Time Travel: Brothel Maid

Chapter 267 I Will Not Be a Concubine

Xiao Guo'er was seething with anger, but her face remained calm. She ignored Xia Lan's attempts to stop her and simply threw off the covers and got out of bed.

"It's chilly, young lady, you should at least put on another coat, or you'll catch a cold."

Wearing only a light undergarment, Xiao Guo'er waved her hand and refused the plum blossom skirt that Xia Lan brought her, her voice indifferent, "Go find me a pure white dress without embroidery."

"This..." Xia Lan hesitated and dared not answer. Only during funerals would she wear pure white clothes without any patterns. Wearing pure white clothes at other times was considered unlucky. If the prince saw Xiao Guo'er wearing pure white clothes, he would probably be angry.

Seeing that Xia Lan didn't respond, Xiao Guo'er didn't press her further and simply got up to look for it herself. "Move aside, I'll find it myself."

Xiao Guo'er had just taken a step when Xia Lan stopped her with her hand. "Please wait a moment, Miss. I will go and get it right away."

Xia Lan pondered to herself that there was a reason why she wanted to wear white. Moreover, the prince had specifically instructed her and Qinghe yesterday to take good care of Xiao Guo'er. If Xiao Guo'er caught a cold because of a piece of clothing, their sins would be even greater.

Xia Lan turned to give Qing He some instructions, but saw her standing to the side, staring blankly at Xiao Guo'er's face, clearly still unable to process the fact that Xiao Guo'er was actually a stunning beauty.

Xia Lan helplessly tugged at Qing He's sleeve, reminding her, "Cheer up! Keep an eye on the young lady, don't let her catch a cold. Don't be careless, or we can't afford to make a mistake, understand? I'll go find some clothes for the young lady right now."

Qinghe was pulled by Xia Lan and suddenly came back to her senses as if waking from a dream. She nodded repeatedly and agreed, "Ah... oh, oh, okay, I'll remember."

Xia Lan was a little worried. She shook her head, sighed, and quickly went out the door.

"Little Guo'er...Miss, why don't you wait on the couch? The floor is cold." Qinghe was clearly not used to the change in Little Guo'er's status, and her way of addressing her was even more unfamiliar and awkward.

After all, no one can easily accept that Xiao Guo'er, who usually appears as a man with a rough appearance, has suddenly become a woman, and such a beautiful woman with fair skin and stunning looks.

When Xia Lan and Qing He suddenly saw Xiao Guo'er's true face yesterday, they were both shocked and could not believe it for a long time.

Qinghe composed herself, walked to Xiaoguo'er's side, and gently took Xiaoguo'er's arm, her words and actions filled with a sense of caution.

Xiao Guo'er remained expressionless but said nothing. Following Qinghe's lead, she sat back on the bed, letting Qinghe cover her lower body with the quilt.

"Qinghe, did Miss Xie come today?" Xiaoguo'er suddenly thought of something.

"Miss Xie arrived early this morning, but you need not worry, Miss. The Prince has sent guards to stand at the entrance of our courtyard. No one is allowed to enter without the Prince's permission. Even if Miss Xie wanted to cause trouble for you, she wouldn't be able to get in."

Qinghe thought that Xiaoguo was afraid that Xie Mengwan would be unreasonable and torment people like last time. But thinking about it, it made sense. With the Xie family's intolerant personality, if she knew what happened yesterday, she would definitely make a scene today.

Fortunately, her master valued Xiao Guo'er and sent guards to watch over her. Now, no matter how unruly the Xie family's young lady was, there was nothing he could do.

Given how much the prince cares for Xiao Guo'er, she and Xia Lan will surely have a bright future following Xiao Guo'er.

Xiao Guo'er wasn't afraid of Xie Mengwan causing her trouble; on the contrary, she hoped to see Xie Mengwan.

Unfortunately, given the current situation, she probably won't be able to see anyone, not even leave the Wangfu (Prince's Mansion), let alone go to the Tang family.

Xia Lan returned quickly. After Xiao Guo'er changed into a white gauze dress, she didn't need the two of them to style her hair in any complicated way. They simply used a plain hairpin to tie up the upper half of her hair in a crooked way, and the rest of her hair was naturally draped over her shoulders like seaweed in the water.

Despite her extremely simple attire, Xia Lan and Qing He were still struck by her beauty. She was like a peony in full bloom in spring, naturally beautiful and vibrant, needing no embellishment to be breathtaking.

The clattering of official boots came from behind. Xia Lan and Qing He turned around and saw the newcomer. They were about to curtsy to pay their respects, but the newcomer just silently waved his hand behind him. They dared not make a sound to disturb Xiao Guo'er, who was lost in thought. They simply bowed and left in silence.

Only the two of them remained in the large room, their breathing so quiet that it could be heard.

Zhao Yunrong's heart stirred at the mere sight of Xiao Guo'er's profile as she sat quietly. Her emotions, like a calm lake, were stirred by a gentle breeze under the sunlight, creating shimmering ripples.

Zhao Yunrong thought that just looking at her quietly like this was enough to make him feel so content. If he could truly possess her, own her, and make her body and soul belong to him alone, what immense happiness that would be!

Although Xiao Guo'er didn't look away, she could still feel Zhao Yunrong's aggressive gaze, and a sense of fear arose in her heart. She couldn't help but speak first, breaking the chilling silence.

“I want to leave. You have no right to imprison me here.”

Xiao Guo'er tried her best to remain calm, but clearly, her attempt to reason with Zhao Yunrong, a prince who always kept his word, was futile.

Zhao Yunrong casually lifted his robe and sat down on a round stool only two feet away from Xiao Guo'er. He stroked the fine white jade thumb ring on his right index finger with his left hand, slowly turning and caressing it.

As if he had heard some childish joke, Zhao Yunrong's tone was disdainful and mocking, "Powerless? Ha, how novel. No one has ever said those two words to me before. If I want you to stay, you must stay here."

His tone was casual and nonchalant, yet he uttered words that brooked no argument and were undeniably domineering. In this world, besides the Emperor, who dared to defy this most esteemed prince?

In this era of absolute imperial power, power is everything; there is no reasoning, and no one can challenge it.

"I must go to the Tang family, please grant my request, Your Highness."

Xiao Guo'er had no choice but to submit. If he was determined to trap her here, she would have no way to escape. This palace was an impregnable cage for her.

"Tang Jingchen is already dead, what are you still doing there? Besides, Madam Tang now sees you as an enemy, why go and humiliate yourself?"

“My fiancé died, and I have to go and keep vigil for him.”

Xiao Guo'er bit her lip, her gaze and tone resolute.

The word "fiancé" struck Zhao Yunrong like a needle piercing her ears, so jarring that she couldn't help but frown. No wonder she was dressed in pure white, without any adornment; she was there to keep vigil for the dead.

Zhao Yunrong was displeased, and her words turned cold and hard. "Your private agreement doesn't count. Since there's no marriage certificate, you're not his betrothed, and you don't need to keep vigil for a dead man."

In the midst of a long silence, just when Zhao Yunrong thought Xiao Guo'er had given in, she finally spoke again, but the implied meaning in her words surprised him quite a bit.

"You already have Miss Xie. I won't become a concubine. If you keep me in the Prince's mansion, what are you going to do with me? You don't expect me to brew tea for you for the rest of my life, do you?"

Zhao Yunrong paused in stroking the jade ring, his sharp, hawk-like gaze fixed on the calm, expressionless Xiao Guo'er, as if trying to discern the true meaning behind her words.

Is she trying to get a formal title from him?

A faint sense of joy inexplicably arose in Zhao Yunrong's heart.