Chapter 146 What are His Highness's thoughts on Shen Chu?
Flying Eagle Guard.
Pei Yuan's cold gaze swept over the disheveled Zhang Yongliang and the others before him, finally settling on Hongxiu. His voice was tense as he asked, "What else did he say?"
Hongxiu curtsied and said, "My young master said that if Your Highness cannot resolve your romantic entanglements, he would not mind going to Qingfeng Tower to seek justice from Miss Xie."
Pei Yuan's hand, which was gripping the jade-bone fan, suddenly tightened.
A romantic debt?
Did Shen Chu consider Xie Qingqiu to be his romantic entanglement?
The thought arose, and recalling Shen Chu's words at noon, his expression grew even colder and more somber.
Since learning that the person he was with that night was Shen Chu, he has indeed been behaving strangely these past two days.
If this continues, he might really become the homosexual he despises the most.
No, he wouldn't allow it.
Pei Yuan gripped his jade-bone fan tightly and said expressionlessly, "Go back and tell your young master that I will handle the trouble caused by my men myself, and he doesn't need to worry about it."
Hongxiu replied "Yes," and turned to leave.
Sun Yan looked at Zhang Yongliang and the others trembling in the corner, "Your Highness, they..."
Pei Yuan scoffed, "How dare they presume to say that I, the prince, am a homosexual? Let's teach them some manners first."
Zhang Yongliang was terrified and turned pale. "Your Highness...Your Highness, we are innocent! We dare not speak ill of Your Highness."
It was all because of Shen Chu who seduced and pestered Your Highness, begging for your life!
As soon as he finished speaking, Pei Yuan's aura grew even colder, and his voice seemed to float up from hell, "If you say another word out of line, I'll twist your tongue out."
Zhang Yongliang was so frightened that his eyes rolled back and he fainted.
The other three were trembling so badly they wet themselves.
Pei Yuan gave a light snort and turned to go to Qingfeng Tower.
Xie Qingqiu was sitting lazily in front of the bronze mirror, not in the mood to do her makeup. When she heard that Pei Yuan had arrived, she was both surprised and delighted. She quickly reapplied her rouge and came out to greet him.
"Your Highness, since you're arriving at this hour, have you had dinner yet? Would you like to...?"
Pei Yuan raised his hand to interrupt her solicitous greeting and said coldly, "Did you have Zhang Yongliang deliberately spread rumors that Shen Chu was harassing me?"
Xie Qingqiu was stunned for a moment, then looked aggrieved. "No, how could Qingqiu do such a thing? Doesn't Your Highness believe Qingqiu?"
Pei Yuan pulled up a chair and sat down, his expression indifferent. "Qingqiu, how many years have you been by my side?"
Xie Qingqiu said softly, "Three years, two months, and twenty-one days."
She remembers it perfectly, down to the last detail.
Three years ago, Qingqiu's family was destroyed and she ended up in a brothel. Because she refused to serve customers, she escaped from the brothel.
Chased to the moat by thugs from the brothel, Qingqiu was about to jump into the river to commit suicide when His Highness happened to pass by and saved her.
"Hmm." Pei Yuan nodded. "Do you remember what I said after I saved you?"
Xie Qingqiu's hands, tucked into her sleeves, trembled slightly. She looked at Pei Yuan with a somewhat unfocused gaze, as if the scene from three years ago was replaying in her mind.
She was a pampered young lady from a young age. Although her father was a merchant, the family was wealthy, and she lacked nothing in terms of food and clothing from childhood. She was also proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
When her father's business failed, he died of a stroke. Her mother was driven to suicide by creditors and was even sold to a brothel at a high price.
Just when she was driven to the brink of despair by the thugs of the brothel and was about to jump into the river, the Sixth Prince saved her.
A handsome fifteen-year-old boy descended from the sky, displaying extraordinary bravery and skill, and from that moment on, he caught her eye and entered her heart.
Recalling the past, Xie Qingqiu's voice became more somber.
"At that time, I had nowhere to go. It just so happened that His Highness wanted to open a brothel in the capital to help him collect information from all over the world. He needed someone to help manage the brothel."
It was I who volunteered to help His Highness manage Qingfeng Tower. Afterwards, His Highness had someone train me, making me the most sought-after courtesan.
Pei Yuan said, "I told you before that if you ever get tired, you can leave Qingfeng Tower at any time."
I thought you knew very well that I considered you a loyal subordinate.
But this time you didn't know your place and overstepped your bounds, which greatly disappointed me.
Xie Qingqiu's face turned pale; the word "subordinate" pierced her heart deeply.
Her eyes reddened, and she stared blankly at Pei Yuan, saying, "Subordinate? In these three years, Qingqiu has done so much, doesn't Your Highness have any feelings for Qingqiu at all?"
Pei Yuan wanted to stay informed about the situation in the capital, so she skillfully maneuvered among the various factions.
Pei Yuan couldn't sleep at night, so she practiced soothing music diligently, hoping to help him fall asleep for a while.
Pei Yuan liked spicy food, so she tried her best to learn how to cook spicy food and how to eat spicy food.
Pei Yuan disliked talkative women, so she constantly restrained herself and tried to accompany him quietly.
After all she did, did she only get the title of "loyal subordinate" in return?
Xie Qingqiu couldn't accept it no matter what, and murmured, "I don't believe it. Has His Highness never had any feelings for me?"
If you don't like me, why haven't you sought out other women in the past few years?
So many girls in the building fawn over His Highness, but he never pays them any attention, only coming to my room.
Pei Yuan frowned. "You will do things for me, and I will protect you with my status. This is my promise as a prince."
I don't have those kinds of feelings for you.
Tears streamed down Xie Qingqiu's face as she couldn't help but ask, "What about Shen Chu? What are Your Highness's feelings for Shen Chu?"
Pei Yuan's face turned cold. "What nonsense are you spouting? Shen Chu is a man! How could I, this prince, have any other thoughts about him?"
"Is that so?" Xie Qingqiu murmured, "But His Highness's treatment of Shen Chu is clearly different."
"What's different?"
Xie Qingqiu smiled bitterly, "Your Highness never allows anyone to get close to you, but you allowed Chen Chu to be in your bed."
If anyone else had injured His Highness, they would have been half-dead, if not killed. Yet, Shen Chu had injured His Highness several times, and His Highness had never laid a finger on him.
His Highness may criticize and dislike him verbally, but he indulges and cares for him in his actions. He even gave him a priceless jade pendant without batting an eye.
Your Highness, when have you ever treated anyone like this?
Pei Yuan's hand, gripping the jade-bone fan, bulged with veins; Xie Qingqiu's words stirred up a storm in his heart.
Was he really different from others when it came to Shen Chu?
But so what? Shen Chu is a man!
Pei Yuan suddenly stood up and said coldly, "You're overthinking it. This prince only admires Shen Chu's talent and wants to take him as a confidant."
I hope today's events will be the last. You've been too impulsive lately; go to Qingzhou to calm down first. Come back after Qingfeng Tower is built there."
He turned and left in a huff.
Xie Qingqiu's body went limp, and she slumped into the chair.
Is His Highness going to exile her to Qingzhou just because she instigated others to slander Shen Chu?
She got up unwillingly and chased after him to the door, asking, "What kind of woman does His Highness like?"
Pei Yuan paused, and after a moment he said in a low voice, "I don't know either. Maybe I'll know when we meet, but I know it won't be you."
The light in Xie Qingqiu's eyes dimmed little by little, and she slumped to the ground in despair.
As soon as they left Qingfeng Tower, Jinbao was sitting on the carriage shaft waiting for him, urging, "Your Highness, get in the carriage quickly, it's almost dark, we need to hurry."
Pei Yuan boarded the carriage.
Jinbao flicked his whip, and the carriage sped away.
Before two cups of tea could be brewed, Jinbao's voice rang out from outside, "His Highness has arrived."
So fast?
Pei Yuan lifted the carriage curtain and saw the sign for the Marquis of Changning's residence. His expression immediately darkened. "What are we doing here?"
Jinbao winked with a grin, "Now that Your Highness has dealt with Miss Qingqiu, shouldn't you explain things to Lord Shen?"
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