Chapter 96
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
Chapter 96: Title
In the private room on the second floor of the brothel, a little girl dressed in a light yellow garment knelt on the ground, crying and pleading, "Maid, I beg you, let me go. I don’t want to do this, please!"
The old madam in a red long dress with heavy makeup kicked the person at her feet in annoyance. "Since you are here, don’t think about leaving the brothel. If it weren’t for your pretty face, do you think I would want you? Hmph! Someone, take her next door!"
The little girl looked to be only fifteen or sixteen, indeed quite beautiful, but she was dragged out by two burly men. When the door to the next room opened, the madam walked in with a beaming smile. "Ah, Mr. Qin, thank you for waiting. This girl doesn’t know what’s good for her. See, I’ve brought her here."
As she spoke, she gave a signal to the two men, and the little girl was pushed forward, landing on her knees.
Seeing the girl crying on the ground, the person at the table finally spoke. "Lift your head so I can see you."
The little girl trembled even more at the words. Crawling over on her knees, she grasped the hem of that person’s garment and cried out repeatedly, "I’m still so young. Sir, you are magnanimous, please let me go. I beg you, Sir, I’ll bow to you." She knelt down and began to bow repeatedly.
The person sitting wore a moon-white gown, with slightly upturned eyes carrying a hint of coldness. Her fingertips lightly tapped the table, and she crossed her legs, lifting the little girl’s chin with her toes. “Now that you’re here, why pretend to be innocent?”
The little girl stared blankly at her face, momentarily forgetting her situation.
The woman curled her lips. “Am I beautiful?”
The little girl nodded in a daze.
Suddenly, she laughed, her eyes on the little girl’s tear-streaked face, licking her lips. “Still a virgin, huh? It’s been a while since I’ve touched something fresh.”
The little girl snapped back to reality, panic rising on her face. “Young Master.”
“Be good and take off your clothes.”
“No, no, please, I want to find my mother,” the little girl cried as she stood up to run outside. When she reached the door and tried to open it, no matter how hard she pulled, it wouldn’t budge. “Mother, mother, I’m scared!”
“Come here, little girl. I’ll take good care of you,” came the enchanting voice from behind. The little girl was so scared she slid to the ground, only able to watch as the woman approached her step by step.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. “Qin Qixian.”
Qin Qixian stood still; as soon as the door opened, the little girl dashed out and straight into the newcomer’s arms. “Help me, please save me!”
Lian Rong frowned as she looked at the little girl hiding in her embrace. She turned her gaze to Qin Qixian standing inside the room and said to the girl, “You can leave now; this isn’t your concern.”
The little girl, still trembling with fear, glanced back at Qin Qixian. Just as she was about to thank someone for rescuing her, she froze when she looked up.
Lian Rong said nothing and shut the door behind her, leaving the little girl standing dazed outside.
Qin Qixian shot a blank stare at Lian Rong. “Do you need something from me?”
Lian Rong took the seat Qin Qixian had just vacated. “You really have no conscience. If I had arrived a moment later, were you going to do something wicked?”
Qin Qixian suddenly laughed and leaned closer. “Are you here looking for comfort, Lian beauty? I can oblige; I’ve been thinking about your body for quite some time.”
Lian Rong’s expression remained unchanged as she looked at her. “I need to borrow troops, and you can set the terms.”
Qin Qixian lifted her chin, looking down at her. “Borrow troops? I told you before, one day you will come to me for help.”
“You can also choose not to lend them.”
“Hahaha, Lian Rong, you’ve really changed,” Qin Qixian released her chin, propping herself against the table with a teasing grin. “You can borrow troops, but I want Gu Meisheng.”
Lian Rong lowered her gaze to her fingers, pondering before she spoke. “Just take good care of her.”
Qin Qixian tilted her head, studying her face for a moment, trying to discern something. “Lian Rong, in terms of skill, I am not as good as you.” After a pause, she continued, “But now it’s you who needs my help. So this is how one pleads for assistance.”
Lian Rong’s lashes fluttered; once, she had said the same. Now, those very words returned to her, like a role reversal of fortune.
Qin Qixian was about to say something more when Lian Rong’s next action startled her, making her almost sit back down; she forgot how many years it had been since her emotions had fluctuated like this—only shock remained.
Lian Rong knelt on the ground, her expression calm. “If the Southern Emperor thinks my sincerity isn’t enough, I can bow my head a few more times.”
Before Qin Qixian could react, she had already spoken out to stop her. “A person like Gu Meisheng wouldn’t let you go that easily.”
Lian Rong smiled bitterly. “One year; she only gives me one year.”
When Lian Rong stood up, Qin Qixian narrowed her eyes at her. “I can help you take care of her, but if she falls in love with me during this year, I won’t just stand by.”
Lian Rong smiled slightly. “That won’t happen.”
“What do you mean?”
Lian Rong looked firmly at Qin Qixian. “She wouldn’t dare.” Indeed, she wouldn’t dare!
Qin Qixian held her tea cup and took a sip. In a bland tone, she said, “Your crown princess may not dare, but just because she doesn’t dare doesn’t mean I won’t. Lian Rong, I will think about lending troops. Taking care of her is no problem, but how I take care of her is none of your concern. If she can win my favor, then I won’t even need to think about it; I can lead the troops myself to help you seize the position.”
Lian Rong stared at her for a while and slowly replied, “Alright, we’ll do it your way.”
“Great!” Qin Qixian drank all the water from her tea cup.
*
Unknowingly, it was already the end of February. Gu Hengbo and Lian Rong surprisingly agreed without mentioning their parting. Gu Hengbo thought that since people had to leave, it would be better to be romantic. So, she discussed climbing a mountain to watch the sunrise with Lian Rong.
At the foot of the mountain, Wuyang and Qingfeng stood outside the carriage, watching the two women walk hand in hand up the mountain. They felt mixed emotions. Qingfeng tiptoed until she could no longer see them and then buried her head on Wuyang’s shoulder, crying loudly.
The two women walked slowly up the mountain, stopping occasionally. It was very cold in the early morning, and since they had been busy the night before until midnight, Gu Hengbo was rubbing her waist as she walked.
Lian Rong had no choice but to carry her up the mountain. “After I leave, you need to take care of yourself. Your little body can’t take much.”
Gu Hengbo, leaning on her shoulder, muttered unhappily, “Girls like to be a little slimmer, okay? I haven’t even told you I want to lose weight.”
Lian Rong laughed and patted her on the back. “You barely have any meat on you, and you want to lose weight?”
Gu Hengbo swung her legs and laughed. “When you come back, if I turn into a big lady, will you still want me?”
“Of course, I just hope you wait for me.”
Gu Hengbo looked at the scattered stars in the sky, her nose feeling a bit sour. “Lian Rong.”
“Hmm?”
“I miss you.”
“I’m right here.”
“Even if you’re here, I still miss you.”
“Okay.”
Gu Hengbo leaned on her back, tears streaming down her face. At first, she held them back, but soon she couldn’t help it, and she wiped her tears and nose on Lian Rong’s clothes.
Lian Rong carried her slowly up the mountain, listening to her crying grow louder until she cried out like a child. She didn’t speak, only listened quietly.
At the mountain top, the wind was still strong despite their thick clothes. Gu Hengbo felt cold, sniffing her red nose. “Right now, you are carrying me up the mountain to watch the sunrise. When you’re old, I will carry you.”
Lian Rong felt warm in her heart and held her closer. “Just hearing you say that is enough.”
Gu Hengbo snuggled into her arms. “Promise me one thing.”
“Go ahead.”
“Don’t write to me at all this year. Not a single letter. If you write, just keep it for yourself and show it to me later.”
“Why?”
Gu Hengbo closed her eyes and spoke in a hoarse voice, “I’m afraid that if I miss you too much, I might come looking for you.”
Lian Rong patted her head. “Okay, I promise.”
The two sat on a rock at the mountain top, unexpectedly not at odds with each other again. They quietly spoke until the first light appeared in the east. Lian Rong smiled with satisfaction, “Ah Heng, you are the first person to accompany me to watch the sunrise.”
Not waiting for the person in her arms to speak, Lian Rong looked down and tenderly smoothed the tightly furrowed brows of Gu Hengbo, who had fallen asleep. She kissed Gu Hengbo’s crying red eyes. “Didn’t we agree to watch the sunrise together?”
Wuyang silently landed behind them, unable to fully express her feelings. Despite her reluctance, she spoke up and reminded, “My lady, we should be on our way.”
Lian Rong remained silent, holding the person in her arms until the sun rose, allowing her hand resting on Gu Hengbo’s shoulder to slowly slide down to her neck. That way, she wouldn’t have to watch her leave.
As she was leaving, Lian Rong did not return to Lord Zou’s residence. She only had someone send Gu Hengbo back, and then she rode away from the capital with Wuyang and Qingfeng.
*
Gu Hengbo woke up in the afternoon. She rubbed her forehead, which was tightly furrowed. She got out of bed and took a couple of steps when she suddenly heard a sound. She looked back at the bed, wondering if they were still on the mountain.
When Madam Dou entered while holding Little Hong’er, she saw Gu Hengbo standing in the middle of the room, dazed.
"Mom, where is Lian Rong?"
Madam Dou patted Hong’er. "I heard from the servants that she left as soon as it got light. They sent you back while you were still asleep."
Noticing Gu Hengbo standing in silence, Madam Dou sighed. "I don’t know what happened between you two. You haven’t said anything, so I won’t ask. Did she say she would come back to get you?"
Gu Hengbo remained silent, staring at the floor as if trying to burn a hole in it. "Mom, she didn’t come back, did she?"
Madam Dou walked closer with Hong’er. "No, she said it was quite urgent."
Gu Hengbo held Hong’er tightly. "Mom, I want to talk to Hong’er."
Madam Dou shook her head and said nothing, turning to leave.
Gu Hengbo sat on the edge of the bed and placed Hong’er on it, poking her little chubby face with her finger. "Hong’er, don’t I look silly right now?"
Hong’er mumbled with her little mouth, not quite knowing what she was doing, her short legs kicking randomly under the blanket, looking quite happy.
Gu Hengbo smiled and reached into the blanket, tickling her little feet. "Hong’er, you are so lucky."
While the two of them played happily, the door to the room was suddenly thrown open with a loud bang from outside. Gu Hengbo quickly shielded Hong’er in her arms.
A group of masked women in white entered the room, and a few light laughs echoed from the doorway. "Gu Hengbo, how have you been?"
Gu Hengbo looked at the unexpected visitors, surprised. "Why are you here?"
Qin Qixian strolled in leisurely. "Surprised? I came specifically to find you."
"Why are you looking for me?"
Qin Qixian approached her. "I mentioned that the position of Nanyin’s consort is still open."
Gu Hengbo suddenly had a bad feeling. "What do you want?"
"What do I want? Can you guess?" Qin Qixian leaned in to try to kiss her.
Gu Hengbo stood up and stepped back. "Qin Qixian, I am Prince Rong’s consort. What does Nanyin’s need for a consort have to do with me?"
Qin Qixian smirked. "Ruoyi."
Before Gu Hengbo could react, a woman in white entered, holding Madam Dou. As she was about to step forward, Qin Qixian stopped her. "Wait a moment; I haven’t finished speaking."
Gu Hengbo forcefully shook off Qin Qixian’s hand. "What do you really want?"
Qin Qixian smiled. "You look really surprised. It seems you don’t know what has happened. Didn’t Lian Rong tell you? Oh, right, how could she bring herself to say such a thing?"
Gu Hengbo tightened her hold on Hong’er. "If you have something to say, just say it."
Qin Qixian glanced at Hong’er in her arms, leaning closer to whisper in her ear. "Your prince is planning a rebellion. His army is insufficient, so he wants to borrow troops from me. As a condition, he offered you to me."
Gu Hengbo froze.
Qin Qixian chuckled. "Even if she is a princess and has great power, without military strength, it means nothing, wouldn’t you agree?"
Gu Hengbo suppressed the discomfort in her heart, taking a quiet breath. "First, let my mother go. Let’s talk properly."
Qin Qixian glanced at the woman in white, who nodded and released her hold on Madam Dou.
“Mother,” Gu Hengbo hurried over to support Madam Dou. “I’m sorry you were frightened.”
Madam Dou shook her head, signaling that she was fine.
Qin Qixian looked around the room and said, “I am very busy and don’t have time to waste with you. Gu Meisheng, you have no room for negotiation.”
Madam Dou pulled Gu Hengbo behind her and looked at Qin Qixian. “If you want to kill or hurt someone, come at me, but why lay a hand on my daughter?”
Gu Hengbo stared at her mother, who was protecting her, and for a moment, she didn’t know what to say.
Qin Qixian frowned. “I don’t have Lian Rong’s patience. Ruoyi, take her away!”
Two women in white had appeared behind Gu Hengbo and started to pull her outside. Gu Hengbo knew struggling was useless. “Mother, you don’t have to worry about me; she can’t do anything to me.”
Qin Qixian sneered. “Xiyue, take this little girl back with me.”
Gu Hengbo widened her eyes. “This child is Lord Zou’s child; she has nothing to do with me or Lian Rong. What you’re doing is provoking the Northern Region.”
Qin Qixian glanced at her. “I like this child. Take her away!”
Just as Madam Dou was about to step forward to grab the child, a woman in white struck her with a pressure point.
“Mother,” Gu Hengbo, disregarding everything, tried to push away the person holding her down. “Qin Qixian, what have I done to you to deserve this?”
Qin Qixian looked at Madam Dou, who lay unconscious on the ground, then walked over and roughly pulled Gu Hengbo into her arms, gripping her chin to force her to look up. “Do you want to know why? Because you are Lian Rong’s woman. I will take what she likes to play with. How about that? Is that answer satisfactory?”
“Lian Rong won’t let you off.”
“Heh, you think that because she gave you to me as a trade, she will still value you? You are truly naive.”
“You are shameless!”
Qin Qixian smiled and tightened her grip on Gu Hengbo’s chin. “I love fiery women like you. You must be good in bed, otherwise, you wouldn’t have caught Prince Rong’s interest.”
Gu Hengbo took a breath, her expression filled with mockery. “So you think you’re something special now? People like you are successful yet completely unaware of their loneliness. I pity you!”
Qin Qixian stared into her eyes for a moment and slowly curled her lips into a smile. “Now you can throw a tantrum, but when we get to Nanyin, I will show you what true pity is.”
*
Zou Yuan returned from outside and took a few steps in the courtyard before sensing something was wrong. She rushed inside, only to find all the servants lying on the ground. Though there was no blood, they were all unconscious, and Zou Yuan’s heart raced.
Upon entering the room, she saw Madam Dou lying unconscious as well, and her face changed.
When Madam Dou woke up, she spoke only a few words before breaking into tears.
Zou Yuan listened, stunned. “You said…”
