a stroll.

She drew her ink-black brows and touched her lips with crimson. The beauty in the mirror was in the prime of her youth, every gesture carrying an innate charm. Yaoqin looked into the bronze mirror, paused in thought, and slowly put on a veil. She intended to open her door, but Xing’er, who was pushing the door open, beat her to it.

Xing’er was a servant selected by Aunt Hua to serve Yaoqin, but Yaoqin treated her like a friend and never took the initiative to order her around.

“Miss, Xing’er brought you some breakfast.” Xing’er held the food box steadily and blinked at Yaoqin, looking inexplicably adorable and silly.

Yaoqin smelled the fragrance of lotus leaf chicken wafting from the box. She recalled mentioning to Xing’er the night before that she wanted to eat this. Yaoqin smiled helplessly. “Xing’er, although I truly wanted to eat this lotus leaf chicken, I fear I cannot stomach such oily food so early in the morning.”

Xing’er snapped out of it. Yes, how could she have forgotten that? Yaoqin usually preferred light meals, which was why she was so slender. Xing’er had simply been too excited because it was the first time her mistress had actively asked for meat.

Yaoqin looked at the little girl with an amused expression. The girl was staring at the food box with a conflicted face. Suddenly, Yaoqin recalled a few playful remarks Yun Jin had made in the past. Her evaluation of Xing’er was quite apt: “Her thoughts jump around, and she is dorkily cute.”

Xing’er spent a long time in regret before remembering to look up. Her almond eyes rounded slightly as she realized something. “Eh? Miss is going out? Then Xing’er will accompany you.”

“No need, Xing’er. I want to walk around by myself.”

“Then this lotus leaf chicken…” Xing’er twitched her nose secretly; the meaty aroma was very tempting.

“I will have to trouble Xing’er to eat it for me,” Yaoqin smiled considerately, then added, “Remember to finish it; do not waste it.”

“Miss is so kind.” After Yaoqin left, Xing’er found a small stool, dusted it off, and sat down. Then she pulled out the oily but not greasy lotus leaf chicken. “But how can it be okay for Miss to always be so thin? Speaking of which, Master Yun also looks a bit frail.”

Xing’er spat out a bone and let her thoughts wander. Could they be considered a perfect match in a different sense? The little girl tore off a chicken leg and suddenly thought of the beautiful lady who had shared a drink with Master Yun at “Envyless Immortal” that night. They also seemed quite well-matched.

The streets were not very crowded at the hour of the Dragon, which happened to suit Yaoqin’s mood. Usually, she disliked going out and stayed inside “Envyless Immortal” every day. Now she realized with a start that she hadn’t been out in a long time, and she couldn’t help but sigh. She walked aimlessly through the streets, pondering where to go next. A stall she happened to see gave her an idea; perhaps she could start with a bowl of wontons.

“I actually lost all those rounds of gambling yesterday.” Zhu Mingcheng had gambled away his money and then drank several jars of wine at a tavern. Now, walking out, he still felt indignant. He spat on the ground. “Bad luck.”

Zhu Mingcheng’s behavior was coarse, causing passing pedestrians and nearby stall owners to frown secretly, their eyes filled with hidden disdain. He was a low-tier dandy, relying on his family’s wealth to act arrogant and bully the weak while fearing the strong. He loved gambling but had terrible luck.

“Stall owner, I have left the money on the table.” Yaoqin finished her wontons and stood up to leave the payment.

“Very well! Walk slowly, Miss. Welcome back next time.” The stall owner was busy cooking new wontons and greeted her with a smile.

The drunken man was stumbling along, his gait very unsightly. Unexpectedly, his eyes lit up after seeing a veiled woman on the street, and he staggered toward her.

“Miss Yaoqin has actually come out in person.” Zhu Mingcheng blocked Yaoqin’s path and reached out his hand, wanting to snatch the veil off her face.

He had been to “Envyless Immortal” before and happened to see the top courtesan’s elegance that day. Unfortunately, he had lost his composure while drunk and was thrown out by several strong guards. Since then, he was no longer allowed to step through the gates of “Envyless Immortal.” Yaoqin’s looks were extraordinary, making it impossible to forget her. He couldn’t get into “Envyless Immortal,” but hadn’t this courtesan delivered herself to him?

Zhu Mingcheng was dreaming beautifully as he squinted his eyes and tried to grab Yaoqin’s arm. “Beauty, come accompany your Lord Zhu.”

This man was vulgar. Yaoqin felt immense disgust and quickly dodged, avoiding his grasp. Failing once did not bother Zhu Mingcheng. He merely forced himself to stand straight and continued to lean toward Yaoqin.

“This brother, in broad daylight, how can you bully a lady like this?”

“Who is it that’s so blind? None of your damn business!” Zhu Mingcheng turned back and roared impatiently. Just as he took a step forward, someone placed a hand on his back, giving him a fright. He squinted and found it was an acquaintance. “Yo, isn’t this that poor scholar named Lin? What? Have you read yourself into a frenzy and decided to play the hero saving the beauty?”

“You! Master Zhu, the Master said…” Lin Lan wanted to persuade him with etiquette, but Zhu Mingcheng pushed him disdainfully, causing him to fall clumsily to the ground.

“Tch. Acting like a hero without looking at your own worth.” Seeing Yaoqin trying to leave, Zhu Mingcheng relentlessly chased after her again, blocking her way.

“This Master, please move aside.” Yaoqin frowned, her mind quickly searching for a way to escape.

“Move aside?” Zhu Mingcheng gave a wine-scented burp. “Miss, don’t be so nervous. I merely want to invite you to my manor for a short visit. Argh! You bitch!”

Just as Zhu Mingcheng’s hand was about to touch her, Yaoqin decisively pulled out her hairpin and stabbed it hard into his hand. He clutched his bleeding hand and looked at the woman staring coldly at him, his heart filled with rage.

“You bitch, you dare harm me? Oh, I almost forgot. What, Prince Jin likes you quite a bit, doesn’t he? So what? Now that Prince Jin has his own lawfully wedded wife, will he still care about a mere courtesan like you who has been tasted by ten thousand people?” Zhu Mingcheng’s face was contorted with pain, and he spoke without restraint, shouting sharply, “Stop dreaming!”

Yaoqin’s face turned very pale in an instant. She looked at Zhu Mingcheng, the frost in her eyes appearing as if it were turning solid.

“Today, you are going to my manor whether you want to or not!” Zhu Mingcheng gnashed his teeth and lunged at Yaoqin fiercely.

After a crisp “thwack” sounded, Zhu Mingcheng felt a pain between his legs and immediately knelt on the ground in a very undignified posture.

“This Master is quite impressive. Do you have no regard for the law?” A woman’s voice reached his ears, cold like sudden ice.

“Why is everyone daring to interfere with my business today?” Zhu Mingcheng climbed up from the ground, intending to attack, but he didn’t dare move recklessly after seeing several people who looked like guards standing behind the woman.

Yaoqin looked at the person who had lent her a hand, feeling quite surprised. Qin Zhanluo’s eyes showed no emotion, yet she made Zhu Mingcheng feel an inexplicable sense of pressure. He lost his courage to act out. “You seemed to have mentioned Prince Jin just now? According to what you said, this lady is at least a confidante of Prince Jin.”

She emphasized her words, her voice cold. “When did it become your turn to be so insolent?”

“I was just joking with Miss Yaoqin.” Zhu Mingcheng’s eyes darted around. He decided a wise man knows when to retreat; if he couldn’t afford to offend them, he should at least hide.

“Then kneel and apologize.”

These words made Zhu Mingcheng very angry. His drunken bravado surged again. He had given them a way out, yet this person was truly refusing the face he offered. “What kind of low-life are you? You dare let your Lord Zhu…”

Qin Zhanluo waved her hand. The personal guard understood and quickly dislocated one of Zhu Mingcheng’s shoulders.

“Daring to offend the Princess Consort is a crime punishable by death.”

The feeling of a bone out of place was not pleasant. Zhu Mingcheng cried out in pain, and he sobered up significantly. The rest of his filthy words were choked back into his throat. At the same time, a medallion belonging specifically to the Prince’s Manor was held up before his eyes, causing him to be utterly terrified.

“Princess Consort, have mercy! This servant deserves death; I was talking nonsense.” Zhu Mingcheng knelt and bowed repeatedly to Qin Zhanluo, then turned to apologize to Yaoqin. “Miss Yaoqin, this servant deserves death. I drank too much and spoke filth. Please be magnanimous and do not take it to heart.”

Zhu Mingcheng brought this upon himself. Ultimately, counted by Qin Zhanluo’s guards, he had to perform one hundred kowtows on the street before being allowed to drag his dislocated arm back home.

Perhaps fearing Yaoqin would be harassed again, Qin Zhanluo escorted her all the way back.

“Thank you, Princess Consort, for your help.” Yaoqin hadn’t expected Qin Zhanluo to resolve the situation for her. Although their relationship was subtle, she was nonetheless grateful. “Does the Princess Consort want to come in and sit for a while?”

Qin Zhanluo looked at the plaque of “Envyless Immortal” and did not decline. Yaoqin took the freshly brewed tea Xing’er brought and poured a cup for both Qin Zhanluo and herself. She lowered her brows, her voice calm. “Whatever the Princess Consort wish to ask, we can talk freely.”

Qin Zhanluo smiled and swirled the tea cup in her hand slightly. “Miss Yaoqin, how long have you known the Prince?”

“Neither more nor less, about two years.” Yaoqin likewise looked at her tea cup, her eyes unreadable. “The Prince is as refined as jade and is very much liked by the ladies in this building. But since I entered ‘Envyless Immortal’ two years ago and first met him, he has always specifically sought me out. Everyone thinks he is fond of me, but that is actually not the case.”

Qin Zhanluo looked up at Yaoqin and saw her tilt her head slightly, drinking half the tea in her cup.

“The Prince only regards me as a confidante, a friend. He has never had any other thoughts. If a person likes another, there are always traces to be found. Yet I have never captured even a hint of such emotion from him.” A flash of pain crossed Yaoqin’s eyes, which was quickly hidden away.

Later, Yaoqin understood that Yun Jin’s presence at “Envyless Immortal” was not for pleasure. Within the Imperial Palace, there were too many hidden dangers. A single misstep would lead to ruin. She refilled the tea and continued. “The Prince views coming here as a mission. And I merely happened to become his excuse for coming.”

Qin Zhanluo was silent for a moment, unable to find words to comfort her. Yaoqin speaking these words was clearly beyond her expectations. She thought for a moment and felt that perhaps Zhu Mingcheng’s nonsense had affected Yaoqin’s state of mind.

“Miss Yaoqin, the words of a rogue drunkard cannot be taken seriously. You needn’t…”

“Princess Consort,” Yaoqin smiled and stopped Qin Zhanluo’s attempt to console her. “As I said, liking someone leaves traces.”

Yaoqin said she had seen the look in Qin Zhanluo’s eyes when she looked at Ah Jin, a look filled with such deep affection. In comparison, she admitted defeat.

“One day, could I ask you to do me a favor?”

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