Chapter 222: with translation of chapter title

Phoenix Tower lies upstream of the Imperial River in Shang Jing, already almost out of the inner city, right beside the riverbank, built on a half‑mountain slope.

Xiao Wei relied on the power of the Duan family and his own status as the Third Prince, seized property by force, caused many deaths, and took over this mountain forest.

Afterwards, on the slope, they launched a massive construction project, building a five‑story luxurious high‑rise; its glazed tiles and the copper studs on the vermilion doors were all gilded with gold leaf, making it look exceptionally magnificent.

Inside, it hid countless lovely beauties, music and dance performers, each one a peerless beauty of the world.

People therefore called it Xiao Wei's Phoenix Tower, truly extravagant beyond measure.

"Miss Qiu Shui, please come this way!"

In the Phoenix Tower, an old matron came out early, with a long face, bearing a touch of the aristocratic air brought from the prince's mansion.

She bowed slightly to Princess Ya Lan and said, "His Highness is waiting for you inside."

"This way, please!"

"Thank you for the trouble," Princess Ya Lan replied with a faint nod, her demeanor neither arrogant nor humble.

She felt no surprise at being overlooked by the powerful, no nervousness about ascending the Phoenix Tower, and felt remarkably steady.

The welcoming matron couldn't help but startle slightly—how could she not at all resemble a woman from a brothel, but rather a lady from an aristocratic family; no, not just an aristocratic lady, her bearing and demeanor seemed to surpass even that of a princess in the palace.

The welcoming matron couldn't help but blink, then immediately led Princess Ya Lan upstairs.

In the easternmost room on the third floor, Xiao Wei had spread scarlet gauze curtains down to the floor; the whole corridor was a solid red, giving an oppressive feeling instead.

Just as Princess Ya Lan was about to head for the easternmost room, the welcoming matron chuckled softly and said, "Miss Qiu Shui, please bathe first."

Princess Ya Lan couldn't help but startle slightly, then followed the matron into a steam‑filled room.

In the spacious room there was actually a large pool, into which hot spring water had been channeled.

Consider that this is a three‑story building; yet they managed to bring in hot spring water—this project alone reveals its extraordinary scale.

"Please change, miss!" the matron brought over two women in light garments to attend to Princess Ya Lan's bathing and dressing.

Princess Ya Lan slowly raised her hand; her clothes were taken off one by one, and each piece was carefully examined to see if anything was hidden.

Soon Princess Lan was stripped naked, thoroughly inspected—even her waist jade pendant was taken away, and her sachet was opened to check for poison.

Princess Ya Lan hadn't expected Xiao Wei to be so vigilant; seeing the well‑trained maidservants before her, she thought these procedures were routine for them.

Ya Lan instantly understood: Xiao Wei's scrutiny wasn't just for her—every woman who entered the Phoenix Tower was examined just as thoroughly.

"Miss, this bracelet…" the matron reached out and touched Ya Lan's wrist.

Ya Lan's heart gave a slight jump, her expression unchanged, and she silently slipped into the pool.

It was wonderfully soothing all over—being able to take a hot bath before death was hardly a bad treatment.

She slowly raised her white arm, arched an eyebrow at the matron beside her, and coldly said, "This is something my mother left me—what, you won't even let me wear it?"

The matron wore a business‑like expression, yet she slowly rose from the hot spring pool, turned, bent down, picked up the freshly prepared gauze robe at the pool's edge, and draped it over her shoulders.

"I have fallen into the dust of the world; this little thing is all I have left to cherish. If you want to take it, fine—I'll just return to the Yunxiang Pavilion. Your Third Prince's Phoenix Tower is too lofty; I cannot aspire to it."

The matron stared dumbfounded—who ever gets to this point and still wants to leave?

If His Highness blames them, given his explosive temper, do they even have a chance to survive?

"Miss Qiu Shui! Miss Qiu Shui, please wait!" the old matron hurriedly blocked Ya Lan's path.

She hurriedly put on a smile and said, "Miss Qiu Shui, if you leave like this, His Highness will blame us—not only will I, the old servant, suffer, but you too will come to no good; please think again."

Ya Lan's steps faltered slightly, a flicker of contempt crossed her face, and she coldly told the matron, "Hah! That's only your problem, not mine."

"Today is His Highness's great joyous day, and he specially summoned me to attend him—do you know what standing I hold in his heart?"

"I despise being threatened; if it makes His Highness unhappy, we'll see who dies first."

"Miss…… you…"

The matron's eyes flickered with panic, and her demeanor visibly softened a bit.

Although this woman was somewhat aloof, she had no way to refute what was said.

After all, on such a special day, His Highness actually wanted to summon this woman to attend him—she holds a place in his heart.

Before, His Highness had spent lavishly on this woman; tonight, to favor her, he had all the other women in the Phoenix Tower driven out.

Such favoritism is impossible to ignore; it forces one to look at them anew—if they offend her badly, and she someday rises to power, they could very well lose their lives.

"Miss Qiu Shui, you're joking—these rules were set by His Highness himself, and since you're the one he holds dearest, there's no reason for you to be angry."

"This bracelet is a keepsake from your mother; we won't take it, but… the Prince also needs an accounting, so we need to give it a quick check."

Princess Ya Lan let out a cold snort, slowly raised her hand to the matron's face, and said, "Go ahead and check."

"Well…" the matron blinked, for if they were to inspect it they'd have to remove the bracelet—how could they examine it thoroughly then?

But seeing that Miss Qiu Shui was clearly impatient, the old matron dared not delay any longer and hurriedly glanced at the bracelet on her wrist.

It was a pair of old silver bracelets, with a few tiny gemstones the size of grains of rice set simply; the material looked aged, not the sort of jewelry that could conceal anything.

"Have you examined it carefully?" Princess Ya Lan asked slowly.

"Examined… examined…" the old matron hurriedly smiled and resumed attending to Ya Lan's bathing and dressing.

Then they helped her change into a white gauze robe; the gauze, produced in Shu, is so layered that a single robe bunched up weighs about as much as an egg.

At that moment, Princess Ya Lan followed the matron to the innermost chamber, passing through the luxurious passageway; the night wind blowing in through the carved windows rolled up the layers of gauze on her body.

She was already beautiful, and now, walking on a ground of moonlight‑frost, she seemed like a celestial being descending to the mortal world.

She entered the richly decorated chamber; the matron behind her halted her steps and gently closed the door.

Bang!

Princess Ya Lan's heart gave a hard thump as she looked toward Xiao Wei, who sat by the table drinking.