After spending some time together and calming down, Su Xiaoning asked about the details of the conversation in the palace. After listening, she immediately decided to investigate with Su Qingcai.
"I want to go to Xiuyifang with you!"
“No.” Su Qingcai, who always doted on Su Xiaoning, frowned. “Xiuyifang is not a safe place. You have no status. Who knows what you will encounter if you go in.”
"Where do I lack status?" Su Xiaoning pouted, a shy smile suddenly appearing on her face. "I...aren't I the Ninth Prince's consort...?"
As she spoke, she lowered her head gently, a blush rising on her face.
Su Qingcai was stunned and didn't react for a moment. After he understood what Su Xiaoning had just said, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"You... although you're the only one standing by my side, we haven't officially been betrothed yet, and the outside world doesn't recognize it. I'm not letting you go for your own good. I can handle these things myself. Be good."
In the end, he still didn't want Su Xiaoning to investigate with him.
Su Xiaoning was a little angry. No matter how she tried to persuade Su Qingcai, she couldn't change his mind. So, she secretly went to find Feng Jiuming.
After hearing Su Xiaoning's purpose, Feng Jiuming waved his hands repeatedly.
"What? You want me to help you disguise yourself and run away again? Haven't we learned our lesson from last time? If the prince finds out, you and I will both be in deep trouble."
"You helped me last time, it's not like you can't help me again!" Su Xiaoning pouted, then suddenly thought of something, narrowed her eyes, and revealed a wicked smile.
"You really won't help? What about the store's discount rights..."
Feng Jiuming shuddered and exclaimed, "I'll help, I'll help, okay?!"
"A wise man submits to circumstances." Su Xiaoning raised an eyebrow smugly. Using these things to threaten Feng Jiuming was indeed a tried and true method.
Under Su Xiaoning's coercion, Feng Jiuming had no choice but to accept his fate and disguise himself and Su Xiaoning. The two walked outside, looking exactly like two handsome young masters, as if they had switched bodies.
Su Xiaoning's plan was to sneak into Xiuyi Workshop to find out what was going on. She secretly slipped out of the palace with Feng Jiuming and quickly arrived at Mirror Lake. However, she was in a dilemma after seeing the lake full of pleasure boats.
"Aren't you the head of Fengming Pavilion? Which ship belongs to Xiuyi Workshop?"
Feng Jiuming looked at Su Xiaoning speechlessly and helplessly spread his hands: "My intelligence bureau only told me that Xiuyi Workshop is here. I haven't seen it with my own eyes, so how would I know any of this!"
"Then which ship are we going to board?" Su Xiaoning's face darkened.
She stared intently at the passing boats, none of which had signs, and she couldn't ask anyone for directions; she had no idea where Xiuyifang was.
But since she was already here, how could she leave empty-handed? Su Xiaoning gritted her teeth and directly chose the most luxurious-looking pleasure boat to board.
As soon as you step into the painted boat, you see red curtains hanging everywhere, and you can hear sounds that make your heart race and your face blush.
"W-Where is this place?" Su Xiaoning's face was burning hot, and she felt uncomfortable all over as she listened to those indescribable sounds.
She didn't know if Xiuyifang was such a place. She stood there for a long time, lost in thought, when suddenly a fragrant breeze wafted over and a soft, boneless hand rested on her shoulder.
"Oh, what a handsome young master!"
A sweet, melodious voice, like the warbling of a nightingale, rang out. Suddenly, a beautiful woman walked up behind her, putting her arm around Su Xiaoning's shoulder and deliberately kissing her neck. Her full breasts rubbed against Su Xiaoning's arm.
Su Xiaoning got goosebumps all over her body. She wanted to push the beauty away, but the beauty leaned closer with a puzzled look on his face: "What are you doing, young master? You're already here and you're still shy? Let me serve you properly..."
As she spoke, her soft hand caressed Su Xiaoning's chest, but she suddenly froze, as if she had touched something very sensitive.
"you……"
The beauty was shocked. Su Xiaoning finally couldn't hold back any longer, pushed the beauty to the ground, and shouted at Feng Jiuming, who was also being entangled.
"Run!"
She's now certain that this is just an ordinary brothel, not Xiuyifang!
Unexpectedly, Su Xiaoning encountered such a huge misunderstanding. She was both amused and exasperated. She called out to Feng Jiuming and hurriedly ran off the painted boat.
The two had just disembarked and were still in shock when Su Xiaoning, who was supporting herself on her knees and catching her breath, suddenly a shadow fell over her head and a pair of familiar shoes came into her view.
She was startled, and when she looked up, it was indeed Su Qingcai.
Su Qingcai's face had turned completely black. He glanced at the pleasure boat not far away, where scantily clad women waved at him, and his anger flared up.
He grabbed Su Xiaoning and whispered, "Didn't I say I could investigate by myself? What are you doing here?!"
If he hadn't received the news quickly, those two would have disappeared somewhere!
"I'm sorry, I just wanted to help you..." Su Xiaoning lowered her head, not daring to look at Su Qingcai. She knew she was in the wrong, and spoke in a soft voice.
Seeing that Su Qingcai was pursing his lips and not saying anything, seemingly really angry, Su Xiaoning tugged at his sleeve, bit her lip, and said coquettishly, "Just let me investigate with you, okay? I promised Xiaodao that I would destroy their hideout, and I hope I can be of some use..."
Her voice was soft and sweet, and this rare display of coquetry made Su Qingcai's expression falter.
Su Qingcai still doted on Su Xiaoning, and he was helpless when she made that request.
"Alright, since you want to come with me, I'll agree. But don't wander off. Xiuyifang isn't even in Mirror Lake, so there's no point in you coming."
"Not in Mirror Lake? Then where should we look?" Su Xiaoning blinked, very curious.
Su Qingcai looked up at the boundless lake, her eyes suddenly sharpening.
"We will set off from Xiuyifang at midnight and return at dawn the next day, without stopping at any port in between. We must seize the opportunity."
Midnight...
Su Xiaoning looked up at the sky. It was still early, and there was no time to lose, so she compromised for the time being and returned to the Prince's Mansion with Su Qingcai.
...
Before they knew it, it was midnight. The three of them left the palace and headed towards Mirror Lake.
Su Qingcai did not disguise himself. Su Xiaoning and Feng Jiuming remained in disguise, but they changed into guards' uniforms and served by Su Qingcai's side.
At midnight, a huge painted boat was moored on the lake shore. From a distance, its carved beams and painted rafters looked quite magnificent.
The three of them hurried to board the ship, and all breathed a sigh of relief.
They hadn't walked more than a few steps when a woman suddenly approached from afar. She narrowed her long, thin eyes and scrutinized them with an inquisitive gaze.
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