The eldest daughter's scheming, the crown prince's exclusive favor to the venomous concubi

Hua Xiangrong teased, "Young General's refusal is quite touching. However, I am a courtesan, and I have no concept of chastity. If you truly like me, then come to meet me tonight. If not, then please don't come to my room again, so as not to cause me any more trouble."

As Hua Xiangrong spoke, she used both hands to forcefully push the person out of the door. Immediately, the woman in the tight-fitting clothes quickly arrived at the door and, while the person outside was still stunned, quickly closed the door with a bang.

Not far from the door, Murong Yu was still there, chatting with the woman guarding the stairwell. Seeing this, she sneered, "General Shangguan was kicked out so quickly? It seems he's short of money. Otherwise, how about I lend you some? So you can relieve your lovesickness and spend a night of pleasure with your sweetheart?"

Shangguan Hanque snapped out of his daze, glanced at Murong Yu sideways, snorted coldly, and turned to leave. Murong Yu was displeased and grabbed him, saying, "Shangguan Hanque, I'm speaking to you out of respect for the Shangguan family. Who do you really think you are?"

Shangguan Hanque turned around and said, "I know who I am, so there's no need for the Second Prince to worry about me. Instead, the Second Prince should worry about himself. It's best to avoid associating with bad friends, lest he lose his status as a royal heir."

Murong Yu burst into laughter and said, "Thank you for reminding me, General Shangguan. You need not worry about my affairs. But you, General, although these courtesans are beautiful, they are really not a good match for a pedantic person like you."

Besides, even General Shangguan probably wouldn't accept such a granddaughter-in-law, right? Young general, you should give up this idea and focus on achieving something significant to regain your worn-out general's uniform. Otherwise, won't you forever be labeled a useless person?

Shangguan Hanque snorted coldly: "Your Highness has also said that I will not concern myself with your affairs, and the affairs of the Shangguan family are naturally none of Your Highness's business. What kind of wife I, Shangguan Hanque, want is none of Your Highness's concern."

After saying that, Shangguan Hanque flung his arm away from Murong Yu and turned to leave. Murong Yu looked at his hand and sneered, "What a stubborn rock in a latrine. It seems that the Shangguan family is really going downhill and is no longer a threat."

As he spoke, he glanced back at the closed door, suddenly smiled, turned around and walked over to the door, saying, "I'm sorry to have frightened Miss Rongrong. I apologize. I'll go down now and dismiss the servants. I'll come to see you again another day."

There was no sound from inside the door. Murong Yu didn't care and went downstairs humming a little tune. Hua Xiangrong lay back on the chaise longue, sighed and hummed, "People always think that what they can't get is good, but once they get it, they will discard it like a worn-out shoe and avoid it like a snake or scorpion."

Gu Yin stepped forward, crossed her legs for her, and said, "This servant thinks that the Second Prince is not bad. Every time this servant impersonates the Lord of the Pavilion, the Second Prince looks at this servant with affection in his eyes, which does not seem to be fake."

Hua Xiangrong laughed and said, "Truth and falsehood are intertwined. Gu Yin, are you sure that everything he told you is true? You should know that in this world, no one is willing to give without expecting anything in return."

Gu Yin lowered her eyes and said, "Of course I know, but the way the Second Prince treats the women of our brothel is quite touching. Moreover, he has always been generous to the Lord without hesitation, so I always feel that there is some sincerity in his actions."

Hua Xiangrong shook her head and said, "Sincere? That's a joke. You try it. You accept his sincerity and then give yourself to him. What happens after that? He will take whatever he wants from you without any limits. You'll be crying your eyes out then."

Gu Yin was puzzled and asked, "Is this how you see the Second Prince? Although it is said that the royal family is usually ruthless, the Second Prince has not done anything bad to you."

Hua Xiangrong smiled and said, "Do you really think he's just the spoiled royal he seems to be? Spending money like water is just bait before fishing. The bigger the bait, the more fish will bite. Our Lanyue Tower is frequented by high-ranking officials and nobles. Tell me, how much news comes out of here?"

"I, the owner of your building, am aware of this problem, so I used our local specialties as bait to lure these people over, making them willingly reveal information, which is then passed on to the final recipient. But what about Murong Yu? Doesn't he know that our Lan Yue Tower is the most widely known source of this information?"

Gu Yin asked in surprise, "Does the Master mean that the Second Prince's kindness towards you is not for you, but for the Moon-Viewing Pavilion?"

Hua Xiangrong said, "If I get you, I'll get the Lanyue Tower. Murong Yu isn't stupid. He knows the intricacies of this, so he'll naturally try to manipulate me, waiting for me to willingly fall into his trap and eventually become a pawn in his hands."

"Unfortunately, I'm not the brainless, money-grubbing Rongrong I used to be. I'm Rong Ye from Liangshan, a bandit, and I'm got a sharp mind. Gu Yin, remember this. No matter how good this Second Prince is to you, you mustn't be moved. For us, this kind of love tainted by exploitation is something you absolutely cannot accept; in the end, you'll only hurt yourself."

Gu Yin suddenly chuckled and said, "You flatter me too much, Master. I was imprisoned in the cellar by Rongrong for two years and have long seen through people's hearts. How could I trust anyone? Since you rescued us, my life belongs to you and there will be no more changes."

Hua Xiangrong smiled and looked at Tiandao: "You can't say that too soon. People change, and their hearts change too. Only time and what happens afterward can prove whether what you said is true or false."

"Gu Yin, not everyone thinks like you. That's why I had you train everyone. I want them to understand that I'm actually using them too. Otherwise, why would I go to so much trouble?"

Gu Yin shook her head and said firmly, "Gu Yin has known this from the beginning, and the Lord has made it clear. But to Gu Yin, living such a dignified life is already a blessing, how could I possibly give it up? Gu Yin would never do such a treacherous thing."

The reason the original poster doesn't trust anyone is probably because they've been betrayed and hurt themselves. Which of us, the courtesans who have ended up here, hasn't been deceived by our own families and sent into the lion's den? Therefore, Gu Yin once swore that she would never be a treacherous person; if she were to betray anyone, may she be condemned to the deepest hell, never to be reborn.

Hua Xiangrong paused, the image of the gray rat's smile before its death flashing through her mind, and then she chuckled.

Oaths are unreliable. Back then, she and Gray Rat had sworn brotherhood and called each other brothers, but in the end, she was still stabbed in the back. It's just that she didn't know if it was because of the oath she had made, but she survived being blown to bits and ended up alive in this place. It's unbelievable.

Gu Yin swore to her loyalty, but she didn't believe it at all. However, when she thought of what she had said to Xiao Yueyue, she felt a little guilty and said, "Gu Yin, I never said I didn't believe you. If I didn't believe you, I certainly wouldn't have placed someone as important as Murong Yu by your side."

Sometimes, however, one has to consider the worst-case scenario before discussing the present. Like you, like me, none of us live for others; sometimes living for someone else is tantamount to wasting our lives. Therefore, in the end, something unexpected might happen. So, I'm not saying this to force you to pledge your loyalty.

Gu Yin was discovered while cleaning up the corpses in the cellar. She and Rongrong were the two most beautiful courtesans in Lanyue Tower. After Rongrong gained power, Gu Yin was imprisoned in the cellar and suffered all kinds of torture.

Rongrong originally planned to starve to death, but she was so strong-willed that she couldn't believe it herself. She survived by relying on the rats in the cellar. Later, dead and living people were thrown into the cellar one after another, and she continued to live by eating the flesh of the dead among a group of living and dead people.

When Hua Xiangrong first met Gu Yin, she was surprised. The reason she kept Gu Yin was to study how strong Gu Yin's endurance and explosive power really were.

Ultimately, she felt she could use him, and Gu Yin became her only substitute in the Lan Yue Tower.

After thinking for a moment, Hua Xiangrong looked at Gu Yin and asked, "Does your food still taste bland?"

Gu Yin paused, then said, "The food is still bland and tasteless, but the hot pot that you made is quite appetizing and has some flavor. However, you don't need to worry, I'm used to it and it's nothing."

Hua Xiangrong nodded, but inwardly sighed.

Human flesh is considered the finest of meats, and anyone who has tasted it will find it irresistible, even to the point of harming their own wives and children. This phenomenon is still prevalent in modern times, let alone in the case of Gu Yin, a mentally challenged woman.

Yet, this seemingly frail woman, after escaping her predicament, resolutely gave up cannibalism. Even when food tasted like cardboard, she refused to touch it. With such perseverance, it would be truly unforgivable if she didn't live.

Hua Xiangrong said, "In that case, I'll find some unusual flavors to make for you another day. Stimulating your taste buds a few more times might help you regain your sense of taste."

Gu Yin was deeply moved and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Master."

Hua Xiangrong said, "It's alright. You're one of my people. Helping you is helping myself. If someone were to poison me one day and you couldn't taste the food and died, I would lose a great general, which would be a huge loss for me."

Gu Yin shook his head and chuckled, then fell silent.

In her eyes, Hua Xiangrong was the kind of person who was tough on the outside but soft on the inside. On the surface, she always said some heartless things, but in reality, she kept everyone's joys and sorrows in her heart. If she lost such a master, she was afraid that she would never find another one in this lifetime, and she would definitely regret it for the rest of her life.

Seeing that Gu Yin stopped speaking, Hua Xiangrong looked at Lian Fei, who was still standing still.

Lianfei was found in the cellar with Guyin. According to Guyin, Lianfei was thrown down a month before she overturned Lanyue Tower. The reason is unknown. When Lianfei was thrown down, she was eating human flesh, which directly frightened the child into becoming an idiot.