Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!-Chapter 19: Su Juan Visits the Brothel

The Minister of Rites is aging and about to resign. With Vice Minister Du in trouble, many are eager for this position. Prince Heng is currently not a threat, but mainly it’s Prince Han.

Song Qianfan pondered that this embezzlement case involving Du Peng also implicated several people from the Ministry of Revenue. He needed to seize the opportunity to arrange for suitable people to take over there, preventing Prince Han from getting ahead.

Li Ming: "Yes."

Thinking about this, Song Qianfan became even more agitated. Just losing a Du Peng had disrupted his entire plan. Su Juan was indeed difficult to control.

"The Heir Consort feels lacking in virtue and will be copying the ’Admonitions for Women’ one hundred times in the mansion these days. Li An, take a few stacks of paper to Biluo Courtyard and supervise her. Bring them to me once she’s finished; I want to inspect them personally."

Li An respectfully said, "Yes, Your Highness."

Quickly leaving the courtyard, Li An patted his chest, relieved.

The Young Master’s temper is truly volatile; serving him is no easy task, never knowing when one’s life might be lost.

One hundred copies of the ’Admonitions for Women’; such a pity for the Heir Consort, being tormented by the Young Master.

...

Princess Jing was unaware of Su Juan’s punishment of copying the ’Admonitions for Women’ one hundred times and hadn’t seen Su Juan all day. During dinner, she sent someone to fetch her.

Beside her, Song Qianhang, nicknamed "Mr. Know-It-All," waved his hand, "No need to send someone to fetch Sister-in-law, Mother. Elder Brother punished her yesterday to copy the ’Admonitions for Women’ one hundred times. Just now, Dongdong from his courtyard went to the kitchen to fetch food for her. She’s probably busy right now."

Princess Jing was immediately displeased. How could her good daughter-in-law always be at odds with her elder son?

"Where is the Heir?"

The steward hadn’t replied when Song Qianhang interrupted again, "Elder Brother is busy with official duties in the study now and probably won’t dine."

Princess Jing snorted coldly, "What’s so busy about a trivial position?"

She instructed the steward sternly, "Aren’t you going to invite the Heir for dinner quickly?"

Seeing this, Song Qianhang sensed something amiss. Fearful of getting involved, he quickly shoveled down a few bites of rice and retreated.

In the backyard, a servant squatted at the base of the wall, hesitating, "Young Master, Princess Consort doesn’t allow you to go out. If you’re discovered..."

"Tonight, Miss Xian Yun of Baihua Building is performing on stage. Her pipa playing is exquisite. Wouldn’t it be a shame to miss it?"

With a few moves, Song Qianhang stepped onto the servant’s shoulder and was about to climb over the wall.

[Wow, Miss Xian Yun, playing the pipa...]

The sudden female voice startled the master and servant, and Song Qianhang fell with a thud, holding his sore buttocks while searching around, "Who’s there!"

Su Juan leisurely stepped out from the shadows, raising an eyebrow, "You don’t go to Chunxiang Building anymore, Second Brother?"

"The girls at Chunxiang Building are boring. How can they compare to Baihua Building?"

Song Qianhang snorted lightly. The Chunxiang Building was now full of people ridiculing him, and he wouldn’t go there to embarrass himself!

[Oh, seems like the girls laughed at him, haha]

Su Juan, thinking she’d take the hint without spelling it out, said in a serene voice, "But Second Brother, I remember Mother doesn’t allow you to go out, right?"

Song Qianhang glared back, "I remember clearly that Elder Brother had you copy the ’Admonitions for Women’ a hundred times and that without finishing, you couldn’t leave the house. So, why aren’t you in your room copying, Sister-in-law, but here instead?"

Their eyes met...

Just after dusk, they ran into each other at this base of the wall; their intentions couldn’t have been more apparent.

After a cup of tea, Su Juan donned a new set of clothes and weighed the money pouch in her hand, her eyes crinkled with a smile.

[Indeed, Song Qianhang is deeply cherished at home; with all this silver he can’t finish spending, it’s just delightful.]

Beside her, Song Qianhang fanned himself with a folding fan and snorted lightly, well, of course. They should see just who Young Master is.

Though Su Juan had never visited a brothel before, she knew there were two major ones in the Capital, Chunxiang Building and Baihua Building.

The girls in Chunxiang Building were adept at dancing, while the girls in Baihua Building excelled in music.

As they entered Baihua Building, an acquaintance came forward to greet them with a bright smile, "Oh, Mr. Song, you’ve come! I saved a good seat for you, sure to satisfy."

Song Qianhang coughed lightly, "No need for a good seat; just find a private room where we can hear Miss Xian Yun’s pipa playing, and bring some tea and delicious pastries."

The servant was startled; today, with Miss Xian Yun performing, everyone was vying for the seats in the main hall. How could a private room match the view from below?

Song Qianhang tapped Su Juan’s right arm with his folding fan. The servant immediately understood, smiling ingratiatingly, "Very well, please follow me upstairs!"

Su Juan followed Song Qianhang to a private room on the second floor. Soon, a girl brought up tea and pastries, but no one came to attend to them. If not for the sound of music and the voices of guests and girls outside, she would have doubted whether this was Baihua Building at all.

"Why is no one coming?"

[Could it be that the Chunxiang Building rumors about Song Qianhang have reached Baihua Building, so no one serves them?]

Song Qianhang almost spat out his tea. What nonsense!

"Sister-in-law, with you here, which girl would dare come in and invite trouble?"

Su Juan furrowed her brows, looking down at her own attire, [Was I recognized? Isn’t it said that when disguised, gender is indistinguishable?]

Song Qianhang explained, "Earlier, I tapped your right arm; this is an unspoken greeting method in most brothels: left for men, right for women, meaning that you’re a woman, so they should show some courtesy."

Seeing the guest brought a woman, the girls naturally assumed she was a legitimate wife from home and wouldn’t dare to overstep bounds.

Those last words, Song Qianhang didn’t explain, fearing to be too forward with Su Juan.

Su Juan immediately understood, "I see, who knew there were these rules within brothels."

Beside them, the window was open, allowing a view of the main hall below. On stage, petals drifted down as a girl in pink, holding a pipa, slowly took her seat amid enthusiastic cheers from the guests. Her demeanor was graceful and elegant.

"Miss Xian Yun is truly a beauty," Su Juan remarked, finding her somewhat familiar, as if she’d seen her somewhere before.

Song Qianhang then rose to look out the window, laughing, "Miss Xian Yun’s pipa skills are truly exceptional, but if we’re talking about appearance, she falls somewhat short."

He glanced sideways at Su Juan. Even when disguised as a man, her delicate features couldn’t be concealed.

Among the countless girls he’d seen, Liu Miaoying, Chief Secretary’s daughter, was the most beautiful.

But really, Sister-in-law’s features were even more refined than Liu Miaoying’s. Being still young and with a bit of baby fat on her face, she hadn’t fully grown into her looks yet. Given time, her elegance might surpass Liu Miaoying’s.

It was a pity Elder Brother had no interest in Sister-in-law.

In the main hall, the atmosphere was festive, full of song and dance, with guests exchanging toasts.

Su Juan watched for a while, "Why do I feel like Miss Xian Yun seems unhappy?"

She herself wasn’t versed in music, yet noticed the downcast expression of Miss Xian Yun, as though bearing sorrow, eyes occasionally glancing toward the guests below, seemingly lamenting something.

Song Qianhang snapped back to reality, following Su Juan’s gaze. Compared to usual, the pipa music in his ears lacked something, "Indeed, Miss Xian Yun might have some concerns."

After all, being in a brothel, even someone like Miss Xian Yun, known for her virtuous status, found her own fate beyond control. Among the girls, how many were truly happy?