Chapter 13: That Girl Is Truly a Great Beauty; Ye Xun Recruits New Followers

Qin Prince’s Mansion.
Front Hall.

Ye Xun sat upright before his desk, sipping light tea while leafing through the "Comprehensive History," acquainting himself with the history of Great Xia and its surrounding nations.

Cao An had just brought in all the items purchased today, filling the hall with daily necessities for food, clothing, and other essentials.

Ling’er went off to bathe and change clothes, as she had been soiled from the recent days spent arranging her father’s burial.

About the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Ling’er returned to the hall to prepare lunch.

Today’s meal was simple—ready-made dishes bought from the Eastern Market, only needing to be arranged on plates.

Roast chicken, pastries, baked flatbreads, roasted lamb leg, and other dishes filled the table, accompanied by a jar of aged daughter’s red wine.

“Your Highness, the meal is ready,” Ling’er called to Ye Xun, pouring a bowl of wine in the process.

For years, she had cared for her bedridden father, so serving others was a task she handled with ease and familiarity.

Still, there was a trace of nervousness in her heart.

After all, Ye Xun’s reputation in the capital was less than favorable.

Ye Xun nodded slightly, setting aside the bamboo scroll in his hand, ready to dine.

When he looked up at Ling’er, his gaze briefly faltered.

Refreshed and groomed, Ling’er appeared even more elegant and refined.

Her delicate, oval face radiated grace, her eyes like clear autumn waters, her brows soft and slender like a crescent moon. Her jade-like skin seemed to accompany a gentle breeze, her rosy cheeks smiled gently, and her breath carried a faint orchid scent—an indescribable tenderness and charm.

Looking at Ling’er, Ye Xun’s lips unconsciously curved into a smile.

Damn, this girl was worth every one of those thirty taels of silver.

Having such a vibrant maiden in the mansion was a feast for the eyes.

Good, very good.

Satisfied in his heart, Ye Xun’s grand ambition to marry into the twelve... no, forty-eight courtyards grew even firmer.

At this moment, he understood clearly the main direction his role as prince must take.

“Your Highness, please... please eat...” Ling’er looked at Ye Xun, her eyes darting shyly, cheeks flushed.

“Heh heh...” Ye Xun laughed awkwardly, then said, “Very well, you both may sit and eat with me.”

Hearing this, Ling’er quickly shook her head, “You are the prince, and we are servants. It is improper to dine at the same table.”

“That’s right, Your Highness. Ling’er is right,” Cao An chimed in beside her. “You eat first, Your Highness. Ling’er and I will serve you, then we will eat.”

Ye Xun pondered, “That’s unnecessary. Eat now, together.”

“This...” Cao An looked troubled but quickly replied, “Alright then.”

He then placed four coarse grain cakes and two small dishes of pickles on a nearby table and invited Ling’er to eat with him.

Qin Prince’s Mansion was tight on funds, so Cao An intended to save some from his and Ling’er’s meals.

Ling’er, having come from a poor background, was accustomed to such simple food.

Ye Xun glanced at the sumptuous dishes on the main table, then at the coarse grain cakes beside Cao An, frowning deeply.

Although he did not claim to be a good man, he had already come to regard Cao An and Ling’er as his own.

Perhaps what set him apart was this relatively weak sense of class distinction.

Though he lacked the power to break it, among the three of them, he was still the master.

Just as Cao An and Ling’er sat down to eat, Ye Xun stood, took his chopsticks, and sat down at their table.

Looking up at Ye Xun, both Cao An and Ling’er were bewildered, “Y-Your Highness...”

Ye Xun ignored them, picking up a coarse grain cake and some pickles to begin eating.

Seeing this, Cao An and Ling’er exchanged confused glances, utterly lost.

What was this about?

Then, with a mournful expression, Cao An pleaded, “Your Highness, this food is not fit for you. Please don’t eat it anymore!”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Ling’er added gently, “If I have done wrong, please punish me instead.”

Ye Xun swallowed the dry grain with effort and mumbled, “I’ve told you, you don’t listen. The Qin Prince’s Mansion has fallen to this state, just the three of us—what rules are there anymore?”

“If you won’t eat with me, then I will eat with you.”

“It’s just eating coarse grain bread.”

He took another large bite of the dry cake.

It was truly rough and choking.

Seeing this, tears welled in Cao An’s eyes, touched deeply.

The prince had changed—no longer callous and self-willed, no longer treating lives as worthless.

In the past, Ye Xun disregarded rules because he delighted in hurting others for his own pleasure.

But now, his disregard for rules was for the sake of a servant and a maid.

Though Cao An did not understand this sudden profound change in Ye Xun’s character, one thing was clear: Ye Xun regarded him as one of his own, not a lowly servant.

“Your Highness, please stop eating this. I’ll listen to you, I’ll do everything you say,” Cao An urged anxiously.

To him, seeing the prince eat coarse grain bread and pickles was a sign of his own failure.

Ye Xun nodded slightly, then looked at Ling’er, asking, “And you?”

Startled, Ling’er blushed and softly said, “Whatever... Your Highness commands...”

“Good.” Ye Xun stood, took Cao An and Ling’er by their wrists, and pulled them to sit properly before the desk. “Then you shall eat with me from now on. Just the three of us—what rules are there to follow?”

At his words, Cao An and Ling’er no longer resisted and sat down to eat together.

Soon after, Ye Xun stood again and brought in Wang Cai.

Today, Wang Cai was the greatest contributor.

The three of them sat around the table enjoying the meal—the first proper feast since Ye Xun’s arrival.

Wang Cai lay on the floor, gnawing happily on a pork knuckle.

Though Cao An ate simple grain cakes and pickles, he was generous with Wang Cai.

Ling’er ate timidly, taking small, slow bites.

She realized this deposed crown prince was not the monstrous tyrant the rumors painted him to be.

Far from being a villain, he was noble and refined, a person of integrity and talent.

Before the desk, Ye Xun held his cup, sipping the aged daughter’s red wine with an arched brow, savoring it carefully.

He finally understood why the ancients could drink many cups without drunkenness.

The wine was indeed tasty but lacked any real strength—probably less than ten degrees of alcohol.

After a while, the three finished eating. Cao An and Ling’er began clearing the table, while Ye Xun sat aside, contemplating his next plan.

Today’s literary contest had earned five hundred taels of silver. After visiting the Eastern Market and giving Ling’er thirty taels, about three hundred taels remained.

For an ordinary family, this sum would ensure plenty of food and clothing.

But for the Qin Prince’s Mansion, it was insufficient.

Ye Xun harbored grand ambitions, and this money was too little for extravagance; nor could he consume it recklessly.

For now, engaging in business was the best option.

But they were short on manpower.

He, Cao An, and Ling’er—just the three of them—could not represent the household publicly.

Therefore, if he wished to do business, he needed to find a trustworthy person.

In this era, the rigid caste system of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants was deeply entrenched.

Merchants were not only required to register as market citizens but their children were forbidden from taking imperial examinations.

However, after years of recovery and development, Great Xia’s productivity had improved greatly, leading to a better commercial environment.

The market citizen system had lost its extreme disdain for merchants.

No matter what, commerce was Ye Xun’s best choice.

He needed to find someone loyal to manage business outside the mansion and secure reliable goods.