Chapter 212: A Rare Guest
At this time, the Empress’s mourning period was less than a hundred days, and the Sanqu Lane had not yet resumed its usual entertainment, but the pleasure boats were an exception.
“Princess Jinyu allowed it.”
“Princess Jinyu criticized the Empress’s suicide as coercing the Emperor. Being able to retain the Empress’s title for burial was already considered respectful, and there was no need to adhere to other Empress’s regulations.”
“His Majesty had a big argument with Princess Jinyu, saying that this was a family matter, that she was his first wife, and tearfully insisted on a proper Empress’s funeral.”
“Ah, His Majesty is truly a benevolent ruler.”
“So Princess Jinyu, in a fit of pique, said that since it was a family matter, her family’s affairs would also continue as usual.”
“Shangguan Yue, no, Li Yu, no…”
Speaking of which, the people around them said in unison, “Prince of Chu.”
Indeed, the Emperor had already announced that the Emperor’s Grandson, Li Yu, would be bestowed the title of Prince of Chu.
It was truly amazing that the prodigal son they had been enjoying themselves with had actually become a Prince.
“It’s a pity that the Prince of Chu personally escorted the Empress’s coffin to the Imperial Tombs and can’t be seen today.”
“Even if he comes back, you might not be able to see him. Princess Jinyu has already chosen a Prince’s Residence for him to be renovated, so he definitely won’t return to the pleasure boat.”
“That’s not necessarily true. Shangguan Yue has a close relationship with us…”
“Hahaha, what kind of close relationship? Friends who indulge in pleasure together?”
From the dock to entering the pleasure boat, it was crowded with people and bustling with noise. A few guests who had managed to squeeze into the cabin hadn’t even had a chance to catch their breath when someone behind them patted their shoulders, “Look, look!”
Look? Look at what? Shangguan Yue really came back?
The guests looked up and saw the luxurious hall inside the cabin. The candle holders were hung high, illuminating the space as bright as day. Light gauze curtains hung down from the third floor, creating an ethereal atmosphere as the maids moved between them, resembling a celestial realm.
The stewards of each floor of the pleasure boat were already standing with smiles on their faces.
The guests’ eyes darted around, but they didn’t see that familiar young man.
The hand behind them was still patting incessantly, “Don’t look at the front, look at the back, look at the back!”
The back? There were only people rushing to board the boat, old and young, all looking the same. What was there to see? The few guests turned their heads and saw that the crowd, which had been pushing and shoving each other, unwilling to yield, had actually made way.
A figure in crimson was slowly approaching.
Just looking at the figure, the few guests thought to themselves, “Handsome!” But the next moment, their eyes fell on the face, and they were stunned, unable to speak.
The originally noisy boat deck also became quiet.
This silence didn’t make the newcomer feel the slightest bit uncomfortable, and he quickly walked up to the attendant who was verifying identities.
“I came with him,” he said.
The stunned attendant came back to his senses and looked behind the newcomer, seeing a young man shrinking his shoulders and covering his face with his sleeve.
He couldn’t see his face!
“This young master…” the attendant asked hesitantly.
“It’s me, it’s me, it’s me!” Xue Silang lowered his sleeve, showing his face to the attendant for a moment before quickly covering it again. “Is that okay?”
“Young Master Xue Silang!” the attendant said.
Before he could finish speaking, Xue Silang shushed him, “What are you shouting for? Don’t shout!” He then urged the attendant, “Hurry up and let us in.”
The attendant quickly gestured with his hand, watching as Xue Silang pushed the handsome young master inside.
The quiet crowd behind them instantly erupted in whispers, “Who is that?” “He’s so handsome!” “It’s Young Master Xue Silang.” “Xue Silang looks like a ghost—” “No, I mean the person Xue Silang brought—”
Accompanying the whispers, a strange scream rose above the noise.
“I’ve seen him!”
“He’s Zhou Jingyun!”
“The Marquis of Dongyang’s Heir!”
The Marquis of Dongyang’s Heir?
Everyone knew this name, but not many had actually seen him. Zhou Jingyun had been away from the capital for many years, and even when he was in the capital, he wasn’t someone they would encounter in such a place.
The few people at the entrance looked at the approaching handsome young master and also heard the shouts from outside.
The Marquis of Dongyang’s Heir?
“Zhou Jingyun?” one of them murmured.
Because they were so close, the handsome young master happened to hear it and looked over, nodding in acknowledgment.
He acknowledged them!
This confirmed it!
“Why are you here?” the person couldn’t help blurting out.
Before Zhou Jingyun could answer, Xue Silang, who was behind him, squeezed forward and shouted with wide eyes, “He’s just here to take a look, just to take a look.” He then pushed Zhou Jingyun inside, “Let’s go, let’s go! I told you to wear a veil, but you didn’t. Look, you’ve been recognized.”
These words confirmed their suspicions, and the crowd behind them erupted in an uproar.
“It’s Zhou Jingyun!” “It really is Zhou Jingyun!” “Xue Silang brought him!” “Xue Silang is related to Zhou Jingyun!”
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When Bai Li came out, she saw two stewards waiting outside the door.
When Shangguan Yue had first entrusted the pleasure boat to her, they would come to greet and welcome her. Later, after she told them that she preferred to be casual and they didn’t need to do so, they stopped coming.
Why were they here again today?
Standing at the highest point on the third floor, she could hear the boiling clamor from the cabin, even louder than usual.
“What’s going on?” she asked. “The pleasure boat hasn’t been open for a while, are the guests too excited and causing trouble?”
One of the stewards hurriedly said, “No, no, it’s because a special person has arrived.”
A special person? Bai Li was puzzled. “How special? Did they barge in without being verified?”
The steward shook his head.
Then what else could be special? If they could pass the verification, it meant they were allowed on the pleasure boat.
“It’s Zhou Jingyun, the Marquis of Dongyang’s Heir,” the other steward said.
Bai Li was surprised. Zhou Jingyun?
The next moment, her eyes curved into a smile.
He had come!
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The clamor in the cabin continued as usual, but it was also different from before.
In the past, everyone’s attention was on their own interests, either shouting at the gambling tables, drinking and making noise with their friends, or cheering for the dancers and singers. Now, everyone was focused on one person.
“… Marquis Zhou’s Heir, come and try this deck of cards with me. I’m having great luck,” someone shouted, holding up a deck of cards.
“Mine is more fun!” Others around them also extended invitations.
Before Zhou Jingyun could speak, Xue Silang, who was beside him, waved his hands, “Go away, go away! He’s not playing, he’s not playing.”
After driving away the gamblers, a wave of people holding wine, carrying calligraphy and paintings, and accompanied by beautiful women surged forward.
“Marquis’s Heir, come and have a drink with us.” “Marquis’s Heir, come and appreciate my calligraphy and paintings.” “What’s so good about your lousy calligraphy and paintings? Don’t pollute the Marquis’s Heir’s eyes.” “Marquis’s Heir, come and listen to me play the qin.” “Marquis’s Heir, I’ll give you this beauty.”
Xue Silang waved his sleeves like a windmill. “He doesn’t drink!” “He’s not looking!” “What beauty? Is she as beautiful as him?”
Watching this scene from the highest point on the third floor, Bai Li couldn’t help but laugh.
“Zhou Jingyun never sets foot in such places,” one steward said in a deep voice. “He doesn’t gamble, drink, or seek pleasure. What is he doing on our pleasure boat?”
“Could he be here to curry favor with the Prince of Chu?” the other steward said, then shook his head. “Impossible.”
Zhou Jingyun wasn’t that kind of person. Besides, the Prince of Chu didn’t seem to be in a position to be flattered. If the Emperor hadn’t had a son, it might have been possible, but now that the Emperor had a son, logically, court officials and noble families should be cautious and keep their distance from the Prince of Chu.
“Could he be here to cause trouble?” the first steward thought of something and frowned. “Zhou Jingyun seems to have some connections with the Censorate. He was the one who instigated the Empress’s case.”
The other steward immediately became nervous as well. “Yes, that’s right. A few days ago, Zhang Ze publicly said that the Prince of Chu had improper intentions…”
And then Zhou Jingyun appeared on the pleasure boat!
This made them think!
“Send a message to the Imperial Tombs.”
Hearing this, Bai Li interrupted them with a smile. “Don’t be nervous, he’s just here to take a look.”
She looked at Zhou Jingyun in the cabin hall, surrounded by the crowd and protected by a sweating Xue Silang. He was strolling leisurely, observing his surroundings with curiosity.
As if sensing a gaze different from the others, Zhou Jingyun looked up and saw a woman leaning against the railing on the third floor.
The woman was wearing the same clothes as the maids in the hall, but she was wearing a pearl veil.
Despite the veil, despite the distance, he recognized her at a glance. It was Bai Li.
Zhou Jingyun couldn’t help but smile. Then he saw Bai Li say something to the two people beside her. Although their expressions were hesitant, they bowed and retreated. Then Bai Li walked briskly down the stairs.
Zhou Jingyun stepped past Xue Silang and went to meet her.
Xue Silang, who was still struggling with the people surrounding him, noticed and hurriedly followed.
“Don’t wander off,” he said, wiping the sweat from his face, and looked around vigilantly. “I’m not responsible if something happens.”
Zhou Jingyun laughed. “What could happen here?”
However, just as Xue Silang was about to say something, a woman’s soft laughter came from ahead. “Marquis of Dongyang’s Heir, what a rare guest.”
Xue Silang looked and saw a woman coming down from upstairs. Although her face was covered and he couldn’t see clearly, everyone already knew that after Shangguan Yue regained his identity as a prince, he had entrusted the pleasure boat to a woman.
It was said to be Shangguan Yue’s most favored maid.
It was reasonable for the owner of the pleasure boat to come and greet Zhou Jingyun, but…
“Don’t look.”
Xue Silang was pulled by the shoulder by a steward.
“Come, come, there’s a new game over here. Young Master Silang, come and try your luck.”
A new game! Xue Silang’s eyes lit up, but the next moment, he looked back at the third floor and saw that Zhou Jingyun had been led to a seat by the maid. The maid sat beside him and was handing him a cup of wine.
What woman could resist Zhou Jingyun!
This was Zhou Jingyun’s first time in such a place, he mustn’t be fooled!
“I’d better accompany…” Xue Silang said, struggling to go upstairs.
“Our Young Lady Bai is personally accompanying him, what are you worried about?” the steward pulled him back. “Don’t you trust our young master?”
With that, he dragged him towards the gambling table.
“Come, come, prepare a table for Young Master Xue.”
The surrounding attendants congratulated in unison, “May Young Master Xue make a fortune!” Maids carrying wine, hot tea, and snacks swarmed around. Many people, having failed to invite Zhou Jingyun, settled for surrounding Xue Silang. For a time, Xue Silang was the center of attention, a scene he had never experienced before, and he no longer cared about watching over Zhou Jingyun.
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“… This is delicious, and this is good too. They’re all my favorites.”
Bai Li placed a cup of wine and a plate of snacks on the table, and the maids retreated.
Zhou Jingyun picked up the wine cup, took a sip, and nodded. “It’s really good.”
Bai Li smiled and asked, “Why are you here? Is there something you need?” Without waiting for Zhou Jingyun to answer, she continued, “A few days ago, before Li Yu went to the Imperial Tombs, he told me that Zhang Ze was giving you trouble?”
A few days ago… Zhou Jingyun thought for a moment and understood. Li Yu must have seen him talking to Zhang Ze outside the Empress’s funeral hall.
“No, I just said a few words to annoy him,” he said with a smile, repeating their conversation from that day.
“The Marquis’s Heir is quite good at annoying people,” Bai Li said with a chuckle after hearing it.
Zhou Jingyun took another bite of the snack. “The child is doing well, and the wet nurse has been arranged.”
And he had also taken care of things over there. New bedding, a dressing table, everything was set up.
Of course, there was no need to mention these details.
He looked at Bai Li and smiled.
“I’ve checked the schedule for this month. The third, sixth, and ninth are all convenient days for me to go over there. If you want to go, you can come on those days.”
Bai Li suddenly understood why Zhou Jingyun had come to the pleasure boat. She hadn’t been to Madam Zhuang’s place these past few days, and Zhou Jingyun was worried that she didn’t want to see Madam Zhuang alone.
So he had come specifically to tell her when he would be there, to accompany her.
Bai Li’s eyes were filled with a smile, and she nodded gently. “Okay.”
I’m not following the plot these two days, I feel like it’s slow enough to save up for a longer chapter, hehe.
