The agreement had been made, but now they've suddenly gone back on their word. Hongzhou can't stand unscrupulous merchants profiting from the national crisis, and they even want to take advantage of the situation to raise prices? No way. Who exactly revealed his identity? Hongzhou pondered as he sipped his tea.
"If you don't want others to know, then don't do it in the first place." After his discussion with the Thirteenth Prince, Hongzhou had come up with some ideas. "Uncle, I think I know who revealed my identity. I'll take my leave now," Hongzhou said suddenly to the Thirteenth Prince after drinking a cup of tea.
After saying this, Hongzhou got up and left the Ministry of Revenue.
After seeing Hongzhou off, the Thirteenth Prince thought to himself, "This Hongzhou didn't come here to discuss things with me at all; he clearly just wanted a quiet place to sort out his thoughts." He couldn't help but sigh, "My Fourth Brother's child has grown up."
After leaving the Ministry of Revenue, Hongzhou went straight out of the palace. His destination was "Hongxiu Pavilion," a famous brothel in the capital that only the upper class could afford. He wanted to meet someone there.
"Sir, sir, please come in, please come in." Hong Zhou was dressed in a brocade robe and looked very dashing. The pimp standing at the door was looking around at the passersby.
As soon as they reached the entrance of the Red Sleeve Pavilion, seeing Hongzhou's attire, several pimps came to greet him. As they walked, they asked him what kind of girls he liked.
At this moment, the Red Sleeve Pavilion was filled with singing and dancing, and all the poets and literati were intoxicated by it. Hongzhou did not want to linger any longer and just wanted to resolve the matter as soon as possible. He touched the silver notes in his pocket and waited for the madam to come to him.
When the headmistress of Hongxiu Pavilion saw a young nobleman walk in through the door, she seemed to see a walking silver note and got up to greet him.
"Sir, is there a girl you're interested in? If not, may I introduce you to one?" The headmistress of Hongxiu Pavilion immediately fawned over Hongzhou, her eyes full of money.
"Is Miss Qingluo here?" Hongzhou didn't want to get too entangled with the madam, so he tilted his head back and didn't look at her, getting straight to the point and asking about Qingluo's whereabouts.
The madam smiled, then stammered, "Qingluo is here, but..."
There are plenty of men who want to see Qingluo every day; she's the top courtesan here, not someone you can just see casually. The madam noticed Hongzhou glance at her, and while she spoke readily, her tone was slow, "However, Qingluo is currently entertaining distinguished guests. I'm afraid you won't be able to see her today, sir. Perhaps you could look at some other girls…" Before the madam could finish, Hongzhou pulled a silver note from his pocket and waved it in front of her. The madam's eyes followed the note, and she immediately asked tactfully, "What can I do for you, sir?"
Hongzhou looked at the madam and said slowly, "This young master needs to see Miss Qingluo immediately." With that, he waved his hand and handed the silver notes to the madam.
The madam carefully took the silver note, and upon seeing the amount, she smiled obsequiously and said, "Qingluo can come out temporarily, after all, everyone has to relieve themselves sometimes. Please take a seat, young master, and I will invite Qingluo over."
Hongzhou gave a soft hum and was led by the madam to a refined room to wait.
Hongxiu Pavilion has always been about money, but this room is quite exquisite.
Hongzhou dismissed everyone else and waited alone in his room for Qingluo, pondering the cause and effect of the events. Hongzhou felt that it was likely Qingluo who had revealed his identity to the He family, since she had just seen him that day.
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