Yan Xiaohan said: “You’re included too. Get up there.”
Tang Guo completely didn’t understand and asked aggrievedly: “Why?”
“To teach you a lesson,” Yan Xiaohan said coldly, “Don’t believe everything others say, or you’ll eventually be tricked until not even your bones remain.”
Yan Xiaohan and three others set out in plain clothes. Wei Xuzou was a regular here, and the madam recognized his face, so she immediately let him pass upon seeing his identity. Yan Xiaohan had him stay behind to inquire about the madam and the prostitute while he himself walked up the vermilion wooden stairs to the third floor and pushed open the two doors sealed with tape.
The room’s furnishings remained unchanged, well-preserved.
He took out a handkerchief from his sleeve to pad his hand, carefully checking the cups and vessels on the table, then pulled open the small drawers of the dressing table, pulling out various stimulant drugs hidden inside. He casually wrapped them in a handkerchief, preparing to take them back for examination.
Yan Xiaohan wrapped a small packet of incense ash in paper and secured it, then lifted the hanging gauze curtain. The bed was messy, with some intimate items exposed. Yan Xiaohan noticed a pair of cloth socks on the bed that hadn’t been taken away, and suddenly something stirred in his mind.
He crouched down, searching the area under the bed and on the floor, but didn’t find what he was looking for. He then went downstairs.
When she saw Yan Xiaohan coming downstairs, her cheeks turned crimson, and she couldn’t help but cover her face, too embarrassed to continue.
Yan Xiaohan was completely unaware, asking, “What are you talking about? You just said Yang Hao Xuan was ‘vigorous’? Does he often use stimulant drugs?
Qin Zhen’s voice was as soft as a mosquito: “Young Master Yang… he used to frequent Xing Hua Lane, exhausting his vitality, so he was only ordinary in that aspect and needed medication to stimulate himself. But since last year, he somehow obtained a new method and became extraordinarily powerful. I often advised him not to use those tiger and wolf drugs, but he said he wasn’t using any and told me not to guess.”
“Not using drugs?” Wei Xuzou clicked his tongue, “He’s about to collapse yet still trying to save face, this Young Master Yang is quite something.”
Yan Xiaohan thoughtfully asked, “Where else did Yang Hao Xuan go that night besides Cui Jin Pavilion?”
Qin Zhen replied, “I heard he first went to Bai Ying Lou. The top courtesan Fei Yan wasn’t there, and he was dissatisfied with the attendants, so he went to Cui Jin Pavilion.”
Yan Xiaohan tossed the package of stimulant drugs and incense ash wrapped in a handkerchief to Jiang Shu: “Go back and find a royal physician to examine the formula and check for poison.” He turned to walk out: “Brother Wei, come with me to Bai Ying Lou.”
Bai Ying Lou was in another alley, completely different from the quiet Cui Jin Pavilion. As soon as they approached, they heard the sounds of singing and musical instruments. Beautifully adorned courtesans stood at the entrance soliciting customers.
Seeing the regular customer Wei Xuzou accompanied by a stunningly handsome man not in official uniform, they assumed they were there for pleasure and immediately showed their most charming and seductive manner: “Such a handsome gentleman, would you like to come in for a drink?”
Just as the powdery fragrance wafted over, and Yan Xiaohan was about to suppress a retort, a familiar voice that made his scalp tingle suddenly came from behind—
“Oh, busy?”
Yan Xiaohan turned in shock. The person he had been thinking about day and night sat in a wheelchair, holding an unopened folding fan, rhythmically tapping his palm, calmly looking over.
Xiao Jun stood with his hand on his knife handle behind Fu Shen while Shen Yi Ce looked resigned, perhaps already silently reciting a prayer for deliverance. Behind Yan Xiaohan were the dumbfounded Wei Xuzou and a row of bare-chested courtesans. The two groups unexpectedly met dramatically at the entrance of the brothel.
Yan Xiaohan was tongue-tied, almost blurting out “How are you here?” before suddenly remembering he had sent someone to the mountain villa yesterday to tell Fu Shen to return to the capital and prepare for the longevity banquet.
Fu Shen gave him a meaningful look, his face clearly saying: “Dare to go out and visit prostitutes behind my back?”
Yan Xiaohan’s survival instinct instantly overcame reason, and he even forgot about his subordinates and others present, blurting out: “I’m innocent!”
Everyone: “…”
This was probably what they call instant karma.
Fu Shen smiled without mirth: “With the clear sky above me, how could I wrongly accuse you?”
As they were speaking, an overeager courtesan approached to grab Yan Xiaohan’s sleeve, laughing, “Why are you all standing here? Gentlemen, please come inside.”
Yan Xiaohan’s lifetime skill was apparently used in this one evasion, managing to dodge the girl’s hand in the crowded group. However, before he could fully exhale, he heard Fu Shen say: “Oh, this girl is quite nice, quite charming.”
Yan Xiaohan’s face instantly turned green, staring at Fu Shen in disbelief.
Lord Fu was quite popular among the people and much more well-received than Yan Xiaohan. The girl recognized Fu Shen immediately and abandoned Yan Xiaohan, throwing herself at Fu Shen pitifully—
“But,” Fu Shen smiled, blocking her with his folding fan, “compared to my wife, she’s still lacking.”
A brilliant twist. Everyone turned to look at the “wife.”
Yan Xiaohan: “…”
He realized this bastard knew everything and was just deliberately teasing him for his own amusement!
The humiliated Yan Xiaohan ground his teeth, a hundred and eight methods of dealing with Fu Shen running through his mind.
“Misunderstanding!
It’s all a misunderstanding!” Wei Xuzou, worthy of being Yan Xiaohan’s trusted aide, finally realized he shouldn’t just be watching and quickly flashed his badge, shouting: “Flying Dragon Guard on official business, civilians retreat!”
The moment “Flying Dragon Guard” was mentioned, clients and prostitutes instantly fell into chaos, with the madam screaming, and everyone kneeling on the floor.
Yan Xiaohan hurriedly tried to explain to Fu Shen: “Don’t be angry, I’m really here on a case!”
Fu Shen snorted a laugh: “I know you wouldn’t be interested in these common painted faces. Go do your work, I’ll head back first.
He truly mastered the art of “giving a sweet date after a beating,” and with just two sentences, he had already pacified Yan Xiaohan. Fu Shen had finished teasing and was about to make his exit when Yan Xiaohan suddenly grabbed his hand in front of everyone, his palm radiating a burning heat, and said imperiously, “My lord, a word in private.”
Chapter 32 Private Whispers | The Emperor: Let’s Talk Precise Poverty Alleviation ”What’s this? Caught by this lord entering a pleasure house, and the Flying Dragon Guard is going to silence me?” Fu Shen was pulled into a deserted alley, but he wasn’t worried. Like a libertine, he used his folding fan to tease Yan Xiaohan’s chin. Yan Xiaohan allowed his teasing and stared at him, saying, “Killing is fine, but silencing is necessary.” Fu Shen asked with interest, “How do you plan to silence… umm…”
