Shen Tianyu and Rong Jian stepped into Lavender Palace . The surrounding workers of other stores started to wonder what relations.h.i.+p the couple had with Lavender Palace . The woman didn't look like she was to be sold and the man didn't seem to be there for pleasure . However, it was not good to poke one's nose into other's business . Though the Flower District looked glamorous, just like Imperial Households, there are a lot of hidden agendas and powers at play . Take a wrong step and even your families might die without a grave . They didn't bother thinking about it anymore and acted as if they never saw the couple .

Shen Tianyu led Rong Jian straight to the Office where Long Zichen and Song Chen would be . She closed the door after Rong Jian went in behind her .

"Hey, I'm back . " She casually announced to the two men in the room as she went to sit down on a couch .

"Miss, welcome back . How was your trip?" Song Chen asked with a slight smile .

"It was a good boon . " She replied . "By the way, where is Luo Shue, how is she?"

"Miss Luo has been cultivating in the training grounds . She had made some medicine in the first half of the month so she hasn't had as much time to cultivate . She says she will be out before the month is over . " Song Chen replied .

Shen Tianyu just nodded . "Since I've announced my return, I'll be going back to rest . " She stood up and stretched her arms . "Sitting in the lotus position for so long is not comfortable for me . "

Song Chen saw the couple out and they departed on the third floor to go to their rooms without talking . Perhaps Rong Jian knew she was tired and left her alone too . He didn't expect that she would sleep for a whole day and two nights . By the time she woke up, it was the the Wu hour(1) of the second day of their return .

Shen Tianyu lazily called out for a servant from her bed . She groggily let herself be dressed and freshened up before going downstairs . There was still a few days before the Goodwill Tournament started . She spent some time downstairs eating her noon meal and talking to the servants . Then, she went to knock on the door to Rong Jian's room . She was told he was reading in his room .

"Who's there?" She heard a calm male voice from inside .

"It's me, open the door . " She replied without revealing her ident.i.ty . There was no need to .

Soon after, the door open to reveal the smiling face of Rong Jian . "Wifey- I mean, Tian'er, you're here . What's the matter?"

"I just wanted to talk to you . " She responded . "Let me in and sit down to talk . "

"Tian'er, you want to come in? Don't you know what it means for an unmarried woman to come into a man's room?" He smirked as he leaned on the door with folded arms over his chest .

"Is there a need to mind that between engaged couples? Also, you're saying this to a courtesan? Really? What, you want to go back on your proposal?" She eyed him . 'Besides, I'm the owner . ' She thought to herself but didn't say it out loud . It was still too early to tell him . A woman must keep trump cards up her sleeves, especially in these times . Otherwise, only trouble will follow .

Rong Jian immediately regained an upright posture . "Tian'er knows that's not it . "

Shen Tianyu waved her hands . "Alright . It's not much anyways . I just wanted to tell you I'm planning on going to Lotus Pavillion tomorrow morning and was going to invite you . Will you be coming?"

"Since Tian'er is going, naturally, I will follow . " Rong Jian smiled at her .

"Alright . Meet me downstairs tomorrow at Chen hour(2) . " Shen Tianyu appointd the time .

"Are you sure you can wake up before then?" Rong Jian inquired with a raised eyebrow .

"I slept for a whole day . My body has reset . It'll be fine . I'll have a servant wake me up just in case . " She answered .

"Body has reset, huh?" Rong Jian looked at her provocatively but his eyes didn't stray from her face . "I can be your wake-up call . "

"Oh? You want to?" Shen Tianyu finally revealed a teasing smile . She walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck . "How sweet of you . How should I thank you?"

"Having this Young Master be your wake-up call is very fortunate for you . This one does not come cheap . " He put his hands around her lower back in a loose hug .

"Oh? How should I pay? This one is only an orphaned prost.i.tute with no money . How about . . . " Shen Tianyu tiptoed to whisper in his ear seductively . " . . . this humble one pay you by letting you have a taste of this profession?"

"Tian'er wants to repay me with your body?" He asks teasingly .

"Being a courtesan is not only limited to knowing how to pleasure with one's body . " She retorted as she lowered herself back to a normal standing posture .

"What skills then?"

Shen Tianyu smiled . "What do you think?"

"A song?"

"Pft . Haha . " Shen Tianyu let go of Rong Jian as she let out a little laugh . Confusion pa.s.sed through Rong Jian's eyes as his face still contained his smile . "How cute . " She only commented . "There's no need, I'll have a servant do it . I can't possibly trouble this Young Master . " She turned around and waved her hand as she left to go back to her room .

Rong Jian looked at her for a while after she went back into room with confusion in his eyes before he turned back and reentered his own room .

When Shen Tianyu turned away from Rong Jian, a vicious light flashed in her eyes . 'Song? Certainly that was one, but that was not she was referring to . After all, didn't most people like using female a.s.sa.s.sins for a reason? Because they can easily seduce their target . With such a messy place like the Red Light District, it was even easier to kill without leaving a trace . Even if you didn't kill, might not mean you didn't help . It's such a big information network . That was the reason I built Lavender Palace in these places after all . ' She thought as she remembered a bit of her original world and the stories it contained .