Xin Yi held the filled wine cup and brought it to her lips, taking a shallow sip. It was that kind of fruit wine that was sweet with a slight tartness, very suitable for someone like her who had little tolerance for alcohol.
She slowly finished the remaining half cup, then once again took in the surroundings.
Although it was a private room, all four sides were open, with no walls but rather partitions made of intricately overlapping screens.
It was only slightly more luxurious than the main hall and offered a bit more privacy, but upon closer inspection, it could only be said to be better than nothing.
Princess Zhaohua watched her from the side as well, though there was a different depth in her gaze. Mainly, she hadn’t expected Xin Yi to actually come.
In the past, she had invited noble ladies from the Capital City to banquets, but upon hearing the origins of the Bright Moon Brothel, they either paled in shock or feigned illness to decline. Not one had ever been willing to come.
Princess Zhaohua truly hadn’t expected that the first one she successfully invited here would be the painter who had nearly become her male favorite.
No wonder when she first saw Bai Xinyi’s paintings, she inexplicably felt a sense of familiarity.
With this in mind, Princess Zhaohua indulged herself by planting a kiss on the face of the beautiful youth serving at her side, then played her favorite little game.
She poured wine from a golden cup while the youth skillfully tilted his neck back and opened his mouth to catch it. Her fingers mischievously rubbed his Adam’s apple, making the youth tremble nonstop as the splashed wine soaked half his collar.
Xin Yi watched with some surprise.
It was just drinking wine—could it be played like this?
After Princess Zhaohua fed him two more cups, her gaze finally returned to the woman before her.
She discovered that although the woman was propping her cheek with a squinting smile as she watched, there was a lack of real interest deep in her eyes. She showed little enthusiasm for the green-robed youth at her side either.
Princess Zhaohua thought for a moment, then waved for the attendants to leave.
But after they departed, she summoned the steward and told him to select two new candidates.
Then she looked toward Xin Yi and said to her, “Since you’ve already divorced, there’s no need to rush into marriage. Your paintings are renowned in the Capital City anyway and can earn you endless wealth. Why not live as freely as this princess and keep a couple of male favorites to play with?”
At this point, as if remembering something, she asked if Xin Yi had any favored gentleman in mind.
Xin Yi’s expression paused slightly, then she nodded. “I do.”
Facing the Eldest Princess, who was the most favored by the Emperor, it was best to tell the truth. Moreover, with Princess Zhaohua’s personality, there was no need to worry about her gossiping.
Sure enough, Princess Zhaohua looked at her with approving eyes upon hearing this. “Not long after moving out of the general’s manor, and you already have one. As expected of someone this princess admires.”
Xin Yi: “…”
She had actually had one for a long time already, and it had happened right under Xiao Cheng Ce’s nose.
Princess Zhaohua continued to press with great interest. “Which family’s young gentleman is it? How did you meet him?”
This time, it was Xin Yi’s turn to find it hard to speak.
She hesitated for a long while before finally opening her mouth. She pretended to clear her throat and used her wine cup to cover her lips. “It’s Chu Chu… Xiao Cheng Ce’s concubine… her younger brother.”
Princess Zhaohua couldn’t help but freeze, staring in shock: “…”
A moment later, she collapsed onto the pearwood table laughing, slapping the surface with hearty guffaws that completely lacked her usual dignified poise as the Eldest Princess.
She laughed until tears nearly came out before she had to stop. “You’re too adorable. I really want to kiss you.”
Xin Yi couldn’t help but smile too and generously offered her cheek. “Please kiss, Your Highness the Eldest Princess.”
Princess Zhaohua burst into laughter again.
The atmosphere in the private room became unprecedentedly relaxed. Xin Yi couldn’t resist drinking a few more cups of fruit wine. Though not very drunk, her cheeks flushed warmly.
At this moment, two Kunlun slaves were led in. Both had sturdy builds, bronze skin, and the deep-featured looks of foreign tribesmen.
Xin Yi let out a soft “ah.” This was her first time seeing Kunlun slaves.
Ancient Kunlun slaves, at that.
She had heard of the fame of Kunlun slaves, Silla maids, and foreigners before.
But to truly lay eyes on them, this was undoubtedly the first time. Thus, besides feeling novelty, her gaze lingered a bit longer.
The Kunlun slaves also obediently and quietly sized up the two women seated above them. One was Princess Zhaohua, a regular at the Bright Moon Brothel, so naturally familiar.
The other had a peach-blossom face full of alluring beauty, so striking that even in plain attire, she couldn’t be ignored.
Especially now, as she propped her cheek and leaned bonelessly against the table edge, her skirt collar loosened somewhat.
This accentuated her fair and delicate skin, along with the overly graceful and full curves of her chest.
Xin Yi was enjoying the sight when she suddenly heard Princess Zhaohua’s laughter.
The princess looked at her knowingly, her tone carrying a teasing lilt. “So you like this type. No wonder you didn’t even glance at those two beautiful youths earlier. Kunlun slaves are indeed not bad though—at least they have stamina in bed and won’t disappoint midway.”
Xin Yi: “…”
It wasn’t that she particularly liked this type. The one she spent every day with was the beautiful youth style, so seeing something so different now felt novel, inevitably.
But it was only novelty.
In the end, she still preferred ones like Xie Shuo.
As she silently grumbled to herself, a long, slightly wide red silk ribbon was suddenly handed over from the side.
Princess Zhaohua lazily smiled and gestured to her. “Here, cover your eyes with it. Whichever Kunlun slave you grab first in the room is yours.”
Xin Yi actually didn’t want either. She just wanted to look her fill, maybe flirt a bit with words at most.
But since she had finally come to the Bright Moon Brothel, playing a little game wasn’t a big deal. There was no need to dampen the Eldest Princess’s mood.
So she took it, stood up, smiled charmingly, and covered her eyes with the red silk.
Once she confirmed she couldn’t see ahead, she groped forward. Fortunately, the area had been cleared beforehand, and the spacious private room enclosed by screens was wide enough that she wouldn’t trip over anything.
For some reason, Xin Yi felt the surroundings go eerily quiet for an instant.
But she didn’t pay it much mind—perhaps the Kunlun slaves were holding their breath to avoid being discovered.
She continued groping forward. Her tentatively waving fingers seemed to brush against a slightly firm piece of clothing hem.
Though only a fleeting touch of fabric, Xin Yi keenly caught it. Her lips curved slightly under the red silk as she excitedly grabbed the person’s arm.
Yet she seemed to hear a familiar silver bell sound by her ear.
Xin Yi’s smile faltered slightly as she tried to recall—did the two Kunlun slaves she saw earlier have silver bells or something?
Before she could think further, she was yanked into an embrace.
A clearer crisp silver bell rang into her ears, along with the oncoming scent of green orange peel. The youth hugged her with force nearly crushing her bones.
Xin Yi: “…”
She was done for.
Even without lifting the red silk over her eyes, she knew she was finished.
How long had he been here? Since when had he been watching? Had it been from the very beginning?
The more Xin Yi thought, the more guilty she felt. She didn’t have the courage to pull off the red silk herself. Instead, the youth, holding back his anger, sarcastically helped her remove it.
She had just lifted her head, not yet able to quibble or explain.
Before she could, she was pinned against the nearby vermilion-lacquered pillar and kissed. It was a kiss laced with anger and hatred, nearly tearing her apart. The force hurt so much she whimpered.
Xin Yi felt her lip bitten viciously, a bead of blood instantly sliding down her chin, not fully swallowed by the youth.
She had never received such a bloody kiss. It hurt so much her mind went dizzy, tears falling physiologically. When she finally pushed the youth away, her lips and tongue root were numb.
Her shoulders trembled as she staggered two steps back, her slender arms bracing against the table behind her to gasp for breath.
Princess Zhaohua had experienced countless romantic encounters. From the moment the youth suddenly appeared and stared deadly at the oblivious alluring woman, she had seen hints of what was happening.
That was why she hadn’t stopped it at first.
When the kiss ended, Xin Yi still had her back to her.
Princess Zhaohua asked, “Your gentleman is from the Miao Frontier? Don’t tell me—he really looks like someone who knows how to use gu.”
From childhood to now, she had seen countless beautiful youths in the Prosperous Capital, but one as strikingly handsome as this was a first.
No wonder he had seduced Xin Yi into intimacy. Even walking down the street ordinarily, who knew how many ladies would cast flirtatious glances at him.
Xin Yi couldn’t speak because her lip really hurt badly, as if still oozing blood. Her chin was probably stained red.
So she turned around, intending to grab the embroidered handkerchief she had placed by the table earlier.
That was when she heard Princess Zhaohua suck in a cold breath in disbelief. “How did he kiss… bite it like this?”
Her tone was full of shock. “Your little gentleman has such a jealous streak?”
Xin Yi, with her bitten lip, didn’t dare look up: Stop talking, or you’ll drive him insane.
Xie Shuo watched her guilty lowered head, a deep chill permeating his limbs.
No wonder she had rushed out the door claiming she had serious business and hadn’t even wanted to bring a maid. So this was to find new fun here.
If he hadn’t arrived in time, what would she have done next?
Hug and embrace other men, or exchange deep kisses like they had just done?
Xie Shuo laughed in anger, his heart turning cold as he questioned her sentence by sentence. “This is the serious business you mentioned?”
“This is the ‘like’ you promised me?”
Xin Yi’s head hung lower and lower under the barrage.
She very much wanted to argue glibly that it wasn’t like that. But he was clearly furious now—explanations wouldn’t help. Besides, her lip really hurt; even breathing tugged at it painfully.
Seeing her like this, Xie Shuo’s gaze gradually turned icy and desolate, losing all interest in further questioning.
Only before leaving did he curl his lip slightly toward Princess Zhaohua. “If the Eldest Princess wishes, you can send over all the male favorites from your estate for me to feed to my gu insects. Or I can send over my man-eating spider instead.”
Xin Yi froze for a moment.
Then she hastily bid farewell to the Eldest Princess and chased after the youth.
Unfortunately, even after returning to the residence, Xie Shuo showed no intention of acknowledging her. He treated her as if she were invisible, no different from a stalk of orchid grass or a potted plant.
As night deepened and cool winds blew slowly, even Xiang Lan vaguely sensed something off between them. She tentatively asked her lady if her lip had been bitten by Xie Shuo.
Xin Yi sighed and nodded dejectedly, then pondered how to apologize to the youth.
After all, in the end, she was the one at fault first.
So after lights out, Xin Yi deliberately dressed thinly, her waterfall-like black hair seductively draped, and went to Xie Shuo’s moved-out side room to seduce him.
As expected, she was chased out.
There was not a trace of desire in the youth’s gaze upon her.
When he looked at her, it was like appraising a piece of bland, unappetizing white meat.
It left even Xin Yi momentarily stunned.
She thought she had only seen that gaze from Xie Shuo back at the very start of her pursuit.
Tonight was clearly hopeless. She heard the side room door close, so she could only slink back to her own room in chagrin.
She sighed long and short for a good while before finally succumbing to drowsiness and falling asleep.
She jolted awake in the middle of the night to the sound of pouring rain outside.
Perhaps the window lattice hadn’t been closed properly before sleep, as a few cool rain threads slanted onto her cheek.
Xin Yi frowned drowsily in her sleep and finally unwillingly opened her eyes.
In the corner of her vision, she glimpsed a figure standing silently by the bed, staring at her. It scared her nearly into a scream.
Fortunately, a bolt of lightning flashed, allowing her to make out the face.
Xin Yi’s chest heaved slightly in fright, her heart still pounding. “Why did you come over in the middle of the night without making a sound? You nearly scared me to death, you know!”
The youth seemed thoroughly soaked, water dripping from his wet black hair tips and robe cuffs.
His face was pale and indifferent, but his lips were vividly red, making him look even more like a seductive ghost draped in human skin. He stared at her for a long time before asking, “Do you love me?”
Xin Yi: “L-love…”
Her intuition told her she absolutely had to say yes at this moment. Tonight’s Xie Shuo was too abnormal, everything about him exuding an eerie vibe.
Who would have thought
Her snow-white bosom heaved ceaselessly beneath the disheveled collar as she slept.
The youth showed no particular reaction. Instead, he held a pink gu insect in his hand and told her, “Eat this, and you will become a human gu.”
He smiled as he explained, “From then on, you will have no thoughts, no will to resist. You can only obey me and stay by my side.”
Only then did Xin Yi grow afraid. Her body stiffened instinctively.
She gazed at him with eyes filled with fear: ‘No way, her favorability hadn’t been maxed out yet!’
Just as she finally couldn’t hold back anymore and was about to show weakness, coquettishly begging and crying to him—
She suddenly heard the youth’s cold and desolate words by her ear. “Let’s get married.”
“……”
Xin Yi suspected she had misheard. Who proposed to a girl while pinching a gu insect?
It was not until the youth said it again: “Let’s get married. As soon as possible.”
Xin Yi blankly pursed her red lips. She looked at him, then at the pink gu insect pinched in his hand.
At this point, did she have any room to refuse?