A Time-Traveling Zombie Romance (GL) - Chapter 15

“Please, young master.” The madam led me to a room on the fourth floor, opened the door, and gestured politely for me to enter.

“Thank you.” I clasped my fists and stepped inside.

As the door clicked shut behind me, the room instantly fell silent. I let out a faint, scornful smile and walked further in.

I remembered the words my father had said to me that morning in the study…

“Xiaoqi, to strike at Third Prince’s influence, you must first act within the capital. According to my inquiries, the area where Third Prince’s power is most concentrated in the city is a brothel called Zui Meng Pavilion. The courtesan Menghui is the head there, responsible for gathering intelligence and executing tasks for Third Prince. You can enter and gradually weaken this faction. The intelligence in Zui Meng Pavilion is sharp; I believe once you’re there, Menghui will realize you are the heir and invite you to be her guest. At that time, you must gain her trust. Only then can you further understand and dismantle Third Prince’s influence.”

Step by step, I moved further into the room, my heart beating audibly in the quiet.

I gently drew aside the beaded curtain and saw two women standing with their backs to me, quietly gazing out the window.

The one in pink had to be Menghui, but who was the woman in green? Her back seemed familiar… I pondered carefully.

“Big sister Meng, he’s here.” Suddenly, the green-clad woman, whose face seemed familiar and whose voice I recognized, spoke.

It… it was her? My eyes widened in shock, and I stepped back, only to trip over something.

“Ah! Bang!!!”

Both Qingyang and Menghui turned around at once. Seeing me sprawled on the floor, they laughed—Qingyang loudly, Menghui with a slight smile.

I looked up at Menghui, momentarily stunned. I had always thought my senior sister and Qingyang were the most beautiful girls, but Menghui’s appearance surpassed even my senior sister’s by a degree. In a daze, I remained sitting on the floor, but quickly recovered, stood up, and clasped my fists. “I suppose this lady in pink is Miss Menghui?”

“Yes, young master.” Menghui had withdrawn her smile, her expression slightly cold as she bowed.

“Hey, boy, I said we’d meet again, didn’t I? Haha.” Qingyang, excited, stepped forward and tried to hook her hand around my neck to plant a kiss. I hastily stepped back three paces.

“Hmph, truly lacking in taste,” Qingyang pouted in dissatisfaction.

“Please sit, young master.” Menghui led me to the table.

“Thank you.” I glanced at Qingyang and sat down.

Qingyang plopped down carelessly, while Menghui waited until both of us were seated before gracefully sitting herself and pouring tea for us with her delicate hands. “May I ask your name, young master?”

“Uh… I am Zhang Xiaoqi.” I paused briefly before speaking. There was no need to hide my identity now—they already knew.

“Zhang Xiaoqi? … Not a very pleasant name…” Qingyang looked down, playing with a strand of her black hair.

“Y-your name, Qingyang, isn’t that pleasant either.”

“Hmph, at least it’s better than yours.” Qingyang tilted her head aside and snorted.

I wanted to correct her posture, as I would with my senior sister, but I dared not. I feared she would suddenly hook her hand around my neck and plant another kiss.

“So, Young Master Zhang, you actually know Qingyang!” Menghui said, feigning surprise.

“Of course I know her. She just kissed me twice outside,” I said, glaring at Qingyang angrily.

Qingyang understood my thoughts immediately. She straightened her chest, lifted her chin, raised her eyebrows, and teased, “What? Do you want to see me kiss you again now?”

“Okay, I believe you, which is why I’m not approaching you,” I said, deliberately shifting slightly away.

This made Qingyang frown and glare, while I turned to Menghui. “You don’t have to call me Young Master Zhang. Just call me Xiaoqi, and I will call you Menghui, alright?” I needed to gain her trust.

“Very well, then Menghui shall follow your preference.” Menghui nodded faintly.

“Xiaoqi? Small-minded? You really are stingy.” Qingyang interrupted.

“Eh? How am I stingy?” I shot her an annoyed look.

“You didn’t even let me kiss you. Isn’t that stingy? Usually, when other young masters want to kiss me, I’m more than happy.” Qingyang pouted.

I blushed—not from shyness, but from anger. My hands clenched under the table, suppressing the urge to smack her.

After a deep breath, I calmed myself and turned to Menghui. “Menghui, why did you summon me here?” I asked directly.

“No particular reason. Earlier, while you were drinking, we were immersed in music. I was curious because someone as handsome as you would surely captivate every girl,” Menghui said lightly. I believed her curiosity but not any “heartthrob” claims; I saw no such emotions in her eyes.

“Hehe, it’s nothing. I was just a bit hungry, that’s all,” I said casually.

Her reaction was obvious—Menghui’s lips twitched slightly. The heir of the Fourth Prince getting hungry? Impossible!

“Haha, sister Meng, someone actually got hungry while you were playing? I’ve never seen that before,” Qingyang laughed, holding her stomach.

As the leader of Zui Meng Pavilion, Menghui quickly composed herself and said, “Sister Qingyang, being hungry is natural.”

“Yeah, that’s true.” Qingyang glanced at me, still laughing, making me feel a bit embarrassed.

“I did hear your music, Menghui. It’s truly beautiful. Had I not been hungry, I would have been mesmerized like the others,” I added, softening the mood.

We chatted casually for a while, with Qingyang interjecting playful remarks. I repeatedly restrained myself from hitting her, silently repeating, “I am virtuous; I will not quarrel with children.”

Menghui, watching the childish banter, wondered if this really was Zhang Xiaoqi, Fourth Prince’s heir.

After some time, I noticed it was getting late. I stood and bowed slightly to Menghui. “Menghui, it’s getting late. I should return. Let’s end here for tonight; I’ll come again tomorrow.”

“Alright. I will wait for you, Xiaoqi,” Menghui said lightly, nodding.

Just as I turned to leave, Qingyang called out, “Hey, stingy boy, shouldn’t you give me a goodbye kiss before leaving?”

“You… Haven’t you kissed me enough today? Don’t get frisky; there are plenty of men downstairs,” I said, glaring at her. “And don’t call me stingy.”

Qingyang pouted. “You’re stingy because you didn’t let me kiss you!”

I covered my face with my hand and muttered, “Oh my God,” before running out, ignoring her protests. I could no longer tolerate her and had to leave this troublesome place.

After leaving Zui Meng Pavilion, I returned to the Wang Mansion with the servants waiting outside. Soon, I encountered my mother, Xiaoyun. She smelled rouge on me and asked about it. I simply said I had helped a girl who had fallen on the street, which explained the scent. Xiaoyun didn’t press further.

I rushed to my room, called my four maids to prepare bath supplies, and headed straight to the bathroom.

Meanwhile, back in Menghui’s room, a masked figure dressed in black appeared. The shadowy figure said to Menghui and Qingyang, “Your master orders that you must gain the heir’s trust at all costs and seize the opportunity to take his life.”

“Yes, Menghui understands,” Menghui said coldly, bowing.

In the blink of an eye, the masked figure disappeared.

“Sister Meng, must we really take his life?” Qingyang muttered, dazed.

“Sister Qingyang, we cannot show any emotion toward the enemy,” Menghui replied, her words devoid of feeling.

“No! I don’t want to. Why must our master control our feelings? I refuse!” Qingyang shouted, shaking her head and stepping back.

“Because you allowed your feelings for the enemy to arise,” Menghui said coldly.

“I don’t care!!!” Qingyang screamed, ran back to her room, and lay on her bed, heartbroken.