“Hurry! The time is almost up. If you delay my time, I’ll feed you all to the dogs!” After two days of non-stop training, the madam smiled at the stunning Lan Ling’er. With her looks, if she didn’t fetch a good price today, that would be strange!
“Mom, I apologize in advance for today!”
“Please don’t blame me for anything in the future!” Looking at the madam’s face, Lan Ling’er reluctantly decided to play along today. Her revenge was approaching, so she had nothing to fear.
“Good! As long as we get through tonight, I won’t hold anything against you!” The madam, busy counting money, missed Lan Ling’er’s true intent.
“Mom, rest assured, Ling Ce will perform wonderfully! The show is about to begin!”
Following the madam’s wishes, Lan Ling’er pulled Yu Shan slowly downstairs. Scanning the packed crowd, she felt a sudden urge to laugh.
“Ling’er, what should we do?” Yu Shan asked, concerned that no plan had been presented yet. She worried they might fall into the madam’s hands.
“Don’t speak, follow me!” Lan Ling’er was confident that Dong Fang Ce would arrive quickly with news. Even if she couldn’t see him, she had a strategy for escape. After all, these ancient people couldn’t outsmart her!
As they descended, the onlookers were captivated. Today was the auction for two young ladies, with the highest bidder able to buy a night with them. Let the bidding begin!
The madam, eyes gleaming at the prospect of money, skipped the pleasantries and shouted to the noisy crowd.
“Wait! Madam, may I say something?” She wasn’t going to let the madam get the money so easily.
“Speak later, this is a critical moment!” The madam walked up to Lan Ling’er and whispered.
“If you don’t let me speak, we’ll turn and leave, and see how you’ll handle that?” She knew this was her stage, and without her, the “enthusiastic” audience would falter.
“Fine, speak!” Though angry, the madam remained sensible.
“Please step back, Madam!” Lan Ling’er cleared her throat: “Today is a good day for my sister Shan and me. Though we may not be from noble backgrounds, we’re still like delicate jade. Of course, we don’t care about ordinary men. Master Ge, wipe away your disgusting drool! I’m talking to you!” She held back her disgust at Master Ge’s drooling for the greater good.
“You little brat! I’m here to give you face. Don’t be ungrateful!” Fully disregarded for the first time, Master Ge’s face turned blue as he pointed at Lan Ling’er.
“Not to be trifled with? Sorry, Master Ge, those words don’t exist in my dictionary. Please exit, or don’t blame me for being ruthless!” She wasn’t afraid of threats!
An old man, instead of staying home with his wife, is here trying to be the top performer. What a shameless fellow!
“You, you…” Master Ge trembled, pointing his cane at Lan Ling’er: “You little seductress, daring to mock me. I’ll break your hand!” He moved toward the stage pillar.
“Grandpa,” Lan Ling’er said, “though you think you’re still a young man, time spares no one. Don’t rely on your age to bully others and make yourself a laughingstock.”
“You, you…” Master Ge was at a loss for words, furious and unable to respond.
“Enough! Let me continue. Though I’m not talented, my sister Shan’s literary skills rival those of noble ladies. We will present a couplet, and anyone who can match it will earn our companionship!” The crowd began to stir, and the madam behind was visibly angry.
“Ling’er, stop causing trouble!” Yu Shan tugged Lan Ling’er’s sleeve.
“Cloud, present the couplet!” Ignoring Yu Shan’s caution, Lan Ling’er smiled at Cloud, who nodded and lowered the couplet from her hand.
“Unparalleled in the world, laughing at wandering the rivers and lakes.” People below whispered and discussed, but no one dared to respond.
“Qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, just to amuse everyone.” A cold voice drifted from the shadows.
“Who is this? Please show yourself!” Lan Ling’er thought the voice must belong to someone lurking nearby.
“Since it’s a good match, whether we meet is secondary,” the person responded elegantly.
“Great! Cloud, present your couplet!”She had a hint of a smile, as if she guessed the speaker’s identity.
“Looking at the mountains, Lingnan north and south – melancholic beauty, laughing at past like smoke.” The crowd below became more excited.
“Laughing at the river, before and after the river – cool, enjoying leisure here.” A white-robed scholar stepped forward to respond.
“Good, but my last line ‘laughing at past like smoke’ is a set phrase. Your last line ‘enjoying leisure here’ doesn’t quite match. So, sir, your couplet is not fully aligned!” Lan Ling’er smiled apologetically, anticipating the hidden person’s reply.
“I knew you were coming! Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been so casual about life and death! If he hadn’t taken a risk, he wouldn’t have appeared! He wouldn’t want to die; he would only rest after saving Yun’er and Yu Shan.”
“Since it’s fine, come back home with me!”
“Although there was a hint of joy in his heart, he spoke with a stern face.
“What about this brothel?” He would leave, but he couldn’t let the harmful old madam off easily. He had to give her a parting gift.
“Tear it down!” Looking back at the luxurious room, he pulled Lan Ling’er and stepped out of the red house.
Behind them came the old madam’s heart-wrenching scream!
Lan Ling’er turned back and gave the old madam an “apologetic” smile.
“Dong Fang Che, what exactly do you want?” Lan Ling’er frowned, closed her eyes, and called out to him weakly, her hands pulling downward.
“Giving you a little surprise!” This girl hadn’t been spirited all day, truly a disservice to his carefully prepared treasure.
“No! I want to sleep! Sleep!” She was so tired, having not slept for three days and nights. Last night, Dong Fang Che had kept her up.
“Very well, this prince will carry you!” Dong Fang Che smiled and gently held her in his arms. At that moment, Yin Bo approached.
“Your Highness!” The mission was complete, and it was time to report.
“How did it go?” He was confident in Yin Bo’s work but feared it wouldn’t satisfy the girl’s appetite.
“Your Highness, everything has been handled according to your instructions. Please be at ease!” Yin Bo nodded slightly, responding expressionlessly.
“Good! You may go!” That faint smile expanded, melting into the cold snowy landscape.
The winter wind was bone-chilling, yet it couldn’t block the pure air of the snowy day. The carriage continued to travel across the icy snow.
“Dong Fang Che, where are you taking me?” Her tone was faint, her face weary, and she gradually fell asleep.
Was she dreaming? Dreaming of him! Thinking of this, Dong Fang Che kissed her tempting red lips, wanting to deeply integrate her into his very bones.
“Your Highness, we’ve arrived!” The carriage stopped in a deserted place. An elegant prince’s mansion nestled among the mountain forest stood before them. Though somewhat desolate, it highlighted the nobility of its master.
“Lan Ling’er! Lan Ling’er!” After a bumpy journey, she still slept soundly. Though reluctant, he wanted to wake her.
“Dong Fang Che, if you call me again, I’ll hate you for life!” She had finally dreamed of the God of Dreams and wanted to make a request but was awakened by this unloved fellow, scaring away the dream.
“Once everything is done today, you can sleep as long as you want!” He had prepared for days to give her a special surprise today. But she was sleeping, so how could she see the surprise? “I want you to be my princess!”
“I don’t want to!” Damn Dong Fang Che, she was exhausted, and he was still joking with her.
“Then I’ll keep tormenting you. You can forget about sleeping now!” She didn’t take his words seriously and refused him in front of so many people. How could he, a prince, be so embarrassed?
