As soon as Zhu Houzhao said this, the other nine people all complained. Liu Jin hurriedly said, "It's too … too late. Young master, let's go another day. Don't forget that we still have important matters to attend to."
Yang Ling also hurriedly said, "Yes, young master, it's better not to go to that kind of place. If your father finds out, he will be punished."
Among these people, Liu Jin, Gu Dayong, and the others were, in the end, only servants, but he was the Crown Prince's study attendant, he had the responsibility to instruct the Crown Prince. Inciting the Crown Prince to go to a brothel was not a light offense.
Even if Hongzhi had scruples about the dignity of the royal family and did not dare to spread the news about the Crown Prince, he could easily find a crime against the law to kill him. Although Ming Destiny established the unprecedented "Musical House" in the early years of the founding of the People's Republic, and the officials not only bought and sold their own people to open brothels, but also sent the wives and daughters of the officials who committed crimes to be free prostitutes. It could be said that they had done all kinds of immoral things. However, there was an article in the law that forbade officials from staying in brothels for long periods of time. Offenders would be beaten 60 times.
Although this law had never been obeyed, and Ming Destiny had always turned a blind eye to it, it did not mean that this law was invalid. As long as the Emperor punished him in the name of this law, the generals of the Han Dynasty would throw open their arms and give his buttocks 60 times. Even if he did not die, he would be crippled.
Seeing that they all tried to stop him and even used his father to pressure him, Zhu Houzhao could only sullenly say, "Forget it, I won't go. Not here, not there. It's really disappointing."
Yang Ling and the others were afraid that Zhu Houzhao would change his mind again, so they were not in the mood to drink and drink. After a hurried meal, Ma Yongcheng quickly paid the bill and took the Crown Prince downstairs. They stood at the entrance of the building and were about to call a few carriages when they saw a horse-faced man in his early forties walking over with a few sturdy servants. As he walked, he angrily scolded, "Didn't you say that you would come three days later to bring people? Why did that dog Su Huai change his mind again? "
A short man who was jogging behind him smiled apologetically, "Uncle Yan, I heard that the head of the QING: Five Cities Warlords has also taken a liking to Sister Yu and offered more money than you. The couple must have been greedy. Uncle Yan, you're rich and you don't mind taking out more money. However, you're in the construction business. If you offend the people from the QING: Five Cities Warlords …"
The horse-faced man who was addressed as Master Yan suddenly stopped in his tracks and sneered at him, saying darkly, "Qi Fang, how many benefits have you received from Su Huai? To speak up for him in front of father? "
Qi Fang's expression changed and he hurriedly said, "Sir, look at what you're saying. Do you think I don't know who's close and who's far? How could I help Su Huai speak up for him? "
Master Yan spat and scolded, "Who's close and who's far? You're the dog that's close to money. Father took out five thousand taels of silver to redeem Sister Yu. How much more does he want? Eh? That's a whole five thousand taels of silver. Is Sister Yu's place inlaid with gold or jade? Is it worth so much money? Bah, he's dreaming. The document has already been written. Would he dare to go back on his word? Let's go. Father will go and get her today. Let's see who dares to stop me! "
When Zhu Houzhao heard that there was actually a bride kidnapping drama to watch, the thoughts he had just set aside came alive again. He excitedly pulled Yang Ling and said, "Let's go. Let's go and watch the show."
"Ah …!" Yang Ling didn't manage to pull him back, and Zhu Houzhao had already slipped away and followed behind those people. Yang Ling paused and hurriedly chased after him with Liu Jin and the others.
This street was full of low walls and colorful flowers and trees. In front of an elegant courtyard, there was a black lacquered golden plaque hanging on the small door: "Silk Flower House". That Master Yan had already rushed in with his men. Zhu Houzhao took the lead and excitedly followed them into the courtyard. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw a spacious courtyard. Leaning against the pillars in the corridor were small square tables. Most pilgrims would sit here, drink some tea, and choose a girl. Because it was still early, there were no guests in the corridor.
On the second floor above the courtyard was a circle of small houses. Each house was not big, and there was a sign hanging on the door. This was the most common brothel. The second courtyard behind was the home of the Hong Misses, but the grade was obviously much lower.
Yang Ling and the others hurriedly chased through the door and saw that the small door leading to the backyard in the courtyard was open. The merchant surnamed Yan had already led his men to the third courtyard. Zhu Houzhao followed behind them happily. Yang Ling was afraid that something would happen to him, so he hurriedly led the eight eunuchs to chase after them.
Zhu Houzhao was willing to watch the show, so how could he bear to leave? He glared and begged with Yang Ling, Liu Jin, and the others. When he saw that the merchant had led four strong men into the backyard, he hurriedly chased after them.
When they reached the third courtyard, a weak man who had heard the commotion had already been grabbed by the collar by the merchant surnamed Yan. Yang Ling and the others pulled Zhu Houzhao away. Zhu Houzhao was willing to watch the show, so how could he be willing to leave? He was begging and glaring at them. He used both carrot and stick methods, but he refused to leave.
The weak man was Su Huai. He smiled apologetically and said to Yan Kuan, "Master Yan, why are you so angry? I accepted your money, so of course I won't go back on my word. It's just that Sister Yu has been with us since she was five, and I can't bear to leave her. She's sad and her body has some problems. Master Yan, do you still need a little more time? You'll just have to wait a few more days. "
The hairy mole on Yan Kuan's cheek trembled. He grinned maliciously and said, "Bullshit! Whores are heartless, and entertainers are heartless. How could she, a prostitute, be unwilling to part with you two? I heard that you're looking for another buyer, and he's even a small official. Heh heh, are you bluffing to scare father? I've paid the money, and with the documents in hand, I'm not afraid of meeting an official. "
A middle-aged woman dressed in light purple clothes hurriedly came out from the left side of the room. From afar, she giggled and said, "Oh, Master Yan, look at what you're saying. Sister Yu is my adopted daughter. If she follows you in the future, you'll be my son-in-law. How can you hurt our friendship?"
Although entertainers were one level lower than ordinary commoners and belonged to the lower class, merchants were also lower class, and their status wasn't higher than hers. In addition, this Master Yan was a frequent customer of the Silk Flower House, so they were familiar with each other. That was why Yi Liang Jin dared to make such vulgar jokes with him.
Yi Liang Jin was in her forties, and her skin was fair and tender. Although there were some fine wrinkles on her face, her pair of lively eyes rippled like autumn waves, and she still had a rather moving charm.
With her jesting, Boss Yan couldn't keep a straight face anymore. He let go of Su Huai and said with a cold smile, "Five thousand taels of silver. It's not cheap to be a son-in-law. Yi Liang Jin, don't be so cheeky with me. You said you didn't go back on your word. Fine, I'll pretend I heard wrong. In any case, she's welcoming me now, and she'll still be welcoming me three days from now. There's no time like the present. I'm going to make it happen with her today. What do you think? "
Yi Liang Jin's expression changed. She forced a smile and said, "Master Yan, although Sister Yu has been betrothed to you, we've raised her as husband and wife. How can we not have any feelings for her? Right now, this child isn't feeling well, and she's so delicate and timid. Our hearts ache just by looking at her. In the future, she'll be the person by your bed. Don't you feel heartache? "
As Yi Liang Jin spoke, she fiercely glared at her husband. Su Huai shrunk his neck and didn't make a sound. It turned out that this Boss Yan's name was Yan Kuan. He was a frequent customer of this Silk Flower Pavilion. That day, he'd slept with his good friend, Miss Hong, in the second courtyard, and spent the night here. In the morning, when he pushed open the back window, he just happened to see Sister Yu passing by in the back courtyard.
Yan Kuan was a businessman who reeked of money. Originally, he wasn't good at singing songs and admiring the moon, or listening to songs and reciting poems. In order to pretend to be cultured and please this courtesan, he endured the pain of spending a large sum of money to pretend to be a refined person for a few days. However, after a few times, he didn't even manage to touch her small hand.
He thought that rather than using a blunt knife to cut flesh, he might as well do it with a hammer. Thus, he simply forked out a large sum of money and wanted to bring this little beauty home to taste to his heart's content. That day, it just so happened that Yi Liang Jin was sick. Her husband, Su Huai, was managing the business. Although a brothel was a place to squander money, five thousand taels of silver was no ordinary sum to him. He calculated that when he bought Sister Yu from Shanxi Datong, he'd only spent eight hundred copper coins. Now that he'd raised her for eight years, he'd be able to earn back five thousand taels of silver. He hurriedly agreed and even signed a document.
When Yi Liang Jin heard that her husband had acted on his own, she couldn't help but pour a torrent of abuse on him. She'd rolled around in the brothel for half her life, so she naturally knew how much money Sister Yu would be able to earn back for her in the future. In addition, when that young lady heard that Su Huai had sold her to a merchant, she was filled with grief and cried loudly several times. This caused even Su Huai to feel regret.
However, how could he go back on something that had already been signed? The couple pondered over and over again. They wanted to spread the news that an official in the QING: Five Cities Warlords had taken a liking to Sister Yu and wanted to use his authority to suppress him.
In fact, the QING: Five Cities Warlords couldn't be considered a big yamen. It was just an ordinary public security unit in the capital (excluding the Imperial City and the Forbidden City). The official couldn't even be considered as an official. He was just the head of a group of petty officials. Usually, he followed behind the imperial censors on patrol and roamed the streets, waiting for orders, waving flags and shouting battle cries. He was a literal errand boy.
The petty officials in the QING: Five Cities Warlords were actually quite pitiful. Other than catching a few thieves, sending neighbors to clean the streets and sewers, checking the accuracy of the peddlers, and whipping stupid citizens who urinated or defecated, they had no power to manage or enforce the law. The capital was full of influential officials, so who could they manage?
However, it was very easy for such a petty official to suppress a merchant. Since Yan Kuan was doing business in the capital, he should be afraid of the yamen that was in charge of public security, urban management, sanitation and epidemic prevention, right? They didn't expect that Yan Kuan didn't care and still came looking for them through Qi Fang. For a moment, the couple really didn't know what kind of background he had.
Yan Kuan heard Yi Liang Jin's words and laughed, saying sarcastically, "Heartache? I'm the one who's really heartache when that charming little girl gets poked and prodded in your brothel. What? She's a whore and she thinks that my status is low? Don't be so shameless. Only others can choose her. When did she have the right to choose? As long as I have money, I'm the boss! "
The door of the building that had been closed all the time opened with a bang. A little girl with a clean face and light makeup wearing a peony silk jacket and a green pleated skirt walked out quickly. She stood under the door, raised her eyebrows, and said with a cold face, "Master Yan, please be polite. You are rich, but my sister and I don't care about it. If you want to buy a cat or dog, it's up to you. But my sister doesn't want to enter your house. If we break the contract, we'll just pay you 20% of the money. We'll pay for it. "
The little girl in the green skirt had a slim figure and her skin was surprisingly fair. Under her light eyebrows, a pair of pretty eyes were very sharp. When she spoke, her voice was crisp and urgent.
Zhu Houzhao couldn't help but laugh, saying, "This girl is very good, much better than that pair of good-for-nothings." Yang Ling and Gu Daeyong listened and looked at each other with a wry smile.
Yan Kuan raised his eyebrows, saying, "Miss Sheridan, it's easy for you to say. If you want to break the contract, you have to get my permission first. Money? Father doesn't lack money, he just lacks a cat or dog to warm his bed. This Sister Yu, Father must have Father! "
He took out a document and raised it, saying to Jiang Huai with a cold face, "My document has your handprint on it. What, are we going to meet in the yamen?"
Another little girl walked out of the embroidery building and went straight to Yan Kuan. She pleaded softly, "Master Yan, as the saying goes, a melon won't be sweet if it is forcefully twisted. This kind of thing must be consensual. Please show mercy and let Sister Yu go."
Yan Kuan chuckled and said lecherously, "Miss Yixian has a sweet mouth and is really likable. You're a hundred times cuter than those sharp-tongued women, hahaha."
Hearing her sweet voice, Yang Ling couldn't help taking another look at her. This Miss Tang Yixian was only thirteen or fourteen years old. She had a petite figure and a pretty face. There was a beauty mole at the corner of her lips that exuded a sense of playfulness. She smiled shyly and rolled her eyes at Yan Kuan, saying sweetly, "Then does Master Yan agree?"
Yan Kuan felt his bones lighten and narrowed his eyes, saying, "Agree? What did I agree to? Gold to buy a smile, red sleeves to make love, it's a fair trade. Hehe, this little girl has a cute appearance and in a few years, she'll be a little vixen. Don't worry, don't worry, at the end of this year, Father will be able to earn a large sum of money. At that time, Father will also buy you back to accompany Sister Yu, we'll share a bed, how about it? "
Tang Yixian, Sister Yu, and Sheridan were all Qing Lian 'er now and the customers they usually received were more refined. Who would speak so vulgarly like him? Hearing this, Tang Yixian's face turned red but she didn't dare to flare up.
Yan Kuan shook the document in his hand and was feeling very pleased with himself. Suddenly his hand felt light and a duck's voice was clamoring beside his ear, "Using a chicken feather as a token of authority, unbearably vulgar, unbearably vulgar, let me see what kind of dog fart it is."
Yan Kuan was shocked. He turned his head and saw a young scholar holding up his document and reading loudly with his hoarse voice, "I am the musician Su Huai, I have an adopted daughter, Yutang Chun, real name is Su San. I had hoped to take care of my old age but now the merchant Yan Kuan is fond of my daughter. Su Huai has received five thousand taels of silver as a redeeming gift. From now on … "
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