"Commoner Yi Rou pays respects to Marquis An Guo..."
As Yi Rou entered Liang Xiao's courtyard, she immediately knelt down.
"Get up, no need to kneel!" Liang Xiao said, helpless.
Only then did Yi Rou rise, gazing deeply at Liang Xiao and said, "Yi Rou knows Marquis An Guo's time is precious and dares not waste it, so I will be direct: Yi Rou wishes to redeem herself and leave Bai Chun Tower at her own expense, to serve Marquis An Guo, merely as a concubine..."
The moment she spoke, Yue Lian and Zhen Mi were stunned speechless.
Jian Qin Wan's delicate eyebrows furrowed, she stared at Liang Xiao with a resentful gaze.
While Yi Rou's temperament and looks were slightly inferior to hers and Luo Qing Xue's, she was still a peerless beauty, worthy of her title as the top courtesan.
The top courtesan of Bai Chun Tower held a special status, not merely a common prostitute. They only sold their art, not their bodies, and even possessed a certain standing. High officials and noble lords dared not act rashly!
The most difficult favor to bear was a beauty's affection!
Had this detestable flower-picking thief profited again?
Liang Xiao merely stood before Yue Lian and sighed, "Miss Yi Rou, why must you put yourself through this?"
Back then, Yi Rou had looked at him with such disdain. Liang Xiao had already dismissed her from his selection of potential partners at first glance.
But that wasn't the key point. The key was Yi Rou's actions.
At first glance, Yi Rou appeared to be a woman consumed by unrequited love, but Liang Xiao's perception was far beyond that of an ordinary person.
Now, Liang Xiao had countless political enemies and had to be vigilant, guarding against infiltration, especially from beauties who willingly offered themselves. It could very well be a honey trap!
Of course, the female bodhisattvas sent by Mu Xue Qin didn't count...
Yi Rou could no longer hold back, her tears streaming down her face, "Yi Rou has long admired Marquis An Guo, and everything is voluntary! Marquis An Guo is now famous throughout the land, a dream lover for countless women... Yi Rou only wishes to be by his side, even as a lowly concubine, a mere servant, as long as Marquis An Guo does not abandon me..."
Liang Xiao shook his head, "Miss Yi Rou, if every maiden were like you, and I refused to see them, would they hang themselves at the gates of the Liang Estate? Must I marry them all?"
Yi Rou was speechless.
Liang Xiao sighed, "Fate doesn't work this way, Miss Yi Rou. It is better to forget each other in the vastness of the world."
Yi Rou wept like falling petals, her voice choked with sobs, "Yi Rou knows she is not worthy of Marquis An Guo, but Yi Rou is willing to wait forever, to strive continuously, until Marquis An Guo bestows his favor upon me... Farewell!"
Watching Yi Rou depart dejectedly, Liang Xiao shook his head in helplessness.
"That older sister is also very beautiful. Why doesn't Brother Xiao want her?" Zhen Mi asked.
Liang Xiao replied without hesitation, "A forcefully twisted melon is not sweet."
Zhen Mi blinked her large, moist eyes and said earnestly, "But it quenches thirst~"
Liang Xiao, Yue Lian, and Jian Qin Wan were all startled.
"Go, go, children should study well, don't think about these adult matters!" Liang Xiao responded vaguely, sighing inwardly.
Alas, this child is too clever. In a few more years, she might even be able to out-talk me!
Seeing Liang Xiao's embarrassed expression, Jian Qin Wan's sense of crisis and resentment vanished, replaced by immense satisfaction.
In a dimly lit underground chamber of Bai Chun Tower.
Yi Rou, her eyes blurry with tears, knelt before Zuo Wu Shang.
"My adopted father's cultivation of me is in vain, I failed to be taken in by Marquis An Guo!"
Zuo Wu Shang's brows were tightly knit, his tone unable to conceal his disappointment, "He is a figure we must win over for the great cause of national restoration, do you understand!"
"Your daughter understands!" Yi Rou cried, unable to stop sobbing.
"Then why did your adopted father raise you? We are all remnants of the Great Heng Dynasty. Before your parents passed away, they never forgot the great cause of restoration! Your mother taught you the art of enchanting all beings, did you use it on him?"
Zuo Wu Shang finally dropped his pretense of sternness and said, full of regret and anger, "So, when your adopted father sent you to the Liang Estate, you resisted so much, and returned empty-handed so easily? That Liang Xiao is handsome and talented, renowned throughout the land, a marquis and minister. Does he not catch your eye?"
"No, it's not..." Yi Rou became even more flustered, quickly explaining, "This commoner admires Marquis An Guo and wishes I could stay by his side forever, but I also know I am not worthy of Marquis An Guo. Furthermore..."
"Furthermore what?" Zuo Wu Shang was taken aback, then suddenly realized, "Precisely because you admire him, you cannot bear to let him become your adopted father's target??"
Yi Rou's delicate body trembled, and she nodded, tears in her eyes.
Zuo Wu Shang was dumbfounded.
Why is it that the Princess cannot leave him, and even my adopted daughter cannot bear to harm him?
Recovering himself, Zuo Wu Shang laughed heartily and stepped forward to help Yi Rou up.
"Rest assured, your adopted father will never harm him or his family, only win him over at all costs! Rou'er, your adopted father now understands your feelings. How about this: you strive for it yourself. If you can become his woman, even if it means severing ties with your adopted father and devoting yourself to protecting him, your adopted father will absolutely not make things difficult for you!"
Yi Rou was startled and looked at Zuo Wu Shang doubtfully, "What does my adopted father mean by this?"
"No need to ask further!" Zuo Wu Shang regained his stern demeanor. "Speaking from another perspective, setting aside the cause of national restoration, this Liang Xiao can also bring prosperity to the common people and usher in an era of peace and prosperity. Isn't he worthy of a good woman like you to follow?"
Yi Rou asked softly, "In short, my adopted father will absolutely not harm Marquis An Guo, right?"
Seeing Zuo Wu Shang nod, Yi Rou finally felt at ease, her face flushing with shyness, "Yi Rou will continue to strive to become Marquis An Guo's woman, though the hope is slim..."
"Do not give up!" Zuo Wu Shang coaxed.
If he wanted to win over Liang Xiao without crossing his boundaries, the only cards he had left to play were the honey trap and wealth.
"This man is truly impenetrable..." Zuo Wu Shang chuckled wryly, his expression complex.
Now, Zuo Wu Shang didn't know if his Princess following him was a good or bad thing.
With Liang Xiao's protection, at least the Princess was safe. No one in the world could harm her anymore!
Sensing the tone in her adopted father's voice, Yi Rou lowered her head, not daring to respond.
"Brother Xiao~"
At the Western Palace Villa, as soon as Liang Xiao sat on the bed, Xiao Qing embraced him like an octopus.
Looking at the clingy Princess Ning Shuang before him, Liang Xiao felt a surge of affection. He also remembered her "informing" on him to "Little Shuang Zi" and couldn't resist wanting to "get revenge"!
Without waiting for Xiao Qing to act coy, Liang Xiao had already kissed her red lips.
Xiao Qing melted into his embrace again, letting Liang Xiao kiss her.
After a long while, Liang Xiao reluctantly let go of Xiao Qing and laughed, "See if you'll dare to 'report' me to your Imperial Brother again!"
Xiao Qing felt her entire body heat up, her face flushing all the way to her ears. She playfully chided, "I will! Who told you to be so naughty? I just wanted to see you embarrassed, you look so cute and handsome!"
This wretched elder brother had indeed taken revenge for her princess status!
Seeing Liang Xiao preparing to kiss her again, Xiao Qing quickly begged for mercy, "Alright, I was wrong..."
Liang Xiao laughed heartily, holding Xiao Qing in his arms, his eyes full of tenderness.
Xiao Qing looked ashamed, "Brother Xiao is almost twenty, but I'm still..."
Liang Xiao said softly, "When you are psychologically ready, we will get married. I will wait for you."
Hearing this, Xiao Qing, moved to tears, buried herself in Liang Xiao's embrace and wept.
The realm was unified, imperial power was stable. She, the Empress, would have the confidence to proclaim it to the world.
She was the Empress!
She believed that with her beloved by her side, that day would not be far away!
But thinking of Luo Qing Xue's grievance, Xiao Qing finally mustered her courage and said, "Brother Xiao, please pick an auspicious date and marry Sister Qing Xue first?"