The business at De Yi Lou had declined recently. The reason was simple: with war brewing on the borders, high officials naturally curbed their behavior, fearing that a single misstep could lead to impeachment and incur the Emperor's displeasure.
While a wise ruler was good for the common folk, it was not necessarily so for pleasure houses.
Mama Jin walked through the corridor and into Shen Ge's room. "My dear, Young Master Ji has come to see you again."
"Tell him I am busy."
"My dear, won't you reconsider?"
Shen Ge looked surprised. "Reconsider what?"
"Of course, consider Young Master Ji. He has visited De Yi Lou so many times, and each time he only asks to see you. He hasn't even glanced at the girls sent to him. Prince Ning hasn't visited in a while either, my dear. You should think about your future."
Shen Ge chuckled. "Mama, you misunderstand. Young Master Ji's visit isn't for that reason."
It was merely a physician's kindness, seeing that she was suffering from ačęÆ and needed medical attention.
Mama Jin found it hard to comprehend. "If a man frequently wants to see another woman, what else could it mean?"
"Mama Jin, please don't worry about it. Just tell him I cannot see him." A figure flickered at the door, and Feng Xin Yao said, "Besides, there are plenty of men who are interested in me in this establishment. But no matter what they think, my heart belongs only to the Prince."
A guard in black by the door said, "Miss Shen Ge, you are indeed a wise woman. It is not in vain that the Prince favors you. Please, the Prince is waiting for you at the mansion."
Mama Jin gasped, her neck hairs standing on end.
Shen Ge gave her a reassuring look and followed the guard.
Upon hearing that Shen Ge had been taken to Prince Ning's mansion, Ji Jin fell silent for a long time. Mama Jin was almost about to offer him comfort when he produced a box. The palm-sized box had no ornate packaging but was sealed. "Since Miss Shen Ge is unavailable, I shall not impose further. Please trouble Mama Jin to deliver this small item to her."
"Young Master Ji, why must you do this?"
"Thank you for your trouble, Mama Jin."
"Alright."
Shen Ge did not return to De Yi Lou until just before dawn, carried back in a small sedan.
Seeing her tired figure, Mama Jin asked with concern, "My dear, last night...?"
Shen Ge waved her hand. "Prince Ning was asking questions. I just didn't sleep well."
"Then you should go and rest quickly."
"Mm."
"Oh, right." Mama Jin called out to her. "Young Master Ji left you a gift yesterday. I've put it on your table."
Shen Ge's steps upstairs paused. "Mama Jin, he is a friend of Prince Rui. He is not an ordinary patron. How can I casually accept his gift?"
"Young Master Ji was too sincere, and I truly couldn't refuse. Why don't you just take a look? If it's truly too valuable, we can find a way to return it."
That was the only way.
Shen Ge quickened her pace upstairs. The palm-sized box lay quietly on her table. She stared at it for a moment before opening it with scissors.
When the contents were revealed, Shen Ge was stunned.
A very familiar ghost mask lay squarely inside. The sender's identity was immediately clear.
"My dear, what did Young Master Ji send? Is it valuable?" Mama Jin, unable to contain her curiosity, had already prepared to return the gift. However, she saw Shen Ge quickly close the box. "No, just a common trinket, not worth much."
Mama Jin was puzzled. Why hide something that wasn't valuable?
Shen Ge said, "Mama Jin, I need to rest. You must be tired from working all night. You should go rest too."
"Alright."
Shen Ge closed her room door and took out the mask again, examining it carefully for a long time.
She never expected that the Ghost Doctor and Imperial Physician Ji were one and the same. For him to reveal his identity at this time, he must have something to discuss with her. Thinking of how many times she had refused to see Ji Jin at De Yi Lou, Shen Ge felt quite ashamed. Oh well, she would sleep first and deal with it tonight.