Lin Xiao saw Wang Luheng off and returned to the front courtyard to find Xiao Wangye sitting in the main seat. He looked at the courtesan kneeling below the hall, took a sip of tea, and pursed his lips. "May I ask your surname and given name, girl?"
The courtesan looked up at him tremblingly. "It's been a long time since anyone asked me my name. I... this servant’s surname is Hua."
Xiao Wangye paused and put down his teacup. "Hua? That is indeed a rare surname."
The courtesan shrank back, sensing his disbelief. "You treat me with courtesy, and this servant should not deceive you. Hua is indeed my family surname."
Xiao Wangye straightened up, his tone grave. "Hua is indeed a rare surname. It's not one we have in our Chen Kingdom. But there is a country where the prime minister bore the surname Hua." As he spoke, he saw the courtesan’s head snap up.
Xiao Wangye understood. It seemed she had realized her origins. "When I was young, I visited there and was even lectured by that prime minister."
The courtesan gradually relaxed. Hearing his words, she chuckled. "My father was a stern but amusing old man." She looked directly at Xiao Wangye. "You must have guessed by now that I am that prime minister's daughter!"
The Kingdom of Ning was a country with an area of 103,290 square meters, situated between the two great powers of Chen and Shu. It was an incredibly small country, with a population of only about twenty million. It could not compare with the Kingdom of Chen at all. However, to go to Shu, one naturally had to pass through Ning, as it was the only route.
But the king of that country was an interesting character.
Considering himself the king of a great nation, he actually forbade merchant caravans from passing through his country's borders. Instead, he dispatched soldiers to attack the caravans, resulting in heavy casualties.
This was merely due to lax oversight from other nations. However, the Emperor of Ning directly detained an envoy from Shu to Chen and publicly executed them.
This truly enraged both Shu and Chen. Chen had not yet dispatched troops, but Shu, having lost its envoy, could not swallow such an insult. With the speed of covering one's ears while stealing a bell, Shu annihilated Ning in just two days.
A country's emperor, fueled by his own fantasies, caused his people to become displaced and destitute. Truly, a fine example!
Xiao Wangye sat in the hall, looking down at her. "So, you became displaced and ended up in Chen?"
The courtesan nodded. "Yes. Shu harbored resentment towards my king for killing their envoy, and as the prime minister's daughter, they would certainly not accept me. I had no choice but to come to Chen to seek a living. I never expected... *sob sob*..."
Xiao Wangye said nothing, but he knew she had not expected to be bought by a brothel, made into a courtesan, and have her purity taken by someone like that.
She was clearly a heavenly jewel, yet she had fallen into the mire, becoming a figure of the wind and dust, unable to escape the mud.
Xiao Wangye had seen her confident demeanor. Seeing her like this, he felt a pang of pity. "Enough. Stay at the Regent's manor for now and think about your future path!"
The courtesan understood, realizing the prince was giving her an opportunity.
Lin Xiao led the courtesan away.
On the way, they encountered Ye Qingcheng.
It turned out that Ye Qingcheng, annoyed by Bi Xi, had slowly gotten up, washed, and slowly walked towards the front courtyard. She met Lin Xiao on the way and saw a beauty as lovely as a celestial being behind him.
Ye Qingcheng had a habit from her modern life: seeing a beautiful woman, she couldn't help but go up and greet her.
There was no helping it! Who could bear to see a beauty as pitiable as a wilting flower in tears?
Ye Qingcheng stepped forward and stopped Lin Xiao. "Hey~ Lin Xiao, who is this little sister?"
The courtesan shyly stepped back, which only increased Ye Qingcheng's compassion. "Lin Xiao, who is this?"
Lin Xiao seemed to have a sudden realization. "That's right! What is your name, girl?"
The courtesan trembled and said, "This servant's name is Hua Yue'er."
Ye Qingcheng noticed a word: "servant?" "Could you be... a Ji?"
Upon hearing this, Hua Yue'er immediately knelt and kowtowed. "Princess Consort, this servant did not mean to. This servant was also forced!"
Ye Qingcheng was utterly confused. She pointed at Hua Yue'er and asked Lin Xiao, "What is going on?"
Lin Xiao shook his head and sighed. "She is a courtesan sent by an official."
Ye Qingcheng raised an eyebrow. A courtesan?
Ye Qingcheng then looked at her carefully. She was wearing a bandeau dress and trousers, but the rest of her was exposed. Her body was also covered in bruises and contusions, looking particularly gruesome. Feeling unable to bear it, she instructed Bi Xi, "Go and get me that outer robe."
Bi Xi was startled, understanding her meaning, but she disagreed with the Princess Consort's actions. This was a courtesan sent to the Prince! Moreover, the Princess Consort was currently not favored. If this courtesan had any other intentions, the Princess Consort's position would be even more precarious!
Seeing Bi Xi standing still, Ye Qingcheng became annoyed. " Hurry up!"
Bi Xi hesitated, looking at the Princess Consort, but still went.
A moment later, Bi Xi returned with the outer robe. She watched as the Princess Consort draped it over the courtesan. "You've been trembling this whole time; you must be cold. Put this on to warm yourself." She didn't overstate things, giving the courtesan plenty of face.
The courtesan understood that her body was too revealing. Her eyes filled with gratitude as she looked at the Princess Consort, thanked her, put on the outer robe, and followed Lin Xiao away.
Ye Qingcheng strode into the front hall, looking around. She didn't see anyone, which was fine. She was already a little tired from walking. She found a chair and sat down.
Xiao Wangye sat in the main seat in the hall, drinking hot tea, his tone somewhat cold. "Why are you only coming now? Everyone has already left."
Ye Qingcheng said carelessly, "Oh!"
Xiao Wangye sighed. "I hope you can still remember your status."
Ye Qingcheng gave him a flirtatious look. "I heard someone sent you a courtesan!"
Xiao Wangye's hand paused as he drank his tea. "Didn't you already know when you arrived?" And you even gave her an outer robe.
Hearing his tone, Ye Qingcheng felt as if she had done something terribly wrong. It shouldn't be like this! It was Xiao Wangye, he shouldn't have such a tone! Could it be...? "Xiao Wangye, you, you're not jealous, are you!"
Xiao Wangye choked, and in his embarrassment, he slammed the cup heavily onto the table. "What are you talking about? How could this prince be jealous? If you want to imagine things, at least imagine something realistic!"
Ye Qingcheng gazed at him with deep eyes, as if trying to see through him. Suddenly, she felt bored and got up to leave. "Oh, Xiao Wangye, I was just saying it casually. Seeing how flustered you are, I won't disturb you any longer. I'll be going now."
Watching her retreating figure, Xiao Wangye pursed his lips and pondered to himself.
On the way back, Bi Xi, who had been holding back, finally voiced her question about the courtesan. "Princess Consort, why were you so kind to the courtesan? She was sent to the Prince by someone else!"
Ye Qingcheng turned to look at her and tapped her forehead. "What is your little head thinking about all day?"