Chapter 16 An Unexpected Windfall

Li Qing touched his nose and thought to himself, "I didn't order the Eighth Prince to come to the brothel. Even if the Emperor Zhu finds out, it can't be blamed on me. Besides, the money was willingly spent by his son. I just made the money his son spent more meaningful." With this in mind, he no longer hesitated and said, "Lead the way ahead."

As soon as they reached the second floor, more than twenty women came out from downstairs. Each of them was good - looking and had a nice figure, far superior in quality to those outside. Presumably, these were the top courtesans... Li Qing looked around as he walked. Then there was a new round of bidding. The reserve price was 5 taels, and each increase should not be less than 1 tael. Compared with the hundreds or even thousands of taels often required for a flower - of - the - house, this was rather shabby. But there were many bidders and few courtesans. After the bidding, the total amount was more than twenty taels. Li Qing was shocked. He didn't know what the future Ming banknotes would be like, but at present, their purchasing power was not low. One guan of banknotes could buy ten catties of mutton, fifteen catties of pork, three chickens, and two jars of wine. The money these top courtesans earned in one night was worth more than ten thousand yuan in later generations. In addition, there was the revenue from the front hall, the front yard, and the daytime business. How much did this Zui Xian Tower earn in a day? It was said that brothels were money - burning places, and he really saw it today.

"Sir, Miss Wanling is inside."

"Ah... Oh." Li Qing came to his senses and asked, "Madam, how many flower - of - the - house are there in your Zui Xian Tower?"

"Twelve."

"So many?" Li Qing was surprised, and even more shocked by the money - making ability of the Zui Xian Tower. The madam smiled complacently. Suddenly, she seemed to think of something and probed, "Sir, don't you think Miss Wanling is a flower - of - the - house?"

Li Qing was stunned and asked in return, "Isn't she?"

"Oh, of course not!" The madam became anxious. "Wanling is a qingguan (a courtesan who only entertains guests with music, conversation, etc. and doesn't sleep with them). She only serves drinks, chats, plays the zither, and dances. She doesn't offer her body."

Li Qing was dumbfounded. He spent five hundred taels but could only look and not touch. This was too excessive! Although it wasn't his money, he still felt sorry. This was really being a big sucker. Seeing that he didn't speak, the madam quickly explained, "Sir, don't worry. Since you've spent a large sum of money, we won't let you have only a plain experience. Besides Miss Wanling in the room, there are also two flower - of - the - house to serve you. You'll surely be satisfied." After a pause, she added, "Flower - of - the - house don't receive guests alone. Only those who become the intimate guest of a qingguan can enjoy their service."

Li Qing suddenly understood. It was a bundled sale. Just as he was about to step into the wing - room, a young servant came in a hurry, leaned close to the madam, and said in a very low voice, "Madam, that fellow Wang Hai is here again. He specifically asks to sleep with the qingguan Xiuxiang."

Upon hearing this, the madam got angry and cursed in a low voice, "He's getting more and more insolent. That scoundrel really thinks that relying on that distant connection, he can act as he pleases? How much energy and money does it take to train a qingguan? We just gave him a thousand taels to buy a house, and now he wants to cut off the brothel's source of income. Find someone to throw him out. That person is busy with important matters in Bashu. But even if he knows, he surely won't blame us."

The two of them spoke in very low voices, but Li Qing still heard them clearly.

The madam was extremely angry. Suddenly, she realized that Li Qing was still there and quickly forced a smile, saying, "Sir, please come in. There are many people and many things to attend to in the restaurant. I must excuse myself."

"Sure, you go ahead."

Li Qing nodded and stepped into the wing - room.

The room was filled with an antique charm. There was a large ice block in an iron box, on which were placed watermelons and plum juice. The incense burner was curling with wisps of blue smoke, and the air was cool and faintly fragrant. Just one step away from the door, it was a world of difference.

On the mahogany table were four small dishes and two pots of clear wine. Li Qing suddenly felt that the money wasn't completely wasted. At least the service was quite good.

"Is the sir here?" A woman's voice came from inside the gauze curtain, sweet and delicate. "Please wait a moment, sir. We'll be ready soon."

Li Qing glanced at the three hazy figures and smiled gently, "Take your time. I'm not in a hurry."

A good meal is worth waiting for. It was just getting dark, and there was plenty of time in the long night.

Li Qing walked to the table and sat down. Recalling the conversation between the young servant and the madam just now, he didn't pick up much information, but the name "Wang Hai" seemed familiar. However, he couldn't recall it for a moment.

He poured himself a cup of wine, brought it to his lips, and took a sip. Suddenly, he was stunned and murmured softly, "It's that fat guy who sold me the house!"

Li Qing sank into thought. The sentence "That person is busy with important matters in Bashu" piqued his great interest. As a member of the Jinyiwei, who were in charge of intelligence - gathering, he naturally had to pay attention. Not for anything else, but to keep his head more firmly on his neck.

Li Qing leaned half - way on the chair, tapping the table with his index finger, thinking to himself, "According to Liu Qiang, it's rumored that this restaurant is opened by someone from the royal family. The person the madam mentioned is probably a prince enfeoffed in Bashu. A prince is doing something extraordinary..."

Li Qing's expression suddenly changed, and then he shook his head. Although the Emperor Zhu was getting old, he was still quite healthy. The princes wouldn't even dare to think about rebellion, let alone carry it out.

In this case, "that person" surely didn't refer to a prince. Since it wasn't a prince but had a great connection with this restaurant rumored to be opened by the royal family, who else could it be...

The golden branch!

Li Qing's eyes lit up. He finally understood the meaning of this term - a princess!

Once the princess was identified, "that person" was naturally the prince - consort.

The prince - consort was doing something extraordinary, and nine times out of ten, it wasn't anything good. Although the title of prince - consort was of the first rank, it was just an idle position with an empty name. The prince - consort couldn't hold an official position in the court, let alone interfere in politics.

After marrying a princess, one's status was elevated, but the official career was cut off. What men pursued was mainly money, power, and women.

As a prince - consort, one couldn't get involved with power. As for women... If one dared to cuckold the princess, it would depend on whether the prince - father - in - law would deal with you, especially when the emperor - father - in - law was Zhu Yuanzhang. He would definitely do something like killing his son - in - law!

Since power and women were out of the question, there was only money left.

Li Qing analyzed the situation bit by bit and sorted out two points.

First, the person behind the restaurant was a princess.

Second, the princess's prince - consort was doing evil deeds in Bashu.

It's difficult to investigate a princess, but it's much easier to investigate a prince - consort. Moreover, with clear clues, all he needed to do was find out which prince - consort was in Bashu. Once he found the prince - consort, he would naturally find the princess.

He had sorted out his thoughts, but he was still纠结 about whether to investigate. After all, it was a matter of the royal family. If it was really exposed, it would surely be embarrassing for Emperor Zhu. However, although Emperor Zhu might lose face, if he could come up with conclusive evidence, he would be safer instead.

Emperors, especially someone like Zhu Yuanzhang who put the country's stability above all else, valued political correctness. A son - in - law was nothing in comparison.

Li Qing drained the wine in his cup in one gulp and slammed the cup on the table.

He decided to do it!

"Oh dear~ Is the sir getting impatient?"

A woman lifted the gauze curtain and quickly came forward. Her voice was gentle and a bit playful. "It's all my fault. If the sir is angry, you can take it out on me~"

The woman was around twenty years old, with almond - shaped eyes, a dainty nose, fair skin, and a delicate figure. There was a charming smile on her face, and she spoke in the soft and sweet dialect of the region south of the Yangtze River. Even the fiercest anger would turn into tenderness in the face of such a display.

Then, the gauze curtain was lifted again, and another woman stepped forward. She was extremely beautiful, with an enchanting figure, and exuded the unique charm of a woman from the south of the Yangtze River.

Before Li Qing could marvel, the third girl gently lifted the gauze curtain and gracefully walked forward.

She was at most fifteen or sixteen years old, with an oval - shaped face, a straight nose, and pupils as black and shiny as mountain grapes. Her sclera had not a single trace of bloodshot, as pure as that of a child.

Wearing a black silk dress, her skin looked even fairer. Compared to the first two's tenderness, this girl gave off an air of a talented woman, like a young lady from a scholarly family.

As a result, people would involuntarily overlook her age.

Li Qing couldn't help but be amazed. No wonder those people were willing to spend hundreds or even thousands of taels. There seemed to be good reasons for it.

This experience greatly changed his preconceived impression of brothel women. Brothels were not all filled with coquettish and vulgar women.

There was no shortage of beautiful women here, and not all of them were dissolute and superficially charming. At least, he couldn't see the slightest bit of frivolity in the three women in front of him.

He even believed Liu Qiang's words "even a shabby place can have real beauties" a bit more.

No wonder literati, poets, wealthy businessmen, and gentry were all fond of the red - light district. There were reasons for it.

"We (I) pay our (my) respects to the sir." The three women curtsied gracefully.

Li Qing smiled. Tonight was surely going to be an eventful one...