After entering the brothel, Xiao Yanzi took Yongqi to the second floor and asked the brothel madam to call over the top courtesan. "Miss Furong, I heard that you are most skilled at playing the guqin. Why don't you play a piece today and let us both see your talent?"
"Yes, Furong has made a fool of herself." Furong glanced at Yongqi, then shifted her gaze to the guqin. "I wonder if there's a piece you'd like to hear?"
"The Phoenix Seeks Its Mate," Xiao Yanzi blurted out, leaving Yongqi speechless.
He hurriedly asked, "Little Swallow, what are you doing here?"
Little Swallow glanced at Hibiscus and laughed, "Looking at beauties and listening to music, aren't these what you men are best at? I brought you here myself, and you're still not satisfied?"
Yongqi looked at Xiaoyanzi with a sullen expression, "...I just want to see you, I just want to hear your music, let's go."
As Xiao Yanzi sipped her tea, she laughed and said, "You, you don't know how to appreciate it. Listen to how beautifully Miss Furong plays..."
After the song "Phoenix Seeks Its Mate" ended, Furong stood up and looked at Xiaoyanzi, saying, "Miss, please don't make things difficult for this young master. Anyone with eyes can see that he only has eyes for you!"
"If you have any grievances, it's best to speak up clearly. Otherwise, you'll give others a chance to sow discord between you, which wouldn't be good."
"..." Little Swallow said helplessly, "I'm not upset at all. I just wanted to see some beautiful women and listen to some music. I didn't do anything wrong, did I?"
Yongqi sighed, "Little Swallow, if you're still angry that I went to a brothel before, you can hit me and scold me to vent your anger, but don't keep it inside. Let's talk about it!"
Little Swallow waved her hand, "I'm really not angry, and I'm not unhappy either..."
Yongqi muttered, "If you want to see beautiful women and hear music, you can look at me. Aren't I one?"
Upon hearing this, Furong quietly retreated; what followed was not for her to hear.
Xiao Yanzi looked at Yongqi helplessly and laughed, "It's one thing to be jealous of men, but why are you jealous of women too?"
Yongqi held Xiaoyanzi and whispered, "I'm not happy because your attention isn't on me!"
"What have you been through all these years I've been gone? Why are you so different from the person I first met?" She was extremely curious. The Yongqi she knew was a refined gentleman, but the Yongqi now seemed like a puppy that had been abandoned by its owner for a long time, begging for a hug and comfort...
"Little Swallow, let's go. I'm not comfortable staying here! Please." Yongqi nestled in Little Swallow's arms and pleaded. Little Swallow couldn't resist and had no choice but to nod.
After leaving the brothel, Xiao Yanzi looked at Yongqi and asked, "Where do we go next?"
"Let's go to Bibo Pavilion! Grandma Sun and the others must have made something delicious. Let's go and freeload!" Yongqi's eyes shone brightly, making Xiaoyanzi unable to refuse at all.
The two quickly went to Bibo Pavilion, where they happened to find lanterns hanging and people playing games. Granny Sun and the others were very happy to see Yongqi and Xiaoyanzi arrive.
"Little Swallow, you sit here and eat. I'm going to take a bath and change my clothes."
He didn't want to wear clothes that smelled like those of a brothel, so he had to change quickly. Luckily, there were spares in Biboting, otherwise it would have been embarrassing.
Just as she was about to go inside, Yongqi turned back. "Little Swallow, why don't you go wash up and change your clothes? There are some clothes for you here..."
"..." Seeing Yongqi's expectant eyes, Xiaoyanzi nodded, "Alright, I'll go take a shower too."
She seemed to feel as if this outfit was a surprise for her.
The two took a bath in their respective rooms and then changed into new clothes. Since this was not the palace, they could dress more casually. Xiao Yanzi's clothes were still bright red, which suited her personality; Yongqi's clothes, however, were light blue, a color he had never worn before.
After the two came out of the room one after the other, Xiao Yanzi stared at Yongqi's new clothes, stunned. Yongqi, seeing Xiao Yanzi's dazed expression, quietly walked up to her and suddenly said, "Isn't he handsome? That's why you're staring..."
Although that's what Xiao Yanzi thought in her heart, she stubbornly explained, "I just think you look good in light blue clothes. Before, when I saw your clothes, they were mostly yellow..."
"Where in the palace is there such freedom as outside? There are rules and regulations about what you wear in the palace. If you wear something that doesn't match, you'll be punished. You princesses are lucky, but for us princes, if we wear the wrong clothes, it's not so simple..."
They are easily accused of plotting to usurp the throne. If the emperor believes them, all is well; if not, they are doomed!
Little Swallow sighed, "Indeed, then this outfit can only be worn here for now. We'll have to change back when we return to the palace."
The two arrived at the pavilion, where pastries and tea had already been prepared. Little Swallow said, "Yongqi, can I have some wine? Don't worry, I can hold my liquor very well, nothing bad will happen!"
Yongqi looked at Xiaoyanzi and sighed, "You know I find it hard to refuse your requests, so let's have a drink. I'll take care of Father Emperor and Empress Dowager."
"Liu Qing and Liu Hong brewed their own wine, so we can just drink theirs."
"Okay, I'll go get it from the back."
Yongqi brought over a wine pot and poured a cup for him and Xiaoyanzi respectively. Xiaoyanzi drank it all in one gulp, and Yongqi said with some concern, "Xiaoyanzi, don't drink so fast!"
Unexpectedly, Xiao Yanzi explained what happened when Yongqi went to the brothel last time, "Yongqi, I was indeed inside when you went to the brothel last time..."
"Back then, I didn't dare to come out and see you. I wanted your memories to only show me at my best. I didn't want you to be sad for me. But I've found that being kept in the dark is really hard to bear. So, today, under the guise of drinking, I'm telling you everything I've been hiding from you. But, I'm being honest not so that you'll be sad and cry for me..."
Xiao Yanzi recounted everything that had happened over the past few years, things she hadn't yet told him. Yongqi's heart ached as he listened. "Yongqi, I've made up my mind about you, and it will always be you. If one day..."
Yongqi interrupted her, "That day will never come. I've said it before, you are my life. No matter how good others are, it has nothing to do with me. You are the only one in my heart and eyes. I only want you!"
How could he bear to give up the love he shared across two lifetimes? In this life, in the next, and for all eternity, he would be with her forever, never to be separated!
"Yongqi, promise me that if I leave first one day, you won't do anything foolish. You must live well for me and protect this land. I will wait for you on the road to the underworld, waiting to be reincarnated with you."
"Little Swallow, you're drunk. Let's go back." It's almost 9 PM now, and they need to get back quickly, or they won't be able to explain themselves.
"I'm not drunk, I want to drink more." Seeing that Xiao Yanzi still wanted to drink, Yongqi had no choice but to personally cover her mouth, and the two of them were stunned for a moment...
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