Chapter 105: The Oiran Sings
"You scoundrel!" Qin Feng followed behind the group, his sparkling eyes glued to Qin Xiangnuan and Jiang Lin like hooks. From his vantage point, he saw the two holding hands, and he was so angry he wanted to rush over and separate them. Qin Yi, seeing his impulsiveness, pulled him back and scolded him, "What are you doing? Didn't you see Nuannuan didn't refuse? What are you getting into?"
Qin Feng blushed with anger, stamping his feet and saying, "What does my little sister know? If she knew, she wouldn't be... "
He stopped talking mid-sentence, realizing he'd slipped up and nearly bit his tongue. Qin Yi narrowed his eyes, silently signaling him to be cautious. "Prince Xiaoyao Hou is traveling with us, so he'll have plenty of eyes and ears. You must remember to keep that mouth shut, or no one can save you." After saying this, Qin Yi looked at Qin Xiangnuan, feeling completely reassured about her.
"Prince, is this for me, or do you want to take it back?"
Seeing Jiang Lin show no sign of letting go, Qin Xiangnuan shook her wrist, asking in a warning tone. Jiang Lin clenched his fist to his lips, coughed softly, and withdrew his hand. Qin Xiangnuan looked down at the ring. The warm mutton-fat jade was tinged with a hint of red, a color as bright as blood, and it was obvious that it was worth a lot of money.
"Prince! What do you want to talk about?" Qin Xiangnuan accepted her reward and, naturally, maintained her professionalism and put on a smile, as if she had transformed into a completely different person. Jiang Lin was both amused and embarrassed by her expression. He casually asked, "With Third Miss, is everything clearly priced and can be exchanged for money or treasures?" His question was a bit tricky, even a little tentative and hostile.
Qin Xiangnuan didn't feel offended. She nodded calmly, "Of course."
"You can't live on a single breath." Qin Xiangnuan stared ahead with clear eyes. Her words, though mundane, didn't resonate, but rather felt a certain truth. "Of course, practitioners do yearn for poverty, believing that suffering will wash away their karmic obstacles and bring them closer to their faith. But I don't have such ideals or aspirations. I simply want to live a good life, take care of my mother, and everyone in the Qin family, ensuring they have enough food and clothing. All of this requires money."
Qin Xiangnuan pointed at the wooden hairpin on her head and said to Jiang Lin, "I used to be like you, wearing gold and silver. The fabrics I wore were all the best from the tailor shops in the capital, sent from Jiangnan, and the shopkeepers would definitely keep them for me. But now, I would be grateful for any piece of coarse cloth that can keep me warm." This is the change that experience has brought her. "A silver coin, a few copper coins, can buy a lot of things."
"In that case, since I can change, why not?"
Qin Xiangnuan looked at Jiang Lin and said calmly, "Your Highness is no different. As long as you can achieve your wish, no matter what the price, you are also willing to pay, right? In the final analysis, we are the same kind of people." She sighed, put her hands behind her neck, and hummed a song that Jiang Lin had never heard before. Jiang Lin was touched. He was silent for a moment, and deliberately asked, looking for a topic to talk about, "What song is this?"
“I’ve never heard of it before.”
Seeing his serious expression, Qin Xiangnuan tried to lighten the mood. Suddenly, she remembered Anliu telling her that Jiang Lin had never been to a brothel. A wicked smile curled up at the corner of her mouth and she beckoned Jiang Lin. Jiang Lin bent over curiously. Qin Xiangnuan's breath was right next to his ear, carrying a hint of orchid fragrance, which instantly turned his ears red. "This song was sung by the most beautiful courtesan in the Yihong Courtyard in the capital. Many young men have spent a fortune and never had the chance to hear it." Qin Xiangnuan deliberately said in a gentle tone like an oriole, "The prince's ring is worth it!"
"Cough cough cough..." Jiang Lin almost choked on his own saliva when he heard Qin Xiangnuan's words.
He looked at Qin Xiangnuan in disbelief, and asked with horror on his face, "How do you know what's going on there?" As the most famous brothel in the capital, Yihongyuan was frequented by many young men from wealthy families. Jiang Lin had heard about it several times from young men of similar age in the court, and he didn't have much of a good impression of it.
"Of course, I'm going to have some fun and listen to some music." Qin Xiangnuan raised an eyebrow, waving a paper fan. She was still wearing Jiang Lin's clothes, and on the surface, she looked like a graceful and elegant young man. "Don't say it, the madam of Yihongyuan is quite capable. The girls are all so graceful, their figures make even me drool. I don't know if I'll ever have the chance to return to the capital. If I do, I'll definitely treat the prince to a good tour."
Seeing Jiang Lin's face flushing red, almost ready to burst, Qin Xiangnuan continued, "I will definitely choose a girl for the prince who is considerate and caring. I'll get to know her well for you." After saying this, Qin Xiangnuan couldn't help but burst out laughing. Jiang Lin looked at her in bewilderment, and the contrasting look on his face made Qin Xiangnuan laugh even louder.
"I haven't seen Nuannuan so happy in a long time."
Zou followed Liu and whispered to her. Liu nodded and sat on the cart, supporting Old Madam Qin, her eyes filled with worry and thought. She also mentioned this matter to Qin Guang in her heart, hoping to wait for Qin Guang's reply and see his attitude and intentions before making a decision.
Qin Xiangnuan, who was walking in front, laughed until tears came out. She wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with her little finger. She couldn't bear to tease Jiang Lin anymore, so she shook her head and said kindly, "Forget it, it seems that the prince really doesn't know the rules of Yihongyuan. The Oiran only sells her art, not her body. I went there a few times before, but I just heard that her embroidery skills are excellent and I wanted to learn from her. After a few visits, I didn't expect that we would become friends."
"Although she lives in Yihongyuan, she's just a poor soul with a bad fate." Qin Xiangnuan calmed down and looked at the two narrow mountain ranges ahead. Between the peaks on either side was a narrow path barely wide enough for three or four people. This kind of terrain... Qin Xiangnuan looked at the top of the mountain warily, signaling to the back to pause briefly. Jiang Lin hadn't yet recovered from the shock of Yihongyuan. Seeing her movements, he frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"
Qin Xiangnuan shook her head. She couldn't say that her premonition was bad.
"Everyone's tired. Let's rest here for a bit before continuing on our journey." Qin Xiangnuan said, motioning for Wang Qiang to come over. He was free, so he could move around more easily. "Brother Wang, please go ahead and scout the road ahead to see if there's a house on the top of the mountain or an ambush for the transporters..."
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