Little minister?

Vegetarian?

Ji Yunshu was certain she hadn’t misheard. Her body stiffened, and she glanced at him before turning her head away, withdrawing her chin from his fingertips.

But Jingrong’s hand on her shoulder only tightened further, and the smile on his face grew increasingly wicked.

Meeting her gaze, he asked, “What’s wrong, little minister? Could it be that I said something incorrect?”

“…” Speechless.

“Be good, you can’t touch anything carnal.”

“…”

The corner of her mouth twitched.

Those several young ladies looked at the two of them embracing intimately with astonishment. After hearing those words, they all gently pressed their handkerchiefs to their noses, revealing expressions of disdain.

So these two had a cut-sleeve relationship!

“How disgusting. If they’re not here to seek pleasure, why come to our establishment at all?”

“Looking at these two young masters, they’re quite handsome—what a waste.”

“Exactly. If they didn’t have something wrong in their heads, they’d be treasures anywhere.”

“Why do all the handsome men in this world suffer from this affliction?”

…

The several young ladies lamented with remark after remark, while simultaneously looking down on them with strange, mocking tones.

After finishing their chatter, they dispersed without interest.

Jingrong didn’t care in the slightest; in fact, he was secretly delighted.

Ji Yunshu quickly bent her elbow and jabbed it hard into his abdomen, then shifted her body to the side and moved two steps away.

Distancing herself from him.

“How could you talk such nonsense?”

“Isn’t it the truth?”

“We’re both men right now.”

“So what?”

“…”

Fine, she had no response to that.

A moment later, he pulled her to his side again, his large hand imprisoning her slender waist. Looking down at her almond-shaped eyes, he said, “You are this prince’s. Even if you want to break your fast, you can only eat this dish that is this prince.”

“Let go first.”

“If you want to properly investigate that Young Master Qiao’s affairs, you’d better behave.”

“But your excuse is really too bizarre.”

“Bizarre?” Jingrong frowned. “That’s a fresh term you’re using. This prince doesn’t understand it. In any case, you and I are now a pair. Just cooperate properly and avoid attracting a whole body’s worth of powder scent.”

Indeed, after he said those words, those several young ladies had spread the news with their chattering, all saying that two men with a cut-sleeve relationship had come to the establishment.

Naturally, no more rouge and powder approached the two of them. Instead, it had become quite peaceful.

Subsequently, the procurer from the brothel came up to them and asked, “What would you two young masters like to drink?”

“Good tea.”

“Right away! You two gentlemen please go to the second floor, we’ll bring you tea immediately.”

The two went upstairs and sat down at an empty table.

Compared to the first floor, the second floor was even more spacious. It was specifically for drinking wine and tea, with dozens of tables arranged in rows, all blocked by elegant screens so they wouldn’t interfere with each other.

Those flirtatious women were mostly on the second floor as well—either pulling men upstairs to the third floor for activities, or sitting on men’s laps flirting and teasing with them.

Young Master Qiao from the Qiao family, who had just entered, was currently being coaxed by two young ladies to drink cup after cup.

His face was flushed red, already somewhat excited.

Ji Yunshu had noticed him when she came up.

“What a wine barrel,” she muttered.

Jingrong also glanced in that direction. Young Master Qiao was truly excited. “So? Did you notice anything?”

She shook her head.

She continued observing.

At this moment, Young Master Qiao was being pulled by the two young ladies to go to the third floor, and they happened to pass by the two of them.

Who could have known that Jingrong would suddenly splash the cup of tea he was holding toward him.

Ah!

The two young ladies shrieked instead, as if they had been splashed with deadly poison. The silk handkerchiefs in their hands were pinched at their fingertips and waved frantically.

Qiao Zihua froze for a moment, looking at the place on his chest where the tea had splashed—a large patch was soaked.

His drunkenness seemed to dissipate all at once.

He was an extremely clean person. Seeing the tea stains on his clothes, his eyebrows and eyes immediately wrinkled together.

Ji Yunshu was also puzzled.

What was this Buddha up to?

Looking at Young Master Qiao’s satin fabric outfit, it was definitely quite expensive. This time, they’d have to pay dearly.

Qiao Zihua glared at him, his tone rising, “What are you doing?”

Jingrong smiled, looking him up and down with contemptuous eyes a few times, then calmly uttered three words.

“Hand slipped.”

“Hand slipped? I think you did it on purpose.”

Even though he was angry inside, Qiao Zihua wasn’t as furious as others would be. In his tone, there was even a somewhat weak feeling.

Jingrong remained calm and poured another cup of tea, lifting it up.

Then—

He splashed it toward Qiao Zihua’s waiting robe again.

If a stranger splashed you with tea twice in succession, anyone would be angry, right?

But Young Master Qiao didn’t seem to reach that level of rage.

Instead, he pointed at him stammering, “You…”

Jingrong rotated the empty white wine cup in his hand, his hawk-like eyes narrowing. “Are you the Qiao family’s eldest young master?”

“That’s right, I am the Qiao family’s eldest young master. Now that you know, do you realize how much this outfit of mine is worth? Can you afford to compensate?”

Jingrong laughed!

His own outfit wasn’t cheap either!

A moment later, he deliberately took out the dagger from his waist, played with it in his hands for a while, then placed it directly on the table. A sharp gleam radiated from between his hawk-like brows as he looked at Qiao Zihua.

Like needles, like swords.

Under that gaze, Qiao Zihua’s whole body stiffened. His feet involuntarily retreated two steps, and he swallowed, revealing a timid expression.

In terms of presence, he had clearly weakened.

“Everyone says Young Master Qiao is timid as a mouse. It’s indeed true.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“Nonsense?” Jingrong smiled, reached out to pour another cup of tea, and shoved it into his hand. “Come, splash this tea on me. That way, I’ll apologize and make amends to you.”

Uh!

That dagger was still there—how could Qiao Zihua dare!

His hand trembled holding that cup of tea, his eyes glancing at that dagger from time to time. He didn’t dare splash it.

Plus, the man before him truly had an imposing presence—he must be a martial artist. He didn’t dare make a move. What if he got crippled?

But the two young ladies beside him egged him on: “Young Master Qiao, what are you afraid of? Go ahead and splash it.”

“That’s right, splash it! Look at this person—he’s clearly deliberately looking for trouble with you. You’re the Qiao family’s eldest young master, and the Minister of Personnel is your uncle. What are you afraid of?”

“Splash it!”

What was he hesitating for?

What a coward.

Jingrong stood properly before him, just waiting for him to splash it, but—

He heavily placed the teacup on the table, stiffening his neck as he said, “I won’t stoop to your level.”

Won’t stoop to his level?

What a worthless breed.

Although Jingrong had heard from that waiter that he was timid, this degree of timidity was a bit… too timid.

Qiao Zihua trembled, his gaze wandering uncertainly, clearly intimidated. Yet he pursed his lips and left behind an bland threat: “You just wait. I’ll definitely make you regret this.”

Then he left the second floor, fleeing like a mouse seeing a cat.

How bewildering!

This kid—he wasn’t going to bring reinforcements, was he?

Call his uncle over?