They all want to change my future.

Chapter 32 Me and Ji Baizhi, Who's More Beautiful?

"Brother, you're so rich?" Xie Shiyi stammered.

He paused, then lowered his voice, "But...aren't you sure your family will be okay with you spending money like this? Won't they say something?"

"What's the problem?" Li Zhi asked calmly. "It's just a normal transaction; I paid for it."

Xie Shiyi took a deep breath. What a grand statement! However, the taste seemed a bit off.

It feels like they're treating music as something with a fixed price tag.

He tugged at Li Zhi: "Brother, you're wrong. Master Qu isn't that kind of vulgar person."

"What?" Li Zhi shook his head, somewhat speechless. They've already set a trap to swindle your money, and you're still defending them like this.

He casually placed the wooden box containing the jewels on the maid's tray: "I'm leaving now."

"Hey brother, I... I want to wait for you here. After we meet, tell me what everyone in Nagqu looks like."

"Forget it, you'd better not wait for me, just leave early," Li Zhi refused.

"No, I'm going to wait." Xie Shiyi said firmly.

"You," Li Zhi said with a half-smile, "why don't you go and take a look for me?"

"No, no, no! I'm not that shameless." Xie Shiyi hurriedly waved his hand. "Brother, you should go see him yourself. You've already thrown away ten thousand red silks; wouldn't it be a huge loss if you didn't go?"

"Now you know how to feel sorry for someone?" Li Zhi shook his head. "I was just curious at first, but now I have a pretty good idea of ​​who Qu Hongxiao is. She's not quite what I thought. I'll go take a look now and hopefully she'll be different from what I expected."

"Don't wait for me."

After Li Zhi finished speaking, he followed the maid who was leading the way upstairs.

Instead of going to the private rooms on the second floor, they went straight up to the third floor and arrived at a beautifully decorated boudoir.

Push the door open and go inside.

A figure came into view, wearing a perfectly tailored long red silk dress that flowed from her shoulders to her feet, making her figure appear slender and graceful.

Her snow-white shoulders were exposed in the candlelight, dazzling to the eye.

The neckline was slightly open, vaguely revealing half of her full breasts.

Li Zhi glanced at it, then looked away and walked to the opposite side of the table to sit down.

Qu Hongxiao was still covered by a red veil, only revealing her eyebrows and eyes, which exuded a natural charm.

"Is this the kind of performance I paid so much money for?" Li Zhi asked.

"Young Master," Qu Hongxiao said in a soft, seductive voice, "you're here to cause trouble, aren't you?"

"Not really," Li Zhi shook his head. "It was just that you secretly set things up first, and I just went along with it."

"Oh?" Qu Hongxiao chuckled. "Are you quite familiar with that Young Master Xie?"

We met on the street, but we're not really close.

"Why did the young master stand up for him?"

"Because your game was played so poorly, it was boring to watch."

"When did I set this up?" Qu Hongxiao gracefully approached, sat down opposite him, and poured him wine. "They were the ones who willingly raised the price; what does it have to do with me?"

"Really?" Li Zhi looked up. "From what I'm saying, you have some hidden difficulties?"

"Of course, there are reasons for it."

Qu Hongxiao sighed softly, her eyes sparkling, looking utterly pitiful.

"At first, I was just a musician, but a group of rich young men laughed and flattered me, and I became famous for my 'one song, one silk scarf'."

With such a prestigious title, more people will come, but protecting that reputation and maintaining that pomp and circumstance will cost money.

But there aren't that many fools in the capital who would be willing to empty their purses time and time again.

"So they gathered a group of people, specifically targeting wealthy out-of-towners, luring them with their reputation to bring money, and then taking turns driving up the price, acting as shills for each other?"

"Young master, you've wronged me," Qu Hongxiao said, her fingertips tracing the rim of her cup. "I'm merely an entertainer in this brothel; how could I possibly make such a decision?"

"I don't believe it," said Li Zhi.

"It seems you are new to the capital, young master. The capital is so vast, and the waters run so deep." Qu Hongxiao's face showed sorrow: "I am nothing but a weak woman who can be manipulated by others."

"From what you're saying, you don't mean you want me to take you away next, do you?"

"So, young master, don't you want to take Hongxiao with you?"

Qu Hongxiao approached Li Zhi, a fragrant breeze wafting over her, and her soft hands unknowingly covered his.

"I don't want to at all." Li Zhi broke free from Qu Hongxiao's hand and sighed, "Besides, now I regret spending so much money."

Qu Hongxiao covered her mouth and chuckled: "Young Master, you were quite tempted by your extravagant spending just now. Why are you regretting it now?"

"Because I feel it's not worth it."

"Oh? What's wrong with it?"

Seeing you like this, I feel it's not worth it.

Upon hearing this, Qu Hongxiao's eyes flashed with a hint of allure.

She paused for a moment, then suddenly raised her hand and gently removed the red veil from her face.

A delicate and alluring face was fully revealed.

Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, her eyes held the light of spring water, her lips were like painted vermilion, and her skin shone like snow in the candlelight. She was indeed a rare beauty.

Li Zhi looked at it carefully and shook his head, saying:

"Now that I see it, it's even less worthwhile."

Li Zhi is now certain that Qu Hongxiao is not the female protagonist of the story.

The reason is simple: she lacks distinctive features.

It's pretty, but it's nowhere near as good as Ji Baizhi.

Qu Hongxiao wasn't annoyed; instead, her smile deepened: "Young master, it's as if you've seen someone more beautiful than me?"

"I have indeed seen it."

"Anyone more beautiful than me must be extraordinary." Qu Hongxiao leaned forward, her voice low. "Although the capital is vast, in my opinion, there are only two people who can rival me in appearance."

Li Zhi raised an eyebrow: "Which two people?"

"First, of course, is the current Empress. She is a beauty that could topple a nation, known throughout the land. However, the Empress is of noble status, and ordinary people cannot see her."

She paused, her gaze sweeping lightly over Li Zhi's face:

"Therefore, if you see someone more beautiful than me, it can only be her."

Li Zhi's heart skipped a beat, but his expression remained unchanged: "Who?"

"Princess Ji Baizhi."

The room suddenly fell silent.

The candlelight flickered gently, casting an uncertain shadow in Li Zhi's eyes.

Qu Hongxiao was still smiling, but there was a hint of coldness in her smile: "I wonder, young master, can you tell me just how beautiful the Princess is?"

Li Zhi did not answer.

He suddenly realized that his limbs had become heavy and stiff, as if he were trapped in the chair by an invisible force.

Qu Hongxiao slowly got up, walked to him, and leaned closer.

A rich fragrance enveloped him, and her voice whispered in his ear, soft as a feather, yet clear and distinct:

"Young master, please speak..."

"Between me and Ji Baizhi, who is more beautiful?"

Li Zhi did not answer the question. He looked at the face so close to his own, somewhat puzzled: "You are the Empress's person, so why ask this question?"

There aren't many people in the capital who know about the relationship between Li Zhi and Ji Baizhi.

The most likely candidate is someone from the Star Gazing Tower. Since Qu Hongxiao can say such a thing, it's clear that she is from the Star Gazing Tower, or rather, someone from the Empress's side.

However, Li Zhi was not afraid, after all, Lin Yueyin was still with him.