Chapter 7 Meeting a Celebrity
"Sir, please..." The madam smiled very reluctantly.
Song Qianzhao, led by the brothel owner, went up to the third floor. The private room in the center of the third floor was quiet and serene; it must be Miss Ming'er's residence. As they reached her boudoir, the brothel owner said flatteringly, "Sir, please wait a moment. Miss Ming'er hasn't entertained guests in a while. Allow me to go and give you a few words so I don't offend you." Without waiting for Song Qianzhao to respond, she pushed the door open and walked in.
A thin woman sat on the edge of a carved bed, her face plain and simple in a green gauze dress. Hearing the sound of the door hinges turning, her fingertips tightened slightly, creating a few fine pleats on her skirt. She looked up and asked, "Mom, is Erlang here?"
"It's fatal, Ming'er, you have to save your mother! Erlang didn't come, but a customer who is more ferocious than Erlang came." The brothel owner ran towards Chen Ming'er, howling with tears on her face.
Chen Ming'er showed surprise: "Even more vicious than Erlang? Could he be the legitimate sons of those powerful families in the capital?" The Erlang she mentioned was no ordinary person. In the capital, only the legitimate sons of a few powerful families would not care about his face.
The brothel owner complained, "How could the legitimate sons of those powerful families look down on our Hongxinglou? But the status of the person who came is no less than theirs. I don't know where he got your name from, but he asked to see you by name. I can't stop him! But if I let you go out to meet the guests, Erlang will not let me off easily when he comes. Both of them are important people, and I can't afford to offend them. I can only rely on your help. Considering the kindness I have taken care of you for so many years, you must help me."
Shen Ming'er frowned slightly: "After talking for so long, Mom still hasn't told me who the visitor is?"
The madam slapped her thigh and said anxiously, "I forgot that the visitor is from Song Zhongjian's residence."
"From the Song Zhongjian residence?" Chen Ming'er was stunned, her brows furrowed even tighter. "I've heard Erlang say before that the Song family only has one heir, and he's now kneeling in the ancestral hall as punishment for committing a crime. Apart from him, there are no other male descendants. Mom, have you been fooled?"
The brothel owner was surprised. "Is he a liar?" She hesitated and said, "But judging by his attire and demeanor, he doesn't look like a liar."
Shen Ming'er curled her lips: "These days, there are many liars, and there are even more liars who dress gorgeously."
The brothel owner was awakened, and the sorrow on her face instantly disappeared. Her expression became stern, and she said angrily: "Good! How dare you trick me? I will skin him alive!"
"Mom, wait a minute!" Shen Ming'er raised the corners of her lips slightly, revealing a faint smile, "I want to see him."
The followers behind Song Qianzhao and Xunjiu twitched their lips when they heard this - among all the people present, they were the only ones who knew that Song Qianzhao was just taking advantage of the power of others.
The brothel owner was surprised and asked, "You want to meet that liar?"
Chen Ming'er nodded and said, "He dared to blatantly impersonate someone from the Song Mansion. He must have some backing. It's not appropriate for you to deal with him, Mom. I'll put him in my room for the time being. Please send someone to inform Erlang and let him deal with it."
"Ming'er is still good to mom. Mom's love for you is not in vain." The brothel owner said and walked out quickly.
The brothel owner walked out of the room and glanced at Song Qianzhao coldly: "Go in! The girl is waiting for you inside."
Song Qianzhao was stunned, not understanding why the brothel owner suddenly turned hostile, but she didn't care. No matter how her attitude changed, it had no effect on her. She left Xunjiu and the other two waiting outside the door and stepped into the room.
Chen Ming'er sat at the round table in the room. With her slender fingers, she lifted a silver spoon and scooped a pinch of sandalwood powder into the gilded incense burner. The flames ignited, curls of green smoke rose, and the air was filled with the uniquely refreshing fragrance of sandalwood. As Song Qianzhao watched, she placed the silver spoon on the table, bowed, and said, "I am Chen Ming'er, greeting Master Song."
Song Qianzhao held a folding fan in her hand and bowed in return: "Thank you for your courtesy, young lady."
"Sir, please take a seat." Shen Ming'er walked over slowly and sat down beside the tea table. She looked at Song Qianzhao for a moment without leaving any trace, and asked softly, "Sir, would you like to drink tea or wine?"
"Enjoy the tea." Song Qianzhao paused, then added, "Just brew the tea leaves with hot water, and don't add anything else."
The way of drinking tea in ancient times was different from that of modern times. The most popular tea at that time was ball tea, which had various condiments added to it. The taste was very different from that of pure tea. Modern people may find it salty, spicy and strange.
Chen Ming'er asked in surprise, "Master, you don't like tea?"
Song Qianzhao pulled the corner of his mouth: "I am a country bumpkin, I am not used to drinking this."
Shen Ming'er nodded and lit the small charcoal stove to make tea for Song Qianzhao. Song Qianzhao sat quietly by the side and waited. When the tea was ready, Shen Ming'er placed the teacup in front of Song Qianzhao and whispered, "I now believe that you are the son of the Song family. I guess your purpose in coming to Hongxinglou is not for me."
Song Qianzhao was stunned, and said with a smile: "What do you mean?"
Chen Ming'er smiled and said, "Others who come to this place of pleasure cannot take their eyes off me the moment they see me, but you, Master, have only glanced at me briefly since you entered, always observing proper etiquette and not overstepping the bounds in the slightest."
"Just this? What if I'm being serious?"
Shen Ming'er shook her head in denial, "Young Master is of noble status, and there's no need for him to put on airs in front of me. Therefore, I can conclude that Young Master isn't coming for me, but for Erlang, who's behind me. Young Master is being so polite to me because he doesn't want to cause any friction with Erlang." She paused, her bright eyes fixed on Song Qianzhao, "Young Master has a request for Erlang."
Song Qianzhao was very surprised. She didn't expect that the women in this red-light district could see the clues from her behavior. She couldn't help but look at Shen Ming'er for a moment, nodded and praised: "I really didn't expect that in this red-light district, there would be a woman as beautiful and intelligent as you."
Chen Ming'er curled her lips. "I can't say she's beautiful or intelligent. To be honest, sir, when I was talking to my mother just now, I mistakenly thought you were a liar. Now it seems that I was blind."
Song Qianzhao took a sip of tea and said with a smile, "Miss, you didn't have to tell me directly."
Chen Ming'er held the kettle and poured a refill of tea for Song Qianzhao. She smiled faintly and said, "I'm used to hearing lies. It's rare to meet someone who is willing to tell the truth, so naturally I don't want to deceive them with lies."
"The girl is so different from others, why is it that..." Song Qianzhao was interrupted by Shen Ming'er before he could finish his words.
Shen Ming'er covered her lips and chuckled softly, her eyes moving: "Sir, do you want to inquire about my background, or do you want to persuade me to become a good person?"
When Song Qianzhao heard this, his face immediately turned red.
Chen Ming'er smiled and said, "It seems that you don't come to places like this often. People who have just been to brothels always like to ask about the girls' backgrounds and even more like to persuade us to become good people."
Song Qianzhao clasped his fists and bowed, then said with an embarrassed smile, "I'm sorry for the offense."
Shen Ming'er pursed her lips and smiled: "It's okay."
The two of them were silent for a while. Song Qianzhao sipped her tea while Chen Ming'er, smiling, refilled her pot with water. When the tea in the pot was gone, Chen Ming'er was about to boil water again when she heard a commotion outside the door.
"I want to see who dares to snatch my woman from me!"
"You can't go in, my young master is inside..."
"Get out of here!"
Chen Ming'er gave Song Qianzhao a mischievous smile: "Erlang is here."
Just as he finished speaking, the door was suddenly kicked open, and a young man of about sixteen led a group of ferocious servants in. The young man was short, wearing an elegant green Shu brocade gown. As he entered the room, he glanced at Song Qianzhao and was stunned for a moment before he shouted arrogantly, "You are the one who is trying to steal my woman?"
Song Qianzhao held the tea and said calmly: "She is not your woman."
"You little bastard, are you tired of living? How dare you speak to our young master like that!" A burly follower following behind the young man roared ferociously.
"Get out!" A roar rang out, and it was the young man who spoke. The follower rolled out of Shen Ming'er's room in an instant.
The young man suddenly rushed over to Song Qianzhao and, before she could react, grabbed the tea bowls on the table and smashed them to the ground. "You little brat, how dare you snatch a woman from me? Don't you think you're worthy enough?" He smashed two of the four tea bowls on the table. Although he kept cursing at the top of his voice, his face didn't show any anger.
Shen Ming'er had walked to the door and closed it before she pulled out a plate of bowls from under the bed and threw them around helplessly. The bowls flew around the room, making a crackling sound. It was obvious that this wasn't the first time she had done this.
The young man sat down in front of Song Qianzhao, picked up the teapot on the table and took a sip. He frowned and said, "It's so bitter!" He raised his eyes and looked at Song Qianzhao directly, saying, "I know you!"
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