So Many Girls in the Brothel, and You Have Your Eye on the Madam?

The moment Zhao Changshan stepped out of the constables' office, he beamed with delight. "Brother Cui, Dark Fragrance Pavilion! That's the most expensive brothel in the county. Spending a night with an ordinary girl costs at least ten taels of silver, and if you want to enter a courtesan queen's room, it'll cost no less than a hundred taels!"

Even when he had passed by before, he had only dared sneak a few glances. He had never dared step inside. It was simply too expensive.

With his meager salary, he could only afford the pretty and affordable girls at Red Sleeve Pavilion. Even in his dreams, he had never dared set foot in Dark Fragrance Pavilion.

Cui Lang reminded him, "Brother Zhao, shouldn't we examine the corpse first?"

It seemed that the moment Zhao Changshan heard "Dark Fragrance Pavilion," he had gotten so excited that he forgot how to investigate a case.

Zhao Changshan waved a hand. "No need. When someone suddenly drops dead in a place like that, it's usually because he got too carried away and died during sex. We run into this sort of thing once or twice every year."

Maybe he had taken some kind of potent aphrodisiac, but that was normal too. After spending so much silver, wouldn't he want to get his money's worth?

He would have to ask what medicine the dead man had taken later, lest he accidentally bought the wrong thing himself.

"The family reported it to the authorities because they want Dark Fragrance Pavilion to pay them some silver. There's no need to investigate at all."

"Today, we'll have ourselves a good time at Dark Fragrance Pavilion. I'll treat this time, and you can treat me next time."

They had been ordered to investigate at Dark Fragrance Pavilion. Would Dark Fragrance Pavilion dare charge him silver?

He had often imagined when he might get the chance to visit Dark Fragrance Pavilion. Today, the chance to enjoy it for free had fallen right into his lap.

It seemed that since they had not been called along when they searched Sun Yuanwai's home before, this was their compensation.

With Cui Lang in tow, he hurried all the way there and soon arrived before a three-story building.

At that moment, many richly dressed men were coming out and climbing into carriages to leave. Unlike the men leaving Red Sleeve Pavilion, who all had to walk home.

Zhao Changshan swaggered into Dark Fragrance Pavilion, his chin raised high. "Where's your madam? The authorities are investigating a case. Why hasn't she come out?"

The moment Cui Lang entered, he smelled a thick fragrance of face powder, mingled with some less pleasant odors. His brow creased slightly, but Zhao Changshan looked as though he was enjoying it immensely, as if he wanted to breathe every bit of the scent into his lungs.

Many women in the main hall were playing music and dancing. Even though it was early morning and there were practically no new customers, the girls had not stopped. Cui Lang could not help but sigh. As expected of the county's most expensive brothel—it truly was refined.

Some scantily clad women were also walking down the stairs with men on their arms, thoughtfully seeing them off at the entrance. The service attitude seemed excellent too.

Other women yawned, glanced at Cui Lang and Zhao Changshan, then went straight upstairs to rest, seemingly not taking these two constables seriously at all.

Cui Lang was somewhat puzzled. Even the main hall was decorated in dazzling splendor, and the guests who came here were either rich or noble. Would the family really try to extort money?

A voluptuous woman emerged, waving a round fan. "Oh my, officers. You're burning with such fire. Shall I call a few girls over to help you cool down?"

Zhao Changshan's imposing manner instantly wilted. "You're too kind. Two will do."

This madam knew what she was doing. Before he had even spoken, she had offered girls to him—and she herself was so beautiful. She definitely was not a bad person.

Cui Lang coughed. "We came to investigate a case, not to have fun."

Even if they wanted to admire the arts and experience some special skills, they had to finish their proper business first. If they plunged into a bed of tenderness the moment they entered, would they still be able to get hard if they uncovered a problem?

Prompted by Cui Lang, Zhao Changshan immediately put on a stern face. "I was just joking with you. We're here to investigate a case."

"A few days ago, someone suddenly died here. Tell us what happened."

The madam took Zhao Changshan's arm. "Officer, let's go inside and sit down while we talk slowly. You came so early in the morning, so you must be thirsty. Have a pot of tea to wet your throat first, then eat something to fill your stomach. You can't investigate a case on an empty stomach, can you?"

Though she was not afraid of constables, having them stand in the main hall would affect the customers' mood.

Once they entered the room, hot tea and pastries were quickly brought over. The madam personally poured tea for them both.

"Gentlemen, this matter truly has nothing to do with us. That guest was the younger brother of Ma Yuanwai from Ma Family Village. He was already over sixty, and he drank quite a lot of wine. After entering the room with one of our girls, he took pills that he had brought himself."

"He was perfectly fine while sleeping, vigorous as a dragon and fierce as a tiger. Yet when they woke up the next morning, he was cold. That girl was scared out of her wits and did not receive any customers for several days. How much silver have I lost because of that?"

"It's already generous enough that I didn't demand compensation from their family. Yet they falsely accused our girl of killing him and demanded that she pay with her life. We had no grievance or grudge against him, so why would our girl harm him?"

Zhao Changshan nodded, then looked smugly at Cui Lang.

What had he said before? That man had definitely taken some pills and overdone the supplements.

He had frightened the girl sick. That Ma Yuanwai ought to compensate the girl for her losses!

Seeing that Zhao Changshan was already inclined to believe the madam, Cui Lang immediately reminded him, "Where is that girl? Call her over. We need to ask her a few questions."

But Zhao Changshan said, "No. Call over every girl who had frequent contact with the deceased. I want to question them all. Remember, not a single one can be missing."

There were so many beautiful girls whom he normally rarely got to see. How could he not take this chance to meet every one of them?

What if one of them took a fancy to his heroic bearing and was willing to share a night of spring breeze with him?

Even if none were willing, he could pick two pleasing to the eye and give the madam a hint.

After the madam left, Zhao Changshan raised his brows. "Brother Cui, broadened your horizons, haven't you? Look at the girls here, every one of them so fresh and lovely. Even that madam just now still had charm left in her."

Cui Lang stared at Zhao Changshan in shock. This was the first time he had heard of someone coming to a brothel and setting his sights on the madam.

He really was starving.

"Brother Zhao, don't you think the fragrance in Dark Fragrance Pavilion is too strong?" Cui Lang asked with a frown. "And there seems to be a faint musky smell too."

Zhao Changshan picked up an osmanthus cake and stuffed it into his mouth. "If the fragrance wasn't strong, why would it be called Dark Fragrance Pavilion? I heard that anyone who walks out of here gets stained with a special scent. One whiff, and everyone knows you came to Dark Fragrance Pavilion."

"A musky smell is perfectly normal. I think every one of them is flirtier than the last."

"Watch and learn from me later. Don't act like it's your first time here, or people will laugh at you."

"You eat too. These pastries are even better than the ones at Red Sleeve Pavilion."

He normally could not bear to buy pastries this delicious. They tasted all the better when they were free.

Cui Lang was not hungry. He silently drank his tea.

Before long, the door opened again. The madam led the girls inside, and they stood in a row.

Every girl was finely featured, wearing light makeup and beautifully dressed, with faint smiles on their faces.

Zhao Changshan's eyes went straight, and he even forgot to swallow the pastry in his mouth.

At the very back of the group came a woman in a purple dress. She was the only one without a smile on her face, her expression carrying a faint trace of sorrow.

Her eyes in particular seemed capable of hooking souls and stealing spirits. Cui Lang took one glance and felt a surge of impulse rise within him.

He rapidly circulated his true essence, and only then did his mind clear.

This woman... something was wrong!