Qin Kou'er sighed softly and waved her hand at Jun Yannuo, "Take good care of Young Master Hu, and don't let him come in again this time!"
"Yes!" Jun Yannuo said, then looked up at Lan Linxue meaningfully before turning and walking out.
"What kind of look is that?" Lan Linxue glanced coldly at Jun Yannuo before turning her head, lazily picking up her teacup, blowing on it, and saying, "Your servants aren't disciplined enough!"
Qin Kou'er acted as if she hadn't heard anything, looking at Lan Linxue with complete indifference: "Your Highness the Crown Prince went and came back, surely you have something to say to me alone? Please speak frankly!"
Lan Linxue glanced sideways at Qin Kou'er, a slow smile creeping onto her lips. "Qin Kou'er, I've discovered that you're truly a very unique woman. Just a moment ago you were wriggling around in the same bed with me, and now you're sitting down and talking to me in all seriousness. What should I call you? A slut or a virtuous woman?"
Qin Kou'er calmly raised her eyes, showing no sign of anger whatsoever. Her expression was indifferent, almost cold. "Whether one is a prostitute or a virtuous woman depends on the circumstances. I'm a businesswoman; I only understand profit. If being a prostitute brings the greatest benefit, what's wrong with me being one? Besides, it's not my prerogative. His Highness the Crown Prince, for the sake of the current situation, also acts like a prostitute in every way. Who doesn't smile and fawn over others every day?"
Lan Linxue stared intently at Qin Kou'er, her face instantly turning icy cold, radiating an extremely dangerous aura. It seemed she could crush Qin Kou'er to death right there in an instant.
Qin Kou'er acted as if she hadn't seen anything, remaining calm and composed.
Lan Linxue sneered, "No matter how noble a woman pretends to be, she can't hide the baseness in her bones!"
As he spoke, he turned his head away and refused to look at Qin Kou'er again, as if he had seen something dirty.
Qin Kou'er also gave a cold laugh, "No matter how innocent a man pretends to be, he can't hide the filth and depravity in his heart!"
The air in the room instantly froze, mirroring the expressions on their faces. Neither yielded, nor did they draw their swords again.
After a long time,
"Why did you kill Shi Mengjian?" For the first time, Lan Linxue's question contained neither sarcasm nor sharpness, only coldness, hardness, and a hint of unsettling unease.
"I owe you money and I won't pay it back!" Qin Kou'er didn't hide anything at all. She picked up the teacup, gently stirred it, looked down at the green leaves floating and sinking, but didn't take a sip.
Lan Linxue turned her head, her long, slender eyes full of mockery. "What debt could a fourth-rank official of the imperial court possibly owe you?"
"You said I'm a pile of money, what else could I be but money?"
"Liar!" Lan Linxue turned her head back, too lazy to look at this woman who never told the truth.
"You know you're lying, yet you still ask!" Qin Kou'er was carefully examining Lan Linxue's profile. "Tell the truth! Whether it's you or Hu Feifan, you're both here tonight only to find Shi Mengjian behind Zhao Ling'er. What Shi Mengjian has, and why you're looking for him, is your business. But Shi Mengjian does owe me a debt, and I have to collect it! So, I'm determined to have Zhao Ling'er. You can forget about it!"
Lan Linxue's lips twitched, her eyes turning icy and chilling as she turned to Qin Kou'er with a sharp, piercing gaze. "What do you think Shi Mengjian doesn't know? Qin Kou'er, I won't believe a word you say. I believe everyone's biggest interest in Shi Mengjian is that ledger he has—the ledger recording the profits from the private salt trade in Jiangnan. I advise you not to be too interested in that ledger! Otherwise, you'll be the one who gets burned!"
"Why can't I be interested?" Qin Kou'er asked with great interest. "If something that you're all interested in falls into my hands, wouldn't I be rolling in money!"
Lan Linxue gave a wicked smile, then slowly approached Qin Kou'er, her eyes growing increasingly dangerous. "What are you pretending for? Last night you were supposed to kill Shi Mengjian, but you intercepted the wrong person. Do you think everyone is a fool?"
Do you want people or things? What does Shi Mengjian have? Just that ledger. You planned this all along.
Things took an unexpected turn when Hu Feifan arrived. He had come to Jiangnan to settle accounts with Shi Mengjian; if the Hu family didn't come to settle accounts for such a large sum of money, wouldn't the subordinates rebel? But how could a mere novice from the capital, fresh into Yangzhou, find Yuanyang Pavilion so quickly? It was because he had received news from Shi Mengjian that Shi Mengjian was in danger and being ambushed. That's why he came directly here to choose the most beautiful courtesan.
Think about it, if Hu Feifan found out that the person who's been scheming behind his back to get that ledger is his confidante, what do you think he'll do to you in the end?! So, that ledger isn't something someone like you, with all your money, should touch. What you want is money, not trouble, and certainly not—your life!
Seeing Lan Linxue's face almost touching hers, Qin Kou'er couldn't help but chuckle, then leaned forward with interest. "After all this talk, Your Highness, state your conditions. You're now in a precarious position, and I'm just a treacherous villain behind it all. What better way to deal with Hu Feifan outside than for the two of us to cooperate? Besides, tonight the Crown Prince actually condescended to become my follower; isn't that just to share the spoils with me?"
Lan Linxue then sat up straight and said lazily, "It seems that Pavilion Master Qin Tian does have some insight! We absolutely cannot let Hu Feifan get his hands on that ledger, so we must take Zhao Ling'er. Once we have Zhao Ling'er, we'll split the profits fifty-fifty: I'll take Shi Mengjian, and you'll take the ledger, how about that?"
Qin Kou'er smiled even more beautifully and tenderly this time, "In the auction later, I'll be in front and you'll be behind; I'll risk my life for the money, while you sit back and get a share! Your Highness, your plan is too shrewd! I can clearly take both the people and the account books, why should I share the spoils with you?"
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