Chapter 19

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Chapter 19: Title

“Meisheng, do you blame your mother?”

Gu Hengbo jumped up from her chair and went over to Madam Dou. “Mother, don’t listen to that woman’s nonsense. She’s just trying to stir trouble between us. You’re too kind-hearted and gentle.”

Madam Dou sighed softly. “It’s because I’m too soft that you need to behave, understand?”

Gu Hengbo grinned. “Got it!”

“Tell me, do you have any thoughts about marriage? Be honest,” Madam Dou asked again.

Gu Hengbo hesitated, remembering Gu Yuanqing’s words. It seemed the old turtle had plans to send her to the palace, though he hadn’t mentioned who she’d marry. With today’s fuss, it looked like they were rushing to arrange something. But there was still Gu Ran at home.

“Mother, Meisheng wants to stay with you a little longer. I’m not ready to marry yet. Besides, marriage should follow seniority. My brother and sister aren’t married yet, so how could it be my turn as the youngest? That wouldn’t be right,” Gu Hengbo said with a smile.

Madam Dou, reminded by Gu Hengbo’s words, nodded. “You’re right, Meisheng. I forgot about that. Don’t worry; I’ll talk to your father about it later.”

“Great!” Gu Hengbo nodded happily.

Marry her off? Not a chance!

“Qingfeng, any big news lately? Like, have any handsome guys in the royal city held matchmaking events? Did the Lin family shop have any promotions? Oh, anything happening at the guillotine in the west of the city?” Gu Hengbo asked, sitting on a small stool and popping grapes into her mouth.

Qingfeng bit off the thread and admired his work. “The matchmaking event was two weeks ago. The Lin family shop had a promotion yesterday. The guillotine’s been quiet for days. They execute people every day, but it gets boring after a while. Though something did happen at Fula Gambling House.”

“What happened?” Gu Hengbo nearly choked on a grape.

Qingfeng carefully placed some flower petals into an embroidered sachet. “It got shut down.”

Shut down? “Who shut it down?” Gu Hengbo asked.

“The emperor, of course.”

The emperor? “Why would he shut it down?” Wasn’t it run by his son? Gu Hengbo was full of questions.

“Miss, you shouldn’t ask too much. This matter involves you. If it weren’t for you, that dealer wouldn’t have lost his hand, and Fula Gambling House wouldn’t have been shut down.” Qingfeng shot Gu Hengbo a look, noticing her clueless expression.

“That’s not true! Explain yourself. What do you mean ‘involves me’? I didn’t tell anyone to chop his hand off! When did they shut it down?” Gu Hengbo spat out a grape skin.

“It was shut down today. I heard Prince Rong was furious because those people ‘offended’ you, miss. In his anger, he had the emperor shut it down.”

Gu Hengbo frowned. Offended? Who offended her? It must have been her own doing. How could there be such shameless people? “She just got the emperor to shut it down like that? Why does everyone listen to her?” If she was so powerful, why didn’t she just take what she wanted openly instead of sneaking around with the queen? Shameless, really.

“The emperor always listens to Prince Rong. But without a good reason, he wouldn’t just shut it down. After all, the First Prince is the one behind Fula Gambling House,” Qingfeng said casually.

Gu Hengbo sat on the stool, resting her chin on her hand, frowning. “Her reason is me, isn’t it?”

Qingfeng nodded, muttering, “If Prince Rong weren’t a woman, everyone in the royal city would think she’s interested in you.”

“What did you say?” Gu Hengbo was lost in thought and didn’t catch Qingfeng’s words.

“Nothing.”

As if struck by a thought, Gu Hengbo turned suddenly. “I’ve noticed you’ve been extra chatty lately.”

Qingfeng blinked. “Have I?”

“You have.”

“Little Sheng, your brother’s here to see you!” Lian Chen barged into Gu Hengbo’s room, fan in hand.

Gu Hengbo shoved the grapes toward Qingfeng. “Quick, hide them!”

Qingfeng’s mouth twitched as he grabbed the plate and stood up to leave. But after just a few steps, Lian Chen stopped him. “What big grapes! They must be sweet,” he said, reaching out his hand.

Gu Hengbo sat on a small stool, wiping her fingers, and said casually, “I accidentally kicked a grape with my foot earlier. Third Prince, you might want to wipe it off before eating.” As she spoke, she wiggled her bare toes on the ground.

Lian Chen’s face twitched, and he awkwardly pulled his hand back. With a swift motion, he opened his fan and leaned closer to Gu Hengbo, a sly smile playing on his lips. “Are you upset because I haven’t visited you these past few days?”

Qingfeng rolled her eyes inwardly. The Third Prince’s self-absorption was truly something else. Even a fool could see that her lady was annoyed with him. Though, to be fair, it seemed Gu Hengbo only had eyes for Madam Dou these days.

Gu Hengbo swung her feet lightly. “Yeah, where have you been, Third Prince? Qingfeng keeps reminding me not to let you down, you know?”

Lian Chen stared at Gu Hengbo’s pale, delicate feet for a moment, then glanced at Qingfeng. She was a pretty girl, with a decent enough appearance. But then— “Wait, why aren’t you wearing shoes?”

Gu Hengbo raised an eyebrow. “You could take yours off too, if you want. I didn’t say you couldn’t.” As long as she stayed indoors, it shouldn’t cause any trouble. She’d rather avoid unnecessary drama.

Lian Chen dragged over the stool Qingfeng had been sitting on and plopped down, looking slightly annoyed. “Girls shouldn’t just show their feet like that.”

“Oh? Really? I had no idea!” Gu Hengbo pretended to be shocked, covering her mouth with her hand.

Lian Chen grabbed her hand. “You seriously didn’t know? Didn’t Madam Dou teach you that?”

Gu Hengbo shook her head, looking genuinely confused as she glanced at Qingfeng. Qingfeng suddenly felt a pang of pity for the Third Prince. She set down the grapes and quietly slipped out of the room.

“If there’s anything else you don’t know, I’ll tell you. Don’t want you getting scolded by your father again,” Lian Chen said, his tone dripping with sympathy.

Gu Hengbo pulled her hand back, looking a bit awkward. “So… how did I get out?”

Lian Chen blinked, caught off guard. “That’s… not a good question. Ask something else.”

“Did I sleep my way out?”

“Who told you that?!” A faint blush spread across Lian Chen’s pale face.

Gu Hengbo stifled a laugh. “I already knew! Isn’t that common knowledge?”

“What?”

“Hahahaha…”

“…”

Lian Chen lightly kicked Gu Hengbo. “Is it really that funny?”

Gu Hengbo clutched her stomach, shaking her head as she tried to stop laughing.

“The flower contest at Yaoyue Pavilion is tomorrow. Come with me,” Lian Chen said, his face completely serious.

Gu Hengbo rubbed her cheeks, sore from laughing, and tilted her head. “Yaoyue Pavilion?”

“Yeah, I bet on Mingyue. If I win, I’ll treat you to a meal.”

“You mean a brothel?” Gu Hengbo asked.

“A brothel? Uh, it’s a pleasure house.”

Gu Hengbo tilted her head thoughtfully. “Aren’t they the same thing? I’m not going to a pleasure house. I don’t like those places.”

“Why not?”

Gu Hengbo shot him a look. “Are you insane? You want a young lady to go to a brothel with you? I’ll tell my father if you keep this up.”

Lian Chen facepalmed. “I forgot you’re a woman.”

“Hey, watch your words.”

“You really don’t want to go? It’s actually really fun. And guess what? Gu Cheng’s going to be betting too!” Lian Chen said, his face lighting up with gossipy excitement.

“Gu Cheng?!” Gu Hengbo almost laughed out loud. “That blockhead? He finally got a clue; he should’ve started visiting brothels ages ago!”

Lian Chen frowned. “What do you mean by ‘got a clue’? Gu Cheng goes there all the time, you know.”

Now it was Gu Hengbo’s turn to be shocked. “Really? Who’s he got his eye on?”

Lian Chen shrugged. “No idea. I just know he sometimes stays the night there.”

Staying the night? So Gu Cheng wasn’t as innocent as he seemed, huh? Tsk, he looked like such a straightforward kid. Guess he’s just a closet pervert.

“You going or not?” Lian Chen coaxed.

“Nope.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t want to, I don’t want to, I don’t want to! I’m a woman, not a man! What kind of woman goes to a brothel to pick up other women? Seriously, leave me alone!”

Lian Chen put on a wounded expression. “Am I really that annoying?”

“Qingfeng, show him out,” Gu Hengbo said, getting up and heading toward the bed.

She was tired and needed a nap.