The crown prince sneered: "You woman, sharp tongue and sharp mouth."

  "The prince is here, I'm serving him. I only recognize the prince's identity, what's wrong with that? Can't I even ask for a little more silver from the prince?" Rose smiled sweetly, covering up the chill in her eyes.

  "Since it's like this, then take it off." The prince said on purpose.

  "The prince needs this, then I won't be able to serve. Caiwei has been in the Baifang Building for three years, only selling art not selling body." Caiwei stood up with a smile.

  "Now that you know my identity, do you think you can still go against me?" The prince sneered.

  "It's only because I know the prince's identity that I dare to come here. If the prince were to force me, I would either kill myself or refuse to comply, and it would be a big mess either way." Rose sat down again: "Besides, did the prince really come here to solicit prostitutes?"

  The prince didn't say anything and picked up his tea to take a sip.

  "Is there no wine in the Hundred Flowers Pavilion?"

  "There is, just, the prince still drinks tea, wine drinking too much, hurts the body, also hurts the heart." Rose also picked up her own tea in front of her eyes and took a sip.

  "You woman, are you trying to guess people's hearts? How? Want to redeem yourself?" The prince looked over and asked with a smile.

  Camellia sighed: "Saying I don't want to is a lie. I don't want to be a courtesan, but I have no choice. I myself can't leave this place. If I could use the prince's help to leave, that would be great. But I also know that things in this world aren't that easy."

  "Oh? Didn't anyone want to ransom you in the past three years?" The prince asked curiously.

  One who doesn't sell himself is easily redeemed, right?

  "Yes, there is more than one. But... I don't want to. It's because I'm too proud. Who would ransom me for no reason and ask me to pay back? And I don't want to either. To be honest, it's because I have high self-esteem, but that kind of thing isn't something I like, I really can't do it. Moreover, being someone's concubine... spending a lifetime trapped in the inner courtyard, struggling and fighting, what's the point? And if there are children, they would also suffer due to my status, why bother?"

  "So, you like Gu Lang?" The prince raised an eyebrow.

  "How could it be so fast? The prince is indeed handsome and elegant, I would have been tempted too, but that's just a superficial attraction between men and women." Rose shook her head: "A person like the prince, how could I possibly deserve to say I like him?"

  "How dare you come closer?"

  "It's always... worth a try, right? Maybe the prince thought I was amusing and helped me out like he would a little cat or dog?" As she spoke, Camellia chuckled at herself: "I can be naive sometimes. But if I don't try my best, how will I know if I can have the life I want?"

  "This woman... is also interesting." The prince was touched by her words.

  Yes, if you don't try, everyone will think they'll be the same for their whole lives...

  "Crown Prince, shall I play the zither for you? I'm actually not well-versed in all four arts of music, chess, calligraphy and painting, only the zither, barely making do." Xiangwei said.

  "What's your name?" The prince suddenly felt that the name "Rose" was too common and didn't suit her.

  "... Fengying." Jasmine paused for a moment before speaking softly.

  It's been three years since I last mentioned that name... That was her real name, after crossing over to this inexplicable world, she stopped using it...

  The prince looked at her and didn't believe this name.

  Maybe she likes it.

  Feng Ying sat in front of the piano, adjusted the sound, and began to play.

  A very common tune, Spring River Flower Moon Night.

  It's a lively and beautiful melody that evokes the warmth of spring, but when she plays it, there's a sense of desolation and sadness.

  When the music ended, the prince said: "You don't allow me to drink alone, but this song of yours is better with wine."

  "What I said to the prince today was all true, so my zither sound couldn't be hidden either. Wanting to be happy is also difficult." Fengying sat down and smiled: "Really sorry about that."

  Everyone has their own helplessness, I don't blame you. The prince looked over and saw Feng Ying lower her head, her eyelashes covering her eyes, unable to see her gaze.

  "I remember you, even if I were to ransom you now, I couldn't guarantee your safety. Why don't you just stay in this Hundred Flowers Pavilion? You won't have to receive guests either." The prince said.

  "I should have declined, it would be more in line with my noble character, and I might not have seen the guest. But I am truly delighted. Thank you, Your Highness." Feng Ying stood up and bowed sincerely.

  "If one day you get tired of being alone, I'll think of a way to bring you back to the palace. All you need to do is change your identity and come in as a concubine. No one will know what you used to be." The prince looked at her with interest.

  To the prince, she is just a woman.

  As long as she remains innocent, she is interesting. The prince has an interest, this is a very simple matter.

  Even if he didn't like it after bringing it back, at least she would be rid of her current life.

  "It's not that I'm ungrateful, but rather... even if there comes a day when I like the Crown Prince, I still wouldn't return to the palace with him. The Crown Prince's Yuqing Palace... may be noble and unmatched, but compared to this Baifa Lou... which one seems more like a prison? Fengying seeks to escape the cage, not exchange it for an even tighter one..."

  Feng Ying smiled: "Forgive me for speaking the truth."

  The crown prince didn't respond and didn't even look at her.

  It wasn't until much later that she smiled wryly and shook her head: "Even you, a woman, know that the Yuqing Palace is a prison. Unfortunately, there are still so many people who can't see through it... pitiful."

  "It's just that the cage is too close to the dragon throne..." Feng Ying muttered in a very small voice.

  The crown prince heard it, but he just felt more bitter in his heart.

  After a long while, the prince stood up: "I'm leaving now, I'll come visit you again another day."

  "Send this old man." Fengying opened the door wide and smiled.

  There's someone outside. The prince simply pulled her hand: "I'll come to see you another day, don't let anyone else in, otherwise, this Hundred Flowers Pavilion doesn't need to open."

  "Yes, I remember." Feng Ying bowed her body.

  Before long, Mrs. Shen came up and saw them like this, and she was puzzled in her heart. This young master must have had a pampered wife and concubines at home, so why was he still infatuated with Camellia? This is strange!

  "Is everything all right with you, young master? Are we leaving now?"

  "This is one hundred and twenty taels, someone will bring the money later. From now on, Rose has a patron to support her, she doesn't need to receive guests, remember that, Shen's mother?" The prince tossed the silver ticket over casually.

  "Was it to ransom Calanthe?"

  "Just listen to me and that's all, you won't be short of silver." The prince flashed his fan and turned to go downstairs.

  "Hmph, didn't expect that, you're quite capable!" Shen's mother said with a smile to Xiangwei after the prince had walked far away.

  Camellia just smiled.