Chapter Sixteen

"Miss Liu was as clever as ice and snow. One hint, and she understood."

"...Then I'm sorry to have troubled Lord Prime Minister to spare my dignity instead of denouncing me as filthy in front of everyone." Liu Rongrong sneered. She had known that when this conservative old fox broke with all precedent and sent an invitation to Chunfen Pavilion, asking her to play at his birthday celebration, no good would come of it. At the banquet, he had left her standing to one side. He had neither let her play nor offered her a seat, only made her silently endure everyone pointing and whispering. He wanted to remind her of her place: she was no longer a minister's daughter, merely a courtesan who came whenever she was summoned. Wasn't that it? Hmph...

"Since you see things as clearly as a polished mirror, Miss Liu, let's open the windows and speak plainly. How much silver will it take for you to sever ties with my wretched son?"

"Lord Prime Minister, you couldn't be so opposed to my seeing your son because... I've interfered with his studies, could you?" If he dared look down on her, she would make sure he suffered for it!

Li Chenjing had remained at Dongxu Mansion through several rounds of promotions, each time excluded by the Emperor from the list of those advancing to the palace. As time went on, speculation spread throughout the court. Everyone wondered what lay behind it. Had the Li Household lost the Emperor's favor? Was it time for someone else to take the prime minister's seat? By now, Lord Prime Minister must be growing restless and uneasy.

But what did that have to do with her? She might indeed be the Little Courtesan of the Capital's Pink Pavilion, expected to come at anyone's beck and call, but she was determined to prove to Lord Prime Minister that his son had even less promise than she did. He was perfectly willing to come when this despised little courtesan called and leave when she dismissed him!

"Lord Prime Minister, forgive me, but I can't oblige. You see... I can't bear to leave Chen Jing." With sweet words, a lovely smile, and a natural allure in her bones, she picked up her zither stand and turned to glide away. Several guards burst through the door and blocked her path. She wheeled around and glared.

"Lord Prime Minister, what is the meaning of this?"

"If you won't listen to advice, Miss Liu, then this Uncle Li can only apologize for his poor hospitality. Men. Take Miss Liu away."

When persuasion failed, he resorted to force. Did he mean to kill her to silence her? Well played, Li Xiangfan, prime minister of this realm.

"Lord Prime Minister, what I sell are my smiles and my skill. Anyone under heaven can be my patron, whether he's a noble wastrel or a prince's son. If he's willing to pay a fortune for one of my smiles, I have no reason to turn him away because of whose son he is. My doors are open for business. Your son was kind enough to patronize me and buy my smiles. A man and woman enjoying each other's company is only natural when both are willing. If you intend to arrest me, tell me which law I've broken."

"You want to speak of what's right and reasonable, Miss Liu? Then Young Master Piao is my reason."

"..."

"Entangling yourself with my wretched son is hardly worth mentioning. But with your lowly standing, if you have anything at all to do with Young Master Piao, even the slightest connection, I can petition the court to take your head for 'bewitching the Emperor and endangering his imperial person'!"

"You wouldn't dare! He would never allow you to—"

"If you wish to test how much weight my words carry at court and with the Emperor, Miss Liu, be my guest!" Prime Minister Li cut her off.

Author's note:

The last two chapters were locked, and I finally got them unlocked. QAQ To make up for it, there are two updates today~~~ I'll probably spend all day on the road, though, so I'll have to disappear. Updates will continue tomorrow. Whenever Liu Rongrong appears, she brings the drama~~

Chapter Sixteen

Liu Rongrong drew a deep breath. As though someone had seized her weak spot, her lips trembled and she dared say no more. Every side of the study was lined with gifts from the palace: century-old ginseng, thousand-year-old Lingzhi, a birthday Ruyi scepter, and a painting of pines and cypresses bearing birthday wishes written in the Holy Emperor's own hand. Each proclaimed Lord Prime Minister's exalted, exceptional standing. He was not merely prime minister under two reigns. When the late emperor died without a son, and the throne was to pass from elder brother to younger, he had personally chosen the current Holy Emperor from among the little princes born to the late emperor's younger brothers. He had then helped him ascend the throne smoothly, becoming the foremost power at court. He had, in effect, bestowed the Dragon Throne and the imperial crown upon the Holy Emperor. His influence was plain to see. How could she compare...

"Have you thought it through now, Miss Liu? When will you stop clinging to my son and stay away from him?"

"..."

"Never mind. If you can't decide, take your time. Men. Escort Miss Liu away to rest."

"Yes, Master!" The guards bowed their heads and accepted the order. Without another word, they blocked Liu Rongrong, roughly snatched the zither stand from her hands, and shoved her toward the study door.

"Move, move! Hurry up! What are you dawdling for?"

"Don't touch my zither stand! How can rough men like you put your hands all over it?"

"What are you so proud of? You're just a woman in gaudy silks who plays a few little tunes and happens to be passably pretty! You've painted your face like a fox spirit, and you still dare jeopardize our Young Master's career!"

"You!"

"What are you glaring at? Oh, don't like hearing it? If Master weren't so kindhearted, we'd have dragged you to a ditch and done away with you already, according to the rules of our Young Master Support Society! Enjoy hiding away in the woodshed these next few days. Once our Support Society President returns from his errand outside the Capital, heh, heh, heh! He'll deal with you properly." The guard shoved and dragged her along, as though he wished he could kick her straight into the woodshed.

"...Don't touch me. I can walk!" Liu Rongrong swept her long sleeves aside and strode angrily through the doorway. Her foot had barely touched the ground when she collided head-on with a chest carrying a faint, delicate fragrance. That familiar scent instantly lifted her rosebud lips into a smug curve. The guards urged her on from behind, but she said nothing. Instead, she raised a face full of sorrow to the person before her and let those brutes keep shoving and pulling her about.

"Hey! Why have you stopped? I'm warning you, don't try any tricks... Y-Young Master!?"

The guards, so arrogant a moment before, instantly deflated. Their hands flew off Liu Rongrong. Their elegant, distinguished Young Master had appeared outside the door without their noticing and had seen everything: the way they had bullied a defenseless woman like thugs.