Because that was the Yao family mansion, the servants they used and how they dealt with servants who made mistakes were their own business, and even Emperor Wei Hong had no reason to interfere.
"If we can't keep the people in the house, so be it. But we can't let the people outside leave. I need to know where the Grand Tutor is at all times, and I absolutely cannot let him out of my sight."
Wei Chi gave a solemn and earnest instruction.
Liu Fu agreed and, seeing that he had no further instructions, withdrew.
...
Hu Cheng and Lian Cheng sat on the terrace of the small bamboo building for a long time, only to receive the news again that Wei Hong could not come.
"His Highness has promised to take the Princess to fly kites outside the city and is about to leave. If you don't have anything urgent to do, feel free to wander around. I'll have someone come find you when he returns tonight."
If you're about to leave, then you haven't left yet. You can either come here first or simply cancel the kite-flying activity.
But for Wei Hong now, accompanying his wife to fly kites is obviously much more important than coming to drink with his friend.
Liancheng gritted his teeth: "Where can't we fly kites? Doesn't the Prince's mansion have a garden? Can't we run around in the garden?"
The servant smiled and said, "No matter how big the garden is, it can't compare to the mountain. Besides, the prince has already promised the princess. You've arrived a step too late."
"It has nothing to do with whether it's early or late!"
Liancheng said indignantly, "He's a heartless bastard! He's forgotten his brothers after marrying a wife!"
With the battle situation temporarily stabilized, he knew there was nothing serious. Since there was nothing serious, he chose the woman over his brothers!
It's so heartbreaking to smell and so painful to see...
The servant of the Prince's mansion smiled but did not reply. He said directly, "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. You can play in the small bamboo building or go for a walk elsewhere. The Prince will probably be back around dinner time."
Liancheng watched him leave, then tilted his head back and gulped down a few mouthfuls of wine.
"Having seen the ocean, other waters seem insignificant; having beheld the clouds of Wushan, other clouds seem pale in comparison... We used to be inseparable, but now you just throw me away like that! Bah!"
The attendant, suppressing a laugh, waited until he finished speaking and then asked, "Young master, are you going to have the ladies sing for you, or would you like to go for a walk somewhere else?"
Liancheng smacked his lips and rolled his eyes.
"Didn't he tell me to wander around? Well then, I'll wander around!"
Liancheng wandered out of the city and came right up to Wei Hong.
He heard the sound of horses' hooves from afar and wondered who would be traveling to such a remote place at this time, when he saw Liancheng leading several people on horseback.
"Oh, Your Highness, what a coincidence to run into you here!"
Liancheng dismounted and laughed.
Wei Hong's expression darkened slightly, but it was too late to stand in front of Yao Youqing and prevent her from seeing him.
"This must be the Princess Consort? I've heard so much about you."
Liancheng looked at the woman whose body was mostly hidden by Wei Hong, and smiled as he cupped his hands in greeting.
Yao Youqing, standing behind Wei Hong, curtsied in return and then asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, who is this...?"
“My name is Liancheng,” the man opposite me said before she could finish speaking, “Liancheng, whose name is priceless.”
Yao Youqing found the name amusing and couldn't help but laugh. Then she suddenly remembered that she had heard someone shout "Young Master Lian" on the street when she was in Cangcheng. At that time, Wei Hong held her head and wouldn't let her see him, saying that he was a madman. Judging from his tone, it seemed like he knew him but didn't want her to see him.
If she guessed correctly, it should be the man in front of her.
Wei Hong's gaze was deep, not wanting Yao Youqing to say another word to him. He said to her, "This is a friend of mine. I suppose he has something to say..."
"Yes, that's right!"
Liancheng interrupted, "I've known the prince for many years, we're sworn brothers. We often eat together, drink together, and visit brothels."
Chapter 70 Weakness (1000 new words added)
The forest was quiet for a moment, and everyone was slightly taken aback by Liancheng's words.
Wei Hong's expression changed drastically, and he angrily retorted, "What nonsense are you spouting!"
Liancheng seemed to snap out of his daze and quickly responded with an "oh".
"Your Highness, please don't misunderstand. Although the Prince often visits brothels, he never patronizes prostitutes! Really, I can vouch for him!"
Patting his chest and making solemn vows, it was like two thieves caught stealing together corroborating each other's claims. Far from being convincing, it only further confirmed the claim that Wei Hong frequented brothels.
At this moment, Wei Hong could still see that he was doing it on purpose, his fists clenched so tightly that he looked like he was about to hit someone at any moment.
"Go go crazy somewhere else, don't come here to do it, or I won't be polite!"
After saying that, he turned to look at Yao Youqing: "Don't listen to his nonsense. He's the one who always chooses to meet me at a brothel. I'm just going there to have a few drinks with him at his invitation."
“Yes, yes, yes,” Liancheng chimed in, “He really only drinks, he never looks for women!”
"Shut up!"
Wei Hong roared, veins throbbing on his forehead.
Liancheng shrugged and pouted, looking like he was saying, "If you don't want me to say it, then I won't." Wei Hong was so angry that he wanted to punch him into the ground.
Yao Youqing didn't show any unusual reaction to Liancheng's words. She smiled at Wei Hong and said, "Since Your Highness and Young Master Lian have things to attend to, then go ahead and do your work. I can play here by myself."
"No rush, no rush."
Before Wei Hong could speak, Lian Cheng said.
"I just happened to be walking by and ran into you, so I came over to say hello and then I'm leaving."
What a joke! He just offended Wei Hong. If he doesn't leave now and instead tries to drag him along to talk about serious business, he'll probably get beaten to death before they even get to that point!
He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and said, "Your Highness and Your Highness, please enjoy yourselves. I won't disturb your pleasure any longer."
Then he rode away on horseback, leaving behind only those few ambiguous words he had just spoken.
Even after he left, Wei Hong's expression remained unpleasant. He whispered to Yao Youqing, "I really didn't go to brothels often, let alone stay overnight there."
As a prince, with the entire Shangchuan and even Shuozhou under his control, if he really liked a woman, would he need to go to a brothel? He could just bring her back to his mansion.
Yao Youqing chuckled: "I know."
Seeing that she didn't seem to have taken it to heart, Wei Hong breathed a sigh of relief, took her hand, and asked, "Do you believe me?"
“Of course I believe you,” Yao Youqing said. “Even if Your Highness goes to a brothel, there’s nothing I can do to you. So why are you hiding it from me?”
She came from the capital to marry into the country, but had no one to rely on in Shangchuan. The so-called princess was just a title. If Wei Hong said she was her, then she was; if Wei Hong said she wasn't her, then she could only live out her days alone in the inner quarters.
Their relationship appears to be one of equality and interdependence, but in reality, she has been in a weaker position since the day she married into the family.
Why would Wei Hong need to hide something from someone who poses no threat to him?
"Besides, that young master Lian looks shady. Between him and the prince, of course I trust the prince."
Wei Hong felt a surge of comfort upon hearing this, especially the last sentence, which pleased him even more than the previous one.
"You think he... is not serious?"
Lian Cheng has a face that is unforgettable at first sight. Even as a man, one has to admit that his appearance is indeed outstanding, even one in a million.
In addition, he has a cheerful and generous personality and always knows how to make women happy, so countless women are infatuated with him.
Wei Hong's appearance resembled that of Emperor Gaozong, and he was considered quite handsome among men, but compared to Liancheng, he knew he was still somewhat inferior.
However, judging from the girl's appearance, she didn't seem to pay much attention to Liancheng's looks.
Yao Youqing didn't really care about Liancheng's appearance, because it had nothing to do with her.
No matter how beautiful she is, she's just a stranger to her, so what does it matter if she's beautiful or ugly?
Moreover, her father taught her from a young age not to judge people by their appearance, so she cared even less about such things.
Besides...
"Why would a decent person travel all this way to say something like that on purpose?"
This place is so remote, it's so far from the main road. Unless they're specifically looking for a quiet place to visit, who would deliberately go to a place like this?
This chance encounter is just too coincidental.
Wei Hong chuckled and ruffled her hair.
"My Ning'er has sharp eyes; she saw right through him and knew he was no good!"
Yao Youqing frowned and dodged away: "Your Highness, I've told you many times not to mess with my hair in public. It's so hard to comb when it's all messed up!"
After saying that, he asked, "How did Your Highness become friends with Young Master Lian? He seemed very casual around you, but I've never heard of anyone with the surname Lian."
As a princess, Yao Youqing avoided interacting with the female relatives of officials to avoid suspicion, but she still kept track of their backgrounds.
Since that young master Lian is so familiar with the prince and considers himself a brother, his status must be quite high.
But no matter how hard she thought about it, she couldn't think of anyone whose surname was Lian.
Wei Hong paused, his outstretched hand not landing on her head, but instead lowering it to hold her hand.
"He... is a businessman, very good at making money. He helped me a lot during my most difficult years."
Although it was for mutual benefit, Liancheng did indeed help Wei Hong a lot at the time.
Yao Youqing exclaimed, "No wonder I've never heard of him. But to be able to help the Prince so much, this Young Master Lian must be quite remarkable!"
After saying that, he added, "Your Highness comes from a noble family, yet you can be on friendly terms with an ordinary merchant. This shows that you are a magnanimous person who doesn't treat others based on their family background or social status. Your Highness is a very good person!"
Although the Great Liang Dynasty did not regard merchants as the lowest class as the previous dynasty, the distinction between social statuses, passed down through the ages, is still very clear.
Even though merchants have a higher status than before, they are still looked down upon by people from aristocratic families.
Wei Hong did not explain anything, he just smiled and didn't say anything.
Liancheng's identity is special. Although it's not that I can't tell Yao Youqing, she'll inevitably overthink things if I do, so there's no need for that.
"Didn't we say we were going to fly kites? Have someone bring the kites out."
He changed the subject and started talking to the girl about having fun, not wanting her to get involved in these men's affairs.
All she needs to do is be happy and carefree, playing and laughing by his side like this. He will take care of everything else; she doesn't need to worry about it.
...
After riding away, Liancheng did not return to the city immediately, but instead strolled around slowly while touching his face.