After having breakfast at his residence, Li Huai'an went to the teahouse opposite Cangchun Tower.
He booked a private room on the second floor facing the street, ordered a pot of wine, warmed it on the stove, and opened a small crack in the window to silently observe the movements of the Hidden Spring Pavilion.
These days, although the Emperor has entrusted the Dali Temple to secretly try the Cangchunlou case, and even the Ministry of Justice only has some high-ranking personnel who know the inside story, Li Huai'an, as the Vice Minister of Justice, still learned some vague information from Zhao Yuan.
This brothel not only sold erotic paintings, but also provided special services to some high-ranking officials and nobles.
Everyone knows the true nature of this service.
Li Huai'an kept watch all day and saw that Zhang Fang had not come out since he entered the Cangchun Pavilion in the morning. During this time, the carved gate of the Cangchun Pavilion remained tightly closed, and no one was seen entering or leaving.
He gradually lost interest.
But he was unwilling to return empty-handed.
Since he had already wasted a whole day, he decided to wait a little longer.
At dusk, as night fell and the lanterns were lit, the bell of Cangchunlou rang to signal its opening.
In a corner on the second floor of a teahouse opposite Cangchunlou, the window was half-open, and a cool breeze carried the hustle and bustle of the distant city and the faint sounds of string and bamboo instruments from inside the building.
The sound of the bell jolted Li Huai'an awake from his drowsy state.
He straightened his back, held a wine glass in his hand, took a sip, and immediately felt refreshed. He leaned against the window, propped his chin up, and looked down at the scene at the entrance of Cangchun Tower.
As the bell tolled melodiously at dusk, the stone path in front of Cangchun Tower became bustling with activity. The number of people entering and leaving Cangchun Tower was somewhat beyond his expectations.
Some of them were prominent noblewomen from the capital, but they were all elderly and accompanied by maids. They entered the brothel and soon emerged carrying a rectangular box.
Li Huai'an had heard that before a young woman got married, her family would put some erotic paintings in her dowry or embroider the content of the erotic paintings on her embroidered shoes, so that the newlyweds could have a smooth wedding night.
Others who entered the Hidden Spring Pavilion were his colleagues from the imperial court, locals from Lingyang City, and some noble young men whom Li Huai'an did not recognize.
Most of these people entered the Hidden Spring Pavilion alone, while a very few brought female companions.
Li Huai'an's gaze swept among the figures coming and going, and out of the corner of his eye he suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure.
His body was instantly struck as if by lightning, and he could not move.
He was the only son in his family and was already married with several concubines. His father's visit to this place was certainly not to buy erotic paintings, but rather for those shady transactions.
Li Huai'an clenched his fists tightly. He refused to believe that his father had come to this place for mere pleasure, but rather for some other purpose.
However, when his father took out the identity token worth a fortune, Li Huai'an couldn't help but gasp.
He resisted the urge to rush down and stop his father, and watched helplessly as his father entered the brothel.
As night deepened, the laughter and soft singing inside the Hidden Spring Pavilion became increasingly clear.
Li Huai'an's heart grew heavier as he realized that he might be stepping into a vortex far more complex than he had imagined.
He paid the bill in a daze and went downstairs. It wasn't until the gatekeeper asked him, "Young master, please show your ID card," that he realized he had somehow ended up at the entrance of Cangchun Tower.
"I...I..." He lowered his eyes, scratching his head awkwardly and embarrassedly. "Sorry, I went to the wrong place."
"Young Master Li?" Zhang Fang happened to come out from inside and saw him. He invited him with a smile, "Would you like to come in and have a seat?"
"I don't have an identity card." Li Huai'an felt as if a huge stone was pressing down on his heart, making it hard for him to breathe, and he didn't even have the strength to speak.
“The son of an old friend receives special treatment. Please come in with me.” Zhang Fang stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder.
Upon hearing the words "son of an old friend" from him, Li Huai'an nodded as if possessed, and followed closely behind him, stepping into this legendary place.
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