Chapter Twenty-Five: The Exquisite Young Man

Lingran knelt on the ground, but she could no longer control her gaze, stealing glances at the brightest palace and observing carefully.

Liu Yongcheng was seated at the second seat to the lower right of the middle-aged man. At this moment, he had already risen from his place to pay respects to the man sitting above. He said, “The Prime Minister and Prince Xiang indeed share a deep father-son bond. If this woman is bestowed upon His Highness, it would be her greatest fortune.”

“The best must be reserved for Yu’er, of course.”

Since the speaker was addressed as Prime Minister, he could only be Chu Liuxiang.

At this moment, Mo Han was trembling with excitement, her dance robes rustling audibly.

Lingran had no interest in the reactions of the women beside her. She began to scrutinize the young man reclining by Chu Liuxiang’s side. Though she could not fully see his features, even from afar his beauty was overwhelming, surpassing Mo Han’s by several degrees. His loveliness was so exquisite it rendered his gender indistinct, blurring the line between male and female, and sparking countless fanciful thoughts at a single glance.

Lingran steadied herself, resisting the lure of beauty, thinking that the boy should at least react upon hearing his father speak so.

But to her surprise, the youth in red remained languid, slouched without moving.

Then an even more astonishing scene unfolded: Chu Liuxiang leaned over and openly kissed the red-clad youth’s cheek, then embraced him, saying, “Red Silk is enough for me. As for women—they’re mere diversions.”

A grown man called Red Silk!

Chu Liuxiang was actually a homosexual!

Heavens! Such a deviant old man for the dominant role, and such an elegant youth for the submissive! God, just kill me now! I can’t take it anymore! Lingran screamed inwardly, no longer caring that the youth was not Prince Xiang.

“But to share beauties with Red Silk would be a great joy in life!” Chu Liuxiang said, waving his hand.

Immediately someone shouted toward the stage, “Ladies, all come forward and thank the Prime Minister for his kindness.”

A figure appeared at the edge of the island to beckon eight women to follow him.

Led by Mo Han, they filed off the stage.

As they walked along the lakeside path, music resumed.

This time it was a solo guqin, ethereal and distant, clearing the mind.

Suddenly, thunderous applause erupted from the surrounding halls, punctuated by shrieks.

Lingran turned to look and was stunned.

The young master Red Silk had already dazzled her, but now, as a man descended from the moon, she felt as if struck by lightning, her mind blank.

Was he immortal or human? How could anyone possess such grace?

He strode through the clouds, his appearance like jade, robes white as snow, long hair billowing in the wind, every movement seeming to gently pluck at the heartstrings.

His features appeared chiseled by the gods, each impossibly handsome, with delicate brows and serene eyes, seeming to look down upon all beings, every gesture rising above the mundane.

The shrieks faded away as he appeared, as if he had stolen everyone’s senses. All the noble ladies stopped in their tracks, gazing upward at the stage, their breath suspended, even the attendant from the Prime Minister’s residence forgot to urge them on.

He gently pointed with his finger, and from his sleeve burst countless flashes of silver, scattered by the wind. In an instant, the silver lights formed four large characters in midair: “Endless Longevity.”

Lingran spat blood, tears streaming…

She wanted to beat her chest and question the heavens—what kind of world was this?

However beautiful he was, it was clear he had been sent as a male favorite for the Prime Minister, flattering to such a degree. “Endless Longevity”—even a fool knew that phrase was meant only for the emperor!

Why? Such waste!

She covered her face, unable to bear looking at the man, afraid she might lose control.

Fortunately, after displaying the four characters, he vanished in a flash, temporarily easing Lingran’s bleeding heart.

Yet, she remained dazed, as if all sound was blocked from her ears after seeing that man, until she followed the others before Chu Liuxiang and clearly saw the wrinkles on the old villain’s face, her soul slowly returning to her body.

Damn you! How dare you squander the country’s finest flowers! Lingran nearly ground her molars to dust, swearing silently: I must help Peng Lun and the others complete their mission. If the opportunity arises, I’ll make sure to teach this old man a lesson, hogging the two most beautiful youths! How is anyone supposed to live…

Whoever was so wicked as to send such a perfect man to the Prime Minister’s residence—if I ever find out who, they’ll be my enemy!

While she indulged in endless fantasies, the Prime Minister had already chosen Xu Shanquan as the concubine to serve him and Red Silk that night.

Lingran raised her head and met Peng Lun’s concerned gaze.

He sat sideways in Liu Ju’s seat, accompanying them, his eyes shining, as if reminding her to mind her words and actions.

Lingran shuddered, quickly hiding her fierce expression, deflating like a punctured ball as she stood with the other women.

“The girl chosen as Yu’er’s twelfth wife will be sent to the Pavilion of Myriad Images. The others are to the Mirror Garden for bathing and scent preparation…” Chu Liuxiang, embracing Red Silk, laughed contentedly.

Lingran’s skin crawled, nearly vomiting, fear rising in her heart. What? Even she, the clown, had to be bathed and scented? She wouldn’t escape the old villain’s clutches tonight? But he’s supposed to like male favorites! Why bother with women? Damn pervert! Murderer! Have you looked closely or not?

No matter how she cursed inwardly, Chu Liuxiang couldn’t hear it. She could only leave the lakeside palace with the others, heading for the Mirror Garden as instructed.

Fortunately, it wasn’t far to Mirror Garden. Mo Han had already been led away, leaving the seven women to enter a large bath surrounded by mirrors. Servant women came in, fierce and shouting, forcing everyone to undress and enter the water.

In the water, all were silent.

Xu Shanquan, having been chosen by Chu Liuxiang, drew everyone’s attention.

She first sat dazed in the water, unmoving. Something seemed to touch her, and suddenly she covered her face and began to sob, her fragrant shoulders shaking, appearing quite pitiable.

Her crying prompted Bi Qing, who had long protested serving the old villain, to start crying as well, followed by Li Tangmei and the others wiping their tears.

Xu Shanquan, hearing the others cry, suddenly stopped, her face contorted with anger as she swept her gaze over the six other women. “Are you crying crocodile tears? No one said you’d have to serve him yet! What are you crying for?”

Her rebuke silenced Li Tangmei and the others, who stared at her, unsure of her meaning.

Yet, with tears still on her face, she broke into a flirtatious smile, looking rather strange.

“Haha! Maybe it’s a good thing. If I become the Prime Minister’s concubine, my father will be reinstated. You may not be so lucky! So don’t give me those sympathetic looks—I don’t need them!”

Lingran rolled her eyes, thinking, “If you want to die, go ahead! I can’t save everyone.” She started making mental calculations, deciding she must warn Yuan’er and Bi Qing, feeling a little more at ease.

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Finally, important characters have appeared, and the collection has broken 300. The editor has also sent words of comfort—ah, I really… have no self-restraint. I need to reflect and calm myself. I’ll revise another chapter this afternoon and add more tonight.