Chapter 218 Willingly Into The Net


    Ever since the Flower Show Banquet, Cangjue Qingsu had rarely visited Hua Jing. The Princess


    sneered as she wondered why he hadn''te. Perhaps, in his eyes, she was now a useless woman,


    not worthy of his time and energy.


    Hua Jing didn''t have any feelings for Cangjue Qingsu, either. In her opinion, Cangjue Qingsu was


    nothing more than a nomadic barbarian. However, she wanted to use him to escape from the Imperial


    City. She had other options. She could ask her father to decree that she would retire to hernd, Xiping


    County. But Xiping was remote and barren. Living there for the rest of her life would be even worse


    than Hua Jing''s current condition. Compared to Xiping, the State of Yng sounded like a better


    alternative. If she married Cangjue Qingsu, she would be his Princess Consort. Although Yng wasn''t


    as rich as Ning, her life in Yng wouldn''t be worse than it was now.


    "It''ste, Your Highness. You should rest." A maid who had been waiting to serve the Princess,


    cautiously suggested.


    Hua Jing was still immersed in her own thoughts. She frowned when she realized she was missing the


    handsome man she had met the other night. She couldn''t wait to meet him again. She dreamt of


    touching him and having him. Last time, she had given her Jade Pass to him thus allowing him to visit


    her at the Princess Pce whenever he liked. But he had not showed again. Thinking of that, Hua Jing


    was vexed. She wondered if he was ignoring her. The thought enraged the Princess, ''How dare he


    ignore my invitation?''


    Hua Jing gestured her maid forward, "Help me change. I need to go out."


    Puzzled, the maid hesitated. She peeked at the window. It was the sixteenth day of the month and the


    bright full moon was illuminating the night sky. ording to the position of the moon, it was ten p.m.


    Why would the Princess go out at such ate hour?


    "What are you doing? I said I need to change!" When Hua Jing saw the maid dawdling, she raised her


    voice and snapped.


    "Yes, Your Highness." The maid quickly answered. She trembled as she curtsied to Hua Jing. Then,


    she pulled out a gown made of violet voile and helped Hua Jing dress. Hua Jing always wore delicate


    makeup. It didn''t matter what time of the day it was, or whether she was alone or expectingpany.


    Today was no different. Although she had spent the day in her chamber, Hua Jing''s makeup still looked


    as wless as when she had put it on. Apart from the dress, she didn''t need the maid''s help with


    anything else. Hua Jing smiled as she looked at her reflection in the dressing mirror. She was satisfied


    with her appearance. She turned sideways and checked herself again. Thrilled, she nodded to herself.


    Then, she turned to the maid and said, "Have a carriage prepared. Arrange four guards for me. After


    that, you may stay home while I conduct my business."


    The maid nodded to her in obeisance. With a smile, Hua Jing stood and murmured, "Ya Xi." What a


    beautiful name. Its owner was no less elegant and romantic! What a fitting name for the man who


    enchanted Hua Jing.*


    (*TN: In Chinese, Ya means elegant and Xi is an auxiliary word that was used a lot in ancients poems.)


    Within half an hour, Hua Jing arrived at the Suiyu House. To conceal her identity, she had specifically


    asked for a carriage with an unremarkable design. Hence, it was not decorated with the royal emblem,


    and looked simr to carriages used by families that could afford them. After putting on her veil, Hua


    Jing alighted from the carriage and headed toward the house of pleasure.


    At that hour, mostmoners had settled for the night, but the guests and courtesans at the Suiyu


    House hadn''t. For them, the day had just started.


    Hua Jing waved her guards away. She asked them to wait for her outside before turning and entering


    the House. Inside, the lights were zing and the crowd was loud and happy. As Hua Jing entered, a


    man approached her. The man was dressed coquettishly. He smiled coyly as he took hold of Hua Jing''s


    hand. He said, "It''s my pleasure to meet you here, My Lady. Is this your first visit? I don''t think I have


    had the pleasure of meeting you before. Are you seeking apanion tonight? Which of us do you


    want?"


    Hua Jing nced around the House. She noticed that a stage had been set up in the innermost corner.


    On the dais stood several male prostitutes dressed in cyan. They were ying the Guqin. And around


    the stage, at every table in the hall, men and womenughed wildly while fondling each other.


    Hua JIng had never been to a brothel before. At the scene, she raised her eyebrows in surprise. She


    then turned to the man holding her hand. She took out a gold ingot from her sachet and showed it to


    him. The man''s eyes gleamed with greed. He reached for the gold ingot, but Hua Jing withdrew her


    hand. "This will be enough to cover my expenses tonight. I''m here for Mister Ya Xi, " she said


    arrogantly.


    However, the man frowned at her mention of Ya Xi''s name. He took a step back, "I can''t help you, Miss.


    Ya Xi is indisposed. He can''t entertain you tonight."


    ''Was he upied with someone else?'' Wondered Hua Jing. Hua Jing was displeased to hear that. She


    thought for a while and then frowned as she spoke, "Please ry my words to him then. He took my


    token of affection the other night. Has he already forgotten me? If so, he should return the token."


    The man looked at Hua Jing doubtfully. He knew that her dress was made of the finest brocade and


    voile. Her status could also be gauged from the exquisite jade and gems iid in her gold jewelry. With


    the gold ingot she just offered for Ya Xi''s attention, he was now certain that she was either a high-born


    Please have a seat. I''ll go and see if I can find him." He led Hua Jing to a table in the corner of the hall


    and ordered, "Bring thedy some food and drink!"


    Hua Jing frowned, but didn''t say anything. She looked around and saw that at almost every table, there


    was a male prostitute entertaining thedies. She looked at the male prostitutes and pondered, ''These


    men are very handsome, but not half as handsome as my Ya Xi.''


    "Miss, your drink and food." A gentle voice called. Hua Jing snapped out of her thoughts and saw a


    young man with urbane manners standing in front of her. He held a tray in his hands on which was


    ced a bottle of wine and several dishes with appetizers. Hua Jing nodded to him and turned her


    head.


    "Miss, I''ve heard that you are here to visit Ya Xi. However, Ya Xi has unfortunately caught a cold and


    he''s unable to entertain guests. But I am free. Do you want to y with me instead?"


    He had caught a cold? Hua Jing frowned again. Did his illness have anything to do with their love


    making in theke that night?


    Thinking about that, Hua Jing shot a questioning look at the urbane man. The man smiled, "My name is


    Cang Lan."


    Dazzled by his smile, Hua Jing almost wanted to praise his beauty. The men in Suiyu House were all


    too gorgeous to be true. No wonder a Princess from the previous dynasty had never agreed to


    marriage. Instead, she had kept a harem of pretty men. What a pleasant life that must have been. Hua


    Jing wondered if she could also be lucky enough to do so. Eyes glittering with lust, she lowered her


    head.


    "Cang Lan is a good name." Immersed in her thoughts, Hua Jing whispered with a smile.


    Cang Lan returned her smile. He gazed at Hua Jing with keen, sparkling eyes, "Miss, it''s too crowded


    here in the hall. We can have more privacy in my room. I will entertain you there. After tonight, perhaps


    Ya Xi will recover, and you can visit himter."


    Hua Jing shook her head. She had to refuse his offer. She believed that Ya Xi wouldn''t have the heart


    to ignore her the whole night.


    As per her expectations, the man who had greeted her at the entrance, appeared soon after Cang Lan


    had left. He approached her with an adtory smile. He leaned forward and seductively whispered,


    "Miss, Mister Ya Xi is waiting for you in his room. This way, please."


    Hua Jing was pleased to hear that. She smiled and eagerly followed the man. Before she walked away,


    she winked at Cang Lan.


    Ya Xi''s room was located in the backyard of Suiyu House. The building was separate from the brothel.


    It was two stories high, quiet and beautiful. The man led Hua Jing to the door. He bowed to her before


    turning and leaving. Hua Jing pushed the door open and saw a figure dressed in bluish white standing


    in front of her.


    N?velDrama.Org content.


    As if he had heard her footsteps, the figure turned to face her. When she saw his face again, Hua


    Jing''s eyes gleamed with lust. He was more gorgeous than she remembered.


    "Your Highness." Ya Xi greeted her. His voice was hoarse.


    Hua Jing studied the man. She noticed that his face was pale. Hua Jing wondered what had happened.


    She walked up to Ya Xi and asked, "Have you caught cold from our love-making in theke? But you


    were all right the other night..."


    Ya Xi bowed his head. His eyshes flickered shut. He answered, "It''s not your fault, Your Highness. I


    was tired the other day after my return and wanted to rest. However, one of our guests was irritated.


    She took it as a sign of contempt and punished me. I was thrown into a bathtub full of icy water and..."


    Hua Jing was enraged, "Who dared to hurt you? Tell me, what is this guest''s name?"


    Ya Xi shook his head, "I know you''re protective of me, Your Highness. But the guest is not amoner


    either. She is wealthy and powerful. Come, Your Highness. We haven''t met for a long time. Do you


    want me to y the Guqin for you?"