Seeing her son still staring blankly at the man, she slapped him on the forehead and scolded him sternly, "This prince is not someone a lowly official like us can marry into. Focus more on your embroidery skills, and your mother will find you a good family in the future."
Mu Yu was stunned, a bitter smile on his lips and a deep sorrow in his heart.
Yes, how dare he even dream of such a noble prince…
Raising his jade wine cup, Mu Yu took a large gulp, his eyes fixed on the woman on the high seat, his heart filled with resentment.
Dou Shiliu obviously couldn't notice this little incident, just as she was leisurely eating a grape.
"Ding, mission detected."
Dou Shiliu narrowed his eyes slightly and sat up straight involuntarily.
"Next up is the musician from Hua Manlou. Everyone knows that the musicians at Hua Manlou are extremely rare and highly sought after..."
Before them stood a man in flowing robes, holding a zither, seemingly untouched by worldly concerns, like a banished immortal.
The officials present glanced at him and noticed a faint smile playing on his lips. The smile deepened, and his eyes slightly upturned, adding to his alluring charm. His lips were pursed, a smile that was neither quite a smile nor a frown.
His skin was as white as snow, and his eyes, which seemed to emit a faint silvery glow, made him even more handsome, instantly outshining all the beautiful women on the scene.
Such beauty could probably only be matched by the prince on the high platform.
Dou Shiliu looked at the man playing the zither with a serene and indifferent air; even his simple white clothes could not conceal his unparalleled elegance.
"Ding! Mission taker Wen Su, protect him from being treated lightly."
In the story, he was very handsome, but in the end, he was ruined by the noble lady.
Dou Shiliu withdrew her gaze, raised her hand, and parted her lips slightly.
"stop"
Upon hearing this, the Prime Minister immediately called for a halt and approached Dou Shiliu with a beaming smile.
"What's wrong, Prince? Does he not like listening to the zither?"
Dou Shiliu ignored her and strode directly to the middle of the dance floor, looking at Wen Su.
The person on the stage couldn't help but widen their eyes. Why would His Highness the Prince step down from the stage and walk towards them?
Wen Su quickly lowered his head; a commoner like him could not meet the gaze of a prince.
The entire room fell silent, everyone wondering what His Highness was going to do.
"Raise your head"
The cold, detached female voice carried an absolute command.
Dou Shiliu can guarantee that this is absolutely not the case; it's just that she's used to speaking this way and hasn't changed it in a long time.
She's already set it to the lightest setting.
Everyone present immediately understood that she had taken a liking to him. They knew that their princess had no servants, while the empress had several children, and she was still a bachelor, which made them quite worried.
Wen Su was taken aback, then obediently looked up.
A pale white hand lifted his chin, and he looked at her with a puzzled expression.
Dou Shiliu's eyes darkened, and he leaned down to touch the man lightly. Before anyone could react, they saw the prince pull the man into his arms and take him away, leaving behind a dashing silhouette.
When they could no longer see it, all the officials were astonished.
"This...this is truly worthy of His Highness the Prince, who has been celibate for many years, so impatient..."
"Back in the day, the Empress sent a handsome man from a foreign land to the Prince's residence, but he was immediately kicked out."
"Sigh, I also had my eye on that minor official, but His Highness the Prince took him away."
"Shh, you're talking nonsense! That person might become the prince's first attendant."
The officials fell silent immediately, much to the surprise of the prime minister, who, being a man of the world, ordered the singing and dancing to continue.
Upon exiting the Prime Minister's residence, a magnificent prince's car was right at the entrance, and Dou Shiliu immediately let Wen Su inside.
Wen Su was completely stunned and hadn't reacted yet when she felt the silk satin underneath, which felt as soft as cotton.
"From now on, you'll stay with me and can only play the piano for me."
Dou Shiliu patted his dazed head without giving him a chance to refuse, his eyes still as nonchalant as ever, his tone flat and indifferent.
The commanding tone that reached Wen Su's ears caused a slight bitterness in his heart.
Wen Su lowered her eyes and her eyelashes trembled slightly. She didn't say a word, but her hands, which had distinct knuckles, clenched tightly, leaving a faint red mark.
After a long pause, he spoke in a low voice, biting his red lips, his eyes slightly red.
"Your Highness, please do not humiliate a commoner..."
Even if she is a heroine of a matriarchal society, so what? He has witnessed the darkness of this country in order to survive, and he no longer cares about its life or death.
He just wanted to save enough money to marry an ordinary woman.
Dou Shiliu's eyes swept over his slightly scarred hand. He slowly picked it up, carefully examining the marks, and couldn't help but chuckle.
"How have I insulted you?"
Wen Su's moist eyes stared at her.
"You took me away in front of so many officials. Although I, Wen Su, am not from a respectable family, please let me go back, Your Highness."
Once he gets the money from the Prime Minister's mansion, he can leave that brothel.
I'll marry you.
The words startled the young apprentice outside the carriage, who almost fell off the carriage. He quickly regained his composure and focused on whipping the horse.
His palms were slightly sweaty, but he didn't hear anything.
Inside the car, Wen Suqing's brows furrowed.
"Please, Your Highness, do not be so... dissolute..."
He simply couldn't find any words to describe Dou Shiliu.
Feeling a bit hot, he realized that Dou Shiliu was so close to him again...
A hint of unease flashed in his eyes, and he raised his hand to push her.
Dou Shiliu directly grabbed his fair hand and took him to heart.
The slightly protruding breasts made Wen Su's face flush instantly. This person... is so wanton...
She wanted to take it back but couldn't; she was very strong.
"My darling, I will only be wanton towards you."
His face turned bright red all the way to his neck, and he angrily turned away from her.
Dou Shiliu knew that she would obviously scare him by doing this after they had just met, but he shone brightly at the banquet and attracted attention, so she simply took him under her wing.
However, she will marry him and bring him back to her mansion this month, since the men in this matriarchal country value their chastity more than their lives.
When Wen Su got off the bus, she wanted to get off by herself, but Dou Shiliu glanced at her and her body stiffened.
A hint of a smile flashed almost imperceptibly in Dou Shiliu's eyes as she picked him up and carried him away.
The men in this world may look tall and strong, but they are actually lighter than Dou Shiliu and won't weigh much.
Upon entering the mansion, everyone vaguely saw a figure in white being carried into a room by the prince.
The servants in the mansion were curious about who their master was carrying, but they dared not look closely and bowed their heads to greet him respectfully.
He quickly set out the dinner and quietly served the meal from the side.
"You may leave."
The crowd obeyed, nodded, and withdrew. Even after closing the wooden door, they still didn't know what the male protagonist the prince was holding looked like.
However, it seems that this mansion will soon welcome a new male master.
"Eating shrimp"
Dou Shiliu peeled a few shrimp for Wen Su with her beautiful hands, wiped them with a fine handkerchief, and then looked at Wen Su.
Wen Su worked silently, eating whatever was offered, determined not to let himself go hungry—this was something he always kept in mind.
No matter what your situation, you must eat well.
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