Chapter 138 Admiring the Beauty of the Young Lady
"What time is it now and you're still being sarcastic! You want to die, but I don't." Yao Shisan rolled her eyes at him.
Zhou Congxian touched his nose.
The sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air from the front building, and courtesans moved between the buildings, along with many young men who were also dressed in light clothing and made up.
This is the biggest den of iniquity in Chuzhou, where not only are there beautiful and talented women, but also many handsome young men.
Here, any customer with money is treated as a VIP, regardless of gender; it's not just men, but women too.
The building behind it is rarely visited now; it must be the sleeping quarters of the courtesans and their lovers.
Zhou Congxian glanced around and said, "I'll find a chance to send you out. Go to the governor's mansion and find Chai Sijiu right away."
"Then what will you do?"
She remembered that when they were in that room upstairs, his movements when he climbed through the window were more hesitant than before. He was probably under the influence of drugs, otherwise, how could someone with his high level of martial arts have been caught?
A glint flashed in his eyes. "I originally came to Chuzhou for a small matter, but now I have made an unexpected discovery. It seems that God is going to give me a great achievement."
"You got arrested on purpose!" Yao Shisan almost choked. "Then, why did they arrest me?!"
Zhou Congxian's gaze swept across her face, a smile flashing in his eyes. He raised his hand and tucked the stray strands of hair that had fallen out of her clothes behind her ear.
"Perhaps, the young lady is beautiful."
"Zhou Congxian!" Yao Shisan whispered through gritted teeth.
What kind of time is this? A knife is about to be placed on your throat, and you're still in the mood to joke around!
Zhou Congxian led her downstairs quickly, and when they passed a house, they found it was full of clothes.
He pulled Yao Shisan inside, saying, "It won't be convenient for you to go out later if you wear this maid's dress. Find some clothes to change into."
As she spoke, she pointed to her slightly disheveled hair bun, "Don't forget your hair bun."
The room was very large, with five long shelves displaying all kinds of clothes and jewelry, both for men and women, made of high-quality materials, unlike the clothes worn by courtesans in the brothel.
I guess it's for the guests. No one cares how you have fun inside, but once you step outside, everyone is a respectable person.
Yao Shisan quickly changed his clothes, and while combing his hair, he also picked out two slender hairpins, which could be used as weapons if necessary.
"Alright, let's go!"
The dress, a bamboo-green color that reached her chest, was draped with a white shawl, which accentuated her long and elegant neck.
She looks just like a girl who has run away from home to play.
Yao Shisan didn't dare waste time choosing. Compared to other heavy clothes, she simply grabbed this lighter garment and put it on.
Zhou Congxian also changed his clothes again. The drunkard was burly and thick-waisted, and his clothes were much shorter than expected. He would definitely be exposed if he went out.
He had an idea after looking at her outfit.
The entire Lingge Pavilion has only two entrances: the front entrance and the back entrance.
There are only servants at the back door. Even if a guest is drunk and goes to the wrong place, he will be asked to go to the front building before he gets close.
Therefore, you can only go out through the front door.
Now that night has fallen, it's the busiest time of day, with people coming and going at the entrance, filled with laughter and cheerful chatter.
Suddenly, a shrill female voice rang out.
"I knew you weren't here to discuss any business! Now come back with me!"
A woman with a pretty face, dressed in a light blue silk robe, was using a shawl to tie up a drunken man and was dragging him out.
"I...my mother doesn't care, so why should you care about me!"
The man was tall and slender with a handsome face, but he walked unsteadily and almost fell on the flower girl next to him several times.
The prostitutes in the building hurriedly moved away.
They had to avoid disputes between guests; if they were involved, Sister Hong would not only be fined, but might also be punished.
With a smile on her face, Sister Hong followed the guests beside her toward the small building on the left.
She glanced at the frolicking at the doorway from afar.
"Sister Hong, I always visit your Lingge Pavilion whenever I come to Chuzhou. If Miss Zhenzhen is still being coy this time, don't blame me for being ruthless."
The guest seemed to still be holding a grudge about what happened last time, and was now reminding Sister Hong of it.
Sister Hong turned her head, a smile spreading across her face.
"You flatter me, sir. Zhenzhen has recovered and is waiting for you in the small building."
The group walked towards the small building.
Zhou Congxian, who had already reached the door, suddenly turned his head, and the man's sword flashed past.
His eyes narrowed slightly, and he wrapped his hands around the shawl twice, pulling the unsuspecting Yao Shisan back to reality.
"Hey hey!"
She was so frightened that she leaned back.
Zhou Congxian held her arm and straightened her up, taking the opportunity to whisper something in her ear.
"We can't leave yet."
Yao Shisan raised his eyes and glared angrily, "What are you doing! I've already stepped one foot out of the door!"
Zhou Congxian deftly freed himself from the restraints and wrapped the shawl around her wrist.
"We've finally made it to Chuzhou, and it's unmanaged, so we must drink our fill of fine wine!"
The two had just reached the door when they turned back.
Chuzhou has a well-developed shipping industry, and Lingge welcomes and sees off all sorts of guests every day, which they are used to.
The small building is connected to the main building, and there must be a place to sneak into the small building in the rooms at the end of the second and third floors.
Zhou Congxian pulled Yao Shisan straight to the third floor.
Yao Shisan wished he could bite his neck off.
As expected, getting too close to him could cost you your life!
The noise inside the main building was even louder.
The first floor was spacious, and the sound of a pipa filled the air as soon as you entered. On the second and third floors, in the private rooms, guests were either drinking and playing drinking games or admiring the skills of the courtesans. The fourth floor was where the young master performed.
Therefore, even though Lingge was reviled by thousands in Chuzhou, it was still the most profitable brothel.
In a private room on the third floor, the sound of a pipa could still be heard, and four or five men who looked like scholars were drinking at a table.
The two intruders startled Hua Niang, and the pipa music stopped.
Several drunken scholars looked up and shouted, "W-why did you stop! Keep going! If you don't play well, you won't get a single penny!"
When Zhou Congxian changed the drunkard's clothes, he found that the man still had some silver notes, which he took all of them.
He then pulled out a silver note and gave it to the flower girl.
"I've come to find the bastard who betrayed my sister. You can leave now, and don't make a sound."
"I understand!"
Hua Niang had had enough of these stingy and picky poor scholars, so she took the money and left happily.
Several scholars, still dazed from drinking, raised their heads.
"Who...who are you?!"
"Another one, sing a song!"
"Come on, have a drink!"
Zhou Congxian ignored the group of drunkards and went straight to open the window. He found that it was more than a person's distance from the small building.
The windows of the small building were half-closed, and the corridor inside could be vaguely seen.
He had just stepped onto the window when someone tugged at his clothes.
"What will I do if you leave!"
Yao Shisan held tightly to his clothes; this was not a place for ordinary people.
What's more, there are several drunkards here!
Zhou Congxian glanced back at the drunkards who had all collapsed, "These guys have no self-awareness; they drank four whole jars of Zuixianchun."
"He won't wake up until noon tomorrow. You're perfectly safe here."
As he spoke, he took off the jade whistle from his lapel, saying, "If there is any danger, blow this."
Yao Shisan took the jade whistle, his eyes full of hope, "You'll come right away if I blow it?"
"No, not at all," Zhou Congxian replied truthfully. "If I weren't surrounded, I would have come as soon as possible."
"..."
Zhou Congxian jumped out of the window and used the momentum to leap onto the roof.
He gently lifted a tile, and inside, seven or eight women were playing the zither and singing little tunes.
The two people in the main seats were talking, but their voices were drowned out by the music.
One of the two people speaking was Gongsun Chang, the governor of the Jianzhou Navy.
The three accompanying them...
His gaze fell on Chai Sijiu, who was in the second position.
The Chai family...
Chai Sijiu was drinking aimlessly when, as he looked up, his eyes met a pair of eyes.
"Cough cough!—"
The glass of wine made him cough violently!
"What's wrong, Lord Chai? Is the wine not to your liking?"
Chai Sijiu put down his wine cup, took the handkerchief from the flower maid beside him, and wiped the wine off his clothes.
"The wine is certainly good, but it lacks a bit of flavor. If it could be aged in a cool, dark place for another month or so after it's taken out of the jar, it would be perfect!"
Gongsun Chang laughed, "Lord Chai really knows his wine! I forgot to tell Sister Hong to let it age for a month after she gets it."
Sister Hong immediately smiled and said, "There are still some in the cellar. I'll have someone take them out later, store them properly, and send them to Lord Chai."
Chai Sijiu smiled and clasped his hands in a fist salute, "Then I am truly fortunate to have such a delicious meal."
Laughter returned to the room.
Chai Sijiu let out a soft breath, then continued drinking and looked up at the roof again, but the person on the roof was gone.
He put down his wine glass. "Gentlemen, please drink first. I'll go now..."
He clutched his stomach, pretending to need to use the restroom, and made up an excuse to leave.
Even if those eyes turned to ashes, he wouldn't mistake them; they belonged to that scoundrel surnamed Zhou!
The small building has a special toilet room, and Chai Sijiu can't go down to look for people now. He can only hope that Zhou Congxian will be smart enough to come and find him.
The toilet room is equipped with incense and a chamber pot, which is replaced immediately after each use.
Therefore, although it was a toilet room, there was no odor at all.
Chai Sijiu came in and stood there for a while. He looked at the roof and then at the window.
There was not a sound at all.
It seems he can't expect that guy surnamed Zhou to understand.
That's unreliable!
He unzipped his pants, intending to relieve himself before heading back.
Suddenly, there was a creaking sound, followed by a sinister voice behind him.
"Chai Sijiu."
Chai Sijiu hurriedly covered her pants and turned around, "Why did you have to choose this moment when you didn't show up for so long!"
"What if... you get scared!"
Zhou Congxian leaned against the chest of drawers against the wall and said, "Anyway, your brother already has offspring, so it doesn't matter whether you're good or bad."
"Zhou Congxian!" Chai Sijiu almost cursed out loud.
"I knew I'd never have a nice thing to say to you!"
Zhou Congxian didn't have time to banter with him now. "Why is Gongsun Chang in Chuzhou?"
Chai Sijiu lowered her voice, "I just found out too. Gongsun Chang, the largest shipping company in Chuzhou, also has a stake in it."
"The shipping company has only been around for five years, yet it has already reached its current scale."
Zhou Congxian thought of the people who were following him, and also the people he had met on the boat when he came to Chuzhou.
"So, they took advantage of their sea travel to traffic people?"
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