Chapter 500 Asking for Money

Xu Da was dumbfounded, not knowing how to explain. It was true that his father slept in a coffin. It was said that promotion and wealth came from sleeping in a coffin. The fortune teller said that if his father wanted to be promoted, he should open the coffin every day. After the mourning period, he would return to the capital and would definitely have a smooth career and rise to prominence.

We're not talking about his father now, but about him; his mother has a lot of misunderstandings about him.

"Mother, please let me explain."

Xu Da was in a real predicament. Now that his mother was left to interrogate him alone, he couldn't get away. He hoped that Lin Yuesha would come back soon to testify for him.

"What's there to explain? You dressed like this because you didn't want to be recognized!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Xu became even more enraged. She pulled a handkerchief from her sleeve, stood on tiptoe, and wiped Xu Da's face with it. Then she smelled it, and what she smelled made her even more furious. She widened her eyes and asked, "You actually stole my face powder?"

This face powder costs two hundred taels of silver per small box. It's the best quality powder from a time-honored brand in the capital. She usually couldn't bear to use it, but her son actually used it all on his face!

You don't know the cost of firewood and rice until you're in charge of the household; she's really worried about it!

"mother……"

Xu Da was embarrassed. Today was his first time at Wenjun Tower, and he was there on business, not because his mother thought he had no interest in men.

"Pah!"

Madam Xu dismissed the servants, trying to save face for her son, and then angrily said, "Look at yourself in the mirror! You dress neither like a man nor a woman. You have no interest in men and refuse to get married, causing your mother so much worry. Who are you interested in, the eunuchs in the palace?"

Madam Xu launched into a barrage of questions, leaving Xu Da utterly defenseless. This only deepened his mother's misunderstanding of him.

"Mother, listen to me."

Xu Da straightened his expression; he knew he had to get past this hurdle.

"Alright, stop making excuses. It's tiring. You just want to argue that you came to Wenjun Tower on business. What kind of business could you possibly have here?"

Mrs. Xu was disappointed in her son and started crying again.

Xu Da: ...

He said one thing and his mother responded with ten, and the witness who was supposed to save the day was slow to appear. He was finished.

“A real man should be upright and honest. What did your mother teach you? Even if you are abandoned, you should stand up straight. What kind of behavior is it to go to Wenjun Tower to drown your sorrows and degenerate into depravity?”

Madam Xu punched Xu Da a few times, and then decisively said, "I think you should quit being the deputy commander of the Five Cities Garrison. I'm going home now to pack my bags and take you back to your hometown to find your father."

What's so great about being an official? You can see a piece of fat meat right in front of you but can't eat it. He's the Prince of Luo, a member of the royal family. He can have any handsome men he wants.

Xu Da: ...

His mother not only misunderstood that he was homosexual, but also that he was having an affair with the Prince of Luo. This...

The mother and son argued for a long time in the room, while Lin Yuesha had already followed Young Master Yu out of Wenjun Tower.

This was a good opportunity. Lin Yuesha originally wanted to go back and find Xu Da, but Madam Xu made a scene at Wenjun Tower and acted unreasonably. She needed time to explain when she went back, and by the time she came back to find Young Master Yu, he had disappeared.

Lin Yuesha had no choice but to spend a copper coin to send a message to Xu Da, while she fought alone, following behind Young Master Yu.

As soon as it got dark, Taipingfang became bustling again. People from the south and the north came here to stroll and watch the excitement. A huge colorful lantern hung every few meters on both sides of the long street, making it as bright as day.

Yu Zicheng didn't bring any servants. He moved through the crowd, and Lin Yuesha kept a certain distance from him at all times, not daring to get too close and be noticed.

Not far ahead was the end of Taipingfang. Yu Zicheng's figure flashed and quickly disappeared.

When Lin Yuesha got closer, she saw that all around were grand mansions with tall gates, and the alley was pitch black. She had no idea where Young Master Yu had gone.

Unable to find anyone, and finding it unsafe to stay any longer, Lin Yuesha had no choice but to turn back and return to Wenjun Tower.

"I just went out. Where did my cousin go?"

Lin Yuesha came to find Xu Da, intending to explain the situation. Unexpectedly, the male madam, who had been looking worried, immediately perked up when he saw Lin Yuesha and said, "You've come at the right time. You and your brothers have spent a total of four hundred taels of silver. Please settle the bill."

Just now, a lady caused a scene at Wenchang Tower, grabbing someone by the ear and dragging them out. A group of people were busy watching the commotion, and only after the person left did they realize that the money had not been collected.

Lin Yuesha wanted to run away, but two burly men were blocking the door behind her, eyeing her menacingly. If she didn't give them the money, things would get out of hand.

That damned Xu Da! He came all this way and didn't even bother to settle the bill. She went out to change her clothes and didn't bring any silver notes with her!

"Guest, Wenjunlou is an open business. If everyone here were to come and do business for free like you, what would we eat and drink?"

The male brothel owner, with a calm expression, described Lin Yuesha as a shameless woman who was lustful and refused to pay.

Most of the men who came to Wenjun Tower to solicit customers came from poor families. They had no money and nothing else, so they had no choice but to sell themselves in Wenjun Tower. She even cheated them out of their money, which was simply outrageous.

"Fengzhu and Suizhu will each receive 100 taels of silver for their appearance, including singing a folk song, dancing, and a large table of food and wine. Since this is your first time visiting, we will give you a discount and only charge you 400 taels."

A mere four hundred taels of silver, enough for only a fine silk garment, gave the two men the courage and faith to continue living.

"Sir, if you don't give them the money, Fengzhu and Suizhu will be devastated and unable to recover. If they don't work in this line of work, what else can they do without connections?"

The male brothel owner first threatened her, then reasoned with her and appealed to her emotions, making it seem as if Lin Yuesha would have to watch two lives perish if she didn't pay.

She was out there working on a case, and all the expenses were paid for by Luo Wang. But now she had to pay upfront, and Lin Yuesha regretted coming back.

Besides, she went out shortly afterward, so she didn't hear much of the music or see the two dancing, and she only ate a few bites of the food and drink.

Four hundred taels! No matter who spends the money, they're losing a fortune!

"Guest, you have come to our Wenjun Tower and made it clear that you want to see Wenjun. But if Wenjun were to appear, it wouldn't be as simple as just two hundred taels of silver."

The male madam's tone was full of disdain. How dare they come to Wenjun Tower without enough money? What kind of place does Wenjun Tower think it is? They really don't take them seriously!

"Men, search the place!"

Lin Yuesha remained unmoved, so the male madam ordered the burly man to press Lin Yuesha down, search her body, and find money.

"Wait a moment!"

The money should be paid; Lin Yuesha wouldn't owe any money. However, she was a little troubled about how to pay it.

After sending the two to Taipingfang, the Prince of Luo went off to enjoy himself and didn't even come looking for them. With Xu Da gone, she could only send the people from Wenjunlou home to ask her maid for money.

The problem is, she came to Wenjun Tower, a brothel. If her mother found out she came to such a place, she would react even more strongly than Madam Xu and would faint immediately. So she absolutely cannot let this matter slip out!