This was a good opportunity for Zhou Zhizhi to ask questions. Although there were many people in the Willow Lane Brothel who wanted to gather information, most people were still unwilling to talk much about matters concerning the royal family.
"Is the First Prince in Miss Qi Chenge's room these days?" Zhou Zhizhi asked tentatively. If she could meet the First Prince directly today, she would ask him for the "Northern Darkness Divine Art" in person.
"Not here today," replied a pretty young girl, slightly drunk and with a flushed face.
“Every time the Crown Prince comes, he doesn’t go through the main gate. Instead, a servant leads him directly to Miss Qi Chenge’s room through the back door. He does this very discreetly to prevent others from finding out. How could a lowly girl like you know such an important secret?”
Upon hearing Tao Hong's confident answer about the whereabouts of the First Prince Xiao Dongyang, some people immediately raised questions in order to show off in front of Zhou Zhizhi.
Hearing this, Tao Hong's face turned even redder. Not to be outdone, she explained, "Although I am a lowly girl, I have always been on good terms with Sister Qi Chenge. She told me this herself yesterday!"
To have a good life in this brothel, besides getting on the good side of wealthy and powerful gentlemen, one also needs to befriend the favored and popular girls, seeking their patronage and getting them to speak well of one of their daughters to the head housekeeper.
Therefore, Qi Chenge was surrounded by many low-class girls who eagerly fawned over her, but Tao Hong's claim of being on good terms with her was clearly somewhat exaggerated.
"Does this young lady know when the Crown Prince will come to this Willow Lane Pavilion?" Zhou Zhizhi couldn't resist the gentle persuasion to drink and accidentally drank a few more cups. Now, after asking the question, she was looking at Tao Hong with affection in her eyes.
Her eyes were filled with the shimmering light of the lake, and Chun Tao was stunned for a moment, stammering, "This, this, I heard they'll come in three days, three days from now."
"However, the First Prince is busy with official duties, and I don't know if his promises are taken seriously." To ensure that she was absolutely right, Tao Hong quickly added.
"Three days..." Zhou Zhizhi silently calculated in her mind, which meant there were still 5 days left before she was eliminated.
It's not too late...
"Young master, let me offer you another cup."
"Yes, young master, please have another drink."
Seeing Zhou Zhizhi's thoughtful expression, everyone desperately tried to promote themselves for their own benefit, their smooth, delicate hands tracing patterns all over Zhou Zhizhi's body.
Zhou Zhizhi, who had never received such good treatment in modern times, decided to indulge herself and have some fun.
"Who among you can dance? Give me a dance to liven things up!" Zhou Zhizhi said boldly.
"I will, I will."
"Sir, I can do that too."
Everyone around her was vying for the opportunity to perform in front of Zhou Zhizhi.
"Master, let me do it~" The handsome young official beside Zhou Zhizhi spoke timidly, making Zhou Zhizhi's heart itch.
"Then it'll be you." He casually grabbed a handful of melon seeds from the table and stuffed them into the young male prostitute's arms.
Upon seeing this, the male prostitute's face lit up with joy, and he quickly reached out to catch it, saying, "I'm coming right now, sir, please watch carefully."
Just as Xiao Guan'er was swaying her graceful figure and performing a dance for Zhou Zhizhi.
The door opened at an inopportune moment, and Zhou Zhizhi frowned and looked up.
"Who is it?! Interrupting my good time."
Looking at the beautiful women beside Zhou Zhizhi and the male prostitute in front of her who was swaying his body to seduce her, Xiao Xiyou felt an indescribable awkwardness in his heart.
"Master Zhou, you seem to be in quite a mood today. I didn't even recognize you." Xiao Xiyou said in a sinister tone. Despite this, he didn't forget to help Zhou Zhizhi conceal her identity as the Imperial Preceptor.
Hearing that familiar voice, Zhou Zhizhi's hazy drunkenness was instantly jolted halfway awake.
"Little Grapefruit, what are you doing here?!" Zhou Zhizhi asked in shock.
She quickly realized that she shouldn't call Xiao Xiyou "Little Grapefruit".
"You may all leave. This young master has some private matters to discuss." He quickly dismissed everyone, leaving only him and Xiao Xiyou staring at each other in the room.
"The Imperial Advisor really knows how to enjoy life, with women on both sides, and he's into both men and women."
"How come I've never heard of the Imperial Advisor having this kind of hobby before?"
Xiao Xiyou spoke in a sarcastic tone.
Zhou Zhizhi felt a little embarrassed by what was said. Being lustful is human nature, but it was still a bit shameful to talk about it so openly.
"I wonder what important matter brings the Second Prince to this Willow Lane Pavilion?"
"Weren't you just here to drink, have fun, and gossip?" Zhou Zhizhi avoided Xiao Xiyou's question and instead questioned him.
Xiao Xiyou's forehead veins bulged, but he held back and squeezed out four words through gritted teeth.
"I... am... no... at all!"
He didn't want to tell Zhou Zhizhi that his real purpose in coming here was to win over some minor figures in the officialdom who were looked down upon by both the First Prince and the Third Prince.
Because he was alone and powerless, and his mother was just a lowly palace maid who could not be brought into the limelight, she could not help him in his quest for the throne.
With his qualifications, he was not suited to fight his way through the officialdom, to covet the supreme power, or to obtain the position above all others.
However, both the eldest prince, Xiao Dongyang, and the third prince now see him as a thorn in their side. He can only survive peacefully after the old emperor passes away if he obtains that position.
Xiao Xiyou didn't have many people at his disposal, so he had to do everything himself.
"Your Highness, which sweet-talking girl have you taken a fancy to? It's alright, I'm very discreet and I definitely won't tell anyone." Zhou Zhizhi knew that Xiao Xiyou must have come here to gather information, but she still asked him teasingly.
"Then why don't you tell me, Imperial Advisor, which good girls here you can recommend to me?"
"Judging from the Imperial Advisor's familiarity with this place, he must be a regular visitor and has many old flames," Xiao Xiyou retorted sarcastically.
Zhou Zhizhi understood the sarcasm in Xiao Xiyou's words, but pretended not to understand and changed the subject. After all, she didn't want Xiao Xiyou to know that she had any connection with the Crown Prince.
Because she couldn't explain why she insisted on learning the Northern Darkness Divine Art.
"The weather is lovely today, and the West Lake is bustling with activity. I've been so busy with official duties all day that it's been a long time since I've experienced the joys of everyday life. I wonder what Your Highness, the Second Prince, thinks?"
Zhou Zhizhi laughed it off and invited Xiao Xiyou to leave this troublesome place. Both of them were shrewd and had secrets they couldn't talk about or didn't want to discuss. They shouldn't delve into topics they didn't want to talk about. After all, it's good to leave room for maneuver so that you can meet again in the future.
Xiao Xiyou didn't say anything, but turned around and left first.
Seeing this, Zhou Zhizhi quickly followed. After all, her life was still tied to Xiao Xiyou, and she wanted to leave a good impression on him so that he would cooperate in the future and see if there was any way to remove the male-female symbiotic gu.
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