Yao Ji's beautiful eyes widened, seemingly not expecting such a good thing to fall on her head. Her face flushed, she stepped forward from among the dancers, gracefully ascended the white jade steps, and knelt before Wei Qinglou, her head lowered, revealing her porcelain-white profile and the faint cleavage of her chest.
Her heart was racing. From a young age, her mother had told her that she was a woman and could do nothing but rely on men like a dodder vine clinging to a towering tree. But that didn't matter; she was beautiful and destined to rise to great heights.
She had been preparing for this day for a long time, learning how to lower her eyes, how to smile gently, how to look radiant with emotion, how to show her delicate profile... She had practiced hundreds of times, all for this day.
Yao Ji took a light breath. Although she had fallen into prostitution, she possessed a beauty that men would flock to. In order for her beauty to attract more men, her mother had always had people carefully take care of her body. In addition to her face, her hands were also slender and beautiful. The thin dance dress clung to her wrists, making her hands look delicate, like snow in the clouds.
She poured the wine, then presented the glass to the man, her voice as sweet as a nightingale's song: "My lord, please drink this glass to the brim."
Wei Qinglou slightly lifted his eyelids, raised his hand, and before Yao Ji could react, the wine cup in her hand had fallen to the ground, and she was soaked.
Although the people present were all spoiled brats, they always maintained a refined and upright image in public and would not allow themselves to behave in a disrespectful manner. Seeing the dancer's behavior, the man who had spoken earlier looked extremely ugly and hissed, "Disgraceful thing!"
Clearly, he assumed that the dancer was acting on her own initiative to seduce him in public in order to climb up the social ladder by associating with Wei Qinglou.
His voice was loud enough that everyone could hear him clearly.
Yao Ji trembled slightly.
She knew very well that everyone present today was a big shot she couldn't afford to offend, and that she would suffer a terrible fate if she angered any of them.
Wei Qinglou laughed and said, "It's just a small matter, Brother Jiang, why are you so angry?" He then called over his servant, "Shujian, take Miss Yaoji downstairs to change her clothes. A beauty is like a pearl or a piece of jade, she should be cherished. Brother Jiang, don't be too harsh on her, after all, she didn't mean it."
Upon hearing this, the man addressed as Brother Jiang's expression softened somewhat. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but then, seeing Wei Qinglou's pale face, he swallowed his words.
Wei Qinglou frowned, seemingly unable to hold back any longer, and turned to cough. His cough was so violent that it sounded like his heart was being torn apart, as captivating as his beauty.
The group exchanged glances, realizing that the banquet was probably over and they would have to wait for another opportunity to say what they wanted to say.
After all, Wei Qinglou is of noble birth and is now the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review appointed by the Emperor. If something were to happen to them, not to mention how the Duke's Mansion would make trouble, the Emperor's wrath alone would be enough to make them all suffer.
"If Lord Wei is not feeling well, he might as well go back and rest early. We can reschedule for another day."
As soon as someone spoke up, others chimed in, "Yes, yes, Lord Wei is now a pillar of the nation, a key minister, he cannot be allowed to suffer any mishap!"
Wei Qinglou pursed his lips, not refusing everyone's kindness, but sighed, "It's my poor health that has spoiled everyone's fun. I'll treat you all to drinks next time."
Everyone was deeply moved that Wei Qinglou, now holding an official position, was still so approachable. They all vied to treat him to the next meal, determined not to let him suffer any loss.
They were so engrossed in their argument that they didn't even notice when Wei Qinglou left.
Yao Ji, who had already changed into ordinary women's clothes, was also taken away by Wei Qinglou.
She was nervously led to the carriage, unsure of what to do. She instinctively wanted to go to Wei Qinglou's side, but the man grabbed her chin in the next instant.
She looked anxiously into the eyes of the refined-looking young man, her voice barely audible: "My lord?"
Wei Qinglou remained indifferent, unmoved by her pitiful act.
"Did the person who sent you here say that you look a lot like her?" He slowly raised his eyes, his gaze towards Yao Ji as indifferent as if he were looking at a dead object.
Yao Ji's heart suddenly turned cold. She didn't know if he knew something, but after living cautiously for more than ten years, she still had some ability to read people's expressions. She understood that she could only confess in order to win a chance to live.
"Yes...that person did say that..." She nodded tremblingly, her chin already being pinched painfully, but she still dared not say more, fearing that she would be stabbed to death by the man at any moment.
She had no doubt that the man in front of her was capable of such a thing.
"Do you know his name? Or can you recall his appearance?" Wei Qinglou asked her casually, but a fierce anger was rising in his heart.
He never expected that someone would send a woman who bore an eight-tenths resemblance to Zhu Jiayu to test him.
If he had shown the slightest abnormality just now, Zhu Jiayu would probably have been in trouble!
But Zhu Jiayu is completely innocent! However, because he had some dealings with him in Suiping, and because he now holds an important position and no one can touch him, those scoundrels wanted to target Zhu Jiayu.
His gaze toward Yao Ji grew even colder.
Yao Ji couldn't help but shudder: "I...I don't know. When that person went to the brothel to meet Mama, he wore a veil, so I couldn't see his face, but I could tell from his voice that he was probably a middle-aged man, and..." she added hastily, "He had a red mark on the back of his hand, but I don't know if it was from ink or a scar or something."
She said cautiously, "That's all I know."
Wei Qinglou rubbed his temples. The reason Song Qingzhang and the others had invited him to the banquet today was precisely because of the brothel.
Nowadays, in the capital city, officials are increasingly fond of prostitutes, and there have even been several scandals of officials favoring concubines over their wives. The emperor was furious and ordered him to oversee the regulation and abolition of brothels.
Brothels and gambling dens have always been dens of iniquity and money-making machines. Those who can set up brothels in the city are all influential figures. Now that the imperial decree has been issued, cowards who are afraid of having their profits reduced naturally go to Wei Qinglou, hoping to ask him to make some concessions.
Wei Qinglou never expected that someone would use this incident to set a trap for him before attending the banquet.
But since that person has also been to brothels, things become much easier.
"Shujian, stop up ahead and escort Miss Yaoji back." Wei Qinglou released his hand from her chin and smiled gently. "May I ask where Miss Yaoji comes from?"
"Yaoxue Tower," Yao Ji answered instinctively.
Wei Qinglou nodded, just as the carriage stopped. He said gently, "Miss Yaoji, please."
As she walked, Yao Ji was so frightened that her legs went weak, but thinking that she could return soon, she still insisted on turning around. However, she did not expect that the sword would pierce into her back in the next instant.
She turned her head in disbelief as blood splattered into the carriage. The most beautiful woman in Yaoxuelou, whom the madam had placed great hopes on, slowly collapsed into a pool of blood, ending her short life.
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