The Male Lead's Harem Belongs to Me (GL) - Chapter 24.1
The night wind was bleak, and the world was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.
Jiang Han’s breath hitched for a moment, and she said in a panic, “Yo-yo-yo… Your Highness, why have you come?”
Qi Ze’s face twitched, and he said expressionlessly, “If I hadn’t come, were you going to take all my people to the Seven Treasures Pavilion?”
Jiang Han gave a sheepish smile and said, “How could that be? The sisters were just a little tired of staying in the backyard, so I thought I’d take them out for a stroll since it’s cooler at night. We definitely wouldn’t go to that Seven Treasures Pavilion.”
Qi Ze stared coldly at Jiang Han. Although he didn’t stop her from speaking, his expression clearly said, “I don’t believe a word you’re saying.”
Jiang Han had no choice but to shut up with an awkward smile. Chang Qianjiao, who was standing beside her, couldn’t bear it any longer and explained, “Your Highness, the Princess really only intended to take us out for a stroll. As for why we changed into men’s clothes, it’s because we were afraid it wouldn’t be safe for us women to be out at night…”
“Oh?” Qi Ze sneered, “You know it’s not safe at night and you still go out? I gave you the freedom to enter and exit the Prince’s mansion as you pleased, and this is how you use it? It seems I’ve been too lenient with you. Other women stay in the backyard and don’t get bored, but you do?”
The air froze again. Qi Ze turned to Jiang Han and said coldly, “As the Princess, you should set a good example for the women in the backyard. But what have you done? You not only went out to a brothel on your own, but now you’re trying to take them with you. Is there any trace of a respectable lady’s demeanor in your actions? Do you know the Three Obediences and Four Virtues? Are you worthy of the title of Princess?”
Qi Ze’s accusations were loud and clear, as if Jiang Han were a heinous criminal, unworthy of her position.
Jiang Han lowered her head, her long eyelashes trembling, looking like she was blaming herself and regretting her actions after being humiliated. In her heart, she had already cursed Qi Ze a thousand times.
Liu Shuwei, seeing Jiang Han like this, couldn’t bear it. She raised her eyes and slowly said, “Your Highness, Princess, she…”
Before she could finish speaking, Qi Ze turned to look at her. Unlike his coldness towards Jiang Han, Qi Ze’s expression was both pained and disappointed. “Weiwei, I didn’t expect you to join her in making trouble. In my heart, you’ve always been gentle and sensible. But now, look at yourself. Where is there any trace of a woman’s dignity? You’ve really… disappointed me.”
Liu Shuwei was slightly stunned, her eyes filled with surprise. She didn’t seem to expect that the gentle person she knew would say such words. She lowered her eyes, her fingers tightly gripping her clothes. Could it be that what she did was really wrong? Shouldn’t she have joined them in making trouble?
He was disappointed in her. Liu Shuwei’s mood was complex. She didn’t show as much panic as she thought she would, but she wasn’t completely calm either.
Qi Ze didn’t care about any of this. After scolding everyone one by one, he rubbed his temples wearily and said, “Since that’s the case, from today until the Hundred Flowers Banquet begins, you are not to go out. Your food and salary will be halved for three months, and you must obtain my permission before going out in the future.”
Then, he looked at Gu Hanyun and the other two and said, “Since you like to be with the Princess so much, you will move out of the mansion tomorrow and come here to reflect on your actions with the Princess.”
Qi Ze glanced at the silent group, shook his head again, turned around, and left. After he left, many people appeared outside the courtyard, presumably to keep an eye on them.
After Qi Ze walked away, the atmosphere in the courtyard remained gloomy. Gu Hanyun tried to lighten the mood, “Well, you could say this is a good thing. At least we can live and eat together from now on, that’s great.”
Chang Qianjiao and Gu Hanyun exchanged glances. Gu Hanyun secretly glanced at Jiang Han, signaling Chang Qianjiao to comfort her.
Chang Qianjiao cleared her throat and said, “Yes, yes, this is what they call a blessing in disguise. Princess, don’t be sad. Don’t take the Prince’s words to heart. In our hearts, you’re the best Princess.”
Yu Weiwan’s furrowed brows slowly relaxed, and she also comforted her softly, “Princess, I’ve always been a pessimistic person. Since coming to the Prince’s mansion, I’ve been depressed every day. But because of you, I’m happy every day now. It’s my blessing to meet all of you sisters. So, in my heart, you’re the best Princess.”
Gu Hanyun also echoed, “Yes, yes,” and gently nudged Liu Shuwei with her elbow, signaling her to say a few words.
Liu Shuwei could only see Jiang Han’s lowered head, unable to see her expression. But she had a feeling that the Princess wasn’t really sad.
She tentatively reached out to hold Jiang Han’s hand. Jiang Han slightly raised her head, but her expression wasn’t as calm as she had expected. Liu Shuwei’s eyes flickered. Could it be that the Princess was really sad?
Just as everyone was worried that Jiang Han had been hit hard, Jiang Han said with a bitter face, “The Prince said that our food and salary will be halved. Doesn’t that mean we’ll only get half of our monthly allowance for the next three months?”
Liu Shuwei: “…”
“Pfft,” Liu Shuwei laughed. She knew that the Princess wouldn’t be sad because of the Prince’s words. As expected, the Princess’s sadness wasn’t about the Prince’s words, but about not being able to spend his money.
“Princess,” Liu Shuwei said, noticing everyone looking at her. She restrained her laughter, but still looked at Jiang Han with a smile, “Did you forget that we need the Prince’s permission to go out from now on? I’m afraid we won’t be able to spend any money.”
Jiang Han was truly sad now, not because she couldn’t spend the male lead’s money, but because she needed permission to go out. She sadly took out a pot of wine and said, “How could this be? We have no freedom.”
Jiang Han’s sad appearance was quite funny, but Yu Weiwan couldn’t laugh. Perhaps it was Jiang Han’s words that triggered her memories. She sat at the table, took Jiang Han’s wine pot, poured herself a cup of wine, and said, “We women have never been free. When we’re young, we’re required by our parents to read, write, and learn etiquette. When we grow up, we’re required to learn the Three Obediences and Four Virtues, and learn to serve our husbands. After having children, we’re required to raise them and serve our parents-in-law. We have no right to choose throughout our lives, but are forced to make one choice after another, whether we want to or not.”
Yu Weiwan’s words made those who were still laughing feel melancholic.
Gu Hanyun said, “Actually, what I loved most when I was little was practicing martial arts, but my mother said that girls should learn music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and needlework. Martial arts were not for girls. I listened to her. Later, after my coming-of-age ceremony, my mother was anxious to find me a marriage. Later, my father asked me to marry the Prince, and I had no power to resist, so I had to come.”
Chang Qianjiao also fell into deep thought, “My life has been smooth sailing. I was loved by my parents since I was little, and I could get whatever I wanted. I was very naive at that time, thinking that I could find a man I loved to marry in the future. But later, after I married the Prince, I also lost my freedom, trapped in the backyard of the Prince’s mansion every day, and I had to report to the Prince when I went in and out. And the Prince was often busy and didn’t return to the mansion…”
Listening to everyone’s words, Jiang Han also fell into memories. It seemed that women’s fate had been out of their control since ancient times, whether they were from royal families or commoners. Once they got married, they could see their whole lives at a glance. If their husbands were gentle, it would be better. If they met some terrible people, their lives wouldn’t be much different from hell.
In the final analysis, it was because women from this era were shackled by fate from birth, and were not tolerated by the world if they left their husbands and families.
Liu Shuwei’s eyes flickered several times, and finally she slowly said, “Women should be self-reliant.”
“Yes!” Jiang Han suddenly slammed the table and said, “Women should be self-reliant! Sisters, I suddenly remembered something…”
Everyone was startled by her, but after regaining their senses, they found that Jiang Han’s eyes were shining brightly.
Gu Hanyun asked, “What’s making Sister Jiang so excited?”
What Jiang Han wanted to say was naturally the matter of opening a shop that she had discussed with Qi Ru last time. Who was Qi Ru? A business genius with a strong background. Cooperating with him might not guarantee a huge profit, but at least a substantial one.
Right now, she had a business opportunity that Qi Ru valued. As long as she negotiated well, she might be a small rich woman by the time she divorced the male lead in the future. Moreover, she didn’t have to worry about Qi Ru setting her up. After all, her third brother was also a business genius. If Qi Ru wanted to set her up, he would have to see if Jiang Mai agreed.
To take it a step further, even if she didn’t cooperate with Qi Ru, with Jiang Mai around, they could go solo. However, this plan was naturally not as good as cooperating with Qi Ru. After all, Qi Ru’s background and reputation were there, and his business circle was naturally wider.
Jiang Han told Gu Hanyun and the others about the business opportunity in her hand without reservation. By the end, she stood up excitedly, as if she had become the next Bill Gates, radiating the light of wealth, “So, sisters, as long as we invest some capital to cooperate with the Fourth Prince, we’ll have a lot of money coming in every day without leaving our homes. Even if the Prince cuts off our monthly allowance, we can still live well!”
Gu Hanyun was like a brainwashed fan girl at this time, “Great! I support it! I have a lot of private money. Princess, how much do you want? I’ll give it all to you!”
Chang Qianjiao didn’t act like Gu Hanyun. She thought for a moment and said, “Princess, is this idea reliable? We’ll rarely be able to go out in the future. If the shop opens, won’t the Fourth Prince have to handle all the business? Is he willing?”
Yu Weiwan also said, “The Fourth Prince is so busy every day. If we leave it all to him, I’m afraid it won’t work.”
Jiang Han waved her hand and said, “You don’t have to worry about that. My third brother will help. Now, we just need to come up with some capital.”
Liu Shuwei had been silent all this time. Her life had been supported by her mother’s dowry, but now that dowry had been squandered by the Liu family, and she still owed Jiang Han ten thousand taels of silver. She was really poor and couldn’t come up with any money.
After some discussion, everyone went back to get their money.
Jiang Han knew Liu Shuwei’s situation, so after everyone left, she said to Liu Shuwei, “Sister, actually, I had another idea that I didn’t mention earlier. Our shop will definitely have no customers at the beginning, and this kind of game also needs someone to teach, so we might need to find a few people to play at the door at the beginning. And to attract playing customers, we need some attractive means.”
Jiang Han slowly spoke, meeting Liu Shuwei’s eyes and continuing, “My idea is to attract customers to play at the door by offering free snacks. Since we’re using snacks to attract them, the snacks must be special enough, preferably the kind that no shop on the market sells. So I’m wondering if you could make some snacks on that day, of course, I won’t let you do it for nothing, I’ll pay you…”
Liu Shuwei had completely understood Jiang Han’s intention. Because she was afraid that she didn’t have money to invest, she used this excuse to give her money. Although Jiang Han spoke seriously, looking like she was doing business, she still saw the nervousness in her small movements.
What was she nervous about? Was she afraid of hurting her self-esteem?
Liu Shuwei felt both bitter and warm in her heart. She looked at Jiang Han, her lips curving into a gentle smile, “Of course I can. If it were someone else, I wouldn’t agree, but if it’s you, sister, I can.”
“That’s great!” Jiang Han couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, smiling so wide that her eyes disappeared, “Then I’ll trouble you, sister. I’ll go get the money now.”
After saying that, she left in a hurry, as if she was afraid that Liu Shuwei would change her mind in the next second. Liu Shuwei looked at Jiang Han’s back, her eyes full of tenderness. She knew that Jiang Han was good to her.
Soon, Gu Hanyun and the others brought the money. After handing the money to Jiang Han, they all asked about Liu Shuwei’s whereabouts. Jiang Han said, “She’s in the room,” then picked up the account book and began to record everyone’s capital.
Yu Weiwan was the first to pay, and after paying, she excused herself to go to the bathroom, then secretly went to Liu Shuwei’s door. She stood at the door for a long time, hesitating, and finally mustered up the courage to knock on Liu Shuwei’s door.
Liu Shuwei was very surprised to see Yu Weiwan when she opened the door, and then welcomed her in, poured her a cup of tea, and asked, “Why are you here, Wanwan?”
Yu Weiwan tucked the hair behind her ear and said, “Weiwei, I ate the snacks you made when we came to play the other day. I think they tasted very good, so I can’t forget them. I wonder if you have time to make some more, or I can pay for some. What do you think?”
This was the first time Yu Weiwan had taken the initiative to show kindness. She was afraid that she wouldn’t express herself well and cause Liu Shuwei to be sensitive, so she looked up at her nervously after speaking.
Liu Shuwei was stunned for a moment, and her eyes softened. She chuckled and said, “Why are you also thinking about these snacks, Wanwan? The Princess asked me to make some to attract customers earlier. It seems that my snacks do taste good.”
Yu Weiwan was stunned at first, and then overjoyed after hearing Liu Shuwei’s words. Shouldn’t she have thought of that? Someone like the Princess wouldn’t put Weiwei in an awkward position. Compared to the Princess, her excuse was clumsy.
Liu Shuwei continued to smile, “If you really want to eat, Wanwan, I’ll make some later and share them with everyone.”
“Really?” Yu Weiwan smiled, “Then I’ll trouble you, Weiwei.” Since the Princess had already made arrangements, she didn’t need to add extra work for Liu Shuwei.
While they were talking and laughing, Liu Shuwei’s door was knocked again. She went to open the door and saw Chang Qianjiao’s face. Before she could speak, Liu Shuwei smiled, “Are you also here to buy snacks, Jiaojiao?”
Chang Qianjiao, who was about to speak, was confused.
Liu Shuwei got up, revealing Yu Weiwan sitting in the room.
A moment later, Liu Shuwei’s door was knocked again. Sure enough, the person who came in was Gu Hanyun, and the excuse was the same, buying snacks.
Liu Shuwei felt warm and amused. She invited them into the room. Gu Hanyun looked at the other two people in Liu Shuwei’s room, exchanged glances, and then smiled in unison.
On the other side, Jiang Han put away everyone’s money, and when she looked up, she found that no one was there. She scratched her head in confusion, and then saw the four people walking in hand in hand.
Jiang Han was confused. What happened? Did I miss something?
Liu Shuwei held a plate of snacks and shook it at Jiang Han, “Princess, would you like some snacks?”
Jiang Han’s eyes lit up, and she immediately forgot about those little questions, saying, “Yes, yes, yes!”
She quickly stuffed one into her mouth, revealing a delighted expression, “As expected of what you made, sister, it’s delicious!”
Everyone couldn’t help but laugh at her appearance.
The night wind outside was cold, but it couldn’t blow away the warmth in the room.