Qin Zhao walked towards the source of the clamor.
She saw Mo Qianqiu carrying a large bag of luggage and arguing with several servants.
Mo Qianqiu: "Princess Zhao Yang asked me to come find her, please believe me!"
The servants looked at the tall and fat Mo Qianqiu in disgust, tsking: "How could our mistress possibly know someone like you!"
Mo Qianqiu: "The princess bought me by the roadside, please help inform her."
"Go away, our mistress is very busy and has no time for you!
If every person who came to make a scene at the princess's residence wanted to see her, when would our mistress have time to do anything else?
You should know better and leave quickly!"
The male servants tried to push Mo Qianqiu away, but she didn't budge an inch!
They turned red from exertion.
Qin Zhao walked over before things got out of control.
"All of you, leave. She is with me."
Qin Zhao's words immediately frightened the servants to their knees. One of them said, "I didn't know this lady was with you, I was terribly rude, please spare my life!"
Qin Zhao went to Mo Qianqiu's side and said, "Go on, no harm done in ignorance."
Just as Mo Qianqiu was about to kneel and pay her respects, Qin Zhao stopped her with an outstretched hand, "I've said that you're not allowed to randomly kneel without my permission."
Mo Qianqiu stood straight, looking at Qin Zhao with shining eyes, "Mistress, I've finished handling my father's affairs, from now on I'll be following you!"
Qin Zhao pinched Mo Qianqiu's cheek, "Alright, I forgot to ask, how old are you this year?"
Mo Qianqiu blushed and replied, "Just turned twenty-one."
"Mmm."
Qin Zhao called over a servant, "You take Mo Qianqiu to Ling Long, and have her arrange living quarters. Don't assign her any chores for now."
Servant: "Yes ma'am!"
After parting from Mo Qianqiu, Qin Zhao took a winding path from an alley near the princess's residence, arriving at Spring Breeze Building on Yanliu Street.
Qin Zhao had just reached the entrance of Spring Breeze Building when she was surrounded by a group of women!
"Young master, your first time at Spring Breeze Building?"
"Do you think we're pretty, young master?"
"Young master is so handsome!"
Qin Zhao thought to herself, these girls will say anything to attract customers. I know perfectly well how ugly this black eye patch is.
Qin Zhao struggled free of the women's restraints, saying "I want only the most beautiful woman to accompany me!"
The women revealed looks of disgust.
"Oh, the young master has quite the attitude."
Having said that, they crowded around again, linking arms with Qin Zhao, "Young master, consider me, I have great skills."
Qin Zhao was unmoved, and continued forward.
Finding her boring, the woman let her go.
After entering, she saw the spacious main hall had servants coming and going, setting something up.
Qin Zhao pulled a man over to ask: "What's going on here?"
The man looked Qin Zhao up and down several times, saying derisively: "What's a kid doing at a brothel, go home and find your mom!"
Qin Zhao kicked him away, and when the man tried to get into a fight with her, Qin Zhao's fist intimidated him. He left, cursing and swearing.
Qin Zhao pulled another person over to ask, and he replied: "Today Spring Breeze Building's top courtesan is taking in a wealthy patron. They must excel in both literary and martial skills, so they're setting up a platform for contests."
"Thanks."
Qin Zhao found a seat off to the side.
As she scanned the excited men, she saw a somewhat familiar person on the second floor - the Fourth Prince, Qin Su!
And the person sitting next to him - if not the male lead Huo Chengjin, then who?
Were they also here to join in the fun?
Could it be that they had the same purpose as her, to see Nangong Ling, and also knew that she was the head of Wind and Rain Pavilion?
If so, then tonight Nangong Ling's wealthy patron must be herself!
The contest platform was quickly set up.
The madam walked onto the platform, saying: "My girl doesn't like playing with poor men."
This was met with loud jeers.
She continued unperturbed: "Therefore, each customer participating in the contests must pay a threshold fee of five hundred silver.
Based on how long you can defend the platform, the top three in martial arts will advance to the second stage literary contest.
My girl said she hopes everyone will enthusiastically take part, and she will definitely provide the best service to the final winner!"
At her words, the crowd cheered!
Qin Zhao curled her lip. She thought, these men are so easily fooled. Those words were clearly added by the madam herself.
What kind of person is Nangong Ling?
The master of Wind and Rain Pavilion, who can summon the wind and rain!
Being a courtesan is just her side gig, no need to take those words too seriously.
502 asked: "Host, when will you go on stage?"
Qin Zhao: "Let's see."
After the madam left the stage, the first man stood up from his seat, went to the edge of the platform and handed five hundred silver to the madam.
Then he stepped onto the platform.
This man was over six feet tall, muscles bulging on his body, looking quite intimidating. He bellowed: "Who dares!"
The smaller men avoided looking at him, not daring to meet his eyes.
The muscular man smiled crookedly, extremely pleased with himself.
Feeling a crooked smile wasn't enough, he guffawed loudly: "Hahahahahaha! Anyone else!"
A man in grey robes suddenly leapt onto the platform, precisely tossing five hundred silver into the madam's arms!
Everyone watched his airborne figure expectantly, but when he stood opposite the muscular man, they were somewhat disappointed.
This man was a full head shorter than the muscular man, thin and small, and rather plain-looking.
It could be said there was nothing eye-catching about him whatsoever.
The muscular man looked down his nose disdainfully at the man in grey. He taunted: "With your little body, I could take down ten of you with one punch!
I advise you to get off the stage quickly, lest you not only fail to see the courtesan tonight, but have to crawl home!"
The man in grey said nothing, simply extending a hand to make a provocative gesture, immediately igniting the muscular man's anger!
The muscular man charged at the grey-robed man, spouting gibberish.
Just as the two were about to collide, the man in grey tapped the ground and leapt into the air, somersaulting over the muscular man's charge!
The muscular man couldn't stop in time and his head went straight into the platform railing, breaking the pole as thick as his thigh clean in half!
The muscular man's eyes rolled back and he collapsed atop the platform, knocked out cold!
Was that it?
Qin Zhao couldn't even be bothered to comment, but the audience was highly excited, cheering loudly for the man in grey.
The man in grey smiled modestly.
Seeing that although the man in grey had won, it was somewhat by trickery, the crowd didn't fear him the way they had the muscular man.
The third challenger quickly appeared.
Defeated in seconds by the man in grey.
The fourth person was kicked off the stage by the man in grey with one move!
The fifth...
The more than ten people who went up after that were all defeated by the man in grey within two moves.
Only now did everyone realize the man in grey was exceptionally skilled, much harder to deal with than the muscular man!
Thus after the fifteenth person was knocked off the stage, no one dared to go up for a long time.
The madam was anxious, hurriedly urging: "Come on up, gentlemen! My girl is still waiting for you!"
No response.
The madam was furious: "Turns out the gentlemen are such cowards, no wonder you can only play with inferior goods!
Humph! You're not even fit to lick my girl's shoes!"
Still no one stood up.
Just as she was about to hurl more abuse, a clear male voice rang out from the second floor: "I'll go!"
Qin Zhao, who had been nearly dozing off, slowly raised her head upon hearing this voice.
The person ascending the stage was none other than Huo Chengjin!
The crowd looked to Huo Chengjin, pinning their hopes on him defeating the man in grey.
And he did not disappoint their expectations, defeating the man in grey with one move!
Huo Chengjin stood gracefully in the center of the platform, a smile on his face, attracting admiring glances from the ladies.
His gaze swept the hall, finally settling on Qin Zhao. He asked: "Is there anyone else who dares to challenge me?"
