Chapter 98 The Truth
Chunniang stared intently at the two young men in front of her with her affectionate eyes, curiously looking them up and down.
A moment later, she covered her mouth and chuckled knowingly.
With her keen eyesight, she could tell at a glance that the woman on the right was definitely a young lady.
As for the one on the left...
She shook her head; it was hard to tell, but she didn't quite feel like a man.
But think about it carefully, what normal man would bring a woman with him when visiting a brothel, unless his sisters are coming to catch him in the act?
Catching someone in the act?
She suddenly stopped, her smile froze, and the way she looked at Tao Tao changed.
She tentatively asked, "Gentlemen, you two seem quite distant. Are you perhaps here to see someone?"
Tu Miaoling exclaimed "Eh!" and looked at her in surprise.
Tao Tao frowned, stepped forward, and looked her straight in the eye: "You're a strange person. Does that mean you're here to find someone the first time you come?"
"Does this mean you only welcome regular customers? If so, then let's leave."
She gave her a cold look, then pulled Tu Miaoling and turned to leave.
Chunniang was taken aback for a moment, then hurriedly stepped forward to stop them, a fawning smile appearing on her face: "Oh dear, don't be angry, sir. It was my fault for speaking out of turn."
"I will certainly bring you a pot of fine wine as an apology in a little while, and two girls will serve you well."
"It has to be good-looking."
"They need to be clever."
Tu Miaoling and Tao Tao spoke at the same time, and after hearing what the other said, they looked at each other.
Chunniang chuckled and looked at them teasingly: "We have them all."
"Someone! Escort the two young masters to the second-floor side room."
Someone led the way, with Tu Miaoling at the front and Tao Tao at the back.
She looked around, observing everything around her. Unlike the pretentious Chu Feng Pavilion, this place was full of men and women laughing and joking.
There are no entry requirements here; anyone with a little spare money can come.
It's a place where it's easier to relax and indulge.
Lifespan value 50%
Lifespan value 40%
Lifespan value 35%
Lifespan value 15%
There were both men and women, but most of the courtesans had a much shorter lifespan than their male customers.
Suddenly, her gaze faltered. She saw a woman on the second floor who appeared expressionless, with a blank expression and vacant eyes. She was being helped by two old women and quickly disappeared around the corner.
The servant led them into a side room and said with a fawning smile, "Young masters, please go in and rest for a while. The girls will be here shortly."
Tao Tao was still thinking about the woman from earlier and didn't say anything.
Tu Miaoling nodded upon seeing this, casually handed over a few copper coins, and said, "Alright, go ahead."
The servant clutched the money in his hand and retreated with a grin.
She began to look around, eager to see what made Chunzhu Tower different from Chufeng Pavilion.
Tao Tao snapped out of her daze, walked to the front table, sat down, poured herself a cup of tea, and sniffed it.
It's a fairly common type of tea these days, nothing special.
Not long after, there was a knock on the door, followed by a sweet, cloying voice.
"Young master, we've arrived."
Tu Miaoling: "Come in."
Two women walked in slowly with their heads down.
The woman in the pink gauze dress said, "This humble servant, Zhu'er, greets you, young master."
Another woman, dressed in a light green gauze dress, bowed and said, "This humble servant, Ye'er, greets the young master."
Although her appearance is not top-notch, it is still quite good. Moreover, judging from her posture when she bowed just now, she is delicate, gentle, and lovable.
"Get up."
Upon hearing this, Zhu'er and Ye'er stood up, looked up, and gracefully stepped forward.
She nestled beside them, a charming smile on her face: "May I ask what kind of music you two gentlemen would like to hear?"
Tao Tao turned to look at Zhu'er beside her, took out her purse, and threw a few thumb-sized pieces of silver onto the table, making a sound.
The silver, illuminated by the sunlight, emitted a luminous glow that instantly made their eyes light up.
"I'd like to ask you a few questions."
Zhu'er and Ye'er exchanged a glance. Ye'er hesitated noticeably, and there was disapproval in her eyes.
If Chunniang finds out, they'll all be skinned alive.
Pearl clearly understood the look in her eyes, and dared not speak, both of them remaining silent.
Tao Tao saw their concerns and said, "Don't worry, it's not a big deal. Besides, no one else will know that you said it."
He then took out some loose silver from his purse.
She didn't believe that a large sum of money wouldn't attract brave men.
Upon seeing this, Pearl immediately became envious, and a greedy look appeared on her face.
She looked up at Tao Tao, then reached out and grabbed the silver in her hand: "Young master, please ask."
"Is there anyone in your building who was pregnant and forced to have an abortion?"
Zhu'er was taken aback when she heard this. She thought it was some kind of problem. Isn't it common for prostitutes to get pregnant and have abortions? What kind of problem is this?
"Of course there are, too many to count, young master."
Tao Tao felt that her question was too general, so she asked again: "Three or four days ago, did anyone have an abortion, leaving behind a premature stillborn baby?"
"this…"
At this moment, Zhu'er suddenly showed a look of fear, and Ye'er beside her also turned pale.
It seems so, and something terrifying has happened to them.
"It's okay, take your time, no one will know."
Tao Tao spoke to comfort them, and Tu Miaoling reached out and poured each of them a glass of water.
Pearl picked up her teacup, took a sip of water, lowered her head, her eyelashes trembling nervously. After calming herself down, she began to tell her story.
Four days ago, the servant in the building went to the clinic and bought a large amount of safflower, all so that Lianxia's baby would not be born safely.
Because the child in her womb was Qi Rongzong, the son of the Marquis of Zhongyong.
Young Marquis Qi Rongzong is now married. His wife comes from the Duan family, a noble clan. Although she is from a collateral branch, she is not to be underestimated.
The father, Marquis Zhongyong, was the emperor's cousin. He had a good relationship with the emperor since childhood and had little ambition or aspirations. He was content to eat, drink, and have fun. Under such an education, his son was even more so.
One day, Duan Jianan came from Lanling to seek refuge with the Duan family in the capital. She collided with the carriage of the Marquis's mansion and was spotted by the young Marquis Qi Rongzong, who fell in love with her at first sight.
After much inquiry, it was discovered that she was actually Lady Duan, from a noble family, a suitable match, even though she was from a collateral branch.
When Marquis Zhongyong learned of this, he thought that his son was of marriageable age and that if he could get married and have children, he would be able to settle down.
Duan Jianan had only dared to come to the capital to find a good marriage, but she never expected that a young marquis would take a liking to her in less than half a month. If she married him, she would become the marquis's wife when he inherited the marquis's title in the future.
Naturally, she was overjoyed to marry him and they enjoyed a period of blissful, inseparable happiness.
But his good fortune didn't last long. Qi Rongzong began to reveal his true nature, indulging in debauchery all day long, and the Chunzhu Tower became his second home.
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