"This is no way to do business!"
Xuantian Ze’s tone was malicious. "What kind of riffraff are you? Do you really intend to extort the Royal Family?"
That was quite an accusation to lay on someone!
If she were truly branded with the charge of extorting a member of the royal family, the Yihong Brothel would likely have to shut its doors. After all, commoners could not fight against officials. Just as Yun Feiwan was thinking of letting it go and sparing the male lead's ego for once, Mother Wang suddenly reached out a hand to block him.
"Your Highness, the Third Prince, I am merely a businesswoman. We business folk prize rules above all else. I trust you are not the type of person to forcibly snatch a woman away, are you? How about this: for the sake of your stature, I shall offer you a discount. Four thousand taels of silver, and you may take Miss Wanwan with you."
"You’re courting death!"
Before Xuantian Ze could even speak, Qinglong, standing before him, drew his sword, the tip pointing directly at Mother Wang’s face. "How dare you show such disrespect to our master? Have you gone mad? I will give you one more chance: apologize to my master immediately!"
Listening to the guard recite the same script as Xuantian Ze, Yun Feiwan curled her lip in silence, thinking to herself, "Like master, like dog. Hmph, a cur bullying others on the strength of its master’s power!"
"What did you say?"
Xuantian Ze nearly slammed the table and stood up, his voice so loud it could probably be heard outside the door. That single remark turned the already furious male lead into a man enraged further.
Oh no!
Yun Feiwan covered her small mouth. She still wasn't used to this Truth System; she always blurted out things that offended people.
"Since you refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit, don't blame me for being discourteous!" Xuantian Ze roared angrily. "Guards! The Yihong Brothel shows contempt for the Royal Family. I suspect there is something amiss here—search the place!"
In an instant, several men in black appeared from all directions, surrounding everyone until there was no escape, fully prepared to seal off the Yihong Brothel. A battle was on the verge of breaking out—a situation Yun Feiwan had not anticipated.
She hadn't expected the male lead to be so petty. Clearly, Xuantian Ze was backing her into a corner. To avoid involving innocent people, Yun Feiwan gritted her teeth and looked at Xuantian Ze.
"I will go with you..."
"Clap! Clap! Clap!"
Before she could finish her sentence, a crisp sound of applause came from behind the stage.
"Such immense authority. I had no idea that the Daxuan State had fallen so far that it now resorts to forcibly snatching women at the very feet of the Son of Heaven."
"Who is there? How dare you disrespect my master? This is the Third Prince! He represents the majesty of the Royal Family! Are you intending to stand against the throne?" Taking his cue from Xuantian Ze, Qinglong spoke with no restraint, showing no regard for the newcomer.
"Oh? Not even me?"
Following the man’s cold snort, a figure slowly walked out from behind the stage. Yun Feiwan looked toward the sound, her mouth slightly agape. "Xuan Junheng! Why are you here?"
Xuan Junheng, dressed in a dark purple patterned robe with gold pythons, sauntered over while fanning himself with a sandalwood folding fan. The white jade dragon pendant at his waist swayed with him—it was nearly identical to the one in Yun Feiwan’s possession!
"Miss Yun, what a coincidence."
After offering a brief greeting to Yun Feiwan, Xuan Junheng turned to face Xuantian Ze, a smile lingering on his lips that did not reach his eyes. "Third Prince, it has been a long time. What wind has blown you here today?"
"Prince Ying, why are you here!"
Like Yun Feiwan, Xuantian Ze had not expected to run into the Junior Prince of Prince Ying’s Estate here! Ever since the old Prince Ying passed away, his heir, Xuan Junheng, had inherited the title. After a brief moment of shock, Xuantian Ze reverted to his refined and courteous demeanor, bowing slightly toward Xuan Junheng.
"I did not expect to meet Your Highness here. I have been somewhat rude, please do not take offense, Your Highness. I have come today to bring back my wife, who has been behaving in such a shameless and showy manner." As he spoke, he raised his head and shot a fierce look at Yun Feiwan, arching his eyebrows. "Yun Feiwan, why haven't you paid your respects to Prince Ying yet!"
Ordinarily, a prince’s status was higher than a hereditary heir’s, and such caution was not required. However, Xuan Junheng was different. His father was the older brother of the current Emperor and had died on the battlefield after performing great military exploits. To show sympathy for his kin and the soldier, the Emperor had bestowed countless fertile lands and wealth upon the Prince Ying’s Estate and specially granted his son the right to inherit the title early, as a sign of the Emperor's boundless grace.
Therefore, no matter how much Xuan Junheng frequented brothels or lived a dissolute life in the Capital, it never affected his standing. On the contrary, even the princes had to show him a measure of respect.
"No need. Miss Yun and I..." Xuan Junheng curled his lips, his amorous peach-blossom eyes fixed directly on her as he replied in a drawn-out tone, "Have long been acquainted, so there is no need for introductions. Strictly speaking, Miss Yun can even be considered my benefactor. Isn't that right, Miss Yun?"
Under that gaze, Yun Feiwan immediately thought of that accidental kiss from last night, and her face flushed bright red.
"Ahem, it was nothing, nothing at all!"
No wonder Mother Wang dared to stand up to a prince; it turned out the Yihong Brothel was backed by the Prince Ying’s Estate...
"You... you actually know each other?" Xuantian Ze’s suspicious gaze flickered between them. Although it wasn't strange for someone of Xuan Junheng’s reputation to be in a brothel, the thought of what he had just said... Xuantian Ze suddenly looked up. "Prince Ying, is this Yihong Brothel a property under your name?"
At this, Xuan Junheng smiled without giving a direct answer. Instead, he snapped his folding fan shut and stuffed a gold ingot into Mother Wang’s hand. "Regarding today's matter, Mother Wang, for the sake of this silver, please leave a side door open, but do pay heed to Miss Yun’s wishes. I still have some fine wine to finish, so I will take my leave."
Watching the retreating back of the man, Yun Feiwan fell into deep thought. Was he helping her? No wonder the severely injured Xuan Junheng had appeared in her room without being discovered by the brothel’s bouncers—it turned out he was the true owner of this place all along! If that were the case, he could have just asked Mother Wang for help last night; why go to all the trouble of making her keep it a secret! Thinking of her lost first kiss, Yun Feiwan felt both embarrassed and angry.
"Miss Wanwan, what are your plans?" Mother Wang’s form of address had changed. She was still smiling, but there was a newfound respect in her words.
"Naturally, I will follow the rules of the Yihong Brothel~" With that, Yun Feiwan turned her head toward Xuantian Ze and blinked innocently. "We agreed on five thousand taels of silver, and not a single tael less, okay~"
He hadn't been willing to pay four thousand a moment ago, so there was no way he was getting a bargain now! Xuantian Ze, that bastard—she had to fleece him hard to vent her spite.
Seeing this, Mother Wang echoed her sentiment, "My apologies, Third Prince, but our rule is that taking away a popular girl costs five thousand taels. What do you think...?"
"I'll pay! I'll pay!" Xuantian Ze gritted his teeth. "Qinglong, give Mother Wang a draft for five thousand taels!"
Seeing the money in hand, Mother Wang couldn't stop smiling. She grabbed Yun Feiwan’s hand, looking completely reluctant to let go. "My dear sister, you must remember to come back and visit! Our Yihong Brothel needs you! Your sister needs you! As long as you come, I promise to satisfy any request you have. This place is your home!"
Watching Mother Wang, who was winking theatrically without a single tear in her eyes, Yun Feiwan pouted. "Then, sister, give me half the silver."
"What? You want to leave for even one day? Hurry up, move along, I won't see you out! Third Prince, do come back and play often~"
Waving her handkerchief, Yun Feiwan was kicked out without the slightest mercy!
It wasn't until she was left staring face-to-face with Xuantian Ze, who sat in his wheelchair, that she managed to pull off a fake, sycophantic smile. "Um... you’re a bit stingy."
"Heh, Yun Feiwan, you've grown some backbone, haven't you?" Xuantian Ze let out a sneer, his face expressionless. "Dressing like this on the day of your return visit to your maiden home—I wonder if my good father-in-law... will simply beat you to death?"