The Male Lead's Harem Belongs to Me (GL) - Chapter 45
The pool seemed to be divided into two parts. One part was Gu Hanyun’s side, where the three of them were playing and laughing, the water being stirred up and falling back down, creating a chaotic scene.
The other part was Jiang Han’s side, where the air and water seemed to have frozen. Jiang Han could feel the softness and smoothness pressed against her back. She didn’t dare to move, a warm current rising from her back and spreading all over her body.
“Wei… Weiwei,” Jiang Han’s breath trembled, her long, curled eyelashes fluttering. She only called her name, but was startled by the sound of her own voice, soft and weak, like a gentle plea to Liu Shuwei.
Liu Shuwei’s eyes darkened slightly, and she moved closer to Jiang Han’s earlobe, gently biting the rounded lobe. Just a light nip, but it felt like countless electric currents were shooting out from her earlobe, instantly surging through her body. Jiang Han’s legs went weak, and half of her body went numb.
When she came to her senses, she was already in Liu Shuwei’s arms, and she heard a muffled laugh from the woman beside her ear. Jiang Han blushed for no reason.
“What are you laughing at?”
Liu Shuwei helped her up, her eyes filled with watery light, “Laughing at sister for being unsteady.”
Jiang Han gritted her teeth, glaring at her in embarrassment and anger. Liu Shuwei was completely unafraid, even raising an eyebrow, her gaze lingering on Jiang Han, teasing and unrestrained.
Looking at her fair and rounded shoulders, her dark hair wet with water, or her watery eyes, Liu Shuwei was increasingly amazed.
When the expression on the person in front of her became more and more embarrassed and angry, Liu Shuwei was momentarily dazed, and then suddenly someone was clinging to her. Their bodies pressed together, Jiang Han hugged her tightly, and bit her earlobe in a vengeful nip.
Liu Shuwei let out a muffled groan, her body and voice becoming softer than water and softer than clouds at that moment.
Jiang Han, after biting her, triumphantly pulled back, plunging into the water behind her, swimming towards Gu Hanyun’s side, secretly looking back with a cunning light in her eyes.
Liu Shuwei stood there, watching Jiang Han’s graceful back, slowly curling her lips.
••••
The next day, as the cold wind picked up, the General’s Mansion brought back news from outside, concerning Chang Qianjiao.
The matter of them being dismissed by the prince had long been known throughout the city. They were now considered “celebrities” in the capital. People didn’t know the inside story, only what Qi Ze had done. But for such royal secrets, the common people were extremely curious, with many different versions circulating.
Nearly half a month had passed, but people were still eager to talk about it to everyone they met. Just today, a servant from the Prince’s Mansion revealed some of the inside story.
The servant vaguely suggested that the matter was caused by the former concubine Chang, who seemed to have some connection with the Young Marquis of Pingyang, which led to them all being dismissed.
Gossip always spreads the fastest among people, and when it involves royal secrets, it spreads like wildfire, becoming more and more outrageous as it goes.
From “Concubine Chang seems to have a connection with the Young Marquis of Pingyang” to “Concubine Chang and the Young Marquis of Pingyang have a close relationship” to “Concubine Chang and the Young Marquis of Pingyang are secretly engaged” and finally to “Concubine Chang and the Young Marquis of Pingyang were caught in adultery in the Prince’s Mansion,” all in just half a day.
Since there was speculation about Chang Qianjiao, the other women were inevitably suspected of being dismissed by the prince because they had affairs with other men.
The women in the General’s Mansion were furious, especially Chang Qianjiao, whose usually beautiful face was contorted with anger. “Me and that scoundrel secretly engaged? That’s laughable. They don’t have any evidence. Even if all the men in the world were dead, I would never like that scoundrel!”
Gu Hanyun patted Chang Qianjiao’s back to calm her down, also cursing, “This is ridiculous. Where did these people get their information?”
“It’s just ridiculous. They don’t even think before spreading rumors.”
After everyone cursed for a while, they gradually calmed down. Jiang Han said, “The inside story of this matter should only be known to us. The prince cleared the room at that time, which means…”
They looked at each other, all knowing what the others were thinking. Was the prince trying to take revenge on them?
On the other side, in Marquis of Pingyang’s Mansion.
Rong Shaoqing was kneeling obediently on a washboard, letting the woman beside her pull her ear, crying and begging for mercy.
The woman said, “Can’t you two stop causing trouble? Rong Shaoqing, I’m asking you, what’s going on with that concubine Chang? She’s the prince’s woman, how dare you touch her?”
Rong Shaoqing covered her ears, tearfully saying, “Mother, I don’t know. I really don’t know who Chang Qianjiao is. I don’t even know her.”
“Still dare to talk back?” Mother Chen tightened her grip, saying, “Have you heard what the rumors outside are saying? Could it be that you were really caught in bed by the prince?”
“Mother? What are you talking about? You know I…”
“Then why are people talking about you and not someone else? Do you think they just made it up?”
Rong Shaoqing was about to cry. She had never even met Chang Qianjiao, the prince’s concubine. How could they connect her with her?
Rong Shaoqing didn’t know that this matter started on the night of the Lantern Festival. After she was caught by the fifth princess, she was annoyed and anxious because she was tricked by Chang Qianjiao and then entangled by the fifth princess. So, she had a flash of inspiration and told the fifth princess righteously that she liked the woman in red.
Rong Shaoqing didn’t know who she was, only saw her in the maple forest. At that time, she was with the princess, so she thought she was just a friend the princess had invited out. And because she left early, she missed the chance to know Chang Qianjiao’s identity.
She had only seen Chang Qianjiao, not knowing her name or anything else. After all, she was just the prince’s concubine. If the prince hadn’t dismissed so many wives and concubines at once, she probably wouldn’t have known that the prince had a concubine named Chang Qianjiao.
In Rong Shaoqing’s eyes, the woman in red was as annoying as the fifth princess. So, she used her as an excuse to reject the fifth princess’s feelings. Maybe the fifth princess would let her go if she knew she had someone she liked. As for the woman in red, she had tricked her twice, so it wouldn’t be a big deal if she tricked her once, right?
But she never expected that the fifth princess not only knew the woman but also took it seriously. The next day, she told Qi Ze about it, which led to the series of events that followed.
Rong Shaoqing was completely confused. But soon, she wouldn’t have time to think, because the fifth princess arrived with her people.
The fifth princess had thought about it for a long time and still couldn’t believe that she was inferior to a married woman. So, she came with one purpose: to take Rong Shaoqing to confront Chang Qianjiao and make Rong Shaoqing choose.
Now that Chang Qianjiao had been dismissed and their affair was known to the world, the fifth princess didn’t believe she was inferior to a discarded wife. She wanted to see if Rong Shaoqing still had any shame, having caused her to be dismissed and ruined her reputation. Did she still have the face to be with her?
Under Mother Chen’s panicked gaze, Rong Shaoqing was escorted onto the carriage by the princess’s people.
General’s Mansion.
They were halfway through discussing countermeasures when a commotion came from outside. Before the servant could report, a group of well-trained guards forcibly opened the gates of the General’s Mansion. The fifth princess, in a gorgeous dress, appeared before them.
The man who was escorted in behind her made them grind their teeth in hatred.
The fifth princess didn’t say a word, only ordered the guards to push Rong Shaoqing in front of her and Chang Qianjiao, then said coldly, “Rong Shaoqing, I’ll give you one last chance. Are you going to choose Chang Qianjiao or me?”
Chang Qianjiao was stunned, clearly confused by the scene before her.
The next second, Rong Shaoqing raised her head, saying “ouch,” and met Chang Qianjiao’s eyes.
In that instant, Rong Shaoqing’s mind exploded, exclaiming, “You’re Chang Qianjiao?”
Chang Qianjiao gave her a forced smile, “Rong, Shao, Qing!”
Rong Shaoqing finally understood. The clues in her mind instantly connected, followed by a series of “Oh sh1t”. So she was Chang Qianjiao. No wonder the fifth princess’s expression was both hateful and strange when she said she liked the woman in red, as if she knew her.
How could she not know her?
Rong Shaoqing felt a pang of guilt. Her casual remark had caused her to be dismissed by the prince and bear a bad reputation. She was a man, so it didn’t matter as much, but Chang Qianjiao was a woman. Her reputation was ruined, and her life was over.
Rong Shaoqing stammered, “I… I… I…”
Her mind was a mess, and she didn’t know what to say. The fifth princess said, “What ‘I’? Didn’t you hear me tell you to choose? Didn’t you tell me yourself that you liked Chang Qianjiao?”
“Myself? Like?” Chang Qianjiao repeated those two words through gritted teeth, then angrily said, “Bullshit!”
Rong Shaoqing didn’t dare to say anything. She really wanted to slap herself and swell her lying mouth. But facing the fifth princess’s constant questioning, Rong Shaoqing could only blink repeatedly.
Chang Qianjiao had already realized what was happening. She bowed to the fifth princess and was about to explain when Rong Shaoqing suddenly shouted, “I choose Chang Qianjiao! I… I like her! I fell in love with her at first sight! I like her!”
Rong Shaoqing, blushing, looked at Chang Qianjiao and said, “If you’re willing to give me a chance to pursue you, I… I’ll treat you well!”
Chang Qianjiao’s eyes were twitching. She almost laughed at Rong Shaoqing’s words. Love at first sight, my foot! And pursue her? Don’t think she couldn’t see that she just didn’t want to marry the fifth princess.
Chang Qianjiao ignored her and turned to the fifth princess, explaining the whole story. She finished by saying, “Your Highness, please rest assured, there has never been any affair between us. Just take his words as him talking nonsense.”
Rong Shaoqing: “…”
The fifth princess narrowed her eyes and raised an eyebrow, “No affair? Then why did Shaoqing risk jumping off a horse to save you? And why did she tell me she liked you at the Lantern Festival?”
Chang Qianjiao: “…?”
Chang Qianjiao couldn’t understand. She had explained so clearly, but the fifth princess still doubted her.
Chang Qianjiao was about to explain again when the fifth princess gave a cold smile and said, “Fine, Rong Shaoqing, you made your choice. Don’t regret it later!”
With a wave of her sleeve, she left with her guards.
As soon as the fifth princess left, Rong Shaoqing was surrounded by Jiang Han and the others, shrinking into a ball and swallowing nervously. “Heroes, go easy on me…”
Author’s Note:
If a child is disobedient, just give them a beating.
T/N: Don’t forget, Shaoqing is a woman disguised as a man.