Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Luo Qianyu's heart gave a jolt.

Fortunately, he reacted quickly, silently figuring that the other party had likely heard everything, both what should and shouldn't have been heard. In such a situation, there was no other way. Sticking to the playbook of 'stay cool when tested,' the only course of action for such an absurd matter was to deny it to the death.

"You've taken my ramblings, patched them together, and listened real close, huh?" Luo Qianyu pursed his lips, suppressing a momentary flutter, forcing himself to remain calm internally. "Liu Cixue, have you read too many storybooks and can't distinguish between fiction and reality?"

"...If you don't want to talk about this, fine." Liu Cixue stared intently at the person beneath him, suddenly letting out a soft laugh, as if he hadn't expected the other to admit anything. He then shifted the topic back to earlier, softening his tone: "Don't be angry. I'll let you go home today. I'll draft a deed of indenture and have it sent to your residence."

"Young Marquis, all you'll need to do then is pick up a brush, sign your name, and affix your seal. How about that?"

Luo Qianyu was taken aback, instantly realizing that Liu Cixue was still fixated on the matter of the personal guard.

"...No!" The Young Marquis took a deep breath, wearing an expression that clearly said 'what nonsense are you talking about,' and stated resolutely: "I won't ask nicely a second time. Liu Cixue, don't even think about this personal guard business."

After several interactions, Liu Cixue had also figured out this Young Marquis's temperament. The other party responded better to softness than force; some things required coaxing. Yet, on this particular matter, no matter how much he wheedled or pleaded, the other was exceptionally firm, refusing to budge even under threat of death.

As if he were some plague to be avoided.

"What, I'm not good enough, but Wen Yu is?" Liu Cixue brushed aside the hair on his forehead, his voice tinged with annoyance as he sneered, "Do you think my looks can't compare to his? At Zhai Xian Lou, you spent a fortune for me, have you forgotten? Changed your heart so quickly?"

"Young Marquis Luo, since when have you developed a taste for men?"

"I don't have a taste for men, and certainly not for you. Satisfied?" Luo Qianyu was still seething with anger. Stuck and unable to fight back, he took every chance to needle the other man. "Do I have to spell it out? You simply can't compare to Wen Yu. A grown man wearing such heavy makeup, tacky and vulgar to the extreme. How can you compare to him!"

Although saying this was indeed somewhat biased—because Liu Er was not only renowned in the capital for her singing but also for her beauty. While she couldn't compare to Wen Yu, she possessed a charm of her own. Otherwise, the original host wouldn't have been smitten before, spending lavishly and booking entire venues just to win a smile from the beauty.

But repeatedly calling her 'vulgar' seemed to have precisely hit the other's sore spot. The original work's male lead, a man who cross-dresses and is extremely particular about his appearance, now wore an expression that was truly a sight to behold.

"You're quite heartless, aiming straight for my wounds." Liu Cixue gripped his wrist, gritting his teeth as he whispered, "I suppose I needn't show any mercy then?"

He leaned down, staring at the reddened earlobe of the person beneath him. "If it weren't for your blind younger brother ruining my plans, I would have succeeded that very day in the hot spring."

Luo Qianyu's face paled with anger. Just as he was about to curse again, he suddenly heard footsteps outside the door, followed by the sound of the door being pushed open.

"Liu Er, are you in here? It's time to prepare for the stage—"

A soft voice came from the doorway, then abruptly stopped.

Luo Qianyu shifted his gaze to see a beautiful woman standing at the door. Dressed like a boat girl, she held a box of rouge in her hands and was staring at them in shock.

Clearly not expecting to witness such a scene, the boat girl's tray clattered to the floor, scattering crimson powder everywhere.

"This is..." the boat girl stammered, her face instantly flushing red, evidently quite startled by the sight before her.

Liu Cixue frowned, quickly got up, and in a flash was in front of the woman. With just a light press on the back of her neck, the boat girl slumped softly and was caught by him, placed to the side.

"Damn it, perfect timing." Liu Cixue crossed his arms, rarely showing a genuinely annoyed expression, and muttered a curse under his breath. Immediately after, another urging voice came from outside the door, "Miss Liu Er, what's taking so long? The guests are growing impatient. Hurry up!"

Liu Cixue's expression darkened.

He then glanced at Luo Qianyu on the couch, then at the boat girl lying on the floor. A strange glint flashed in his eyes, as if he had thought of something.

Luo Qianyu's heart tightened, a sense of foreboding washing over him. "What are you doing?"

Liu Cixue didn't answer. Instead, he turned and retrieved a set of clothing from a nearby wardrobe. The skirt was embroidered with intricate patterns, a beaded veil covered the face, and the entire outfit was red—clearly the attire of a courtesan. Liu Cixue lowered his voice, murmuring, "Young Marquis, with this face and figure of yours, if dressed in women's clothing, would you perhaps be even more beautiful than the courtesan?"

"...Pervert." It took Luo Qianyu a long moment to spit out the word, shocked by the extent of Liu Cixue's perversion. He struggled to get up but found the effects of the incense still strong; he remained utterly weak.

So he proceeded to curse the other's ancestors for eight generations.

Liu Cixue let out a loud laugh, surprisingly unbothered. With practiced and deft movements, he dressed Luo Qianyu in the women's clothing, whispering, "I must trouble the Young Master to endure some hardship and accompany me in putting on a show."

Then, with a gentle lift of his jade-like hand, he sealed Luo Qianyu's mute acupoint.

"Young Master need not do anything. Just sit quietly to the side. I will handle everything for you." Liu Er picked him up, softly comforting him: "Once this performance is over, I will definitely let you leave safely."

"As a token of gratitude, the only thing I need you to consider is that one matter."

-

The painted boat was brightly lit, the air filled with the pleasant sounds of silk and bamboo instruments, melodies drifting gracefully.

Several young masters sat around a redwood carved long table laden with all kinds of delicacies and fine wine, their aromas wafting through the air. The men clinked cups and chatted merrily, bursts of laughter rising now and then, creating a lively atmosphere.

However, the young master in blue seated at the head of the table seemed out of place amidst the surrounding revelry.

He propped his chin with one hand, the other holding a wine cup. His gaze wandered, his expression indifferent, as he poured wine for himself, seemingly disinterested in everything around him.

"Hey, what's with him? Looking so listless?" someone couldn't help but ask.

"You mean Young Master Lou? That frostbitten look of his?" A young master in red took a sip of wine, a teasing smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "Don't mind him. He's been like this for days now, absent-minded even when out drinking. Really dampens the mood."

Lou Xian raised his eyes, giving the red-clad young master a cold glance, and said in a low voice, "Your courage has grown. Now you dare to gossip about me to my face."

"Don't be angry." A young master in purple nearby, seeing this, chuckled softly, downed his cup of wine in one go, then looked at the one who had asked and teased, "You still don't know? He offended the Young Marquis a few days ago, somehow managed to anger him, and hasn't seen him for several days."

"His heart has long flown off to the Marquis's residence!"

"Such a thing happened?"

"Of course." The red-clad young master struggled to suppress his laughter. "Brother Lou has been trying every method these days, coming up with all sorts of ways to please him—sending agile falcons, gifting magnificent steeds. But that Young Marquis only left him with one sentence."

"Oh? What sentence?"

The red-clad young master deliberately played coy, refusing to speak for a good while.

"How infuriating!" The other perked up his ears, urging repeatedly: "Don't keep us in suspense. Hurry up and tell us, what exactly did he say?"

The purple-clad young master finally couldn't hold back. Lowering his voice, he enunciated each word: "...See you at the academy."

"Ever since then, Brother Lou has been thinking about going to school every day, haha... Have we ever seen him like this before?"

Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter, bending over and unable to stop for a long time.

"No wonder! Hahaha!! Our great Young Master Lou, who in the past wished he could skip school every day to enjoy himself freely—when has he ever been so diligent and studious?"

Lou Xian's expression grew increasingly gloomy. The wine cup in his hand was almost crushed as he slammed it heavily onto the corner of the table with a dull *thud*.

He frowned slightly, saying coldly, "Shut up."

Seeing he was genuinely angry, the others finally restrained themselves, not daring to make another sound.

Just then, there was movement outside the door.

Liu Er, dressed in green robes, walked slowly into the hall. The music of silk and bamboo gradually rose. However, unlike usual, he was accompanied by a courtesan clad in red.

The beauty seated beside him wore pearl hairpins, her face veiled by a beaded gauze. Though her full features were obscured, her eyes and brows resembled peach blossoms in early spring, shimmering with fragmented gold.

With a single glance, it was as if she could ensnare one's soul.

However, the celebrated courtesan remained silent and motionless, like an exquisite jade statue, serenely sitting there.

Seeing the confusion on the guests' faces, Liu Er didn't wait for the singing to begin. She chuckled softly and explained to the gentlemen, "Young masters, this young lady caught a chill a few days ago and has only just recovered. She is still very weak and was born mute. Tonight, she can only accompany you all by listening to the music. I hope you will be understanding."

Upon hearing this, the men were somewhat disappointed.

But their eyes were involuntarily drawn to the courtesan, and then they saw her cold, jade-like face turn toward them as she rolled her eyes.

"...?"

Had they seen wrong?

When the melody started, Liu Er's voice was clear and melodious, singing the currently all-the-rage *The Peony Pavilion*. Yet, today, everyone present seemed unable to focus, their gazes frequently drifting toward the silent courtesan veiled in beaded gauze. The more aloof she appeared, the more it stirred their hearts.

Lou Xian leaned back on the couch, a cup of wine in hand, not even lifting his eyelids. He simply found the occasion noisy, annoying, and utterly boring.

Moreover, he recognized this Liu Er.

Lou Xian frowned slightly, unable to help but recall how flustered the Young Marquis had seemed around Liu Er at the Zhai Xian Pavilion. To think that Liu Er was more important to him than he himself was.

A wave of intense frustration washed over him. His wine cup thudded against the table as he shouted to stop everything:

"Get out, all of you get out!"

Instantly, all sound ceased.

The gentlemen exchanged bewildered looks, unsure why Young Master Lou had suddenly erupted in anger. Liu Er, however, said nothing more. She stopped the music and prepared to leave with the others.

Lou Xian lifted his gaze, his eyes inadvertently sweeping over the red-clad courtesan.

Then, the hand holding the wine cup suddenly stilled. A flicker of something strange passed through his eyes, as if he were stunned.

Before anyone could react, they heard Lou Xian speak coldly:

"She stays."

...

He was referring to the courtesan.

Luo Qianyu's heart stirred.

The moment he entered, he had spotted his little follower and couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. Running into a familiar, trusted acquaintance in such a situation was no different from finding a lifeline. Yet, from the moment he entered until they were about to leave, this guy had been solely focused on drinking his sullen wine, not even bothering to look up, which made him so angry he rolled his eyes.

But fortunately, at the last moment, the other finally proved reliable for once.

However, had Lou Xian... recognized him?

Liu Er paused in her steps, looking back at Lou Xian. A flash of coldness passed through her eyes, but it was quickly suppressed. She gave a light laugh, her tone respectful: "Young Master Lou, this young lady is frail and weak. I'm afraid she won't be able to serve you properly."

Lou Xian gave her a cold glance, clearly unwilling to waste words: "Can't you understand? I said, she stays."

Liu Er gritted her teeth: "Since that's the case, then we shall follow Young Master Lou's wishes."

With that, she shot a meaningful look at the courtesan before following the others out of the room.

The room suddenly fell quiet.

Only Lou Xian and he remained.

Lou Xian still reclined half on the couch, drinking alone for a while as if he had forgotten the person he had just kept behind. Luo Qianyu, separated by a thin veil, sat on a chair, watching him speechlessly.

Had Lou Xian developed a drinking problem?

He had been drinking for so long without stopping, yet showed no signs of intoxication. He rarely touched alcohol when they went out together, but now he seemed like someone who could drink a thousand cups without falling.

After a long while, Lou Xian seemed to finally notice him and silently stood up.

The man's steps were firm, his gaze clear. To anyone else, he might not have seemed drunk at all. But Luo Qianyu detected that his gait wasn't as steady as usual; his steps were slightly unsteady, and there was a faint, unfocused quality to his pupils.

It seemed he was indeed drunk.

Sure enough, as the man approached, the smell of alcohol was more pronounced than his usual familiar scent. Judging by the luxurious wine cups, it was probably a very fine, potent liquor with a strong delayed effect.

Luo Qianyu was just pondering how to hint to Lou Xian or guide him to discover the truth himself when he heard a dull *thud*. The man had actually knelt down on one knee.

Originally looking down from above, this single-knee kneel brought them almost eye to eye.

"Are you one of Liu Er's people?"

Lou Xian paused for a few seconds, then said in a low voice, "You heard I was on the painted pleasure boat and thought the Young Marquis was here too, so she sent you to seduce him?"

His voice was deep, different from the tone he usually used when speaking to him. It was so serious it was almost frightening.

If not for the smell of alcohol on his breath, Luo Qianyu might have truly believed Lou Xian was completely sober right now, that this wasn't a casual chat but an interrogation.

The Young Marquis considered for a moment, then shook his head.

"Hmph, what a pity." Lou Xian sighed softly through his nose, pinching the courtesan's chin as he said coldly, "The honey trap won't work anymore. He won't even see me now, so why would he see you?"

Luo Qianyu frowned slightly, inhaling sharply from the pain.

"So delicate?" Lou Xian released his grip, his gaze fixed intently yet seemingly not focused on anything real. He murmured softly, "Just like him."

"The person I care about is angry with me. He won't see me for days. He's stubborn yet soft-hearted. I don't know how to coax him."

He asked flatly, "What do you think I should do?"

"..."

Luo Qianyu had his mute acupoint pressed and couldn't speak at the moment. He could only hope Lou Xian would be clever enough to notice something amiss soon and recognize that he was the very Young Marquis he had been longing to see day and night.

"That fierce warhorse cloak shouldn't have been sent... He said so, but I didn't listen. He even reminded me, no wonder he's angry..." Lou Xian paused for a few seconds, his voice softening. Then he clenched his fist again, annoyed. "And that scent-loving fat bird, it was actually snatched away by that scoundrel Wen Yu. Think about it, in these three years, when has the Young Marquis ever stepped in to help someone in distress? Clearly, it was because he found him handsome..."

"Besides the Former Crown Prince, no one else stays in his heart. Let alone a top scholar from a fallen family... and now the Crown Prince is dead."

"He lost his Crown Prince brother, leaving a void in his heart. I will become that void."

"Whatever he wants, I'll seize it all for him..."

"..."

Luo Qianyu vaguely felt that the current situation was a little... off.

Was Lou Xian... taking advantage of his muteness to treat him as a rare confidant?

Lou Xian propped himself up with one hand on the floor, burying his head in the Young Marquis's lap as he mumbled in a low voice, "You're so beautiful. If I offered you to the Young Marquis... would he be willing to pay attention to me then?"

As soon as the words fell, Luo Qianyu was stunned, black lines practically popping up on his forehead. He wished he could smack this guy's head right then and there.

This fool!

Whether out of anger or exasperation at his hopelessness, the courtesan barely suppressed her rising temper. Mustering strength from some unknown reserve, she shakily raised her hand and gave the drunkard a slap.

The force wasn't great—her palm was delicate and the slap felt almost soft.

But the sound was crisp and clear—a sharp *smack*.

The room was already quiet. Lou Xian didn't even turn his face away, just froze in place, slightly stunned.

Luo Qianyu felt a twinge of regret after slapping him.

He thought this was a bit impulsive. After all, Lou Xian didn't know his true identity at the moment. This slap was equivalent to a commoner striking a nobleman's son—a blatant affront to his superior.

Unexpectedly, Lou Xian then grasped his hand, rubbed Luo Qianyu's palm with his thumb, brought it to his cheek, and murmured with private delight, "Such a fiery temper? Excellent, he likes that too."

The Young Marquis: "..."

Oh no.

That just turned him on.