Chapter 46: The Crown Prince of Xiliang

The dance ended and the music ceased. Yuan Qian'er bowed to the audience and turned to leave the stage.

"Fair maiden, please stay a moment. Would you be so kind as to remove your veil and let us behold your true face?" asked a young gentleman from a second-floor private box.

"Indeed! With such graceful dancing, your appearance must be breathtaking as well. Please indulge our curiosity!" a scholar on the ground floor chimed in.

"That's right, take off the veil and let us have a look!" the crowd shouted in agreement.

Seeing this, Yuan Qian'er spoke lazily, "You want to see? Very well, to the highest bidder. Whoever offers the most money gets to look!"

"You have to pay just for a glance? Isn't this just extortion?" roared a burly man.

"You don't have to look if you don't want to. Did I force you? It is like Zhou Yu beating Huang Gai—one is willing to inflict it and the other is willing to endure it. If you want to look, pay up; if you don't want to pay, don't look. Farewell!" Yuan Qian'er turned and walked toward the backstage.

"I bid one hundred taels," someone called out.

"Three hundred taels," another raised the bid immediately.

"Five hundred taels."

"One thousand taels!" The young gentleman who had just asked to see Yuan Qian'er offered an astonishing sum.

The crowd gasped. One thousand taels for just a glance? Wasn't this a bit too reckless?

"Are there any higher bids? If not, I shall head to that gentleman's private box!" Yuan Qian'er was somewhat surprised. She had originally thought no one would be foolish enough to spend money just to look at someone, but it turned out such fools indeed existed!

"Five thousand taels!" At that moment, Mo Yiran flew down haughtily from the third floor, landing gracefully on the stage. He wrapped his arm around Yuan Qian'er's waist, preparing to leave, when...

"Wait! Ten thousand taels! Prince Mo, she should belong to me for viewing now!"

"Gasp..." What an eye-opener! What kind of world was this, where a single glance cost so much? And why was Prince Mo also willing to spend a small fortune just for a glimpse of her face? This only made the crowd even more curious about Yuan Qian'er's true appearance.

Inside, Yuan Qian'er was overjoyed, desperately holding back her laughter. Mo Yiran, oh Mo Yiran, you black-bellied rascal! You clearly already know what I look like, yet you come here to join the fun and forcefully drive the price up tenfold!

Suppressing her laughter and pretending not to recognize him, she said, "Prince Mo, that gentleman made a higher offer! My apologies! Do enjoy your food and drinks!"

Turning back to the crowd, she announced, "Everyone, today's performance has concluded. Please feel free to order whatever you like, and anyone wishing to dance is welcome to take the stage and enjoy themselves!"

With that, she walked off the stage and headed toward the second-floor room of the person who had placed the highest bid. She simply had to see what kind of extravagantly wealthy person this was!

Mo Yiran flashed a wicked smile toward the second floor and shamelessly followed Yuan Qian'er upstairs.

As Yuan Qian'er stepped into the room, Mo Yiran followed right behind her. Closing the door behind him with a casual flick, he softly remarked, "Crown Prince of Xiliang, trust you have been well since we last met?"

"Hah! Prince Mo, I have long heard of your esteemed name. We finally meet today. What is the meaning of this? I am the one who paid to see her, yet you have also come to take a look?"

"No, I am not here to look. I am simply bringing her to you so you may see her, after which I shall take her away." Mo Yiran smiled as harmlessly as possible.

Only then did the Crown Prince of Xiliang realize he had been conned. Pointing at Yuan Qian'er, he demanded, "You know her?"

"Yes, not only do I know her, but we are quite close—so close you cannot possibly imagine." Mo Yiran intentionally kept his relationship with Yuan Qian'er ambiguous.

"Heh, no matter. Any woman acquainted with Prince Mo cannot be ordinary. Come, remove your veil!"

Yuan Qian'er reached out her hand toward him and said, "Watermelon Prince, hand over the money and I'll smile!"

"Pfft!" The Crown Prince of Xiliang spat out a mouthful of tea he had just sipped. What did she just call him?! Watermelon Prince? His lips twitched as he said, "My lady, it is Xiliang. Please listen carefully!"

"Very well, Watermelon Prince, hand over the money!"

Hearing this, the Crown Prince of Xiliang felt like beating his own chest in despair. My good grand-aunt, can you please speak properly? My dignified, lofty image as the Crown Prince of Xiliang has been completely ruined by your 'Watermelon Prince' title!