Langhua: The Codependence of a Prince and His General

Lanying

Scarlet Pavilion was the usual low hum of activity at this time, on the border of day and dusk. The customers were not coming in yet, but the occupants of the building were preparing themselves for a busy night. Despite the furor of everything that had happened yesterday, the capital's top brothel sat in its usual place, doing its usual thing, like a skilled seamstress working calmly away at her whirring loom.

Xuanyuan Lang had had the presence of mind to purchase a hood on the way here, and for the first time ever, he entered Scarlet Pavilion via the back door. Alone.

On the way there, he had heard some of the rumors for himself. The more he heard, the more he was certain.

"Scarlet Pavilion is the one spreading those rumors about me."

"Why do you say so, Your Highness?" The woman before him gracefully poured him a small cup of wine. He did not touch it. "My, Your Highness. Are you mad at us for calling you over all of a sudden? Or does my hospitability not please you?"

Xuanyuan Lang beheld the woman whose room he had been led directly to. So this was Lanying, the number one courtesan and the next mistress of Scarlet Pavilion.

He could see why people compared her to the Noble Consort; there was a faint resemblance in the shape of their almond eyes and the curve of their chins. However, the similarities were skin-deep, probably only holding water to easily-impressed civilians and minor officials who barely caught fleeting glimpses of the Emperor's favored consort. The more Xuanyuan Lang observed Lanying, the more he found the comparison lacking. In fact, it could almost be an insult.

After all, Miss Lanying was breathtaking in her own way.

She was dressed all in white, a color most ladies of the night would be condemned for wearing. Her clothes were delicately layered, obscuring everything but in a way that condoned the occasional peek and excited the imagination when the fabric fluttered as she moved. She was a lily who knew very well that she was growing in the mud, using the idea of purity without making any false promises about her intentions.

"Only Scarlet Pavilion could have known and manipulated all the details." Xuanyuan Lang ignored her doleful gaze and the wine she subtly pushed his way. "Even if the crowd recognized me as the Seventh Prince yesterday, they shouldn't know that I 'cared' for my brother or the extent to which I did. Add that to the way the people were talking about the Second Prince, and it is evident that your establishment is the one fabricating these stories."

"Oh, I wouldn't call it fabrication." Lanying hid her mouth behind her sleeve as she giggled. "At the most, we are spreading the truth... selectively."

That was how word got out that Xuanyuan Yao had harassed the courtesans and made a fool of himself at the brothel, but no one seemed to hear about Xuanyuan Chen's part to play in all this. People on the street praised Xuanyuan Lang for his dignity and upstanding behavior in comparison to his brother, but rarely anyone mentioned how he had often visited Scarlet Pavilion as well. Even if they did, Xuanyuan Lang was certain that everyone would know how he had never laid a finger on any of the ladies.

Scarlet Pavilion traded in information as well as in flesh, it seemed.

"But why?" Xuanyuan Lang frowned. "Did Lord Lin tell you to do this?"

"Would you believe me if I said we just took a fancy to you?" Lanying took the cup she had offered him and sipped from it before pouring him another cup. Even then, her every movement was effortlessly elegant. "We have been keeping an eye on you when you drop by with your friend, Master Liang. Besides, it's true that Yun Xiang was very impressed by you."

"Yun Xiang?" The name clicked in Xuanyuan Lang's mind. "Do you mean Madam Yun?"

"That's her. She had quite the glowing review of you last night. Said you weren't surprised at all to see a female physician, and that you genuinely cared."

Xuanyuan Lang felt the heat crawl up his cheeks, his earlier indignation slowly giving way to awkwardness. "I grew up in the palace, Miss Lanying. I've seen my fair share of capable women."

"Which makes your sincerity all the more valuable." Lanying giggled again. "By this point, Your Highness, we at Scarlet Pavilion have met every viable candidate for the position of Crown Prince, with the exception of the reclusive Sixth Prince. It just so happens that you're the horse we've chosen to back, and this is our first gift to you as a show of our sincerity."

"But you won't be going all-in, will you?"

"Of course not. In our line of work, we always have a backup plan or three." Lanying smiled, her eyes twinkling. When she let her emotions shine through like this, Xuanyuan Lang could not see how she resembled the Noble Consort at all. "Nevertheless, Your Highness, we will not betray you outright. I can promise you that."

"You reserve the right to protect your own interests, of course. That is understandable, as long as your actions are of no direct harm to me."

"It's so refreshing, conversing with people who know what they're talking about." Lanying pushed the cup toward him again. "Now that we're clear, Your Highness, won't you toast to our collaboration from now on? I'm not used to men rejecting me repeatedly like this, so you're hurting my feelings."

In the brief silence before he could reply, both of them heard a commotion from downstairs. There was a medley of voices, including a familiar one raised in volume. Lanying tilted her head. "It seems your escort is here to bring you home."

Xuanyuan Lang took the cup from her. "One last thing. You just think I'm the easiest prince to use, don't you?"

Lanying's smile widened, and the glimmer in her eyes deepened when Xuanyuan Lang threw his head back and drained the whole cup.

"Qilang!"

Hua Yuheng flung the doors wide open just in time to hear Xuanyuan Lang's cup clatter against the table. The prince's face was bright red, and when Hua Yuheng caught him just before he slumped, he could smell the alcohol on his breath.

"Lanying, I thought we told you not to touch him!" Hua Yuheng practically growled at the courtesan, who shrugged her porcelain shoulders.

"I didn't force him to drink it."

"Yeah, right. As if I don't know all your underhanded ways. Watch yourself, woman. We have limits." Hua Yuheng glared at her, but his gaze was gentle when he turned to Xuanyuan Lang. "Qilang? Qilang, can you hear me?"

All he received in response was a pained groan. Making a face that could not quite mask his worry, Hua Yuheng threw Xuanyuan Lang's arms over his shoulders and carried him on his back.

Lanying watched in amusement as Hua Yuheng carted Xuanyuan Lang away, barking at anyone who got too close like a vigilant guard dog. Perhaps it was too early to say who was using whom.