Quick Wear Beauty

Chapter 762 The Saint is Cruel and Merciless (7)

Chapter 762: The Saint is Cruel and Merciless (Seventeen)

Now many dignitaries in the imperial city know that the new courtesan of Lianyi Pavilion will be on stage tomorrow, and all those with status have received invitations.

"Master, someone just asked about Wan'er's ransom price. I sent someone to investigate. The person ostensibly is a wealthy businessman, but he's actually Duan Jingwu's man."

Mingli was holding a book without raising her head.

"How much is the usual ransom for an Oiran?"

"The Lotus Clothes Pavilion is the Crown Prince's property. The courtesans there are carefully selected, and very few can be redeemed because the redemption fee is quite high, usually five thousand taels of silver, and the highest is ten thousand taels of silver."

The average citizen only spends twenty taels of silver a year, so ten thousand taels is certainly not something most people can afford. "Then thirty thousand taels of silver is fine. Any less will do. Let him give up. The courtesan has to earn money for the court, so how can he be redeemed so easily? This is the crown prince's territory, and the woman belongs to him. The new emperor will definitely select some beauties to fill his harem. Do you understand what I mean?"

"Yes, I understand."

On the day the courtesan appeared on stage, Mingli wore a veil, revealing only her affectionate eyes, which were full of helplessness and sadness.

The Lotus Clothes Pavilion is extremely bustling today, and the private rooms on the second floor are filled with distinguished figures in the imperial city.

She just needs to go out and play a song as a formality. After all, she is selling her art, not her body.

Every move of the beauty is full of charm. Even though her face is covered by a veil, her fair skin, slender wrists, soft and melodious voice, and seductive figure make her undoubtedly a great beauty.

When the piano began to play, everyone fell silent, lost in the ethereal and emotional sound, as if they were in the mountains, enjoying the sunshine and rain. After the song ended, she slowly stood up, bowed to everyone, and then retreated behind the curtain.

Belated applause and cheers rang out in the cabinet, and it was obvious that her appearance was a success.

Mingli didn't pay attention to what happened afterwards. If nothing unexpected happened, the person who could see her tonight should be the subordinate she arranged.

But, surprisingly, the person who could spend an hour with her tonight was the prince.

I heard that the prince has been busy with state affairs recently and has been suffering from insomnia and nightmares at night. He has to rely on the calming incense made by Ruan Xin to fall asleep. Now that he is not staying in the palace, what is he doing outside the palace?

I heard he and Ruan Xin get along very well, so why is he here? Is he inspecting the property?

But his arrival is a good thing.

Mingli suppressed her thoughts and saluted the person who came in with a little panic.

"Your humble servant pays homage to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Shen Hechang finally laid eyes on this charming beauty. Her face beneath the veil was truly remarkable. The daughters of the imperial city couldn't compare to the beauty of a courtesan. He knew that courtesans here sold their art, not their bodies. He had set the rules: only looking, not eating. His beauty tricks were effective, and he had lured many nobles into his service, but he had no desire to indulge himself.

"Stand up. There's no need to panic. I just happened to be out of the palace today. I heard your piano playing outside the pavilion, so I came in. You play the piano very well. I want to hear it again, just a piece like the one just now."

"Yes, I obey."

So she played the piano for the entire time it took to stick of incense.

She glanced at the prince sleeping on the couch and stopped playing the zither. She was tired. Her playing was indeed beautiful and her skills were superb, but the prince must have been really tired to fall asleep.

She quietly went out and explained the situation to the prince's entourage outside the house. Naturally, the entourage did not dare to wake the prince up. They just went in and put on a cloak for the prince to keep him warm. They didn't need her to serve them, so she took her leave and went back to rest.

When the prince woke up, it was not far from the morning court. He returned to the palace refreshed and sent someone to reward the courtesan Wan'er.

Duan Jingwu learned that the prince had met Wan'er last night and stayed in Lianyi Pavilion. Although he found out that nothing happened between the two, he still felt unwilling to accept it, thinking that the girl he liked should not be taken away by the prince.

The country and the beauty should all belong to him.

"Send someone to speed it up."

"Yes."

Three days before the crown prince ascended the throne, rumors circulated within the imperial city that the people who had attacked the emperor were not Princess Wuyang, a remnant of the previous dynasty, but rather the crown prince's men, intent on killing the emperor so they could ascend the throne themselves. How could the throne be allowed to rest with someone who had attempted to kill his father? The crown prince should be deposed, a prince from the imperial clan adopted as the emperor, and a new emperor installed.

Shen Hechang was furious and killed a group of people who spread rumors, but it also cast a shadow on the coronation ceremony. In particular, the people in the royal family were in turmoil. Several of Shen Kang's brothers, such as his eldest brother, the late emperor's eldest son Shen De, Prince De, had their own thoughts.