"Today, His Highness the King of Yu personally invited her to his mansion. It's our great honor that we, His Highness the King of Ruixian and I, can watch the dance of that top courtesan. How could we ever think His Highness's invitation is a bother?"
Su Yueyue never expected that Su Mingyu would actually agree to go to the Mansion of the King of Yu, and what's more, Gu Ruobai didn't stop her either.
Pressing her lips tightly, Su Yueyue glared at Su Mingyu and Gu Ruobai resentfully, her brows knitted tightly. What on earth were these two up to?
Su Yueyue bit her lower lip hard. Just as she was about to say something, Su Mingyu spoke before her, "Although His Highness the King of Ruixian and I would really like to go and have a look, if my younger sister is not happy, then forget it. After all, my younger sister and His Highness the King of Yu came out shopping and strolling without any servants. I'm sure they were trying to cultivate their relationship."
She actually threw back at her the very words she had said to Su Mingyu! Su Yueyue gritted her teeth secretly. It took her quite a while to control her emotions and reply, "How could I be unhappy?"
Saying so, Su Yueyue deliberately wrapped her arm around the King of Yu's, feigning intimacy. "His Highness the King of Yu and I were originally on our way back to the Mansion of the King of Yu. As the saying goes, it's better to enjoy good things with others. It'll be even more fun to share them."
Perhaps seeing how sensible Su Yueyue was, the King of Yu's expression wasn't as grim as before. He gently patted the back of Su Yueyue's hand and then said to Su Mingyu, "Then, please follow me."
Since she had already managed to disgust Su Yueyue, Su Mingyu didn't say any more. She nodded and pushed Gu Ruobai towards the Mansion of the King of Yu.
One really had to admit that this was the favorite prince of the emperor. The architecture of his mansion was so grand and imposing. It was like heaven compared to the Mansion of the King of Ruixian.
Even though she had been here more than once, Su Mingyu still couldn't help taking a few more glances at the luxurious courtyard.
Noticing Su Mingyu's gaze on the large vat at the entrance, the King of Yu stepped forward to explain, "This vat was made by the best craftsmen in Jingdezhen. Only five were made in total. Two are in Father Emperor's study, and one was placed in the imperial garden for everyone to admire."
"Originally, these two vats were meant for the queen. But later, Father Emperor heard that my mansion lacked the element of water in its feng shui. So he simply gave the remaining two vats to me to place at the entrance for protection and to raise fish in."
Although this speech of the King of Yu seemed like just a casual chat, in fact, he was showing off the emperor's favor towards him.
Su Mingyu rolled her eyes mentally but praised him on the surface, "Sure enough, you're the favorite prince of the emperor. I'm afraid His Highness the King of Ruixian won't get such a good thing."
The King of Yu hooked his lips, saying humble words but with a strong sense of pride in his eyes, "It's just that the Mansion of the King of Ruixian doesn't lack the element of water. I'm sure if it did, Father Emperor would be willing to give this vat to him too."
Gu Ruobai and Su Mingyu were already used to such verbal attacks and didn't care much.
So after they exchanged a knowing smile, Su Mingyu simply changed the subject, "Didn't we come here to watch the top courtesan dance? Why are we talking about these vats?"
Reminded by Su Mingyu, the King of Yu spread his hands, "Let's go. The top courtesan must be waiting inside."
Su Mingyu pushed Gu Ruobai, and the group walked through the antique corridor. Finally, they saw the figure of the top courtesan in a side courtyard.
The top courtesan was standing with her back to them, her head lowered as if she was tuning her zither.
Su Mingyu raised an eyebrow at the slender figure, "Just the back view is so captivating. I wonder what a stunning beauty the real person is."
Just as she was speaking, the King of Yu snapped his fingers.
Then a group of people quickly wiped the tables and chairs in the courtyard. A sycophantic man quickly went over and gave the top courtesan a wink.
Almost the next second after the King of Yu snapped his fingers, the top courtesan plucked the strings of the zither, and a melodious tune came out from her hands.
When the top courtesan turned around, Su Mingyu saw that there was still a silk scarf on her face. Under the hazy outline, outsiders could only see a delicate contour but couldn't make out her real appearance.
Su Mingyu couldn't help but whistle, "I didn't expect there to be such a tantalizing move."
As soon as her voice fell, she noticed the gazes from all directions.
Su Mingyu embarrassedly covered her mouth. Because Gu Ruobai was beside her, giving her a lot of security, she almost forgot that she was in the enemy's camp.
"Miss Su seems to like beautiful women too," the King of Yu said, looking at Su Mingyu with a half - smile, as if not angry at all about her rudeness.
Su Mingyu carefully glanced at Gu Ruobai and found that he was just looking ahead coldly without showing any signs of anger. Only then did the stone in Su Mingyu's heart fall.
"The ancients said that a gentleman desires a fair maiden. Such a beautiful woman is pleasing to the eye, not only for gentlemen but also for a woman like me."
The King of Yu of course understood that everyone liked to pursue beauty. But a woman like Su Mingyu who dared to openly say that she liked beautiful women was the first one he had ever met.
The King of Yu couldn't help but burst out laughing, "Miss Su Mingyu always manages to surprise me."
Su Mingyu twitched the corner of her mouth. The last time she heard such words was from Gu Ruobai.
Hearing it from the King of Yu now, Su Mingyu didn't think it was a good thing at all.
Sure enough, the next second, Gu Ruobai coughed lightly. Su Mingyu quickly went up and poured a cup of hot tea for him obsequiously, "Your Highness, what do you think of this top courtesan?"
Gu Ruobai lazily took the hot tea and glanced at Su Mingyu out of the corner of his eye. There was a warning look in his black eyes, but his tone was calm, "Although her waist is slender, her arm strength is enough when playing the zither. It seems that her dance should be good too."
This praise left Su Mingyu stunned.
It was well - known that Gu Ruobai rarely gave such positive comments on women. Could it be that this top courtesan was the legendary straight - man killer?
Before Su Mingyu could be puzzled for too long, the zither music suddenly stopped, followed by a lively piece of music.
Su Mingyu looked up and saw that the top courtesan had put down the zither and stood up from the stool, swaying her slender waist.
The top courtesan's figure swayed with the rhythm of the music. Then, in a burst of rapid music, the top courtesan suddenly tore off her veil.
As the thin veil fell to the ground, a fair, beautiful face was revealed. Her skin was as soft as jade and as smooth as fat. Her eyebrows were like the distant mountains, her long and thick eyelashes fluttered, her nose was straight and noble, and her lips were thin and delicate. It was a truly exquisite and peerless beauty.
Such a beautiful face truly deserved the title of top courtesan.
But more than this girl's beautiful appearance, what really caught Su Mingyu's attention was this familiar face.