I'm Competing With The Male Lead For A Woman - Chapter 23

Today, the weather in the capital was clear. Outside the Yanyu Pavilion, pedestrians often stopped and looked up at the lively scene on the upper floor.

In the early years, when the Yanyu Pavilion had not yet been taken over by the Bai family’s young lady, it was just a very ordinary establishment. The few top courtesans were not very famous.

But ever since Bai Zheng took over the Yanyu Pavilion, the business had dwindled, but the reputation of the top courtesans gradually grew. The people who came were all young noblemen who came to watch dances and listen to music.

At first, they came in secret. After coming a few times, they became regular customers and no longer avoided it.

Over time, the Yanyu Pavilion became famous. The capital’s elites also came to drink and chat about trivial matters of the court.

For example, which official was impeached by the Imperial Censorate again, or that Princess Zhaoyang, who controlled seven cities, might endanger the throne.

After the reputation was established, the popular courtesans no longer entertained guests but became artists who sold their skills, not their bodies. The Yanyu Pavilion was also built to be more serene and elegant, attracting many “distinguished guests.”

Therefore, when Xiao Jin’s group appeared at the Yanyu Pavilion, they didn’t see a madam soliciting guests at the door. There were no smiling girls on the upper floor waving their water sleeves.

Although Xiao Jin’s eyes were covered with a white silk scarf, it didn’t mean she was blind and couldn’t see anything.

When protagonists in web novels visited brothels, whether male or female, shouldn’t they be shoved inside by a heavily made-up madam? But where had those young and vibrant girls gone now?

Looking at this very exquisite building and the three elegant characters on the plaque—

Yanyu Pavilion.

If she wasn’t told this was a brothel, Xiao Jin would have almost thought she was entering a teahouse.

She felt very disappointed. After all, a web novel transmigrator’s highlight moment and a famous scene to visit had just been shattered.

Thinking this, her motivation to investigate the case lessened a little. Xiao Jin felt that wearing this outfit was a complete loss.

However, Chu Shao was not surprised by the Yanyu Pavilion’s refreshing style. She seemed to be in high spirits. A smile was on her face as she slowly pushed Xiao Jin inside.

Su Tan, dressed in a coarse blue robe, followed closely behind the two of them, acting like a maid accompanying her young masters on a trip.

When they reached the hall, two or three young servants in blue robes respectfully came up and led them to the center of the hall.

However, when the young servants saw Xiao Jin in a wheelchair for the first time, they were all stunned.

The reason was simple. Most of the people who came to the Yanyu Pavilion were scholars and politicians. Few women visited. Furthermore, this person was blind and crippled. They didn’t know what kind of entertainment she could enjoy in this place.

Being surprised was one thing, and being hospitable was another. The Yanyu Pavilion had always only done business and never asked about their guests’ backgrounds.

Moreover, the young servants could tell at a glance that this group of people must be young masters and ladies from a wealthy family, whether they were rich or noble.

After all, the clothes they were wearing were made of Yun brocade, which was as expensive as gold. The colors were bright and radiant, woven to look like clouds.

Even the maid following them had a great demeanor and was not as mischievous and willful as a normal maid.

After realizing this, the young servants smiled and enthusiastically led Xiao Jin’s group to their seats, asking them what they needed.

However, when Chu Shao smiled and asked what the building had, the young servants were at a loss.

This young master’s voice was very pleasant, but listening closely… This was clearly a woman!

Xiao Jin looked at the smile on Chu Shao’s face and then at the dumbfounded young servants.

Even though she was covered by a white silk scarf and the world was like a blurry flower to her, Xiao Jin still felt embarrassed for Chu Shao.

She couldn’t stand it anymore. She recalled the original plot and ordered some food and drinks herself. “A wine and some pastries should be enough.”

This action was, of course, to get rid of the young servants and end the strange atmosphere.

But considering that they still had to investigate the case, Xiao Jin calmly glanced at Chu Shao and added to the young servants, “My older brother is quite fond of things like incense. I wonder if there are any girls in the building who are skilled in making incense, so he can learn a thing or two.”

Although the young servants already knew that the “older brother” Xiao Jin spoke of was likely fake, the customer was still god. Especially when the customer was a stunning and wealthy god.

They immediately answered everything they knew, enthusiastically replying, “Of course. The two girls on the list, Lan Qing and Wan Jun, are both masters of perfumery. If you need it, I can give you the list.”

Xiao Jin nodded and took the list.

But she was thinking to herself, The names of these two people are so ordinary. At a glance, they’re just side characters. They definitely aren’t the mastermind behind the “Chunshankong.”

But since they were already here, they might as well sit for a while, feel the atmosphere, and then make a plan.

But just as Xiao Jin nodded, the system’s mechanical voice suddenly rang in her mind.

[Congratulations, player! Su Tan’s favorability -5]

“…”

Should I be congratulated for losing 5 favorability points?

Compared to the favorability that could drop at any moment, Xiao Jin looked at the seemingly normal Su Tan. She couldn’t understand what this sudden drop in favorability was about.

Xiao Jin didn’t understand. In fact, Su Tan understood even less.

It was true that there was a deep-seated hatred between the Prince of Yan of Northern Qi and the Princess of the Yao Kingdom. It was indeed impossible for them to have too many feelings for each other.

But you, Xiao Jin, as a man, even if you are now disguised as a woman, you shouldn’t ask for a girl in front of your own princess consort.

Even if it was for investigating the case, accepting the list so readily showed where you put the princess.

As a citizen of the Great Yao, even though her country had been destroyed, Su Tan couldn’t bear to see her country’s princess being humiliated like this.

Furthermore, this person was the Prince of Yan, Xiao Jin. She couldn’t stand it even more.

However, when the two girls, Lan Qing and Wan Jun, walked over gracefully, Su Tan truly didn’t expect that the one who was most interested was her own princess.

Chu Shao’s lips were smiling. She waved her fan and chatted with the two girls for a long time, seeming to be very into her role.

And she didn’t deliberately disguise her voice, so Lan Qing and Wan Jun both knew that Chu Shao was a woman.

But when they saw Chu Shao’s face, they genuinely liked her. So they pretended not to know that the other person was a woman and talked to her with a smile.

“My lord, the aromatic pill must be bonded with jujube paste or refined honey. And the adhesive must also be an aromatic material. This way, it will also serve to emit a fragrance at the same time.”

Chu Shao’s eyes were very gentle. She looked at the two women as gently as a soft breeze and rain, as if she was deep in thought. “So that’s how it is.”

In fact, Chu Shao didn’t care how the aromatic pill was made.

She just felt that since Xiao Jin had listened to her suggestion and worn that dress, she should also give her some form of return.

For example, some clues about the aromatic pill, or enduring the boredom of talking to the two people in front of her.

However, Xiao Jin was not grateful for Chu Shao’s return. Her head was starting to hurt from the inside.

Letting the female lead disguise herself as someone else was simply a mistake. How could someone like Chu Shao have a disguise that was basically the same as not having one at all?

It would be better not to have a disguise at all. At least the plot wouldn’t become so magical.

Just as Xiao Jin and Su Tan seemed to have become background characters, Lan Qing, in the midst of a pleasant conversation, covered her mouth and chuckled, telling an interesting story. “My lord, you don’t know this, but in all the years I’ve been entertaining guests, I’ve never seen anyone as impatient as the one from a few days ago.”

A few days ago?

When she heard this keyword, Xiao Jin immediately sat up straight.

Chu Shao’s face still held a smile. She closed her fan and followed Lan Qing’s words. “I wonder how impatient that person was. Can you tell me, my sister?”

After hearing this, Xiao Jin couldn’t help but frown slightly.

Chu Shao was getting into her role a little too quickly. The way she kept saying “my sister” showed that she was a veteran.

Perhaps she wasn’t used to being cheated on. A slight displeasure suddenly rose in Xiao Jin’s heart.

This uncomfortable feeling turned into a very uncomfortable one when she, through the white silk scarf, vaguely saw Chu Shao’s curved lips and that burning beauty mark.

Even though Xiao Jin didn’t know why she was uncomfortable.

She guessed that it was because Chu Shao’s way of thinking was too strange. She often did things that overstepped boundaries.

But only when these behaviors were brought to a public level did Xiao Jin realize that Chu Shao treated everyone with the same disregard for boundaries.

Chu Shao could gently fasten her jade belt and could use her fingertips to spread a line of crimson on her lips.

Then she could also naturally wave her fan and talk and laugh with other people.

Xiao Jin saw that Chu Shao only did things because they were fun. If one day things stopped being fun, then this person would definitely put away her smile and leave.

In fact, leaving was still the better option. The scariest thing was for a yandere to find an exciting point.

After all, Xiao Jin had seen Chu Shao in an excited state.

At that time, Chu Shao held a silver sword, and her robe was covered in blood. But she spoke to the dying person as gently as if she were talking to a lover.

In the next moment, she ruthlessly cut off the other person’s hands with a sharp blade.

The warm blood splashed on her palm. Chu Shao didn’t seem to think this was a bad thing. Instead, she happily curved her lips into a faint smile. “You make me the happiest, so I’m treating you the best. I won’t mistreat you.”

Just thinking about it made Xiao Jin feel a little creeped out.

And her gaze toward the two girls also changed from displeasure to pity.

Girls, life is worth living.

Don’t get close to a yandere. You will truly become miserable.