The Child I Raised Has Been Reborn - Chapter 4

The young Empress, unable to wield power due to her age, caught Yu Niang’s attention upon entering the Jade Spring Tower as a graceful young woman. Yu Niang sent Wang Yan, one of the tower’s courtesans, to attend to her.

The front hall and rear courtyard served different purposes. When the young woman was led to the rear courtyard, she refused, insisting on remaining in the front hall to listen to music and specifically requesting to hear Mingshu play the guqin.

Wang Yan, though displeased, couldn’t deny the extraordinary aura surrounding the young woman. Her every gesture radiated an uncommon grace that suppressed any resentment. “Mingshu is under exclusive contract,” Wang Yan said. “She hasn’t been receiving clients for quite some time.”

“Exclusive contract?” The Emperor’s displeasure surfaced. How dare anyone in the realm dare to compete with her elder sister for women?

Having grown up in the world of pleasure, Wang Yan knew her clients well. She seized the opportunity to add, “I hear it’s a truly formidable patron. Even the Young Marquis of Rongchang wouldn’t dare approach Mingshu. Even if you wanted to meet him, he wouldn’t grant you an audience.”

The Emperor raised an eyebrow. “Summon your manager. We, truly want to meet Mingshu. We’ll pay any price in silver.”

Qin Jianhan glanced out into the hall, and immediately someone went to fetch Yu Niang.

The hall was bustling with patrons; several tables were already full. Looking up, one could see young men from wealthy families, their vibrant attire dazzling under the bright lamps.

Yu Niang arrived swiftly and, upon hearing that the Emperor wished to see Mingshu, she didn’t refuse outright. Instead, she said, “Mingshu doesn’t receive guests, but if Your Majesty wishes to listen to you play the guqin, that’s permissible.”

The Emperor, only fifteen years old, curiously surveyed the guests in the hall, noticing many noble young masters frequented the place. He found this puzzling. “Ah Han,” he asked, “why does this place inspire such longing?”

In his innocent youth, he knew nothing of the pleasures of the flesh.

Qin Jianhan, who had visited the establishment multiple times, whispered to him, “It’s full of beauties.”

The Emperor retorted, “There are plenty of beauties in my palace too.”

Qin Jianhan’s expression darkened. She didn’t understand why the Emperor had come here, and her tone turned sarcastic. “The beauties here know how to seduce.”

“Did Mingshu bewitch Aunt’s soul too?” The Emperor pursed his crimson lips, discreetly sipping his wine. His brow furrowed when he saw the immodestly dressed women in the hall. “They’re all so unattractive.”

“They certainly are,” Qin Jianhan scoffed. “But Mingshu is exceptionally beautiful. Otherwise, why would Aunt visit daily?”

As she spoke, lewd laughter and obscene words drifted from the adjacent room, enough to make anyone blush and their heart race.

The Emperor flushed crimson. “Is Aunt like that too?”

“Not at all. Aunt only listens to the music. As for Mingshu, I’ve never seen her privately.”

Seductive laughter drifted through the air, its honeyed notes seeping into the Emperor’s bones. “How revolting,” he said. “Wouldn’t it be enough to bring Mingshu to the palace?”

“That won’t do,” Qin Jianhan protested urgently. How could she allow another woman to slumber beside the Emperor’s bed? Leaning close to his ear, she whispered, “You haven’t yet taken full control of the throne. It wouldn’t be wise to snatch away the woman your aunt has her eye on.”

The Emperor fell silent. Wang Yan, standing nearby and unaware of their whispered exchange, deliberately sidled closer, her hands sliding onto his shoulders. Gauzy silk brushed against his ear as she purred, her voice as fluid as water, “What kind of wine do you prefer? We have every fine vintage here.”

The women compelled to serve at the Jade Spring Tower were all from impoverished backgrounds, while only the wealthiest and most powerful dared to seek pleasure within its walls.

The Emperor’s gaze fell upon a vast expanse of opulent flesh. He froze momentarily before pushing her away. Qin Jianhan smiled confidently.

After a long pause, the lilting chords of a guqin began to fill the air, its mournful melody stirring sorrow in the heart.

Qin Jianhan frowned. The Emperor suddenly exclaimed in surprise, “This guqin melody sounds strangely familiar.”

She felt the same.

Wang Yan, now ignored, scoffed coldly, “That’s Mingshu’s playing. It’s so ordinary it sounds familiar.”

The more Qin Jianhan listened, the more unsettling the melody became. Instinctively, she began walking toward the raised platform, behind the billowing silk curtains where a lone figure sat.

Guards stationed outside the raised platform prevented ordinary people from approaching. As Qin Jianhan approached, a maid stepped forward to block her path. “You can’t go any closer here.”

Qin Jianhan, a formidable figure, wasn’t intimidated by a mere servant girl. She shoved the maid aside, Zhao Lan’s image playing in her mind as she strummed the guqin in the pavilion.

Having listened to Zhao Lan’s guqin for so many years, she could identify her by the sound of a single string.

After being roughly shoved to the ground, the maid began shouting loudly, “Guards! Guards!”

The guqin melody behind the curtain came to an abrupt halt. Qin Jianhan tore the silk curtain aside, revealing Mingshu’s pale face, still trembling with fear. Her star-like eyes, usually bright and clear, now brimmed with panic and unease.

The fallen maid rushed in, shielding Mingshu and snapping, “Get out! Miss Mingshu doesn’t receive guests like you—poor pretenders with no money.”

Mingshu’s eyes blurred with tears, the rims reddening as she fought back the hatred surging in her chest to calmly face her enemy from her past life. “Please leave.”

The young girl, both frightened and startled, sobbed uncontrollably like a frightened fawn. Qin Jianhan, having never seen such a frail girl before, retreated with repeated apologies.

Inside the hall, the guests were in an uproar. “Who is this person? So disrespectful!”

“Listening is fine, but getting handsy is unacceptable.”

“That’s Commandery Princess Long’an.”

“The Grand Princess’s adopted daughter…”

As the hall erupted in commotion, the Grand Princess and Jade Spring Tower entered. Ping’er immediately spotted the figures on the raised platform and exclaimed, “Has the Commandery Princess set her sights on Miss Mingshu?”

Qin Tangxi looked up and indeed saw two figures standing on the platform.

Ping’er scoffed, “She meddles even in matters concerning the one you like.”

“Mind your tongue,” Qin Tangxi chided softly.

Many eyes were fixed on Mingshu’s frail figure on the platform. Some agitated patrons hurled their wine cups at Qin Jianhan, the unwelcome interloper.

From his private chamber, the Emperor watched the scene with a faint smile. “Summon Mingshu,” he commanded. “Let us see what all the fuss is about. My maternal uncle claimed her beauty was breathtaking.”

Guards summoned Yu Niang and demanded to see Mingshu. Yu Niang initially stalled, but when the guards slipped her a handful of silver notes, her expression brightened. She eagerly ushered Mingshu into the private chamber.

Standing in the corridor, Yu Niang counted the silver notes, her joy growing with each coin. Suddenly, a figure appeared before her.

Yu Niang looked up to find the Grand Princess standing before her.

“Mingshu, come and listen to a song,” Qin Tangxi commanded.

Yu Niang’s head throbbed. “Mingshu isn’t feeling well tonight,” she said.

“I saw her. She will listen to the song,” Qin Tangxi repeated firmly.

Faced with the Grand Princess’s overwhelming presence, Yu Niang yielded. She curtsied and led her to the private chamber in the rear courtyard, whispering, “Please allow Mingshu time to dress and prepare herself before you see her.”

The private chamber in the rear courtyard was even more refined than the main hall. Designed exclusively for female guests, the decor catered to feminine tastes. Freshly bloomed flowers in vases filled the air with their fragrance, and paintings of women chasing butterflies adorned the walls.

Qin Tangxi sat calmly. “Fifteen minutes.”

“B-but that’s too little…” Yu Niang panicked. “At least half an hour is needed!”

Qin Tangxi turned to gaze at her, her presence imposing. “Fifteen minutes.”

Yu Niang gasped. Even the Emperor tolerated this woman; she dared not offend her. Gritting her teeth, she said, “Very well. Mingshu will see you in fifteen minutes.”

Ping’er stuck out her tongue at Qin Tangxi before turning to the Grand Princess. “Your Highness, I just checked. Mingshu was summoned by the Emperor. Why do you think she’s showing up now?”

Qin Tangxi closed her eyes, remaining silent.

Yu Niang slapped herself as she entered the main hall. Money’s the root of all evil. Who else could she offend but the Grand Princess? If she angered her, this brothel would be shut down for good.

Inside the private chamber, the Emperor scrutinized Mingshu’s appearance. Her pallid face drew his gaze to her lips, bitten until they were red and swollen, making his mouth go dry. He reached out instinctively, but Qin Jianhan’s voice cut through the air: “It’s getting late. We should leave.”

The Emperor glanced at her. “Get out.”

Qin Jianhan refused, turning to glare at Mingshu, whose tear-streaked face resembled a rain-drenched pear blossom. “Does a lowly wretch like you think you can win sympathy with a pathetic act?”

Mingshu flinched. A mocking glint flashed in the Emperor’s eyes. “Ah Han, what’s got you so worked up?”

Qin Jianhan clenched her fists. “You shouldn’t have come to such a filthy place.”

“Get out,” the Emperor snapped, his voice sharp and stern. Her defiance stoked his resentment. “Don’t forget your place.”

“Ouch, I was just talking,” Yu Niang said as she pushed the door open. Noticing the tense expressions in the room, she instinctively paused. Remembering that the Grand Princess was waiting, she gritted her teeth and declared, “If Mingshu can’t serve properly, we’ll find someone more to your liking. She’s notoriously wild-tempered.”

The Emperor, now completely disinterested in staying, shot a fierce glare at Mingshu before sweeping out with a flick of his sleeves.

Qin Jianhan hurried after him.

Yu Niang gleefully waved at his retreating figure, calling out, “Take care!” Then she turned and pulled out a handkerchief to wipe Mingshu’s tears. “The Grand Princess is here. Hurry and greet her. Don’t throw a tantrum. Remember, you’ll only be hurting yourself.”

Mingshu stopped crying, her hands clenching in her sleeves. She hadn’t expected to witness such an intriguing scene. Qin Jianhan and the Emperor had likely been secretly meeting behind the Grand Princess’s back for some time.

Yu Niang personally led Mingshu by the hand, wiped her face, and changed her clothes. She instructed her carefully, “Just say what you need to say. The Grand Princess’s entourage is impeccably clean. If you can join her, you’ll never lack for wealth or status. Even the Emperor will look upon you favorably. Your future will be one of boundless prosperity.”

Mingshu scoffed inwardly. Clean? More like spotless.

When Ping’er arrived, she gritted her teeth and pulled out half a bag of gold leaves, handing them to Yu Niang. “Mingshu is favored by our Highness. You’re not allowed to let her leave.”

Yu Niang accepted the gold with a smile. “Understood, understood. I won’t keep them here long. Please come to my room for tea, Miss.”

“No tea, no tea. I’ll just stand here.” Ping’er slammed the door shut and stood with her hands on her hips, guarding the entrance.

Inside, the atmosphere was somewhat quieter. Qin Tangxi opened her eyes at the sound and saw the timid girl standing by the door, her fingers clutching the tray so tightly her knuckles were white. Her luminous, glass-like eyes brimmed with tears, shimmering like dewdrops.

Slowly straightening her back, Qin Tangxi beckoned Mingshu closer. “Come here.”

Seeing a familiar face, Mingshu nearly burst into tears, biting her lip to hold back the sobs. The overwhelming hatred in her heart momentarily subsided.

Qin Tangxi frowned, recalling Ping’er’s words. Understanding dawned on her, and her expression softened. “Did they do something to you?”

Support The Child I Raised Has Been Reborn