Unlike other streets where vendors are thronged, Fuhua Street is bustling with shops on both sides of the street. Some of the most famous ones are brothels, paintings, poems and musical instruments.
Ye Qianning knew that someone behind her would not enter Siyinfang, so she bypassed Siyinfang and entered Zuixianglou, the most lively place on the street.
She didn't enter from the front, but from the backyard.
After walking around in the backyard for a while, Ye Qianning saw that someone was following closely behind him, so he frowned slightly and went back into the kitchen.
Ye Qianning said a few words to the kitchen staff, then went to the side to pick vegetables and peel potatoes, and then stopped moving.
It was estimated that the person in the dark could not wait any longer, so he came down from above, wearing a brocade dress and entered the kitchen.
The kitchen manager was a little surprised, but when he saw the man in fancy clothes, he knew he was extraordinary, so he nodded and moved forward.
"Why is this young man in the kitchen? If you have any instructions, just tell the servants in the building."
"Who is she?"
Sang Qi looked at the woman who was peeling potatoes.
Ye Qianning would work in the kitchen of a brothel? Nonsense!
The kitchen manager glanced at Ye Qianning and turned to say, "This is a distant relative of Madam Qing in the kitchen. She's here to help out today."
Sang Qi frowned, feeling surprised and unbelievable.
Seeing the other person frowning, the kitchen manager thought Ye Qianning had offended him, so he immediately pulled her over to Sang Qi and said, "Sir, this is her first day here. If she has offended you in any way, I'll ask her to apologize to you." He then gave her a shove and said, "Why don't you apologize to me, sir?"
"Sir, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
Ye Qianning never expected that it was Sang Qi who was following her secretly, and she couldn't understand why after thinking about it for a long time.
Sang Qi's face was gloomy, but when he heard the soft voice, his heart trembled and he even thought it was very pleasant.
His eyes fell on her lowered head. As the distance was close to her, his nose could smell a pleasant fragrance emanating from her.
"You, come here."
After he said that, he turned and walked out of the kitchen.
Ye Qianning stood there and reached out to touch the human skin mask. Why did he notice her?
"What are you still standing there for? Go quickly." The kitchen manager pushed her and warned her, "Don't make the noble man angry, otherwise both you and Madam Qing will be doomed."
“…”
Ye Qianning walked out of the kitchen and followed the figure slowly.
When Sang Qi entered Zuixianglou, girls immediately surrounded him. He glanced at them coldly, and the girls dared not come forward.
"Hey, sir, please come upstairs." The madam, wearing a dark red dress and a red flower on her head, came forward shyly.
"Private room."
"Yes, yes, sir, please."
The madam responded and looked back at Ye Qianning several times.
“…”
Ye Qianning was speechless. As the crown prince of a country, the whole city was in chaos, but he still had time to go to a private room?
If someone you know runs into him, you don't have to worry about ruining your reputation.
The madam went up to the fifth floor and opened a door: "Young Master, please come in."
The fifth floor is much quieter than the downstairs. The rooms are luxurious and should be the best rooms in the building.
"Sir, can you please let the girls come up?" the madam asked tentatively.
"Go down."
Sang Qi said coldly.
"yes."
The madam had been in the capital for a long time and was very good at observing people's words and expressions. She slowly walked out of the door, and the moment she closed it, she looked at Ye Qianning again.
Ye Qianning was speechless.
The reason she followed was because she was curious about why Sang Qi was targeting her.
When she came into the city, she neither attracted attention nor caused any trouble. Who would pay attention to an ordinary citizen?
Qi turned his head and stared at the person in front of him, his eyes searching more deeply.
Ye Qianning lowered his head, clenched the corners of his clothes with both hands, and seemed very nervous.
The more Sang Qi looked at him, the deeper his frown grew. Even if he could pretend to be that person, he would never show such an expression. Besides, their figures did not match.
Although there are many rumors in Dayu City, rumors are the most untrue.
There are many differences between Dayu City and Baimu Xun.
"Look up." A low voice came.
“…”
The corners of Ye Qianning's mouth twitched, but he still held his breath and slowly raised his head. When his eyes met Sang Qi's stern face, he looked down in panic, as if he was afraid and shy.
"Lift it up."
Ye Qianning had no choice but to raise his head again.
Sang Qi looked at the face carefully with a pair of sharp eyes. The face could be described as unattractive, dark and thin. The only thing that caught the eye was her pair of clear eyes.
"Master... Master..." Ye Qianning stuttered.
Sang Qi heard that soft voice again, his expression complicated. Putting aside her appearance, her voice was very nice. For some reason, he didn't feel disgusted, but wanted to hear it a few more times.
"You went to Fudong Inn this afternoon."
It's not a question, it's an affirmation.
"yes."
"What are you going to do?"
"My...my cousin wants to entertain a distinguished guest and asked me...to go to Fudong and book a room."
"What distinguished guest?"
Ye Qianning shook his head: "I don't know."
Sang Qi looked at the face carefully. It was completely unadorned, without any trace of decoration. Of course, it was completely different from the face he remembered from his childhood.
How could such a person be her?
She shook her head slightly, thinking to herself that she was being suspicious and ridiculous. Even if she changed when she grew up, her appearance would not be so ordinary.
However, just as he was distracted, a dark face came closer.
Sang Qi was startled and quickly stepped back, his eyes filled with disdain: "What are you doing?"
Ye Qianning seemed to be frightened as well. Her raised hand froze for a second, then she lowered it and rubbed the corner of her clothes, feeling very uneasy. She whispered shyly, "Master...Master called me here...didn't you ask me to...serve...serve you?"
Sang Qi: “…”
Ye Qianning looked up with a nervous expression.
"Get out."
Sang Qi scolded.
"Young Master..."
"roll."
There were tears in Ye Qianning's eyes, and he looked heartbroken. He covered his face with his hands and turned to rush towards the door.
The corners of his mouth curled up slightly the moment he turned around. Judging from his expression, he was mostly testing the waters. I don't know what went wrong, so it seems I need to be cautious.
Sang Qi stared at her back and pressed his head. How could she be Ye Qianning!
Ye Qianning opened the door and ran out in grief. As soon as she took a step, she found someone coming. The person behind her was staring at her closely. She didn't dare to use her internal force and could only bump into the other person's arms.
A refreshing scent wafts into my nose.
The other person was inexplicably bumped into someone's arms, and he groaned noticeably, then subconsciously pushed the person away.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
Ye Qianning was pushed back and leaned against the door. After steadying himself, he immediately bowed his head and apologized.
Gao Qi was thrown into someone's arms and instinctively pushed away, disgust in his eyes. However, he glanced at her casually and fixed his gaze on her. A familiar voice came and he immediately stepped forward to grab her arm, saying in a sinister tone, "It's you."
When Ye Qianning looked up, he saw an angry face and cursed inwardly, wondering why he didn't check the almanac before going out. How come he bumped into him again?
"Sir..." She raised her watery eyes.
"How dare you lie to me? There is no pastry shop in the west of the city. Tell me, where did you get those pastries from?" Takaki exerted force on his hands. He had been holding this breath for a whole day.
"Indeed...it is in the west of the city."
"You still want to lie to me."
"I'm not lying to you. The lady who gave me the pastries told me that. She said she opened a pastry shop in the west of the city and that there was a daily limit on the quantity."
"Miss? What does she look like?" Takaki seemed a little nervous.
"He's fat... chubby, very good-looking, and doesn't speak with a Beijing accent."
Gao Qi was a little dazed, but soon his eyes showed some joy: "You didn't lie to me?"
Ye Qianning shook his head like a rattle: "No, no."
Only then did Takaki let her go.
"Mr. Gao, do you recognize her?" Sang Qi's eyes swept over the two of them.
Ye Qianning lowered his head like a bean sprout.
Gao Qi obviously didn't expect to run into Sang Qi. He was slightly stunned, his eyes swept from Ye Qianning to Sang Qi again. "I should be the one asking this to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Isn't His Royal Highness the one who disdains such prostitution? Why would he be in the same room with such an unattractive girl?"
"This prince is asking you if you know her." Sang Qi's voice became colder.
The look he gave Ye Qianning became even more suspicious. If she was not Ye Qianning, why was Gao Qi entangled with her?
Gao Qi gave Ye Qianning a cold look, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and stopped the man who bowed his head in his arms, raising his eyebrows with a little pride: "I recognize him."
“…”
Ye Qianning was so confused. For some reason, Sang Qi became suspicious. Once Gao Qi got involved, the suspicion about Sang Qi's disappearance would definitely arise again.
"Do you know who she is?" Sang Qi seemed to be hiding his anger.
"Know."
"Sir, I lied to you. If you want to find a girl to buy cakes, I can tell you where she is."
Ye Qianning grabbed Gao Qi and said, if he continued talking, there would be nothing to hide!
"Really?" Takaki lowered his head.
"real."
"Okay, let's go, let's go now." Gao Qi stopped her and looked up and said, "Your Highness, I have something else to do, so I'll take my leave first."
Without waiting for Sang Qi to speak, Gao Qi put his arm around her and walked towards the stairs.
Sang Qi stepped out of the room and stared at the slender figure, unable to help but blurt out, "Ye Qianning!"
Ye Qianning didn't react, but she felt Gao Qi's whole body tremble, his footsteps paused slightly, and his intense gaze fell on her.
Gao Qi stared at her without looking back, and took her downstairs.
Sang Qi clenched his fists tightly, not knowing whether he was angry or what, but he punched the door frame out of frustration.
Even if she is not Ye Qianning, there must be a connection between them!
Ye Qianning followed Gao Qi downstairs and secretly observed Gao Qi. He saw that his face was cold and without much emotion, but he should have had some doubts.
Gao Qi took her out of Zuixianglou and brought her to an alley before letting her go, his eyes full of inquiry.
"Who are you?"
"I'm just a helper at Zui Xiang Lou."
"Stop lying to me. How could a helper be cared for by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince? Tell me, who are you and why do you have the pastries made by her in your hands?" Takaki asked.
"I... I don't know why that nobleman wanted to see me. As for the pastries, they were given to me by a girl from the west side of the city. She said she would open a pastry shop there. I made some sample packs today for passersby to taste."
Gao Qi was suspicious and stared at her deeply.
Regardless of his appearance or figure, this person definitely could not be Ye Qianning, but she must know where Ye Qianning is.
Sang Qi must have known this, which is why he tried to test it.
"Do you recognize Ye Qianning?"
very good.
Ye Qianning breathed a sigh of relief. Gao Qi was much easier to fool than Sang Qi.
She shook her head slightly: "I don't recognize it."
"Are there any cakes left?"
“…Gone.”
Gao Qi frowned and said, "Next time if that girl gives you cakes, remember to come to the Prime Minister's Mansion to find me. I will buy them at a high price."
"...Yes." Ye Qianning raised his head slightly and asked tentatively: "Master, can I go now?"
Takaki stared at her for a few more seconds and waved his hand.
No matter how unrecognizable the little girl is, she can't possibly look like this. What kind of look does His Royal Highness the Crown Prince have? He actually thinks she is Ye Qianning.
"Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir."
Ye Qianning thanked him repeatedly, walked out of the alley and headed towards Zuixianglou again.
Turning to the back street, Ye Qianning looked around and found nothing unusual. She raised her hand and removed the human skin mask on her face. It seemed that this mask could not be used for the time being.
He took a deep breath and went up to the roof, then used his lightness skills to move towards the left.
Siyinfang.
Siyinfang is a place dedicated to learning musical instruments. Various instruments are taught here, and the teachers are all well-known musical instrument masters.
The women who teach here are all courtesans sent by various mansions. Generally, after they become apprentices, they will be kept in the mansions of the powerful and wealthy, and will never have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of their lives.
When noble ladies wanted to learn a musical instrument, they would choose a musical instrument master from Siyinfang to teach them at home.
The music of Si Yin Fang is unique and has always been loved by noble ladies. Even the current queen invited two masters from Si Yin Fang to the palace to teach the princesses the art of playing the piano.
Siyinfang is not open to the public, and only opens its doors on the 15th of every month to play a few songs. Many scholars and literati have praised Siyinfang and given it high praise.
Ye Qianning landed silently on the third floor of Siyinfang. At this time, the first floor was filled with music, and the beautiful piano music could be heard outside the building.
Standing on the corridor and looking down, dozens of girls around sixteen or seventeen years old were sitting below, stroking the strings with their fingertips. Two slightly older girls were standing in front and behind, each holding a ruler, looking like invigilators in an exam.
"Who are you and what are you doing here?"
A green voice sounded.
Ye Qianning turned his head, his eyes swept from the little girl to the woman who had just come up the stairs behind him.
A woman in blue walked up the stairs, turned her head and met the gaze of the person opposite her. She paused slightly, and her eyes changed from shock to joy.
The little girl who had just spoken was surprised when she saw the woman's face.
Ye Qianning was wearing coarse cloth, but her face was so beautiful and charming that it made the coarse cloth look extremely luxurious.
She smiled as she looked at the person opposite her. She was wearing a blue silk dress and was beautiful without being coquettish. The past ten years had not left any traces on her face. Instead, she looked even more beautiful than before.
Huaihua's eyes were filled with surprise, and she hurried forward: "Fatty..."
Ye Qianning put his hand to his mouth and hushed.
Huaihua immediately understood, looked around, and reached out to pull her arm: "Come on, follow me upstairs."
Ye Qianning nodded.
The little girl standing next to them was still in a daze for a long time after the two men left.
"Dong'er, what are you looking at? Where is the music score I asked you to get?" A woman in red came out from the next room.
Dong'er came back to her senses, her face full of surprise: "Sister Nishang, there was a girl just now, so beautiful."
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