"If you're going to accompany me to Ninghe, I suggest you bring more people."
Xu Hengyan certainly didn't believe that the young master of the Lan Yong Xie clan would come alone to the center of power in Da Yu to navigate matters. It was likely just that she disliked having followers in her daily life.
"I know you've always been bold, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Lu Xuan and his son hate you to the bone; it's hard to say what they might do."
It wasn't impossible for them to want to drag her down with them. Xu Hengyan feared she would be overconfident and act recklessly.
Unexpectedly, Xie Jiang readily agreed, "You're right. I'll listen to you."
Speaking of which, Xie Jiang suddenly remembered, "If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten. I still owe you five thousand taels of silver. I'll go to Chun Se Man Yuan later and give you the money."
Was he here to urge her to exchange money? Xu Hengyan couldn't help but laugh in annoyance, "Write a letter and have Guang Bai make a trip. Aren't you tired after a day out?"
Still thinking about going to Chun Se Man Yuan! Such a young age…
Xu Hengyan didn't know what to say to her.
Guang Bai: ╰(*°▽°*)╯ Ordered to visit Chun Se Man Yuan?
Xie Jiang honestly replied, "I was a bit tired originally, but as soon as I thought about going to Chun Se Man Yuan, I wasn't tired anymore."
"Yan Yan, why don't you come with me?" Xie Jiang extended a sincere invitation.
Xu Hengyan reflexively glanced behind him.
Didn't she only call him that when it was just the two of them?
Guang Bai clearly heard it and was startled, then quickly lowered his head. He hadn't heard anything.
Xie Jiang followed his gaze, glancing at Guang Bai with a confused frown. Who was Guang Bai? Just a shadow. Who would be so bored as to guard against their own shadow?
Xu Hengyan was speechless.
Guang Bai silently nodded in his heart. Yes, yes, he was just a shadow. No need to pay attention to him.
But he couldn't help himself. What did Young Master Xie call His Highness? Yan Yan?
Guang Bai's skin crawled.
What exactly happened between His Highness and Young Master Xie?
It was too strange!
Xie Jiang looked very expectant, "The food at Chun Se Man Yuan is delicious. Let's go have dinner together and invite Xu Hengyi too, so he won't complain about us not taking him."
Xu Hengyan refused without a second thought and even wanted to dissuade Xie Jiang from going out to have fun, "Didn't you train the two cooks in my courtyard quite well? We can just eat at Shi An Yuan. You don't need to force yourself to travel all the way there."
"How can you say I'm forcing myself? I'm not forcing myself at all. Let's just have a meal together, and then we can stroll around. You're already twenty-two; it's time you broadened your horizons."
"I need to broaden *this* kind of horizon?" What a good place, and he still had to go there to broaden his horizons!
"Why not? If your political opponents use honey traps, you won't be easily seduced if you have experience."
Guang Bai listened silently and found it surprisingly reasonable.
But…
"I encountered such situations long ago. Although I didn't have the experience you're referring to, fortunately, I was never seduced." Honey traps don't work on all men. Xu Hengyan felt his self-control was sufficient to handle it.
Xie Jiang asked curiously, "Was the beauty not beautiful?"
Xu Hengyan didn't have much of an impression, but anyone sent to him couldn't have been ordinary in appearance.
Xie Jiang's expression was peculiar, "You... you can't be impotent, can you?"
Xu Hengyan gave her a chilling glance.
Xie Jiang immediately changed her tune, "Okay, I understand! I get it! Yan Yan is very capable! Yan Yan is the best! Yan Yan..."
Xu Hengyan had already walked far ahead, too lazy to bother with her.
"Yan Yan—"
Xie Jiang cheerfully chased after him.
"It's so tiring to always put on airs as the Duke of Wei's heir. You should relax occasionally and balance work with rest. I'm just asking you to enjoy yourself at Chun Se Man Yuan, not to find women to sleep with..."
"However, if you were willing to find women to sleep with, Madam Xu would definitely be grateful to me. Your whole family would be grateful to me..."
"I have no interest in what you're saying. I won't go." Wine, women, wealth, and anger – what good do they bring besides eroding one's will?
"Really not going?"
"Not going."
With this free time, he might as well read a couple more official documents.
Xu Hengyan walked faster and faster, truly afraid she would speak without restraint and say something that would break his composure.
"Then you'll let me go alone?"
How could Xu Hengyan escape Xie Jiang? Even if he could fly, Xie Jiang could soar alongside him.
"Didn't I ask your third brother to accompany you?"
With her beauty, whether male or female, upon entering a place of pleasure, it was bound to cause trouble.
With Xu Hengyi accompanying her, some people would have to think twice if they saw them.
"Aren't you worried about Xu Hengyi being corrupted?"
Xu Hengyan finally stopped and stared at her, "Didn't you say we were just going for dinner?"
Xie Jiang said righteously, "We need to digest after dinner too."
Xu Hengyan drew a line for them directly, "At most, you can watch singing and dancing and listen to some music. No drinking, and no fighting with anyone."
"What if someone bullies me, and I can't fight back?" As if she had already been bullied, Xie Jiang immediately looked aggrieved.
"In short, no fooling around, no misbehaving. I believe you have good judgment." Xu Hengyan's gaze towards her was full of trust.
"..." Xu Hengyan was learning to manipulate her!
Xie Jiang waved goodbye to him and happily went to find Xu Hengyi.
Watching her receding back, Xu Hengyan shook his head helplessly, then ordered Guang Bai to arrange escorts for them and told Xu Hengyi to keep an eye on her.
Xu Hengyi didn't expect happiness to come so suddenly.
He could actually go to Chun Se Man Yuan?!
Second Brother agreed to let him go!
Now, even if Grandmother and Mother found out, they wouldn't say anything!
Although the task Second Brother gave him was a bit difficult, how many eyes did he have to keep track of Xie Jiang?
Besides, this wasn't Xie Jiang's first time at Chun Se Man Yuan. She went with the Fifth Prince before and nothing happened. There was no reason why Xie Jiang would cause trouble when going out with him.
Xu Hengyi, overjoyed, asked Yi Shan and Yi Shui to pick out his attire.
He couldn't appear timid.
He couldn't let people see that this was his first time in such a place.
Xie Jiang kicked Xu Hengyi, along with Yi Shan and Yi Shui, out the door.
Is there something wrong with your brain?!
Are you going to receive guests that you need to dress up!
Do you want to put on makeup and clearly mark your price!
Xu Hengyi was furious. He got up from the ground and was about to argue with Xie Jiang. Was he a ball to be kicked around whenever she pleased?
Xie Jiang raised an eyebrow.
A naive sweetie trying to rebel?
She glanced at him and then swaggered away.
Xu Hengyi's anger plummeted rapidly. In a moment, it was completely gone. In the end, he could only try to convince himself not to bother with her.
...
Lan Meng, the madam of Chun Se Man Yuan, personally came out to greet them.
It was one thing for Young Master Xie to have merely used the venue of Chun Se Man Yuan last time.
This time, Young Master Xie was genuinely here to play. Why shouldn't she come out to greet him? It was natural for a madam to greet guests.
As soon as Xu Hengyi entered the pleasure house, his eyes were dazzled.
It was as if he instantly understood the meaning of "indulgence in wine and women, and living in a dreamlike state."
Everything here was so new and strange to Xu Hengyi.
It was as if he had entered paradise from the mortal world, and he felt somewhat lightheaded.
Lan Meng's appearance also refreshed Xu Hengyi's perception of madams.
It was hard to tell Lan Meng's age.
She looked like she was in her early twenties, but people would also believe she was in her thirties.
Most importantly, Lan Meng was incredibly beautiful.