Chapter 8: Keeping a Beauty in a Golden House

Chapter 8: A Golden House for a Beloved

Fu'an finished escorting the visitor and returned to report to his master.

He entered the bedchamber with a bowed back, his gaze falling carefully on the figure reclining on the soft couch.

With just one glance, the strange feeling building in Fu'an since yesterday became even clearer.

The prince was still the same.

Still lounging sideways on a couch covered with white tiger skin, resting his head on one hand, while the other hand casually toyed with a pendant.

But in the past, when the prince adopted this posture, his brows always carried a stubborn, murky ferocity, gloomy and irritable.

That handsome face also seemed jarring, tinged with a strong air of evil.

But now…

His Highness still sat with the same languid, casual posture, even more composed than before.

Yet beneath that composure lay a kind of restrained dignity; the perpetual gloom between his brows seemed to have faded a great deal, replaced by an indescribable cool clarity.

Like black jade washed in a cold spring.

"Keep staring and I'll gouge your eyes out. Now crawl over here!"

This sinister threat came so abruptly that Fu'an shuddered and nearly lost his footing.

An illusion—it had to be an illusion.

His Highness was still this terrifying.

He cautiously shuffled forward two steps and put on a fawning smile:

"Forgive me, Your Highness. This servant has just seen Young Master Liu off and has come to ask for your instructions. Will Young Master Liu be staying in Listening Bamboo Courtyard from now on?"

At first, Prince Yu had thrown Liu Qingci into Listening Bamboo Courtyard to grind down his spirit.

That courtyard was remote and desolate, the rooms dilapidated beyond recognition—it had never been a place for people to live.

But after last night, Fu'an felt that His Highness seemed quite satisfied with Young Master Liu, so naturally, he should now be properly settled in the rear courtyard.

Prince Yu's rear compound was vast, with a considerable number of concubines and male favorites.

Hence, four separate courtyards were built, with dozens of rooms, to house these people.

Xiao Yan asked: "What do you think?"

Xiao Yan was not yet familiar with the situation of the prince's mansion; these details weren't in the book he'd read.

Fu'an offered his advice: "In this servant's opinion, a room in Pity Fragrance Courtyard has an excellent location. Perhaps it would be suitable..."

Before he could finish, Xiao Yan's hand toying with the pendant paused slightly, and he lifted his eyes to look at him: "Pity Fragrance Courtyard?"

That name sounded too much like rouge and powder.

Fu'an quickly explained: "Yes. Pity Fragrance Courtyard currently houses Young Master Lin, Young Master Zhao, and several others. It would be convenient for Young Master Liu, and he'd have company..."

Xiao Yan cut him off almost without thinking: "No need."

He leaned back against the soft pillow again, his tone casual but allowing no argument: "Let it be Listening Bamboo Courtyard."

Fu'an was taken aback: "But Listening Bamboo Courtyard is really crude, and Young Master Liu is currently injured. I'm afraid..."

"Then repair it," Xiao Yan said lazily, but with decisiveness. "Refurbish it to proper standards. All items are to be of the best quality."

This time, Fu'an was truly stunned:

"Yes, this servant understands!"

Watching Fu'an's retreating back, Xiao Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

"Host, why didn't you let the protagonist bottom stay in Pity Fragrance Courtyard?"

Xiao Yan responded in his mind: "What, that's not allowed either?"

Xiao K: "It's not that (•́ω•̀) I'm just asking."

For now, Xiao Yan's actions still followed the plot progression.

In the original story, from this point onward, Xiao Yan did not let Liu Qingci continue to suffer in Listening Bamboo Courtyard; after all, even the strongest protagonist halo couldn't withstand endless torment.

The original Xiao Yan also really wanted to keep Liu Qingci around to toy with at his leisure.

Xiao Yan said: "Since it doesn't affect the mission, don't ask."

Xiao K: "Hmph."

Xiao Yan simply felt that if he placed Liu Qingci among a gaggle of male favorites, making him one of them, that might feel more humiliating than being summoned to his bed.

In Listening Bamboo Courtyard.

Liu Qingci watched the servants coming and going.

The old, moldy items in his room were being carried out one by one.

Several neatly dressed maids entered his dilapidated room carrying brand new brocade quilts, soft pillows, and expensive-looking porcelain pieces; some even brought in a folding screen and a desk.

"You... what are you doing?" His voice was weak and hoarse.

The head maid curtsied respectfully,

"In reply, Young Master Liu, the prince ordered that Listening Bamboo Courtyard be thoroughly refurbished. These are replacement daily necessities for you."

Just then, Fu'an entered with two young servants who looked sharp and reliable.

"Young Master Liu," Fu'an said, his smile seeming less dismissive than before, "His Highness Prince Yu has ordered that Listening Bamboo Courtyard begin renovations today. Please bear with any inconvenience during the work. These two servants are assigned specifically to attend to you. If you need anything, you just tell them."

Liu Qingci's gaze swept over the two meek servants and then settled back on Fu'an's face, his voice cool and distant: "What... does His Highness mean by this?"

Fu'an smiled, his tone with a hint of meaning: "We servants dare not presume to guess our master's intentions. His Highness only said that you should rest and recover well. From now on, Listening Bamboo Courtyard is your residence, so naturally, we can't let you live in a shabby place."

Yun Feng was also startled by the commotion.

He looked at the craftsmen in the courtyard making such a big commotion, as if they couldn't wait to knock down the whole courtyard and rebuild it.

Yun Feng looked as if he had seen a ghost: "Is His Highness Prince Yu building a golden bower for a beauty?!"

Otherwise, wouldn't it just be easier to find them another place to live?

This mansion is so vast, there must be empty rooms to house them.

"Yun Feng!"

Liu Qingci frowned and scolded in a low voice.

Realizing he had spoken out of turn, Yun Feng lowered his head and went to tidy things up in the corner.

Fu'an's face still wore an ambiguous smile: "Master Liu, do not forget to thank His Highness for his grace."

Liu Qingci's eyes flickered, and he replied indifferently, "Thank you for the reminder, Eunuch Fu."

After Fu'an left, Yun Feng dared to approach, lowering his voice but still unable to hide his surprise: "Master, what exactly does Prince Yu mean? A beating and then a treat? What's he after?"

Liu Qingci did not answer immediately. He looked around the room that was being rapidly transformed—brand-new items clashing with the dilapidated roof beams, much like his current situation: seemingly improved on the surface, yet still a trapped beast struggling within.

"What's he after?" Liu Qingci muttered softly, a cold and mocking curve forming at the corner of his mouth. "Nothing more... another method of taming me."

There is no free lunch in this world.

Fu'an's words, "Do not forget to thank him," sounded like a reminder but were actually a nudge, even a prompt. He was hinting that Prince Yu gave these things expecting something in return.

And what the return was went without saying—offering himself willingly to gain favor and pleasure.

At that thought, Liu Qingci closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

When he reopened them, his gaze was icy calm. He instructed Yun Feng:

"Since we are here, let us make the best of it. Put everything in order."

Yun Feng replied, "Yes, Master."

Liu Qingci looked at the chests that had just been brought in: "Help me pick a garment from those. I need to go see Prince Yu."