"Master, the courtesan doesn't want to see you."
The man wore a silver mask on his face and his eyes were narrowed.
"The money wasn't paid in full?"
The subordinate shook his head, "The madam was unmoved, saying that the courtesan doesn't accept customers. Otherwise, my subordinate..."
Before she could finish her words, she was interrupted by the man, "I have just arrived in the capital, so I shouldn't be too conspicuous. She is just a prostitute. There is still a long way to go. It is not worth it to do bad things for her."
There's plenty of time later anyway.
Yanran, whom the two people were talking about, was staring at the brothel owner.
"Tell me, what are you thinking?" The madam put the teacup in her hand on the table.
"Someone wanted to see you just now, and was very generous. I knew you definitely wouldn't want to see him, so I turned him down."
Yanran was playing with her hair absentmindedly.
"I know Mom is doing this for my own good, but since you are so generous and have such an extraordinary temperament, how could you not have a wife at home?"
The madam was silent for a moment, then spoke earnestly, "You proposed the performance yourself, wasn't it just to lure him in? Now that he's here, you're pushing him away. If you have anything to say, just say it. You can't stay in this Fengyue Tower forever!"
She treated all the girls in the building equally. If a girl had someone she liked, she naturally hoped that they would find a home and not wait until they grew old and became helpless like her.
"If he likes me, why wouldn't he tell me about her family situation?"
Yanran looked more serious. She was picked up by her mother and brought back to Fengyue Tower at the beginning of this year.
The first time I met a guest, I met the young master. This man was different from the others my mother mentioned. He just simply drank tea and listened to music, and the two of us had a very pleasant conversation.
Later, the young master often came to the building to see her, but each time he came, he just drank tea and chatted, and did not do anything out of the ordinary.
They were even worried that she would not be able to deal with other guests, so they spent a large sum of money to book her so that she would not have to deal with other people.
Meeting such a handsome man who cared about her, she was moved, but every time the words came to her lips, she swallowed them back because of other concerns.
"If he wasn't attracted to you, why would he consider you so much?" The madam stood up and patted her shoulder. "In matters of the heart, one has to speak first. Otherwise, it would be a pity to miss out."
…
The other side.
After leaving Fengyue Tower, the Fourth Prince parted ways with the two and went directly to the Mo Mansion.
"Grandfather, your well-behaved and lovable grandson has come to see you."
After he finished speaking, no one responded to him. The Fourth Prince walked in and the mansion was silent.
He scratched his head. Could it be that his grandfather was still angry, so he hid and refused to see him?
But if I can't see my grandfather, how can I cry poor?
"Grandfather, I've brought the best snacks from the palace to see you."
"Why are you shouting so loudly?" An elderly man with gray hair came out with his hands behind his back and raised his hands to pick his ears. "I'm not deaf yet!"
The Fourth Prince grinned and stepped forward to hold Old Mo's arm.
"I'm not afraid that you don't want to see me, Grandpa."
Arriving at the main hall, the Fourth Prince warmed his hands, took out the snacks he had brought with him and handed them to Mr. Mo.
"Grandfather, I brought this specially for you. Try it."
Mo Lao looked wary and didn't reach out to take it. "If someone shows kindness without any reason, he's either a traitor or a thief. Did your mother beat you up again? Do you want me to help you get justice?"
The Fourth Prince quickly shook his head, "No, I just miss you, Grandfather."
Mr. Mo took the snack and said bluntly, "If it's not a beating, then what is it?"
"Well," the Fourth Prince rubbed his hands and hesitantly said, "It's almost the New Year, and money is a bit tight, so..."
He hadn't given Luo'er the gift he owed her yet, and he had to give her the red envelope for the New Year. Otherwise, not only would his father and mother scold him, but Luo'er would also make up stories about him in her mind.
"Your silver was taken away by your mother?"
Mr. Mo still understands his daughter.
"Okay," seeing that he seemed to be hesitant to speak, Mr. Mo thought he had guessed it right, and took out a stack of banknotes from his arms and gave it to him.
"Here, take it. The silver note will be convenient for you to seal in a red envelope."
In fact, the Fourth Prince was hesitant to speak because he was organizing his words, but since everything was misunderstood, he just thought that his mother had taken it away.
If my mother were to investigate, I could also say that it was my grandfather who misunderstood.
"I asked you to learn mechanical arts, but you refused. If you had, you might even be able to fight your mother."
"Thank you, Grandfather," the Fourth Prince happily collected the banknotes, but his smile froze when he heard the words.
The Fourth Prince's eyes lit up when he suddenly remembered the torture he had suffered in the palace.
If I learn mechanical engineering from my grandfather, I won’t have to live in the palace or practice calligraphy.
The more the Fourth Prince thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.
"Grandfather, I will learn," he said, as if he had made up his mind. "I am willing to learn the art of mechanical engineering from you."
Mr. Mo was a little surprised, then smiled with relief.
"Well, you've learned this, at least you're not in vain. Otherwise, when your grandfather and your mother are gone, there will be no one to protect you."
Although the Mohist school does not get involved in government affairs, as long as the art of mechanical engineering is not lost, no one will dare to look down on them.
"But the emperor asked me to practice calligraphy in the palace. Grandfather, you have to talk to the emperor. If he agrees, there will be no problem."
Mr. Mo, who was still sentimental, stopped.
No wonder this brat suddenly agreed. He was relieved that he finally grew up and was waiting for him here.
…
After returning to the palace, the Fourth Prince happily ran to his residence, intending to show off in front of the Second Prince, but the room was empty.
"Your Highness, you are back. The Emperor asked you to go to the side hall of Zuihua Palace to find him." Afeng knocked on the door and came in.
The Fourth Prince followed Afeng to the side hall and was puzzled when he saw his other brothers were there.
Could something have happened?
"Your son greets His Majesty," the Fourth Prince asked the Crown Prince beside him in a low voice after paying his respects.
"Brother Crown Prince, what's wrong?"
The emperor glanced at him and said, "This year, we will have a family dinner together on New Year's Eve. No one is allowed to be absent, especially the fourth brother."
The Fourth Prince: “…”
I thought it was something big, but it turned out to be a call for him.
"I will definitely not be absent."
"Father," the Crown Prince said with a bow, "My uncle should have already set off and will arrive in the capital soon."
The emperor nodded. "Back then, he volunteered to be stationed in Yueqing. He has suffered a lot these past few years."
[They're still on their way, but they've already arrived in the capital.]
[Hearing the tyrant's tone, he must be quite moved. He asked to go to Yueqing because he was worried about you ascending the throne. He must hide for a while before making a comeback.]
【And yet you're still feeling moved by yourself. 】
emperor:"……"
It's not like he hadn't suspected his younger brother before, but for so many years his younger brother had been well behaved and could not be faulted.
The second prince recalled the figure he saw in Fengyue Tower. According to Luo'er, that person was undoubtedly the emperor's uncle.
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