In order to find out when Censor Zhang Yiqi would go to the brothel, the route he would take after entering the brothel, and the time he would leave, Ning Que would inevitably visit the brothel named House of Red Sleeves. However, he could not let others know that he was concerned about these things, in case they would investigate him. Therefore, he spent most of his time in the brothel fooling around.
He became more and more familiar with the plump girl named Dewdrop. Even the other girls and manservants in the brothel were used to this poor lad's visits. Since he was a scholar that Mistress Jian cared about, no one dared to say anything.
Although Ning Que could only pretend to be intimate with the girls and not do anything because Xiaocao had passed on Mistress Jian's rules, he naturally did not need to spend the night with them. However, no matter how thick-skinned a person was, he would still tip the manservants and maidservants some copper coins after entering the brothel. Therefore, after a few times, the rapidly decreasing silver coins in the brothel finally attracted Sangsang's attention.
When he came back that night, Ning Que did not hide anything from the little handmaiden. He simply told her what he had done in the past few days and said, "I have to become a regular customer. In the future, if anything happens in that building, the government will not suspect me. Otherwise, if I go there once and the censor coincidentally dies, this coincidence is enough to make the Chang 'an Local Government suspicious."
Then, he smiled and continued, "After this matter is settled, I naturally do not need to go to the brothel to waste time. I will not spend more money."
"Why do I feel that young master's heart is full of reluctance to leave?"
Sangsang looked up at him and seriously suggested, "But if you don't go to the brothel after the censor dies, won't it arouse suspicion?"
Ning Que was startled and then realized that there was indeed some problem. Instead of being annoyed, he felt a little relieved. He rubbed her head and said, "If this is really the case, then I really have to go a few more times after this. Check how much silver coins you have left."
Sangsang agreed and was ready to do her favorite job of counting silver coins. Ning Que suddenly thought of something and hurriedly called out to her. He took out a box of cosmetic powder from his bosom and handed it to her after a moment of hesitation, "This is a gift from Dewdrop from the brothel. She … is a nice person."
In fact, he was the one who begged Dewdrop for this box of cosmetic powder. His purpose was to make Sangsang happy. As for adding the word 'nice', it was because he was worried that Sangsang would despise the status of the ladies in the building and feel that the cosmetic powder was dirty.
Sangsang took the powder box, her tanned face full of joy. Her willow eyes, which had been stretched even thinner, were full of smiles. She said, "I've long heard that the girls in those brothels have their own secret recipes, some of which are even better than those in Chenjinji Cosmetics Store."
"Do you like it?" Ning Que looked at her with a smile.
Sangsang hugged the box tightly with her arms and looked up at him. She pursed her lips and refused to answer him, but her face was already beaming with joy.
She hid the box together with the cosmetic powder box from Chenjinji Cosmetics Store that she bought a few days ago. She served Ning Que's feet with a pot of boiling water and washed her own feet with the rest of the warm water. Sangsang spread out the two blankets, took off her coat and quickly crawled into the bed. She muttered that it was too cold without a kang bed.
As the night deepened, the faint sound of the night watchman could be heard from outside the shop. Sangsang had not fallen asleep. She stared at the ceiling with her slender eyes that shone like black gems. She suddenly asked, "Young master, that censor … when will he go to the brothel?"
Ning Que was silent for a long time before he answered softly, "Tomorrow."
Sangsang did not know that Chang 'an was a hunting ground that was more dangerous than Min Mountain and grassland. Therefore, she was not worried about her young master's safety. Instead, she was worried about something else. She grabbed the edge of the blanket with both hands and looked down at the other side of the bed. She said seriously, "Young master, since that censor is going to die tomorrow, you have to tell him why before he dies, right?"
"Yes." Ning Que looked at the ceiling and frowned. He said, "This kind of thing like revenge … the censor doesn't even know what I'm avenging. It does not feel right."
"Then tell him."
"Because of some things, I have to destroy you on behalf of Haotian? … Isn't it a little casual and not dignified to say it so bluntly? Are there any more solemn or stylish routines? "
Sangsang frowned and thought hard about how to solve this problem. After a long time, she nodded hard on the pillow and said, "Young master, write a poem."
"Poem? I'm not good at this. "
"Then I'll write one?"
"Okay."
Sangsang read a few lines of the poem that she made up on the spot. Ning Que listened carefully and thought about it. Finally, he said seriously, "This poem is better than mine."
…
…
The Imperial Censor of the Tang Empire was in charge of inspecting officials and impeaching lawbreakers. His rank was not high, but he had a lot of power. Anyone would be satisfied with such a noble position. However, Zhang Yiqi was never satisfied. He had been a supervising censor with a bright future 13 years ago. But after so long, he was still a noble and useless censor.
But he did not dare to complain, because he knew very well the real reason for his stagnation. After participating in the case of Xuanwei General Lin Guangyuan, his speed of promotion slowed down. Seven years ago, after the massacre of a village in the Yan territory, he was promoted from the secretary of the Censor to the Imperial Censor. Since then, he had not been promoted any further.
Working for His Highness the Prince and Great General Xiahou as a reward should not have ended up like this. If the two important figures did not want their secret to be known, then they should have done everything they could to kill him instead of leaving him hanging in the censorate. Were they not afraid that Zhang Yiqi would hold a grudge against them and expose the matter?
For his stagnant future, Zhang Yiqi thought hard for two years. Four years ago, he finally came to a realization, and then he felt cold all over.
There was only one person in the entire Great Tang who could cause an imperial censor who was in the limelight to fall into depravity, who could easily sever the path that His Highness the Prince and Marquis Xia had laid out for him without anyone noticing that he had used the slightest bit of strength. That was the emperor.
In the eyes of the world, the Emperor of the Tang Empire was not stupid, but compared to his ancestors, he was a bit conservative and cowardly.
It sounded ridiculous, but the most convincing evidence that led the world to come to this conclusion was that ever since His Majesty the Emperor took the throne, the Empire was no longer as rude and unreasonable in its dealings with other countries. Instead, it began to be reasonable.
Although the Tang Empire was still in the hands of reason, a reasonable bandit would always look cute in the eyes of hostages and fat sheep.
But Zhang Yiqi and most of the court officials knew very well that their Emperor was not a conservative and cowardly person.
His Majesty was fond of literature and calligraphy since he was young. Under the golden dragon robe, he hid a bit of scholarly spirit. Therefore, he was a bit tolerant and lazy.
But His Majesty's surname was Li, and the blood of the Tang Imperial Family flowed in his body. If someone touched his bottom line, he would definitely see the real wrath of the Emperor.
In the two cases of Xuanwei General's treason and the village massacre in the Yan territory, all the doubtful points had been erased. There was no witness or material evidence left. But His Majesty did not necessarily believe in the investigation of the court officials. It was just that there was no evidence. Even if he was on the Dragon Throne, he would probably be too lazy to reverse the verdict. But those officials who aroused his suspicion would never have a future in this life.
The Prince was the Emperor's favorite younger brother, and Xiahou was the Emperor's favorite general. Therefore, His Majesty could temporarily tolerate them. But Zhang Yiqi was just a censor, so what?
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