“It’s just saying you’re small—is it worth being so heartbroken over?” Yu Zixi kicked Old An disdainfully, muttering: “If you saw mine, would you get so angry you’d commit suicide?”
“What are you saying, Your Highness?” A second head emerged, and the mischievous Qin Chang Ge smiled sweetly at Yu Zixi.
“Look at this.” Yu Zixi pursed his lips in anger, gesturing at the half-undressed Old An for Qin Chang Ge to see. “This guy fainted from fright.”
Pointing seductively at Old An, he said: “Moyan, look—this also counts as a man.”
“Mm,” Qin Chang Ge examined him seriously with an unchanged expression, then nodded sincerely: “Very tragic.”
Yu Zixi’s fox eyes drooped with some disappointment as he leaned against the tree, watching Qin Chang Ge casually seal Old An’s acupoints and toss him into the tree hole, then cover it with the fake bark.
“Are you planning to assassinate Li Denglong?” Yu Zixi whispered to Qin Chang Ge: “You go, I’ll keep watch.”
He leaned very close, his breath stirring the hair by Qin Chang Ge’s ear as he spoke. His open collar faintly emanated a strange fragrance—rich and seductive, somewhat like amaryllis. Amaryllis was also called solitary flower. Qin Chang Ge suddenly remembered seeing this flower’s meaning in her previous life: gorgeous beauty, endless chatter.
She couldn’t help smiling faintly. It really was like this person—only, in her previous previous life, Yu Zixi hadn’t been so talkative…
“Hey, what are you spacing out about?” A certain beautiful demon fox’s voice came even closer—so close that if Qin Chang Ge unconsciously turned back, she’d deliver her cheek to his enchanting lips.
Stiffening her neck and imperceptibly moving herself three inches away, Qin Chang Ge said: “Du city has our court’s people. His Majesty gave me contact methods. Since we’re unfamiliar with this place, we need to find a way to get close to Li Denglong first.”
“Why hasn’t Old An come back from relieving himself yet?” Someone pulled open a paper door with a swish.
With a swish, Qin Chang Ge grabbed Yu Zixi and turned, pressing him against the tree.
That person looked around and saw two people with their backs turned, being intimate. “Hey, did you see someone relieving himself here just now?”
Qin Chang Ge forcefully pressed Yu Zixi down, standing on tiptoe and leaning her head on Yu Zixi’s shoulder. From behind it looked like she was “deeply kissing” someone. While busy, she waved dismissively at that person and mumbled: “Didn’t see! Busy!”
“Ha, take your time, take your time,” that person laughed strangely and pulled back the paper door. She vaguely heard him loudly laugh to his companions inside: “Playing with women outside in the cold wind at midnight—isn’t that more wild and interesting?”
Inside erupted in raucous laughter.
“This is the second time you’ve pressed me down,” Yu Zixi’s voice was soft, truly like lovers’ whispers.
“Press and press until it becomes habit.” Qin Chang Ge laughed heartily, shamelessly rubbing against Yu Zixi’s smooth skin, sighing appreciatively: “Your Highness, how do you maintain your skin? This northern wind and sand haven’t damaged it one bit.”
“Fresh rose juice mixed with Lihai pearl powder, add cow’s milk—remember the milk must be from Dongyan spotted cows, the roses must be Zhongchuan ‘Golden Thread Roses,’ and each Lihai pearl must be no smaller than a thumb.” Yu Zixi smiled: “Very easy.”
“Then I’ll pass—I wasn’t born with your natural beauty anyway.” Qin Chang Ge checked the sky. Yu Zixi was already urging: “What are you dawdling for? There’s much to do tonight. Are you waiting for daylight to kill people?”
Qin Chang Ge smiled without answering, first taking out a mask from her clothes and sticking it on Yu Zixi’s face, then putting one on herself. She directly dragged Yu Zixi along. Yu Zixi sighed very dissatisfied: “Ah, my supreme beauty is being buried by you like this…” But he didn’t remove the mask. The two swaggered forward boldly. The courtyard was originally lively, and the front hall beyond the back courtyard had even more coming and going. No one noticed two wretched-looking men walk straight out the door.
Stepping out of the brothel’s main entrance, Qin Chang Ge checked directions, her gaze sweeping along a row of wall foundations with slight surprise brightening her eyes. She then turned left, walked through a short street, then leisurely entered another red-lantern-hung entrance.
Yu Zixi looked up at the door plaque in amazement: “Hundred Charms Tower.”
Another brothel.
“Hey, I say,” Yu Zixi hooked Qin Chang Ge’s shoulder, breathing like orchids as he laughed seductively: “Are you so hungry from the military campaign that you keep running to brothels? If you really want it, brother will accompany you—why keep drilling into these third-rate brothels?”
“Great, but to accompany me you’d need a bed. Let’s go find one.” Qin Chang Ge half-smiled, dragging Yu Zixi inside. A house madam in the courtyard approached to greet guests. Qin Chang Ge smiled: “I’m looking for Miss Yuren.”
“Ah, what bad timing,” the madam smiled apologetically. “Miss Yuren has a customer right now. How about I call Miss Yuya instead? Miss Yuya has both beauty and talent…”
“Please tell her that a fellow townsman has come, thirsty for a meeting.” Qin Chang Ge casually tossed over a gold fragment, smiling: “She’ll see me.”
The madam smiled and went to report. Soon returning with an even more ingratiating smile: “The young lady requests your presence.” She led the two to a boudoir on the second floor.
Crystal curtains hung in the room with faint light and shadows behind them. On expensive brocade carpets from Zhongchuan, a woman in plain clothes held a pipa, gazing out the window in absorption.
Her long hair fell over her shoulders, reaching the ground, not arranged in any of the fashionable complex, gorgeous styles. Her hair was as lustrous as fine black silk, or like flowing dark water. Though she sat in a casual pose beneath her cascading hair, her curves were perfectly proportioned—full and tempting where abundant, gracefully curved where delicate.
Hearing voices, she turned back.
It felt like a vast black tide of dark gaze rushing toward them—profound, heavy, distant, desolate, like ancient bell sounds or ruins buried deep underground, carrying long-sealed and suppressed memories, carrying the dark fragrance of old paper and the gloom of ashes, straight into one’s heart, making breathing catch and soul scatter.
Meeting her gaze, both Qin Chang Ge and Yu Zixi were surprised. This spy who had lurked in Wei for years was actually so young. More remarkably, such a young woman possessed such deathly heavy eyes, like those of an aged elder.
Looking at her unusually dark eyebrows and eyes, Qin Chang Ge’s left hand hung by her leg with three fingers curled in her palm as she bowed slightly, smiling: “Miss Yuren.”
That woman’s gaze swept over Qin Chang Ge’s hand. She casually plucked a note on the pipa—clear as jade beads. Her voice was also as beautiful and clear as jade beads, only filled with exhaustion as she said flatly: “You’ve come… very good. I’ve been waiting long.”
Qin Chang Ge gazed at her, saying slowly: “What is Miss Yuren’s surname?”
“My surname is Li,” that woman smiled—a desolate smile. “Li Yuren.”
She was young, beautiful, with an enchanting figure, but the tone and manner of every sentence was like a weary old woman.
“Miss Li seems to have a chronic illness?” Qin Chang Ge looked at her complexion and asked: “Would you like me to check your pulse?”
“No need,” Li Yuren said indifferently. “You two didn’t come here easily—don’t waste time on me. Ever since I heard the water source was cut off outside the city, I thought you’d come. I originally wasn’t seeing customers, waiting for you wholeheartedly. But that customer just now was one I had to see, and…” she smiled, “you’ll surely be very pleased to hear.”
“Oh?” Qin Chang Ge smiled: “Could it be someone from General Li’s household?”
A rare trace of surprise appeared in her eyes as Li Yuren nodded: “Yes. Tonight is the twentieth birthday of General Li’s most beloved concubine. Originally, during wartime, Li Denglong wouldn’t arrange celebrations, but this newly married concubine is skilled in music and unparalleled in beauty. Li Denglong truly dotes on her and couldn’t refuse her request. He agreed to find Du city’s best performers to collaborate in playing her recently composed ‘Blue Sky’ piece. Just now it was Li family members who came to deliver invitations.”
She smiled lazily: “You go. Anyway, no one in the Li household has seen me—I never meet Li family people. After tonight’s matter is finished, my mission waiting here is also complete. Tomorrow I’ll leave Du city.”
“Come with us to Xiliang,” Qin Chang Ge looked at her. “I’ll arrange everything for you.”
“No,” Li Yuren sighed—a leisurely sigh. “I’m used to being alone… I want to wander everywhere, see how vast the four seas are, how far the world’s edge extends. The sights outside must be very beautiful…”
Her voice carried faint yearning that flashed like a meteor then vanished. She then stood up, sized up both of them, pushed Yu Zixi to sit down, and casually removed his mask.
Yu the fox’s devastatingly beautiful features seemed to brighten even the dimly lit room.
Li Yuren was also startled, stunned for a moment before smiling: “What an unexpected delight. Young master’s beauty means I needn’t go to much trouble.”
“What trouble?” Yu Zixi frowned, looking at the rouge and powder she had taken. “You’re not going to make me dress as a woman, are you?”
“If young master doesn’t dress up, who will?” Li Yuren examined his eyebrows and eyes. “Who here could be more suitable than you?”
“Him!” Yu Zixi immediately pointed at Qin Chang Ge.
Li Yuren smiled slightly: “This person surely also has good looks, but what’s needed now isn’t appearance—it’s feminine charm, the natural feminine charm that brothel women should have. Yuren believes that in all the world, truly no man could have young master’s innate feminine grace.”
Yu Zixi waved his sleeve, firmly refusing: “No, I won’t act like a woman.”
“Miss Yuren, are you ready?” Knocking came from outside the door as a middle-aged man asked in a deep voice: “The performance is about to start—we’re just waiting for you. Ninth Madam sent me to urge you.”
Li Yuren gestured to the two of them, answering melodiously: “Coming right away.”
Qin Chang Ge rushed to Yu Zixi’s side, whispering in his ear: “Your Highness, please bear this small grievance…”
“No!”
“If tonight succeeds, Moyan will gift you a treasure…”
“Don’t care!”
“…A rare ice-ringed snake saliva chain ornament from Red River…”
“Fine.”
Yu Zixi immediately sat gracefully on the brocade stool, his long fingers lifting as his dark hair fell like water, cascading like a waterfall. He smiled at Li Yuren: “Come, make me more beautiful. I want to dazzle Li Denglong, make him bow before my pomegranate skirt, romantic even as a ghost.”
Looking at Qin Chang Ge admiringly, Li Yuren smiled and first handed over a light red gauze dress with gold thread rose patterns. Yu Zixi blinked, examining the dress from top to bottom and bottom to top before saying seriously: “Please prepare ginger soup for me—I’m definitely going to freeze to death.”
Qin Chang Ge looked sympathetically at that dress… indeed, this type of clothing was designed to be suggestive, mysteriously concealing and revealing to attract men to explore its secrets. Its aesthetic value was limitless, its warmth coefficient zero.
Sighing, completely unbothered by others’ presence, Yu Zixi casually undressed and changed clothes. Li Yuren turned away to prepare jewelry, but Qin Chang Ge leaned on the chair, grinning as she stared unblinkingly at the male body before her, appreciatively whistling—so-called divine beauty concentrated in one person’s body, giving him not only features and appearance but also a wonderful physique unmatched by others.
Thin without showing bone, proportioned evenly, broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs—every inch of line was perfect. His skin faintly glowed with a jade-like warm luminosity, yet one could sense the elasticity and strength beneath that warmth. Under his ink-black hair, his body was full yet restrained, every movement filled with breathtakingly seductive beauty.
Qin Chang Ge applauded: “Beautiful… overwhelmingly beautiful… you might as well not wear anything… unworn would be better than worn.”
Yu Zixi had no time to pay her attention, struggling with the dress while sweating profusely and muttering curses: “How is this thing so complicated? How exactly does it go on?”
Li Yuren pursed her lips and came over, personally retying the thin straps he’d mistakenly tied around his neck to his waist instead. Those straps were incredibly complex, all adorned with tiny crystal beads that constantly sparkled with flowing water-like ripples, complementing his snow-white skin and lines full of elastic beauty different from ordinary women’s fragile softness—making one reluctant to look away.
Hibiscus bun, bright moon earrings, light gauze robes, a hibiscus stone hair ornament set with a thousand pearls and gold swaying mysteriously—when walking, snow-white skin showed faintly with dark light flickering, truly magnificent in every way.
“Living beauty with fragrant vitality…” Qin Chang Ge, now dressed as a young servant, drooled while sprawled on the table. “You were born to drive women to death with envy…”
Yu Zixi glanced at her, walking over with spring breeze grace, leaning on Qin Chang Ge’s shoulder, lowering his charming face with delicate fingers raised, eyes flowing as he breathed like orchids: “General Li… am I beautiful?… How does your ninth concubine compare to me?”
“No comparison—she’s only fit to carry your shoes,” Qin Chang Ge said solemnly, acting intoxicated. “Yuren, you’re truly carved from jade, an absolutely gorgeous beauty. Please allow me to prostrate myself before your seven-inch golden lotus feet.”
Yu Zixi laughed heartily. Li Yuren had already come over to drape a high-collared cloak on Yu Zixi, the collar edged with snow-white fur that concealed his slightly broad shoulders. She also draped a veil of pearl-bright snow silk over him. The bright pearl light and Yu Zixi’s flowing dark eyes complemented each other, becoming even more captivating.
With a crash the door opened. Those who had been waiting impatiently outside looked up to see a gracefully elegant woman supporting herself on the doorframe, appearing delicately weak as she turned back to instruct those inside: “Fellow townspeople, please wait—Yuren will return shortly.”
Naturally it was Li Yuren speaking from half-hidden behind the door, while Yu Zixi performed like a ventriloquist, giving those outside a touching silhouette to disguise the tracks of Qin Chang Ge and Yu Zixi’s earlier entry.
Then Yu Zixi turned back with the graceful bearing of a delicate flower reflected in water. The Li family servants outside brightened up, all drawing in sharp breaths.
“Little darling,” Yu Zixi laughed charmingly, gesturing to servant Qin Chang Ge holding a pipa. “Let’s go!”
Little Qin raised her eyebrows with a flash of a smile. The “master and servant” pair departed contentedly.