I won't kiss you, as long as you confess and I'll be lenient.
"Oh?" The boss raised his eyebrows in confusion. As far as he knew, there was only one Pei family that could be considered a powerful family in the capital. That family was a big shot who was unknown and worked for the Crown Prince. He had never heard of a young lady in the family.
Making money was the priority, so the boss didn't think too much about it and turned to shout upstairs: "Anyone with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, a height of six feet, sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, skilled in singing, dancing and music, come down quickly, there's a big deal coming up."
After saying that, the shopkeeper went upstairs again: "Miss, please wait here. I will go and invite Young Master Su right away."
Young Master Su was the top courtesan at Yiying Tower. If Tao Zhi hadn't offered him such a generous sum, the owner wouldn't have let him go so easily.
The opera troupe was also invited to the mansion, and as dusk approached, seven or eight carriages lined up outside the Pei residence.
The actors on stage were ready, and Tao Zhi also brought back five or six people who looked like celestial beings.
"Miss, this is the person you are looking for." Tao Zhi said as she placed the slip of paper with the selection criteria written on it next to Wen Zhibai.
Wen Zhibai nodded, she was very satisfied, as expected of someone from Yiyinglou.
"I've long heard that there's a young master named Su Mu at Yiying Tower who's skilled at playing the pipa." Wen Zhibai's gaze fell on the slender man in the crowd whose face was half-covered by a veil.
Su Mu stepped forward: "Su Mu greets Miss Pei."
Wen Zhibai couldn't hide the smile on his face: "You're so good-looking, there's no need for formalities. By the way, my surname isn't Pei, it's Wen."
"Yes, Miss Wen."
"You'll sit next to me in a little while and watch the show with me," Wen Zhibai said frankly. But in Xie An and Tao Zhi's eyes, things were probably going to be very bad once Pei Qinzhou returned.
A book of play titles was handed to Wen Zhibai.
"Please select a play, miss."
"Then let's play the 'Eternal Life' melody."
As soon as she finished speaking, a wonderful performance began on stage.
At this time, Pei Qinzhou should be back.
Wen Zhibai deliberately pulled the chair next to him closer to Su Mu, and whispered in Su Mu's ear: "Please cooperate with me, Young Master Su."
Although Su Mu didn't understand what she was saying, he nodded and did whatever she was told.
The other musicians then sat around Wen Zhibai, watching the play with her.
Before long, Xie An came up to Wen Zhibai and told him that Pei Qinzhou had returned.
She looked towards the door, where a tall, slender man was silently watching her. The moment their eyes met, Pei Qinzhou crossed his arms in front of his chest.
Although Wen Zhibai had made preparations long ago, she still felt a little guilty when she actually saw Pei Qinzhou.
“Miss, who is that…” Su Mu picked up a plate of grapes from the table, plucked one, and held it to Wen Zhibai’s lips.
Wen Zhibai then defiantly bit into the grape.
The others seemed to sense Wen Zhibai's intentions as well, and they all moved closer to her, offering her pastries and cups: "Miss, that person doesn't seem like an ordinary person. However, he seems to be able to compete with Young Master Su."
"Oh, sir, which family's musicians are you from? I've never seen you in Shangjing City before." A musician from Yiying Tower looked Pei Qinzhou up and down, but seeing his long face, she wondered how he could serve the young lady. Out of kindness, she stepped forward to remind him, "I advise this young man to smile more. We all serve the young lady together. Don't make her unhappy."
Upon hearing this, Wen Zhibai coughed awkwardly twice and gently tugged at the hem of the musician's dress behind her: "Let's... let's not talk about it for now."
"Why? It's because you're the one who pays for your amusement, Miss. I'm afraid you can't just treat me badly because of my good looks."
Pei Qinzhou's face was extremely ugly. Wen Zhibai quickly took a piece of milk pastry and stuffed it into the concubine's mouth. The money she was spending and the money they were getting all came from Pei Qinzhou.
"Well, now that you're back, sir, would you like to watch a play together?"
"My lord?!" The group of court musicians were stunned for a moment, then immediately realized that this person was probably the legendary Pei Qinzhou? A staff member of the Crown Prince's palace?
The milk pastry that the courtesan had been holding fell to the ground, and the group knelt down to beg for mercy. Then they whispered to Wen Zhibai, "Help! Miss Wen..."
"Xie An, serve tea!" Pei Qinzhou sat down to the side and watched the play with Wen Zhibai.
They glanced at each other out of the corner of their eyes, but neither of them said a word.
Wen Zhibai told the courtesans to stand up and secretly glanced at his reaction—was he really that calm? Hurry up and say it, say "you are a fickle woman", and then banish me from the Pei residence and never see me again.
"Su Su, I want to eat lychees." Wen Zhibai opened her mouth and waited for Su Mu to peel the lychees and put them into her mouth.
Su Muqing smiled gently and said softly, "Okay."
Pei Qinzhou snatched the plate of lychees and said as he peeled them, "I will personally serve Miss Wen."
"You're so funny. Did I say I wanted to eat the ones you peeled? I want the ones Su Su peeled." As she spoke, she pretended to snatch the plate of lychees back from Pei Qinzhou's hands.
Pei Qinzhou was furious and backed away.
Wen Zhibai lay on the table, glaring at him: "Pei Qinzhou, you're being a scoundrel!"
She grabbed Pei Qinzhou's sleeve, ready to snatch it away, but the next second she lost her balance, and with Pei Qinzhou wrapping his other arm around her slender waist, she fell into his arms.
A soft laugh came from above: "So, my beauty, you're in such a hurry to throw yourself into my arms?"
Wen Zhibai tried to get up, but was held tightly in his arms.
Until another crystal-clear lychee was peeled and brought to her lips, Pei Qinzhou said again, "Hmm?"
She pouted and turned her head away: "I don't want to!"
"Really don't want it? It's very sweet."
Seeing that she was still throwing a tantrum, Pei Qinzhou leaned close to her ear and said, "If you eat, I'll put you down. If you don't eat, then I'll just have to keep holding you in front of all these people. So even if you don't eat, I'm happy to."
"Pei Qinzhou, you! Shameless!"
"Yes, I am shameless. Not only shameless, but also despicable towards you. Would Miss Wen like to try?"
Left with no other choice, Wen Zhibai reluctantly prepared to eat the lychee.
She tried to bite down, but Pei Qinzhou, wanting to tease her, deliberately dodged.
"Pei Qinzhou, if you keep doing this, I'll really get angry!" After all, the two of them were too close in front of everyone.
"Okay, okay." He put away his teasing intentions and obediently placed the lychee to her lips. However, whether Wen Zhibai did it on purpose or accidentally, she bit his fingertip.
"Miss Wen, you are very naughty."
"Then just let me go."
"Then I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint Miss Wen. I like naughty kids."
After making a fuss for a while, Pei Qinzhou finally let Wen Zhibai down.
After the song ended, Wen Zhibai waved his hand and used Pei Qinzhou's money bag: "Reward!"
"Good!" Pei Qinzhou cooperated with her every move, clapping and applauding along with everyone else.
Wen Zhibai refused to believe it and asked Su Mu and several other musicians to go on stage and play a piece.
Su Mu sat at the front of the stage. His pipa was made of mutton fat jade, which perfectly matched his gentle and refined temperament.
A gentle breeze lifted his veil, seemingly unintentionally, and Wen Zhibai was genuinely captivated by the sight.
Su Mu also met her gaze. He felt that this woman was different from other ordinary women. Anyone with eyes could see that this performance was not only exciting on stage, but also off stage.
Shang Jing's rising star, young and promising, has become a staff member of the Crown Prince's Palace. Moreover, his refined temperament and appearance are said to be one in a thousand years. Why would Wen Zhibai think of using a group of courtesans to deliberately provoke him? It is truly a strange and rare occurrence.
However, he couldn't quite put his finger on what exactly was different. Perhaps it was because it was their first meeting and he didn't know her well enough, so Su Mu didn't have a concrete answer to the question his intuition had given him.
Wen Zhibai listened intently, his gaze fixed on Su Mu alone. Su Mu's pink hair ribbon fluttered, and she smiled sweetly, her eyes sparkling. Su Mu also smiled beneath her veil.
After the piece ended, Su Mu and the other musicians nodded in thanks. Wen Zhibai then waved his hand again, his gaze landing provocatively on Pei Qinzhou: "Reward him! Reward him handsomely, reward him handsomely!"
It was getting late, and the opera troupe and the people from Yiyinglou were all heading back. Su Mu walked to Wen Zhibai's side and left a carved bell: "Thank you for your care today, Miss Wen. This is Su Mu's bell. Su Mu will always welcome you at Yiyinglou."
Pei Qinzhou: "So she's a courtesan from Yiying Tower."
"My lord, I am the top courtesan."
"Top star? Ha, nothing special."
Wen Zhibai nudged Pei Qinzhou with his elbow: "Young Master Su, thank you for playing such a beautiful pipa piece for us today."
"Miss Wen, you're too kind." Su Mu bowed to Pei Qinzhou beside her and added, "It is my fault for not satisfying Lord Pei. However, it is indeed as you said, my music is not as good as today's play. On stage, the play depicts mutual affection, but off stage, it portrays unrequited love. It is truly not comparable to a refined pipa piece."
Upon hearing this, Wen Zhibai couldn't help but laugh. Seeing Pei Qinzhou's discomfiture, she quickly tugged at his sleeve and gently shook it to comfort him.
After everyone had left, Pei Qinzhou's gaze turned completely cold. He pulled Wen Zhibai's wrist and led him back into the room.
Pei Qinzhou took out the note from before and read it aloud, word by word: "Broad shoulders, narrow waist, sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes... Wen Zhibai, do you really want to make me angry? Or do you think I can't satisfy you? Should I remind you that with just one word from me, places like Yiyinglou in Shangjing will disappear tomorrow?" As he spoke, Pei Qinzhou pinned her hands behind her waist and questioned Wen Zhibai: "I'm very curious, what exactly do you like about them?"
Wen Zhibai stared at his face, which was getting closer and closer, and pursed her lips tightly: "Mmmmmmmmmmm—!"
Seeing this, Pei Qinzhou couldn't help but laugh: "I won't kiss you. All I want now is for you to confess and I'll be lenient with you."
Hearing him say this, Wen Zhibai reluctantly agreed: "What do I like about them? There are many reasons. I like them... good looks, good eloquence, and their figures are superb. The key is that they won't restrain me, but will entertain me and obey me."
"Is that so?" He slowly bent down, getting closer to Wen Zhibai, his eyes slightly narrowed, and asked in an extremely cold voice, "Good looks, good figure, in what ways do I not compare to them? I can also give you power, status, wealth, whatever you want, I can give you. You like the pipa, right? I can go learn it now. You want someone to serve you, so I will leave the Eastern Palace and stay by your side every moment to entertain you. You are willing to be spoiled and arrogant, then I will give away all my wealth to pamper you. But you are not allowed to have anyone else but me."
"What if I'm destined to be so fickle?"
"..."
Pei Qinzhou remained silent for a long time before finally understanding what Xia Chengen had said to him when they played chess before: "In life, there are often unspeakable hardships."
Just when Wen Zhibai thought he had nothing to say, Pei Qinzhou quickly reassured him: "Among that group of people, you can only like me the most."
Pei Qinzhou's words were truly astonishing, leaving her speechless for a moment, and she even felt that he was simply stubborn and inflexible.
Putting aside her initial excitement, Wen Zhibai quickly composed herself.
Looking into his slightly sad eyes, she felt a strange mix of emotions. There were so many things in this world that Wen Zhibai had to accomplish, perhaps she would have to spend her whole life doing so.
The road to revenge is too arduous; one person like her is enough to make life difficult for many.
Between two people who love each other, at least one of them should be happy.
She didn't want her loved ones to repeat the same mistake.
"Was it because I didn't do a good enough job?" Pei Qinzhou lowered his head and slumped onto her shoulder.
"No." Wen Zhibai felt the warm breath beside his ear: "It's just that I didn't want to."
The reluctance here does not mean that I am unwilling to love someone more; on the contrary, it is because of love that I am unwilling to let him live a hard life with me.
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