Chapter 44: Disturbance

The girl was dressed in plain mourning clothes, making it seem as though she truly was selling herself to bury her father.

She sobbed, kneeling on the ground and repeatedly kowtowing. "Kind sirs, please have mercy. I can serve you as a slave, but I truly do not know how to dance..."

Li Hengmao frowned, about to speak, but before he could, Qiu Zhe, ever the bully, kicked the girl and sneered. "You think you have the right to refuse? Do you even know who my elder brother is? Or who my younger brother is? My brother taking a fancy to you is already a blessing. And yet, you dare to cry?"

Although he disliked Qiu Che, the latter had been rising in influence lately. Whenever Qiu Zhe went out, he often used her name to throw his weight around.

The other young noblemen in the group were all infamous wastrels of the capital. Upon hearing Qiu Zhe’s words, they immediately echoed their agreement. "Exactly!"

Qiu Zhe grew even more arrogant, raising two fingers. "You have two choices. Either you go up there and dance, and then enjoy a lifetime of wealth with my brother, or you’ll not only fail to bury your father, you won’t even be able to survive in the capital!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Qiu Che sighed and propped her forehead on her hand.

The girl sobbed even harder, trembling all over, her face flushed from holding back her cries. Yet, she refused to give in.

Standing nearby, Yao Tai had been watching Qiu Zhe with a strange expression. After hearing some whispers from the bystanders, she finally understood what was happening, the group was forcing the girl to perform a strip dance.

Never mind a future of riches, no matter what high position she might attain in the future, in this society where rumors could devour a person, if a girl from a respectable family were to perform such a dance in front of so many people, she would never be able to show her face again.

This was no different from forcing her to her death.

Yao Tai cradled her pipa, gauging the situation. When she saw Qiu Zhe reaching out to tear the girl's clothing, she finally stepped forward and raised her voice. "Young masters, forcing a defenseless girl like this hardly seems like the conduct of a true gentleman. May I ask how she has offended you to deserve such humiliation?"

"Who are you?"

Yao Tai gave a polite bow and smiled. "I am Xiang Yao Tai of the Linglong Pavilion, here at the invitation of the owner to perform at Linglong Pavilion for the esteemed guests."

Both she and Li Qingwu were women, one a courtesan, the other a princess. If news of their investment in Linglong Pavilion were to spread, it would invite scandal. Even if they themselves were indifferent, it would inevitably affect business.

Linglong Pavilion was not their personal property; they had only invested in it. Therefore, neither had appeared today in their capacity as owners.

"...The Xiang Yao Tai whose dance captivated the entire capital?"

Qiu Zhe turned his gaze to her, eyeing her up and down. He licked his lips and chuckled before turning to Li Hengmao with a sycophantic grin. "Your Highness... Big Brother, this woman is even more beautiful."

Li Hengmao shot him a cold glance, clearly irritated. "...So what?"

Qiu Zhe hesitated for a moment, rubbing his hands together nervously. "Uh... What I mean is, why not have her dance instead..."

Clearly, his attempt to curry favor had backfired. Li Hengmao didn’t seem the least bit interested in the suggestion. He simply waved his hand lazily. "Do whatever you want."

With that, he found a clean spot and sat down, his expression dark with impatience. Any further delay, and he looked ready to lose his temper entirely.

Qiu Zhe couldn’t understand, how could a man see such beauty and remain unmoved?

Wasn't the Crown Prince infamous for his debauchery? Why was he suddenly displeased when someone flattered him?

What Qiu Zhe didn’t know was that, while the Crown Prince had indeed once indulged in such misdeeds, times had changed. He had been out of favor with the emperor for nearly a month now, already vexed enough. All he wanted was to get this over with quickly, lest rumors spread and reach the emperor’s ears.

But Qiu Zhe, oblivious to all this, still thought it was just another one of those typical games among noble wastrels. He turned back to Yao Tai.

Yao Tai smiled faintly. "Have you finished discussing?"

"Finished." Qiu Zhe raised his chin impudently. "Since you want to meddle, fine. You dance, and we’ll let this girl go."

The crowd fell silent, eagerly awaiting her response.

Yao Tai paused, then looked him over with an indescribable expression. Finally, she couldn’t help but remark, "You do look somewhat human, yet why is it that nothing but filth spills from your mouth?"

Laughter erupted from the bystanders.

Qiu Zhe's face darkened with rage. "How dare you! Do you even know who I am—"

He stepped forward, reaching for her.

Yao Tai swiftly stepped back, dodging his grasp.

Just then, a soft voice rang out from the other side of the crowd. "Young masters, are you truly planning to tarnish the reputation of my Linglong Pavilion on its grand opening day?"

Li Hengmao’s impatient tapping of his fingers abruptly stopped.

A figure emerged from the parting crowd, walking toward them with an air of composed grace.

The Crown Prince turned his head toward the newcomer, his gaze lingering on the heavy veil obscuring her face. Yet, something about her features seemed strangely familiar.

Recalling the recent news that Qiu Che had invested in Linglong Pavilion, Li Hengmao narrowed his eyes and muttered, "Fourth Sister?"

Yao Tai furrowed her brows, glancing worriedly at Li Qingwu.

Qiu Zhe, at first annoyed by the interruption, had not recognized her. But upon hearing Li Hengmao’s words, he looked at Li Qingwu in shock. "Why are you here?"

If she was here... did that mean Qiu Che was as well?

At the thought, Qiu Zhe’s face turned pale, and he instinctively took several steps back, positioning himself behind the Crown Prince.

His father had warned him repeatedly to stay out of Qiu Che’s way, lest he provoke her into throwing them all into prison again.

Though Qiu Zhe despised her, he also feared her, so much so that just hearing her name was enough to send chills down his spine.

Half hatred, half terror.

Li Qingwu, unfazed by Li Hengmao’s blunt exposure of her identity, calmly removed her veil. Ignoring the awed and fervent gazes from all around, she bowed slightly.

"Peace and prosperity to Your Highness."

She didn’t call him Second Brother, she called him Crown Prince.

It was hard not to think she was deliberately retaliating for him outing her identity.

The crowd erupted in whispers.

The Crown Prince’s fourth sister, that meant she was the Eldest Princess?

How had a mere Linglong Pavilion drawn so many high-ranking figures today?

Li Hengmao’s expression darkened. Ignoring the rising chatter around them, he demanded, "Fourth Sister, what is the meaning of this?"

Li Qingwu lowered her gaze and spoke softly, “Elder Brother Crown Prince, shouldn’t I be the one asking what you mean? Bringing so many people here today, pressuring a defenseless woman in public, could it be that you came here just to stir up trouble?”

“What business is it of yours?” Li Hengmao slammed the table, his face cold. “I merely asked her to dance, how is that considered coercion?”

“I am now the owner of Linglong Pavilion,” Li Qingwu said, her voice calm yet carrying the weight of a thunderclap. “If you already knew, then all the better. If you didn’t, now you do... Second Brother, surely you won’t refuse to give your younger sister this bit of face?”

With so many eyes watching, how could the royal siblings afford to be seen in discord?

The emperor valued appearances above all and despised internal strife within the family.

If Li Hengmao insisted on pushing forward, word would spread, and the emperor would certainly make him pay for it.

Of course, Li Qingwu forcing the issue like this meant her outcome wouldn’t be much better either.

Who would have thought that someone so quiet on most days could be this sharp-tongued?

Li Hengmao was momentarily speechless, his anger simmering with nowhere to vent. Just as he was about to get up and leave, Qiu Zhe, beside him, suddenly spoke.

“We didn’t hit anyone or curse at anyone. We just came to watch a dance, how is that considered causing trouble?”

After holding back for a long time, he stole a glance around, making sure that Qiu Che wasn’t present before he finally dared to speak.

“Your Highness, the Eldest Princess… you are, after all, my sister-in-law. How can you so easily side with outsiders? I can understand you being against me, but the Crown Prince is your own elder brother. Are you accusing him of doing something wrong?”

“The eldest brother is like a father. A woman exposing herself in public, it is His Highness who should be reprimanding you. Since when did you have the right to speak out?”

As soon as he said this, many women in the room paled.

This was the early stage of legal reforms, new laws had only been in place for less than half a month. Many women had already begun preparing to leave their abusive, alcoholic husbands or to start their own businesses.

Qiu Zhe’s words struck at their wavering determination.

Was it truly possible?

If even the Eldest Princess was ridiculed for engaging in business, what would happen to them, mere commoners?

Li Hengmao’s frustration lifted. His irritated expression turned to one of appreciation as he glanced at Qiu Zhe before speaking with newfound confidence.

“That’s right! I haven’t even criticized you for gallivanting around after marriage, and yet you have the audacity to rebuke me?”

Li Qingwu lowered her head and said gently, “Second Brother, you misunderstand. That was never my intention.”

Qiu Zhe smirked, adding fuel to the fire. “Oh? So it’s not your intention? Or is it that you simply don’t dare to have such an intention? Your Highness, the Crown Prince, one can never be too sure.”

Li Hengmao, already irritated, was further provoked by Qiu Zhe’s words. The more he thought about it, the more he wondered, why, as the Crown Prince, should he be holding back?

Unbearable. Absolutely unbearable.

He waved his hand dismissively, leaning back as he spoke carelessly.

“Enough. I couldn’t care less about you. If you have nothing to do, don’t interrupt my entertainment—”

Qiu Zhe, like a sycophant, immediately grinned and reached out to grab the girl.

Seeing her cry in distress, he hesitated for a moment, then suddenly changed his mind. His gaze shifted toward Yao Tai, and he licked his lips.

“Miss Yao Tai, why don’t you dance instead?”

Before he could take another step, Li Qingwu stepped forward, shielding Yao Tai with an uncharacteristic sharpness in her gaze.

“Yao Tai is my honored guest. I’ve tolerated you for Qiu Che’s sake, but do not push your luck.”

Hearing Qiu Che’s name, Qiu Zhe’s face darkened. He was momentarily stunned by her cold tone, instinctively glancing at Li Hengmao for his reaction.

But the Crown Prince’s expression was even worse.

Initially, he didn’t care who danced. He had only come to stir up trouble and force Qiu Che to appear.

But now that Li Qingwu had brought up Qiu Che’s name, his frustration grew.

Qiu Che, Qiu Che, always Qiu Che!

It was bad enough that Father favored him, but now even Li Qingwu?

Did his words as an elder brother carry less weight than that pretty-faced brat?

Li Hengmao gritted his teeth, his voice laced with anger.

“Well, well, well… Fourth Sister, you’ve truly grown bold. You would defy me over an outsider? My patience has its limits. Move aside! Since you are so stubborn, I insist on seeing this Miss Yao Tai dance tonight!”

He didn’t even need to signal. The moment Qiu Zhe heard his words, he immediately lunged toward Yao Tai.

But with Li Qingwu standing in front of Yao Tai, his hands would undoubtedly land on her instead.

It didn’t matter whether she was married or not, if she was grabbed in public like this, her reputation would be ruined.

Li Qingwu took a step back, but with Yao Tai behind her, she had no more room to retreat.

She merely closed her eyes. Yao Tai, alarmed, instinctively reached out to pull her away.

But the expected scene never unfolded.

Instead, an eerie silence fell over the room.

The sound of rushing wind filled the space, followed by a startled cry.

“Someone… someone just jumped down from the second floor!”

Li Qingwu’s eyes snapped open in surprise.

A familiar voice, light and casual, spoke beside her.

“Brother.”

She lifted her gaze.

Qiu Che stood there, a faint, cool smile on her lips, completely ignoring her and instead staring straight at Qiu Zhe.

“It’s been a while.”

She had Qiu Zhe’s wrist firmly in her grip. Her posture was relaxed, as if she wasn’t exerting any effort at all, yet Qiu Zhe’s body was locked in place, unable to move even an inch.

Seeing the sudden shift in Qiu Zhe’s expression from arrogance to frozen terror, Qiu Che spoke softly.

“It’s been a long time, yet you’re just as disgusting as I remember.”

The two stood on the stage, their height nearly identical, their facial features eerily similar—like twins.

And yet, their presence was worlds apart.

With just one glance, it was clear who stood above the other.

Li Qingwu stared at Qiu Che’s side profile, smiling faintly, and thought to herself—how could she have ever mistaken them?

In her dreams, it was impossible that she would ever confuse the real Qiu Che with Qiu Zhe’s pathetic imitation.

Qiu Che was born to be the protagonist.

With her here, Li Qingwu’s gaze would never fall on anyone else.