“Young Master” a bunch of male voice said.

A thousand of horrible scenarios blast in my head the moment I heard more than one male voice nearby. What is this man planning on doing? Is he planning on me? A’Li, where are you?!

“Sit tight” the man who was carrying me said as he drops me down on something to sit. I tried to sit up but my body has given up on me. From a far I heard splashes of liquid and then a thud next to me. My heart races and I felt him lean forward, stopping me from struggling. He forcibly grasps my face with one hand and started to pour some cold liquid on my face. After, I heard him walk away and then came back. He bends down in front of me and quickly wipes my eyes with a soft, warm, damp towel. Gradually, I opened my eyes and saw his handsome face before noticing where I was.

“T-thanks” I stuttered, realized what he was doing. I felt like a fool for assuming that he was going to me. Of course he wouldn’t have me because of how I look right now anyway, but at least warn me about what you’re going to do. I exhaled in relief and continued to pat my face with the towel when he released his grip on it.

“You’re lucky or else the powder would have destroyed your face” he said and I managed to notice how he’s dressed, almost like a commoner but at the same time more like a warrior too.

“What kind of powder was it?” I ask, still patting my face from embarrassment and from the corner of my eyes I saw his men outside the doors, watching us.

“I don’t know for sure, but it’s a type of poison” he said.

“Poison?! How dare the thief tried to poison me” I said, stopped patting my face dry. “But thank you again” I add.

“No need” he said with a small smile.

“What’s your name?” I ask, curious as I stood up.

“Ping Shi Qi” he lied.

“Sir Ping, this maiden is called Ah Yun” I said, didn’t give him my full name.

He slightly bows his head to show good manners to greet a lady as his men out of the blue collapsed down as they enter. We both turned to them as they nervously laugh while trying to get off from the ground.  

“Sorry, Young Master. We didn’t mean to eavesdrop” one of his men said, apologizing.

“If you really wanted to listen, you could have just entered quietly” Qi Shi, which is his real name, said.

“Sorry” they all said.

“Pardon, but where are we? I came with a friend, so I need to rush back to the market” I said.

“We’re only a few miles down from the market, so no need to worry too much” he said, “and I’m sorry that I won’t be able to you back”

“It’s fine” I said, “Thanks for the offer though” I smiled as I excuse myself out.

Qi Shi darkly looks at his men as one of them said, “We’ve made arrangements already. Your Highness will be resting in Hua (which is brothel) where it’ll be the most safe. I’ve also bribed the owner to keep their mouth shut and give us private service” one of his men said as soon as I left.

“Good” Qi Shi said.

As soon as I found my way back to the market, I decided not to go find A’Li. Well, first of all I should take advantage of this to explore the life of a commoner. Second, A’Li is always prohibiting me to enjoy activities that all common women/men would do. Third, I don’t want to go back to the palace until I know who used my name to send Consort Xue poison. Or maybe these are just excuses to run away from him. I pout at the thought of it.

The burning sun gradually shrinks behind the horizon as I wander the market, carefully trying to not coincidentally run into A’Li. Soon, I approached a very busy road of young ladies shouting to the men to come inside a fashionable building full of light. The building had a gorgeous, huge banner at the front of the entrance with red lanterns hung at the pillars. Not just that, from outside one can see people having fun and hear laughter of men and women. A’Li always told me stories about a red, fancy building that men would constantly go to entertain themselves; she told me that in there you’ll see improper ladies treating men. I never understood what A’Li meant and every time I asked her to explain better she would refuse as she says, “Proper and elegant princesses should never step inside the red building. It’ll bring shame to the palace”. But of course I’ll defy A’Li and experience an adventure I haven’t seen before.

I stepped inside, fascinated by the sight of women dressed in inappropriate and with less coverage. So this is what A’Li meant that I shouldn’t be allowed to be introduced to such a different world.

“How may I help you, young lady?” a mid-age woman approaches me, who I assumed owns the place or at least run the place.

“Find me a secluded area to enjoy my night” I simply answered her as she guides me through. As she showed me the way, I managed to peek at men pleasuring themselves with their ladies. They have no shame at all for boldly expressing their affections in front of everyone here. I wonder how the women here accept such a destiny and still keep their pride.

“Young lady,” the woman said as she gestures me to the table, “Would you like to order something?”

“Wine would be fine” I said as she signals the waiter to go fetch my order as she reassured my services before she’d left. From where I was I could see basically everything that is happening downstairs since it was an open room with no doors or walls. Still captivated by the situation around me, I stood by the pillar watching the people below me. Suddenly, someone came up behind, slapping my harshly with a rude manner. I turned automatically, flushed with embarrassment. Stood behind was a young man whose cheeks were flaring red and swaying side to side with an unstable posture.

“Where the heck have you been? I’ve been waiting for you in the room” he roughly grasp my hand.

“Let me go!” I demanded, push his hand off of me.

“You dare refuse?! I paid to have your service, unless you want to do it out here” he aggressively grabs my waist and jerks me forward to the point of leaning on his chest with mine.

“Let me go” I pleaded as I tried to avoid his forced kisses.

Out of the blue, someone from the side brutally grasp his wrist making him relinquish. I glimpse to my side, shocked to see him there.

“Shen Qing” I said, happy to see him yet terrified at the same time.

“Are you done here, Sir?” Shen Qing said, seriously glares at the drunken man, who’s groaning in pain.

“Y-yes” he said as Shen Qing lets go. He immediately ran for his life and didn’t look back.

When the drunk man disappeared, I tried sneaking away quietly but,

“Where do you think you’re going?” Shen Qing sharply asks.

I stopped where I was, “Somewhere without you” I answer, not facing him.

“Is that how you speak to your husband?”

“Outside the palace walls I don’t have a husband” I said, still angry with him about his false accusation against me.

“Do you even know how worried father and mother were when A’Li came to report to us about your missing whereabouts?” Shen Qing asks walks forward to face me.

“Sure” I said sarcastically since my parents are already dead, so he’s only referring to his parents, “Well to inform you Crown Prince Yan, I’m not going home any time soon” I add, brush my shoulders against him on purpose to walk away.

“I’m not done with you” he said with his demanding crown prince voice.

“Well I am, so leave me alone” I said, enter the room to sit down.

“What an ungrateful person,” Shen Qing follows me inside, “I literally saved you from a drunken bastard, but you show no kindness to even give a thank you?”

“Fine” I answered abruptly, “Crown Prince Yan, thanks for saving me from the drunken man. Happy now?” I started to pour myself a cup of wine.

“A princess like you shouldn’t be here”

“You shouldn’t either, Crown Prince Yan” I ignored his persistence to convince me to go back home.

“Stop” he grabs my hand from taking a sip of the wine.

“Let go” I pushed him away and chug the wine down.

“You-” he points at me.

I glared at him and suddenly I collapse to the ground feeling weakness below my knees.

“Xiang Yun!” He dashed and inspected the wine cup after he helped me to sit on the stool, “Someone poisoned this”

“How wonderful,” I sarcastically said feeling drowsy, “Two times in a row someone tried to kill me”

“What?” he looks at me with little concern.

“Just get me out of here” I said, grab his arm to support my body.

He immediately lifts me up in a bridal way and carried me out quickly.

“Come this way, Sir Ping” the woman said, leading the men to their rooms. Qi Shi walks first, following the woman as he stops when he notices Shen Qing carrying me out of the place.

“Your Highness, that’s-”

Qi Shi signals his men to be quiet as the woman looks at them strangely. He gestures one of his men to come forward as he whispers into his ear. The guy nods and departed himself from the group to chase after Shen Qing and I.