Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 783: Offering a W0man for Favor

Wanyan Yuan abruptly stood up, his face darkening. “Wanyan Liang, I came here in good faith to gift you the courtesan, and this is how you mock me?”

“You’ve misunderstood me, Prince Changsheng,” Wanyan Liang hurriedly apologized. “My words earlier were careless. Let me punish myself with three cups as an apology.” With that, he picked up the wine jug beside him, poured three cups, and downed them in one go before pulling Wanyan Yuan back to his seat.

Wanyan Yuan’s expression softened slightly. “So, will you accept the courtesan or not?”

“Fine, I’ll accept it,” Wanyan Liang said with a bitter smile. “But after receiving such a generous gift, I’m not sure how to repay you.”

“You know perfectly well what I want. Why play dumb?” Wanyan Yuan couldn’t help but snort. He was about to say more but stopped when he noticed Qingshu still in the room.

Qingshu’s eyes narrowed slightly. ‘What is Wanyan Yuan implying… Could it be?’

Wanyan Liang also glanced at Qingshu, realizing that Wanyan Yuan couldn’t speak freely in his presence. A plan quickly formed in his mind. “I have an unreasonable request, Prince Changsheng. I hope you won’t take offense.”

“What unreasonable request?” Wanyan Yuan was secretly delighted. “I’d rather you ask for something than have no demands at all.”

Wanyan Liang pointed at Qingshu with a smile. “Actually, I promised Brother Tang Kuo earlier tonight that I’d buy the courtesan and gift her to him as thanks for saving my life…” He didn’t mention his earlier attempts to win Qingshu over, only using the incident with the assassins as an excuse, briefly explaining the night’s events to Wanyan Yuan.

“I’d like to borrow your gift to fulfill my promise and pass the courtesan to Brother Tang Kuo. I hope you don’t mind?” Wanyan Liang stared at Wanyan Yuan with a knowing smile.
Wanyan Yuan was taken aback. ‘Why is Wanyan Liang suddenly willing to give away such a beauty so casually?’

After a moment’s thought, he assumed it was just a ploy to send Qingshu away so they could speak privately. Delighted, he said, “Since I’ve already given the courtesan to you, it’s yours to decide. Normally, as Gebi’s husband, I wouldn’t stand by and let my sister suffer, but for Prince Hailing’s sake today, I’ll turn a blind eye. Tang Kuo Bian, you’d better send me a few jars of fine wine later to keep my mouth shut, or I might just tell Gebi.”
“Of course, of course! Thank you, Prince Hailing! Thank you, Prince Changsheng!” Song Qingshu knew they wanted him gone, and since he also wanted to ask the Fifth Princess about the other princesses in the Laundry Courtyard, he didn’t refuse. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Wanyan Liang winked at him. “Brother Tang Kuo, the beauty awaits in her lonely bed. We won’t keep you from your important business. Go on, don’t waste this lovely night.”

Song Qingshu deliberately put on an expression of awkward eagerness, bid them farewell, and hurried off, pretending to be impatient. Halfway there, he hesitated, wondering if he should return to eavesdrop on their conversation. But considering the tight security around the private room—Wanyan Liang’s four elite guards were no pushovers, and Wanyan Yuan’s men were likely just as skilled—approaching recklessly would risk exposure.

‘Forget it. Even without eavesdropping, I can guess what they’re discussing. I should focus on finding the Fifth Princess and learning more about the Laundry Courtyard.’ 

In the end, Song Qingshu abandoned the idea of spying and quickened his steps toward the courtesan’s room.

*****

Watching Song Qingshu leave with barely concealed excitement, Wanyan Liang couldn’t help but chuckle. 

“This Brother Tang Kuo… His wife is the most beautiful woman in the Dynasty, yet he still can’t control himself.”

“Hmph, I used to think he was a devoted man. Turns out he’s just another lecher,” Wanyan Yuan sneered. If not for the need to send Song Qingshu away so they could talk, he would have taught him a lesson today for his sister’s sake.

“Prince Changsheng, don’t be angry. His lust might actually work in your favor,” Wanyan Liang said meaningfully, adding silently: “And even more so for me. Now that I know he’s easily tempted, I can drive a wedge between him and Gebi with a little trickery, making it easier to win her over.”

“How so?” Wanyan Yuan’s heart skipped a beat at the insinuation.

“Be honest—is Gebi closer to you or to the Emperor?” Wanyan Liang asked.

“Well…” Wanyan Yuan answered instinctively, “Though she’s my sister, she’s always been closer to His Majesty.”

“Exactly. If Tang Kuo Bian were unshakably loyal, he’d naturally side with the Emperor through Gebi. But now that we know his weakness, you have a chance to pull him to your side,” Wanyan Liang explained.

Wanyan Yuan’s expression shifted several times before he forced a laugh. “Prince Hailing, what are you implying? Whether he stands with the Emperor or me, isn’t it the same?”

Wanyan Liang snorted. “There’s no one else here. If you won’t speak frankly, then you might as well leave.”

Wanyan Yuan struggled internally. Though he had prepared himself before coming, this matter was too significant. ‘Can Wanyan Liang really be trusted?’  

Seeing his hesitation, Wanyan Liang sighed deliberately, as if talking to himself. “Prince Changsheng, your current situation is as precarious as a pile of eggs.”

“Prince Hailing, you’re being overly alarmist.” In truth, Wanyan Yuan knew better than anyone, which was why he had sought out Wanyan Liang in the first place. But he couldn’t afford to show weakness first.

Wanyan Liang smirked coldly and laid it out plainly. “The Emperor’s fondness for Taoyao was an open secret back then. Later, when he enfeoffed her as ‘Lady Taohua,’ his intentions became even clearer. If not for the scandal of seizing his brother’s wife, he would’ve moved against you long ago. The opportunists at court are all experts at reading the Emperor’s will. Right now, everyone is watching you, waiting for the slightest misstep to destroy you. Once that happens, the Emperor will have Taoyao—legitimately.”

“Of course, protecting yourself isn’t impossible,” Wanyan Liang suddenly shifted his tone.

Wanyan Yuan pressed urgently, “What’s your plan?”

Wanyan Liang looked at him with a half-smile. “Find an opportunity to ‘suggest’ that your wife stay in the palace a few nights each month—officially to attend to the Empress Dowager. All your troubles will vanish.”

“B*stard! Do you think I, Wanyan Yuan, would offer my wife for favor?” Wanyan Yuan slammed the table so hard it nearly shattered.

Wanyan Liang’s words were euphemistic—attending to the Empress Dowager was just a flimsy excuse. 

Everyone knew what would happen if Taoyao stayed in the palace. If Wanyan Yuan played along, the Emperor would get what he wanted without the infamy and would no longer target him. 

But what man could endure such humiliation?