"Oh, so the young master Cheng is a recognized expert? Forgive my rudeness, then," Jun Mo Xie said, his voice suddenly cheerful. "This is our first meeting, and I have yet to show my proper etiquette! Please allow me to correct that."
He leaned forward slightly, eyes locked onto Cheng De Cao's, and raised his voice just a bit, making sure every person in the room heard his next words loud and clear.
"Cheng De Cao… Speaking of family… How's your mother?"
The entire room went still.
The tension cracked like a whip.
Jun Mo Xie had just thrown a direct slap to the face.
Cheng De Cao's face drained of color. Then, just as quickly, it turned a deep, angry red. His fingers twitched, itching to grab the hilt of his sword, but he stopped himself. He was furious—no, humiliated.
His mother? His mother?!
The sheer audacity of this brat!
And yet, he was stuck.
If he responded, if he snapped back, he would be openly challenging the Jun Family—one of the most powerful houses in the empire. His father, his uncles, and his entire family would pay for his loose tongue.
He could only swallow his rage.
The others in the room looked on, some amused, some horrified. The Second Prince, watching the situation spiral into chaos, resisted the urge to bury his face in his hands.
Jun Mo Xie, meanwhile, sat back, utterly relaxed, as if he had just commented on the weather. He even sighed dramatically.
"Ah, what a shame. No reply? I was hoping we'd have a nice little chat, but it seems young master Cheng has suddenly gone mute." He clicked his tongue, shaking his head. "Perhaps next time, you'll think twice before playing with fire."
Cheng De Cao's hands trembled at his sides, his nails digging into his palms. His smile, forced and stiff, barely masked his burning humiliation. He wanted nothing more than to wipe that smirk off Jun Mo Xie's face.
But he couldn't.
He could only laugh awkwardly and force some meaningless words from his throat, pretending that everything was still civil.
Jun Mo Xie grinned, utterly satisfied.
One more fool put in his place.
Just then, a burst of sweet incense filled the atmosphere, and a gentle voice chuckled and said.
"Honorable guests, please allow Yue'er and her sisters to add some fun to your meet."
Then, five or six elegant and graceful women came into the room; all of them were young and all of them were beautiful.
Most of them seemed a bit shy and got scared the moment they saw the infuriated men in front of their eyes.
Just as the women made their entrance, Jun Mo Xie's domineering and arrogant attitude quickly changed, and his eyes readjusted to the women who had just spoken up.
He made no attempts to conceal the perverted intentions of his heart; in fact, his eyes were already exhibiting an abundance of obscenity, while his mouth was hanging open with saliva trickling down from the corners; a long asleep force seemed to have... awakened.
Jun Mo Xie had half accepted the second prince's invitation since it was being held at the Ni Chang Pavilion, which meant that he'd get to meet Lady Yue'er, otherwise, why would he accept the invitation so quickly?
Now that she had actually appeared in front of him, he wouldn't let the opportunity slip by very easily.
He looked like a starving wolf, eyes glued to Lady Yue'er's delicate figure as if he had never seen a woman before. His mouth hung open, his breath heavy, and his entire expression screamed vulgarity. Saliva almost seemed ready to drip from the corner of his lips.
The other men in the room exchanged disgusted glances. Shameless!
What kind of morals does this man have?
Lady Yue'er might be beautiful, but she's still a prostitute; it isn't right to be involved with such a woman.
Is this why the young master Jun is called the biggest debauchee in the city?
The second prince's eyebrows wrinkled; his interest in Lady Yue'er was no secret, and even though Lady Yue'er had read his heart's desire, he had always kept her at an arm's distance; but the second prince's heart nevertheless itched to get closer.
Given his identity and position, he couldn't marry her; in fact, even taking her as a mistress would not suit a man of his position, and so he couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness in keeping his distance from her.
A transparent pearl curtain separated the two sides of the room.
Lady Yue'er gently smiled as he approached from behind the curtain and leisurely sat down. She brought out her lute and started playing it, and suddenly the vulgar environment of the room transformed into a very elegant one.
Food and wine were brought in at the prince's command, and even though the prince constantly kept offering the items to Jun Mo Xie, it seemed that the young master Jun had turned a blind eye to everything, except the body of Lady Yue'er, which he was constantly staring.
The prince and the other men felt disgusted.
Everyone already knew that Jun Mo Xie was a debauchee, but no one had expected that his actions would be this absurd. His reaction to the insult to his family was expected, but no one had ever expected that Jun Mo Xie would act so shamelessly towards women!
But beneath this ridiculous display, a hidden conversation was taking place.
Inside Jun Mo Xie's mind, his voice was calm, smooth, and completely different from his outward appearance.
"Lady Yue'er, forgive me for the act. I must maintain this... image."
Behind the pearl curtain, Yue'er's fingers plucked the strings of her lute, her movements elegant and effortless. But her voice in his mind was soft, laced with a teasing sadness.
"An act? So the great Young Master Jun does not truly desire me?"
Jun Mo Xie blinked. Something in her tone made his heart stir. He had expected a playful response, but instead, there was something… wistful.
"That's not what I meant," He corrected quickly."I cannot let them know the truth. If I act like a fool, they will never take me seriously. And that will be their greatest mistake."
Yue'er chuckled softly, a sound that sent shivers down his spine.
"So you are not, as they say? Not the biggest debauchee in the city?"
Jun Mo Xie smirked outwardly, playing his role perfectly, licking his lips like a greedy beast. But in her mind, he responded with amusement.
"Not exactly. I do enjoy beauty… when it is truly worth admiring."
Yue'er's fingers faltered slightly on the strings.
"Then… am I not worthy of your desire?"
Jun Mo Xie's facial muscles twitched.
This woman...
Before he could reply, her voice grew softer, more vulnerable.
"Young Master Jun, do you know? I have never let a man touch me. No matter how many powerful nobles have tried, no matter how many coins they have offered, I have never allowed it."
Jun Mo Xie's expression didn't change outwardly, but his mind reeled.
She continued, her words like a gentle whisper against his soul.
"But if it were you… I would not refuse."
Jun Mo Xie's fingers twitched slightly. His act wavered for a split second, but he recovered, tilting his head and letting out a low chuckle, keeping up his disgusting appearance for the crowd.
"Oh? Yue'er, are you trying to tempt me?" He teased through their secret link.
Yue'er's laugh was soft, like a feather brushing against his ear.
"Would you refuse me if I were?"
A dangerous glint flashed in Jun Mo Xie's eyes. For the first time that night, he felt the urge to drop his act.
But he couldn't. Not here.
Instead, he played along, eyes devouring her form with exaggerated hunger.
"Careful, Yue'er. I might just really take you up on that offer. After all... I too, get hungry from time to time..."
Behind the curtain, Lady Yue'er plucked another note on her lute, the melody growing more enchanting, her voice in his mind barely above a whisper.
"Then I shall wait, Young Master Jun… and see if you are a man of action… or just words."
Jun Mo Xie exhaled slowly, a smirk tugging at his lips.
'This woman… she really knew his weak spot.'
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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