Jin Shanyao her head, trying to stay awake. Just as she was about to leave, Meng Anzhi grabbed her sleeve.
She pointed to the entrance of the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion and asked doubtfully, "Auntie, look at the portrait that man is holding, isn't that my master?"
Jin Shanyao followed her finger and saw that the man in black had already put the portrait away.
With a slight Jin Shanyao sent a burst of Spiritual Power to the man's wrist.
The portrait in the man's hand fell to the ground instantly. A gust of wind blew the paper to Jin Shanyao's feet. She bent down to pick it up, and Lu Chi's face appeared on the paper.
The boy was unruly, with a defiant look in his eyes and a barely perceptible stubbornness in them.
"Young lady, this portrait is mine," the man's cold voice rang out.
"Young master, you seem quite concerned about this painting; this person must be very important to you," Jin Shanyao said with a smile as she returned the portrait.
The man did not answer, put away the portrait, and turned to enter the Jade Terrace House.
Meng Anzhi and Meng Anci looked up at Jin Shanyao, "Auntie, why didn't you tell him that Master is in our house?"
Jin Shanyao chuckled and ruffled their little heads. "You shouldn't have the heart to harm others, but you can't be without the heart to guard against them. Who knows if he's genuinely looking for Qin Luchi, or if he wants to kill him?"
After all, this was their first meeting, and it happened in the slave market.
"Let's go inside and take a look," she said, leading the two children toward the Jade Terrace House.
As soon as I entered, I heard a cry of "Oh dear!" "Young lady, we don't use the 'crying, making a scene, threatening suicide' tactic here."
The madam, holding a round fan, swayed as she walked towards Jin Shanyao.
His eyes gleamed as he scrutinized her, and when he noticed Meng Anci, his gaze instantly turned greedy.
"My goodness, how can there be such a handsome little boy?"
As she spoke, she reached out to touch Meng Anci's face, but Jin Shanyao grabbed her wrist, causing the madam to contort in pain.
"Ouch, let go, let go! Do you think my wrist is like you, a wooden stick?"
Jin Shanyao impatiently shook her off, and with the two children, found an inconspicuous place to sit down.
His gaze swept around the room, and seeing the man with the portrait go up to a private room on the second floor, he looked away.
Seeing that she didn't seem to be there to cause trouble, the madam tentatively asked, "Young lady, are you here to spend money?"
"Otherwise what?"
"Oh dear, look at my fish-eye eyes, I didn't even realize we had such distinguished guests," she said, glancing at the two children with a troubled expression. Who brings children to a brothel?
There are always tiger girls, but this year there seem to be more than usual.
"Everyone who comes to the door is a customer," the madam said with a fawning smile. "I wonder who you've taken a fancy to, madam? I'll have him come and serve you."
Jin Shanyao surveyed the plants in the room, finally fixing her gaze on the madam.
The madam instinctively covered her chest, but then, remembering what she was doing, she flicked her handkerchief and laughed.
"You rascal, you can't joke like that with your mother."
Jin Shanyao her head, thinking, "I haven't even said anything, what are you babbling about?" She took out an ounce of silver and placed it on the table.
The madam glanced at it, her smile fading. "Young lady, even the cheapest drink at the Jade Terrace House costs two taels of silver. You think you can fool me?"
With a slight flick of her finger, Jin Shanyao the angular silver into a flat sheet. The madam's pupils dilated in shock, and her expression changed faster than turning the pages of a book.
"Look at her, look at her, how adorable is that little temper of hers?"
As she spoke, she plopped down next to Jin Shanyao, her face ashen, utterly despondent.
"Speak, what do you want? As long as you don't cause trouble, you can ask me anything."
She glanced at the pimp, who understood and turned to leave the main hall. When he returned, he was accompanied by two burly men.
Jin Shanyao, "You go ahead with your work, I'll just sit for a bit and then leave."
The madam paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Alright, you keep an eye out for him. Call me if you see a young man you like, and I'll arrange it for you."
She twisted to her feet, her eyes lighting up, "Oh... Lord Wang, it's been quite a while since you've come..."
Jin Shanyao's lips twitched when she heard her commotion. It seemed that the madam of the Hidden Fragrance Pavilion was much more normal. At least she would glare at people without saying a word.
Unlike her, who would groan and cry out all the time, giving people goosebumps.
The two little ones were visiting this brothel for the first time. They sat nervously in their chairs, staring intently at the patterns on the tablecloth, not daring to look around.
The Jin Shanyao released Spiritual Power, directly entering the private room.
The man who had just received the portrait knelt on the ground, "Master, we couldn't find it."
Lu Mingzhe stroked the rim of his wine cup. Ever since his brother Lu Chi died, the Empress had been weeping every day, but not long ago she had stopped crying and even had the mood to hold a lantern festival.
He was suspicious at the time.
It wasn't until the Third Prince sent a message that he learned his good brother was not dead, but had been switched at birth and was hiding in this remote town.
Those capable of replacing people right under the Marquis's nose are few and far between. Don't let him find out, otherwise...
Lu Mingche snapped out of his thoughts, "You've searched every brothel and entertainment venue?"
"Not a single place will be missed, Master. Since Lu Chi wants to hide from us, will he still be indulging in debauchery and neglecting his duties as before?"
Lu Mingche sneered, "You've all been fooled by him. How could someone who grew up by the Empress's side be a good-for-nothing? Over the years, how many tricks has he played on my aunt and cousin?"
It's a pity we didn't poison him to death; he's lucky to be alive."
He picked up his wine glass and took a sip. "I was ordered to come and escort the tribute. I don't have much time to linger. Expanding the manpower will definitely help us find the person."
"Please rest assured, Master, I will take care of it immediately."
Lu Mingche called out to him, a fierce glint in his eyes, and made a throat-slitting gesture. The man understood and turned to leave the private room.
The Jin Shanyao its Spiritual Power in the room for a moment before slowly withdrawing. When she bought Lu Chi, she saw that he was surrounded by good fortune and thought she had found a treasure. Little did she expect that she would bring back trouble instead.
After figuring things out, Jin Shanyao up to leave, just as the madam came over with a fruit platter.
As the fruit platter passed by Meng Anzhi, a strong smell of sleeping potion wafted into her nostrils.
The madam smiled kindly, "Are you thirsty? Have some fruit."
She placed the plate in front of Meng Anci; children can't resist taking a bite of anything delicious.
However, Meng Anci only glanced at it and showed no intention of making a move.
The madam's eyes darted around, and she picked up a piece of pear and personally fed it to Meng Anci's mouth.
"Try it, pears aren't commonly seen this time of year."
Meng Anzhi snatched the pear from the madam's hand and stared at her fiercely.
The madam wasn't annoyed at all; instead, she laughed even harder. "Little girl, you want some? If you want some, Auntie will get it for you."
Jin Shanyao, "Thank you for your kindness, shopkeeper. It's almost time; we should be going."
She took her two children's hands, but was stopped by the pimp as soon as she turned around.
The madam's smile vanished. "Young lady, you've been sitting here for fifteen minutes; one tael of silver isn't enough."
The two little ones became alert the moment they saw the madam's expression change.
Meng Anzhi quietly opened her purse, inside which was a poison she had developed; just a drop would render someone unconscious.
Jin Shanyao stared at the madam, a smirk playing on her lips, and asked, "How much?"
The madam's eyes were filled with disdain. "Fifty taels, fifty taels less and you won't leave here." Her gaze flickered towards Meng Anci.
Jin Shanyao saw through her intention and immediately her face darkened. Of all things the madam wanted, she had to provoke her precious treasure.
She was not a good-tempered tree to begin with, and fearing to be tainted by karma after descending to the mortal realm, she restrained herself in every way.
Unexpectedly, I ran into someone who was courting death today.