Feng Yue stood frozen, unable to speak for a long while as she stared fixedly at the red silk ribbon, her throat moving slightly.

“Miss?” Guanzhi smiled. “These are gifts from my master to thank you. He says you worked hard, and the morning meal was to his taste.”

Gifts of gratitude.

Her gaze flickered as she let out a soft laugh. “Your master wouldn’t say such pleasant words. You added those yourself, didn’t you?”

How did she guess? Guanzhi felt somewhat embarrassed and rubbed the tip of his nose.

Taking a deep breath, Feng Yue put on a smile again and curtseyed to Guanzhi. “The young master is generous. This humble one accepts with thanks.”

Guanzhi nodded to her. “Then I shall take my leave.”

Madam Jin had been smiling at the side the whole time. After Guanzhi left, she helped bring the items into the main hall, beaming with joy. “Such good fortune for Feng Yue! Truly blessed to meet such a generous client right away. Look at all these gifts—even this old madam is envious!”

The courtesans from Duanxian’s group, who had just been mocking Feng Yue for being crude, were now stunned and speechless by the pile of gifts.

“Is this even possible? How could someone give so many gifts?” Weiyun hurriedly came over to open several boxes.

Zhenzhus, agates, gold items, silver pieces—everything a young woman could desire, all extremely valuable.

“What did you do?” Duanxian asked with a sneer. “To receive so many things?”

Feng Yue shrugged. “I simply did what was proper. The client happened to be generous.”

Now she had her nest egg.

While the other courtesans felt unsettled, Lingxu was delighted and rushed down to help move things. “Someone come help!”

The houseguards came up to help move everything into Feng Yue’s room. Feng Yue watched but didn’t go up, choosing instead to sit in the main hall and wait.

An hour later, sure enough, someone came knocking at Menghuai House’s door.

“Who could it be?” Madam Jin went to open the door, muttering, “We do business at night, who comes during the day…”

When she opened the door, a steward from a regular client stood outside, smiling. “My master would like to book Miss Feng Yue’s company. Would it be convenient for her to visit our residence now?”

Now? Madam Jin was taken aback and glanced back at Feng Yue.

Feng Yue smiled and shook her head. “My apologies, but I’ve been exclusively booked by someone. I cannot accept other appointments. Please convey my regrets to your master.”

Hearing this, the steward’s expression changed slightly. He turned and quickly rode away.

“What’s going on?” After closing the door, Madam Jin asked, “Why are they requesting appointments during the day?”

“Night appointments are a courtesan’s proper business,” Feng Yue smiled with narrowed eyes. “Daytime appointments… naturally aren’t the kind of business I should do.”

Confused by her cryptic words, Madam Jin sat nearby, not daring to ask further.

After a while, another person came knocking, a different servant this time, still requesting Feng Yue’s company. She declined again and continued waiting.

It wasn’t unusual for Yin Gezhi to visit Menghuai House or have courtesans stay overnight, but sending so many gifts to a pleasure house naturally drew attention. Everyone knew Yin Gezhi was a man without weaknesses—even his residence was empty, without a single female family member. His sudden interest in a courtesan would naturally attract others’ curiosity.

At the fourth watch of the afternoon, the person she’d been waiting for finally arrived.

“The sun hasn’t set yet. How rare to see Menghuai House’s doors open at this hour.”

A gentle voice carried traces of laughter as the speaker’s cyan robes swept in. Feng Yue looked up to meet Ye Yuqing’s eyes, clear as autumn waters.

“Young Master.” Madam Jin was used to such visits by now. “Are you also here to request Feng Yue’s company? She’s not accepting—”

“Please come in, Young Master.” Feng Yue rose, smiling alluringly as she curtseyed to Ye Yuqing.

Madam Jin: “…” What scene was this supposed to be?

With smiling eyes, Ye Yuqing studied Feng Yue for a moment before saying, “It seems Miss Feng Yue has had good business today.”

“Just blessed by others’ generosity.” Feng Yue lowered her head. “Has Young Master come to seek someone, or would you like to chat with Feng Yue?”

“You saved my Zhuangzhu while injured. Naturally, I’ve come to check on you and would indeed like to chat.”

Ye Yuqing had beautiful phoenix eyes that radiated nobility, yet remained gentle and affectionate. Dealing with someone like him was much more pleasant than facing Yin Gezhi’s deadpan expression.

Smiling, Feng Yue stepped aside and gestured. “Shall we go upstairs?”

Nodding in agreement, Ye Yuqing motioned for his attendants to wait downstairs before following her up.

Madam Jin, having received two silver ingots, shrugged and decided not to interfere, closing the door to rest. However, the courtesans across the way watched Feng Yue lead a new client with various thoughts in mind.

“You don’t seem to be resting as you should.” Once seated in the room, Ye Yuqing looked at Feng Yue’s hands. “Your injuries were severe. How can you move about?”

After sending Lingxu to buy mung bean cakes, Feng Yue smiled. “This humble one isn’t of noble birth—how could I afford to rest? The medicine these past few days has been excellent. My fingers can move somewhat now, so I haven’t wrapped them as tightly.”

Even if she could move them, it must still hurt, right? Ye Yuqing shook his head, set down his fan, and took her hands to examine them carefully.

They were suddenly very close—close enough for Feng Yue to see his long eyelashes.

The Empress of Wu must have been very beautiful to have given birth to such a jade-like prince. If Yin Gezhi was a bloodthirsty iron sword, then Ye Yuqing was surely flawless jade resting on silk brocade—smooth to the touch, without a single sharp edge.

“Your hands.” Ye Yuqing looked up, meeting her eyes. “The meridians seem blocked.”

“Young Master can even tell that?” Feng Yue smiled faintly. “They were broken before, so naturally the meridians aren’t flowing smoothly.”

“Have you practiced martial arts?” he asked softly.

“Never.” Feng Yue shook her head without a hint of embarrassment. “I only helped with farmwork before, which left calluses, but they’re all gone now.”

A farmer’s daughter… Ye Yuqing curved his lips, studied her for a moment, then reached out to caress her face.

“You’re very beautiful,” he said sincerely. “That day when I saw you dance, I thought how wonderful it would be to become your patron.”

“Oh?” Feng Yue raised an eyebrow, looking at him curiously. “They all say I’m vulgar, nothing like the refined arts of zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Young Master likes that?”

Ye Yuqing shook his head, smiling charmingly. “Why seek refinement in a place like this? One comes here simply for pleasure and freedom. If I wanted refinement, wouldn’t my home have more than enough?”

Look how open-minded he is! If her hands weren’t still stiff, Feng Yue would have applauded. As expected of a crown prince!

She tried hard to blush, to appear shy and coquettish, but after struggling for a while, her face simply wouldn’t redden. Giving up, Feng Yue asked directly, “Do you want me now?”

“With such a beautiful lady before me, wouldn’t it be a shame if I didn’t?” He hooked her chin with his finger, teasing. “But I wonder if the timing is convenient?”

Eyes full of allure, Feng Yue laughed softly. “When a client comes calling, how could it be inconvenient?”

Ye Yuqing nodded and lifted her, her red gauze skirt swirling beautifully in the air.

“You’re too thin,” he whispered in her ear as he walked slowly toward the bed. “You should eat more.”

His breath was warm with a hint of herbs, finally succeeding in making Feng Yue’s ears turn red.

“Young Master jests. If I eat more, you won’t be able to carry me.”

“Even if you were heavier, I could still carry you.” He gently laid her on the bed, his eyes full of tenderness. “And if I couldn’t carry you anymore, I’d have you carried in a sedan chair.”

How smooth with words! Such a handsome and gentle man was simply irresistible.

In his eyes, Feng Yue saw her stunned reflection—clear and precious, as if she were a treasure.

To think someone in this world would treat her like a treasure.

As the atmosphere grew intimate, Ye Yuqing gazed at her lovingly, his jade-like fingers slowly tracing her collar.

“Bang!”

Before he could open her clothes, the door was kicked open. The room’s fragrance instantly dispersed as Feng Yue and Ye Yuqing both turned their heads to see Yin Gezhi in dark clothes, cold as a ghost just returned from the underworld, frost in his eyes as he looked at them.

“If I remember correctly, she still belongs to me today.” Stepping into the room, Yin Gezhi said, “Has Your Highness come to steal someone?”

“So your booking hasn’t ended yet.” Stopping his movements, Ye Yuqing glanced at him, then looked down to carefully straighten Feng Yue’s clothes before helping her up by the waist. “In that case, I have truly overstepped.”

The Crown Prince of Wu, who was most interested in him, wouldn’t know how many days he had booked someone at the pleasure house. Yin Gezhi lowered his eyes in silence, glancing sideways at Feng Yue with even more disgust in his eyes.

What talent, to seduce anyone into bed!

Feng Yue felt wronged—she was a courtesan, wasn’t she? Not someone’s wife. Did she need to maintain some chastity monument? Besides, he had shown such disdain for her this morning; how was she to know he still wanted her?

Unable to help herself, Feng Yue rolled her eyes directly at Yin Gezhi’s face.

Catching her expression, Yin Gezhi was stunned for a moment before letting out a cold laugh of fury. What now? Found a new patron and dared to show attitude to him?

“I have a business and need to take her to the training grounds.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her back, nodding to Ye Yuqing. “I won’t keep Your Highness any longer.”

This pull made Feng Yue’s face turn pale. She was furious but dared not speak, her whole body about to bristle with anger!

Was he doing this on purpose? Her hand bones were still healing—was this how to pull someone?

Ye Yuqing also frowned slightly, glancing at her as he picked up his fan from the table. “As it happens, I’m free today and was planning to visit the training grounds. Why don’t we go together?”

Neither agreeing nor refusing, Yin Gezhi merely nodded slightly before dragging Feng Yue downstairs like a rag doll.

“Hey.” Unable to bear it any longer, Feng Yue was covered in cold sweat. Dropping all courtesies, she gritted out, “It hurts—my hand’s about to break!”

The front man seemed not to hear, pulling her out to mount his horse and placing her in front of him. Only after spurring the horse forward did he whisper, “You should hurt more, to learn your lesson.”