Chapter 29

 “Ah! Why does the road keep getting farther and darker?”

Xia Shuixian, following behind the palace maid, covered her chest with a handkerchief, fearfully glancing around.

“Miss Xia, don’t worry, we’ll be there soon! Look, right ahead, that small courtyard! The room there is specially for winter flower cultivation. You can enjoy the flowers while changing your dress!”

The young maid beamed, already imagining the 50 taels of silver that would soon be in her hands once Xia Shuixian entered the flower room.

Standing in the flower room, Xiao Huzi tiptoed, spotting the young maid and Xia Shuixian approaching in the distance. He quickly slipped into the room.

“Your Highness, Xia Shuixian has arrived!”

Xiao Huzi reported to Prince Yan.

“Good! You wait outside. I’ll have a good talk with Xia Shuixian about the narcissus flowers!”

Prince Yan untied his robe and the inner belt, revealing his well-toned chest and eight-pack abs. His bronzed skin made him appear even more fierce and powerful.

Don’t all women like this kind of man?

And I just happen to fulfill all their desires: tall, rich, strong.

Prince Yan felt especially pleased with himself tonight, especially since Prince Jin hadn’t arrived. He had provoked the sixth prince, and now that the emperor had punished him, the women at tonight’s banquet were all his to choose from. Hahaha!

As Prince Yan thought of this, he couldn’t help but grin and laugh softly.

“Miss Xia, it’s in there. You go in, I’ll wait outside to keep any disturbances away!”

The young maid smiled and pushed open the door, gently ushering Xia Shuixian inside.

She then closed the door behind her.

“Hey!”

Xia Shuixian turned back, knocking on the door.

“I want to go out! Open the door!”

She had a bad feeling, realizing she might have walked into a trap.

“Miss Xia, just change your dress inside, or you’ll catch a chill. I won’t be able to explain to the lady,” the young maid softly reassured her.

Even if you want to leave, you’ll have to wait until His Highness is satisfied first! Hmph! Did you think you could just join the banquet by adding your name? This favor won’t come free!

How naive!

The young maid rolled her eyes.

Prince Yan had used this trick to ensnare many women from humble backgrounds who wanted to climb the social ladder. These women sought shortcuts but didn’t know that once their pockets were open, they would soon fall into the trap themselves.

Sigh!

Xia Shuixian sighed deeply.

She turned and walked into the flower room.

The room was as warm as spring, with rows of shelves displaying beautiful fresh flowers. These flowers, which bloomed only in spring, were already in full bloom here.

The air was thick with a fragrant aroma.

She took a deep breath, feeling dizzy, her steps a little unsteady.

“Oh no! This fragrance… It must be some sort of narcotic! I’ve been drugged!”

She staggered slightly and quickly grabbed the nearby iron rack to steady herself.

“Water lily, my darling, I’m here to help you!”

Prince Yan appeared from nowhere, standing behind her, his hand reaching for her.

“No… No… Your Highness, please don’t do this!”

Xia Shuixian felt a burning sensation in her body, trembling uncontrollably.

She longed for this feeling, but the last bit of resistance in her mind still held on, making her lips refuse while her body betrayed her desire.

“My darling, I noticed you the first time I saw you. Don’t you like me?”

Prince Yan whispered in her ear, teasing her gently.

“Well… Well… Your Highness, what’s in it for me? I won’t do something without a benefit!”

Xia Shuixian mumbled, her thoughts clouded by the desire to climb higher.

“Of course, you’ll have plenty of benefits. You’ll become my woman in the Yan Palace!”

Prince Yan’s voice was dripping with temptation.

“Oh! Your Highness!”

Xia Shuixian turned around, her eyes glazed, gazing at the tall, powerful Prince Yan. She reached out her slender fingers to embrace him, smiling seductively.

Since he had promised to take her into the Palace, half of her wish had already been fulfilled. Now, under the influence of the drug, she had no reservations left.

Prince Yan lifted her up and carried her toward the bed in the flower room.

For a moment, the room was filled with the warmth of spring.

Xiao Huzi tossed a purse to the young maid.

“Here, take it! This is the reward from His Highness!”

“Thank you, Your Highness, and thank you, Xiao Huzi!”

The young maid weighed the purse in her hand, a small smile appearing as she took the silver and put it in her pocket.

The banquet continued.

Yan Meili looked around, noticing that Xia Shuixian had been gone for nearly an hour. Why hadn’t she returned yet? Was she trying to charm someone from the palace?

If she caused trouble in the palace, I’ll make sure her aunt accompanies her to the grave!

“Mother, Fourth Sister still hasn’t come back. Should I go look for her?”

Fifth Miss Xia Tinglan asked, worried.

Yan Meili waved her hand dismissively.

“No need to worry! Since she found a way into this banquet, she must be taking advantage of the situation. She’ll return before the banquet ends. And what about the sixth girl? Where did she go?

If Xia Shuixian could make it in, then that little slut must be even more capable, but I haven’t seen her around. She said she was pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger. I’ve been puzzled by that all along!”

Xia Tinglan also shook her head, her eyes gleaming with a vicious light.

“Mother, these two little sluts are harder to figure out. Once we get back tonight, I’ll interrogate them properly and let them taste my methods. If they haven’t been beaten for three days, they’ll think they can get away with anything!”

“Tinglan, now that Prince Jin is likely to fall, I hope you’ll consider His Highness the Prince Yan. Don’t you have any other thoughts about him?”

Yan Meili gently pulled her daughter’s hand and spoke softly.

Her second daughter, Xia Jinlan, had already gone to chat with some women at another table after finishing her performance.

Yan Meili seized the opportunity to have a private conversation with her fifth daughter, Xia Tinglan.

Xia Tinglan’s lips twitched, giving a somewhat awkward smile.

“Mother, Prince Jin was just confused for a moment. He’ll recover after being punished by the emperor. He’ll come back out soon! I still want to wait for him. Didn’t you see? The Empress’s maternal family, the Ji family, didn’t send any young ladies tonight?

My biggest opponent is Ji Haitang, Prince Jin’s cousin. That young lady has already switched sides to join the Empress’s camp! And she wants my second sister to marry His Highness the Prince Yan. This way, the Xia family will have allies on both sides, and we won’t lose out!”

Seeing that her daughter still stuck to her plan, Yan Meili no longer insisted.