Luzhou-Mond - Kapitel 43
I saw Zinuo's expression, which had just eased, suddenly turn ugly again. I was really worried about whether he could withstand such a shock at such a young age.
Shen Zexuan, Third Prince, Your Highness, Little Ancestor, please have some decency and stop stirring up trouble, okay?
God went on strike and didn't pass my prayers on to Shen Zexuan.
Shen Zexuan continued, "Why did you stay so far away from me when you saw Yu?"
I really want to sew those alluring lips shut. Shen Haoyu's voice rang out at the right time: "If Third Brother wants male concubines, as your younger brother, I will naturally help you find the best. This one in front of you isn't that great, so you might as well not have him."
"If Yu doesn't like him anymore, I can still take him in. Otherwise, he'll have less of a way to survive in the future." Shen Zexuan's smile was so enticing it made the world pale, and he even elegantly brushed the snowflakes off his clothes. Yet, his words were so vicious, actually calling me a male concubine rejected by Shen Haoyu!
That wasn't all. Shen Zexuan raised his chin at Zinuo and said, "That one is much better than this one. A gentleman doesn't take what others like. You keep that one, and I'll take this one. How about that?"
I saw Zi Nuo tremble slightly, and Shen Haoyu's expression also changed. This Shen Zexuan is really something. He can anger several people like this with just one sentence. It's true that you can't judge a book by its cover. It's a pity that I can't see my own expression right now. It must be quite interesting.
After a long while, Shen Haoyu seemed to finally recover from the incident of being mistaken for Zi Nuo and me being his male concubines, and said calmly, "Third Brother, you misunderstand. These two are my guards."
Shen Zexuan suddenly smiled and said, "Is that so? That's even better. We brothers won't turn against each other because of them." He paused and then said, "If Father Emperor knew that I had taken a liking to your male favorite, it would be really difficult to handle. Now that they are not, there is no question of stealing your love. When we return to the manor, I hope Yu will also send him to my manor."
Shen Haoyu seemed completely unprepared for things to develop in the opposite direction to his expectations, and hurriedly said, "Third Brother, I will send someone to find the best male concubines for you, but they are guards of the Prince's Mansion, and they are not easy to train. Please choose another one, Third Brother."
"Is that so?" Shen Zexuan frowned, seemingly troubled. If I had seen this before, I might have felt a great deal of heartache, but now... Hmph.
"Let's put it on hold for now," Shen Zexuan finally said, and I saw Shen Haoyu breathe a slight sigh of relief.
That kid's not bad; he didn't give me away easily. I guess he was also afraid that people would find out I was a girl.
Now that both sides have reached an agreement, there's no need to stay here in the cold wind any longer. Shen Haoyu took Shen Zexuan to the main hall for lunch, while Zinuo and I returned to Yixinzhai for lunch.
During the meal, I didn't forget to ask Zinuo what wind had blown the Third Prince to Prince Qing's residence so quietly today.
Zi Nuo said, "I heard that the Princess's birthday is coming soon, and the Imperial Concubine asked the Third Prince to come and take a look first."
They are biological sisters, with a deep sisterly bond, and they are also sisters-in-law, making their relationship even stronger.
After finishing my meal, my work hours were already over. I hurriedly gathered my tools and rushed to my post to begin my new day of surveillance. Before leaving, Zinuo gave me his cloak, giving me another item to keep warm.
It was freezing cold, and there were noticeably fewer people around in the Second Prince's residence. There probably wouldn't be many people here today; they'd probably all be hiding inside by the fire... I thought drowsily, and couldn't help but close my eyes, feeling sleepy.
In the hazy dream, it was once again a plum garden in full bloom. Beneath the plum trees stood a man as beautiful as a flower spirit, dressed in red robes and white fur, adorned with a jade crown and brocade belt, captivating all who beheld him…
I think I'm being infatuated again. Those vicious words, those infuriating remarks, only made me angry at the time. Now, thinking back, I can't even feel angry anymore. Recalling that intoxicating kiss, I blush and my heart races again, filled with conflicting emotions: he loves men… he only saw me as a man…
For a moment, he didn't know whether to be happy or complain about his cross-dressing identity.
She's absolutely stunning!
Why has no one ever mentioned how handsome the Third Prince is before? Or is Shen Haoyu just too insecure to talk about it with others?
Hmph, that really makes one suspicious...
That evening, I returned to Yixinzhai shivering. Zinuo had already prepared the meal and was waiting for me in the room. When I came in, she greeted me warmly and helped me take off my cloak, shake off the snow, and then offered me a hand warmer. I was so happy that I almost forgot how cold I had been outside.
I had just finished eating and rested for a while when someone came to summon me to Shen Haoyu's study. Reluctantly, I put down the heater, glanced at Zinuo reluctantly, and then moved to the study.
After reporting on what I had observed that day (actually, I was asleep for a while, which can be ignored), Shen Haoyu actually asked me to sit down next to him. I sat down nervously, wondering what he wanted to do.
Shen Haoyu tidied up the documents on the table and walked over to sit down next to me, looking at me as if he wanted to have an in-depth conversation.
Sure enough, Shen Haoyu began with, "Lin En, how has the Prince's Mansion treated you all these years?"
"The debt of gratitude is as heavy as a mountain!" Indeed, they not only raised me, but also Zinuo, ensuring that I had no worries about food and clothing. Putting aside their future intentions, there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
"And what about me? How have I treated you?"
"The young prince has always been incredibly kind to me, and I, Lynn, will never forget it." Hmph, I wonder how many good things you've stolen from me. Considering your awkward personality, I won't hold it against you.
"You wouldn't have fallen for the Third Prince, would you? After all... what happened between you two today..."
What did you say?
"Your Highness, rest assured, Lin En is only loyal to the Prince's Mansion." Are you afraid I won't be able to resist Shen Zexuan's charm and will betray the Prince's Mansion? His charm is indeed great, and I might not be able to resist it, but I will never admit it!
“You can’t fall in love with him, and he won’t fall in love with you either. You are, after all, a woman,” Shen Haoyu said to me earnestly.
"Lynn understands," I replied respectfully. Of course I knew he preferred men, but I just felt a little uncomfortable.
Shen Haoyu breathed a sigh of relief: "That's excellent!"
Shen Haoyu waved to indicate that I could leave. I stood up and walked towards the door, but then sneezed twice loudly. I sniffed hard and continued walking out, when I heard Shen Haoyu ask behind me, "What's wrong?"
I turned around and replied, "I guess he's been freezing outside, standing there in the cold wind for three hours." I hoped he'd have some compassion and give me a couple of warm clothes!
“Oh,” Shen Haoyu said, tapping his fingers on the armrest, “You don’t need to go out tomorrow. Just stay inside. I’ll have someone bring you a couple of clothes later.”
I thanked him happily. No work tomorrow? What a pleasant surprise! Shen Haoyu, you're so cute and obedient. If you keep being like this, I'll love you to death!
Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn. Chapter 31
Chapter word count: 3552 Update time: 09-07-31 15:10
In less than two days, the rumor that the Third Prince preferred handsome men to beautiful women had spread throughout the streets and alleys of the capital. I have no idea how far the rumor had spread outside the capital, but the reaction within the capital was absolutely spectacular. As expected, all the young ladies were crying their eyes out and heartbroken.
At the time, only the four of us knew about this. Zinuo and I wouldn't say anything, nor did we have the ability to let it spread so quickly. The Third Prince himself had never made a fuss about it before, and there was no need for him to now. So, what about Shen Haoyu?
The primary impact of this event was on the booming transportation and brothel industries, which had been flourishing for some time. Why? Various regions flocked to the Third Prince's residence, sending all sorts of handsome men to his residence, leading to a thriving transportation network by land and water. Meanwhile, the brothel industry, which had reached a bottleneck, drew inspiration from the Third Prince. Handsome men began to appear on stage, and many underground workers finally stepped into the limelight. With the Third Prince's influence, a figure of exceptional stature, male prostitution surged dramatically, threatening to overwhelm traditional brothel practices.
This is a good sign; change is necessary for development.