While the two of them went to Luoxia Mountain, someone at Zuihua Pavilion was just waking up, lazily embracing the Crown Prince’s waist and saying coquettishly, “My lord doesn’t know how to cherish this humble one at all. You’ve truly made this one ache terribly.”

Ming Xun opened his eyes to see a face already made up with cosmetics. Though not as stunning as last night’s singing voice, it was barely passable.

It was yesterday’s dancing girl.

The Crown Prince remembered now—yesterday he had come to Zuihua Pavilion to drink and, seeing such a unique person, had taken her to bed on a whim. Now that he was sober, he realized he was the Crown Prince—how could he take in a pleasure house dancing girl? Wouldn’t that lower his status?

However, this dancing girl’s swaying waist was truly enchanting, and he genuinely liked her.

“Where does it hurt? I’ll rub it for you again.” Chuckling softly, he reached his hand into her bosom. This dancing girl didn’t hide like others, but boldly used the soft flesh of her chest to press his hand alluringly.

“My lord is truly wicked. Yesterday when you were intimate with this concubine, didn’t you keep saying you would take this concubine into your residence? Today upon waking, you haven’t mentioned it even once.” Hanlu pouted. “Does my lord disdain Hanlu’s origins and wish to go back on your word?”

Being asked so directly right away, the Crown Prince felt rather embarrassed and lowered his eyes. “How could that be? Since I said it, of course it counts.”

But he had been drunk last night—who knew what he had said?

“That’s good then.” Hanlu boldly got up, hooked her arms around Ming Xun’s neck and kissed him, her tongue entwining with his in an intense kiss, displaying superb technique. Ming Xun had been somewhat hesitant, but now he truly couldn’t bear to part with this seductress and, picking her up, pressed her back down onto the bed.

She had finally waited for this day.

Hanlu let the person on top of her kiss her neck and body, a smile on her lips as she looked at the ornate canopy above.

Hooking up with the Crown Prince—wasn’t that better than anything? She had figured it out—rather than fighting with women, it was better to seduce men. Each and every one of them would be her stepping stones, supporting her ascent.

Yuwen Houde was one, and Ming Xun was too.

When she dominated the imperial harem, what would someone like Shen Guiyan amount to in comparison? At that time, crushing her would be just a matter of words.

Hanlu, or rather Shen Guiya, was full of satisfaction. She twisted her body and used all the seductive arts she knew, enticing the Crown Prince to roll with her into waves of passion.

Men conquered the world; for women, conquering men was enough.

Yuwen Houde had his subordinates stripped away by Yuwen Changqing and returned home extremely unwilling. Han Jiangxue was sitting at the table frowning.

“You’re back?” Seeing Yuwen Houde’s poor complexion, Han Jiangxue didn’t ask about his affairs and only offered him a cup of hot tea.

Since Shen Guiya’s death, she had wanted to continue living a good life with him. But somehow, even though the woman was dead, there still seemed to be something between the two of them—they were no longer as deeply affectionate as before.

“Mm.” Yuwen Houde only responded with one sound. After drinking some tea and sitting for a while, he said, “I’m going out.”

“Where to again?” Han Jiangxue couldn’t help asking. “Why do you always run outside every day?”

“Men’s business—what use is it for you to meddle so much?” Yuwen Houde said impatiently. “You can’t help me anyway.”

Slightly stunned, Han Jiangxue’s heart ached. She stared blankly as he left the residence without looking back.

A gust of wind blew by. Winter seemed to have arrived early, freezing her entire body with pain.

Why? She hadn’t done anything wrong. She was still the same as before. Why was his attitude like this?

Han Jiangxue didn’t understand. Her husband lost his temper for no reason, always ran outside, came home at night and just slept with his head covered. Nothing else—it was just that there was someone else outside.

Yuwen Houde used to like Lady Han very much. However, having his heart gradually stolen away, on one hand he felt guilty toward his legitimate wife, on the other hand he couldn’t resist temptation. His heart was troubled and torn by difficult choices, which was why his attitude was so poor.

No sooner had he left the residence than he felt much better. Going to Youyuan Inn made things even better.

The woman in a black cloak arrived as agreed. As soon as she pushed open the door, she was embraced fully by him.

Before Hanlu could push him away, Yuwen Houde lifted her entire body and rolled toward the bed. Having just served someone and come out, and now this again? She wasn’t willing. She immediately pushed him away. “What’s your rush? It’s not like you don’t have women at home. Every time we meet you’re this lustful.”

Yuwen Houde lay on the bed, snorted, and looked at her sideways. “So you’ve climbed to a high branch and want to kick me aside now? Don’t forget—without me, you couldn’t have escaped Gu Manor.”

Hanlu frowned slightly. “Now you’re threatening me? If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have to live under a false name.”

Though Shen Guiya wasn’t her real name to begin with.

Yuwen Houde pulled her over to lie down and said with a smile, “Let’s not talk about that. How are things going on your end?”

Hanlu rolled her eyes. “The Crown Prince has taken a liking to me. He’s already agreed to take me into his residence.”

Yuwen Houde was delighted. “Really?”

“Mm.” Hanlu said irritably, “I’ve figured it out now—aesthetics differ between ancient and modern times. Choose a couple songs according to the style here and sure enough, I became famous. Hmph. Deep down they love dissolute things but pretend to be refined.”

She had also seen Gu Chaobei yesterday. Regrettably, that person still didn’t seem very interested in her.

She couldn’t help thinking maliciously—was Gu Chaobei impotent? Otherwise, why would everyone want her except him, who wouldn’t even look?

However, the Crown Prince she had hooked up with was many levels above Gu Chaobei, which at least balanced her feelings somewhat. Just wait and see—there would come a day when he begged her.

“That’s wonderful.” Yuwen Houde hugged Hanlu’s waist and smiled. “That brat Yuwen Changqing gave me a warning today, taking away my authority to command troops over some trivial matter. Since you’ve connected with the Crown Prince, you must give me a hand, help me rise to success, and stomp on him hard to vent my anger!”

Silently cursing that this man would never amount to much, but since she had relied on him to climb up, Hanlu still wore a smile on her face. She agreed with him and flattered him with some nice words, asking him to prepare a dowry for her.

“If I’m going to enter the Crown Prince’s residence, I can’t be too shabby, or people will look down on me. Without status, I won’t be able to help you.” Hanlu said, “I’ll leave the dowry matter to you.”

Yuwen Houde paused, then agreed. “No problem!”

After returning from Luoxia Mountain, Shen Guiyan and Gu Chaobei got off the carriage at the entrance of Gu Manor. Turning around, they saw Han Jiangxue.

“Lady Yuwen.” Shen Guiyan was somewhat surprised. “Why are you here?”

Lady Han raised her head. There were still some tear stains on her face. She pressed her lips together. “I… wanted to chat with the Young Madam.”

Raising her eyebrows in surprise, Shen Guiyan glanced at Gu Chaobei. The latter very sensibly said, “I’ll go check on the training grounds. You two chat.”

Shen Guiyan nodded, took Lady Han’s hand, and walked into the residence. “What’s wrong?”

Han Jiangxue smiled bitterly. “I have troubles today and wanted to talk to someone, but after looking around, I couldn’t find anyone to tell. In the end, I unknowingly walked to Gu Manor.”

Originally she hadn’t liked this Shen Guiyan, but remembering how she had been willing to listen to her talk last time, Han Jiangxue finally came.

Shen Guiyan said, “Then talk to me. Come to my room.”

“Mm.” Her cold hand was held, gaining some warmth. Han Jiangxue followed her into the main quarters and sat down. After hesitating for quite a while, she asked, “If one has done nothing wrong, yet one’s husband grows increasingly distant, what should one do?”

Shen Guiyan was startled. Thinking of Lady Han’s husband Yuwen Houde, she had no good impression of him. He was the one who had led people to kill at Sixi’s home, and he was also the one who ultimately escaped punishment.

Lady Han was actually kind and lovely. Marrying such a person was truly a waste.

“Since the lady has done nothing wrong, then your husband’s heart is not with you. Nothing you do will be useful,” Shen Guiyan said. “When he loves you, everything you do is good. When he stops loving you, everything you do is wrong. Rather than spending effort in exchange for his cold looks, you’d be better off living well for yourself.”

“But I am living well.” Han Jiangxue smiled bitterly. “That school you took me to last time—I go whenever I have time. At home I also read books and play the zither. I haven’t let myself idle.”

“But I’m still miserable. The person who once loved me so much is now so cold to me. I keep wondering where I went wrong.”

“Unable to figure it out, I feel even more miserable.”

Shen Guiyan was taken aback. Looking at Han Jiangxue’s pained expression, she felt somewhat helpless. Matters of the heart were what outsiders could help with least. She could only sit beside her and listen when she was so upset.

“I don’t know if I’m overthinking it. I keep feeling he has someone else outside,” Lady Han lowered her voice and looked at Shen Guiyan. “That’s why he has no energy to deal with me.”

Someone else outside? Shen Guiyan chuckled softly. “Look at my husband—who knows how many others he has outside? Yet I’m not heartbroken or upset.”

“That’s because no matter how many he has outside, in the end he still keeps you in his heart,” Han Jiangxue said. “Everyone says the Fourth Young Master of the Gu family is a philanderer, yet his heart always has you. Everyone says my husband values relationships and loyalty, yet he’s gradually stopped keeping me in his heart. People truly cannot be judged by appearances.”

Shen Guiyan raised her eyebrows, feeling slightly warm inside, but since the other person was currently upset, she couldn’t be happy. She could only ask, “Where does your husband usually go?”

“I don’t know.” Han Jiangxue shook her head. “If I ask him, he gets angry.”

“Then follow him and see,” Shen Guiyan said. “Follow from a distance without letting him notice—wouldn’t that work?”

Right! Han Jiangxue’s eyes brightened, but soon dimmed again. “Even if I know where he goes, what good will it do? I can’t win back his heart.”

“Who says so?” Shen Guiyan raised her eyebrows. “You love him so much, and you’re still young and beautiful, gentle and considerate besides. I’m telling you to follow and see so you can find out what kind of person your husband has outside. Then you’ll have a way to compete with her. You can’t just sit and wait for death, letting your own husband be stolen away, can you?”

Some hope ignited in Han Jiangxue’s eyes. She reached out to grasp Shen Guiyan’s hand. “Will you accompany me?”