Jing Rong and Ji Yunshu went to the second floor of the teahouse opposite the brothel and sat down in a small private room. This place has good scenery and was pleasantly cool.
Most importantly, they could see the second floor of the brothel opposite, through the open windows of the room. There were many people patronising the brothel even though it was broad daylight.
Inside, girls dressed as beautifully as blooming flowers twirled around those lecherous men, teasing them with sweeps of their handkerchiefs. In turn, the men grinned in delight, completely forgetting about their wives waiting at home.
Ji Yunshu sneered at the scene and turned away as the waiter served a pot of tea.
The waiter asked, "You two young masters seem unfamiliar to me, are you from outside the county?"
"Yes, we came here to visit relatives." Ji Yunshu replied.
"I knew it. Outsiders are rare in our Yufu County. Most residents here are local people and I know them all," he remarked smugly.
Jing Rong didn't speak but hummed softly with a straight face.
However, Ji Yunshu thought for a moment before asking the waiter amiably, "This little brother, don't deceive me. You said you know everyone here? How could it be possible?"
The waiter hurriedly replied, "I didn't deceive you. When it comes to local residents in our Yufu County, I know every one of them."
"I bet you are bragging." Ji Yunshu threw down a challenge, secretly hiding a smile as if anticipating a fish would bite on her bait.
Jing Rong who was sitting across her, started to get curious as he finally understood her intentions. What does this woman have up her sleeves now?
The waiter became agitated when Ji Yunshu said he was boasting. "Young master, if you don't believe me, then just randomly pick someone. Whoever you pick, I am sure I will be able to tell you something about that person.."
He took the bait. "Really?"
"Of course."
Ji Yunshu thereupon pretended to have pondered a while before asking, "I heard that there is a famous Young Master Qiao in Yufu County. Tell me about him so that I can tell whether you are right or not."
The waiter was stunned for a moment, and then he glanced unwittingly at the brothel across the street. He moved his mouth but did not speak.
Seeing this, Ji Yunshu goaded him, "Like I said, you are just bragging, but it's no big deal even if you can't say anything. After all, there are so many people in Yufu County."
Hey!
"Of course I know about Young Master Qiao. Everyone knows him!" The waiter glanced at the surroundings before bending down and started to dish out the gossip furtively, "The Qiao's are an influential family in Yufu County. Qiao Zheng, who was appointed Minister of the Ministry of Personnel several years ago, belongs to this Qiao family. Recently he seems to have resigned and is preparing to come back to be a state governor. Generations of the Qiao family have produced many high-ranking officials, so they are very well-known in Yufu County and no one dares to offend them.
"However, the young master of the Qiao Family is rather incompetent. He is a lecher without a proper trade or skill, that frequently indulges in drink and promiscuity, and becomes wild after getting drunk. For some reason, the Qiao family doesn't restrain him at all. After all, he is the only male child in the family. Anyway, he can't repress his base nature despite having married a bunch of wives and concubines. By the way, he was involved in a murder case where a songstress died in her room in the opposite brothel three years ago. At that time, it was said that Young Master Qiao had killed her, but in the end it was found out that the deceased had committed suicide."
Ji Yunshu listened intently, humming in acknowledgement. "I have heard of this case, but the brothel opposite is called "Zhichun House". Didn't the songstress die in Yichun House?"
"Ah, you mustn't have known that the brothel had to close down for an entire year because of the murder. When it reopened two years ago, it changed its name to Zhichun House."
"I see."
"But the death of the songstress was truly tragic. She left behind a son and her old mother. Her mother went to the Qiao Mansion every day to make trouble and even poisoned their well, claiming that Young Master Qiao had killed her daughter. Although Young Master Qiao did like to drink, I think he does not have what it takes to kill someone because he was born timid."
"He is timid?"
"Yes, as timid as a mouse. Everyone knows it, so no one believes that he would murder someone, and besides, the yamen has confirmed his innocence. It has been three years since the murder case happened, and few people talk about it anymore. The Qiao Family has suppressed everything about the case. If not for the fact that you are foreigners, I wouldn't have told you anything. However, please don't tell anyone that I said this; if it gets out, I'll be in deep trouble."
One could lose one's life if the Qiao Family decided to pursue the matter.
Ji Yunshu took out a piece of broken silver and gave it to the waiter. "All right, you have said so much that I'm not so sure whether it's true or not. Rest assured, we won't say anything."
The waiter received the tip and his face was immediately lit up with pleasure. "Thank you, young master, I'll bring you another pot of good tea." With these words, he left happily.
Jing Rong now fully understood Yunshu's initial intention. Holding the cup, he said, "You had known long ago that a person surnamed Qiao would go to the brothel opposite, so you deliberately came here to inquire."
"Something like that. In fact, I already sent Zijin to investigate last night and found out that master Qiao's favourite place is the brothel opposite, so I came to wait for our prey to deliver itself and maybe find some things related to the case."
Huh? Jing Rong was confused once again, "This prince did not understand what you mean."
"Your Highness, do you still remember the murder case of Miss Zhou?"
"Yes, I do. What is the connection between the two cases?"
"As I said, if you want to know who the murderer is, you need to know why the victim was killed, and vice versa. When the murderer has already been identified, you must understand all the habits of the murderer and the reason for why he kills."
"Why don't you just open the coffin for autopsy? Maybe the evidence will come faster."
"I have thought about doing that, but it is not the best time until I know what kind of person Young Master Qiao is."
Jing Rong started to understand where she was coming from.
As they spoke, a voice rang out from downstairs. "Ah, Master Qiao has arrived."
It was an enchanting voice of a woman!
Hearing this, they looked down at the brothel opposite. They saw a tall man dressed in an ink-coloured robe with a beatific smile on his face being pulled into the brothel by a girl.
This man must be Young Master Qiao.
Jing Rong turned his eyes to her and said, "Don't you want to know more about him? Only by being closer can we know more."
Before Ji Yunshu could react, she had been pulled up. Jing Rong took out an ingot of silver and put it on the table, then wrapped an arm around Yunshu's waist. With some light steps, two figures jumped down through the window and landed firmly on the ground!
The pedestrians who had been walking underneath got a fright.
Ji Yunshu had just landed her feet when Jing Rong dragged her into the brothel.
The heavily rouged and powdered girls immediately rushed at the two.
"Is it the first time for you two young masters are visiting?"
"Look at this little brother, he is so handsome."
"Young master, this one has excellent technique and will definitely satisfy you."
……
Ji Yunshu was sure that this was Jing Rong's retaliation for what she had done to him in the House of Serenity last time. [2]
Jing Rong's cold glare scared away all the girls who were about to approach him. He stretched out an arm and pulled the besieged Ji Yunshu to his chest.
Jing Rong hooked a finger around Ji Yunshu's chin and smirked evilly. "My little hubby doesn't like women." [1]
[1] Not allowed to like anyone but me. You can't touch either.
Also JR: Kyaaaaa finally an excuse to call her mine in public! Even if I had to pretend I am a cutsleeve.
JYS: E V I L BRUTE! You just wait! Who's your hubby! Ahh so embarrassing!!
[2] Dearie... what goes round, comes round!