Jian Wei's demeanor seemed to soften, and he finally offered Lian Yan a more genuine smile. "As long as you can feed him and take care of him during your stay, I would be happy to agree," he said, his voice carrying a note of relief. "There was supposed to be a servant who tended to him, but I guess they decided to slack off." A shadow crossed his face, his gaze hardening momentarily as if it could pierce through walls.
"It's okay," Lian Yan replied, her voice gentle yet firm. "I need something to do during the day anyway. Nothing is stopping me." Her words brought another smile to Jian Wei's face, a flicker of warmth in the otherwise tense atmosphere.
"I still believe that you should find your uncles," Lian Yan continued, her tone earnest. "The more help, the better. Courtesans can only do so much, like the two of us. Maybe your uncles may know more about how to make the prince agitated." Her suggestion hung in the air, a seed planted in the fertile ground of Jian Wei's thoughts.
There was a pause, a moment of silence as if her words were finally sinking in, weaving their way through the labyrinth of his mind. "I will consider what you said," he replied, his voice thoughtful. With that, he rose from his seat and left the room, leaving Lian Yan alone once again.
Lian Yan found herself alone in the room, the weight of the day's events pressing down on her. She cast a glance at the couch, its inviting form beckoning her. Perhaps it was just the day itself, the emotional toll of the revelations and conversations, but she felt a deep need to rest, to retreat into the sanctuary of sleep. Without further hesitation, she made her way to the couch and lay down, the soft cushions enveloping her in a gentle embrace. As she closed her eyes, the world around her seemed to fade away, the boundaries between reality and dreams blurring into a hazy mist.
As Lian Yan surrendered to the embrace of sleep, Jian Wei wandered through the establishment, his footsteps echoing softly against the polished wooden floors. The air was thick with the scent of incense and the murmur of hushed conversations, a symphony of laughter and music filling the space. Courtesans moved gracefully among the clients, their movements fluid and practiced, a dance as old as time itself. This was a scene Jian Wei had witnessed countless times before, a tableau of fleeting pleasures and transient connections.
Yet, despite the familiarity of the surroundings, his mind was elsewhere, lost in the labyrinth of memories that haunted him. The tragedies that had befallen his father, uncles, brother, and sister were like shadows, dark and unyielding, their tendrils reaching into the present and coloring his every thought. The pain of their past was a constant companion, a reminder of the cruelties of the world and the fragility of the human spirit.
He stood at the edge of the room, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, taking in the scene with a sense of detachment. The courtesans' laughter was like a distant echo, their joy a stark contrast to the weight that pressed down on his heart. And then, his gaze landed on one of the courtesans, her movements a blur of color and grace. For a moment, time seemed to stand still, the world around him fading into a haze of indistinct shapes and sounds.
As he watched her dance, a memory stirred within him, a ghost from the past reaching out to touch the present. He could see her face, a woman from his past, her features etched into his mind with a clarity that was both painful and poignant. The memory was a knife, twisting in his heart, and he closed his eyes, a shuddering breath escaping his lips.
"Have you really turned into the woman who only seeks power?" he murmured, his voice barely audible above the din of the room. It was hard to say who he was referring to, the courtesan before him or the specter from his past. The words hung in the air, a testament to the complexity of his emotions and the depth of his pain. In that moment, he was adrift in a sea of memories, the boundaries between past and present blurring into a haze of indistinct shapes and sounds.
As Jian Wei stood lost in the labyrinth of his thoughts, a mysterious wave seemed to ripple through his mind. The courtesan with the sparkling eyes, the one who had caught his attention amidst the sea of dancers, approached him with a grace that belied the weight of her words. "Boss, are you still in need of help?" she asked, her voice a soft murmur that cut through the din of the room. "Prince Hei An is here again. It seems like he is really taking the full offer."
Jian Wei flinched at the mention of the prince, a shadow crossing his face as the memories of their past encounters surfaced. But he quickly composed himself, a sigh escaping his lips as he steeled himself for the task at hand. He had to appease the prince, to play the role of the dutiful host, even as he plotted the man's downfall. "Put him in the best room," he instructed, his voice steady and calm, a mask of civility that belied the turmoil within.
There was a moment of pause, a silence that stretched between them as the courtesan awaited further instructions. And in that silence, Jian Wei heard the echo of Lian Yan's words, a question that had haunted him since their conversation. "Why didn't you look for your uncles first?" The question reverberated through his mind, a persistent whisper that demanded his attention.
He looked at the courtesan, his gaze steady and resolute, a decision forming in the depths of his mind. "I will be out for a few days," he said, his voice firm and final. "Keep an eye on things while I am gone. Help Yan as well." He referred to Lian Yan only by her first name, a deliberate choice that served to protect her identity. In a place like this, where secrets were currency and discretion was paramount, it was better to err on the side of caution. And besides, there were always more women with the first name Yan, a common enough name that it offered a measure of anonymity.
The courtesan nodded, her eyes reflecting a mixture of understanding and curiosity, but she asked no questions. She knew better than to pry into the boss's affairs, especially when he wore that look of determination, a look that brooked no argument.
As Jian Wei turned and walked away, his mind was already racing ahead, the wheels of his plan turning as he prepared to embark on a journey that would take him away from the familiar confines of the establishment. He surely did change his look a bit with his clothes. "I don't know how long it will take, but I need to find them." It seems like Lian Yan's words had pushed through to him. He was going to find his uncles and get them to assist as well.