Old Acquaintances in the Brothel

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

Zhou Yi interrogated a few more prisoners, his execution methods becoming increasingly refined, with few able to last more than an hour.

At this point.

Whether "Zhou Li" was actually Zhou Yi's apprentice was no longer important.

Captain Lu received commendation from the imperial court, recognized this junior's worth, and even gave him an extra twenty taels of silver at the end of the month.

"It won't be long before old Zhou's title of Blood Prison Old Demon will be passed on to you!"

"This disciple wouldn't dare overstep, at most I'd be a Little Demon."

Zhou Yi said with a smile, "I often hear my master talk about the Spring Breeze Pavilion. I received my silver today, so I'd like to invite you tonight, sir."

"Easy, easy!"

Captain Lu nodded with satisfaction. Old people always appreciate it when young people respect their seniors.

Zhou Yi also invited other jailers, and his colleagues all agreed. Originally, they treated him as a young newcomer, taking care of him out of consideration for an old friend, but now they treated him as an equal.

Entering through connections, standing firm through ability!

It has always been this way, from ancient times to the present.

Evening.

Spring Breeze Pavilion.

Business was still booming, and the scent of rouge and powder could be smelled from afar, with the girls dressed scantily, greeting guests.

"Come on in and play, sir!"

Guests went in and out, having a good time.

Captain Lu led a group of jailers inside, just as the courtesan was dancing, a hazy red veil, half-covering and half-revealing, seemingly exposing but not quite, with each stretch of her waist eliciting cheers from the guests.

"This year's courtesan, Susu, is known as the number one waist in Shenjing!"

Captain Lu exclaimed, "Originally, the Bright Moon Pavilion opened in Xiude Ward, and the Spring Breeze Pavilion was faintly declining, but as soon as Susu appeared on stage, no one could take the top spot!"

Feng Qiao asked in surprise, "Xiude Ward, isn't that the territory of the Imperial College and the Ministry of Rites? Can they open brothels there?"

"I heard the owner is a big shot from the Ministry of Rites!"

Captain Lu said, "Vice Minister Liu and I went there once. How should I put it, the girls are beautiful, but they're not relaxed enough, supposedly bought from the Jiaofang Division."

"What's the point of playing if they're not relaxed?"

The colleagues all expressed their disdain. The Heavenly Prison jailers were a bunch of roughnecks, and it was difficult for them to understand the beauty of fragility.

"You guys don't understand, it's the scholars who know how to play!"

Zhou Yi clicked his tongue and said, "The Jiaofang Division is full of the families of convicted officials. For us, it's no different from the Spring Breeze Pavilion, but the adults are seeing the wives and daughters of their former colleagues."

"Ew—"

The colleagues all made long sounds, expressing their contempt and disgust.

"Now that Little Zhou says it, no wonder the adults in the court all like to go to the Bright Moon Pavilion..."

Captain Lu's eyes flickered, obviously tempted.

While they were talking.

The madam had already swayed her hips over, bowing before she even got close, "Master Lu, there are too many guests today, and we really can't spare a private room. Please bear with sitting in the lobby."

"Lead the way."

Captain Lu nodded slightly, not caring whether it was true or false.

In the Heavenly Prison, the only two who could always have a private room in the Spring Breeze Pavilion were Warden Liu and old Zhou; no one else had that privilege.

"Are you Yun Niang?" Zhou Yi asked tentatively.

"Oh, this young man looks a bit unfamiliar, but he's really handsome!"

The madam covered her mouth with a handkerchief, quite pleased, "The name Yun Niang hasn't been called in many years. Where did you hear it, young man?"

Yun Niang.

This name represented the madam's most glorious time, probably the most glorious time of her life, the entire Shenjing City clamoring because of her.

Elegant and charming, a pipa tune that moved the capital!

Sixteen years had passed, and she was now unknown.

"My master once told me that the best pipa player in Shenjing City is Yun Niang."

Zhou Yi smiled and said, "Whether it's playing the zither or the flute, other courtesans are just putting on a show for the guests, showing that they're not empty-headed, in order to increase their value. Only Yun Niang practiced the pipa so much that she ruined her fingers."

Yun Niang subconsciously hid her right hand, and said sadly, "Your master is old Zhou?"

Zhou Yi was surprised, "Indeed."

"Out of the millions of people in Shenjing City, everyone says I'm charming, but only old Zhou praised my pipa."

Yun Niang asked, "I haven't seen him in many years. How is he now?"

"My master passed away last year."

Zhou Yi's words carried a hint of regret. He had enjoyed his conversations with Yun Niang back then. She was truly someone immersed in music, but born in the wrong world. Otherwise, her looks and skills would have definitely made her a goddess to the masses.

The two were too familiar with each other, and Yun Niang, emboldened by her drunkenness, even had the idea of ​​redeeming herself.

Zhou Yi, perhaps wary, or perhaps distrustful of courtesans, never sought out Yun Niang again.

"That old geezer was heartless. It's good he's dead. I've told some of my sisters, and they'll all be clapping their hands in joy."

Yun Niang's face was playfully resentful, her voice slightly low: "Come with me upstairs. There's still a private room left for old customers, lest your master comes to me in a dream tonight, saying I didn't take care of you!"

"..."

Zhou Yi was immediately regretful. To say that the two had deep feelings was really just fooling children.

He had spent over thirty years hanging around Spring Breeze Pavilion, and had met a few emotional women during that time.

Most likely, few women in the brothel could truly open their hearts. Zhou Yi was generous, spoke nicely, and never looked down on them, so they felt a slight bit of gratitude and joy.

If she really redeemed herself and started a family, experiencing the mundane matters of daily life, and Zhou Yi was still wary, it was hard to say if they could live well together.

"Old Zhou, even though you're gone, Spring Breeze Pavilion still has your legend!"

Captain Lu muttered to himself. Zhou Yi was one of the two people he admired most in his life.

One was the former Warden, now Vice Minister Liu, whose official skills and sense of smell had reached perfection. The other was Zhou Yi, who was clearly just a food-delivery prison guard, yet could be remembered by a courtesan.

They took their seats in a private room on the second floor.

Zhou Yi consciously sat at the end, serving dishes and pouring wine for everyone, and also told some witty jokes.

Captain Lu secretly praised him. As expected of a disciple taught by Old Zhou. Ordinary people, after experiencing what he just did, would inevitably feel a little proud, but few could remain so calm in the face of honor and disgrace.

The Heavenly Prison guards were all shrewd, and naturally understood the subtle nuances of the situation.

In an instant, the relationship was much closer, and the atmosphere became lively.

His colleagues spoke directly to Zhou Yi about the key points and essentials of the Heavenly Prison, the obvious and hidden unspoken rules, completely treating Zhou Yi as one of their own again.

"Why again?"

Zhou Yi watched the guests laughing downstairs, the courtesan's graceful dance filling the ten years of emptiness in an instant.

The warmth of human life is most comforting to the mortal heart.

The wine flowed freely.

Captain Lu put his arm around Zhou Yi's shoulders: "Little Zhou, I have high hopes for you! If you have any trouble in Shenjing, just say so. Don't let trivial matters delay your duties."

"Captain Lu, there is indeed something quite troublesome."

Zhou Yi said, "A few days ago, my master's relatives came to Shenjing and asked me to return the house, leaving it for the Zhou family's descendants to inherit."

Captain Lu frowned slightly, "Old Zhou has family? I've never heard him mention it?"

If it was really an internal matter of the Zhou family, Captain Lu would not be able to intervene. Not to mention that the Fengyang Kingdom governed the world with filial piety, and the clan's patriarchal laws took precedence over the national laws in dealing with inheritance matters.

Taking everything from the childless and elderly was so common!

Feng Qiao said, "I know a little bit. Old Zhou's father already separated the family."

"The family is separated!"

Captain Lu immediately felt confident: "Since the family is separated, the patriarchal clan can't control it, let alone after two generations. If they can take it back, then he might as well go and collect from everyone in the world with the surname Zhou."

Everyone laughed at these words.

"Little Zhou, don't be afraid of trouble. With your skills, if anyone comes to your door again, just grab them and bring them to the Heavenly Prison for questioning."

"Thank you, Captain Lu."

Zhou Yi asked Captain Lu to intervene in this matter, already tasting the karma of his predecessor. If he was still ignorant, the jujubes and grapes next year might bear more fruit.

I worked overtime today, the second chapter will be a little later.