Chapter 136 Does Heir Xie Prefer Men?

Chapter 136: Is Heir Xie into Men?

Xie Liuzheng stiffened slightly and looked at her with a complicated expression.

"You think I ran because I'm allergic to the smell of rouge?"

Luo Qingge lifted her chin. "Isn't that the case?"

She hadn't misread the situation; Xie Liuzheng might be warm with those women in words, but in reality, he was allergic to rouge.

He and his guard Meng Fan had complained countless times how the stench of rouge on those women was awful.

Just smelling the rouge made Xie Liuzheng want to vomit.

Luo Qingge rarely used rouge or powder, and she suddenly felt she had found a way to get back at Xie Liuzheng.

Next time she saw Xie Liuzheng, she would put on plenty of rouge and powder herself—if it didn't suffocate him with stench, it would at least disgust him to death.

Xie Liuzheng: "..."

Well, if she thinks I'm allergic to rouge, so be it.

Being misunderstood wasn't so bad.

Xie Liuzheng's allergy to women had been a closely guarded secret in the Duke Rong residence, known only to his parents and a few trusted attendants.

After all, this was a deadly flaw, and if his enemies found out, they might use it to make his life miserable.

Xie Liuzheng didn't want to throw up every day.

Still, today's trial wasn't without results; at least it proved that he had no allergic reaction to Luo Qingge.

She was the only woman who could approach him without making him vomit.

Xie Liuzheng didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and for a moment his expression was unreadable.

Just then, Meng Fan came rushing up, breathless, panting, "Heir, I finally tracked you down."

"Something awful has happened! The whole street outside is buzzing with rumors that you don't like women—you prefer men—that you just pulled a young master in white robes out of the Flower Pavilion and ran off with him in broad daylight!"

"They also say that young master is your sweetheart..." Meng Fan's voice grew softer and softer.

Xie Liuzheng: "!!!"

Luo Qingge: "!!!"

The news hit them like a thunderclap, leaving them both thunderstruck.

Because they had fled in such a hurry, Luo Qingge only now realized that she had been accompanying Xie Liuzheng as his servant today, dressed in men's clothing.

Her figure was slender, her features exquisite, and her skin fair—she was naturally more beautiful than ordinary women.

Even in men's clothes, she was still as elegant and striking as the wind and moon.

Luo Qingge's face went from white to green with fury. Clenching her fists, she fumed, "Xie Liuzheng, you womanizer! Did you do that on purpose? If you were going to run, why did you pull me by the hand?"

Xie Liuzheng looked up at the sky guiltily. "But you didn't fight me off, did you?"

He hadn't wanted to leave Luo Qingge alone in that place, so he instinctively grabbed her hand without thinking too much when he ran.

Who'd have guessed the citizens of the capital would get the wrong idea?

Luo Qingge was furious; she felt Xie Liuzheng had deliberately retaliated against her to ruin her reputation.

Just as she was about to hit him, a sudden idea struck her, and she asked, "So that's why you've never married all these years and have no women around you. Could it be that you really prefer men?"

Xie Liuzheng was the only son of Duke Rong's mansion, already twenty, the age of adulthood.

Noble sons his age already had children, or at least a stable of wives and concubines.

Even her second brother Luo Jingshen and fifth brother Luo Feizhou, though not yet married with a principal wife, had many concubines and bed maids.

In contrast, Xie Liuzheng, as the capital's top playboy, didn't even have a single female attendant serving him. Does that make sense?

Luo Qingge felt she had uncovered yet another huge secret.

Under Luo Qingge's teasing gaze, Xie Liuzheng's face turned green.

Like men? Where did she get that idea?

He leaned sideways against the wall and gave a light snort. "What nonsense are you talking? I am such a ladies' man; how could I possibly like men?"

Xie Liuzheng suddenly regretted bringing Luo Qingge out.

He felt he had already lost all face in front of her today.

Curiosity burned in Luo Qingge, and she persisted: "If you don't like men, then why haven't you married? As far as I know, Duke Rong's hair has turned white worrying about your marriage."

Xie Liuzheng: "..."

He lowered his eyes listlessly and said, "I haven't married because these cheap women aren't worthy of me. If any woman in the capital had even half the skill of Princess Ye, I'd have gone to ask for her hand long ago."

He said this hoping to distract Luo Qingge, so she would stop harping on that one topic.

Xie Liuzheng's plan was not wrong; Luo Qingge's attention was indeed diverted, but her temper was also ignited.

She widened her eyes, hands on her hips, and said, "Xie Liuzheng, if you have any feelings for my third sister-in-law, then you'd better give up!"

"My third sister-in-law belongs to my third imperial brother; the two of them are very much in love now. Don't you dare set your sights on her. If I ever hear that again, I'll beat you on sight."

After saying that, she even shook her fist at Xie Liuzheng's face.

Before he could speak, Meng Fan came over obsequiously and said, "Your Highness the Ninth Princess, please calm your anger. Our heir may be a ladies' man, but he has principles. He would never fancy a married woman. Rest assured on that point."

"Moreover, when you are not around, I will help you supervise our heir and ensure he does nothing to betray your trust."

Xie Liuzheng: "..."

Luo Qingge: "..."

What is all this nonsense?

She looked baffled. "Who your heir likes has nothing to do with me. What nonsense is this guard talking?"

Meng Fan smiled and nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, yes, it's none of your business. I understand everything."

After speaking, he even gave Xie Liuzheng a thumbs-up.

In Meng Fan's view, Xie Liuzheng was getting so close to a woman for the first time.

The key point was that he didn't mind Luo Qingge at all. Even though she had talked back to him multiple times, he was still all smiles.

Wasn't that a clear sign he had taken a liking to her?

And as a loyal subordinate, he naturally had to ensure his young master's happiness by keeping those trashy gold-diggers away from him.

If Luo Qingge got driven away again, his young master might truly end up alone for life.

Meng Fan sighed. Ah, for his young master's happiness, he had really worried himself sick.

*

At Prince Ye's residence.

Shortly after Ji Yuntang returned, Wang Sheng hurried back.

As soon as he entered the West Courtyard, he immediately reported the information he had gathered to Ji Yuntang.

"Your Highness, the matter you asked me to look into has turned up something."

"Regarding the rumors about you and Nanny Xu circulating in the capital, they indeed began spreading after you left the residence. After asking around at teahouses and alleys, I've confirmed that a few street beggars were deliberately spreading them."

"And the reason they spread these rumors was that someone paid them money."

------------