Chapter 125 Benefactor
Princess Qiongxiao instructed him to rest well and eat nourishing food. Yet she only allowed his male favorite to bathe. Wasn't she afraid he wouldn't be able to withstand it?
Since it concerned a major matter of his face transplant, he couldn't afford to be careless, so of course he had to find out the details.
Princess Qiongxiao raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "After the face swap, he'll be using your skin. Do you still intend to spare his life?"
Guan Yi'an was startled, then cupped his hands and said, "I understand, thank you for your kindness, Princess."
After the face swap, both parties could have survived using each other's faces. However, the male concubine, using his face, remained in the capital, ultimately becoming a threat.
In order to keep this matter from being exposed and to allow him to continue using the identity of a male concubine openly and legitimately, the only option was to kill him to silence him.
So it doesn't matter whether the male concubine can withstand it or not. Even if he survives the face transplant, he will still die.
Princess Qiongxiao waved her hand, and Guan Yi'an quietly withdrew.
Having done all this, Princess Qiongxiao lay wearily on the warm couch, her hands stroking her forehead. She wasn't actually good at doing such wicked things; she always felt terrible after committing evil deeds.
Since returning to the capital and moving into the princess's residence, she has done very few bad things.
Although the number of male concubines in her household kept increasing, none of them were kidnapped or abducted. They were all impoverished young men who had fallen on hard times. She didn't actually need so many men, but as long as they came to her for help and had a little bit of good looks, she would take them in.
Although keeping male lovers is not a respectable thing and cannot be discussed openly, it is a matter of mutual consent.
But today, in order to help Han Cui, she agreed to give Guan Yi'an a skin transplant. Because of a little pity for the person around her, she took a life. This is absolutely a true evil deed.
Moreover, Guan Yi'an is a vicious person, and who knows how many people she will harm after leaving the manor. Therefore, the evil she did is even more wicked.
Han Cui obediently walked up to Princess Qiongxiao, squatted down, and gently massaged her acupoints.
Princess Qiongxiao looked at Han Cui with gentle eyes. The little girl who cried in the snow had grown into a graceful young woman. She smiled with relief and took Han Cui's hand.
"Han Cui, although you are my maid, I have always regarded you as my younger sister. Today, I will advise you as your elder sister. An Lang's heart is not in the princess's residence, nor is it with you. You have already repaid the debt of a meal he owed you two years ago. Once he leaves, forget about him."
"This servant understands." Han Cui's eyes reddened, and she slowly knelt down again. "In this world, only the princess is truly good to this servant, yet this servant always causes trouble for the princess. I have already repaid my debt to Young Master Guan, but the debt I owe to the princess is one I can never repay in this lifetime."
Princess Qiongxiao helped her up. "Silly girl, you helped Anlang without asking for anything in return. I'm helping you not for your reward either. Everyone in this world has people and things they can't let go of. Many times we can't know if the choices we make are right or wrong, but to love others, you must first love yourself. Only when you feel that you've done right by yourself is it worthwhile."
"My helping you is a way of making up for the regret of being powerless when I was in trouble back then. Your helping Anlang is also a way of repaying kindness and fulfilling your expectations. But everything has its limits. Once you cross those limits, there's no need to make things difficult for yourself."
Han Cui understood this time.
Princess Qiongxiao was telling her that she didn't expect anything in return, but that her help would be limited to that.
Han Cui felt a pang of loss and lowered her head, saying, "This servant understands."
As the sun gradually moved westward, the princess's residence seemed no different from usual today. However, the male concubine chosen by Guan Yi'an felt unusually nervous. He had been quietly waiting in his room after taking a bath, but the person who was supposed to take him to serve him had not yet appeared.
He waited from afternoon until dusk, and from dusk until night, until he thought the princess had changed her mind and no longer needed his service. Just when he was extremely disappointed, Guan Yi'an finally came to his door.
"Number 19, come with me. The princess ordered me to take you there."
The male concubines in the princess's residence did not have names, but were assigned numbers based on the time they entered the residence. He was the nineteenth male concubine to enter the princess's residence, so he always wore a nameplate marked nineteen on his chest. Number nineteen was his name in the princess's residence.
Number 19 was delighted to see that it was Guan Yi'an who had arrived.
He didn't know Guan Yi'an's true identity. This person didn't have a name tag and hadn't been at the princess's residence for long, but the princess clearly valued him highly.
To gain the princess's favor, it is essential to please her confidants.
However, the 19th had not had many opportunities to get close to the princess's confidants in the past. Guan Yi'an in front of him looked gentle and kind, and today he had chosen him. He must be the benefactor in his life.
Thinking of this, Number Nineteen felt a little excited and instantly decided to make Guan Yi'an the object of her flattery.
"Please wait a moment, my benefactor."
Number Nineteen pulled a small square box from under her pillow, took out the largest string of jewels inside, and presented it with both hands. "I am fortunate to have the opportunity to serve the princess today because of your kindness. I hope you will accept this small token of my appreciation. If I am fortunate enough to have good fortune in the future, I will thank you properly."
Princess Qiongxiao was generous, always rewarding men after each time she favored them.
Unfortunately, he was of average appearance and had little talent. Apart from being favored a few times when he first entered the household, he had received very little favor in recent years, so he had only accumulated this little bit of wealth.
Apart from the string of jewels he took out, the rest were just some miscellaneous pieces of jewelry.
Guan Yi'an was quite annoyed by the way No. 19 kept calling him "benefactor." He didn't want this disgusting male concubine, but considering that the man was about to die, it would be a waste not to keep these things. So he lowered his gaze and coughed softly.
"You think you can bribe me with just this little bit?"
Number Nineteen looked ashamed and quickly emptied the contents of the box, then picked it up and handed it to Guan Yi'an.
"I am utterly incompetent; all that I have is here. Please accept it, my benefactor."
Guan Yi'an accepted the jewelry and put it into his sleeve. He then took out a long piece of black cloth from his pocket and tied it around Number Nineteen's eyes.
Number Nineteen looked around and saw only darkness. He asked anxiously, "My benefactor, what does this mean?"
Guan Yi'an tucked the hem of her dress into Number Nineteen's hand and said calmly, "Today, the princess wants to do something different. Just follow me."
"Yes." Number Nineteen replied respectfully and obediently, holding Guan Yi'an's clothes and following closely behind her.
Since he couldn't see, Number Nineteen's other senses became even more acute.
He noticed that the road he was taking today was not the road to the princess's bedroom. The road to the princess's bedroom was flat and usually took about fifteen minutes to reach. But he had been walking for about fifteen minutes and had not yet arrived, and the road surface was uneven, winding, and narrow.
Number 19 grew increasingly frightened as they walked, clutching Guan Yi'an's clothes tightly.
"My benefactor, why haven't we arrived yet? Have we gone to the wrong place?"
Guan Yi'an grasped his trembling hand and said calmly, "Princess, if you wish to change your surroundings today, do not be afraid. I will accompany you."
Number 19 was deeply grateful for his comforting words.
I feel that the jewelry gift I received today was very worthwhile.
My benefactor is such a kind person.
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