Brothel Affairs
The next day, Chen Yun and Li Lin, accompanied by two Anbu, visited the Yan residence. They learned that General Yan Buyang and General Li Feifei had brought their soldiers to the residence to deal with the case of General Yan's daughter being sold to a brothel. Consequently, the two returned to the brothel.
Chen Yun and Li Lin entered the brothel. The surroundings were brightly colored, with a pile of cloth and carpets tied together, clearly showing a place of vibrant lights and promiscuity. The noise in the place suddenly stopped, and everyone's eyes were fixed on them.
Inside the brothel, looking up, the Third Prince, Li Linhao, sat in a carved sandalwood chair in front of the stairs, his arms folded across his chest. Behind him stood several fierce-looking, knife-wielding thugs. A woman cowered beside him: Yan Ruoxi, the daughter of Yan Buyang. The madam, with a perpetual smile on her face, couldn't hide the shrewdness and sophistication in her eyes, and she rubbed her hands non-stop.
Yan Buyang knelt on one knee, his body trembling slightly, his voice choked with sobs and urgency, "Third Prince, I know I have done something wrong, and I am willing to repay the debt in installments with my salary. My daughter is innocent, and I beg Your Highness to return her indenture and let her go this time."
Li Linhao sneered, then pointed at him and taunted him, "General Yan Buyang, you're addicted to gambling and have lost everything. You sold your daughter and now you blame me? I'm in urgent need of funds to deal with the famine in Japan. Without your daughter, how can I make my money back? General Yan, consider it as sacrificing your life for your country!"
Chen Yun turned his head and asked Li Lin, "Is there a famine over there?"
"Yes. Father did not adopt my suggestion. Otherwise, famine would not still exist."
Li Feifei stepped forward, pointed his spear, and shouted angrily, "Donate your pig's head! Bah! You're such a pervert! Instead of selling yourself to raise money, you come here to harm the girls in the general's mansion. You have wives and concubines everywhere, why don't you let them entertain guests? If you hadn't taken advantage of General Yan's unyielding character, how could you have sold your own daughter?"
Chen Yun looked at a middle-aged woman next to Yan Buyang. She was slim but had scars on her face, which was enough to show that Li Feifei had a good record in battle.
Li Linhao stood up and said, "As expected of General Moon Rabbit Li Feifei. A brave woman, rude and direct, she's truly a fierce tigress. But General Li, I'm right, and I won't give in even if my father comes!"
"What if it's just the two of us?"
Everyone looked over when they heard the voice, and the people coming were Crown Prince Li Lin and Crown Princess Chen Yin.
Chen Yun's lotus steps moved with graceful grace, while Li Lin's expression was stern, a commanding presence even without anger. Li Linhao's eyes flashed with a flicker of panic, but he quickly regained his composure. He stepped forward, bowed, and said with a forced smile, "I'm so sorry to have been so kind as to welcome you, my Imperial Brother and Imperial Sister-in-law. I wonder what brings you here?"
Chen Yun said, "I just heard that General Yan is willing to repay the debt in installments. As for the famine in Japan, you are short of money. I believe that there is no need to rush, Third Brother."
Li Linhao said disdainfully, "Sister-in-law, if you continue to use your lowly blood to indulge in fantasies and dream of defeating me, I tell you, it's impossible."
The madam said, "That's right! Your Highness, she's already been with guests. She's no longer a decent woman. If we let her leave here, she might commit suicide to clear her name. That would be very troublesome!"
Yan Ruoxi's eyes were red and tears welled up in them. She cried out anxiously, "I didn't! I have never betrayed my innocence! Dad, you have to believe in your daughter!"
Only then did they see clearly how pure Yan Ruoxi's appearance was, but in those filthy clothes, she looked so alluring. It was hard to believe she wouldn't sell her body, which caused a lot of discussion among the people around her.
Li Lin calmly walked over to Yan Buyang and Li Feifei and said in a low voice, "The Third Prince is secretly colluding with the Japanese, recruiting private soldiers, and plotting a rebellion. If you two keep giving in to the Third Prince, I'm sure you'll be sinners forever and invade the Qiankun Kingdom."
This one sentence made Yan Buyang and Li Feifei's eyes widen, and they immediately realized what the problem was.
Li Linhao watched them whispering, feeling a surge of unease. He thought, "Second brother, the throne of Crown Prince should belong to me. What are your qualifications?" Then he smiled slightly and said, "General Yan, I can allow Second Miss Yan to sell only her art and not her body, and I can also ask her to repay her debts as soon as possible. You just need to cooperate with me to defend Qiankun Kingdom and the border coast of the East China Sea."
Chen Yun immediately walked up to Li Linhao and approached him step by step. Li Linhao also stepped back step by step. Li Linhao unconsciously stepped back until his back hit the chair and sat down. Chen Yun stepped between Li Linhao's legs and looked down at him with a cold gleam in his eyes.
"Third Brother, as your sister-in-law, since you don't respect your elders, I don't need to pretend to be well-mannered. Secondly..." Chen Yun leaned close to Li Linhao's ear and said loudly, "We must sign the indenture! Yue Zuoren will definitely be deported!"
"What's the meaning?"
Just when Li Linhao was confused, Chen Yan took a few steps back with a cunning look on his face, and the person who crossed over - Li Lin stepped forward in front of the madam.
Li Lin walked up to Yan Ruoxi and said, "I'm sorry I only just realized your misfortune. Now no one dares to bully you."
Yan Ruoxi raised her head, tears glistening in her eyes, and said gratefully, "Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess, for rescuing me. Ruoxi will never forget this."
The madam said, "But she hasn't redeemed herself yet. She's still our Zui Qing Feng."
"I didn't say she's not one of yours. It's just..." Li Lin picked up Yan Ruoxi, "But that doesn't stop me from taking her away. I'm just taking someone who's just entered the industry. You won't object, will you?"
Under pressure, the madam quickly waved her hands and said, "No, no. Please do as you please, Prince."
"Second brother, aren't you afraid of being blamed by our father for being so close to prostitutes?"
Chen Yun said to Li Linhao, "Third brother! If you have nothing to do with this brothel, why are you so obsessed with Miss Yan's indenture?"
Li Linhao's face turned pale as he argued, "Sister-in-law, please stop slandering me. I have always acted uprightly. How could I do such a thing?"
Chen Yun grinned, then countered, "Members of the royal family are not allowed to engage in business, including collaborations. Since there's no evidence to prove you're not collaborating with the brothel, please sever all ties with it, especially Miss Yan's indenture!"
Li Linhao was speechless for a moment, his face turning pale and blue. He thought to himself, "This woman is so powerful. She's pressing me every step of the way, leaving me with no way out." He rolled his eyes and argued, "I don't have a prostitution contract, and I've never worked with this brothel. Please don't wrongly accuse me of such a good person, sister-in-law."
Chen Yun immediately said, "According to the rules of Qiankun Country, the Crown Princess's family is not part of the royal family. Therefore, they can engage in business. I have purchased this brothel on behalf of my father! And the Yue Zuo people who traveled from the East will be deported!"
Li Linhao panicked, his eyes flickering. "You must not break the rules of business and disrupt the market order! I will report you to my father!"
Chen Yun said calmly, "Oh? You're only now thinking of reporting me? Am I not of lowly descent?"
"Why did the Crown Princess know about Dongyang Yue Zuoren? There are only two possibilities. First, it's the Anbu under her command. But we have no grudges against each other, so why would they investigate me? Then it could be that idiot Old Seven." Thinking of this, Li Linhao said, "The indenture is not with me. I am only following orders. If you have any questions, please contact Old Seven."
After saying that, Li Linhao left with an unhappy expression, not forgetting to bump Chen Yun with his shoulder as he left. Chen Yun also helplessly patted the place where he was bumped.
Chen Yun looked at Li Lin and tutted, then turned to Yan Buyang and Li Feifei and asked, "You two, what I just said about dismissing the Yuezuo people was just an exaggeration. Those Yuezuo people are not ordinary people and will arrive in the capital soon. We came to you because we hope you can support us in fighting against a faction that is privately operating private armies. We want to eliminate these pests that are undermining our country. As for Miss Yan, her safety should not be a problem."
Yan Buyang immediately knelt down and said, "I am willing to swear allegiance to the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess until death!"
Li Feifei also knelt, and then all the soldiers knelt together: "We are willing to swear allegiance to the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess until death!"
It was already evening when they returned to the palace. Li Lin arranged for Yan Ruoxi and Wei Ningshuang to stay in a side hall and then left.
Chen Yun did not leave, but asked Li Lin: "Why don't you place her in your own house instead of bringing her into the palace?"
"The third brother can break into the general's mansion and take her away. But he would never dare to do anything wrong in the palace."
Yan Ruoxi felt embarrassed when she saw Chen Yan's expressionless face. She was afraid that her arrival would take away the Crown Princess's love. Wei Ningshuang thought the same, so the two of them came to Chen Yan.
Yan Ruoxi whispered a thank you: "Thank you both for your help. But please rest assured, Princess. I, a lowly person, will never have any improper thoughts about the Crown Prince. I will definitely leave when this is over!"
Chen Yun patted Yan Ruoxi and said, "You are not allowed to call yourself a pariah. You are still General Yan's second daughter. Live well here. I will send you back to the general's mansion after I have your indentureship recovered."
Li Lin touched Yan Ruoxi's head and said gently, "You can have a good sleep here and stop thinking about unnecessary things. And Miss Wei, you should also take good care of the child and think about how to deal with yourself in the future."
Yan Ruoxi bit her lip a little shyly, then nodded in response.
Wei Ningshuang smiled slightly and responded politely.
As Chen Yun and Li Lin left, Chen Yun jokingly asked Li Lin, "It seems you're quite philanthropic. Honestly, how many women have you harmed?"
"nonsense."
On the other side, a scholar-like man walked out from a distance. He looked at Yan Ruoxi and unconsciously said her name: "Ruoxi?"
Meanwhile, Li Linhao arrived at Prince Yi's mansion and met the Seventh Prince, Li Yuanfeng. Instead of greeting or saluting, he punched Li Yuanfeng in the face and said, "Seventh Prince, the Second Prince and his wife have learned of the incident in Japan. They're going to repatriate everyone and punish the person who made the transfer. This means we've been exposed. You can handle it yourself!"
After saying that, Li Linhao left, leaving Li Yuanfeng alone in the shadows, who was gradually developing suicidal thoughts.
The next morning, Li Lin and Chen Yun entered the Palace of Heavenly Purity. The atmosphere inside was heavy and oppressive. Li Lie'ao and Xue Lian's faces darkened when they saw Wei Ningshuang and Yan Ruoxi, both holding their children. Eunuch Lin, standing beside them, even gave them a hint with a wink.
Li Lin and Chen Yun realized what Eunuch Lin meant and bowed respectfully.
Xue Lian suppressed his anger and said, "Prince! She is rumored to be a scourge to the nation and she already has a son with him. How dare you take her as a concubine?"
Li Lie'ao then asked, "Yan You and Lou Huang sent an urgent report, saying that you took the Crown Princess of another country as your concubine, burned down the palace, and killed the Emperor's sister of your own country. After returning, why did you bring the prostitute back with you?"
Yan Ruoxi and Wei Ningshuang, who were kneeling behind him, couldn't help but look embarrassed.
Li Lin said calmly, "My father, the Emperor, and my mother, Yan Ruoxi is the second daughter of General Yan Buyang, the Tiger Guard. She was forced to sell her daughter due to the conspiracy of my third brother. General Yan is a loyal minister of our dynasty. He took her daughter from the brothel to a side hall of the Eastern Palace to prevent her from being framed by treacherous people. He did not keep a brothel girl captive."
Chen Yun went on to explain, "Li Yangyang, the Crown Prince of Yanyou, and the Thirteenth Prince of Louhuang colluded with the Eastern Ocean nations, attempting to occupy Qiankun's territory under the guise of Yue Zuoren. In the end, perhaps they had already planned this, and I'm afraid the four of them died as a result of their premeditated plot."
However, Xue Lian looked disgusted, and Li Lie'ao even accused him, "Nonsense! I've already made the greatest concession by agreeing to let you take Chen Yun as your concubine. Now you're bringing back a prostitute and a princess from another country. How disrespectful! No wonder all the civil and military officials are suspicious of you!"
Li Lin straightened his back and said firmly, "If you don't trust me, please choose another prince. I don't care about this title."
"Lin'er!" Xue Lian exclaimed, his eyes full of anxiety and disappointment.
Li Lie'ao was furious. He pointed at Li Lin with a trembling finger and lamented to Xue Lian, "Look at the good son you raised! The only prince I trust is so irresponsible! If another prince with evil intentions comes along, won't he destroy my kingdom?"
Xue Lian frowned and said, "Ying'er, as the Crown Prince's wife, you didn't even try to stop it? How can I let the harem handle it?"
"We all prosper together. It's my bad luck, so please help!" Thinking of this, Chen Yun hurriedly explained, "Mother, I have thought about it over and over again and believe that although Miss Wei's background is questionable, she can help resolve the conflict between the Three Kingdoms. That's why I didn't stop her. Yan Ruoxi was originally wronged, and I know her family background and upbringing. There is no problem with her."
Xue Lian snorted coldly, then said, "I can't accept this no matter what!"
At this moment, a conflicting atmosphere of repulsion between the two sides was creating a tense atmosphere. Li Lie'ao also realized that this atmosphere was not good. Thinking about the Crown Prince's matter again, it was not completely without benefits. It could indeed be used to suppress the momentum of Yan You and Lou Huang.
Li Lie'ao said, "Miss Wei and Miss Yan, please stand up! I am not unreasonable. Queen, please don't get excited for now."
Li Lie'ao said, "There are two matters that need to be taken care of. First, Miss Wei and Miss Yan will be treated as the Crown Prince's concubines for the time being. However, you must explain your circumstances to the civil and military officials within one month and provide value to our country. Otherwise, I will grant you a divorce. The Crown Princess will later arrange for the selection of a side palace and palace maids."
Yan Ruoxi and Wei Ningshuang glanced at Chen Yun, still worried that the Crown Princess would get jealous. But Chen Yun had a blank expression, as if nothing mattered.
"It seems that there are a few more imperial concubines in the palace."
The fifth princess, Li Changyan, came over hand in hand with Nalan Si. They looked so sweet.
Li Changle said, "Your Highness, Father! Today is truly a day of joy. The Crown Prince has taken in two new concubines, and I, your son-in-law, have also brought my son-in-law with me."
Nalan Si said: "I, your humble servant Nalan Si, pay my respects to Your Majesty, Your Majesty, and Your Highnesses."
When Yan Ruoxi heard the name of the man she had been thinking about and was in love with, she immediately turned around.
Yan Ruoxi turned around and her eyes met Nalan Si's, and a thousand words were expressed in them. Yan Ruoxi bit her lower lip, trying hard not to let the tears fall, and Nalan Si had no choice but to slowly lower his head.
Li Lie'ao said, "Nalan Si, go and help the Crown Prince deal with the aftermath of the fire at the palace!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
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