Both Mei Qing and Xia Mian were good at reading people's expressions. They exchanged a glance and then politely excused themselves with a curtsy.
Watching their departing backs, Su Mingyu cursed them for being unloyal in her heart. Then, frowning and raising her head, she looked at Gu Ruobai. "What's going on? Is His Highness the Prince of Ruixian going to act like a hooligan in broad daylight?"
Gu Ruobai didn't let go of the arm around her. "You're my fiancée. What's wrong with giving you a hug?"
Su Mingyu: …
Sometimes she really suspected that Gu Ruobai, rather than herself, was the one who had traveled from the 21st century. In some aspects, he was really shameless!
"Is it only Xia Mian and Mei Qing that matter to you?"
Hearing Gu Ruobai's words, Su Mingyu was stunned. After a long while, she looked up at him with a smile. "Are you jealous of girls?"
Gu Ruobai was quite straightforward. He nodded. "They're too close to you."
Su Mingyu was never the kind of person who would be overly attached to someone. So seeing her getting closer and closer to the people around her, Gu Ruobai couldn't help but feel a bit unhappy.
He had once gone to great lengths to get close to Su Mingyu.
Seemingly sensing Gu Ruobai's unhappiness, Su Mingyu curled her lips into a smile. "I'm close to Xia Mian because I saved her. And look, she's managed Sinnan Pavilion so well, hasn't she?"
"As for Mei Qing…" Su Mingyu grinned. "Mei Qing is your subordinate. I trust her because of you."
As soon as these words were out, Gu Ruobai's previously somewhat unpleasant expression immediately softened. There was even a faint smile on his lips.
"You're good at flattering me." Gu Ruobai raised an eyebrow. "So, does that mean you've taken such good care of Qi Yue because I asked you to take her in?"
Su Mingyu nodded firmly. "Yes. So what?"
A smile appeared in the corners of Gu Ruobai's eyes. He lowered his head and pressed his forehead against Su Mingyu's. "When it comes to pleasing me, you're truly unmatched in the world."
"I'll take that as a compliment." Su Mingyu raised an eyebrow. "But how did you know I was going to look for Mei Qing? You even sent someone to invite her in advance."
"I just happened to have something to discuss with her." Gu Ruobai's voice was very low. "I heard that the 'Number One Fragrance' is going to hold a beauty pageant. I want her to participate to boost her popularity."
This matter had only been finalized last night. She had only gone to talk to the madam about sponsorship today. How on earth did Gu Ruobai know this inside information so quickly?
"What's wrong?" Seeing that Su Mingyu didn't say a word, Gu Ruobai asked in a deep voice. "Is there something?"
Su Mingyu waved her hand. "No. I just think this is a good opportunity to expand the reputation of our Sinnan Pavilion. But do you think Mei Qing has a chance of winning this beauty pageant?"
Although Mei Qing was the top courtesan of the 'Number One Fragrance', since it was a well - known brothel in the entire capital, the girls there were all extremely beautiful. The title of top courtesan basically rotated among them.
It was different from other brothels where there was only one top courtesan, who was like the treasure of the brothel.
This was also the reason why the madam was so confident that once the 'Number One Fragrance' held this beauty pageant, it would shake the capital. They really had the capital to do so.
Gu Ruobai didn't even lift his eyelids. "Mei Qing has the capital."
"You seem quite confident in her." Su Mingyu smiled helplessly.
"Um…" Su Mingyu pursed her lips. "There's something I'd like to trouble you with."
Before she could continue, Gu Ruobai interrupted her. "You want to know who the official Xia Mian received back then was?"
Su Mingyu didn't expect Gu Ruobai to know her so well. He already knew what she was thinking before she even asked.
Su Mingyu nodded. "The reason I advised Xia Mian to give up is that I'm worried she might do something stupid."
After all, she was just a girl without any power or influence. If someone wanted to kill her, it would be as easy as pie.
But Su Mingyu's advice for Xia Mian to let go didn't mean she could forgive that despicable man.
"Although I can't interfere in private matters, a man who uses his status to treat a woman like that deserves to die a horrible death."
Su Mingyu gritted her teeth as she said this. Gu Ruobai, who was so close to her, could even hear the grinding sound of her teeth.
Seeing her so angry, Gu Ruobai slightly narrowed his eyes. "Leave this matter to me for now. I'll find a hundred ways to make his life worse than death."
Su Mingyu had never doubted Gu Ruobai's tough methods.
She pursed her lips. "Then I'll have to trouble His Highness the Prince of Ruixian."
Gu Ruobai took the opportunity. "It's nothing. It's just a trivial matter not worth mentioning."
Was he really taking her words seriously?
Su Mingyu said with a smile. "Then I'll trouble you with this matter. I have to send Xia Mian back to Sinnan Pavilion. Otherwise, Qi Yue will come after me soon."
After saying that, Su Mingyu stood up. "By the way, Su Zhengyi came to me yesterday and said that he asked the emperor for an extra quota for me to go to the autumn hunting."
"Did you agree?" Gu Ruobai was more stating than asking.
Su Mingyu nodded. "Since he was kind enough to invite me, how could I spoil his fun?"
Seeing this, Gu Ruobai nodded. "This Su Zhengyi is quite interesting."
"What do you mean?" Seeing that Gu Ruobai seemed to know some inside information, Su Mingyu suddenly became interested.
Gu Ruobai slightly curled the corners of his lips. "Maybe he knows that I'm still holding on to the matter of the leaked exam questions, so he's using this trick to curry favor with me."
Although it was despicable to use his own daughter, as long as it was effective, it was truly Su Zhengyi's style.
Su Mingyu didn't comment on this. "Forget it. Let's just face it when the time comes."
Saying this, Su Mingyu waved goodbye to Gu Ruobai. "I'll leave first."
Gu Ruobai nodded. "Be careful on the way."
Watching Su Mingyu's departing back, Gu Ruobai's expression suddenly turned cold. He snapped his fingers and called Mu Yi. "Go and call Mei Qing here for me."
Mu Yi was a bit startled. It was rare to see his master looking so unpleasant after meeting Su Mingyu. "Did Mei Qing do something wrong?"
Gu Ruobai didn't even lift his eyelids. "Go!"
Knowing that his master was angry, Mu Yi quickly turned around to call Mei Qing.
When Mei Qing saw Gu Ruobai's cold expression, her heart skipped a beat. Her knees went weak and she knelt on the ground. "Mei Qing acted on her own initiative. Please punish me, master."
Gu Ruobai squinted at her. "Punish you? I think you've completely forgotten who your master is, haven't you?"