Han Zhao really, really wanted to nod, but he didn't dare.
If the prince got angry, it wouldn't be fun, although he had never seen the prince angry!
"I've bought you a small mansion on the opposite street. It's not very big, but it's close," said Du Gu Qing, looking at the bodyguard who had been following him for a long time. He was grateful in his heart, but he would never express his feelings.
"Thank you, Your Highness. This subordinate will surely pledge to serve you with my life!"
Han Zhao knelt in front of Du Gu Qing. Looking at the weariness on the prince's face, he knew that the prince had been holding back in front of the princess. But that day was coming again. Every month, it was like going through a near - death experience. Han Zhao really had no idea what to do. Moreover, the prince had forbidden him to tell the princess.
The prince endured all the pain on his own. For so many years, Han Zhao had been watching on the side. He felt heart - broken for the prince, knowing the prince's real situation, but he couldn't find a way to save him.
He could only watch the prince suffer from the illness day after day. Every time he saw the prince endure the torture alone, he could only stand there helplessly, with no solution at all.
"Han Zhao, do you have something else to say?" Du Gu Qing saw Han Zhao staring blankly at him and knew what he was thinking. "Go. I'm fine. I'm used to it."
Han Zhao was given to Mei Qingxue by Du Gu Qing, who said that this bodyguard was too careless and needed to be trained. Mei Qingxue was bored in the mansion at that time. In other words, she was just looking for something interesting to do, and the prince had just found such a thing for her.
But she didn't know how to train a bodyguard.
Mei Qingxue rolled her eyes and called out, "Yue Ru."
When Yue Ru saw Han Zhao there, she just stole a glance, and her cheeks turned crimson. Han Zhao also coughed lightly and turned his head away.
Seeing their reactions, Mei Qingxue felt relieved and let the matter go.
"Bring me the peony handkerchief from last year," she said. It was a half - finished embroidery, which was just useful now.
"Princess, this servant has fetched it," said Yue Ru, handing the handkerchief to Mei Qingxue.
Mei Qingxue looked at the beautiful embroidery and gently ran her fingers over it.
"To train Bodyguard Han Zhao's patience and care, you can take out the peony stitches," she said, handing the embroidery hoop to Han Zhao. Han Zhao broke out in a cold sweat at the sight.
"Princess," Han Zhao pleaded with a crying face. Please spare this subordinate. This subordinate's hands are not made for such delicate work!
Before he could finish his words, Mei Qingxue quickly added, "Be careful with this satin. This princess likes it the most!" Then she reluctantly handed the embroidery hoop to Han Zhao.
Mei Qingxue knew what Han Zhao was going to say as soon as she saw his expression. She wouldn't give him a chance to speak and quickly gave the order.
Mei Qingxue scratched her neck. She was still bored. Only when Han Zhao had something to do could she stop herself from getting fidgety. She didn't want to look at Han Zhao scratching his head and ears, or she would do the same.
"Don't damage the satin..." Mei Qingxue emphasized again. Then she saw Han Zhao looking for help from Yue Ru and pretended not to see it.
Mei Qingxue slowly stood up and looked at the garden. "Han Zhao, the sun is good over there. You can sit there."
With a gentle wave of her delicate hand, her light words almost made Han Zhao faint. The mid - day sun was not good; it was scorching. Sitting under the scorching sun, not only would he get sunburnt, but he would also get dizzy even if he was taking apart shoes, let alone a flower.
Mei Qingxue stretched out her hand, and Yue Ru had no choice but to support her into the back hall. She had to think carefully about what interesting things to do to kill the boredom of the day.
Suddenly, she remembered the Xinjiang dance she had performed in the brothel. She seemed to have seen the prince at that time. Could it be that the prince had fallen in love with her at first sight because of that dance? Haha, she would go there tonight. As the book said, Li Shishi and Chen Yuanyuan both came from brothels, and they were either beautiful or talented. Mei Qingxue laughed. Last time she went to help, but this time she was going to have fun.
"Yue Ru, bring me Young Master Mei's robe," she said. Yue Ru knew at once that the princess was going out in men's clothes again.
"Princess, you can't..."
"Can't what?" Mei Qingxue looked at Yue Ru with a strange look in her eyes. This girl was so stupid. They were either in the prime minister's mansion or the Sixth Prince's mansion. There were few people in this small yard. How could it be fun?
Looking at her timid maid, Mei Qingxue stood up and found the men's clothes by herself.
After dressing up, a gentle and handsome young man appeared.
"Princess," Yue Ru was forced to put on men's clothes too. She didn't feel at ease leaving the princess alone in such a dirty place. She would feel more secure if she accompanied her.
"Let's go!" Mei Qingxue lowered her voice to imitate a man's voice. Yue Ru couldn't imitate it and had to pretend to be mute.
The whole street was filled with brothels decorated in red and colorful lanterns. Various sounds were heard. As soon as they walked in, Yue Ru blushed.
"What? The princess went to the brothel?" Du Gu Qing was a bit stunned. After hearing Han Zhao's report, he quickly went out to look for the bold Sixth Princess.
Sitting in the carriage, Du Gu Qing still asked Han Zhao what the princess had done during the day.
"The princess gave this subordinate an embroidered peony picture and asked me to take out the peony stitches without damaging the satin," Han Zhao reported what had happened during the day in detail.
Du Gu Qing was stunned for a moment. "My little wife is really creative. Don't talk about this. Let's find those two bold women first. They dare to go anywhere."
He immediately remembered her hot dance at that time. The memory was still fresh in his mind. He had to keep an eye on her and not let her dance for others.
Mei Qingxue, with her delicate little "page boy", stood in front of the Yuexiang Brothel.
Du Gu Qing and Han Zhao watched from a distance. When they saw them go in, they immediately changed their clothes and went in too.
"Oh, which family's young master is this? He is so handsome!" The heavily - made - up madam swayed her hips and walked over.
In Mei Qingxue's eyes, she saw a walking water tank waddling in front of them.
"This old woman is Madam Fang. I'm here to welcome you two. Please go upstairs," said the madam.
"Thank you, Madam Fang. Find a good seat for this master to listen to music," Mei Qingxue took out a gold nugget from her bosom and casually threw it into the madam's arms.
"Find a girl who only performs arts and doesn't sell her body for this master to have some fun with!"
Madam Fang murmured, "If she doesn't sell her body, how can you have fun with her?"
Mei Qingxue had sharp ears. "This master is not a lecher. Since she doesn't sell her body, this master won't make things difficult for her. It's just for some fun."
It was really great to act as a master. Because of the gold nugget, Madam Fang led Mei Qingxue to the room of the clean courtesan Su Xue.
Madam Fang went to the back and said to Su Xue, "A master has come. You should serve him well!"
"Mom, Xue'er doesn't sell her body. Have you forgotten?"
"Among the women who come to this place, how many can have their own will? Silly girl, while you are young and beautiful, you should save more for yourself."
"Mom, if you force me, I'd rather die than obey."
"Alright, alright. This young master is a rich man. If you can catch his heart, maybe he will redeem you when he is happy," said Madam Fang, pushing Su Xue out.
"Serve him well. This young master wants to listen to Yangzhou ditties, which you are best at." Madam Fang thought she was still as charming as she was decades ago. If she stomped her foot, half of the brothel would probably collapse.
"Where is the princess?"
"In Su Xue's room!" Han Zhao whispered to Du Gu Qing.
Su Xue was the top - ranked clean courtesan. The princess was really willing to spend money. Didn't she say she was thrifty in managing the household?
"She is too bold. I'll teach her a good lesson when we get back tonight!" Today she had made a mistake, and he could discipline her openly. He could do whatever he wanted! Du Gu Qing smiled complacently.
"But..." Han Zhao was anxious. This smoky and dirty place was not where the delicate princess should come.
"The princess is just listening to music and drinking tea."
"May I ask your surname, young master? This humble girl is Su Xue," said Su Xue. As soon as she saw Mei Qingxue's handsome appearance, her heart was filled with admiration. She just didn't know if this young master would like her.
"You can just call me Young Master Mei. This is my mute servant. You can just call him Mute Servant," said Mei Qingxue.
Mei Qingxue winked at her "mute servant", and Yue Ru stepped back a bit.
"Just now Madam Fang said that Miss Su's Yangzhou ditties are the best here. I wonder if this young scholar has the good fortune to listen to them?" Mei Qingxue's voice seemed to have magic, making even Su Xue's ears turn pink.
It seemed that the young lady had taken a fancy to Young Master Mei. Mei Qingxue smiled on the surface but sighed in her heart. She had just wanted an excuse to go out and relax, but now she had gotten herself into trouble.
Yue Ru tugged at her clothes hard from behind.
Princess, stop playing. Yue Ru didn't dare to tell the princess that the only gold nugget they had was thrown out generously by the princess just now... She had been too excited when going out and had forgotten to bring money.
"Young master is surely lucky. Please listen to Xue'er sing a song for you. See if you like it," said Su Xue.
Su Xue fetched a pipa from behind the curtain, sat opposite Mei Qingxue, tried a few notes, and then started singing. Her voice was as sweet as a warbler's.
Mei Qingxue listened attentively and clapped her hands in time. Yue Ru was jumping in anxiety behind her, but the princess sat there calmly. Poor Yue Ru, the mute servant, didn't even dare to make a sound.
After listening to two songs sung by Su Xue, Mei Qingxue thought it was time to go back to the mansion. She reached into her pocket and found it empty.
She turned to look at Yue Ru, who just shook her head.
Mei Qingxue almost jumped up. She had spent half the night in the brothel without bringing any money. She had pretended to be a master and a lecher. As soon as Su Xue and Madam Fang saw this, they knew that she was penniless.
"Mom, you even brought such a penniless guy here and asked Xue'er to accompany him for half the night? Humph... Your taste is getting worse and worse, Mom," said Su Xue. After saying that, she turned around and left.