Volume One, Chapter 18: Accompanied by the Sound of the Zither

“On the surface, the Red Sleeve House will operate as usual, but in reality, it must serve as my eyes and ears. If any outsiders arrive or if any major events occur locally, you only need to pass the information to the person I send. Besides that, if necessary, you will also assist me with some minor tasks. Of course, these tasks are not mandatory and will come with additional compensation.”

Liu Xixi lowered her head to ponder for a moment, then looked up at Princess Changning, tentatively asking, “If that is so, I have one request. Most of the sisters in the house have suffered hardships in their past and are willing to serve you, but since we are all women, if we could hire some guards skilled in martial arts to protect them, I would feel much more at ease.”

“That’s easy to arrange,” Princess Changning said, patting her shoulder. “Tomorrow I’ll send someone to buy the Red Sleeve House, including all the contracts for the girls. Once the paperwork is complete, the guards will be sent to you.”

“You will keep your own contracts and manage all the revenue from the house. You will also have full authority over staffing.”

Liu Xixi was both shocked and grateful. She bowed deeply three times and said humbly, “Your grace has shown me great favor. I don’t know how to thank you. From now on, I will do my utmost to serve you.”

She secretly glanced at the person before her, thinking to herself that this young lord was indeed extraordinary, and she must hold tightly to this valuable alliance.

Though she would manage the manpower and finances, having a powerful patron was essential for such a business that dealt with high officials and nobles. Without a strong backing, it could not last long.

Liu Xixi fully understood this truth and thus earnestly cultivated her relationship with Princess Changning.

Princess Changning discussed many more details with Liu Xixi, and by the time they left the Red Sleeve House, it was already past midnight.

Qingluan anxiously asked, “Princess, do you think Liu Xixi might just be deceiving us and only paying lip service?”

“So what if she is? Whether sincere or not, time will reveal all. If she’s smart, she will seize this opportunity,” Princess Changning said with a faint smile, her tone calm.

“We just fear she might agree on the surface but stab us in the back.”

Princess Changning chuckled lightly, flicked her sleeve, and strode forward. “If she dares to betray me, I won’t hesitate to teach her a lesson and make her start anew.”

“Princess, why insist on using this brothel to transmit messages? Isn’t your cousin, Governor Zhao, here? Or you could buy a pawnshop or a restaurant instead,” Qingluan whispered.

Princess Changning stopped, turned to look at the Red Sleeve House’s sign, and said softly, “Look at how bustling and lively it is here. How many of the girls inside are truly willing? Most of them are barely teenagers who should be living carefree lives at home but have fallen to this fate due to ill fortune.”

Qingluan was slightly taken aback and couldn’t help but ask, “But fate is beyond one’s control. Why do you bother yourself with them, Princess?”

Princess Changning smiled, but her eyes revealed a trace of coldness. “Indeed, fate is not in our hands. I, as a noble princess, cannot always decide for myself. But I want to decide for them.”

Qingluan was silent for a moment and asked no more.

Upon returning to the mansion, Xu Hai was already waiting outside.

Xu Hai explained that Governor Zhao had arranged for the bridal envoys and guards to stay at the prefectural government office. The accompanying craftspeople and officials from the princess’s residence would stay at official inns and posts. Palace maids, eunuchs, chefs, and the princess’s personal guards would reside in this mansion.

Additionally, Lord Li, the military commissioner of Bin Prefecture, had invited General Fuyuan to visit the residence. It was unknown whether the general had taken up residence at the command headquarters, but accommodations had been arranged at the prefectural government for him.

Bai Yunfeng’s troops and the personal guards had been responsible for guarding the mansion these past few days and naturally stayed here on a rotating basis.

After hearing this, Princess Changning nodded slightly and suddenly laughed. “Move Song Yu and Song Mo here. Find a small secluded courtyard in the back for them to stay. Song Mo will attend me tonight.”

Xu Hai was momentarily startled but obediently took his leave.

The night breeze gently brushed by as Princess Changning lifted her teacup, her gaze drifting into the distance.

She whispered to herself, “I never thought… ancient times could be so boring…”

——

The next day.

Princess Changning woke late, almost at the end of the Snake hour. Song Mo, hair loose and clothes askew, opened the door. When Autumn Peach saw her, she blushed and quietly brought in a basin.

Qingluan invited Song Mo to wait in the outer room.

The senior maids attended to the princess closely—washing her face, rinsing her mouth, dressing her, styling her hair, applying makeup, and selecting accessories.

For breakfast, Princess Changning ordered Binzhou pancakes, Binzhou tofu soup, millet porridge stewed with lamb or chicken, as well as local specialties like sea silk salad, potstickers, steamed cakes, and shredded radish pancakes.

She looked at the full table and squinted her eyes in satisfaction.

Then Song Mo and Song Yu both entered and stood by to arrange the dishes. One mentioned seeing “Little Tiger,” the raccoon servant, happily eating dried small fish before running up a tree to catch birds.

The other said there were several koi carp in a ceramic jar in the front yard, extremely cute, and the princess should go see them later.

Another spoke of the pomegranate flowers blooming in the yard, their petals a bright orange-red layered beautifully.

The emotional value was nearly maxed out—how wonderful! Princess Changning thought as she ate.

“Go have your snacks in the outer room; clear these away,” the princess waved her hand.

“Yes, Song Mo takes her leave,” Song Mo bowed.

“Song Yu too,” the princess added.

She had recently told them they no longer needed to refer to themselves as slaves or perform kneeling bows.

——

“Princess, General Gu requests an audience. He’s waiting in the front hall. Lord Zhao has also arrived at the main gate,” Qingluo reported.

“Information travels quickly,” Princess Changning blinked. “Make my blush powder a little pinker!”

General Gu Han sat with a dark expression in the guest hall of Governor Zhao’s private residence, clutching a teacup that seemed on the verge of shattering.

Song Ziqian strode in, spotted Gu Han, cleared his throat awkwardly, bowed with a subordinate’s salute, then sat down. Neither spoke.

After a cup of tea, Princess Changning appeared in a sheer, pale pink-and-green gauze robe with a straight collar and a tied sash just under the bust, from which hung a translucent green scented sachet. Her cheeks were rosy, and she smiled broadly, revealing eight teeth.

Song Ziqian and Gu Han both rose to greet her.

In a good mood, Princess Changning beamed warmly, “Please rise, my esteemed ministers. Make yourselves at home; no need for formalities.”

Song Ziqian licked his lips, pondered for a few seconds, then sighed. “Princess, cousin, have you heard the rumors spreading outside?”

Without looking at her, he flicked his sleeve and turned his back, hands clasped behind him.

“Heh—” Princess Changning couldn’t help but smile.

She had never found his habit of speaking without eye contact strange. Having lived over twenty years in the modern era, returning now, she found it rather amusing.

“What rumors?” she asked coldly.

“Princess, you’re a woman and headed off in a political marriage. If this spreads to Sheye Kingdom, what will happen?” Song Ziqian chided, frustrated by what he saw as her lack of prudence.

“The Sheye Kingdom wants the princess for marriage; they didn’t say I couldn’t keep favored companions,” she replied.

“You! Doing this in Binzhou’s territory—how will the court react when they hear?” Song Ziqian was too angry to be polite.

“So cousin, you’re just worried about being implicated yourself?” Princess Changning remained calm.