Chapter Seventy-Five: Don’t Make Things Too Difficult for Me

Hu Mo truly felt on the verge of tears, moved beyond words. After all this time, finally, a girl could "see" him. Lin Nan's overwhelming presence had left Hu Mo with nothing but bitterness. Yet, when Zhu Xinyue called out as she did, the reaction was strikingly intense. Everyone in the city knew that Princess Xinyue, renowned as the "bane of rakes," and the infamous Hu family libertine had always been at odds. Aside from the utterly implausible rumors circulating a few days prior, their greatest interactions had always been volleys of mutual scorn—a sight everyone had grown accustomed to.

But now, witnessing such intimacy between them, a singular thought took root in the minds of those around: Could the rumor have been true all along?

As Hu Mo felt the suspicious and unfriendly gazes of the crowd, he was left in an awkward limbo, neither able to advance nor retreat, and before he could react, Zhu Xinyue had already rushed to his side. She seemed to notice something, momentarily reining in her emotions as she approached with a bright smile. “Brother Hu Mo, I knew you’d come. Has Sister Cang Ling arrived yet?”

“Yes, she’s in the sedan,” Hu Mo replied with a gentle smile. The atmosphere was heavy with tension; he could sense a palpable hostility simmering nearby.

Zhu Xinyue’s face blossomed with delight. Cheerfully, she ran to the sedan, flung open the curtain, and in that instant, the white-robed Cang Ling appeared before them all. Though her face was veiled, her exquisite figure made every man swallow hard. It was easy to imagine that, should she unveil herself, she would utterly enchant every man present.

In ordinary circumstances, the city’s pampered heirs might have sidled up to her with a lewd remark or two. But with Zhu Xinyue—the notorious "rake bane"—standing guard, these scoundrels were meeker than kittens, not daring to utter a word.

“Sister Cang Ling, you’re finally here! I’ve missed you so much. Let’s hurry inside—there are too many unpleasant characters here,” Zhu Xinyue exclaimed, scowling with open disdain at the young scions ogling Cang Ling.

Cang Ling offered a gentle laugh, a sound so lovely it made many men go weak in the knees. Several nearly lost control, tempted to snatch away her veil then and there.

“Unpleasant characters? Does that include the number one rake of Tianhuo?” Cang Ling teased, gesturing at the flustered Hu Mo.

“He…” Zhu Xinyue’s cheeks flushed crimson, and for a moment, she was at a loss for words.

Had this been any other time, the men would have been floored by Zhu Xinyue’s bashful smile. Now, however, they were more stunned and indignant than anything else.

They had heard every word clearly, and anyone with half a brain could tell: Zhu Xinyue was blushing because of Hu Mo.

In that moment, countless hearts shattered. The most beautiful woman in Flame City, the emperor’s beloved Princess Xinyue, had fallen for the city’s most notorious rake. Within mere seconds, several heartbroken young men even ran off in tears.

“Ahem, what are you two talking about? Let’s head inside; the crowd is growing,” Hu Mo said awkwardly. At this rate, he had become everyone’s target.

Zhu Xinyue murmured in agreement, grabbing Cang Ling’s hand and rushing toward Fengming Pavilion, her face so flushed it seemed aflame.

Hu Mo shook his head and, turning around, spotted a few familiar faces.

Du Zhong, Lin Meng, and Huang Sheng stood nearby, smiling as they slowly made their way toward him.

“So, they’ve finally let you two out?” Hu Mo joked, his gaze harboring a subtle meaning.

Lin Meng and Du Zhong forced a bitter smile. Their weary faces made it clear they had endured considerable mental anguish these past days. Gone was their former recklessness; now, their expressions were somber.

“Young Master Hu, don’t blame us. We did our best,” Du Zhong murmured, resignation heavy in his voice.

Lin Meng lowered his head, unable to meet Hu Mo’s eyes. Of the four, he was the most timid, and after what had transpired, he lacked even the courage to look up.

Hu Mo smiled, as if he had long anticipated this. He patted their shoulders and said lightly, “It’s fine, no need to be like this. We may not be able to work together, but at the very least, we’re not enemies, are we? I just hope you’ll be more careful in the future. Otherwise, we might truly end up on opposite sides. Come, let’s go in. Today is a day for joy, not for gloomy talk.”

With that, Hu Mo and Huang Sheng, who had remained silent, entered Fengming Pavilion together. Du Zhong and Lin Meng wanted to follow, but their feet felt glued to the spot.

“Young Master Hu, please don’t blame them. It hasn’t been easy for any of us,” Huang Sheng whispered. They had been brothers for over a decade, and now, suddenly estranged, it was hard to accept.

“I know. That’s why I don’t blame them. Sigh… Brothers from the past now standing on the opposite side—it’s hard for anyone to accept. I only hope they don’t do anything too extreme and put me in a difficult position,” Hu Mo sighed, a trace of steely resolve and helplessness flickering between his brows.

“Huang Sheng, let me remind you as well: don’t be careless. Mercy is a weakness you can’t afford,” Hu Mo said with uncharacteristic seriousness, his eyes penetrating Huang Sheng so deeply that the latter grew uncomfortable.

“I understand, Young Master Hu. I know what’s at stake,” Huang Sheng replied, his expression gradually composed.

“I’ll tend to Brother Huang Zong’s wounds as soon as possible. My cultivation has improved these last few days, so I’m more confident now. After this gathering, I want to see what you’re capable of, Huang Sheng. Time waits for no one—I hope you can surprise me,” Hu Mo said bluntly. They truly had little time left to waste.

Huang Sheng nodded. “Understood. I’m making arrangements now. Once everything is ready, I’ll act. I won’t disappoint you. As for my brother’s injuries, I leave them in your hands. Once he recovers, I’ll be even more confident.”

“Very well. For now, let’s meet the Princess of Silla and see what skills and power she possesses,” Hu Mo replied with a faint smile, striding up toward Fengming Pavilion.

Fengming Pavilion was spacious—calling it a pavilion hardly did it justice. It was more like a sprawling mansion, with buildings, courtyards, ponds, and elegant pavilions, all exuding an air of refined tranquility.

The famed social gathering of Tianhuo’s noblewomen was held in the largest of these halls, and as Hu Mo delved deeper inside, the look of surprise on his face only deepened.

The whole building was suffused with a heady floral scent. Though rich, it was not cloying, but instead filled one with a sense of comfort and lively energy.

Unlike the world outside, the temperature within hovered around twenty degrees, providing a relaxing atmosphere that improved even the mood. Of course, what pleased the men most were the beautiful serving girls and noble ladies who strolled about. To Hu Mo, it was astonishing—as if all the beauties of Flame City had gathered here, and not one of them was disagreeable.

Yet, despite their presence, the scions of the great families dared only to admire from afar. None would risk a lecherous touch, nor did any dare utter a single suggestive word.

Why?

Such was the rule of this gathering! Here, women held sway, with the Grand Princess of Tianhuo presiding. Long ago, Zhu Xinluo had decreed that any man caught laying hands or making lewd remarks would be beaten and thrown out, with no forgiveness.

Initially, the men hadn’t taken it seriously. But after a certain incident, no one dared step out of line again.

Back then, the notoriously debauched Third Prince Zhu Xin had come to the gathering. Relying on his status, he tried to seize a few beautiful women for his amusement. But he miscalculated. When he brazenly embraced a maid, Zhu Xinluo herself beat him out of the hall with a stick and forbade him from ever attending again.

The matter reached Zhu Yan, who, enraged, had Zhu Xin beaten once more. Since then, the rule had become ironclad—no one dared challenge it.

Because of this, Zhu Xinluo’s standing among the city’s women soared. Even when rumors painted her as wanton, the women had reason to defend her.

Why should men have all the fun, but women not be allowed a little pleasure of their own? For a while, Zhu Xinluo even became something of an idol to many, and the status of women rose accordingly.

When Cang Ling was swept away, Lin Nan was also pulled along. This left Hu Mo feeling rather deflated—his personal guard snatched away, and he left to walk with the sly Huang Sheng. The contrast was too much, and he could only sigh in resignation.

A strange thought suddenly crossed his mind: If Lin Nan were to dress as a woman, how beautiful would he be?

He shook his head, sighed, and muttered to himself, “What am I thinking? I must be losing my mind.”

“Young Master Hu, you’re early! Looks like I’ll finally have a drink with you today.” A voice called from behind—Situ Feng. Under the adoring gaze of a swarm of women, he approached with two celadon wine cups in hand, dashing and elegant.

The third installment arrives right on time—let the votes, the collections, and all else come even more fiercely.