The Courtesan Queen Was Actually a Japanese Female Spy

The sedan chair stopped before Fountain Pavilion. Cao Renqi lifted the curtain and stepped out.

"You lot stand guard outside. I will come out in one shichen."

After giving the order, Cao Renqi shook out his sleeves and strode into Fountain Pavilion with his hands clasped behind his back.

A bird flew in through the window as well.

The moment he entered the reception hall, a heavily made-up, voluptuous middle-aged woman sashayed over with a smile plastered across her face.

She came before Cao Renqi, flicked her handkerchief, and cried coquettishly, "Oh, Lord Cao, you have finally come! Miss Ningxiang has been thinking of you these past few days!"

Cao Renqi reached out and gave the madam's round, plump backside a hard squeeze, laughing. "I feel like changing my taste today. How about Madam Hua serves me tonight?"

Madam Hua giggled. "Lord Cao, please do not tease this old woman. I am already past forty—how could I compare to those young girls, all tender and charming?"

Cao Renqi pulled Madam Hua into his arms and kissed her, leering. "Women in their forties are at their most flavorful, especially a superb woman like you, Madam Hua. That figure of yours is so plump and alluring, like a fully ripened peach."

Madam Hua twisted her voluptuous body and laughed. "I am truly flattered by Lord Cao's favor. Another day, I will certainly serve you with all my heart. But tonight, Lord Cao should go find Miss Ningxiang. She is waiting for you now!"

Still unsatisfied, Cao Renqi kneaded Madam Hua a few more times before finally releasing her and following her toward the rear courtyard.

They arrived at a pavilion in the rear courtyard. Madam Hua led Cao Renqi up to the second floor, lightly knocked on the door of a private room, and called out:

"Ningxiang, Lord Cao is here. Why have you not come out to welcome him?"

The private room door creaked open, and a stunning woman emerged.

The beautiful woman appeared eighteen or nineteen. Her skin was like snow, her features exquisitely painted, and her graceful figure utterly captivating.

Her black hair was arranged in a cloud-near-fragrance coiffure, adorned with a crimson gold filigree pearl hairpin of nine phoenixes circling a pearl. She wore a floor-length, wide-sleeved pleated phoenix-tail skirt and a pair of red satin shoes embroidered with cloud-mist and wish-fulfilling patterns, rippling like water and shaped like phoenix wings.

She moved with lotus steps, leaving the room and approaching Cao Renqi. Turning slightly sideways, she gave him a graceful curtsy.

"This humble woman greets Lord Cao."

Her voice was as pleasing as an oriole's song, impossibly sweet and seductive.

This peerless beauty was none other than Leng Ningxiang, Fountain Pavilion's foremost courtesan queen.

Cao Renqi's eyes shone as he reached out to embrace Ningxiang's willow-slender waist.

Ningxiang gave a soft laugh. "Do not be in such a hurry, my lord. The wind outside is strong and cold. Come inside first and have a cup of wine to warm yourself."

With that, she took Cao Renqi's hand and led him into the fragrant chamber of the pavilion.

"Have your fun, Lord Cao. This old woman will not disturb you."

Madam Hua gave a wanton laugh and swayed away, her fat backside twisting with every step.

Ningxiang led Cao Renqi into the side room, then shut the door and slid the bolt.

Cao Renqi tried to embrace Ningxiang again, only for her to push him away coldly.

"Lord Cao, sit down first."

As she spoke, Ningxiang walked to the window, pushed open the casement, and looked outside. In the pitch-black night, several Fountain Pavilion thugs stood guard below the pavilion.

A bird landed soundlessly upon the window casement.

Ningxiang partially closed the casement, leaving a narrow gap, then drew the curtains.

Charcoal burned in the side room, making it pleasantly warm. For that reason, the window could not be shut too tightly.

Having been brushed aside by a courtesan queen, Cao Renqi unexpectedly did not lose his temper.

He simply went over and seated himself at the table.

After closing the casement, Leng Ningxiang also came to sit at the round table. She picked up the wine pot, poured Cao Renqi a cup, and then poured one for herself.

"Lord Cao, this humble woman offers you a toast."

Cao Renqi raised his cup, clinked it against Leng Ningxiang's, and drained it in one gulp.

Leng Ningxiang lifted the pot again and refilled Cao Renqi's cup. Unable to restrain himself, Cao Renqi reached out, wanting to touch her pair of jade-white hands.

Leng Ningxiang brushed his hand away at once.

Cao Renqi awkwardly rubbed his hands together, staring at Leng Ningxiang with a lecherous grin.

"Miss Naizi, what must I do to have you?"

Leng Ningxiang's lovely face turned cold. "Shut up. Call me Ningxiang."

Cao Renqi gave an embarrassed laugh. "Do not be afraid. Everyone here is one of your people. No one can hear us."

The bird outside the window listened with rapt attention.

Leng Ningxiang lifted her cup and took a sip, saying coldly, "Be careful. If the Imperial Guard learns of my identity, you, Cao Renqi, will be thrown into the Imperial Prison as well."

Cao Renqi could not help shuddering. He lifted the wine cup on the table, took a sip, and asked in a low voice:

"Why did you summon me tonight?"

Leng Ningxiang answered softly, "Our president has something he wishes to discuss with you."

Cao Renqi gave an "oh" and said nothing further.

Before long, three faint knocks sounded from one wall of the side room.

Leng Ningxiang walked over, lifted aside an erotic spring palace painting hanging on the wall, and pressed a mechanism. A faint turning sound followed, and a hidden door unexpectedly appeared.

Leng Ningxiang beckoned to Cao Renqi. He rose and entered through the hidden door.

The door closed again, and Leng Ningxiang lowered the erotic painting.

Inside the secret chamber.

A short, sturdy man in his fifties, dressed in a wealthy gentleman's brocade robe, stood with his hands behind his back.

"Watanabe-kun, you wanted to see me?"

Cao Renqi cupped his hands and bowed to the man, asking the question.

The man in brocade turned around, a genial smile appearing on his face. "Lord Cao, you should still call me President Ma."

Cao Renqi respectfully replied, "Yes, President Ma."

President Ma paced over to Cao Renqi and looked at him. "Lord Cao, I summoned you this time because I need you to handle two matters for me."

Cao Renqi hurriedly asked, "What two matters does President Ma wish me to handle?"

President Ma said, "First, help me place four Eastern Ocean Samurai in the Prefect's Office as guards. Second, we have one million jin of sea salt to ship over from Japan. Lord Cao, send men to help transport it to the headquarters of the Dongsheng Merchant Association."

"Your Great Chu official salt is far too expensive—three hundred copper coins per jin. Japan has sea salt in abundance, so we can ship it to your Great Chu and sell it, making a handsome fortune!"

President Ma stroked the short beard on his chin, a greedy, sinister grin spreading across his face.

Cao Renqi frowned, looking troubled. "I can help President Ma bring in the sea salt. No one would dare inspect it. But placing Eastern Ocean Samurai in the Prefect's Office as guards—that will be rather difficult."

President Ma gave a sinister laugh. "Lord Cao need not worry. I have already made plans. Tomorrow night, I will send people to attack the Prefect's Office. Lord Cao can lead men there to rescue them, then leave several dozen guards at the Prefect's Office to strengthen its defenses."

Cao Renqi immediately understood and nodded. "That plan could work."

Then he put on a troubled expression again. "But if the Imperial Guard investigates these two matters, my entire family will lose their heads."

President Ma patted Cao Renqi's shoulder. "Do not worry. I will not have you bear the risk for nothing."

As he spoke, he pulled a stack of banknotes from his sleeve and handed them to Cao Renqi. "Lord Cao, accept these banknotes worth one hundred thousand taels first. Tomorrow, I will also send Lord Cao two peerless geishas. I guarantee they will satisfy you. Once the matter is done, I will send Lord Cao another one hundred thousand taels in banknotes."