"What's up?"

Xiao Ye looked at Su Liluo with curiosity.

"I want to go north with you!"

"What?"

Xiao Ye was taken aback, his gaze deepened again, and his brows furrowed.

"Do you know that the north is a desolate place? Not to mention that the soil and water there are rough, and a woman like you probably can't adapt. Moreover, there will inevitably be a tough battle to fight on this trip, which is very dangerous."

A hint of worry crept across Xiao Ye's face.

He never imagined that Su Liluo would suggest going north with him, since life there was far less comfortable than staying in the capital.

Su Lilu smiled slightly and said, "There might be news about my biological father over there. I thought I'd go look for him while I'm at it. Besides, I heard that the midwife who delivered my mother was someone my mother brought from the north."

Although she had asked Xiao Ye to investigate, there were still no clues.

According to her memories from her previous life, her father had an accident in a place near the north.

My father was stationed in the north at a young age, where he met my mother. My mother was a female doctor, and she used her own midwife when she gave birth.

After her mother died, the midwife heard Jiang Qinshu say that she had returned to the north.

She wanted to know if the midwife was an accomplice of Jiang Qinshu in the incident of her being switched at birth.

Upon hearing this reason, Xiao Ye remained silent for a while.

Indeed, that reason is quite valid.

Seeing the determination in Su Liluo's eyes, Xiao Ye finally nodded.

"Okay, I promise you."

*

Tianxue Pavilion.

Singing and dancing filled the air, and crowds thronged the area. Joyful music echoed everywhere under the eaves and green tiles of the corridors.

Xiao Ye, dressed in the attire of an ordinary young nobleman, stood in the doorway with an indifferent expression, hesitant in his heart.

Yes, thanks to Su Liluo's treatment, he can now stand for three hours every day.

"Come on, you'd better act convincingly!"

Su Lilu nudged Xiao Ye with her elbow and said casually.

She is now dressed as a man, and the two of them standing together look like older and younger brothers.

The reason Su Liluo came to Tianxue Pavilion was because in her previous life, she accidentally learned from Xiao Churen that Emperor Wenjian liked to come here.

Tianxue Pavilion is a high-end brothel where the prostitutes are all talented, and most of them sell their art but not their bodies. The industry rules are extremely strict.

Whether you are a high-ranking official or an ordinary citizen, you must follow the rules here.

Xiao Ye pursed his lips, glanced at Su Liluo who was smiling brightly, and finally went inside.

"Oh, would you two gentlemen like to listen to some music or take a rest?"

As soon as they entered, Xiao Ye and his companions' outstanding appearance attracted several young women to come and greet them.

They looked at Xiao Ye with amazement; such a handsome client was a rare sight indeed.

Xiao Ye responded calmly, "Listen to the music."

"Alright, young master, please come this way."

Several women greeted him warmly.

This was Su Liluo's first time visiting a brothel, and she couldn't help but look around as soon as she entered.

Before she could get her fill of looking around, Xiao Ye reached out and pulled her upstairs.

The two sat down on the second floor in a good spot with a great view.

"Gentlemen, would you like to have a couple of young ladies keep you company?"

After they sat down, the woman who had brought them up asked with a smile.

Xiao Ye then turned his gaze to Su Liluo and asked for her opinion.

Su Lilu realized what was happening and immediately said, "Yes, we want to order Xiangxiang!"

The woman was initially happy to hear that, but when she heard Xiangxiang's name, her brows furrowed again.

"Young master, I'm so sorry, Miss Xiangxiang has been booked today, so you probably won't be able to see her. How about I introduce you to some others? Our Miss Liuluo and Miss Jiaojiao are both quite nice!"

"No, we want Miss Xiangxiang. We've heard she's the most talented, and we want to see for ourselves."

Of course she knew that Xiangxiang had been sponsored today, and that's why she ordered it!

Xiangxiang was a woman admired by Emperor Wenjian. He had considered bringing her back to the palace under a different identity, but she refused.

It is said that this Xiangxiang was exceptionally talented and of noble character. Even as a prostitute, she only sold her art and not her body.

He was almost forced into sexual intercourse, but was later saved by Emperor Wenjian.

From then on, with Emperor Wenjian protecting her, no one dared to bully her.

However, this fragrant girl was unwilling to go to Emperor Wenjian's harem to live a life of luxury and compete for favor with others.

"Young master, please don't make things difficult for us. How about next time? I promise I'll help you arrange a date with Miss Xiangxiang?"

The woman smiled awkwardly.

But Su Liluo pretended to be a spoiled brat and called out "Big Brother" to Xiao Ye.

"I just want to see Miss Xiangxiang. What guest could be more distinguished than us?"

Xiao Ye understood and then coldly said, "Go and take us to see Xiangxiang!"

His demeanor was cold and ruthless; even his gentle words were intimidating.

"Young master, it really won't work! Xiangxiang is currently entertaining distinguished guests!"

The woman was almost in tears. Although she didn't know that Xiangxiang was entertaining the current emperor, she knew that he was a distinguished guest they couldn't afford to offend.

Upon seeing this, Su Liluo's eyes flickered.

"Oh, seeing you like this, we don't have the heart to make things difficult for you, but we're leaving the capital tomorrow. If we don't see Miss Xiangxiang today, we're afraid we won't have another chance. Why don't you take us there so we can sneak a peek at Miss Xiangxiang from outside the window? That would be enough for us."

As he spoke, Su Liluo sighed and handed a piece of gold to the woman.

The woman's eyes widened in excitement when she saw the gold in her hand.

Thinking of what Su Liluo had just said—that she only wanted to steal a glance—she couldn't help but be tempted.

"Then... then it's agreed that you'll only peek, and you absolutely mustn't go in and disturb Miss Xiangxiang while she's entertaining her distinguished guests?"

"Yes, we'll just take a quick look from outside."

Su Liluo nodded seriously.

She hadn't really expected to snatch Xiangxiang away from Emperor Wenjian; she just wanted to know where they were.

After all, it was a very secretive thing for Emperor Wenjian to come here to see Xiangxiang. If they didn't use this method, they wouldn't be able to find out which room he was in.

When the woman saw that Su Liluo had agreed, she was still marveling at Xiangxiang's great charm, which was enough to make a guest spend a piece of gold just to see her.

How deeply affectionate!

So, the woman led Su Liluo and the others through several turns, finally arriving at a very secluded and quiet courtyard of Tianxue Pavilion.

"It's a promise, you'll only take one look, okay? There's a window in the back where you can see it, but you absolutely mustn't make a sound, or we're all doomed."

The woman carefully gave another word of advice.

She earned this money with a lot of trepidation.

"Don't worry, we absolutely won't say that you brought us here!"

Su Liluo nodded in agreement.

Then, he walked into the courtyard with Xiao Ye.