Chapter 95

From childhood to now, this was the first time Zhu Lian had paused to think. If she said she wasn't curious, that would be a lie. What was the charm of the De Yue Lou, a place that made men linger and forget to leave? As she climbed the stairs, she observed, but ultimately found nothing particularly attractive. It seemed that to understand the mystery, she would have to go back and ask the Prince.

After escorting Zhu Lian to the door of her boudoir, Mother Li happily went elsewhere. Xiaonie opened the door after a knock, but once she saw Zhu Lian, the little girl couldn't take her eyes off her. What a handsome young man! The most handsome men she had seen before were probably Prince Yun and Duke Yongning, but this young man was even more appealing.

It was understandable that Xiaonie couldn't recognize Zhu Lian as a woman. Although Zhu Lian was a woman, she was graceful and poised, with a touch of heroism in her every move. So, even when she dressed as a man, she looked very convincing.

They say men love beauty, but women are no different, and sometimes even more so. Not to mention Xiaonie, even the usually cold Li Shishi couldn't help but be impressed. Observing this young man, she noted his clear and refined features and natural demeanor, which clearly indicated a cultured person.

"Long have I heard of the great Li Shishi. Today, I finally meet you, and indeed, you are unparalleled in beauty!"

Li Shishi looked at Zhu Lian, and Zhu Lian was no less appreciative of Li Shishi. For the first courtesan of the capital, if she said she wasn't interested, that would be a lie. Even as a woman, she wanted to meet her.

With just one sentence, Li Shishi detected a hint of something. She frowned slightly and raised her hand, "Xiaonie, go prepare some food outside!"

"Yes, Miss Li!"

Xiaonie reluctantly left, still looking back as she closed the door.

Zhu Lian hadn't expected to be so well-liked. If the young prince knew this scene, what would he think?

Once Xiaonie left, only the two of them remained in the room, kneeling opposite each other at the table. Li Shishi extended her fair wrist, poured a cup of tea, and looked at Zhu Lian with interest. In fact, she had already detected that the person was a woman from the first sentence, but Xiaonie, with her mind full of mischief, hadn't noticed.

"Is it you, Miss Zhu?"

Hearing Li Shishi's question, Zhu Lian was surprised. She smiled and asked curiously, "How did you guess, Miss Li?"

"Who else could it be? A woman of such grace from the Zhu family of Fuxiang?"

"Indeed, Miss Li is truly wise, no wonder the Prince often speaks of you!" Zhu Lian held a cup of hot tea, warming her hands but not drinking it immediately. From the moment she entered, she had been observing Li Shishi. This courtesan had a proud and elegant demeanor, and her cold nature made her seem unlike a woman of the pleasure quarters.

"Are you talking about Prince Zhao?"

"Of course!"

"Ha ha," Li Shishi smiled, but there was little joy on her face. She poured herself a cup of tea and said leisurely, "Miss, you are joking. The young prince is only thinking about how to marry you. There is another beauty in the Xie Fang Lou, and as for me, he probably despises me."

Zhu Lian didn't deny it. In fact, her Prince did indeed dislike Li Shishi, thinking that things that can be seen but not eaten are often not good.

She blew on the tea, and the steam rose. She sipped it slowly, savoring the lingering fragrance and the sweetness on her tongue, feeling a sense of relaxation. She closed her eyes and gently shook her head, "Good tea. May I ask, Miss Li, is this Jian Nan Moon Rabbit tea?"

"Indeed, Miss is truly refined. Many people come here, but you are the first to recognize the flavor!"

Zhu Lian inwardly sighed. Moon Rabbit tea was a tribute tea, and few people could taste it, so they couldn't distinguish it. She could recognize it based on its flavor and a bit of guesswork. Since Li Shishi had connections with the imperial family, the good tea in the room likely came from the palace, and the only tribute tea that could make the tongue sweet was Moon Rabbit tea.

"Ha ha, Miss Li, you are joking. Recognizing Moon Rabbit tea was just a guess. I came today to admire your beauty and to ask about the Dragon Guard Army."

Zhu Lian looked steadily at Li Shishi. She had come today specifically to ask about the Dragon Guard Army. Although it was widely rumored that Zhang Yaobang had leaked the information to Li Shishi, she still had some doubts.

"Hmm?" Li Shishi was a bit hesitant, unsure of Zhu Lian's intentions.

"Do you have any other questions? The matter of the Dragon Guard Army is quite clear. I think the Kaifeng Prefecture should know more than I do!"

"Indeed, but what I want to ask is not that. Miss, don't worry, I just want to clear up a doubt, with no intention of harming you!"

Zhu Lian spoke sincerely, and Li Shishi saw no reason to doubt her. She could only say softly, "What do you want to know?"

"May I ask, Miss Li, how did you learn about the Dragon Guard Army?"

"Of course, someone told me!" Li Shishi looked at Zhu Lian, calm and composed, with no hesitation.

Zhu Lian admired her composure but soon smiled. "Did someone give you a letter? Can I see it?"

The room was quiet. Li Shishi's chest rose and fell, and her breathing quickened. She didn't understand why Zhu Lian seemed to know everything, and she hadn't even told Xiaonie about the letter.

"Miss, you can see the letter, but can you tell me why?"

"I said at the beginning, just to clear up a doubt!"

Li Shishi was still hesitant. After a long pause, she sighed and went to the inner room. She knew that Zhu Lian wouldn't leave until she saw the letter.

Soon, the letter was placed on the table. Zhu Lian didn't hesitate, opened the envelope, and read it quickly. The few dozen words were imprinted in her mind in an instant. After reading, she had no intention of returning it. As Li Shishi was about to ask for it back, Zhu Lian took out a fire starter from her waist, blew it, and the paper turned to ashes in an instant.

Li Shishi's beautiful eyes widened, and despite her usual calm, she couldn't help but be angry, "You... why did you do that, Miss?"

Zhu Lian showed no fear. She put the fire starter away, stood up, and walked to the door, "Such an ominous thing, keeping it would not be good for you, Miss Li!"

"You..."

Li Shishi was at a loss. Watching Zhu Lian walk out and close the door confidently, she felt like crying. What was this Miss Zhu up to? That letter was her only hope, and now it was burned to ashes.

Outside the De Yue Lou, Zhu Lian walked slowly. She wasn't worried about Li Shishi. No matter how angry the woman was, she wouldn't reveal this matter.

The autumn day was short, and it was already dark by the time Zhu Lian reached the Kaifeng Prefecture. Prince Zhao rushed over, looking like he wanted to embrace her.

"Miss, why did you come so late?"

"Hmm? Is there something good, Your Highness?"

"Of course! Tomorrow, I will personally visit the Dragon Guard Army. Will you come?"

"Of course! Oh, Your Highness, I forgot to tell you, I went to the De Yue Lou earlier!"

Hearing this, Zhao Yougong's heart skipped a beat. Zhu Lian going to the De Yue Lou wasn't to see women. Could she have gone for the letter? Li Shishi wouldn't be so easily fooled, would she?

He raised an eyebrow and smiled, "He he, Miss, what a good mood! Why didn't you invite me? Tell me, how was the De Yue Lou?"

"Very nice, the decoration is elegant, and Miss Li is as beautiful as the moon!"

"..."

Seeing Zhu Lian's relaxed demeanor, Prince Zhao was speechless. She really had gone to see Li Shishi. Sigh, it seems Zhu Lian had indeed noticed something.

"Ha ha, shall we go together next time?"

"Of course, if Your Highness pays, I will accompany you!"

Even when joking, Zhu Lian was so refined and elegant. A vulgar matter seemed different when she did it.

Yang Zaixing looked at the sky, then at the two slowly walking to the back office, feeling confused. The always graceful and dignified Miss Zhu, why was she acting so frivolously with the Prince?

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