The Male Lead's Harem Belongs to Me (GL) - Chapter 4

The pavilion was bustling with excitement and sweat, the atmosphere as hot and intense as a roaring furnace. In contrast to the lively scene inside, Jiang Han and Gu Hanyun felt a cold dread creeping into their hearts.

Jiang Han lowered her voice, “Excuse me, sir, is there something wrong? My friend and I are in a hurry to see Miss Kui’er.”

Gu Hanyun echoed her words, “Exactly.”

Qi Ze listened to their deliberately lowered voices, and the doubt in his eyes deepened.

The young man beside Qi Ze noticed his expression and asked in a low voice, “Uncle, is something wrong with these two?”

Qi Ze nodded, then shook his head, his expression indecipherable.

Before the young man could understand his reaction, Qi Ze suddenly turned and walked towards the two women.

As his footsteps drew nearer, Jiang Han felt her scalp tingle. She took a deep breath and suddenly pulled Gu Hanyun by the arm, dashing towards the exit. Taken by surprise, Qi Ze had not expected such a reaction. As soon as he realized what was happening, he frowned and told the young man, “Chase them.”

Jiang Han pulled Gu Hanyun with all her might, her mind racing with only one thought: run! If Qi Ze saw their faces, it would be disastrous.

Gu Hanyun was also panting heavily. Not only that, she felt like tonight’s experience would haunt her for a year.

Both of them ran as fast as they had ever run in their lives, but a woman’s stamina could not compare to a man’s. When Qi Ze and the young man caught up and pinned them to the ground, Jiang Han finally gave up.

Panting heavily, she couldn’t even speak. She heard the young man ask, “Uncle, do you know these two?”

Jiang Han caught her breath and quickly said, “We haven’t offended you in any way. We don’t know you…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Qi Ze twisted their bodies around.

From Qi Ze’s widened eyes and nostrils, Jiang Han could tell he was shocked. She gave a nervous smile and boldly pretended, “Good sir, do we know each other?”

Gu Hanyun also put on a brave face, “Exactly, do we know each other?”

The two exchanged a glance, and then they saw Qi Ze’s handsome face turn as black as a pot. He gritted his teeth and called out their names one by one, “Jiang, Han, Gu, Han, Yun!”

They both trembled simultaneously. The young man, however, seemed to enjoy the drama, his laughter like that of a fox. “Oh, who would have thought, it’s the Princess.”

He paused, then continued, ‘I didn’t expect the Princess to be so… bold?'”

With each word he spoke, Qi Ze’s face grew darker. The night was filled with a turbulent atmosphere, and it was clear that the Prince’s mansion would not have a peaceful night.

••••

In the warmly lit, fragrant pavilion, the soft glow of candles illuminated the woman’s jade-like face, making her look as beautiful as Xishi.

However, her tranquility was soon interrupted by a fit of coughing. She covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, but it didn’t stop the violent coughing. Shui Lu patted her mistress’s back and frowned, “Miss, the night is cold. Perhaps you should rest?”

Liu Shuwei shook her head and after a long while, calmed down. “What happened at the mansion? Why is there such a commotion tonight?”

Shui Lu shook her head. “I don’t know, Miss. Shall I go and find out?”

Liu Shuwei pondered for a moment, then said, “No need.”

The mansion was usually quiet at night, and such a commotion must mean the prince was angry. And if the prince was angry, he would soon come to see her.

As she expected, the sound of a maid’s announcement soon came from outside the door. Liu Shuwei adjusted her appearance and turned to look at the man who stormed in.

His face was ashen, as if he had been greatly angered. He went straight to the table, poured himself a cup of water, and drank it down in one gulp.

Liu Shuwei walked slowly to Qi Ze’s side and sat down, refilling his cup with tea.

After drinking two cups of tea, Qi Ze’s expression gradually calmed down. But the next moment, as if he had thought of something, he became angry again. Liu Shuwei put down the teapot and looked at Qi Ze with her soft eyes, gently asking, “What happened? Why is Your Highness so angry?”

With Liu Shuwei’s words, Qi Ze quickly told her everything. “… Can you believe it? Those two women actually went to a place like the Seven Treasures Pavilion together? If I hadn’t found them, they would have met the courtesan by now.”

Qi Ze was full of anger, naturally, he didn’t notice the strange expression on Liu Shuwei’s face.

The Seven Treasures Pavilion? The prince went to a brothel? All men are the same. But why would the princess go to such a place? It’s really interesting.

But in a moment, Liu Shuwei adjusted her expression and continued to comfort Qi Ze. Qi Ze’s anger quickly subsided, and he sighed, looking at Liu Shuwei affectionately, “As always, it’s best with you, Weiwei.”

Liu Shuwei smiled lightly, and then coughed again. Qi Ze quickly refilled her cup and wanted to reach out to help her, but then remembered that they were not yet married, so he could only silently retract his hand and said, “Weiwei, it’s cold at night, you should rest first. I’ll marry you soon.”

Liu Shuwei’s eyes flashed slightly, and then she smiled, “Okay, I’ll wait for Your Highness.”

Qi Ze felt even more affection for her and no longer disturbed her. But as he left, Liu Shuwei vaguely heard Qi Ze say, “Don’t give them food tomorrow. I want to see if they dare go to that kind of place again.”

Not allowing them to eat for making a mistake was an old trick of Qi Ze’s.

At that time, Jiang Han and Gu Hanyun, who were still kneeling in the ancestral hall, naturally didn’t know what fate awaited them tomorrow. When they were sure that Qi Ze would not come, they both relaxed involuntarily.

Since they had both been caught going out, Jiang Han couldn’t help but feel a sense of sympathy for Gu Hanyun. She moved her knees, which were a little sore from kneeling, but hesitated to speak first.

When Gu Hanyun saw her move, she was startled and subconsciously tugged at her robe, saying, “This is the ancestral hall, you can’t move once you kneel down.”

Jiang Han turned her head, “What will happen if I move?”

“If the prince finds out, he will be even angrier. This is disrespectful.”

“Oh,” Jiang Han nodded indifferently, but still knelt more upright. She was afraid of nothing else, just that she would collapse the original owner’s persona and expose something.

Half an hour passed, and Jiang Han couldn’t help but move. Another half an hour passed, and Jiang Han felt her legs go numb. She turned her head to look at Gu Hanyun, and saw a hint of endurance on her face.

Jiang Han’s eyes lit up. “Does your knee hurt?”

Gu Hanyun, who seemed very well-behaved in the ancestral hall, didn’t even reply to Jiang Han, she just nodded.

Jiang Han said again, “The prince should be asleep now.”

Gu Hanyun nodded again.

Jiang Han breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, and sat down on the ground, thinking, ‘Oh well, if it’s going to happen, let it happen. Who cares about kneeling?’

Gu Hanyun was obviously startled by Jiang Han’s action. She exclaimed, “You… Princess, this is disrespectful. If the prince finds out…”

Jiang Han interrupted her, “Isn’t the prince asleep?”

Gu Hanyun paused, and Jiang Han looked at her knee and said, “If it hurts, take a rest. No one is watching anyway.”

Gu Hanyun showed a hint of interest, but still adhered to the rules. Jiang Han shook her head and sighed, “Such a rigid little girl.”

Gu Hanyun: “……”

Half an hour later, Jiang Han and Gu Hanyun sat side by side, and Jiang Han said, “Speaking of which, have you seen that courtesan?”

“Of course,” Gu Hanyun’s face flushed with pride, “I’ve seen her more than once. We’re good friends!”

Jiang Han looked at her curiously and asked, “Is she beautiful?”

“The courtesan?” Gu Hanyun seemed to be recalling something, and the corners of her mouth almost reached her ears. “Of course, Kui’er is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen!”

“Really?” Jiang Han was excited. “What does she look like? Describe her to me.”

“……”

Outside, a cool breeze was blowing, and the atmosphere inside the ancestral hall was suddenly very pleasant. Both of them seemed to have rediscovered each other, and while they marveled at how they were so in sync with each other, they also lamented that they had met too late.

••••

The next day, the two women pretended to drag their weary bodies back to their rooms. Although they hadn’t knelt all night, they hadn’t slept at all. When they returned to their rooms, Jiang Han felt both sleepy and hungry.

She instinctively called for Chun Zhu to get her some food, but Chun Zhu looked embarrassed and said, “Princess, yesterday the prince ordered that the kitchen should not prepare any meals for you and Lady Gu today.”

Jiang Han was furious and immediately jumped out of bed, gnashing her teeth, “So, that means I can’t eat today?”

Chun Zhu nodded sympathetically.

Jiang Han gritted her teeth. Damn you, male lead! I’ve been punished, knelt in the ancestral hall, and not allowed to go out for a month. And now you’re cutting off my food!

It was infuriating!

While Jiang Han was mentally plotting eighteen ways to kill the male lead, a maid suddenly came in and respectfully said to Jiang Han, “Princess, Miss Liu is asking to see you.”

Jiang Han frowned in confusion. Why would Liu Shuwei come to see her now?

“Let her in,” Jiang Han said.

The maid went out, and after a while, Liu Shuwei appeared in front of Jiang Han. She was wearing a green dress, and her long hair was pulled back into a bun with a simple hairpin, looking simple, elegant, and yet dignified.

Jiang Han stared at Liu Shuwei’s face and sighed twice, then her eyes were firmly glued to the food box in Liu Shuwei’s hand. But soon she looked away, put on an air of dignity, and asked reservedly, “Miss Liu, what brings you here?”

Seeing Jiang Han’s reluctance to look but her obvious desire, Liu Shuwei couldn’t help but smile. She curtsied and then said to Jiang Han, “I heard that the princess has no appetite today, so I brought some food I made myself. I hope the princess will try it.”

Jiang Han’s eyebrows twitched. Look at how eloquent she is. Being forbidden to eat by the male lead was described as having no appetite, coupled with her beautiful face and gentle tone, who wouldn’t fall for it?

Jiang Han swallowed involuntarily but still pretended to be reserved, turning her head and waving her hand vaguely, “Put it there. I’ll try it when I’ve rested.”

“Yes,” Liu Shuwei readily placed the food box on the table.

Jiang Han coughed uncomfortably and said, “Thank you for your kindness today.”

Liu Shuwei smiled slightly, her gaze lingering on Jiang Han’s face, and a curve appeared at the corner of her red lips, “Princess, you’re too kind. We’ll be a family soon, there’s no need to be so polite.”

Jiang Han paused slightly, looked up at Liu Shuwei’s smiling eyes, and her heart skipped a beat.

Damn it, what are you thinking, Jiang Han! She’s here to show off, how can you be captivated by her smile?

While secretly admiring Liu Shuwei’s smile, Jiang Han berated herself in her heart. She sat up straight and looked at Liu Shuwei with the original owner’s sharp eyes. And Liu Shuwei did not retreat. A playful look flashed in her eyes, thinking to herself, ‘So the Princess is finally feeling restless, huh?’

Under Liu Shuwei’s playful gaze, Jiang Han suddenly curled her lips and said, “You’re right, Sister Wei. We will be a family soon. Since we’re family, there’s no need to be so formal. I’d like to have lunch and dinner with you today.”

No matter if she’s here to show off or not, the most important thing is to solve the problem of lunch and dinner first.

Liu Shuwei had considered many possible reactions from Jiang Han, but this one was completely unexpected.

Liu Shuwei was silent for a moment, then slowly smiled and said, “Of course, I would be delighted to have dinner with the Princess.”

Author’s Note:

When the prince goes to the brothel

Liu Shuwei: Heh, all men are the same

When Jiang Han goes to the brothel

Liu Shuwei: This woman is really interesting

Jiang Han: Abba abba abba, got a free meal hehe