Chapter 36: Surrounded by Beauties

The man appeared far from approachable. Looking at the women he held—their attire skimpy, their expressions lewd—it was clear they were creatures of the pleasure quarters. The sight offended her sensibilities, and her appetite vanished instantly; even if the rarest delicacies in the world were served now, she could not bring herself to take a single bite.

"Lily, let’s go. If this place won't have us, there are plenty of other places that will." She tucked the money pouch from the table into her bodice, pulled Lily up, and prepared to leave.

"Seventeenth Prince, you must stand up for me! Her insulting me is a trivial matter, but her disrespect toward you is a grave offense!" Seeing Zhao Erdong about to leave, Sangju hurried to block their path.

The Seventeenth Prince did not even glance at Sangju. Instead, he said coldly to the Head Manager, "I trust the Head Manager knows the rules of the Immortal Guest Inn better than I do. For someone who stirs up trouble and sows discord, what is the protocol?"

Sangju was overjoyed, her pretty face beaming with excitement. So the Seventeenth Prince was indeed on her side! Did this not prove that in his heart, there was still a place for her?

The Head Manager was no fool. Having served at the Immortal Guest Inn for years to climb to his current position, he possessed the essential skill of reading the room. It was clear the Seventeenth Prince was deeply displeased with Sangju. The talk of "stirring up trouble" was obviously directed at her. The foolish girl, however, was so oblivious that she remained smugly self-satisfied. Truly, she was beyond help.

"Rest assured, Seventeenth Prince. I will severely punish this lowly wench and ensure she never appears before you again, lest she offend your eyes." Flattery was the second essential skill of his trade.

At the Head Manager's command, two guards from the inn rushed forward, pinning Sangju’s arms and forcing her to her knees.

Sangju was horrified, shrieking, "What are you doing? You’ve caught the wrong person! Let me go at once!"

The Head Manager stepped forward and delivered two stinging slaps to her face. "You wretched wench, you face death yet show no repentance? Daring to stir up trouble in front of the Seventeenth Prince—do you take us for blind and deaf?"

W-what? Could it be that the person the Seventeenth Prince was referring to was her?

"Seventeenth Prince, I was wrong! Please, spare me! I am willing to serve you as a beast of burden..."

Sangju belonged to the Immortal Guest Inn. If she were cast out today, a young woman like her would face only one fate: being sold into a brothel to serve as the lowest, most degraded of prostitutes.

She struggled violently, tears streaking her face and ruining her exquisite makeup, her elaborate hair bun coming undone in a pathetic display. The Head Manager stole a glance at the Seventeenth Prince, who remained impassive, watching the two girls with a faint, amused smile. Realizing there was no room for negotiation, he waved his hand, and the guards dragged Sangju away.

Her shrill, desperate cries faded into the distance, and the Head Manager tactfully withdrew.

Zhao Erdong had not expected such a turn of events, but she had no interest in lingering to watch the play. The most exciting act had concluded; to stay longer would only be to watch a live display of depravity.

"Is Miss Zhao leaving already?" He remained draped over the two women, his hands caressing them wantonly, drawing lewd moans from the pair. Yet, his peach-blossom eyes remained fixed on Zhao Erdong, clear and profound, devoid of any trace of lust.

Zhao Erdong whirled around. Her beautiful willow-leaf brows knitted together, her phoenix eyes—with their outer corners slightly upturned—narrowed, and her cherry lips pressed into a thin line. "Who are you?"

This wretched man clearly knew her. Now that her identity was exposed, she had only two choices: kill him to silence him, or flee the capital immediately.