Zhou Cheng drew his gaze back from the doorway, his expression turning indifferent.
He had asked for an invitation to the poetry gathering not to lend Li Hongcheng prestige, of course, but mostly to join in the fun.
Judging by the date, Fan Xian... should be coming to the Capital soon.
And the poetry gathering Li Hongcheng hosted was an important turning point in the original plot, where Fan Xian made his name.
"Prince Jing's heir claims to be a regular here. I imagine you know him too, Miss Sang Wen?" Zhou Cheng turned to Sang Wen, who stood quietly beside him, and asked.
Sang Wen hurriedly collected herself and answered softly:
"Yes, Your Highness. I have met the heir a few times. I heard... the previous top courtesan won his favor.
"The other girls here sometimes discuss the affairs of noble patrons in their spare time."
She chose her words carefully, not daring to say too much.
Zhou Cheng nodded, his tone casual. "In that case, I imagine you've guessed who I am.
"You heard what I said earlier. You suit my tastes very well, Miss Sang Wen, and you're talented too. I intend to take you into my residence as a concubine. Are you willing?"
At his words, Sang Wen's fingers tightened around her pipa. A faint smile bloomed on her lips, forcibly concealing her bitterness.
"Your Highness is of imperial blood, while I am merely a woman of the pleasure quarters. It is my good fortune to have caught your eye.
"Besides, Your Highness has already asked the heir to buy my freedom. From now on, naturally, I belong to you."
Her voice was gentle, as though every word came from the heart.
Hearing the fleeting negative-emotion notification chime in his ear, Zhou Cheng's expression remained unchanged as he said:
"Then you'll return to my residence with me tonight. If you have any belongings here to collect, tell Chen Quan. He'll arrange for someone to fetch them."
"Thank you for your grace, Your Highness." Sang Wen bowed gracefully, forced delight on her face and bewilderment at her uncertain future in her eyes.
Prince Cheng's reputation... was far from good in the Capital.
But she had no choice...
Zhou Cheng said no more. He picked up the Ivory Folding Fan from the table and rose to leave.
In this era, power made the rules. As someone who benefited from them, he certainly wasn't going to shout about human rights.
His carriage was already waiting downstairs at the Drunken Immortal Residence.
The luxurious carriage stood at the entrance, drawing countless looks of curiosity, awe, and envy from inside and outside the establishment.
Holding the ivory-ribbed folding fan, Zhou Cheng descended the stairs at an unhurried pace. Sang Wen followed closely behind him, carrying her pipa.
As though sensing the gazes converging on her from every direction, she lowered her head slightly and pressed her lips together, clutching the pipa more tightly, as if it were her only support.
Amid the whispers, Zhou Cheng climbed into the carriage first, then offered his hand.
Sang Wen hesitated for a moment before placing her slightly cool hand in his palm and using his support to climb inside.
Soon, the carriage curtain fell, shutting out the world.
The carriage traveled smoothly through the Capital's nighttime streets, its wheels rumbling over the stone paving in a clear, steady rhythm.
Before long, it slowed to a stop.
"Your Highness, we've arrived at the residence," Chen Quan called from outside.
Sang Wen stepped down with Zhou Cheng's hand supporting her and looked up. Beneath the night sky, a magnificent residence stood before her.
Two imposing stone lions guarded the entrance. Lanterns hung high above, clearly illuminating the solemn gilded lettering that read "Prince Cheng's Residence."
Looking at that imposing plaque, Sang Wen felt anxiety and helplessness well up at the unfamiliar surroundings. Outwardly, she could only force herself to remain composed.
"No need to be nervous," Zhou Cheng said beside her, his voice gentle and calm. "For now, no one in this residence ranks above you except me. Spend a few days with me and you'll realize I'm actually quite easy to get along with."
Sang Wen managed a faint smile and followed his lead. "Of course I believe you, Your Highness.
"The manager also said that although Miss Si Lili rejected you so firmly, you did not make things difficult for her. That alone shows your generosity and consideration."
Her words were half flattery, half an attempt to comfort herself.
Zhou Cheng nodded and led her over the high threshold into the residence.
They crossed the front courtyard and followed a covered walkway toward the inner courtyard, the palace lanterns beneath the eaves stretching their shadows long.
Only once no outsiders remained nearby did he suddenly say, "I wouldn't call myself generous. At most, I care a little about saving face. Si Lili used her admiration for poetic talent as an excuse to refuse me and asked me to compose a poem. I couldn't, so I had to let it go."
Sang Wen evidently had not heard this from the manager and was slightly surprised.
She stole a glance at Zhou Cheng's profile, realizing for the first time that the man before her seemed entirely different from the ill-tempered prince of the rumors.
With genuine sincerity, she said, "For a mere top courtesan, Your Highness was willing to take a step back rather than force her. That was already very kind."
Zhou Cheng's steps paused briefly, and he tapped the folding fan in his hand.
"A mere top courtesan? Not quite. Si Lili was a descendant of our Qing Imperial Family. After her branch lost a struggle for power, they fled to Northern Qi.
"Now that she's returned, her identity as a top courtesan is merely a disguise. In truth, she's a Northern Qi spy.
"I have other plans for her, so I took a step back and left a wager in place. For now, I haven't touched her."
"What? A Northern Qi... spy?" Sang Wen's eyes widened in shock. She looked at Zhou Cheng doubtfully, then quickly lowered her head.
Instinctively, she doubted the truth of his words, but she could not voice that doubt.
She could only say bitterly, "Y-Your Highness... how could someone like me be allowed to hear... such secrets...?"
Zhou Cheng seemed utterly unconcerned. He continued forward, waving his folding fan, his tone casual.
"It's only a few trivial matters. There's no harm in telling you.
"There aren't many people in my residence. Since you're with me now, besides attending to me, you can help manage some minor affairs in your spare time." He glanced sideways at her. "Once you've heard and seen enough of certain things, you'll grow used to them and think nothing of it."
His words had barely fallen when a figure hurried toward them from the bend in the walkway ahead.
"Your Highness, you're back." Chen Bao bowed, his gaze sweeping over Sang Wen beside Zhou Cheng before he hesitated.
"What is it? Speak freely," Zhou Cheng said.
Chen Bao clasped his hands again and lowered his voice. "Your Highness, all the information you ordered us to investigate concerning Teng Zijing's Family has been compiled.
"His family consists of only a mother and son. They have now been 'invited' here and settled in the West Wing Side Courtyard, under strict guard."
Beside them, Sang Wen's expression went briefly blank, and she bowed her head deeply.
With talk of investigations and guards, she was hardly naive enough to take that word "invited" as a genuinely courteous invitation.
At that moment, she truly wished she were deaf.
She had only just entered the residence and taken a few steps, yet she had already heard secrets about a Northern Qi spy whose truth she could not verify. Now she had stumbled across the sordid business of abducting people...
For a moment, she wallowed in self-pity, wanting to cry but unable to shed a tear.
She seriously doubted whether she would live long enough to "grow used to" such things...
Chapter 10: Fan Xian Enters the Capital
A moment on a spring night was worth a thousand pieces of gold.
Zhou Cheng would never waste such a lovely evening on other matters.
He had brought Teng Zijing's family to his residence simply to cause Fan Xian trouble and collect some negative emotions, while also making a slight change to the plot.
After instructing Chen Bao to look after them properly, arrange some work for them at the residence, and not mistreat either mother or child, Zhou Cheng led Sang Wen straight back to the Bedchamber.
Inside, flickering candlelight cast his shadow long and slanted. Sang Wen followed half a step behind with her pipa, keeping even her breathing extremely quiet.
Seeing her nervousness, Zhou Cheng found it amusing.
Throughout the journey, Sang Wen had been very quiet. Each time, she had supplied him with only three to five points of negative emotion, but the frequency was astonishingly high.
Clearly, her feelings did not match her outward appearance. She must have had quite a lively inner monologue.
At that thought, he asked directly, "Do you know how to attend to someone in the bath?"
Sang Wen's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she lowered her eyes, afraid to look at him directly.
"I... should know a little."
"Should?" Zhou Cheng echoed, then nodded. "That'll do."
With that, he raised his voice and called for water to be prepared.
He had been busy all day without properly washing, and his body was still covered in Li Yunrui's scent.
Soon, attendants came in one after another, bringing a bathing tub and hot water.
Steam rose in soft clouds, spreading a haze through the candlelight.
"Come!"
Zhou Cheng spread his arms, having Sang Wen put down her pipa and help him undress.
After years in this world, he was not like Fan Xian, who insisted on human rights and equality and doing everything himself. On the contrary, he had long grown accustomed to being served.
Sang Wen obeyed, carefully placing her pipa beside the table. By the time she turned back, the tips of her ears had already flushed crimson.
Pressing her lips together, she stepped forward and reached out to undo his clothes.
When the final outer robe came off, she gathered up his clothing and stood with her head bowed, keeping it firmly lowered and not daring to look up at all.
Zhou Cheng narrowed his eyes as he stepped into the bath. Hot water rose over his shoulders and neck, warmth enveloping his entire body in an instant, and he let out a long, contented breath.
"Come, scrub my back."
He gave another instruction.
Sang Wen answered, looked around, then hung the clothes on a nearby rack with a flushed face. Taking a washcloth, she edged nervously toward the tub.
She timidly reached out, dipped the cloth in the water, and began gently rubbing his firm back muscles.
Steam billowed around her, heating her cheeks. Before her eyes, only the man's long hair and the smooth line of his spine appeared and disappeared through the vapor...
She kept moving mechanically like that. She did not know how much time had passed when, with her mind almost blank, Zhou Cheng suddenly turned around in the water.
Splash!
Water splashed onto her face, almost making her cry out.
"You really have no experience serving anyone." Zhou Cheng shook his head with a laugh. "Who scrubs the same spot the entire time?"
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