Chapter 39: I Would Even Be Your Concubine!

Setting aside the last entry, Xue Yuan now understood that the woman was none other than Lin Shishi!

After all, the Ning'an City top courtesan personally selected by the Prince was one and the same: the woman upon whom he had showered a massive bouquet of flowers during the flower boat parade at noon. At the time, he had merely thought her a bit unique, but now he realized she was a princess of the Yeliang Kingdom—a sixth-rank high-stage master proficient in illusion arts!

There was no doubt she had been lurking in the red-light district of Ning'an City specifically to rescue the so-called "General Xuanjia." Judging by the entry, rescuing General Xuanjia was a prerequisite for the restoration of the Yeliang Kingdom, which meant it was certainly no ordinary object. But why was this General Xuanjia chained to the riverbed? And why did Lin Shishi choose today, right in front of the Great Confucian, to attempt the rescue?

At this moment, Chen Qiluo spoke up. "This Yeliang Kingdom was originally located deep within the towering mountains of the Great Qian's southwest. Its people were adept at witchcraft, illusions, and even the mysterious arts of Qimen Dunjia; they were extremely treacherous. Back then, to unify the realm, the late Emperor personally led three campaigns against Yeliang. The first two ended in disastrous defeats, and he nearly lost his life. It wasn't until the third campaign that he finally set an ambush to wipe out Yeliang's thirty-six sects of witchcraft, seventy-two schools of Qimen, and three thousand six hundred Dunjia warriors, conquering the Yeliang capital in one fell swoop."

She paused, then continued, "Later, to prevent Yeliang's numerous witchcraft and illusion arts from spreading into the Central Plains and causing harm, the late Emperor ordered his soldiers to slaughter the city for seven days, executing all two hundred and ten thousand inhabitants before setting the imperial palace ablaze."

Upon hearing this, Xue Yuan thought to himself that with such deep-seated hatred, it was no wonder they sought to restore their nation and take revenge. But he was no child; he would not stand from Lin Shishi’s perspective and view her as a victim or a paragon of justice. In this world, things were rarely as simple as black and white.

For Xue Yuan, Lin Shishi—already a fifth-rank high-stage master who would soon gain the assistance of General Xuanjia—was terrifying because she was a member of the Remnant Society! The stronger she became, the lower the chances of Wang Yu'er ascending to power.

"The Remnant Society is not allowed to have someone so overpowered!"
"Not even if she's beautiful!"

Xue Yuan decided that Lin Shishi had to be eliminated. Of course, if he could get his hands on that turtle-shell general or whatever it was, he wouldn't mind that either!

After finishing her explanation, Chen Qiluo sighed and said, "The ceremony seems to be ruined. You should go back now. Ning'an City will be chaotic for the next two days, so it's best if you don't go out much."

Xue Yuan asked, "Sister Chen, are you going to capture her?"

"This matter involves a royal homicide case. If I can't catch her, I'm afraid I won't be able to return to the Divine Catcher Bureau." Chen Qiluo sighed with utter exhaustion; after all, she didn't even know who the person was. But having tracked the case from the palace all the way here, and with such a major incident now occurring, she would have no face left to return to the Bureau if she didn't get to the bottom of it. Fortunately, she had been quick-witted enough to capture one of the five Remnant Society members who had infiltrated the ceremony before they could commit suicide. That was her only hope now.

Hearing this, Xue Yuan said with a grin, "Don't worry, I'll help you!"

"You?" Chen Qiluo shot him another look of pitying concern. "Just stay in the Prince's mansion and practice your zither when you have time. Make sure you perform well for Great Confucian Chu, you hear me?"

"What if I help you catch her? What then?" Xue Yuan thought for a moment and said, "How about you become my Princess? I want to change my current one; she's not cute at all, and she’s not as pretty as you!"

Xue Yuan, of course, knew this was impossible. But business was business—one could always start with a high bid. If he helped Chen Qiluo solve the case and she later tried to renege, wouldn't the favor she owed him feel even greater? By then, if he asked her for other favors, would she have the nerve to refuse?

Chen Qiluo clearly hadn't expected this fool to dare covet her, and she was momentarily stunned. She then looked at Jian Qi, unsure, and asked, "Has he always been like this?"

Jian Qi replied coldly, "I don't know. When are we going to fight again?"

Chen Qiluo sighed. "You two are quite the pair." One was an idiot, the other a fanatic.

"So, does that mean you agree, sister?" Xue Yuan pressed.

"You're so annoying! If you can catch her, I'll even be your concubine," Chen Qiluo snapped. "But if you obstruct my official duties, don't blame me for spanking you!" With that, she turned and left.

Xue Yuan watched her graceful, slender back and couldn't help but smile. At that moment, Su Ruowei ran over.

"Your Highness, are you alright?"

Xue Yuan looked at Su Ruowei, who was covered in soot and looking at him with lingering fear. His heart ached, and he raised his sleeve to wipe her face. "I'm fine. What about you?"

Su Ruowei nodded hurriedly. "I... your servant is also fine. Divine Catcher Chen saved me during the explosion, otherwise I might have..."

"That's good! Don't be afraid, don't be afraid," Xue Yuan said, puffing out his chest and speaking with casual composure, "It was just a small scene. Let’s head home."

Jian Qi immediately gave him a look of disdain. Xue Yuan glared back at Jian Qi while secretly steadying his still-trembling legs.

...

Back at the Prince's mansion, after everyone had cleaned up, Su Ruowei put on her servant's attire and took the initiative to enter the room, bringing tea to Xue Yuan.

"Your Highness, please have some tea."

The Su family had always been true to their word, and since she had given her promise, she now conducted herself as a servant of the mansion. Although it was somewhat strange for a noble young lady to suddenly become a domestic worker, the thought of her parents being saved made it all feel justifiable.

This only caused Xue Yuan to hold her in even higher regard. He took the tea calmly and took a sip, immediately sensing a fragrant aroma and a silky-smooth texture, quite different from any tea he had drunk before. He couldn't help but ask, "What kind of tea is this?"

"In reply to Your Highness, it is whisked tea," Su Ruowei said. "This tea is recorded in 'The Classic of Tea' and has the effect of calming the mind and spirit. Your servant thought to prepare it for Your Highness to try."

Xue Yuan looked at Su Ruowei in disbelief again. "You even know the tea ceremony?"

"I only know a little bit," Su Ruowei replied with a faint smile, like a lotus flower blooming in the morning, swaying its branches in the misty haze. This was the first time she had smiled, and it sent a ripple through Xue Yuan's heart. He faintly understood why those wastrels would spend a fortune just for a glimpse of a beauty's smile. It was for a sense of refreshing clarity.

Of course, Xue Yuan also wanted her body; he had been sure of that for a long time. However, he knew that even if he demanded it now, Su Ruowei would likely agree, but extorting a favor would not win her heart. In the end, he would just be busy while she remained silent—boring and lacking in taste.

So, he suppressed his emotions and said, "Miss Su, you are so beautiful and so clever; it would be a waste for you to just be a servant. Why don't you manage the entire Prince Ning's mansion instead?"

Su Ruowei looked at Xue Yuan in shock. She never expected that he would so easily hand over the reins of the entire mansion to her! For a moment, she couldn't tell who was repaying whom.

"Your Highness, this..."

"Is Miss Su unwilling? Do you find it too much trouble?"

"No, no, no! Ruowei has already promised Your Highness. As long as my family is rescued, I... I am willing to serve Your Highness for the rest of my life!"

"That's good!" Xue Yuan smiled and said to Jian Qi, "Jian Qi, gather all the servants of the mansion and have them acknowledge the new steward."

Jian Qi nodded and led Su Ruowei out. Before long, Xue Yuan heard a burst of wailing and howling from outside.

"Your Highness, Your Highness, are you alright? This student is guilty! I should not have let you risk your life at that ceremony!"