Chapter 28 No Threat to Life
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger." Consort Xian rose and draped an outer robe over him, then turned to the kneeling guard, "How is Prince Jin's injury?"
The guard replied, "Your Highness, Prince Jin is not in mortal danger, but..."
"But what?" Emperor Zhaode roared. "Speak your mind! Who taught you this bad habit of stammering?"
The guard was terrified and hurriedly said, "This humble servant deserves to die." Then he quickly said, "The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review said that His Highness Prince Jin's guard was killed, but His Highness Prince Jin himself was beaten up. It doesn't seem like an assassin did it."
Emperor Zhaode slowly stopped adjusting his clothes: "A beating?"
"yes."
Consort Xian looked surprised: "So, was it an assassin, or was it revenge?"
If he were an assassin, why would they spare his life and just beat him up?
Beating someone up takes far more time than killing them.
The virtuous concubine seemed to be deep in thought.
"This subordinate does not know."
Emperor Zhaode frowned and decided to personally ask the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
He dressed, offered a few words of comfort to Consort Xian, and then walked out.
Consort Xian was alone in the palace and couldn't help but wonder.
Did the Prince of Jin go to Qingfeng Tower tonight?
If it was the work of an assassin, why did he kill two guards but not the Prince of Jin, only giving him a severe beating?
She summoned the eunuch Changxi and asked him what Qingfeng Tower was.
Changxi replied, "Your Majesty, Qingfeng Tower is a place where high-ranking officials and nobles dine. The tower is decorated in an elegant and charming style, and the prices of the dishes are three to four times that of ordinary restaurants. It is a unique place in the capital."
"Three to four times the price?" Consort Xian exclaimed in surprise. "What kind of vegetable is so expensive?"
“Your Majesty, the specialty of Qingfeng Tower is not its delicacies, but its beautiful women,” Changxi said. “The beauties in Qingfeng Tower sell their art, not their bodies. They are proficient in various musical instruments or poetry and literature, and each has her own unique charm and characteristics. It is an elegant place frequented by high-ranking officials and nobles.”
No matter how beautiful the women in brothels are, it cannot be denied that they are places of debauchery. The women give the impression of being ridden by thousands and slept with by thousands, so some men who consider themselves refined and noble naturally disdain going there.
Humans have another common flaw: what they can't have is always the best.
It is well known that the women in Qingfeng Tower sell their art but not their bodies. For men of status and with high standards, these beauties are not only good-looking and talented, but also virtuous and pure, like a lotus rising from the mud, naturally attracting them to spend a fortune on them.
"I see." Consort Xian frowned. "This Qingfeng Pavilion only recently opened? How come I didn't know there was such an elegant place in the capital before?"
"It has been open for ten years."
Consort Xian was silent for a moment: "Do all the princes in the court like to go there?"
“This servant is not quite sure,” Changxi shook his head. “But our Highness is strict with himself, strict with his subordinates, and keeps himself pure. He would not set foot in such a place.”
Consort Xian nodded: "I understand, you may leave now."
"Yes, this servant takes his leave."
Consort Xian paced back and forth alone in the palace.
The prices at Qingfenglou are so high, ordering a "beauty" (a euphemism for a woman) must be even more expensive. Since it's a place frequented by high-ranking officials and nobles, it means that some officials in the court and young masters from prominent families in the capital often spend lavishly there.
Although the Emperor doesn't interfere much in the private lives of his officials, he would never tolerate things going too far. The Prince of Jin, who was known for his upright and honest character in public, was brutally beaten in Qingfeng Tower, which became common knowledge and brought shame to the royal family.
Consort Xian sneered and, in a very good mood, walked to the window and leaned against it.
When Emperor Zhaode arrived at Chonghua Palace, he saw the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, dressed in official robes, pacing anxiously outside the palace.
Upon hearing the announcement "The Emperor has arrived," he turned around, knelt down, and bowed, saying, "Your subject, Duan Yue, Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, pays respects to Your Majesty."
"Rise." Emperor Zhaode alighted from his imperial carriage and gestured for him to enter the hall to speak. "What exactly happened?"
"Your Majesty, His Highness Prince Jin went to Qingfeng Tower for dinner tonight with his guards—"
"It's so late, is there no food at the Prince's residence?" Emperor Zhaode suddenly interrupted him, turning his head and staring sharply at the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. "What kind of place is Qingfeng Tower?"
"Your Majesty, Qingfeng Tower is a favorite haunt of high-ranking officials and nobles. They can dine there, listen to music, and if... if they have enough money, they can even book a private room and have the top courtesan perform for them..."
Emperor Zhaode's face darkened, and anger spread in his eyes: "Was it because the Prince of Jin was jealous of someone that he was beaten up?"
Stepping into such a place, he couldn't understand what reason he could easily get into a conflict with someone, especially since he was a prince. Who would be so audacious as to hit a prince?
Unless they are drunk and causing trouble, and have lost their senses.
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review bowed his head and replied, "I do not yet know the reason. After the manager went to report the case, I led my men to Qingfeng Tower in a hurry. We only found that the two guards were already dead, and His Highness Prince Jin had been beaten unconscious. So we cannot know who did it or what caused it."
"Because Prince Jin ordered a private room on the third floor, there were few guests. Prince Jin only brought his personal guards to the third floor and instructed them in advance not to disturb him. Therefore, no one came forward to serve him, and there were no eyewitnesses on the third floor."
"The guests on the second floor were all in private rooms, and the waiters and maids who came and went to deliver tea and dishes did not see anyone suspicious coming down from the third floor."
"No unfamiliar faces were seen entering or leaving the lobby on the first floor."
"I can only order the Qingfeng Pavilion to be sealed off for now. The guests who went there to dinner and listen to music tonight will be detained temporarily, and we will investigate further after Your Majesty gives further instructions."
Emperor Zhaode asked, "Is the Prince of Jin's injury serious?"
The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review replied, "The injuries are quite serious, but there is no danger to his life."
Emperor Zhaode remained silent for a moment, his face extremely grim: "Did you come to report to me because it involves Prince Jin, or because some of the guests at Qingfeng Tower have special identities that you cannot easily touch?"
"Both are true," the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review replied respectfully. "Your Majesty, Qingfeng Tower is only frequented by people of high status and position; ordinary people cannot afford to go there. If there are any important officials or princes present tonight, I fear there will be many obstacles if I wish to investigate the truth. Therefore, I need Your Majesty's written decree."
Emperor Zhaode's face was shrouded in gloom.
It has always been said that Prince Jin was of noble character and extremely self-disciplined; it turns out that he was indeed that self-disciplined.
Qingfeng Tower isn't cheap; those who frequent it must be quite wealthy.
He said coldly, "Check who the guests were at Qingfeng Tower tonight, and how many times they spent money there, and the amount spent. I want to know if all my brothers, nephews, and officials are wealthy."
"Your Majesty, I obey." The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review bowed his head. "And Your Highness, Prince Jin..."
“Since the Prince of Jin was beaten, he should know who beat him,” Emperor Zhaode said calmly. “When he wakes up, we can ask him.”
"yes."
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