The Intoxicated Flower House was much quieter during the day compared to the night.
Most of the girls in the house were taking their afternoon naps, and the courtyard was silent.
Tracking someone was more difficult in broad daylight. Moreover, the Intoxicated Flower House seemed to have increased its security.
Zhu Yan, carrying the hundred taels of silver given to him by Tao Su, swaggered in with his servant – the flat-chested Second Sister – and immediately asked for two girls.
At the same time, he kept his ears open, listening for Tao Su's voice.
Just as they were about to go upstairs, they were stopped by the pimp.
"Gentlemen, it's not time yet. The girls are still resting. Why don't you come back later?"
The wealthy patrons considered it improper to engage in carnal pleasures during daylight, so the Intoxicated Flower House naturally accommodated them by only receiving guests at night.
It wasn't time yet.
This gentleman looked like a novice, with a young, inexperienced face, and seemed overly eager.
He was probably visiting a brothel for the first time, not only unaware of the reception hours but also bringing a maidservant disguised as a boy.
Tsk.
The experienced pimp saw through their disguise at a glance and smugly began to make assumptions.
The next moment, a bulging purse was suddenly placed in his hand.
Opening it, he found ten taels of silver.
More than his monthly salary.
The pimp began to consider which courtesan would be willing to receive guests early.
Not long after, another purse was suddenly placed in his other hand.
Second Sister contributed ten taels from her own pocket to increase the temptation... She could always ask for reimbursement from Young Master later.
After counting the silver, the pimp's smile grew even brighter. He led them to the second floor, and was about to knock on the door of his most familiar courtesan when he saw the two quickly walking towards the other side.
He hurriedly lowered his voice and called out, "Gentlemen, it's this way. You're going the wrong way!"
"We're not. The perfume over there is too strong. I want to go to the room that smells nice!"
The pimp was both anxious and angry. This gentleman seemed to have good taste...
He slowed down a few steps, and Zhu Yan and Second Sister had already entered a room.
He was left outside the door.
After waiting for a while, he heard a familiar voice from inside.
The pimp walked away with a lecherous smile...
Hearing the footsteps fade away, Zhu Yan put away his dagger and fed the courtesan a forgetfulness pill. This was a newly developed drug by the pharmacist, capable of putting people into a deep sleep and causing confusion about recent events.
After the courtesan fell asleep, the two pressed their ears against the wall, carefully listening to the activity on Tao Su's side.
They had wasted some time and missed Tao Su's reunion with Fu Guang.
They only heard Tao Su chattering away, telling Fu Guang what her mother had said.
"Our mother used to say, it's better to live a hard life than to die. Sister, you must take your medicine and live well. Mother in heaven will surely bless you with longevity and happiness. I will come to see you often..."
Fu Guang's emaciated face remained expressionless, ignoring her concern. Her pale lips parted, wanting to tell her to get lost, but due to her lost voice, she could only make broken, hoarse growling sounds.
Taking advantage of her momentary pause, Fu Guang tried to look as fierce as possible, attempting to ram her frail body into Tao Su.
But it was just a futile attempt...
For a long time, her food had been laced with muscle relaxants, leaving her constantly weak and powerless.
Seeing that she would rather face punishment later than cooperate, Aunt Shuang had no choice but to take Tao Su to the outer room, saying sorrowfully:
"I had originally wanted to protect Fu Guang, letting her sell her art but not her body. But she was betrayed by a heartless man who often came to listen to her sing. Afterward, she became despondent and voluntarily started receiving guests, contracting... a venereal disease. Then, because she didn't serve Young Master Liu's guest well, she was beaten severely by Young Master Liu and developed a fever, which damaged her voice... She's just too pitiful, don't blame her."
Tao Su lowered her eyelashes, concealing the emotions in her eyes, and said softly, "Mother will be heartbroken if she knows... Can I take my sister away from the Intoxicated Flower House?"
"...You're still a maid in the Song Mansion, it might not be convenient. Besides, Fu Guang is used to living here. It's just as well if you come to see her often."
"Let's not talk about Fu Guang anymore, tell me about you. How are you doing in the Song family? I heard that the master of the Song family was kidnapped yesterday, is everything alright?"
Tao Su shook her head, "It's fine, he's already back." This news wasn't a secret, even if she didn't say it, Aunt Shuang could easily find out.
Aunt Shuang's real purpose wasn't this.
She slowly steered the conversation towards Qi Huan: "Our Tao Su is so fortunate, the mistress you serve has changed from an orphan to a County Princess. I won't have to worry about your future anymore. But I wonder, is that Cloud Brocade County Princess good to you? What kind of person is she?"
After Tao Su gave a standard answer, she asked Tao Su more questions: Why was Qi Huan bestowed the title of County Princess? Did she encounter Prince An, who once presided over affairs in Yunzhou? And so on...
In fact, her master's real order was to find out if Qi Huan and Prince An had any connection.
Prince An was not easy to kill. Her master had wasted a hundred thousand taels of gold without success.
In the end, the Misty Rain Pavilion returned half of the commission and directly refused to continue the job. This angered her master so much that she wanted to kill that unreliable pavilion master.
But her subordinates couldn't defeat him. Isn't that infuriating?!
Her master then tried to plant spies in Prince An's mansion, but it was sealed tight like an iron bucket.
She had no choice but to use various officials to send beauties to Prince An. Who would have thought that he would pass them all on to the lustful dog emperor.
It was maddening!
She stubbornly sent people to persuade the emperor to personally bestow beauties on Prince An, but who knew that the dog emperor simply couldn't bear to part with them!
Her final regret was not being able to kill Li Shuchen when he was down and out in Mo County. Instead, he silently removed her spies.
Later, when she sent people to Mo County to inquire, it was like a stone sinking into the sea, with no news coming back.
The only thing she could find out was what he had done in Yunzhou City, and Qi Huan had also stayed in Yunzhou City.
Moreover, she had transformed from a criminal official's daughter into the Cloud Brocade County Princess.
If it wasn't incredibly good luck, then someone must have been pulling strings behind the scenes.
Aunt Shuang's master first suspected Li Yuanxiu, but quickly dismissed this idea.
She knew Li Yuanxiu. At most, he would make Qi Huan a favored concubine, but he wouldn't go to such lengths to help her shed her identity as a criminal official's daughter, raise her status, and give her the possibility of being selected as a consort.
Using the process of elimination, she set her sights on Li Shuchen.
He was a prince who had been exceptionally well-educated by the previous empress.
He was also the only person in the Li Dynasty who had a bit of loyalty and righteousness.
If he truly had a relationship with Qi Huan, she was willing to lend a hand, helping him marry his sweetheart, only for him to be harmed by his sweetheart's maid servant.
She repeatedly warned Aunt Shuang not to harm Tao Su because of old grudges, but instead to treat her well, find ways to win her over and cultivate her.
On one hand, to understand her personality and tempt her with benefits. On the other hand, to nurture her feelings for Fu Guang, and use Fu Guang's life as leverage in the future. If that didn't work, they would poison her, using her own life to force her to do their bidding.
Just like they did with Tao Yao back then.
Thinking of this, Aunt Shuang became even more enthusiastic towards Tao Su.
"Susu, Aunt Shuang has no daughter in this life. You and Fu Guang are like my own daughters..."
Tao Su thought about Fu Guang's current state and shuddered, thinking to herself: You treat your so-called own daughter so well. I don't deserve such treatment.
But what came out of her mouth was: "Aunt Shuang, you're so kind~"
Seeing her innocent face, Aunt Shuang's smile became even more genuine. She felt certain that she could accomplish the task her master had assigned.
This little fool was easy to deceive.
Her master had instructed that winning hearts was paramount.
She began to earnestly brainwash Tao Su...
