Chapter 119: Bound to Succeed

Chapter 119: Bound to Have Her

The guests were all gathered at the front, leaving the back door of the embroidery shop deserted.

The moment 'A Yuan' appeared, Prince Jing spotted her.

"This little beauty has finally arrived!"

Rubbing his hands in anticipation, he stood up, his gaze hungry.

Shen Qiuyu also saw the figure, but though she hadn’t interacted much with A Yuan, she knew her temperament.

This woman was dangerously seductive.

"Your Highness, perhaps you should wait a little longer..."

Shen Qiuyu tried to stop him, but Prince Jing glared at her.

"Wait for what? The prize is already in my grasp—should I let it slip away?"

He had been worried earlier that the crowd at the front would make it difficult to act, but now that she had gone to the backyard, wasn’t this opportunity tailor-made for him?

"Wait half an hour, then bring people to the backyard to 'catch us in the act.' Today, I will make sure that little lady becomes mine!"

After giving his orders, Prince Jing swaggered out.

Shen Qiuyu couldn’t stop him and could only watch helplessly as he entered the backyard of the embroidery shop.

For some reason, her heart hammered in her chest, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

......

In the backyard of the embroidery shop...

The door to the bedroom wasn’t fully closed, and through the crack, one could see the young lady lying sideways on the bed.

The rose-red dress accentuated her slender waist, and the exposed skin was as pale as jade.

And apart from her, there was no one else in the room.

With a lustful grin, Prince Jing pushed the door open and entered. The young lady seemed to be asleep, unaware of his arrival.

"Little beauty, your lord is here to have you!"

With that, he lunged and grabbed the figure. As the top courtesan of the South Wind House, the man’s skin was even more delicate than a woman’s, and his body carried a subtle fragrance. His face was turned inward, and Prince Jing didn’t even realize he had mistaken his target.

"Little beauty, this time you won’t escape."

Prince Jing chuckled lewdly, frantically tugging at the courtesan’s clothes.

"My lord, please slow down... I’m cold."

The courtesan spoke in a coquettish voice, pressing a hand against his underwear to stop him.

Prince Jing thought his resistance was coyness and grew even more aroused.

"What? Now that you’re in my hands, you’re still playing the chaste martyr? Or are you waiting for Wei Xun to save you again?"

Ever since the palace banquet where Wei Xun had laid him out cold, he had held a grudge.

If Wei Xun hadn’t appeared so suddenly that day, he would’ve had her long ago.

The male courtesan had no idea who Wei Xun was, and he boldly took the prince's hand to rest on his own waist.

"My lord, you've misunderstood me. I'm just shy. If you lower the bed curtains, I'll let you do as you please."

His voice was sweet as honey, irresistibly seductive, leaving Prince Jing utterly spellbound. The prince failed to notice how unusually bold "A Yuan" was behaving today.

He squeezed the male courtesan's slender waist, then slid his palm lower, giving his backside a teasing slap. "Fine, I'll indulge you!"

The bed curtains fell, blocking all outside light. The male courtesan wrapped his arms around Prince Jing's neck, and the two tangled together.

......

Shen Qiuyu waited in agony for half an hour at the tavern. No one had entered or left the embroidery house's rear courtyard—everything was going suspiciously smoothly.

"Mrs. Shen, shouldn't you round up the others now?"

Prince Jing's guard, standing beside Shen Qiuyu, reminded her.

Her face fell. She didn't want to go, but with the prince's men watching, any delay in his plans would surely bring his wrath upon her.

Digging her nails into her palms, Shen Qiuyu suppressed her unease and nodded. "Very well."

The ladies of the embroidery house were already stunned by Shen Qiuyu's arrival. After Wei Xun had publicly exposed her true colors, her reputation had been thoroughly ruined.

And now she wanted to see A Yuan? They couldn't help but admire her nerve.

To mistreat someone and then act as if nothing had happened—Mrs. Shen was truly cunning.

Their expressions varied, but Shen Qiuyu knew exactly what they were thinking.

Which noble matron in the capital didn't have a few skeletons in her closet? She had simply been unlucky enough to be caught by Wei Xun. Had she succeeded, she would now be the wife of the Marquis's heir—far beyond their petty scorn.

Lowering her gaze to hide the hatred in her eyes, Shen Qiuyu put on a fragile act.

"I merely admired the Crabapple Brocade Gown from your shop and wished to purchase one from Lady Xie. Surely none of you ladies would refuse such a piece?"

Her words resonated with many.

Today's grand opening had showcased numerous exquisite embroideries, yet none could compare to the Crabapple Brocade Gown. But with limited stock—only five pieces, all snatched up by early buyers—the rest could only look on enviously.

"Do you know where Lady Xie is?" asked a strikingly beautiful young woman in the crowd.

Shen Qiuyu let a sly smile play on her lips. "Someone mentioned seeing her go to the back courtyard earlier. She might still be there."

"The back courtyard? Why wouldn't she come out front?"

Most of the guests had come specifically for A Yuan, yet she remained absent despite being present. It seemed downright arrogant.

Their enthusiasm waned, and resentment toward A Yuan grew.

Shen Qiuyu's smile deepened. "Perhaps Lady Xie is occupied with some urgent matter. Since she's unavailable, why don't we go to her?"

"Agreed!"

The group set off together toward the back. Lin Qingshuang watched as Shen Qiuyu easily manipulated them with mere words, her forehead creasing with worry.

"Go to the General's residence at once—fetch Xie Zheng immediately!"

She feared Shen Qiuyu was scheming again. Someone as guileless as A Yuan was no match for her.

"Understood."

......

The crowd arrived at the backyard, where the gate was left ajar. As soon as they entered, muffled, suggestive noises reached their ears.

"Ah... my lord, be gentle... I'm dying..."

"You little tease, would you even enjoy it if I were gentle?"

The man's voice was rough but filled with pleasure. Most of the women were married—they knew exactly what was going on.

"What...?"

They looked at each other, mortified, never expecting to stumble upon such a scene.

Frozen in place, torn between staying and fleeing, they could only listen as the sounds grew increasingly indecent.

Shen Qiuyu’s eyes gleamed with amusement. Prince Jing's excitement could only mean the woman inside was Xie Yuan.

Clutching her hand to her mouth in mock horror, she gasped, "Lady Xie... How could she—?"

"We haven't even seen who it is yet. How can you be so sure it's A Yuan? Mrs. Shen, mind your tongue!"

Lin Qingshuang stepped forward with a cold expression, though panic clawed at her chest.

If it really was A Yuan inside, her reputation would be ruined.

Shen Qiuyu bit her lip, feigning hurt. "If you doubt me, Mrs. Lin, let’s go see for ourselves."

The idea of General Xie's sister engaging in an illicit affair was juicy and taboo. Though many wanted to stay on Xie Zheng’s good side, none could resist the allure of gossip.

"You—!" Lin Qingshuang was at a loss for words, her fingers trembling with anger.

The others egged her on, "That's right, Mrs. Lin. For Lady Xie's reputation, we must confirm who it is."

"Let's go in!"

Buzzing with excitement, they rushed in, hungry for drama.

Inside, the male courtesan gasped, nearly undone by pleasure.

Prince Jing was lost in pleasure, obsessed with the woman under him.

This woman—he’d claim her, no matter the cost.