Chapter 14 Clash

The teahouse fell silent instantly, even the scholars who had been discussing philosophy stopped talking.

Du Qianqian straightened her back, her face bearing a compassionate expression, and began her performance:

"What's wrong with visiting brothels? Is it something shameful to do?"

She said accusingly, "I admire those women because they are all talented and work hard to make a living! Unlike you, who have a dirty mind and look at people with prejudice! They earn their living through their own abilities, so who gives you the right to look down on them?"

So what if I wear men's clothes? I'm just enjoying my freedom. Someone as narrow-minded as you, confined to your own little world, only knowing how to use rules to bind others and yourself—I have nothing to say to you!

Then, as if to prove her broad vision, she recited on the spot, "A lone plume of smoke rises straight from the desert, the setting sun hangs round over the long river."

"Dark clouds press down on the city, threatening to crush it; armor gleams in the sun, like golden scales."

After reciting the poem, she became even more arrogant, looking at Qin Wanwan with a condescending and pitying gaze: "I pity you, trapped in the small space of the backyard."

Do you know how magnificent the desolate desert is? How breathtaking the battlefield is with its clashing swords and galloping horses? You will never understand these things, because you don't even have the courage to take the first step!

Her impassioned speech and astonishing poem indeed caused an uproar in the teahouse.

Many scholars looked on with amazement and admiration: "What a wonderful poem! What a magnificent spirit!"

"Miss Du is indeed exceptionally talented and insightful!"

"To judge a person not by external things—this is the true magnanimity of a great scholar!"

The Second Prince Xiao Yu looked at Du Qianqian with eyes full of admiration and doting, while the assassin Mu Han beside her also showed a hint of warmth and approval in his cold eyes.

Miss Qin was stunned by this barrage of "profound" remarks, so angry that she trembled all over and her face turned bright red.

She had been well-versed in literature since childhood, and was proficient in calligraphy, painting, and needlework. She had never been criticized so harshly for being ignorant.

She wanted to say, "You've corrupted the prince." If people found out that the second prince was visiting brothels, it would be a great blow to his reputation. However, she was also worried that Xiao Yu couldn't expose him in public.

Speechless for a moment, furious yet unable to find a strong rebuttal, he could only point at Du Qianqian and shout angrily, "You...you shameless—!"

Before the word "face" could be fully uttered, Mu Han's eyes flashed with murderous intent, and Xiao Yu's face also darkened instantly.

At this critical moment, a slender, white hand swiftly reached out and firmly covered Miss Qin's mouth, preventing her from saying anything more.

Qin Wan struggled for a moment with a "whimpering" sound, then turned around in surprise, only to be met with Ling Wei's concerned yet calm gaze.

Ling Wei gently shook her head at her, a huge sense of grievance welling up in her heart. Her eyes reddened, and tears streamed down her face.

Ling Wei patted her back to comfort her, then straightened up and calmly met Mu Han's murderous eyes.

Mu Han was clearly taken aback.

He was used to intimidating others with his murderous intent, and had never encountered such a calm and even scrutinizing gaze.

The gaze made him feel slightly uncomfortable. As an assassin, he disliked attracting attention, so he subconsciously looked away and lowered his head slightly.

Du Qianqian's luck is soaring; if left unchecked, it will only grow stronger.

Ling Wei listened from above, while Du Qianqian summed up the dispute in a few words using the formula of "being trapped in the inner quarters," and then, with a sense of superiority, she finished it off in a second, causing Ling Wei's blood pressure to soar.

She glanced at Su Jingyu beside her, who also had a complicated expression on her face.

So, Ling Wei gave a look: I'm going to go for it! ┗|｀O′|┛

Su Jingyu smiled and nodded: Please. ┏(゜ω゜)=

Miss Qin, realizing what was happening, gratefully and worriedly tugged at Ling Wei's sleeve, whispering, "Miss, thank you, but the people opposite are of high status. Please don't offend them for my sake..."

Ling Wei wiped away the girl's tears and instructed the waiter to bring her a pot of tea. Every move she made was slow and deliberate. Although she didn't say anything, she became the focus of the entire room.

After calming her down, she slowly looked at Du Qianqian, who clearly had an air of "I'm right, who cares?" and was just waiting for Ling Wei to speak before she could apply the formula again.

Under her expectant gaze, Ling Wei spoke with a tone full of admiration: "Your Excellency... could you be the renowned talented woman who composed 'Behind the red gates, meat and wine go to waste, while on the road, frozen corpses lie,' Miss Du Qianqian?"

Several months later, Du Qianqian no longer remembered Ling Wei, but felt that she was somewhat familiar. She must be one of the many noble ladies who disliked her, so she raised her chin slightly and said, "I am indeed the one who is not talented."

"I've long admired your name!" Ling Wei's smile deepened as she spoke loudly:

"I have heard that 'a gentleman despises those who say they want something but always find excuses to do it.' Miss Du may be small in wisdom but big in strategy, small in strength but heavy in responsibility, and she rarely fails to live up to this."

Du Qianqian was not clear on the meaning and only half understood the conversation. When she heard "rarely as good as her", coupled with Ling Wei's admiring tone, she thought that Ling Wei was saying that she was not as good as her. She subconsciously waved her hand humbly and said, "Not at all, you flatter me."

A moment of silence fell over the people around them. Xiao Yu turned her head and looked at her with some shock.

Qin Wan, who was watching from the sidelines, was also stunned. Looking at Du Qianqian's accepting expression, she lowered her head, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

Ling Wei couldn't help but chuckle, stopping her teasing: "It seems that Miss Du didn't understand what I meant. It's alright, I'll repeat it in a way you can understand."

She suppressed her smile, her eyes instantly turning icy cold, and said, word by word, "I'm talking about you! You're a fame-seeker, a liar, using other people's suffering as your own elegant gossip, and putting on a disgusting face as if you're the only one who's sober while everyone else is drunk."

This is utterly shameless!

Du Qianqian's eyes blazed with anger: "You...!"

Ling Wei didn't give her a chance to speak, bombarding her with questions like a storm: "From what you've said, you disguise yourself as a man to visit brothels, which is also a way of broadening your horizons?"

“That’s right!” Du Qianqian puffed out her chest, speaking with righteous indignation, “The world is so big, I want to see it! What’s wrong with brothels? They’re part of the human condition. The girls there are alluring, aloof, or exceptionally talented—each with their own unique charm…”

At this point, some listeners already let out knowing laughs.

This laugh seemed to energize Du Qianqian. She glanced disdainfully at Ling Wei and Qin Wan: "I admire their beauty, unlike you pampered young ladies who lack the courage and knowledge to see the world, yet you try to stop others. You're truly hypocritical and love to compete with others!"

Ling Wei has no modern memories, so she didn't understand the last sentence, but that didn't stop her from continuing.

"Fine! I'll only ask you one question, Du Qianqian: among those girls in brothels, which one of them was born willingly stepping into that world?!"

Du Qianqian choked: "Of course..." No, she was stuck.

"Of course not."

Ling Wei spoke for her, her voice filled with sorrow and anger, "Those charming girls you speak of, some of them were trafficked, some came from impoverished families and had nowhere else to turn, and some suffered from famine and sold themselves for a bite to eat!"

"Are they born wanting to go to brothels?!"

A rhetorical question silenced the entire room.

Du Qianqian's face turned pale; something had exceeded her expectations.