Chapter 12: Making Her Fall for Me

The onlookers were still waiting to see the bride clash with Haitang Hong in a jealous uproar at the theater, unaware that her mind had already shifted rapidly, plotting how to profit from the Fanghua Troupe.

In the meantime, Shen Ruo Jin had already figured out how she would respond to the prince and princess of the North Town Prince’s Mansion upon her return.

Why let wealth flow into outsiders’ hands? Since she couldn’t control the rogue Qin Lang just yet, she would first seize the money.

A little less loss is still a gain.

She said to the troupe leader Huang, “I’ve seen the lead actor; his posture and appearance are excellent, and the others are fine as well. The Fanghua stage is located in the busiest, most prosperous district of the capital. I won’t haggle with you. Just arrange for the people to report to the prince’s mansion once you’ve done your calculations.”

“Y-Yes! I’ll call the accountant to settle the accounts immediately and come to the mansion at once,” Huang replied, stunned for quite a while, a grin stretching almost to his ears.

He simply couldn’t suppress his excitement.

A windfall had fallen from the sky!

Running a troupe in a place like the capital was tough; without the backing of an influential patron, they would sooner or later be bullied out of existence.

The more popular Fanghua Troupe became, the more troubles they would face. Yesterday it was the Prime Minister’s son threatening them; tomorrow it might be some wealthy libertine trying to seize the troupe. If it could become an asset of the North Town Prince’s Mansion, that would be a tremendous blessing.

Money was one matter, but carrying the Qin family name as their patron meant they could lean on a mighty tree for shade.

Qin Lang raised his sword-like brows and asked, “Do you really intend to buy the Fanghua Troupe?”

The young Prince Qin had played around before but never seriously considered purchasing the theater.

“Yes, to make you happy,” Shen Ruo Jin replied naturally.

Qin Lang was momentarily taken aback.

Shen Ruo Jin then asked, “Qin Lang, are you pleased?”

“Insincere,” he said, but the corner of his mouth involuntarily twitched upward.

Shen Ruo Jin said, “If I bought Haitang Hong to be your concubine, that would be insincere. As for how I treat you, let alone the rest, when I say I like money, that is truly heartfelt.”

There were plenty of virtuous brides in the capital, who brought several beautiful dowry maids and on their wedding day would immediately elevate the status of the former servant girls or concubines.

But she was not the type to bring trouble upon herself just to earn a good reputation.

Qin Lang met Shen Ruo Jin’s gaze and knew that everything she said was genuine.

Was he, the illustrious young Prince Qin, really less important to her than money?

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“The money’s been spent, and the performance is over. I’ll return to the mansion now.”

Shen Ruo Jin glanced at Qin Lang. Seeing he showed no intention of leaving, she turned and descended the stairs.

Qin Lang watched her leave slowly, not even asking, “Will you come back to the mansion with me?”

She was merely going through the motions.

The young prince found no graceful way to follow her, so he found a nearby chair to sit down and casually waved to Huang and the others, “You all may leave. Haitang Hong, stay behind.”

“Yes,” they replied and withdrew.

Huang kept glancing back nervously as he walked, unable to resist one last piece of advice: “Second Young Madam is truly wonderful. Young Prince, you should head back to the mansion soon…”

Qin Lang scoffed, “She says she wants to buy the Fanghua Troupe, and you treat her like a goddess? Why haven’t you ever cared for me like this before?”

Huang hurriedly replied, “How could I not care for the Young Prince? We’ll all be relying on you and Second Young Madam for a living. When it’s time to advise, I naturally…”

“Get lost,” Qin Lang said, tired of the chatter.

“Yes, yes, I’m gone,” Huang said, giving Haitang Hong a meaningful look that said “remember who you depend on.”

Haitang Hong shot him a look that said “just leave.”

Before long, the crowd dispersed.

Only Qin Lang and Haitang Hong remained.

“She touched you just now,” Qin Lang said, pinching Haitang Hong’s jaw and wiping vigorously, as if trying to erase the traces Shen Ruo Jin had left on his face. “Why didn’t you dodge?”

“There were so many people watching; how could I dodge?” Haitang Hong frowned in pain but spoke with a clear youthful voice, completely different from the melodious operatic tone she had used earlier on stage.

With no one around, Haitang Hong brushed off the offending hand and lowered her voice, “What are you going crazy for? If you care so much about Shen Ruo Jin, go talk to her! You worked so hard to marry her, but on your wedding night, you left her alone. Now people probably think you’re impotent!”

“If you hadn’t been pinned and harassed by Li Er yesterday, would I have had to rush out of the mansion at night? Where’s your conscience, saying this now?”

Qin Lang stuffed a peach into Haitang Hong’s mouth, silencing her instantly.

He prided himself on being a worldly rake, indifferent to all beauties and never moved emotionally. Yet last night, alone with Shen Ruo Jin in the bridal chamber, merely being close set his body ablaze, desire burning deep to the marrow, impossible to quell.

If it hadn’t been for the sudden trouble at the theater, Qin Lang might have collapsed in the hibiscus-draped bedchamber, unable to come out.

---

He liked Shen Ruo Jin.

She was the vermilion mark on his heart, the bright moon in his sky.

Even knowing she was to marry Pei Jing, he insisted on scheming, proposing to the Marquis’s mansion, setting the wedding for the same day, bringing many guards and even siege hammers, all to seize the bride amid the chaos.

Despite all his plotting, he never expected Mu Yunwei to elope with Pei Jing on the wedding day.

Such a stroke of luck in this world!

Shen Ruo Jin arrived before him in her crimson wedding dress and said, “Qin Lang, shall we make do?”

Make do? What make do?

They were a match made in heaven!

“I was only playing a female official on stage, not truly a woman. Even if Li Er tore off my clothes…”

Haitang Hong mumbled as she ate the peach, but caught Qin Lang’s gaze and quickly swallowed the rest of her words—“he probably fainted on the spot”—back down.

Haitang Hong changed her tone, “Thanks to you, Young Prince, for coming to rescue me. But you finally married your beloved; the wedding night was the perfect time. If you didn’t consummate then, and now she comes to the theater looking for you but you refuse to return with her, how do you intend to be husband and wife?”

Qin Lang’s voice darkened, “None of your business. Don’t pry.”

He didn’t want Shen Ruo Jin to marry him out of a moment’s anger, without fully understanding, then regret it later.

To be husband and wife meant hearts truly united, then sharing the deepest affections.

But Shen Ruo Jin was never a passive girl; she knew how to take the initiative.

He had fallen first; naturally, he could weave a web of romance in secret, ensnaring his beloved.

But how could the vermilion mark willingly rest in the palm, the bright moon rush to him, stirring his heart so fiercely?

Haitang Hong sat nearby, eating the peach. Suddenly, she looked at Qin Lang and smiled, then shivered and whispered, “Young Prince, what wicked plan are you hatching?”

Qin Lang gave her a cold glance.

Haitang Hong immediately corrected herself, “May I ask, Young Prince, what is your brilliant strategy?”

After pondering, Qin Lang replied solemnly, “Before Shen Ruo Jin knows I like her, make her like me.”

Haitang Hong sized up the tall, strong young prince from head to toe and implied, “Making her truly love you might be difficult, but making her like you… that’s worth a try.”