Volume 1 Chapter 7
Volume 1 Chapter 7
In the Bai Hua Garden, Leng Jiu couldn’t sleep for the first time. She frowned as she looked at someone leaning against a tree on the opposite side. The person had an incredibly alluring and carefree appearance, which made her involuntarily twitch her eyelids. “What are you here for?” she asked.
The person on the tree turned his head slowly, and his eyes, like flowing streams of light, held a mischievous smile. A roguish smile curved on his rose-colored lips. “I thought the Empress Dowager would continue to pretend I don’t exist.”
Leng Jiu was exasperated. How could she ignore someone so conspicuous?
As soon as the words fell, he vanished in a flash of red and appeared right in front of Leng Jiu. He leaned in, and their noses almost touched. It was an extremely ambiguous situation. “Empress Dowager is as beautiful as ever today. This Prince is utterly captivated. What should I do?”
Leng Jiu pinched the hand that was about to touch her chin and maintained a smile, though her aura turned icy. “Imperial Uncle, you’d better first understand who is in front of you. If there’s a next time, this lady won’t hesitate to break that hand of yours.”
The person in red blinked innocently at her. “Empress Dowager wouldn’t dare?”
Leng Jiu’s smile was ambiguous as she replied, “What do you think?”
The person in red, known as Long Yue Li, gazed at Leng Jiu closely. Three years ago, he had seen her once, but at that time, she was already the Empress, yet she was entangled with his nephew, wearing drab and gaudy clothes that made her seem vulgar. However, three years later, she was so stunning that it left him dumbfounded. Not only had her appearance transformed, but she had also become fierce and intelligent. What surprised him even more was her indifference, and it seemed like she had some disdain for his nephew. A hint of interest flashed in his eyes—interesting!
“On that day, this Prince was truly captivated by Empress Dowager’s beauty. Please forgive this king for any offense,” Long Yue Li said, gradually toning down his frivolous demeanor. However, he still had an alluring charm. “How about Empress Dowager asking for compensation? This Prince will do everything possible to fulfill it.”
Leng Jiu instinctively wanted to tease him, but then she suddenly realized something. Her eyes lit up with an enigmatic smile. “Anything?”
“Of course!”
And so, half an hour later…
A carriage slowly left the palace, bearing the insignia of Prince Xuan. The palace guards recognized it and opened the palace gates. The carriage proceeded leisurely until it turned into an alley and came to a stop.
Long Yue Li was waiting there on horseback. He saw a figure in green alight gracefully from the carriage. Although she was dressed as a third-grade palace maid, the clothes didn’t look bad on her. On the contrary, she gave off a fresh and ethereal feeling. She, in her red attire, was like a bewitching crimson lotus, enticing and alluring. When she wore white, she resembled a pure white plum blossom, cold yet exuding an aloof beauty. It was as though any color would harmonize with her, and she effortlessly captured attention.
Seeing Leng Jiu walking toward him, Long Yue Li’s attention turned to the faint blue figure behind her. He squinted his foxy eyes. “Jiu’er! Who is he?”
Leng Jiu pursed her lips, her thoughts involuntarily wandering to the fact that she had corrected him so many times, but he still used that nickname. In order not to feel creeped out all over, she decided to ignore it.
Lanzhe stepped forward and stood next to Leng Jiu. Without bowing, he displayed his features openly. Unlike Long Yue Li’s flamboyance, Lanzhe had a unique style that made him stand out regardless of the season. He looked at Long Yue Li and gave a courteous nod. “Lanzhe pays respects to Prince Xuan.”
Long Yue Li finally remembered him but didn’t acknowledge him. Instead, he walked up to Leng Jiu and embraced her, leaning in to whisper in her ear, a voice only meant for the two of them. “Jiu’er, when did you get entangled with him?”
His breath, mixed with a bewitching scent, brushed against her ear and cheek. Leng Jiu felt a tickling sensation and pushed his head away. “Don’t think everyone is like you!”
“What’s wrong with this Pince?”
Leng Jiu gave Long Yue Li a displeased look but decided not to dwell on that topic. She didn’t want to match his thick skin. “Didn’t you say you wanted to take me somewhere?”
Long Yue Li raised an eyebrow and feigned mystery. “You’ll find out once we get there.”
Lanzhe watched the two in front of him. He had only seen Prince Xuan on two occasions, but he was well aware of his striking appearance and his nephew’s rebellious personality. So, Long Yue Li’s presence didn’t surprise him much. However, Leng Jiu was a mystery to him. She hadn’t explicitly mentioned she was a palace maid, but her attire suggested otherwise. Despite her charming and innocent appearance, she exuded the aura of someone in a higher position. Although she was lovely and pure, her occasional display of nobility and arrogance couldn’t be ignored.
He clenched his fist inside his sleeve for a moment but then relaxed. Now wasn’t the time to reveal himself.
The three of them got into a carriage. Long Yue Li sat close to Leng Jiu, while Lanzhe sat silently on the side. After half an hour, the carriage stopped. Lanzhe was the first to alight, followed by Long Yue Li. As he stepped down, he turned around and extended his hand to Leng Jiu, showing gentlemanly courtesy. Leng Jiu didn’t mind and shook his hand as he exerted pressure. When she stood beside him and saw the view in front of her, her eyes, so beautiful and vibrant a moment ago, revealed a mix of astonishment and disdain. “Is this the ‘good place’ you mentioned?”
In front of her was a bustling and vibrant alley, with red lanterns and revelry all around. There were women in colorful attire tossing silk scarves, and clients jokingly bantering. It was the legendary brothel.
“Surrounded by beauties, with wine and songs, isn’t it a good place?” Long Yue Li retorted with a smile.
Leng Jiu gave him a disdainful look, thinking, “Men really think with their lower halves!”
Suddenly, her sleeve was tugged, and she turned to see Lanzhe, looking embarrassed and bashful. He whispered softly, “Ah Jiu, this isn’t a place for ladies. Shall we go back?”
Leng Jiu watched his expression and immediately felt amused. She reconsidered her previous judgment. Although some men might think with their lower halves, at least there were pure-hearted ones like him.
“What? Are you afraid to go in?” Long Yue Li teased, his fingers gently touching her chin.
Leng Jiu raised an eyebrow. She had spent more time in nightclubs than he had slept, so was she afraid of him? She bit down on his wandering finger. “Afraid of you?”
Long Yue Li couldn’t help but make a soft sound—not because she bit him, but because her tongue brushed against his finger softly, creating a tingling sensation from his finger to the depths of his heart. His eyes darkened slightly, and he curled his lips into a provoking smile. “Very well then. Please enter.”
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A/N -（╮╯▽╰）╭ I just wanted to write about a seductive and charming prince, but as I wrote, he turned into a rogue. (o╯□╰o) Nevertheless, Lanzhe, the virgin, is the most endearing!