Chapter 74 Xiao Che, why do you have something else on you...?

Huai Prefecture is divided into five counties, among which Huai County suffered the most severe disaster.

If Xiao Che remembered correctly, He Zhao, the magistrate of Huai County, was related to Xiao Jue's maternal clan and seemed to be a distant relative of the maternal clan of the late Empress Cui Wanqing.

Cui Wanqing's mother came from a humble family and her status in the Cui household was not much better than that of a concubine. Cui Wanqing's later rise to the position of empress was entirely due to her scheming and plotting. Her maternal family was not only of no support to her, but also a burden.

If her maternal clan was like this, her collateral branch was an even more worthless and impoverished household.

However, even from a poor family, a scholar passed the imperial examination. Although he was only a seventh-rank official, he was still a local magistrate. Over the years, he took advantage of his distant marriage ties with Cui Wanqing to curry favor with Xiao Jue.

Cui Wanqing was on Xiao Jue's side. Of her two sons, she favored her eldest son. Since Emperor Wei Xi no longer liked his eldest son, she, as his mother, naturally felt more affection for him.

He Zhao naturally sided with Xiao Jue. He had been away from the capital for a long time and was unaware of the current situation in the court. He simply assumed that since Xiao Jue was the crown prince, he would surely inherit the throne in the future, so currying favor with him was the right thing to do.

So much so that when Xiao Yan and Xiao Che came this time, he was quite negligent, and after the summons was issued, they did not come for a long time.

So the task that should have been his fell to Prefect Li Xingzhou.

——

To the north of Huai County lies Longji Mountain, a branch extending eastward from Huangshan Mountain. Its terrain is undulating, with towering peaks rising abruptly from the flat ground, including a high peak called Xuanyuan Peak.

The shape of Xuanyuan Peak first turns from east to south, then to southwest, and from a distance it looks just like a coiled dragon. No wonder the county annals record that this is the location of the dragon vein.

This terrain is considered excellent in terms of feng shui.

Xiao Che stood at the foot of the mountain, bent down and picked up a piece of gravel, rubbing it in his hand: "There are minerals all down here, doesn't anyone go to mine them?"

Li Xingzhou explained to Xiao Che from the side: "Huai County is mainly engaged in land reclamation, and most villagers make a living by farming and raising livestock. They do not mine or burn ash. Of course, it is also inseparable from the fact that the local gentry and wealthy families strictly prohibited mining in order to protect the feng shui. They sent people to patrol the mountains and offered rewards for reporting such activities. The rewards were generous. Over time, no one went there anymore."

Xiao Che said calmly, "It seems that those local gentry and wealthy households still value the dragon vein very much."

Li Xingzhou said, "Your Highness, as you know, most of the local gentry and wealthy families are retired officials. A few years ago, there was a mining operation, and for those two years, the imperial examinations in Huai County were surprisingly unsuccessful. The local political and economic development is closely related to the career paths of the local scholars. It can be said that they rise and fall together. Therefore, the local gentry and wealthy families have always attached great importance to feng shui."

Xiao Che nodded, and said thoughtfully, "Understood."

——

On the way back, passing through a bustling city, Xiao Che saw a commotion in the distance. A man in fine clothes was holding a woman's wrist, his face twisted with sarcasm. He said, "What are you trying to prove by pretending to be virtuous after being a whore? It's an honor for you to touch me, so don't play hard to get. What, are you trying to curry favor with the Second Prince by acting like a chaste and virtuous woman?"

Xiao Che stopped and raised his eyebrows slightly.

He winked at Xue Zhi, who understood and immediately walked into the crowd.

A moment later, he returned and whispered in Xiao Che's ear, "Your Highness, that man in fine clothes is Cui Zhang's son, Cui Run, Cui Zezhi."

Although Cui Zhang was just a merchant, his elder brother Cui Yu was a retired censor who had no children and treated Cui Run as his own son.

Even retired officials, though no longer serving in the court, still maintain intricate networks of personal relationships within the court, and their influence should not be underestimated.

The woman that Cui Run and Xiao Yan were vying for, if Xiao Che remembered correctly, was Hua Yao, the top courtesan of Zuixianlou.

At this moment, Hua Yao's wrist was being gripped by Cui Run, and she was struggling to break free. Her fair face turned bright red, and most of her thin shirt had been torn off, exposing her fair skin. This attracted the pointing and whispering of the onlookers, and she was both embarrassed and ashamed. She could only grit her teeth and say, "Young Master Cui, please have some self-respect!"

"Self-respect? Ha, a whore like you dares to talk to me about self-respect? I should strip you naked and throw you out on the street so everyone can see what kind of person you are!"

As he was about to pull off the clothes that were barely clinging to her body, his arm was suddenly grabbed from behind, the force so great that he could no longer muster any strength.

Cui Run was taken aback. His family was powerful and he had always been a tyrant in Huai County. People had always been angry with him but dared not speak out. This was the first time someone had dared to stop him in the street.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, a surge of rage followed. He sneered, about to ask who was so blind as to meddle in his business!

He turned his head, but his expression suddenly froze.

The newcomer was a complete stranger, definitely not from Huai County. He was exceptionally handsome, with a cold and indifferent demeanor, yet possessed an undeniable air of nobility. He stood behind him, much taller than him, looking down at him with a natural air of superiority.

Cui Run's arrogance immediately diminished: "You...who are you?"

Xiao Che smiled slightly, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. Instead, the smile revealed a chilling coldness that seeped into his bones. He said, "Cui Run, Young Master Cui? When my second brother and I were discussing matters with your father, I heard my second brother mention you to your father. I didn't expect to run into you as soon as I stepped out. What a coincidence! Would you like to come back with me to catch up with your father and my second brother?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Xue Zhi, who was standing to the side, presented Xiao Che's token.

The dragon pattern engraved on it is the same pattern worn by princes.

Combining what he just said, the "second brother" he mentioned must be the second prince, so the person in front of him must be the third prince.

Cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.

Just now, I overheard him say that the Second Prince mentioned him while discussing matters with my father. Why would the Second Prince mention him? Even a fool could guess that it must be because of that vile woman, Hua Yao.

How could he and the Second Prince have any connection in the first place? It was because a few days ago at the Wan Hua Lou, he failed to recognize the Second Prince's identity in time and almost got into a fight with him because of Hua Yao.

Unexpectedly, the Second Prince brought up this matter in front of his father today. He must be holding a grudge and probably scolded his father for failing to raise his son properly. He will inevitably be reprimanded when he gets back.

Thinking of this, his face darkened even more.

That's not all. Now, the Third Prince has caught him and Hua Yao arguing on the street. If this gets back to the Second Prince, he's bound to be in trouble again.

The third prince even wanted him to go back with him to reminisce with them. Wasn't he just trying to hasten his death?

Cui Run wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said with an embarrassed smile, "So...it's the Third Prince. I was mistaken...Since the Second Prince and Father are discussing matters, I'd better not disturb them..."

Xiao Che slowly leaned down and whispered in his ear. As soon as he spoke, a fierce look suddenly appeared: "Then get out of here."

Cui Run was stunned for a moment, and after realizing what was happening, he immediately ran away in a panic.

Cui Run was walking too fast and knocked Hua Yao to the ground.

She lowered her head and gently rubbed her arm, which was red and swollen from being scraped on the ground, struggling to get up.

Suddenly, a hand was offered from the side.

Hua Yao raised her head in surprise.

She had been busy tidying her clothes and kept her head down the whole time. She knew that a benefactor had come to her rescue, but she had never been able to see his face clearly.

Until this moment.

Their eyes met.

The originally gloomy sky seemed to have been cleared of layers of clouds, finally letting in a sliver of dawn.

The sky was bright.

She absentmindedly offered her hand.

Xiao Che smiled slightly, took her hand, and with a little effort, helped her up.

Hua Yao was in a dizzy state. When the two got a little closer, she quickly took half a step back, as if she was very ashamed and afraid of disrespecting him.

It was cold on the mountain, and Xiao Che had put on a cloak when he went out.

He glanced at the clothes hanging on Hua Yao's body, which barely covered her body, lowered his eyes slightly, took off his cloak, and put it on her.

Hua Yao trembled, and her eyes almost instantly welled up with heat.

The cloak completely enveloped her body, as if piecing together and protecting her shattered self-esteem bit by bit, shielding her from the coldness of the outside world. Warmth flowed gently through her, making her slowly realize that she was also a person.

Men always eagerly undressed her, and never once would a man offer to help her put on a coat.

The crowd gradually dispersed.

Hua Yao pulled her cloak tighter around herself and was about to express her gratitude when a man's low chuckle suddenly came from above her head. His voice was magnetic, like shattered jade falling onto a plate, and the sound was exceptionally pleasant as the wind rustled through the bamboo forest.

"Gazing at the scenery, I idly pour wine from the silver jar; admiring the flowers, I think of the people of the Jade Capital." Xiao Che asked with a smile, "Is it Miss Hua Yao?"

Hua Yao's heart skipped a beat. Even though she had seen countless men and was always at ease with them, she couldn't help but feel the awkwardness and unease of a young girl in love: "I... am indeed a young woman..."

Xiao Che smiled slightly and said, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Hua Yao bit her lip and said softly, "Hua Yao thanks Your Highness for helping me out of this predicament..."

Xiao Che chuckled: "Just a thank you?"

Hua Yao looked up in a daze, momentarily lost in thought.

Xiao Che played with the jade ring on his hand and smiled, "Miss Hua Yao, won't you invite me to your place for a drink?"

Hua Yao paused for a moment, then stammered, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I am naturally... naturally willing..."

——

Inside the private room, red curtains hung softly, and a subtle fragrance wafted through the air.

Xiao Che sat on the brocade stool, reached out and took the cup from Hua Yao, a smile appearing on his lips: "Thank you."

His fingers touched the rim of the cup, about to withdraw, when a pair of delicate hands slowly rested on the back of his hand, their fingertips lightly tracing the prominent veins on his hand.

He looked up at her.

Hua Yao didn't dare to look him in the eye. She lowered her head, her cheeks and neck flushed crimson, and her sweet, soft voice seemed to overflow with water as she said, "Your Highness..."

Xiao Che withdrew his hand without making a sound.

Hua Yao was startled, then looked up helplessly, her eyes sparkling.

Xiao Che's eyebrows twitched slightly; he saw something familiar in her eyes.

After a moment of stunned silence, Hua Yao immediately reached out and followed, saying, "Your Highness, Your Highness has been kind to me. Since saying 'thank you' is too inadequate, Hua Yao naturally wants to express her gratitude in another way..."

"Hua Yao has nothing of value, except for her physical appearance, which has some merit. If Your Highness does not despise her, Hua Yao is willing... willing to offer herself to you..."

Xiao Che withdrew his hand and said calmly, "I am grateful for your kindness, but there is no need for me to repay you with my body. If you want to repay this favor, you can do me a favor."

Hua Yao finally lowered her head dejectedly and said self-deprecatingly, "It was Hua Yao who offended me."

She should have known that someone as ethereal and otherworldly as him would never stoop to the muddy world of mortals with her.

Even if it was just a fleeting affair, he was unwilling.

However, she harbored a sliver of wishful thinking because he had previously said he would visit her.

Now that he has made his stance clear, she has no choice but to come to her senses.

She lowered her head, clasped her hands together, took a half step back to create distance between herself and Xiao Che, and asked respectfully, "What does Your Highness wish me to do?"

Xiao Che glanced at her, his eyebrows twitching slightly: "When Cui Run humiliated you like that, did you ever think of avenging yourself?"

"Of course I dream of it, but I'm just a woman of the night, powerless and without influence. What can I do to him?"

Xiao Che smiled enigmatically: "What if I said I had a way?"

Hua Yao suddenly looked up at him.

Xiao Che stood up and slowly walked to Hua Yao's side: "As long as you do as I say, you will get what you want. This will help me, and it will also help you."

He leaned in and whispered something in her ear.

Hua Yao slowly opened her eyes wide, her expression one of utter shock: "Your Highness, this..."

Xiao Che chuckled and said lazily, "What, are you scared, young lady?"

“I…” Hua Yao looked up and met his gaze. She found that his eyes were unusually light, like amber glass, with a captivating quality. Looking into his eyes for a long time would cause a strange dizziness.

She lowered her eyelashes, steadied herself, and said, "Hua Yao is willing to serve Your Highness, both to repay Your Highness for saving her from this predicament and to avenge herself."

Xiao Che slowly smiled and said, "Okay."

As Xiao Che was leaving, Hua Yao clenched her hands, but couldn't help calling out to him from behind, "Your Highness, is it because I come from a brothel, have a lowly status, and am not innocent that you feel disgusted with me..."

“I have never looked down on you,” he turned to look at her, a faint smile playing on his lips, and scoffed, “Lowly status? In some people’s eyes, I am probably the lowest of the low. Between you and me, perhaps there is no difference, so why would I look down on you?”

"I think it was not your intention to end up in a brothel. Many people's fates are nothing more than duckweed floating on the water, never in control of their own destiny."

"Since it was not a matter of self-degradation, but rather a matter of inherent purity, how could it be that one is not innocent?"

He said, “After this is done, I will help you leave this place. The past is like yesterday’s death, and the future is like today’s birth. You have always been innocent.”

She has always been innocent... Hua Yao clenched her fists tightly, and a sudden warmth welled up in her eyes.

She thought there was nothing she wouldn't do for him.

——

When Xiao Che returned, he saw Yan Jiarou asleep on the table.

The table was covered with cold food; she had clearly fallen asleep while waiting for him to return for his meal.

Xiao Che frowned and had someone prepare some hot porridge. He pulled Yan Jiarou into his arms, coaxed and forced her to drink a bowl of porridge, and then bathed with her. After carefully drying her off, he carried her to the bed.

Yan Jiarou was a heavy sleeper. Xiao Che had been tossing and turning her around for a while, feeding her porridge and giving her a bath, but she was still half asleep and didn't wake up. Now that she was in bed, her eyes were wide open like copper bells.

Xiao Che was both amused and annoyed. He leaned over and touched her forehead to his, gently rubbing it against hers: "My dear, you really know how to pick your time to wake up."

He pinched her cheek and pretended to be angry, saying, "Tell me, did you do it on purpose?"

Yan Jiarou blinked, looking at him sleepily with a dazed expression, and called out to him in a sticky voice, "Brother, you're back..." Then she gently rubbed her cheek against him, like some small animal seeking affection.

Xiao Che's heart melted instantly. He kissed her eyes and unconsciously softened his voice: "Good girl, it's time to sleep now."

"What? You just got here and you're already making me sleep? I open my eyes and you're gone again? Does that mean I won't see you every day... I don't want that..."

Just as she was about to say something, she suddenly stopped. Yan Jiarou sniffed and suddenly sensed a scent on Xiao Che that did not belong to him.

Because she had already bathed, the scent was extremely faint, almost undetectable. Only someone like Yan Jiarou, who had the opportunity to be intimate with Xiao Che, could detect a hint of something unusual.

"Xiao Che, why do you smell differently? It's like..." What does it smell like? But for a moment, she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

Xiao Che's eyebrows twitched, a hint of something in his eyes; Yan Jiarou was indeed quite perceptive.

Yan Jiarou frowned, racking her brains to figure it out. Finally, she managed to sort out a few thoughts and blurted out, "It looks like a woman..."

However, before she could finish speaking, Xiao Che forcefully grabbed the back of her head and pressed her face down to kiss her.

The unspoken words were swallowed up by him.

After the kiss ended, Yan Jiarou was still dizzy from the kiss and had long forgotten the obvious speculation she had made earlier.

She blinked blankly, her beautiful eyes misting over.

The fleeting thought that had just surfaced vanished once more, and she could only continue to lean against his neck, inhaling the lingering scent on his body, trying to discern it.

However, Xiao Che did not give her that chance at all.

His large hand slipped into her, causing Yan Jiarou to let out a soft cry, and she quickly deleted everything in his arms.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and she weakly cried out, "Brother..." A few words escaped her lips, but were quickly cut off: "No..."

Xiao Che smiled and said "Hmm?", but his hand completely deleted...

Her long, slender, jade-like fingers usually exuded a cold, ascetic aura.

But then, in a malicious move, everything was deleted.

Yan Jiarou's red lips parted slightly, her eyes completely blank, her black hair soaked with sweat, sticky and glistening, looking both pitiful and alluring: "Brother, no..."

"Don't want to? Then why did Yan Yan do that?"

Xiao Che chuckled, licking and kissing her fair earlobe, his voice low and husky: "Clearly, you're quite greedy."

As he spoke, he said, "I've already been driven crazy by the censorship of deleting 500 words here."

"You've ruined my life, how are you going to compensate me, huh?"

"Smell it, I'm covered in your scent now." (Can't the male lead smell like the female lead? Excuse me, censors? Even a hug can leave a scent, right? Why can't the male lead hug the female lead in romance novels? I've already deleted them all, and you're still locking me out and beating me up?)

"Baby's...smell."

"Baby...so many...so good."

Yan Jiarou was so ashamed she almost cried, shaking her head desperately, "Waaah...no..."

Xiao Che's actions were deliberately designed to seduce her. Now, he was covered in her scent, and the faint fragrance from before was no longer discernible.

Moreover, Yan Jiarou has now deleted everything and is... mentally unstable, having completely forgotten what she was about to question.

The matter of Xiao Che seemingly smelling of another woman was thus easily dismissed.