Chapter 19

Fierce and intimidating.

The last person Stone Meimei wanted to encounter was Qin Xiang Lian. Ever since their divorce, each encounter only intensified her aversion. Now, unavoidably crossing paths, she reluctantly greeted him.

Qin Xiang Lian dismissed his attendants, standing before Stone Meimei with an air of having something to say.

Eunuch Liu tactfully walked ahead, while Xiang Yi remained cautiously by Stone Meimei's side, wary of Qin Xiang Lian.

"How have you been lately?" Qin Xiang Lian asked Stone Meimei.

"Thank you for your concern, General," Stone Meimei nodded politely, "I am well."

"Oh," Qin Xiang Lian raised an eyebrow, his expression somewhat strange. Stone Meimei couldn't decipher his thoughts and, not wishing to probe further, started to walk away with Xiang Yi.

Qin Xiang Lian took a step forward and asked with a smile, "I heard about a conflict in the market with Ming Fu and others a few days ago?"

Stone Meimei paused, realizing why Qin Xiang Lian looked amused. He must have heard about the incident and assumed Bai She visited a brothel, seeking to see her reaction.

Annoyed but unwilling to explain, Stone Meimei simply smiled and dismissed it as a misunderstanding, continuing her walk with Xiang Yi.

Qin Xiang Lian quickly followed, inquiring, "I heard the Fragrance Residence is complete. When will it open?"

Stone Meimei replied, "It's still a while away."

"I also heard Zan Yu and a woman from the jianghu are staying with you?"

Stone Meimei stopped, looked at him with a smile, and teased, "General, your sources are quite accurate."

Qin Xiang Lian appeared momentarily taken aback.

"You've mentioned 'I heard' three times now," Stone Meimei half-jokingly inquired, "From whom does the General hear about me so often?"

Caught off-guard, Qin Xiang Lian awkwardly responded, "It's just concern for you, as you're alone. After all, a day as husband and wife warrants a hundred days of grace," he said, stepping closer with a low chuckle.

Stone Meimei felt like spitting in disgust but restrained herself and politely excused herself from the conversation.

Qin Xiang Lian, however, persisted, following her. "I'll send you some exotic fruits from the south later," he offered.

"No need," Stone Meimei shook her head, feeling annoyed inside.

Qin Xiang Lian found her indifferent attitude intriguing and followed her closely. At the garden gate, he lightly touched her waist, startling Stone Meimei, before he walked away with a smile.

Disturbed by his behavior, Stone Meimei lost all her interest and went to see the Empress Dowager in the palace.

Noticing her sullen expression, the Empress Dowager inquired about her mood.

After Stone Meimei briefly explained, the Empress Dowager chuckled, "He will continue to pester you in the future."

"Why?" Stone Meimei was puzzled.

"Because he regrets it!" the Empress Dowager laughed. "Men always want what they can't have. Just ignore him."

Stone Meimei nodded gloomily, finding Qin Xiang Lian utterly unbearable.

She stayed with the Empress Dowager until evening before saying goodbye. As she and Xiang Yi hurried out of the palace in their carriage, Stone Meimei reached into her waist pocket for her jade hairpin, only to find it missing.

"Eh?" Stone Meimei was startled, searching herself thoroughly, she asked Xiang Yi, "Have you seen my jade hairpin?"

"The jade hairpin?" Xiang Yi blinked, "The one you had just now? Didn't you put it away?"

"I thought I kept it in my pocket... maybe it's lost." Failing to find it in the carriage, Stone Meimei promptly asked Xiao Xi Zi to return to the palace.

Arriving at the palace gates, Stone Meimei and Xiang Yi began retracing their steps, searching meticulously.

"Sister Meimei, it couldn't have been lost. I was right behind you the whole time. If you had dropped something, I surely would have seen it," Xiang Yi reassured her.

Stone Meimei furrowed her brows, standing dazed in place.

As Stone Meimei stood perplexed in front of the palace gates, a patrol of guards approached, all saluting her. Noticing her confusion, the head guard inquired, "Princess, what seems to be the matter?"

"I've lost a black box containing a jade hairpin," Stone Meimei explained.

The head guard immediately organized a search.

Waiting anxiously at the palace entrance, Stone Meimei fretted over how to explain the loss to Bai She.

While worrying, she spotted Qin Xiang Lian approaching on horseback from a distance, waving a black box. "Is this what you lost?" he asked.

Recognizing the box, Stone Meimei hurried over, relieved.

Qin Xiang Lian halted his horse before her and handed her the box.

"Thank you," Stone Meimei uttered, eagerly opening it. To her dismay, it was empty; the hairpin was gone.

"Where's the hairpin?" she asked, looking up at Qin Xiang Lian.

Smiling, Qin Xiang Lian replied, "Oh, I took it out for a moment, and it's still at another residence."

Before Stone Meimei could react, Qin Xiang Lian swiftly pulled her onto the horse, encircling her in his arms. "I'll take you to retrieve it."

Caught off guard, Stone Meimei couldn't utter a word before Qin Xiang Lian steered the horse away at a gallop.

Xiang Yi, reaching the palace gates, saw the scene and started shouting, "Sister Meimei! Sister Meimei!"

The guards also rushed out, and Xiang Yi urged them, "Hurry, chase them! Sister Meimei has been abducted!"

The guards hesitated; with Qin Xiang Lian being a prince, no one dared to pursue.

Frustrated and helpless, Xiang Yi asked the nearby guards, "Does anyone know where they're going?"

A passing eunuch mentioned, "They seem to be heading to some other residence."

Xiang Yi furrowed her brows in thought. Considering that Prince Qin's estate housed both Luan Jing Yi and Ming Fu, and that the west city residence was quieter and less crowded, she quickly decided on her next move.

She swiftly commandeered a horse and mounted it.

Xiao Xi Zi, following her, asked, "Where are you going?"

"Xiao Xi Zi, go back and tell Zan Yue and the others, I'm off to find help!" Xiang Yi responded.

"Who are you seeking?" Xiao Xi Zi barely finished his question before Xiang Yi spurred the horse into a gallop, vanishing from sight.

On the horse, Stone Meimei, uncomfortably seated and slightly frightened, turned to Qin Xiang Lian. "What are you doing?"

Qin Xianglian smiled slightly, "What's there to fear? I'm not going to sell you off."

"Where are we going?" Stone Meimei's nervousness was evident.

"To the other residence," Qin Xiang Lian replied with a smile. "It’s quiet there, a good place for a chat."

"There’s nothing to talk about," Stone Meimei's expression darkened. "I have matters to attend to."

"What matters?" Qin Xiang Lian chuckled. "Is it about your fragrance business?"

"That's none of your concern," Stone Meimei struggled. "Let me down!"

"It's just ahead, not far to the guesthouse," Qin Xianglian tightened his grip, embracing Shimei and steering the horse directly into the guesthouse.

Upon dismounting, Stone Meimei turned to leave, but Qin Xiang Lian swiftly grasped her arm. Seeing her resistance, he decisively scooped her up and carried her towards the rear of the guest house.

"What are you doing!" Stone Meimei was both shocked and annoyed. Qin Xiang Lian coldly laughed, "There's a wound on Chen Ruomei's arm. She stabbed herself with a knife. I want to see if you have one too!"

Stone Meimei turned pale at the thought. How could she possibly have a knife wound on her arm?

"Qin Xiang Lian, dare you behave so outrageously?!" Stone Meimei, forgetting his royal status in her anger, reacted fiercely. Being from a different era, she was unaccustomed to such royal entitlement and found Qin Xiang Lian's actions repulsive.

"Hmm... daring to call me by my name?" Qin Xiang Lian forcefully brought Stone Meimei to the courtyard, threw her onto the couch, and reached to tear her sleeve.

Stone Meimei resisted fiercely, grabbing her sleeve and kicking at Qin Xiang Lian, "Get away from me!"

Qin Xiang Lian found her resistance amusing, "It's just a look at your arm, what are you so nervous about?"

Protecting her sleeve, Stone Meimei retorted, "Prince, behave yourself. Even if I were just an ordinary woman, you have no right to insult me like this."

"Ha," Qin Xiang Lian sneered, pinning her down and gazing at her intensely, "Respect? Insult? What respect do you deserve? Galloping through wild hills with Bai She in the dead of night, and you talk about respect?"

Gritting her teeth, Stone Meimei shot back, "I'm free to go wherever I please, with whomever I choose. What business is it of yours?"

Qin Xianglian's face turned cold and fierce as he said, "Although I'm not the Emperor, I'm only a step below him. An Emperor's discarded woman is sent to the cold palace, beyond the reach of others, and it's the same with my women! Just because I don't want them doesn't mean others can have them! Remember who you once belonged to, and don't throw yourself at every man you see."

Stone Meimei felt her blood boil and slapped Qin Xiang Lian, "Stop bringing up the past. You were never worthy of Chen Ruomei's sincerity."

Qin Xiang Lian's eyes narrowed, touching the spot where Stone Meimei had hit him, his gaze turning dangerous, "I notice you always refer to Chen Ruomei in the third person, never using 'I'."

Stone Meimei's expression flickered, and Qin Xiang Lian laughed triumphantly, "So you truly aren't Chen Ruomei?"

Stone Meimei paled, dizzy and unsure how to respond to this unexpected turn.

Suddenly, they heard a ripping sound.

Startled, Stone Meimei felt a chill on her arm. Qin Xiang Lian had taken advantage of her distraction and ripped open her sleeve. Indeed, her arm was smooth and unblemished, without even the slightest scar, let alone a knife wound.

Satisfied, Qin Xiang Lian released Stone Meimei and looked down at her with a sense of superiority, “Who exactly are you? The existence of the scar is known even to the Empress Dowager. What if I bring you to her and claim you’re an imposter, posing as Chen Ruomei, while the real one has been harmed by you? Can you imagine the consequences?”

Stone Meimei was initially panicked, but quickly regained her composure. She coldly replied, “Aren’t you aware that I am the renowned Perfume Empress? I have ways to remove scars. It’s none of your business. What if I complain to the Empress Dowager that you forcefully brought me here and tore off my sleeve? Let’s see who she believes!”

Qin Xiang Lian laughed, not angered but amused, “I like this spirit of yours. You’re not as fierce as Chen Ruomei, but far smarter and more charming.” He lightly lifted her chin.

Stone Meimei slapped his hand away, “You’re not worthy to judge Ruomei!”

Qin Xiang Lian smiled slyly, “There’s another way to find out if you’re Chen Ruomei.”

Stone Meimei paused as Qin Xiang Lian leaned down and retrieved a white porcelain jar and a brush from below the table. Tapping the jar with the brush, he revealed, “I recently acquired a zhugong, fed with cinnabar for years and now ground to powder.” He dipped the brush in the red liquid and said, “Chen Ruomei and I were husband and wife, meaning she was no longer a virgin.”

Stone Meimei’s face paled, and she stepped back.

“I’ve seen many women. I can tell a virgin at a glance.” He reached for her arm, “Let’s try the zhugong test. I suspect you're still untouched, something perfume can’t explain, right?”

Horrified, Stone Meimei tried to flee, but Qin Xiang Lian caught her in just two steps. He held her arm, preparing to apply the zhugong on her delicate inner forearm.

Stone Meimei, realizing her plight, knew that once marked by zhugong, it’s indelible unless...

Just then, a calm voice intervened, “What if it's applied?”

Stone Meimei recognized the familiar voice.

Qin Xiang Lian frowned, unaware of anyone’s presence, and couldn’t pinpoint the voice’s direction. Surprised by the intrusion and the negligence of his guards, he turned around, only to hear someone behind Stone Meimei, “Even if marked, there are ways to remove it, aren’t there?”

Stone Meimei turned to see Bai She, his handsome face close, whispering in her ear, “I know how to remove it. Let him apply it, and I’ll take care of it later.”

Stone Meimei blushed deeply…