She actually had no intention of bringing the Prince of Nan'an to Huaicheng. If they were brought there, Aunt Su's New Year would likely not be a pleasant one.
Even though they didn't care about the Prince of Nan'an, how could an ordinary family celebrate the New Year as if nothing were happening when a prince visited?
Therefore, no matter what, she would not bring this group of people to Huaicheng. But if not Huaicheng, then where?
Qingyao hesitated for a moment, then finally spoke with a serene expression and a smile.
"We'll spend the New Year here in Fufeng City."
"Ah," the two maids were a little startled. They didn't mind, but they felt uneasy about their mistress spending the New Year outdoors. "Does the mistress not want the Prince of Nan'an to go to Huaicheng, fearing she might disturb Concubine Su Ge and ruin their New Year?"
Qingyao nodded and said no more, closing her eyes.
The carriage slowly made its way towards the most prosperous street in Fufeng City.
These days, they had been staying in the best inns and eating the most delicious food. Since it wasn't their own money, they didn't have to worry about being recognized, because the people they wanted to avoid were now following them like persistent pests.
In Fufeng City, the most luxurious inn was still the Dengqing Tower. The inn had four floors, combining dining, accommodation, and leisure. It was a place where one could spend extravagantly, frequented by high-ranking officials, nobles, and wealthy merchants of Fufeng City. It was not a place that ordinary people could afford.
Even so, it was still bustling with people, with carriages and horses parked in rows, indicating that there were many wealthy people in Fufeng City.
These wealthy people did not care about money. As soon as night fell, they would gather here in groups of three or five, listening to music, gambling, or seeking out women for amusement.
In short, although this was not a place of ill repute, it was still filled with the sounds of singing and laughter, perhaps even more openly than in brothels and pleasure houses.
Mo You followed the flow of people, driving the carriage, and finally stopped in front of the Dengqing Tower.
As soon as the carriage stopped, Qingyao in the carriage opened her eyes, and Mo Chou lifted the curtain to look outside.
She saw a brightly lit inn by the roadside, lanterns hanging high at the entrance, and the air was filled with boisterous chatter and crowds of people coming and going. From time to time, men would pass by with women in their arms.
The subtle fragrance of perfume wafted in, but it was not the cheap scent of makeup, but rather the fragrance of flowers. This indicated that these women, even if they were prostitutes, were likely quite wealthy.
Qingyao frowned. She had always disliked such places and thought they should find another one. Just as she was about to speak, she heard Murong Liu Zhao's cold voice from outside.
"Let's find another place. This seems to be a place frequented by all sorts of people."
Upon hearing his words, Qingyao felt inexplicably annoyed. A place frequented by all sorts of people. Fine, you don't like it, do you? I will insist on staying in such a place, and see what you can do about it.
If you hadn't been pestering us all this time, would we be staying in such places? With that, she raised an eyebrow and spoke with a sharp tone.
"I'm tired. We'll stay at this inn."
"Yes, Mistress," Mo You dismounted the horse. His sun-like, bright eyes were filled with a rosy glow, and a smile adorned his face.
Since meeting the Prince of Nan'an, he had not worn his cloak. His rugged face, like the dawn sky, always drew countless glances. xxs壹贰
Murong Liu Zhao let out a helpless sigh when he heard the indifferent voice from the carriage.
These days, she had been defying him. As long as he didn't speak, her every word would be met with his opposition. Did she know that he was thinking of her and the child in her belly?
Such a place, where all sorts of people gathered, would easily attract trouble. Her outstanding beauty, even disguised as a man, could not hide her peerless elegance.
A vast procession of people gathered in front of the Dengqing Tower. The waiters at the entrance had already noticed them. With eyes that had seen countless people, they knew at a glance that these were wealthy patrons who were not afraid to spend money. Thus, they greeted them with beaming smiles and spoke enthusiastically.
"Sir, are you here to stay or to dine?"
"We're here for both dining and lodging," Mo Chou said, leaping out of the carriage after lifting the curtain. The waiter was stunned for a moment, not expecting such a large group to be taking orders from such a refined-looking maid. He quickly looked at Mo Chou obsequiously.
"How many rooms will so many people need?"
Mo Chou looked at no one behind her and said coldly, "Book all the private rooms on one floor."
"Ah," the waiter was startled. He opened his mouth wide and took in several large mouthfuls of the cold wind, then swallowed with a gulp and shivered several times before coming to his senses.
These people were truly wealthy and powerful. Booking an entire floor would cost a lot of money. His expression changed unpredictably as he scanned the group up and down, then asked cautiously:
"Sir, this will cost a large sum of money, and there are already guests staying in the inn. If you want to book the entire floor, you'll have to move those guests to other rooms and compensate them."
The waiter rambled on. Qingyao, sitting in the carriage, was already annoyed and said coldly, "What is all this nonsense?"
As soon as her voice fell, the Prince of Nan'an, seated high on his horse, swiftly threw a banknote. Although the banknote was thin, it carried a sharp edge and landed squarely in the waiter's hand.
The waiter felt a weight and knew that these people were not to be trifled with. He immediately dared not say anything more. Looking down, he saw it was a 500 tael banknote. His expression flickered with excitement. This was enough to stay for a month. He immediately spoke with great enthusiasm.
"Sir, please, please follow me. I will certainly coordinate everything for you."
Murong Liu Zhao led a long line of guards and dismounted. People immediately came forward to take the horses to the back for care, and then everyone respectfully stood by the carriage.
The waiter's eyes widened curiously as he stared at the carriage, wondering what kind of person was inside to have such great pomp. Even the Prefect of Fufeng City did not have such a grand display.
There were more than a dozen servants accompanying them, indicating that the person inside must be a great figure, or an extremely wealthy one.
Mo Chou lifted the curtain, and Mei Xin alighted from within, standing on the other side and extending her hand, saying softly, "Mistress, please come down."
"Mm," Qingyao responded and slowly alighted from the carriage.
She appeared as graceful as a jade tree, with a rosy complexion and bright teeth. She wore an ice-blue brocade robe, embroidered with a few bamboo stalks on the sleeves and collar, exuding a gentle elegance. Over it, she wore a cloak embroidered with gold and phoenixes.
The golden threads, casually drawn, conveyed an air of dominance. Her cold gaze was chilling, and her dark eyes, when swept over casually, emitted a piercing cold light, making one feel suffocated.
Despite being a strikingly handsome young man, he possessed an aura of majesty that made it difficult to look directly at him.