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As the crowd gradually dispersed, Su Qi'an, holding his room token, slowly made his way to the third floor.
The room was located in a secluded corner at the end of the hallway, with no other private rooms nearby. It was the only one in that area, and Su Qi'an had searched for quite a while before finding it.
Without hesitation, Su Qi'an pushed the door open and entered. The room was neither too large nor too small, furnished with a bed, a table, chairs, and even a stack of books in the corner. A censer on the table emitted a soothing fragrance that calmed the mind and made one feel relaxed.
Su Qi'an was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected the censer to have such a calming effect. Such items were usually quite expensive.
As Su Qi'an glanced around the room, Lu Xiaowan's voice suddenly came from the side.
"This private room was specially prepared for you, Young Master Su. I hope it meets your expectations."
Su Qi'an turned his head and saw Lu Xiaowan walking out, but this time she had changed into a different outfit. She wore a red dress that exposed her midriff, and although she still wore a veil, her charm was undeniable. Even Su Qi'an was momentarily captivated.
Su Qi'an nodded and sat down. Lu Xiaowan approached, skillfully pouring tea for him, and said softly, "Thank you for helping me earlier, Young Master Su. I am deeply grateful. I have nothing to offer in return, but if you don't mind, I am willing to serve you."
As she spoke, Lu Xiaowan leaned closer to Su Qi'an, her fragrant scent wafting toward him. If it were anyone else, they might have already succumbed to her charms. Lu Xiaowan indeed had a unique ability to captivate most men.
Unfortunately, Su Qi'an was not like most men. Just as Lu Xiaowan reached out to touch his shoulder, Su Qi'an raised his hand and blocked her delicate fingers.
Su Qi'an looked up at her with a calm expression and said softly, "Miss Xiaowan, you truly live up to your reputation as the top courtesan of Chunfeng Court. Your ability to enchant others is remarkable. However, you've misjudged me, Su Qi'an."
His voice was gentle but firm, which surprised Lu Xiaowan. Among all the men she had met, Su Qi'an was the first to resist her beauty.
But this didn't make sense. If Su Qi'an wasn't interested in her, why had he composed such heartfelt poetry? The verses clearly expressed his admiration for her. Yet now that she was offering herself, he was resolutely refusing. It was baffling.
What Lu Xiaowan didn't know was that Su Qi'an could effortlessly compose such poetry. If she had known, she would have been astounded.
Su Qi'an didn't explain her misunderstanding. Instead, he continued, "Miss Xiaowan, you invited me here for more than just expressing gratitude. I'm a straightforward person, so tell me, what do you need from me?"
Lu Xiaowan's eyes flickered as she studied Su Qi'an. After a moment, she slowly moved away from him and sat down across the table.
"The world admires Young Master Su for his great talent, but now I see that you not only possess great talent but also have a strong sense of principles when it comes to human nature."
Su Qi'an chuckled, "Miss Xiaowan, aren't you the same?" He finished the tea in front of him and smiled.
Lu Xiaowan smiled back. Su Qi'an's demeanor only reinforced her belief that he was no ordinary man.
After a moment of silence, Lu Xiaowan spoke again, "May I ask, Young Master Su, do you believe the Lu family was guilty of rebellion?"
The question caught Su Qi'an off guard, but after a moment of thought, he understood what Lu Xiaowan was getting at.
Su Qi'an replied calmly, "Whether I believe it or not, the matter has already been settled. If you're hoping to overturn the verdict, Miss Xiaowan, I'm afraid it will be nearly impossible."
Su Qi'an didn't sugarcoat his words to appease her. He told her the harsh truth. Whether the Lu family had truly rebelled or not, the fact was that they had been implicated in the case involving Lord Laiyang. The family had been executed, exiled, or had their properties confiscated.
Lu Xiaowan was fortunate to have been redeemed by Chunfeng Court and made their top courtesan. Even if there had been some injustice, the outcome was final. Not even the magistrate of Lingbei County could easily overturn such a verdict.
Su Qi'an, though not an official, understood how deep and murky the waters of politics could be. He knew he didn't have the power, as a commoner, to challenge a verdict of rebellion.
Lu Xiaowan understood Su Qi'an's bluntness. She wasn't foolish enough to ask him to overturn the verdict. What she wanted was a different kind of promise from him.
"I don't ask for much. I only hope that one day, when you rise to a high position, you will help me bring down the Wei family of Sichuan."
Su Qi'an raised an eyebrow. It wasn't that he thought the task was impossible. After all, he and Wei Yun were already at odds. Even if Su Qi'an didn't seek him out, Wei Yun would likely come after him. Destroying the Wei family was something Su Qi'an planned to do eventually.
But the future was uncertain. Su Qi'an couldn't guarantee how far he would go. A vague promise like this seemed too impractical to him.
"Miss Xiaowan, I understand your feelings, but making such an uncertain promise goes against my nature."
Lu Xiaowan wasn't disappointed by Su Qi'an's response. Instead, she looked at him with sincerity and said, "I understand your concerns, Young Master Su. This is just a promise. If you succeed, that would be wonderful. If not, I won't hold it against you."
Seeing Lu Xiaowan's genuine expression, Su Qi'an couldn't help but feel curious. He chuckled and said, "Miss Xiaowan, why do you have so much faith in me? Even I'm not entirely confident in myself."
Lu Xiaowan shook her head and said earnestly, "Because you're different from others. Although I'm a courtesan, I've met countless men over the years. You, Young Master Su, stand out among them all."
"I can't quite put my finger on what makes you different, but you give me a sense of security. I believe you will achieve great things in the future."
Lu Xiaowan's vague answer left Su Qi'an at a loss for words. She had already expressed her trust in him so openly. If he refused now, he would seem unmanly.
Su Qi'an spoke solemnly, "Miss Xiaowan, your faith in me is an honor. I promise you this: if I ever rise to a position of power, I will clear the Lu family's name and bring down the Wei family of Sichuan. I won't let you down."
Hearing Su Qi'an's heartfelt words, Lu Xiaowan, who had always been composed, suddenly felt her eyes well up with tears.
She stood up and, in the next moment, removed her veil, revealing a stunningly beautiful face. Her eyes, moist with tears, and her delicate eyelashes made her look both vulnerable and captivating. It was a sight that could melt anyone's heart.
Fortunately, Su Qi'an had seen his fair share of beauty and had been educated in modern times. He was able to maintain his composure, though it wasn't easy.
No wonder Lu Xiaowan always wore a veil. Her beauty was enough to drive men mad.
"The Chunfeng Court made a wise investment," Su Qi'an thought to himself.
After calming her emotions, Lu Xiaowan bowed deeply to Su Qi'an and said softly, "With your promise, I have no regrets. If you can destroy the Wei family and clear my family's name, I will repay you with my body. I'm willing to be your personal maid, even your bedwarmer."
By the end of her sentence, Lu Xiaowan's ears had turned red. After all, she was a young woman, and this was the first time she had ever spoken such words to a man. It was undeniably embarrassing.
But Lu Xiaowan didn't regret it. After meeting so many men, Su Qi'an was the only one who felt different to her. If he could help her achieve her revenge in the future, becoming his bedwarmer was a small price to pay.
As Lu Xiaowan's ears turned red, Su Qi'an, who had just taken a sip of tea, spat it out in shock.
"A... a bedwarmer? That's too bold! Are all the women in Daliang this straightforward?" Su Qi'an thought to himself, feeling both amused and flustered.
His awkward reaction made Lu Xiaowan cover her mouth and laugh softly. Her radiant smile was enough to make anyone swoon.
Su Qi'an quickly wiped the tea stains off his clothes and said, "Ahem... Miss Xiaowan, there's no need for a bedwarmer. This matter is just a small favor. We can discuss it later."
Although Su Qi'an tried to remain calm, Lu Xiaowan could sense a hint of panic in his voice. Her smile widened. Su Qi'an was truly unlike any man she had ever met.
To change the subject and ease the awkwardness, Su Qi'an quickly asked, "Miss Xiaowan, although we managed to drive Wei Yun away tonight, he won't let this go easily. I'm fine, but I'm worried about you. What if..."
Lu Xiaowan shook her head and said softly, "Young Master Su, you don't need to worry. Although Chunfeng Court isn't a major power, it's not something just anyone can mess with."
"Moreover, thanks to the poem you composed for me tonight, I believe I'll soon be transferred to the main branch of Chunfeng Court in the prefecture. No matter how powerful the Wei family is, they can't control everything there."
Su Qi'an nodded in understanding. With his talent and the poem he had written for her, Lu Xiaowan's value would skyrocket. She might even compete for the position of top courtesan in the prefecture.
"Still, I must thank you, Young Master Su. I look forward to seeing you again in the prefecture."
Lu Xiaowan's sincerity made Su Qi'an feel a bit flustered. The Chunfeng Court was indeed skilled at training courtesans. Lu Xiaowan's beauty, combined with her natural charm and sincerity, was a potent combination. Even a gentleman like Su Qi'an might struggle to resist if he spent too much time with her.
Seeing that their conversation had reached its conclusion, Su Qi'an made an excuse to leave. He stood up, bid farewell to Lu Xiaowan, and then, under her amused gaze, hurriedly left the room, almost as if he were fleeing.
Lu Xiaowan covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her enchanting eyes following Su Qi'an's retreating figure. She murmured to herself, "This Young Master Su is truly interesting. Hmm, being his bedwarmer wouldn't be so bad."