Chapter 27: The Young Lad, Li Jinglong

The madam was truly in a panic. She had been looking forward to the Drunken Immortal Tower rising to prominence and becoming the most renowned brothel in the capital. But just at this crucial juncture, such a complication had arisen. How could she not be anxious?

The most critical thing was that the person who wanted to redeem Wanling's freedom had an extremely powerful background. He was actually the son of a state duke, and she simply didn't dare to refuse.

Although Jinzhi held a lofty status, she didn't possess any real power in fact, and it was also inconvenient for her to intervene.

It was fine to act arrogantly, pretending to rely on the royal family to intimidate the sons of noble families in normal times. But when it came to someone like the state duke, who had both status and real power, even that Jinzhi would find it difficult to resolve the situation.

Currently, the only hope she had was the Mr. Li standing in front of her, the one for whom the Emperor had mobilized a large number of Jinyiwei to search for throughout the capital.

The madam was extremely anxious, yet Li Qing remained quite calm.

"It might not be a bad thing that someone wants to redeem Wanling's freedom," Li Qing smiled. "It's better than her having to sell her skills here."

The madam: "..."

She had never expected Li Qing to be so heartless. It was simply... being callous after getting what he wanted.

"Miss Wanling has fallen head over heels for you at first sight, sir," the madam resorted to playing the emotional card. "When the Jinyiwei came to visit yesterday, Miss Wanling was extremely worried..."

"Hehe..." Li Qing interrupted her. "If you don't want to agree, just say no!

Under the Emperor's jurisdiction, is there really anyone who dares to engage in forced buying and selling?"

Li Qing knew the backer of this brothel. Seeing that even the madam was so full of misgivings, he naturally didn't want to get involved.

The madam also wore a helpless expression. The person who had come had already revealed his identity. His father was a current state duke, and his uncle was the current Emperor. Even if she were given ten thousand times the courage, she wouldn't dare to say no.

"Madam, does Miss Wanling want to be redeemed?" Hongxiu asked.

"Of course not."

The madam shook her head, a hint of resentment in her voice. "Wanling has set her heart on Mr. Li. How could she be willing?

Well, since Mr. Li is afraid of getting into trouble, we'll just have to let Wanling down. Sigh... With her background as a brothel girl, even if she is redeemed, what status can she expect to have? It's not necessarily any better than being in the brothel. Maybe she'll even be passed around like a commodity and become a plaything.

It's a pity. She's only fifteen years old!"

Li Qing originally didn't want to meddle in other people's affairs, but upon hearing those last words, he finally felt a twinge of compassion. "What's the background of this person?"

The madam was overjoyed inwardly but said on the surface, "I heard that he seems to have some connection with the state duke."

Li Qing naturally didn't believe the madam's words. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Madam, go and tell that person that we won't sell. If he keeps pestering, I'll step in for Wanling myself."

"Really?"

"Of course!"

...

In the main hall downstairs.

The Eighth Prince covered his face with a small gold-embellished fan, revealing only a pair of eyes, and his expression was a bit nervous. "Jinglong, are we going too far this time? What if our families find out..."

"Don't worry, cousin," Li Jinglong, who was about the same age as the Eighth Prince, but behaved quite maturely, said. "I only told the madam my identity. I don't think she'd dare to spread it.

You can rest assured. I didn't mention your identity. If anything goes wrong, I'll take the blame."

"Jinglong~" The Eighth Prince looked touched. "You're a real friend."

Li Jinglong said generously, "After we take the person back, you can have a good look at her first, cousin."

"Let's look together."

Li Jinglong: "..."

What's the point of just looking?

Cousin is still too naive!

The Eighth Prince, Zhu Zi, had a look of great joy on his face. Last time, he'd spent 500 taels but hadn't even gotten a glimpse of what the other person looked like. This time, he was determined to see her true appearance.

Seeing the madam coming downstairs, he quickly said, "Jinglong, the madam is coming down."

"Just watch, cousin."

Li Jinglong smiled complacently and walked forward slowly. "Madam, have you made a decision?"

He was extremely confident. He had already revealed his background. As long as the madam wasn't out of her mind, she definitely wouldn't dare to refuse.

The madam did have her concerns, but thinking about the current importance of Wanling to the Drunken Immortal Tower and Li Qing's promise, she summoned up her courage and said:

"Sir, I'm truly sorry. Wanling is the main draw of the Drunken Immortal Tower. If she leaves, the brothel's business is bound to take a sharp decline. How about you consider some of our other innocent courtesans..."

"Have you thought this through?"

Li Jinglong's face darkened. "Do you think I can't make your Drunken Immortal Tower shut down tomorrow?"

This was nothing but a threat. Not only did he not actually dare to do it, but even if he had the audacity, his cautious father wouldn't let him act so recklessly. Instead, he'd probably get a good slap from his father, which he dreaded the most.

The madam was silent for a moment and then made another concession. "Sir, how about this? Xiuxiang is also an innocent courtesan. I'd be happy to offer her to you as a gift. What do you say?"

"I'm not short of money."

Li Jinglong was irritated. He might be more mature than the Eighth Prince when it came to matters between men and women, but in other respects, they were much the same. At this moment, his spoiled and impulsive nature emerged, and he simply started to act unreasonably.

"I'm just asking you, will you let her go or not?"

"... I'm sorry!" The madam mustered up her courage and replied.

At this point, Li Jinglong was completely enraged. He, the son of a state duke with the Emperor as his uncle, had actually been disobeyed several times by a mere brothel madam. How could he tolerate this?

"Come on!"

Li Jinglong pointed at the stage. "Bring her down here!"

The main hall suddenly fell silent. Although everyone present was displeased, no one dared to utter a word. They weren't fools. The person who could act so presumptuously right under the Emperor's nose must have an extremely powerful background, someone they definitely didn't want to provoke.

A few young men dressed like page boys hesitated for a moment but then reluctantly stepped forward.

Wanling's face turned deathly pale. Looking at the approaching men, her eyes, as bright as mountain grapes, were filled with fear. In the brothel, she could still protect her chastity. But once

Li Qing's voice wasn't loud, but everyone in the hall heard it clearly.

Several servants of the Li family stopped in their tracks. It wasn't that they were afraid of Li Qing; rather, they didn't want to do this either. If this matter got back to their master, they would surely be in deep trouble.

Now that someone had given them an excuse to stop, they were more than happy to take it.

Li Jinglong was fuming with anger. Being contradicted repeatedly, this thirteen or fourteen-year-old teenager could no longer hold back his temper.

How dare a brothel patron ruin his plans? Did this person really think he was easy to bully?

Damn it! Everyone was going against him. He had already boasted in front of his cousin. If he couldn't bring the girl back, how would he ever show his face again? Li Jinglong turned around to reassure his cousin:

"Don't worry, cousin. No one is going to stop me from taking her today. I mean it."

"Huh? Cousin, cousin..."

Li Jinglong scanned the crowd but couldn't see his cousin anywhere. He wondered, "Have any of you seen my cousin?"

The others shook their heads, indicating they hadn't.

"Sir, let's go back. If the master finds out about this, this servant..."

"Shut up!" Li Jinglong thought his cousin was disappointed in him, and he became even more annoyed. "I'm determined to take this girl. Pull that woman down for me.

Hurry up!"

The servants had no choice but to reluctantly step forward again.

"I'd like to see who dares!" With a soft shout, Li Qing leaped down from the second floor and landed steadily on the stage. "Under the Emperor's rule, who dares to engage in forced buying and selling?"

The main hall erupted in exclamations. Some were amazed by his martial arts skills, while others were surprised by his boldness. Everyone looked at him with admiration.

They didn't dare to offend Li Jinglong, but since someone else did, they were more than happy to support this person.

These people had all come for Wanling. Li Jinglong's attempt to redeem her right away had made them feel a sense of unity against a common enemy.

Li Jinglong saw that everyone was looking at him with hostility. Seeing that Li Qing was skilled in martial arts, he felt a bit心虚. But things had gone too far to back down now. If he gave up at this moment, he would lose face.

"Think you're good at fighting? What's the use of being good at fighting?

In this world, you need power and connections.

Which faction are you from?"

Li Qing sneered. "I'm from the 'faction' of the Great Ming. And which faction are you from?"

"I..."

Li Jinglong was momentarily at a loss for words. Despite his anger, he didn't dare to reveal his identity in public. After all, this was a brothel!

Li Qing smiled faintly. "So you're just a young and inexperienced lad!

Considering your young age, I'll give you a chance. Go back now, and I'll let this go."

"You'll let it go?" Li Jinglong laughed out of anger. At the same time, he felt more confident, thinking that Li Qing's words were a sign of fear. "What if I don't go back?"

Li Qing didn't waste any more words. He stepped forward directly, heading straight for Li Jinglong.

Li Jinglong quickly shouted, "Stop him!"

The servants immediately stepped forward to block Li Qing, but the next moment, they were sent flying.

Li Qing grabbed Li Jinglong by the collar and said calmly, "Even a prince who breaks the law should be treated the same as a commoner. I don't care who you are or how powerful your background is. If you break the law, I'll arrest you just the same."

He had already dared to take action against the husband of Princess Anqing, the Emperor's direct daughter. One more spoiled noble youth wasn't going to stop him.

Just like that, in full view of everyone, the arrogant Li Jinglong was lifted up like a chicken and carried out.

The servants of the Li family struggled to get up from the ground. After a moment of stunned silence, they immediately chased after him in a panic. But... they were a step too late.

Outside the Drunken Immortal Tower, dusk was falling.

Li Qing was already long gone. The servants looked at each other, their faces ashen. One of them said tremblingly, "Quick, go and fetch the state duke!"