GTB Chapter 51

Chapter 51: Seventh Prince, what do you think of this deal?

“Yuanchen, it’s not good for you to be running to Mo Feng Pavilion every day like this!” I’m almost moved by your love at first sight.

Chu Yifeng couldn’t help but exclaim, having heard the whole story of Shí Yuanchen’s love at first sight when they were drinking together a few days ago.

“Alas! She might just be my destined tribulation!”

Ever since Shí Yuanchen ran into Jiang Jiuchu on the street last time, the encounter rekindled the hope in his heart that he had almost given up on.

But he didn’t know who she was, and had no idea where to find her. He finally understood what it felt like to long for someone.

“Seventh Prince.”

As the group was talking, they had just reached the top of the stairs when they saw someone walking out of a private room to the side, cupping his fist at Shí Yan,

“Seventh Prince, I am Song Fuge, the owner of Mo Feng Pavilion. I would like to invite you for a private conversation.”

Shí Yan had never met Song Fuge in person; he had previously only dealt with his subordinate, Mu Feng. He paused in his steps, then looked at the two beside him, “You go in first.”

Upon seeing this, Song Fuge immediately stepped aside and gestured for Shí Yan to enter.

Inside the private room, Shí Yan watched Song Fuge pour tea for him. He unfolded his fan and leaned back against the chair, adopting the manner of a lazy, profligate nobleman.

“Speak, what is it that Owner Song wants from this Prince?”

Song Fuge poured the tea, put down the teapot, and smiled as he looked at Shí Yan. He knew that a prince who could protect himself and live freely was not as simple as he appeared on the surface.

He went straight to the point, “I would like to discuss a transaction with the Seventh Prince.”

“Oh?”

Shí Yan seemed intrigued, and a smirk appeared on his lips, “What kind of transaction? Does Mo Feng Pavilion have any new beauties?”

Seeing him like this, Song Fuge, though he knew it was an act, still felt a surge of displeasure in his heart. He paused, then smiled,

“Your Highness is joking. My Mo Feng Pavilion isn’t a brothel; we don’t have that many beauties. We only have a few female entertainers to add some elegance to Mo Feng Pavilion.”

“Then… this Prince isn’t very interested!”

Shí Yan inconspicuously looked at the person in front of him. The owner of Mo Feng Pavilion, looking for him to discuss a transaction, he really couldn’t guess what kind of transaction they could possibly have.

“Your Highness might as well hear me out before deciding whether you’re interested.” After saying that, Song Fuge asked, “I wonder if Your Highness has heard of Hidden Trace House?”

He deliberately used the name of Hidden Trace House after he changed it, wanting to see if this Seventh Prince knew about it. He wanted to probe his depths.

Shí Yan naturally knew about Hidden Trace House. His Lanji Pavilion had records of all the newly emerging organizations in Kyoto, and he had also found out that the predecessor of this Hidden Trace House was the Shadow Gate.

Thoughts raced through his mind, but his face showed impatience as he urged, “Not very clear. Owner Song, what exactly do you want to say? Please be direct.”

Seeing him like this, Song Fuge knew that he couldn’t gauge the Seventh Prince’s depth, so he directly said, “Then Your Highness should have heard of Shadow Gate! I’ll use it to make a deal with you.”

Shí Yan’s eyes momentarily paused as he sized up the person in front of him, the lazy expression on his face fading slightly.

“So Owner Song is actually the Sect Leader of Shadow Gate. But I am curious, what could make you use it for a transaction?”

Song Fuge spun the teacup in front of him, a wry smile appearing on his face, his voice seemingly tinged with reminiscence, “Naturally, it’s to repay a debt of gratitude.”

As he spoke, he took out a Sect Leader’s Token, looked at Shí Yan, and said,

“Fan Yuwan, the daughter of Grand Tutor Fan, admires the Seventh Prince. If the Seventh Prince is willing to marry her as a concubine, and doesn’t bring any other woman into the household within a year, I am willing to offer Hidden Trace House with both hands.”

“Heh…” Shí Yan looked at Song Fuge and chuckled, “Owner Song is truly righteous! To be like this for a woman. Could it be that you yourself admire her?”

Upon hearing this, Song Fuge was taken aback, and immediately retorted, “Your Highness must not make wild guesses. I… am not worthy of her. I was just a small beggar she gave alms to by the roadside when she was a child.”

As he spoke, his voice gradually lowered, as if he were a humble person, hiding his infinite admiration in his heart, willing to grant her every wish.

He had spent many years in business, and was most adept at performing various emotions without revealing his true feelings, making it difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood.

Shí Yan narrowed his eyes and looked at Song Fuge, then praised, “Owner Song is truly deeply devoted! If you are so sincere, why not take a chance and make your own move? Why push her into the arms of another?”

This time, Song Fuge didn’t refute, but said helplessly, “It’s just unrequited love! Besides, how could I be worthy of such a talented woman from a prominent family?”

As he spoke, he looked at Shí Yan as if he had made up his mind, “Only someone like the Seventh Prince is worthy of her. Seventh Prince, what do you think of this deal?”

“The deal is not bad. It seems like this Prince is benefiting in every way, but…”

“But what?” Song Fuge’s heart tightened, and his expression also paused, very afraid that he would say no. This time his expression was not deliberately feigned.

“But I, Shí Yan, never rely on women to get anything. They…”

As he spoke, Shí Yan put on a show of cherishing women, “They are like delicate flowers, blooming their entire lives for men. This Prince can’t bear to use them.”

Song Fuge was slightly stunned, never expecting that the reason Shí Yan rejected him would be this. It sounded like he was deliberately fobbing him off, but he didn’t know the reason why.

“How could it be? She wholeheartedly admires Your Highness. That is what she hopes for and wants, so it wouldn’t be using her. I beg Your Highness to reconsider. She only loves you. If she can’t marry you, this flower will wither for love.”

“Is that so! That’s indeed quite a pity, but this Prince doesn’t do charity.” Shí Yan lightly waved his fan, completely disregarding the contradictory words he had just said, and looked calmly at Song Fuge, a trace of scrutiny hidden in his eyes.

Song Fuge looked at Shí Yan, who had just been so concerned about women, but now had a detached and indifferent expression. A trace of scrutiny also surged in his eyes, wanting to see the true reason for his refusal.

He pushed the Sect Leader’s Token towards the center of the table, “If you use it as an exchange, how could the Seventh Prince be doing charity? Or is it that… the Seventh Prince already has someone he admires?”

As Song Fuge spoke, he looked at Shí Yan without blinking, not missing a single expression on his face.

Shí Yan closed his fan and sat up straight, saying, “This Prince has said that he doesn’t rely on women. Besides, I don’t like women who are so eager to offer themselves. Doesn’t Owner Song think that… the more challenging a woman is, the more rewarding it is? Why don’t you give it a try, make her fall in love with you, and fulfill your own wishes? That’s the right way.”

After he finished speaking, he got up and walked out.

Song Fuge suppressed the impulse to call him back at that moment, to directly tell him that he and Chu’er were in love with each other, and to ask him to help them.

But in the end, he didn’t dare to take the risk, because as long as he was unwilling, it would be detrimental to Chu’er, and even to the Jiang family. It was also because he had said ‘the more challenging, the more rewarding’……..

He seemed completely unable to see through Shí Yan’s thoughts, not understanding why he wouldn’t take the meat that was already in his mouth?

Was it because he had enough strength, or because he had no great ambitions, or because he felt that it was too easy to obtain, and was wary, or was it because he fell in love with Chu’er’s portrait at first sight?

But he also didn’t think Shí Yan was that kind of person, but when he remembered that Yu Qin was taken back by him the first time she showed her face, he became a little unsure.

Song Fuge picked up the Sect Leader’s Token on the table, looked at the untouched tea opposite him, his eyes deep and unfathomable. How could his Chu’er marry him?

No, he couldn’t accept it. She was the only light in his heart, and the only thing he wanted to grasp.

Like that sentence he made up about Fan Yuwan, if he didn’t have Chu’er, his heart would wither.