He felt that he was superfluous here, so he angrily turned his gaze to the courtesan next to him holding a pipa and said, "Play a melancholy tune."
"Yes."
Dancers had been passionately dancing on the first floor stage, and after the last dance ended, the old madam dragged her cumbersome body onto the stage.
"Everyone, quiet down, quiet down please."
As soon as she said this, the noisy sounds on the first floor instantly disappeared.
People on the second and third floors heard the voice of the old madam, and they all opened the windows of their private rooms, looking towards the stage.
"I'm sure everyone came today for my Yin Yue. But getting the favor of my Yin Yue is not so easy."
"Old madam, just name your price. This gentleman has plenty of money."
"It's said that even thousands in gold can't buy true love. Our Yin Yue's favor can't simply be bought with money."
"Don't tell me I have to prove my love to her? Rest assured old madam, my love for Yin Yue can be proven by the sun and moon. Isn't that right everyone?" A customer loudly joked.
"Yes!" The crowd cheered, and in an instant, roars of laughter filled the Hundred Flowers Building.
"What a humorous customer."
"Since you gentlemen came today for my Yin Yue, I certainly won't let you leave empty-handed. My Yin Yue will play a tune on the zither for everyone."
"And coincidentally, if you want to earn the favor of our Yin Yue, you'll need to compose a poem on the spot depicting the scene of her zither playing. Whoever composes the best poem will get to spend a passionate night with our Yin Yue tonight."
"Then invite Miss Yin Yue out quickly. My hands are itching to compose a poem."
"What's the rush? Here she comes now." The old madam looked upwards.
Everyone followed her gaze to see a beautiful woman dressed in white with a veil covering her face and a zither in her arms. She gracefully descended the stairs towards them in smooth, light steps.
Her long black hair was pinned up high, with only a few sea pink flowers adorning it. Two long strands of hair hung down along both cheeks from her temples.
Below her full, snow-white forehead were a pair of eyes like autumn water that shone like stars in the night sky, brightening one's vision.
The Hundred Flowers Building fell silent. Wherever the beauty went, the men spontaneously moved aside and stared longingly as she passed before their eyes.
Even the Crown Prince had to exclaim, "Just half her face is so stunning. If her whole face was revealed, it would be shockingly celestial. No wonder she's said to be not of this world. What a pity she'll belong to an old man tonight."
"Oh? Feeling pity for such a beauty? You can compete for her yourself." Qin Chuyuan said.
"Do you take me for such a shallow person? As I see it, external beauty only pleases people temporarily, while inner beauty lasts forever."
This statement successfully attracted sidelong glances from Qin Chuyuan and Gong Xiaohua.
"I didn't expect you to have such depth."
"Chuyuan, you simply don't know me well enough."
"Only Little Hua understands me."
What he got in return was an icy stare from Qin Chuyuan.
The Crown Prince?
Down on the stage below...
As Yin Yue looked up at the second floor, aside from one private room, everyone else was ardently watching her.
And that room not watching her belonged to the men she had taken particular notice of when they first entered the Hundred Flowers Building.
She was puzzled. With her looks, it was impossible they would be unaffected.
Were they overly confident or simply incapable of composing poetry?!
Fortunately she had prepared in advance. Before coming downstairs, she had someone prepare a good poem to give to them. No matter what their situation was, they would ultimately come out on top in the end.
With this thought, she stopped dwelling on it and calmed her mind to play the zither.
Her jade hand began plucking the silver strings. Her hands glided over the ancient zither, producing gentle, melodious music like a mountain stream meandering through a secluded valley.
Everyone became immersed in the captivating tune.
In Gong Xiaohua's private room, the female musician playing the pipa had already left. The three of them listened intently to the zither music from below.
Midway, knock, knock. There was a knocking at the door.
"What is it?"
"Young master, a maid claiming to be Miss Yin Yue's personal attendant said she has business with you."
The three exchanged surprised glances, wondering why she would take the initiative to look for them.
"Let her in."
"Yes."
The door opened and an ordinary-looking maid entered.
"Greetings to you masters."
"What brings you here?"
"Before my lady's performance, she took a liking to you two masters. If the masters are interested, here is a prepared poem you could use for reference."
"Isn't your lady afraid we might be evildoers with malicious hearts?"
"My lady has good judgement of character." Having said that, she placed the paper with the poem on the table, then took her leave after bowing.
The Crown Prince picked up the poem and read through it once. "The poem is quite good. Saves us the trouble of racking our brains."
He then passed the poem to Qin Chuyuan and Gong Xiaohua.
"It seems one of those two gazes when you entered the Hundred Flowers Building belonged to her. This lady has good taste." Gong Xiaohua remarked.
Qin Chuyuan followed up, "The courtesans here were all raised to be adept at reading people since childhood. As long as they aren't fools, they all have keen judgement."
"This whole act must have been carefully planned by her. Hmph, just the usual tricks of women." The Crown Prince's eyes showed deep contempt. Compared to the women in the palace, what were the scheming tactics of a courtesan?
The tune ended.
After finishing her piece, Yin Yue stood and bowed to the crowd, "Pardon my poor skills."
The crowd snapped out of their zither-induced trance and applauded enthusiastically.
"The tune echoed through the empty valley. The lady's zither skills are unmatched in the capital. Would Miss Yin Yue grant us the favor of seeing her true visage?"
"Of course." She then removed the veil covering her face, revealing an exquisite countenance.
"She's truly an immortal beauty, no ordinary human!"
"Even celestial maidens can't compare."
...The woman's appearance drew endless praise from the men.
Seeing her looks and the men's reactions, the Munan Principality Princess couldn't help but curse, "Seductress, only knows how to enchant men."
If only she could see that white-clothed man now to know if he too had fallen under the courtesan's spell.
In Gong Xiaohua's private room...
The Crown Prince looked upon the woman's true appearance, "Not bad, she didn't disappoint."
"Come."
"Yes?"
"Give this to Master Gao." The Crown Prince handed the poem Yin Yue had given them to his guard and instructed.
"Crown Prince, this Master Gao is...?"
"Fool, what are mouths for?"
"Yes, this subordinate will go do it immediately."
"How can you two not be moved by such a beauty?" Gong Xiaohua curiously asked. Even as a fellow woman, she couldn't help but sing praises.
"What does her beauty have to do with me?" Qin Chuyuan didn't even lift his head as he coldly replied.
"Beneath the surface, she's just another scheming woman. I've seen plenty." The Crown Prince disdainfully said.
As expected of princely heirs carefully nurtured by noble families. Neither had ordinary minds.
On the surface the Crown Prince seemed nonchalant and unrestrained, but he actually had a meticulous mind and was firm and decisive in his actions.
While Qin Chuyuan outwardly appeared to be a "peerless gentleman", he actually had an extremely acute mind and was cunning on the inside.
