In the grand courtyard of the Junyue Inn, the final performance of the Joyous Troupe was set upon a high and extravagantly decorated stage.
Rumor had it that this show
would surpass previous performances in splendor, drawing not just a packed audience on the ground floor but also dignitaries in the private rooms of the second and third
floors. The price for the best viewing spots on the second floor had skyrocketed to a
thousand taels of silver.
When Jin Xiao Bao made his entrance, all smiles and radiating springtime warmth, it
caused quite the stir.
Firstly, as the sole heir to the wealthiest individual in the South, he demanded nothing but the finest treatment wherever he went. No one wanted to offend such a
major financier. Additionally, the buzz around Suzhou city was that the young master of the Jin family had brought back a woman of unparalleled beauty.
Many had come, driven by curiosity, eager to witness this legendary grace for themselves.
Perhaps it was the public setting, but when Xiao Bao assisted Huai En out of the
carriage, the lack of resistance seemed to fill him with an unparalleled joy.
Surrounded by the admiring and flattering crowd, Xiao Bao strutted around, flaunting Huai En as if she were his wife.
Huai En's face, hidden beneath a veil of white silk, remained a blur, revealing only the vague outlines of her features.
Yet, even this obscured view of her exquisite silhouette and superior demeanor was enough to captivate all those present.
(T/N lol "she". We're switching pronouns here back and forth because he thinks huai en is a girl, so sees him as a she. Can't wait until he finds out otherwise XD)
He observed Xiao Bao's graceless antics with a detached coolness while his senses semained sharply attuned to their surroundings.
Suddenly, he felt a prickling sensation all over, a warning of impending danger.
Lifting his gaze, he locked eyes with a pair of narrow, icy stares bearing down on him from above.
Zong Zhengli Han!
Without betraying any alarm, Huai En subtly lowered his head. He grabbed Xiao Bao, who was still obliviously bragging to the bystanders, and hissed, "Let's go inside."
The casual force Huai En exerted was enough to nearly wring a cry of pain from xiao Bao, who silently lamented the likely bruising on his arm. Yet, considering it was the first time the beauty had initiated contact, and he could catch the faint, intoxicating scent of her, he felt it was an occasion worth celebrating with fireworks.
No matter the pain, he was determined not to show weakness, unwilling to let the
beauty perceive him as frail.
If Huai En knew of his current thoughts, he would be utterly astounded at the extent of Xiao Bao's lustful recklessness.
Xiao Bao led the way eagerly, their passage stirring whispers and excitement among the crowd. Everyone was curious about the true face of the stunning beauty rumored
to have caught the eye of Jin's young master.
However, their anticipation turned to disappointment upon seeing only the veiled enigma.
Xiao Bao basked in pride, having earned himself considerable face.
Whenever the young master Jin made a public appearance, having a beauty by his side was expected. With wealth at his disposal, he could afford to parade around with the most sought-after courtesans from every brothel in Suzhou city if he wished. Yet, this time, the beauty accompanying him was shrouded in mystery, a stark contrast to his usual flamboyance.
Nobody knew the origins of this enchanting woman, not her name or how she came to be acquainted with Jin's young master. Those who had glimpsed her true appearance within the inn were utterly astounded, speaking of her beauty as if it were beyond the pale of human comprehension.
No amount of poetic praise seemed enough to encapsulate her allure. The mysterious, ravishing beauty sparked insatiablecuriosity.
Thus, Xiao Bao reveled in the envious and admiring glances along the way, nearly giddy with joy.
Once inside the private room, with the door firmly shut, they were finally insulated from all the malevolent stares.
Huai En settled on a luxuriously spacious lounge chair by the window, motionless, as if absorbed in some observation.
Xiao Bao tiptoed to the side of the lounge chair, cautiously inching closer. Seeing no reaction from Huai En, he gingerly seated himself, pausing for a few seconds to ensure he wouldn't be ejected. Finding himself undisturbed, he finally relaxed and settled in comfortably.
Fortunately, the lounge chair was spacious enough to accommodate Xiao Bao's
frame without encroaching on Huai En's space. He was well aware of the consequences of getting too close; being thrown out of a second-floor window was no laughing matter. While it might not kill him, the blow to his reputation in Suzhou would be irreparable. With this in mind, Xiao Bao suppressed the urge to inch closer to the beauty beside him.
The performance began promptly, with the stage alive with the sound of gongs and
drums and the audience responding with thunderous applause. Yet, the two
individuals in the room were distracted, their minds elsewhere.
Xiao Bao was preoccupied, having already seen the show with his family. Sitting next to the object of his affection, he found the sculpted profile of Huai En more captivating than any play. How could he focus on the performance?
Huai En, on the other hand, kept a watchful eye on Prince Shen, their glances exchanging silent volleys across the void, charged with tension.
He wondered about Zuo Ying's arrangements. With his injuries not yet fully healed, it would be impossible to emerge unscathed without them. And there were plans yet to unfold, plans that could be jeopardized if Xiao Bao were to discover his true identity...
"Miss Zheng, are you enjoying the show?"
Huai En seemed to regard him as if he were not there, his gaze wandering to the heavens, utterly unresponsive to Xiao Bao's question.
Expecting as much, Xiao Bao wisely chose to remain silent, contenting himself with stolen glances at the beauty's profile.
"The beauty is perfect in every way, except for the overly thick layer of powder...
Without so much makeup, her skin must be as smooth and flawless as jade. Why the need for such heavy makeup?"
Xiao Bao scrutinized Huai En closely. Under normal circumstances, such an intense
gaze would have earned him a swift kick, but fortune seemed to favor him this time.
After a while, he noticed Huai En's gaze occasionally drifting toward a specific direction.
Following the direction of Huai En's gaze...
Prince Shen?!
A man's intuition immediately sounded alarms of crisis.
"Uh... Miss Zheng, you wouldn't happen to be... looking at Prince Shen, would you?"
A sharp glance from Huai En sent shivers down Xiao Bao's spine.
"Miss Zheng, Prince Shen might appear upright and virtuous, but he's actually a notorious womanizer. His household is filled with wives and concubines, and he frequents brothels and taverns, preying on beauties who lose their way. Don't be
deceived by his heroic and composed appearance."
Huai En internally scoffed, finding the description ironically fitting Xiao Bao himself more than anyone.
Seeing Huai En's lack of reaction, Xiao Bao grew even more anxious.
In truth, everything he said was embellished with rumors and hearsay from the streets. He'd grabbed at anything he remembered, desperate to dissuade Huai En from any interest in Prince Shen.
Indeed, Xiao Bao's fear was fueled by street gossip, which he exaggerated in a bid to protect his interests. Prince Shen, despite being well into his middle years, maintained an air of debonair charm and rugged handsomeness. His dedication to martial arts left him in peak physical condition, far surpassing Xiao Bao in stature
and, not to mention, status.
As a prince with vast lands and considerable power,deeply trusted by the emperor, and known for his romantic escapades, Prince Shen
presented a formidable rival.
Xiao Bao's anxiety was understandable; after all, he
regarded Huai En as his wife.
Huai En's indifferent glance only heightened Xiao Bao's urgency.
Driven by desperation, Xiao Bao steeled his resolve, considering a preemptive move to secure his position.
On such a splendid night, with the flowers in full bloom and the moon at its fullest, and with a beauty by his side, he decided... to confess his love!!!
What else could he do?
He certainly couldn't force her; after all, Huai En could crush him with just a flick of her finger.
"Miss Zheng, Lord Shen is too old for you, really not suitable. You... you you you... Look at me, would you?" Xiao Bao, always simple-minded, got so excited that he didn't think about the consequences and grabbed Huai En by the shoulders.
Huai En's hand had already formed a claw, ready to grab Xiao Bao's throat, but then
she suddenly caught someone else's gaze and slowly let go, her icy stare fixed on Xiao Bao, "Let go."
"Miss Zheng... I... I like you... I really like you." Xiao Bao thought about how he used to sweet-talk girls shamelessly, never feeling this nervous before. Those flippant and boastful words used to come so easily to him. How could it be that at this critical moment, he was so useless, unable to utter a single coherent sentence?
He genuinely liked Huai En, not just because she was beautiful, but also because she was exceptionally difficult to conquer. This challenge ignited a perverse desire for conquest in him. He dreamed of winning Huai En over, of making this ice-cold beauty submit to him. The mere thought filled him with a sense of achievement and made his blood boil.
Sadly, at that time, Xiao Bao truly believed that this intense feeling, stronger than what he had felt for any beauty before, was real love. He indulged in this so-called "true love," and by the time he gained clarity and looked back on those feelings, it was too late.
He had truly fallen in love. The hardships and suffering he endured during that period only intensified his feelings for Huai En, whether it was love or hate.
Huai En, on the other hand, felt nothing but utter disgust for the man before him. If it weren't for his worldly experience, he wouldn't have known the world could harbor such shameless creatures.
To be vulgar and incompetent was one thing, but his skin was as thick as a city wall, boasting and lewd. If this man hadn't been the young master of the Jin family, he would have slapped him to death the first time he saw him being chased.
He had secretly resolved that once the deed was done, he would cut off the hands,
tongue, and eyes of this despicable man for offending him, and then throw him into
the mountains to feed the wolves.
Little did Xiao Bao know of the malevolent thoughts brewing in the mind of the beauty before him. He found even her angry expressions enchanting, which only solidified his resolve to marry no one but her in this lifetime.
Even a fool could see that the beauty did not fancy him, but he believed all beauties were naturally reserved, arrogant, and difficult to please. Especially one with such an ethereal beauty, unparalleled in grace and allure. He was determined to shower her with extra care and affection, to show her his sincere and earnest love. He believed that persistence pays off, and one day, he would move heaven and earth, successfully
winning her heart to bask in the river of love together.
At that moment, he looked at her with hopeful eyes, thinking that as long as she did not reject him outright, it counted as a half success. And even if she did refuse, what's the worst that could happen? He'd be back where he started, ready to doggedly pursue her again. Jin Xiao Bao prided himself on nothing if not his patience with
beauties.
Huai En's voice, cold and laced with unmistakable impatience, cut through the air,
"Let go."
Xiao Bao could feel the icy glares slicing through him mercilessly, his heightened
sense of danger ringing alarm bells. He knew if he didn't let go now, he wouldn't be able to leave unscathed today.
Getting beaten up and ending up disabled for the sake of watching a drama was far from worth it.
Recognizing the situation, he promptly withdrew his hand, looking somewhat wronged at Huai En, silently praying that he and King Shen wouldn't take a liking to each other.
If the King desired this person, all the wealth in the world wouldn't enable him to compete.
As the two harbored their respective thoughts until the end, Xiao Bao eagerly
supported Huai En towards the carriage, hoping to escape King Shen's presence as swiftly as possible.
"Master Jin," came a refined and unhurried voice from behind, its calm yet resonant tone making a statement.