Chapter 140 Gambling Den and Brothel Visit
The man with the mustache was very efficient; he uncovered a great deal of information in just three days.
"The eldest son of the Ruan family goes to Qianjinfang every day."
"After Qianjinfang, let's go to Xiushuilou," the man with the mustache said softly.
Song Zhimian thought for a moment, but couldn't immediately recognize who this young master of the Ruan family was.
"That's the one who was disfigured by Princess Yongxin's whip and still can't find a wife!" the mustachioed man reminded him.
Song Zhimian immediately realized what was going on.
"Him? He's the kind of spoiled young master who frequents gambling dens and brothels!"
"Is there anything unusual about this?" Song Zhimian looked at the man with the mustache.
"Master of Ceremonies Song, think about it, he came out of the gambling den for three days in a row and went straight to the brothel. Didn't you notice anything strange about that?" the man with the mustache muttered under his breath.
Song Zhimian thought about it carefully.
Gambling and whoring... the basics of a playboy!
However... because the Ruan family was impeached by the Crown Prince's faction and was investigated and dismissed, they should keep a low profile now.
But the eldest son of the Ruan family...
“Once a gambler enters a gambling den, he will definitely not stop until he has lost all the money he has.”
The fact that he went straight to the brothel after leaving the gambling den shows that he had money on him.
Of course, there's also a chance to win money!
But no gambling den will let a gambler win money for three days in a row.
So, he didn't go to the gambling den to gamble. Song Zhimin realized this.
The man with the mustache nodded his head like a chicken pecking at rice.
"Yes! That's exactly what I meant. When I sent someone to keep an eye on things, that person came back and told me that."
It is said that people either came out of the gambling den looking dejected or beaming with joy.
Only the eldest son of the Ruan family looked hurried, as if he was in a rush to do something.
Later, that person went to the brothel and kept watch for a while.
The eldest son of the Ruan family went into the brothel and came out in less than an hour and a half. Don't you find that strange?
Song Zhimian nodded. It was a bit strange; who would go into a brothel and not stay inside for a while?
In just half an hour... this young master of the Ruan family is really too incompetent!
"After the eldest son of the Ruan family left, my men stayed at the brothel for a long time."
A full hour later, someone finally emerged from the brothel.
That person is the King of Wu!
He was traveling light, dressed casually, and there was no indication that he was a prince; he wasn't even in a carriage. The man with the mustache continued.
Song Zhimian understood.
In fact, all of this was a facade.
The eldest son of the Ruan family went to the brothel to meet with the King of Wu.
As for why they didn't meet at home, it's probably because they didn't want others to find out.
So it must have been the eldest son of the Ruan family who did something at the gambling den...
"From now on, we should focus on the gambling den and find out what that young master of the Ruan family is doing there!"
Here, this is a silver note. Give it to the person who's with you.
"When entering a gambling den, it's best to have some silver on hand, otherwise things will be difficult!"
As she spoke, Song Zhimian stuffed two more silver notes into the man with the mustache's hand.
Although it hurts a little, it's worth it compared to what I want to do.
Besides, all this money can be reimbursed once the King of Qi returns...
The man with the mustache accepted it very readily this time.
Master of Ceremonies Song is right; you must have money on hand when going to places like gambling dens.
Without money, one can only stand outside and watch, unable to find out what the eldest son of the Ruan family did at the gambling den...
...
The man with the mustache continued to send people to investigate, while Song Zhimian began to wait for the Crown Princess every day.
Before the man with the mustache could find any more useful information, a message came back from the Weiyuan Army.
His Majesty led the Weiyuan Army to capture three cities in five days.
With His Majesty in charge of the central command tent, General Shen led the Weiyuan Army and captured three border cities of the foreign tribes in just five days.
The army is currently resting and will continue its advance into the remaining cities of the foreign lands once supplies are replenished.
The Ling family army, acting as the vanguard, charged forward fearlessly.
Similarly, King Zhao was incredibly brave, killing hundreds of barbarian tribesmen, and even the general Zhan, who was stationed in the three cities, was killed by King Zhao...
The capital city suddenly became lively.
"Three cities captured in five days—this is a great victory!"
"The foreign tribes were never a threat. When they seized Tianji City and Tianju City, it was because they bribed some people to cooperate with them from the inside."
In addition, the two cities of Tianji and Tianju are located in strategically important and easily defensible areas, which is why they were able to hold them.
"Once these two cities are recaptured, the barbarian states simply won't be able to withstand the attack from Dayu."
"In any case, this is a good thing for Da Yu."
I never expected King Zhao to be so brave, capable of slaying a general from a foreign land.
"That's for sure!"
Think about it, His Majesty personally led the Zhao King on the expedition, it must be because the Zhao King was also a fierce general.
Many people used to say that the King of Zhao was the most like His Majesty, but everyone thought it was just flattery.
Now that I think about it... he really does resemble His Majesty!
His Majesty is also capable of going to the battlefield and fighting the enemy.
"This time... King Zhao has returned, he should be rewarded again!"
"He's already a prince, how can we reward him? He has plenty of gold, silver, and jewels!"
"That's hard to say! The Great Yu Kingdom was founded on war, and the emperor of the Great Yu Kingdom must not only be able to defend the country, but also conquer it."
"King Zhao...must now have won His Majesty's favor!"
...
Less than two days after the news from the north reached the capital, news arrived from the southwest.
His Highness the King of Qi, stationed in the southwest, commanded the southwestern army to capture three strongholds of the Biao Kingdom, forcing the main army of the Biao Kingdom to retreat a hundred miles.
Thus, the Kingdom of Biao lost those three mountains that served as its natural barrier.
The emperor of Biao Kingdom has sent people to negotiate with the southwestern army, hoping to make peace, but His Highness Prince Qi did not even meet with the envoys, only leaving behind two sentences.
"If I don't beat you until it hurts, you'll never know that kneeling is your duty!"
When the news reached Beijing, it caused another stir.
"As expected of royalty, even their words carry such an air of dominance!"
"That's right! If we don't beat them until they're really hurt, they'll never know that Lord Horse has three eyes!"
"His Highness Prince Qi is quite formidable!"
"That's right! The princes are all incredibly capable..."
...
The Crown Prince was aware of what was being said outside, but he showed no emotion whatsoever.
He continued to diligently prepare all the necessary supplies for the war effort in the north and southwest.
Lin Xiang and the people of the Six Ministries, seeing the Crown Prince working so hard every day, all felt that the Crown Prince was suffering too much.
Those people outside only see the people who went to the battlefield to kill the enemy. Why don't they think that if it weren't for the Crown Prince's painstaking planning in the capital, how could the war between the two places have gone so smoothly?
"Your Highness, the tax revenue for Jiangnan next year..." Prime Minister Lin looked at the Crown Prince, whose eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep.
"As before! We can't just increase taxes on the people because military spending has increased."
Jiangnan already accounts for one-third of Chongqing's tax revenue, so we cannot increase taxes on Jiangnan any further.
In addition, in the southwest... taxes will be reduced by 20% next year.
When war breaks out, people's lives will be affected to some extent. The situation in the southwest is unusual, so we should lighten the burden on the people.
"My memorial to the Emperor will explain," the Crown Prince said softly.
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