Chapter 186 Extra: No one else in sight, only you all around.
Today is the most difficult day of Yu Qiao's life. He didn't feel this hard when Yu Huaifeng kicked him out of the Prime Minister's mansion.
As the latest batch of hidden items in the blind boxes, Yu Nian asked many artists to paint portraits of He Qing, but she was never satisfied. So she asked Yu Qiao to go to Huan Cai Ge in person during the day.
This was Yu Qiao's first time visiting a brothel. He thought it would be quieter during the day, but looking around, there were still many people inside, all of whom were strangers.
Yu Qiao kept fidgeting with the handle of the toolbox, staring at the Huan Cai Ge signboard, unable to move an inch.
How about we come another day...?
Yu Qiao turned around and walked back, but stopped after taking two steps.
No, he couldn't betray Yu Nian's trust in him.
Turning back, Yu Qiao had only taken a few steps when a woman in her thirties, heavily made up, came out of the door and waved to him.
"Young master, you've come to have some fun?"
Upon seeing this, Yu Qiao quickly lowered her head, pretending to be passing by, and turned back.
He's really bad at dealing with strangers, especially strange women.
He longed to go home, but he had already promised Yu Nian, so how could he break his promise?
On the upper floor of Huancai Pavilion, He Qing leaned on the railing, looking down at the young man pacing back and forth in front of the door like an ant on a hot pan, a slight smile playing on her lips.
Wearing a veil and accompanied by a black cat with heterochromatic eyes, this must be the second brother, Yu Qiao, that the lady mentioned.
She had been gathering intelligence for her master here for many years and had seen all kinds of men. They came to Huancai Pavilion to seek pleasure more naturally than they would to their own homes.
This was the first time she had ever met someone who was actually doing serious business, yet she seemed so awkward.
Yes, what an interesting lady, and she also has an interesting second brother.
She picked a grape and threw it over Yu Qiao's head, who was circling downstairs.
Tiny grapes landed on Yu Qiao's hat brim, then bounced off and disappeared into the dust.
Yu Qiao looked up, his eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment. Had something hit him?
Those eyes were so clean, like a pebble in a mountain stream, and they looked so innocent and endearing.
An idea began to grow wildly in He Qing's mind.
She longed to have a daughter with him, one with eyes as pure as his—how wonderful that would be.
He Qing was a woman of action; she got up and went downstairs, believing that living in the moment was her motto.
After just one glance at him, no one else could catch her eye anymore.
Downstairs, Yu Qiao was still hesitant to enter Huan Cai Ge, but Jing Zhe seemed to smell something and ran inside on her own.
"Don't run around during the Awakening of Insects."
Yu Qiao hurriedly chased after him, sighing inwardly that he wasn't as brave as his cat.
Before you know it, you've stumbled upon a soft, fragrant piece of jade.
Yu Qiao lowered his head in a panic and apologized, as the other person's clear and pleasant voice entered his ears.
"Young Master Yu, you've struck a chord with me."
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."
Yu Qiao frantically repeated the motion, but her wrist was grabbed by a slender, jade-like hand.
"Let's go, I'm the person you're looking for, no need to apologize."
He Qing smiled triumphantly, "As long as you compensate me with yourself, that's all that matters."
Yu Qiao slightly raised her eyes and looked at that warm and strong hand.
Her hands are so beautiful, even the curve of her nails is so lovely. Is she the most beautiful courtesan here, the most beautiful woman in the area...?
Upon arriving at the room, Yu Qiao bowed respectfully to He Qing.
"My name is Yu Qiao. I am here to paint for you, young lady. Please forgive me if I have offended you earlier."
He was very polite, but He Qing was somewhat looking forward to seeing him be impolite.
She's a bit malicious. Even though Madam Mingming told her that her second brother is introverted and not to make things difficult for him.
He Qing took a deep breath. She needed to control herself and not scare the person away.
"Young Master Yu, you're too kind. Just call me by my name."
They kept calling her "girl," which made her a little embarrassed to make a move; she wasn't one of those delicate girls.
"May I ask your name, young lady?"
Yu Qiao was so nervous that he couldn't even remember what Yu Nian had told him the courtesan's name.
He Qing's red lips parted slightly, and she smiled gracefully. Her slender fingers hooked his hand and wrote the character "Qing" in his palm.
Call me Qingqing.
Yu Qiao had never been so close to a woman before, and her heart was pounding.
"Qingqing..."
Although it is not the same character as "卿卿" (qingqing), an intimate term between men and women, it sounds the same.
Seeing Yu Qiao's face turn red, He Qing let go of his hand before he became a ripe apple.
It can't be too ripe yet, because she can't pick it right now.
"Let's begin."
Yu Qiao set up her easel, composed herself, and picked up her brush.
For some reason, even after using several sheets of paper, I still couldn't capture her charming and elegant spirit.
"I'm sorry, can I come back to draw it tomorrow?"
He Qing gave Yu Qiao an encouraging smile and personally helped her put on the veil.
"sure."
The next day, Yu Qiao rallied his spirits and arrived at the foot of Huan Cai Pavilion, where he saw He Qing greeting him.
"Aren't you cold...?"
He Qing's outer garment today was made of light gauze, and he could see her beautiful collarbone as soon as he looked up.
"Are you cold? I feel very hot."
The moment I saw him, I felt a surge of excitement.
He Qing poured Yu Qiao a cup of tea and deliberately touched his fingers as she handed it to him.
So Yu Qiao couldn't finish drawing today either. For some reason, he was a little afraid to look at He Qing.
He Qing seemed to have plenty of free time, and chatted with him for a long time before letting him leave.
After wasting seven or eight days, Yu Qiao's painting was still completely blank.
When he came to Huancui Pavilion again, he did not see He Qing sitting on the railing upstairs, waiting for him as usual.
The madam told him that the courtesan had a customer and asked him to wait in the room next to hers.
Through a thin wall, Yu Qiao heard the delicate, melodious sound of a pipa.
She must be playing the pipa. With such beautiful hands, she must be so beautiful when she plays the pipa that it's impossible to look away.
Then, Yu Qiao heard her laughter again.
Like a warbling oriole in the woods, Yu Qiao felt somewhat lonely. When he painted her portrait, she would only smile slightly.
When He Qing came to see Yu Qiao with her pipa in her arms, she still had a faint smile on her face.
Yu Qiao said in a low voice.
"If you're unhappy, I'll head back now."
He Qing looked up at Yu Qiao, "How did Young Master Yu know?"
"What I heard in the music..."
He Qing was very satisfied. It was good that he could understand her now.
"Maybe you can make me a little happier."
He Qing put down her pipa and slowly walked towards Yu Qiao.
"I...how could I..."
As the distance closed, Yu Qiao lowered her head somewhat uncomfortably.
Her jade-like hand caressed Yu Qiao's collar, and a natural allure appeared in the corners of He Qing's eyes.
"Like this..."
With a slight touch of her toes, her red lips pressed against the thin skin she had long coveted, gently soothing the uneasy trembling.
He tried to escape, but she chased him even harder.
"you……"
Yu Qiao pressed down on He Qing's shoulder, her breathing disordered.
"You dislike me?"
Yu Qiao didn't know what to say, but she shook her head vigorously.
He Qing was amused by him, her red lips and white teeth shining brightly, almost stealing Yu Qiao's soul.
He Qing rolled up her sleeve, revealing a bit of red sand, which flashed in front of Yu Qiao's eyes.
"Don't worry, I'm very clean."
This made Yu Qiao even more panicked. She forgot to take her things and ran out of Huancai Pavilion as if she were escaping.
He Qing was somewhat stunned. Had she been too hasty? In the end, she had scared the person away.
Half a month passed, and the new batch of blind boxes had already been released to the market, but Yu Qiao never came to Huancai Pavilion again.
On a moonless night with few stars, Yu Qiao knocked on He Qing's door carrying a large package.
"What brings you here, young master?"
He Qing was deliberately putting on airs, because he hadn't come to see her for so long.
Yu Qiao handed over the package and opened it for He Qing to see.
“I…I asked, and the madam said you…are very expensive. This is the money I raised; I don’t know if it’s enough…”
If that's not enough, he'll borrow some more from Yu Nian to redeem her.
Even the usually shrewd and worldly-wise He Qing was stunned. So that's what he'd been doing all this time.
Why would you redeem me?
He Qing knew exactly what was going on, but he still pulled him into the room and interrogated him against the door.
Yu Qiao's cheeks flushed slightly as she looked down at He Qing, her voice soft and light.
"I...I want to marry you."
He held a small wooden puppet in his hand and handed it to He Qing. It was made by Yu Qiao, the only hidden piece. He didn't want to give it to anyone else, he only wanted to give it to her.
"This is for you."
After Yu Qiao returned home that day, her lips were stained with her lipstick, and she could trace her image even with her eyes closed.
He Qing looked at the puppet with amazement in her eyes, but shook her head and refused.
"I don't want it."
Before Yu Qiao's eyes could show hurt, He Qing quickly added a sentence.
"I want you."
In the warm embrace of the hibiscus-scented tent, Yu Qiao spent the night away from home for the first time.
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