The Bao Yue brothel was still open for business.
Although there were a few well-informed people who knew that the Fan family and the second prince had been fighting over the most popular brothel in the capital, the Fan family had only beaten the Baoyue Brothel a little and did not have much of a reaction. The Overwatch Council did not make things difficult for the Bao Yue Brothel either, so everyone thought the matter was over.
In the minds of these officials, this was a very natural outcome. After all, no matter how arrogant Fan Xian was, there was always a lot of taboo in front of a prince. Furthermore, in the eyes of the public, the second master of the Fan family was running the Bao Yue brothel. Although it had damaged the reputation of the Fan family, he had earned a lot of money from it. If everyone worked together to suppress this matter, it would be a win-win situation.
To the people of the capital who did not know what was going on, they only saw the Overwatch Council raiding the brothel and heard the beating of the wooden planks in Fan Manor. To them, there was something strange about the whole thing. When did the Emperor's secret service begin to manage the brothel? What had happened to the Fan family? Why had the little tyrants of the streets of the capital suddenly disappeared without a trace?
But regardless of whether they knew about this matter or not, they all thought that this matter would be the same as the usual conflicts between influential officials in the capital. In the end, because of the invisible but dense network of relationships in the air, it would disappear without a trace. As the saying goes, good for you, good for me, and good for everyone.
However, the managers, girls, and shopkeepers of the Bao Yue brothel were not as relaxed as outsiders thought. This was because ever since the Overwatch Council raided the brothel, the big boss had not returned to the Bao Yue brothel. It was as if he had disappeared. Although there were rumors that the young big boss was under house arrest, no one could rest easy without confirmation. Plus, the second boss had a special status, so he could not watch over the brothel every day. For a while, the Bao Yue brothel maintained a calm appearance, but there was an undercurrent that was slowly flowing under the surface.
On the other side of the undercurrent, the people of the second prince were also wondering why the Fan family had sent the people involved in the murder of the brothel to the capital government.
Ever since Mei Zhili had changed positions, this important yamen had always been under the control of the second prince. The other party must have known that the capital government was within the scope of the second prince's power. If the Fan family was prepared to shed all pretense of cordiality and send the second young master to the authorities for investigation, then why was it that there was only news of the second young master being grounded? There was no sign of the Overwatch Council or the Fan family making a move?
The second prince was having a headache over this matter. He had no idea that the Fan family would so decisively expel Fan Sizhe from the capital and quietly send him to a foreign country. The Overwatch Council's work was flawless, but there was still a faint worry that prompted the second prince to begin making preparations. But now that things had come to a head, they realized that they had nothing to do with the Bao Yue house. They were innocent. Even if they were to guard against Fan Xian's revenge, they did not know what Fan Xian could possibly do to them. So how could they guard against him?
No one could grasp Fan Xian's thoughts. No one could guess Sir Yan junior's ability to execute.
…
…
On this day, the wind was gentle and the clouds were light. The yellow leaves were falling, and it was a perfect day for a trip outside the capital.
There were still six days until the day of the royal family's chrysanthemum viewing. The officials and commoners of the capital had all brought their families to the outskirts of the capital. Since it was still daytime, the Bao Yue house was particularly quiet. Because the future was uncertain, and the owner was missing, the usually energetic receptionists were leaning against a pillar. The girls by the lake were forcing themselves to smile, and they were accompanying the old perverts who liked to indulge in daylight. Some unknown insects were hopping around the stone steps of the side corridor, crying out with all their might. They struggled to no avail, waiting for their end to come.
The waiters in the building all looked a little uneasy. They picked up the rag and wiped the table. In the past, Fan Sizhe had given strict orders that the table had to be tested with a white silk. They had to confirm that there was not a speck of dust on it before it passed. How could it be as easy as it was now?
Suddenly, someone walked in. This person's eyebrows were very thick, and they looked as if they had been painted on. Although this appearance was not out of the ordinary, it was very easy to remember. So, one of the receptionists who had received him one night immediately recognized him. He froze next to the door of the Bao Yue house. His body sprung up, but he did not dare go forward to greet him.
It was one of the waiters who looked at the receptionist strangely. He neatly put the gray rag in his hand on the table and sang, "A guest has arrived …" The end of his voice was crisp and very pleasant to listen to.
The person who came was slightly startled, and a wry smile appeared on his face. It seemed that there was a great deal of difficulty in his heart. He stood in the incomparably wide hall of the Bao Yue house for a while. Finally, he could not help but shake his head and say, "Tell Si Qing 'er to come see me."
This time, it was the waiters' turn to be shocked. He thought to himself that this guest was very arrogant. He wanted Si Qing 'er to come see him personally, and he even called her by her name. There were many nobles in the capital, but of those who came to the Bao Yue house, who did not treat Si Qing 'er with respect?
The receptionist, who knew this person, finally came to his senses. He wiped away the cold sweat on his forehead and ran in front of the person. He respectfully said, "Sir, I will go and inform you immediately." He then asked the waiters to lead the person to the second floor of the third floor. It was the quietest room in the Bao Yue house, and he ordered the waiters to take good care of him.
When the person went upstairs, the waiters and waiters on the first floor surrounded him. They did not stop talking, and they did not know which deity had come. The Bao Yue house was currently in a state of turmoil, but the people's hearts were already wavering. The slightest movement would cause everyone to feel uneasy.
Finally, someone remembered that this person with thick eyebrows, who looked like an ordinary scholar … was actually the companion of "Young Master Chen" who came to visit the prostitute that day! Who was Mister Chen? It was the brother of the owner of the Bao Yue house! It was Mister Fan, the most popular person in the government! The person who had come was Mister Fan's confidant, and it was likely that he was a high-ranking official in the Overwatch Council.
Everyone in the brothel was stunned. They all knew what had happened that day. The brothel had offended Mister Fan, and even the owner had suffered. Today, someone else had come. Was it possible that the Overwatch Council was going to raid the brothel again? Could the Bao Yue house continue to operate?
At this time, someone sighed and said, "I think … the brothel will have to pay a large sum of money to settle this. It is a shame. Although the owner is a bit cruel, he is very good at business. For no reason at all, he has to feed the mouths of these officials. No matter how good the business is, it will be ruined."
"Bah!" Someone could not bear to see him pretend to be the Great Priest of the Qing Temple. He laughed and said, "You idiot! The owner of the Bao Yue house is Mister Fan's brother. If the Overwatch Council wanted to collect money, it would not come to us. Do you think the two of them are going to collect money from each other? There's even an old minister overseeing them. "
The man's face was cut, and he mumbled, "Then what is this person doing here with Commissioner Fan?"
— — —
It was Shi Chanli. Fan Xian was having a good time, and Shi Chanli was a scholar. He had been chased to a brothel by his teacher, so it was only natural that he was in a bad mood.
Si Qing'er's eyes flashed, and she respectfully offered him tea. She knew that although the man in front of her was not an official, he was a trusted aide of Commissioner Fan. The owner had been missing for the past few days, and now that he had suddenly appeared, she had no idea what he was here for. She paused and then gently asked, "Mister Shi, what brings you here today?"
Shi Chanli hesitated for a moment.
Si Qing'er was someone that the third prince had picked out. She didn't have much of a relationship with the Fan family, so when she saw him hesitate, she misunderstood his intentions. She covered her lips and smiled. "We are all family now. Does Mister Shi still want to raid our building?"
When she said the word "raid," her tongue curled. It was a strange sound.
Shi Chanli's eyebrows furrowed, and he did not like this woman's flippancy. His face darkened, and he pulled out a document. In a low voice, he said, "Today, I am not here to raid the brothel. I am here to … take over."
Take over?
Si Qing'er froze. She picked up the thin document from the table and quickly scanned it. Her face changed, and when she saw the red fingerprints at the bottom, she bit her lip. After a moment of silence, she finally digested the shock in her heart. She opened her eyes wide and asked, "The owner has given you all of the brothel's shares?"
Her voice was filled with shock and disbelief. Seventy percent of the Bao Yue brothel's shares were worth a lot of money. How could it be so easily transferred? Si Qing'er knew that this matter was not as simple as it seemed. She frowned and said, "Mister Shi, this is too big a deal. I cannot accept it."
Shi Chanli gave a wry smile and said, "I do not need you to accept it. From today onwards, I am the owner of the Bao Yue brothel. I am only here to inform you."
Si Qing'er gritted her teeth and said, "Mister Shi, if I may ask, where is the owner? This is such a big deal, and I have to talk to him face to face. "
Shi Chanli was good at writing, and the document he had drafted a few nights ago was clean and simple. He did not expect that in the end, he would be forced by Fan Xian to become the owner of the brothel. He was already uncomfortable with the situation, and he felt as if he had been caught in a trap of his own making. Hearing the question being asked, he coldly said, "Is this transfer document fake? Don't waste my time. The people who will be checking the accounts will be here soon. Don't even think about it. "
Si Qing'er sensed that the Fan family was preparing to leave the Bao Yue brothel and use the scholar in front of her as a cover. But her rank was not high enough, and she did not know much about what was going on. Master Yuan had suddenly disappeared, and so she said, "Since the Bao Yue brothel is going to be owned by Shi Chanli, I am just trying to make a living. How could I dare to argue with you?" Her heart had calmed down, and she smiled and said, "But this brothel still has thirty percent of its shares in the hands of that young man. I am sure you know this, Mister Shi."
No matter what was said, as long as the third prince's shares were in the Bao Yue brothel, the Fan family would not be able to get rid of the Bao Yue brothel. She did not know that Fan Xian had no intention of getting rid of the Bao Yue brothel in the first place.
Shi Chanli looked at her and suddenly laughed. His thick eyebrows twitched, and he said, "Today, I am closing the brothel because I would like to trouble you, Miss Qing'er. Please tell the second owner that I will be taking the thirty percent shares."
I will be taking them?
"How arrogant of you!" Si Qing'er said angrily. She thought it was easy for the Fan family to give and take, but she did not expect them to take the third prince's shares. How could it be so easy?
Shi Chanli had finally gotten into the role of the brothel owner, and he calmly said, "If you want to take the thirty percent shares, I have many ways of doing so. Bringing it up now is to give face to the second owner. Miss Qing'er, you must understand this."
Si Qing'er coldly said, "Oh? It looks like I have to thank you, Mister Shi. But I do not know … how much money are you willing to pay? "
Shi Chanli extended a finger.
"A hundred thousand?" Si Qing'er asked, confused. She thought this was a fair price. Even if the Bao Yue brothel continued to operate well, a hundred thousand for twenty percent of the shares was a good price to pay.
Shi Chanli shook his head.
"Only ten thousand?" Si Qing'er was shocked.
"I only have a thousand liang of silver," Shi Chanli said sincerely. "Scholars... are always poor."
…
…
"You are too much!" Si Qing'er angrily shouted, "Do not think that the Fan family can hide the truth. Do not forget who these thirty percent shares belong to!"
Shi Chanli raised an eyebrow and calmly said, "Miss, do not misunderstand. These seventy percent shares belong to me, Shi Chanli. It has nothing to do with the Fan family or the Cai family. As for who the thirty percent shares belong to, I do not care."
Si Qing'er coldly said, "What if I do not give up the thirty percent shares?"
"First of all, the Bao Yue brothel may be found with a copy of some of their letters, such as colluding with a foreign country. As for what the charges are, I am not sure." Shi Chanli smiled and said, "Second, the Bao Ri brothel will soon appear in the capital. Since I own seventy percent of the shares, I can chase away all of the workers, customers, and girls. Then, the Bao Ri brothel will hire them again. Miss Qing'er, think about it. The Bao Ri brothel, which has not yet existed, can take down the Bao Yue brothel in a short period of time?"
Si Qing'er looked determined, and she refused to back down. She said, "I do not believe the first point. Would the Fan family … no, Mister Shi, be willing to see the Bao Yue brothel collapse? Would they use seventy percent of the shares to take us down with them? "
She looked proud and said, "The second point is even more impossible. When the owner chose the location, he was very particular about it. Plus, these girls have signed a death contract with us. How could they just leave?"
Shi Chanli shook his head and sighed. "Miss Qing'er, it looks like you still do not understand the situation. You have to understand that I am the owner of the Bao Yue brothel. What death contract or living contract?
Si Qing'er's face changed.
Shi Chanli stood up and pushed open the window. He smiled and said, "As for the location of the Bao Ri brothel, I will not hide it from you. It is to the side of the Bao Yue brothel, and it is also near Thin Lake. The reason why I came back after a few days was because two days ago, I was busy collecting the title deed for the land."
Si Qing'er was speechless.
Shi Chanli was now completely immersed in his role as a ruthless businessman. He waved his hand to catch the wind from Thin Lake and continued to say, "As for taking me down with you … if you do not want to back out, then I will take you down with me. Seventy percent of the Bao Yue brothel's shares may be worth a lot of money, but I do not care for it."
After he said this, he laughed at himself. When did he begin to wash away his status as a scholar? Instead, he began to indulge in a life of bullying others? He was indeed threatening Si Qing'er, but this kind of threat was easy to make. It seemed simple, but it was difficult for her, or rather, the third prince, to respond.
The land next to the Bao Yue brothel had indeed been purchased by the Overwatch Council, but no one knew what methods had been used. Shi Chanli knew that every step of taking over the brothel had been done in a very stable manner. There was no need to worry about any mistakes. Mister Yan Bingyun was very powerful. If the third prince did not want to give up the 30 percent of the shares, Mister Yan Bingyun had a way to make the Bao Yue brothel close down within ten days.
"Lady, you do not know the root of this matter. Do not think too much about it." Shi Chanli did not need her to send a message to the third prince. The news that Fan Xian wanted to take over the Bao Yue brothel had already been passed through the Fan manor and into the ears of Yi Gui Pin, who was in the palace. Now, the third prince was forced to copy books by Yi Gui Pin every day. Even if he felt bad that his money had been stolen by his cousin, he could not find a way to stop this.
He looked at Si Qing'er's confused face, and the gentle nature of a scholar came into play. He smiled and said, "I am a very easy person to talk to. In the future, if you continue to work in the brothel and do your best, I will not mistreat you."
Who knew that Si Qing'er was such a stubborn person? She always wanted to be responsible for the second owner? Although the second owner was only a young child, she thought of the child's identity and thought the whole thing was ridiculous. In the capital, it was common for people to steal property, but how could someone dare to steal property from a prince?
"If the second owner sends a message, I will agree." She gritted her teeth and said, "But the money in the account, you and I have to make sure to settle it properly. It cannot be messed up."
Shi Chanli nodded. The group of people who had been waiting outside the brothel finally entered. Seeing the group of people, Si Qing'er's eyes widened. They were all Overwatch Council secret agents in casual clothing. They were still secret agents. With such a group of people coming to take over the brothel, who would dare to stop them?
When she saw the old man with the long beard in the middle of the group, who was praising the Bao Yue brothel, Si Qing'er could not help but take a deep breath. She was speechless, thinking that no matter how hard she tried, she would not be able to stop Fan Xian from taking the third prince's money.
With the third Ye shopkeeper of Qingyu Hall personally taking over, no matter how the accounts were calculated, she was afraid that the Bao Yue brothel would end up being owned by the Shi family … no, the goddamn Fan family.
He would not choke, and perhaps he would not even bother to drink a bowl of water.
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