Qingyin lay on top of the man, her eyes blinking slightly. Her fair, delicate hands, like works of art, gently pointed at his body: "Why aren't you saying anything, Duan Heng, Duan Lang? What do you think of the words in the new storybook I learned?"
Duan Heng looked deeply at the casually dressed girl in his arms and said, word by word, "I like her very much."
Qingyin blinked, realizing she'd gone too far.
Why aren't you saying anything?
The man's deliberately lowered voice sounded very magnetic, as if he were speaking close to the ear, and it had a slightly seductive quality to it.
The girl paused for a moment, then lowered her head as if shy.
Seeing the girl like this, the man finally smiled, his eyes filled with deep affection and tenderness.
But in the man's averted gaze, the girl in his arms showed no emotion whatsoever; a fleeting hint of irony crossed her face.
A gentle male voice came from above: "Ahua, shall we leave Xian County tomorrow and go to the capital?"
The girl in his arms gently played with the strands of hair that had fallen beside her ear, and said casually in a lively tone, "Okay, I heard that there's going to be a flower festival in the neighboring eastern suburbs. Shall we go and check it out?"
"Okay." Hearing the word "we" put the man into a strangely sweet mood, let alone just agreeing to a girl's small request.
Dongjiao County, the place where Lin Dahua was sold.
Qingyin was cryptic. When the system came earlier, Qingyin specifically sent it to pinpoint Lin Dahua's location, which was the largest brothel in Dongjiao County. It was the day of the Flower Festival, when Dongjiao County was selecting its most beautiful woman. All the brothel women would come out and be displayed like exquisite ornaments.
In the eastern suburbs of the county, the largest brothel, Yingchun Courtyard, has begun its preparations for the upcoming flower festival.
In the cramped room, two girls dressed in light-colored clothes huddled together on a bed to keep warm.
Both of them were prostitutes at Yingchun Courtyard. They entered the brothel at a young age. Because they were obedient or timid, they were beaten relatively rarely.
Although the girls in the brothel were of the same status, there were still different levels. For example, the room of the most beautiful courtesan was large and bright, and there was no shortage of charcoal every day. But the treatment of the average-looking prostitutes was not so good. Apart from the small room with only a bed and a table for the prostitutes to prepare, there was nothing else.
Coal at night in the cold is a luxury that can only be dreamed of.
Two equally plain-looking and timid girls huddled together for warmth.
In the chill, Honghua heard Alian's timid voice: "Sister Ahua, the Flower Festival is in a few days. Do you think Mom will beat us if we don't make it into the second round again?"
Honghua, also known as Lin Dahua, had a bitter smile on her lips. Perhaps it was because she was born to be the older sister, but she felt pity for Alian, who was younger than her. She silently comforted her and said as if making a wish, "Yes, she will. At the last flower festival, our courtyard's flower queen, Ding Lan, won the title of the most beautiful woman. Mother was happy with the result and definitely won't beat us."
"very nice."
A-Lian's delicate voice came from the darkness again: "Sister A-Hua, do you still remember what happened before?"
Honghua's eyes widened in surprise. She had been quite old when she came to the brothel, and she murmured, "How come I don't remember..."
“At that time, I had two well-behaved younger sisters at home. They were very obedient and followed me around every day.”
Ah Lian asked curiously, "Are they as pretty as my sister?"
In the darkness, a gentle smile appeared on Honghua's face: "Beautiful, much prettier than me. Second sister has very good features, and little sister is lively and cute."
"Then none of them are as pretty as Sister Ahua. I like Sister Ahua the most."
"Okay, go to sleep."
...
In the moonlight, the girl who was saying she was going to sleep didn't close her eyes; her fair and gentle face was full of bitterness.
A spring rain drizzled down, dripping onto tiny, unnamed flowers the size of a palm, making them appear even more delicate and vibrant.
The male protagonist somehow managed to get a carriage and parked it next to the restaurant. Qingyin, dressed in a light pink lotus-patterned waist-cinching dress, leaned lazily against the carriage, idly munching on the melon seeds that Duan Heng had specially brought for her to relieve her boredom.
Since teasing Duan Heng last time, Qingyin has noticed that Duan Heng treats her even better. The treatment he had always given her was no less. He even took her casual remarks to heart. For example, the pumpkin that he suddenly mentioned last time. Qingyin had only heard about it from the guests at the next table out of curiosity, and that afternoon she saw a sliced pumpkin placed in front of her.
Qingyin secretly marveled at Duan Heng's speed; the carriage's exterior was simple, but its interior was quite impressive.
The carriage was not only lined with soft fur, but also decorated with exquisite lamps and candles. Not to mention the food and fruit prepared inside, ensuring that no one inside would go hungry or thirsty.
The carriage swayed slightly, but it wasn't really bumpy.
Throughout the journey, Duan Heng provided attentive service, and Qingyin couldn't find any fault with him.
Qingyin blinked, looking at the man carefully peeling walnuts for her. She decided to leave him alone for now and deal with it when they got to the capital.
In the eastern suburbs, the flower festival has arrived, and the air is filled with the subtle signs of spring. People from all walks of life flock to the festival.
...
The guards at the front shouted, "All carriages and horses, stop! Check the gatekeepers!"
The hilt of the knife tapped against the side of the carriage, making a series of sounds. "People inside, get down. After checking the gate pass, you can enter the city."
Inside the carriage, Qingyin looked at Duan Heng. She had a door latch, but where was Duan Heng?
Duan Heng mistakenly thought the girl's eyes showed worry. His anger at the guards outside had subsided slightly. He looked at the girl with reassuring eyes, gently pressed down her hand that was holding his door latch, and whispered, "Don't be afraid, just sit here quietly and wait for me."
Outside the carriage, the guards were getting impatient and were about to lose their temper when the curtain was lifted halfway, revealing a pair of sharp, narrow phoenix eyes.
The man had handsome features and an air of nobility, making him seem unlike an ordinary person, which immediately diminished the guard's imposing presence.
"Young master, please check the door latch."
"I'm sorry, but my wife is frail and sickly and cannot withstand the cold. Please make an exception." Duan Heng's expression was calm and his tone was neither warm nor cold. He hid half of his body inside, so that no one could see any scenery inside.
After saying that, he handed out two travel permits with silver notes mixed in.
Such a generous gesture left even the guards speechless. They silently tucked the silver notes into their sleeves and handed them back to the young master's travel permit.
Perhaps because the guard had lingered for too long, Qingyin thought the soldier didn't believe her, so she revealed her slender hands and hugged Duan Heng.
Her voice was soft and timid: "Husband, have we arrived at Dongjiao County yet? Cough cough, should I not go to this county to find a doctor?"
It's so beautiful it makes your bones feel weak.
The guard blushed, secretly imagining what kind of stunning beauty a lady with such hands and voice must possess. "Ahem, please, young master and madam, go inside quickly."
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