Chapter 199 Come here, lie down
Upon hearing Guan Yi'an's request to see Miss Han Cui, the guard said rudely, "Number Nineteen, Miss Han Cui is the princess's most favored person. Do you think you can just see her whenever you want?"
Seeing that he was travel-worn and had injuries on his face, the guard guessed that he couldn't make a living outside and wanted to return to the princess's residence to sell his body.
Number Nineteen's appearance was not outstanding among the male concubines to begin with, and now that his face was injured, it was impossible for him to be favored, so the guards didn't bother to give him a good look.
Guan Yi'an was well aware of what the guards were thinking. Upon hearing this, he remained calm, took out a hundred-tael silver note from his sleeve, and stuffed it into the guard's hand.
"Please inform Miss Han Cui that if she does not wish to see me, I will leave immediately."
He had lived here for three months and knew that Han Cui treated him better than his parents, so it was impossible for her not to see him.
When the guards saw how generous he was, their attitude immediately changed.
"It's just a matter of delivering a message; please wait here. I'll go and convey it now."
Guan Yi'an's prediction was correct; the guards returned with Han Cui.
Han Cui was overjoyed when she saw Guan Yi'an.
"The princess asked me to bring number nineteen in."
Han Cui was the princess's most trusted maid, so the guards naturally had no objection to what she said.
Han Cui led Guan Yin'an through the courtyard and across the long corridor. When they reached a secluded spot, she flew into Guan Yin'an's arms like a swallow returning to its nest.
"How did your face get so badly injured? Now that you're here, you're not leaving, okay? It's too dangerous out there. Look at you, perfectly fine, you went out for a month or two and got so badly injured..."
Han Cui gently stroked Guan Yi'an's face, tears welling up in her eyes with heartache.
She truly didn't understand. The princess's mansion offered them a life of plenty, and the princess treated them well. Living a life of luxury here was the dream of many. Why did Guan Yi'an insist on leaving?
If you've never had something, you won't know how painful it is to lose it.
In front of the future princess's residence, Han Cui's life was simple and peaceful. Ever since she asked Princess Qiongxiao to rescue Guan Yi'an and bring him to the princess's residence, she was happy every day except for the peace. She was content just watching Guan Yi'an play the flute from afar, occasionally serving him tea and exchanging a few words with him.
She showed no displeasure even when she saw Guan Yi'an trying to please Princess Qiongxiao.
Guan Yi'an was reluctant to leave, but she was still willing to let him go. However, in the two months since Guan Yi'an left, she has lost her appetite, become depressed, and is absent-minded day and night, gradually losing weight.
The princess took pity on her and often allowed her to rest.
But with more rest time, she had more time to think about Guan Yi'an.
When she heard that No. 19 had come looking for her, she couldn't believe it. She rushed over and threw herself into Guan Yin'an's arms. All she wanted was for Guan Yin'an to stay and never be separated from her again.
This was the first time Han Cui had been so close to Guan Yi'an. Having served others since childhood, she had a keen eye for observation, so she knew that Guan Yi'an's slight frown had already aroused his displeasure.
Guan Yi'an always admired Han Cui's sense of propriety. He liked him and helped him unconditionally, but he never asked anything of him.
Only a girl like that is sensible and considerate, and only she deserves to like him.
Having just dealt with Dongqing, who would rather die than help him, Hancui now had designs on him, which gave him a real headache. But since he needed her help, his slightly furrowed brows quickly relaxed, and he said gently, "I haven't finished dealing with my own matters yet. I can only stay after I've resolved them. Where is the princess? I have important business with her."
Han Cui withdrew her hand dejectedly. She knew Guan Yi'an was just being perfunctory, but she still nodded obediently, "I'll take you to see the princess."
The two walked side by side, with a slight distance between them, toward the princess's bedchamber.
Han Cui felt a pang of sadness. She looked down at the road and caught a glimpse of Guan Yi'an wearing a pair of shoes embroidered with intertwined branches. The shoes were new, and the patterns on them were clearly the kind of designs a young woman would embroider for her sweetheart.
Han Cui's heart skipped a beat. She suddenly remembered what Princess Qiongxiao had told her: "Love yourself before loving others. Everything has its limits. If you go beyond those limits, don't make things difficult for yourself."
She unconsciously quickened her pace. A gust of wind blew by at the right moment. Han Cui rubbed her eyes and turned around to see Guan Yi'an still following behind her calmly, oblivious to her strange behavior.
In that instant, Han Cui suddenly felt relieved.
As they approached the bedchamber, they gradually heard sounds of playful banter. This was Princess Qiongxiao's daily routine, and the two, unfazed, continued walking.
This place is generally off-limits to ordinary people, but with Han Cui leading the way, no one came to stop Guan Yi'an.
Along the way, there are strangely shaped rocks and a hundred flowers in full bloom. When the wind blows, petals fall in profusion, and a subtle fragrance fills the air.
Pushing open the palace doors revealed a completely different world.
Layer upon layer of beaded curtains, the specially made incense wafting its fragrant smoke, and various screens of different colors placed throughout the hall, each displaying a daring portrait of men and women, explicit and stimulating, enough to make one's blood boil.
Several soft white ribbons hung from the rafters, like moonlight pouring down, and several naked men danced gracefully, their slender fingers lightly entwined. On either side of the gold-threaded carved canopy bed stood two men, also naked, one playing the flute and the other the zither.
Princess Qiongxiao was only draped in a transparent veil. She sat on the edge of the bed, with half of her weight resting on her back and the other half on the ground.
Her slender feet rested on the chest of her male concubine, while two burly and tall male concubines knelt behind her.
Guan Yi'an looked somewhat uncomfortable. After not seeing her for two months, Princess Qiongxiao had become even more erotic and exciting, a scene that most people couldn't handle.
Upon seeing someone enter, the male concubines ignored them, continuing to play music and dance, showering Princess Qiongxiao with their seductive charm, surpassing even the courtesans of the brothel in their allure.
Princess Qiongxiao, who was lost in reverie with her eyes closed, opened her beautiful single eye upon hearing the sound and slowly looked at Han Cui and Guan Yi'an.
"Number Nineteen is here. Come here and lie down with Number Five."
Han Cui and Guan Yi'an were somewhat surprised.
The matter of the face swap must not be made public, so Guan Yi'an can only be Zheng Qingshan, and in the princess's residence, he can only be number nineteen.
What surprised them was not Princess Qiongxiao's way of addressing Guan Yi'an, but rather the tone and meaning behind her words—she was truly treating Guan Yi'an as a male concubine.
It wasn't like this before.
In the past, Princess Qiongxiao treated Guan Yi'an mostly as a guest out of consideration for Han Cui. Even when Guan Yi'an went out of his way to please her and serve her, she would dismiss other male concubines. Moreover, she would only let Guan Yi'an do some elegant things such as applying makeup, combing hair, and drawing eyebrows.
Princess Qiongxiao had other people to massage her legs and perform other similar tasks.
Not to mention the human-shaped foot pad like number five.
Guan Yi'an turned his gaze to Han Cui. Logically, Han Cui should have spoken up for him, but she remained silent as if she had been frightened.
Upon receiving his pleading look, Han Cui actually bowed to Princess Qiongxiao, then ignored him and walked out.
Guan Yi'an is in a dilemma.
Princess Qiongxiao's smile vanished, replaced by a hint of pressure and domineering tone.
"Come here, lie down!"
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