Having Lived Half Her Life, She'd Never Heard Such a Request!

Early the next morning, just after Cui Lang arrived at the county yamen and finished roll call, Zhao Changshan impatiently dragged him straight to Dark Fragrance Pavilion, moving at a rapid pace.

Zhao Changshan had barely slept all night and had no mood to cultivate.

When they arrived, the madam saw Zhao Changshan and Cui Lang enter and immediately came forward with a smiling face. "The two constables are here. Have you investigated everything clearly?"

Why were it still these two? Hadn't they sent anyone else?

Zhao Changshan sat down with great swagger. "More or less. Ma Yuanwai agreed to come to Dark Fragrance Pavilion today and have a look. If he feels this place is simply too enchanting to leave, rather than being lured by some evil spirit, then we can settle things privately and close the case."

"To get Ma Yuanwai to agree, I had to wear my tongue to a stump. My mouth is still dry."

After drinking seven pots of fine wine and eating all that food yesterday, it really hadn't been easy.

The madam immediately understood Zhao Changshan's meaning. "You've worked hard, Constable. Please go to a room and have some tea. I'll send two girls to help put out your fire."

The delight in Zhao Changshan's eyes could no longer be concealed. "I want Red Willow and Cui Cui."

The madam looked troubled. "Constable, Red Willow has a guest in her room. It wouldn't be proper to call her out. How about choosing someone else?"

"Then Peony. There can't be a problem with her, right?"

Cui Lang glanced sideways at Zhao Changshan. He had prepared thoroughly enough—even picked out a substitute.

The madam nodded. "No problem. I'll arrange it right away. Please wait a moment."

"This constable, please come with me to another room?"

Seeing the look in Zhao Changshan's eyes telling him to leave, Cui Lang rose and departed as well, entering another empty room.

"Constable, is there any girl you fancy?"

Cui Lang sat on a stool. "Just send in two who can play music and sing."

The madam looked at Cui Lang in surprise. "You only want to listen to music?"

Coming to Dark Fragrance Pavilion, yet there was still a man who could hold himself back?

No wonder Master was somewhat wary of him.

Cui Lang crossed one leg over the other. "I am devoted to the martial path and have no fondness for women. But I came with Brother Zhao. By rights, if he has something, I should have it too. How about this—give me the cash equivalent instead."

He truly had no interest in the women here, but if he did nothing, they would likely not believe him. He might as well ask for money.

The madam: "???"

Having lived half her life, she had never heard such a request!

"What, that won't work? Then I don't need the music either?" He looked as though he could forgo listening to music, but absolutely had to get the silver.

The madam gritted her teeth. "Fine, why wouldn't it work? We'll give you the cash equivalent. You can have the music too, depending on your mood."

Shortly after the madam left, tea and pastries were brought in, followed by two women carrying a qin and a pipa, bringing with them a fragrant breeze.

The music drowned out the decadent sounds drifting from the other rooms. As Cui Lang ate pastries and listened to the tunes, he truly found it quite enjoyable.

He vaguely heard someone pause outside the door, but paid it no mind and continued enjoying the music.

An hour later, the madam knocked and entered. She waved for the two girls to leave. She was also shocked that Cui Lang had truly managed to restrain himself. It seemed she had no choice but to pay the silver.

"Constable, here are twenty taels of silver. Please keep them safely."

"Regarding Master Ma's death in our Dark Fragrance Pavilion, it has nothing to do with us, does it?"

Cui Lang's eyes lit up, and he swiftly put away the silver. "Of course it has nothing to do with you. Didn't I inspect everything? You just need to comfort Ma Yuanwai properly."

"Is Brother Zhao finished over there? Has Ma Yuanwai arrived?"

The madam said with a smile, "Ma Yuanwai just arrived and has been in the room for a while. We will certainly make him satisfied."

As they spoke, they heard Zhao Changshan chatting with Ma Yuanwai outside. Cui Lang rose and walked out of the room as well.

Zhao Changshan looked completely satisfied as he patted Ma Yuanwai on the back. "Ma Yuanwai, what did I tell you? You only need to experience it yourself to know how wonderful this place is. This trip wasn't in vain, was it?"

An awkward expression appeared on Ma Yuanwai's face. "Enough, enough."

Only after coming here did he understand why his younger brother had been willing to visit so often.

Seeing that Cui Lang had only just emerged, Zhao Changshan secretly regretted not staying in the room for another half an incense stick's time.

Cui Lang walked over to the two men. "Ma Yuanwai, then have your younger brother buried as soon as possible. Let Dark Fragrance Pavilion pay for the coffin, as a small token of apology."

The madam immediately nodded in agreement. "Yes, yes, yes. Dark Fragrance Pavilion will cover that expense."

Sure enough, Cui Lang truly did things after taking money. This time, Master would definitely be satisfied and would not scold her again.

Ma Yuanwai nodded. "Then let it be so."

If this matter became too big, he would find it humiliating as well.

After chatting a few more moments, Ma Yuanwai boarded his carriage and left. The madam warmly escorted Cui Lang and Zhao Changshan out.

"Brother Cui, which two did you pick? Let me tell you, the two I had were especially good. The ones at Red Sleeve Pavilion truly can't compare." Zhao Changshan wore an expression of lingering delight.

Cui Lang casually said, "I didn't ask their names."

Zhao Changshan was somewhat shocked. They had not even chatted, yet Cui Lang had come out later than him?

It had to be because he hadn't slept well last night. It had to be.

"Let's go. We'll return and report to Constable Li."

The two soon returned to the constables' quarters at the county yamen. Upon hearing that the aggrieved party was satisfied and would no longer press charges, Constable Li looked at them approvingly. "Well done. You didn't disappoint me. If there's nothing else, go patrol the streets."

Zhao Changshan agreed at once. Patrolling the streets—surely it was perfectly reasonable to patrol right up to his own doorstep?

"Brother Zhao, go ahead first. I need to use the latrine."

Zhao Changshan nodded lazily. "Fine, hurry up. If you can't find me later, patrol the streets yourself."

Cui Lang returned to the constables' quarters and once again came before Constable Li.

"Cui Lang, is there something else?"

Standing before Constable Li, Cui Lang took out twenty taels of silver from his robes. "Constable Li, when we went to Dark Fragrance Pavilion today, the madam gave this subordinate some silver."

"This subordinate thought that this silver certainly was not meant for me, so I brought it to you."

Constable Li looked at the silver Cui Lang had placed on the table, a smile that was not quite a smile on his face. "Cui Lang, you truly have not disappointed me. Your heart set upon the martial path is exceptionally steadfast."

"Since the madam gave you this silver, keep it. Work well from now on. There will be many opportunities like this."

He already knew that Cui Lang had declined the women and asked for silver instead.

But he had not expected Cui Lang to bring the silver to him after receiving it. It seemed Cui Lang understood propriety quite well.

That further proved that Cui Lang wanted to pledge himself to him.

Cui Lang looked delighted, his eyes greedily fixed on the two silver ingots. "Constable Li, isn't this inappropriate?"

Seeing Cui Lang's greed for money, Constable Li became even happier. What he feared was that Cui Lang would not be greedy. The greedy ones were easier to control.

"If I tell you to keep it, then keep it. Are you no longer listening to me?"

It was only twenty taels of silver. He did not even consider it worth mentioning.

Only then did Cui Lang swiftly put away the silver. "Thank you for the reward, Constable Li."

Constable Li looked at Cui Lang, then suddenly asked, "Cui Lang, do you know how many demons and monsters there are in this world? Do you think they can ever all be killed?"

Cui Lang lowered his head, a flicker of delight flashing through his eyes. It seemed he had finally gained Constable Li's trust and was about to come into contact with some secrets.