Fuyin got up, brushing dust and footprints off his clothes, and quietly slipped to the side. Dressed in plain fabric and bearing an unremarkable face, he looked no different from any of the brothel’s servants.
He had heard earlier that Linhua Pavilion was holding a “Hairpin Ceremony” tonight. Perfect—more people meant more chaos, and chaos was ideal for covering his movements. Who would’ve guessed things would spiral into farce the moment he stepped through the door? He’d nearly been hit by a hidden weapon and trampled by guests. All he wanted now was to go unnoticed and disappear smoothly.
Up on the second-floor balcony, Jinghong Zhui spotted Fuyin at once and instinctively put his veil back on.
Tracking Fuyin was a matter of no return—he had to act. As for the unexpected presence of Lord Su… he hesitated for a moment, then decided not to acknowledge him.
Fuyin was still inside Linhua Pavilion. If he realized who Su Yan was, who knew what he might try. Besides, Shen Qi was here too, so at least Su Yan’s safety was assured.
Since that was the case, there was no need to make extra complications. After all, the Lord prioritized official business—best to finish the task he’d assigned first, and explain everything to him later.
With that thought, Jinghong Zhui quietly withdrew from the balcony and followed in Fuyin’s footsteps.
Su Yan didn’t recognize Fuyin, nor did he notice the servant who had fallen at the entrance and then climbed back up. His attention had been fixed on the “Little Hong” upstairs. When the figure vanished in the blink of an eye, he quickly said to Ruan Hongjiao, “Sister Ruan, it’s a bit chaotic here. You’d better return to Rouge Alley first. On your way out, please let my young page know to keep waiting—I’ll head back shortly.”
Ruan Hongjiao steadied herself with his help, then asked with a trembling voice, “Young Master, do you have any enemies in the capital?”
Su Yan was taken aback. “Not really. I’ve always gotten along with people… well, I guess I do have political opponents—quite a few, actually.”
Ruan Hongjiao pointed timidly with her fingertip and whispered, “Then, Young Master, look behind you—that fierce-looking man, is he an enemy? Or a political rival?”
Su Yan turned to face Shen Qi and froze. A guilty smile crept onto his face. “Neither. That’s my… brother.”
Only then did Ruan Hongjiao let out a breath of relief. Her fingers stopped trembling. As she drew her hand back, her fingers naturally formed an orchid gesture as she adjusted the phoenix hairpin that was slipping from her bun. “Young Master, you yourself have said it before—clear accounts make good siblings. That applies to blood brothers too. If you owe him money, just pay it back. If you’re short on silver, I can lend it to you for now. Once you receive your salary, just repay me.”
Before Su Yan could respond, Shen Qi cut in coldly, “It’s not money he owes. It’s a debt.”
“What kind of debt?”
“A romantic debt!”
Ruan Hongjiao blinked, then seemed to catch on and asked Su Yan in a whisper, “Is he a colleague? A bodyguard? Or maybe some noble’s relative?”
Even Su Yan, shameless as he was, felt embarrassed. He muttered something about needing to relieve himself and made to flee under that pretense.
“Stop right there!” Shen Qi barked. Then, turning to Ruan Hongjiao, he gave her a cold smile. “He’s really told you everything, hasn’t he? Ruan Hongjiao, let’s make a deal—you stop seeing Su Yan from now on, and I’ll arrange for your brother, who was exiled to the frontier for his crimes, to be released. How about it?”
Ruan Hongjiao recoiled two steps in fright. She stared at Shen Qi’s face as if trying to recall something.
Su Yan frowned. “Qilang, don’t abuse your power. Besides, this isn’t a deal—it’s coercion.”
“I remember now,” Ruan Hongjiao said slowly, her face calming as she took a deep breath. “You’re Lord Shen of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.” She straightened and replied with composure, “If Lord Shen commands me not to see Young Master Su, then as a commoner, I will obey. But whether the Young Master chooses to see me or not—that’s his own decision, not something even Lord Shen can force. As for my good-for-nothing brother, let him continue serving at the border and atone for his sins. Releasing him would only bring harm.”
Her words were neither servile nor overbearing. Not only did Su Yan give her a look of approval, but even Shen Qi couldn’t help but reassess this courtesan. Her clarity of thought and bravery were admirable. The jealousy he’d felt toward her began to fade slightly.
Shen Qi said indifferently, “In that case, just stay away from him. I’ll handle things on his end.”
Ruan Hongjiao glanced between the two, as if coming to some understanding. She covered her mouth with her hand in a delicate gesture and said, “Understood. I’ll keep my distance.”
She gave Su Yan a shallow curtsy. “Farewell, Young Master. Please take care.”
She had only walked a few steps before turning back to Shen Qi. “Lord Shen is not a regular patron of Rouge Alley, and I suppose you won’t be supporting the sisters’ business again in the future. As for those rumors going around Changchun Courtyard—would you like me to help dispel them? After all, they concern your… reputation. It’s not good to let the young male courtesans gossip unchecked.”
Shen Qi said coldly, “Still not leaving? Want to spend a night in prison?”
Ruan Hongjiao had held herself together out of pride and experience, but deep down she was still afraid of his oppressive aura. The threat shook her, and she immediately regretted her parting words. That vague bit of jealousy had made her provoke him—what if she’d really angered him? How would she clean up the mess?
This man was the seated officer of the Northern Surveillance Bureau of the Embroidered Uniform Guard—the infamous “Lifetaking Qilang”!
Ruan Hongjiao walked out of the Lihua Pavilion. The night breeze hit her, and only then did she realize her limbs had gone weak and her forehead was drenched in cold sweat. She leaned against her maid and wiped her brow with a handkerchief, sighing, “Trouble comes from the mouth. I must be more cautious in the future.”
Another maid glanced at the crowd in the street and said, “Miss, look, those customers are still fighting over the pearl flower.”
As she spoke, the tall man surrounded by the crowd walked out effortlessly.
The brothel clients, seeing that he was a tough one, gave up. Most of them, having come for the elusive Little Hong, dispersed disappointedly. A few returned to Lihua Pavilion to continue their revelry.
The man casually slipped the pearl flower into his robe and walked toward the entrance of the brothel.
Under the lantern light, Ruan Hongjiao got a good look. He was outrageously handsome—probably the most striking man she’d ever seen. His black yisan robe bore no fancy embroidery, but the fine material and expert tailoring made it clear this wasn’t something a commoner could afford. She thought to herself: This man radiates elegance and power. What kind of lucky star is Lihua Pavilion under tonight to attract so many distinguished guests?
Though she wasn’t trying to seduce him, her professional instincts kicked in. She adjusted her hair and turned to face him at her most alluring angle—only to see him walk right past her without even a glance, as if she were invisible.
Ruan Hongjiao froze and watched his departing back. Then she grit her teeth and said, “Another one who’s bent!”
“What did you say, miss? What does ‘bent’ mean?” asked her maid curiously.
Ruan Hongjiao repeated something she’d just learned from Su Yan: “He only sleeps with men.”
The maid sighed regretfully, “Not even if we offered ourselves for free?”
Ruan Hongjiao gave her a glare, half angry and half amused. “Let’s go.”
Inside the hall, Su Yan turned to Shen Qi with a grim expression. “Let’s not talk about your past scandals. A single man has needs—I get that. But what’s the meaning of this Changchun Courtyard business? Don’t think I don’t know—that’s the biggest nanfeng brothel in the capital.”
Shen Qi’s face was stiff as he said, “That’s nonsense. Don’t listen to that brothel girl’s babbling.”
“She had no reason to lie and risk offending you—clearly, she slipped up. Very good. What did you say to me back then? You said you weren’t into that kind of thing, but as soon as you saw me, you just… just…” He stammered for a while, unable to bring himself to say it.
Shen Qi finished the sentence for him: “‘I wasn’t into that before, but after seeing you, I was.’”
Su Yan was fuming. “D*mn it, I believed your cr*p! You lying b*stard! May you die a thousand deaths!”
Rather than getting angry, Shen Qi let out a small smile. “Are you mad because I went to Changchun Courtyard, or because you think I slept with you and then went off to sleep with some boy pr*stitute?”
“I’m not mad. Sleep with whoever you want. What’s it to me? Just don’t come bothering me again.” Su Yan forced down the sourness in his heart, keeping his voice indifferent.
Shen Qi chuckled softly, stepped forward, and pulled him into a hug. Whispering into his ear, he said, “Whether you’re jealous and angry or pretending not to care, it all shows you still mind me. Am I right, my dear?”
Su Yan struggled but couldn’t break free. He kicked Shen Qi in the shin. “Let… let go! We’re in public—don’t you care about appearances…”
“This is a brothel. The last things people care about here are propriety and appearances. Just look around—who’s even paying attention to us?”
Su Yan looked around. The place was full of laughing men and women, filled with sensuality and indulgence, with no trace of morality or decorum. Truly, it was a place where red skirts splashed water, mandarin ducks soaked together, clouds rose and rains fell—no one cared about rules or virtue, and no one batted an eye at the intimacy between two men.
No one, that is, except for the man in black at the entrance, who looked distinctly unhappy… Was that Yu Wang?
Startled, Su Yan whispered to Shen Qi, “Yu Wang is here! He’s watching us.”
“Let him watch. Let him come. Who cares?” Shen Qi was too busy savoring the light fragrance on Su Yan’s collar. “As for Changchun Courtyard, I’ll explain everything later…”
Su Yan wasn’t in the mood for explanations. At the sight of Yu Wang, his mind jumped to the emperor’s face, which bore a five- or six-tenths resemblance—and then to the imperial warning, issued with chilling clarity:
“Anyone who dares steal the emperor’s flower will lose his hand.”
“I won’t lay a finger on you—just on the one who touches you.”
Then there were the Four Heavenly Kings who followed the emperor like shadows… Su Yan groaned inwardly. Surely tonight’s brothel events wouldn’t escape the emperor’s notice. He’d only meant to see a bit of fun, something harmless—and now somehow he’d gotten himself tangled up in it.
Panicking, he whispered, “Qilang, Qilang, let go! The Wangye is watching!”
The metaphorical bucket of snow dumped on Shen Qi’s head instantly turned all his heat to icy rage. He clenched his teeth and growled, “What does he want, exactly? The ruler stealing his minister’s wife?”
Su Yan quickly covered his mouth. “Yu Wang’s coming over—don’t let him hear!” As he pushed Shen Qi away, he feigned twisting his ankle and grabbed onto a nearby pillar for support.
Yu Wang approached. His expression remained neutral, not at all like the righteous fury Su Yan had imagined. With a teasing lift of his brow, he said, “You two are really enjoying yourselves—visiting a brothel hand-in-hand. What, friendship between colleagues wasn’t enough? You’re aiming for camaraderie in boots now?”
Seeing the Wangye dressed in plain clothes, Su Yan figured he didn’t want to reveal his identity, so he didn’t bow. With a smirk, he replied, “Just a coincidence. We both came for the fun. What about you—someone of your stature, coming to a place like this? Chasing after excitement too?”
Yu Wang said, “Not chasing fun. Chasing a person.”
Su Yan dropped the smirk. “Who?”
“…Fuyin. Yin Fu.” Yu Wang quickly pieced it together. “So, you all knew something and kept it from me?”
If Su Yan had any guilt toward Yu Wang, it was over this matter. He had long known Yin Fu’s true identity but had stayed silent to avoid alerting the enemy—essentially throwing the prince into danger for the greater good. Later, from Ah Zhui, he’d learned the Wangye had been ambushed with the mind-altering Flying Melody.
Feeling remorse, Su Yan offered a rare gentle tone, “About Fuyin… I’ll explain when there’s time.”
The words sounded familiar—he’d just used them earlier. Shen Qi, now suspicious, looked at his petty “wife” with a face full of silent protest.
Su Yan ignored him and said to Yu Wang, “Right now, the priority is tracking Fuyin, catching whoever’s been meeting with him, and following the trail to the mastermind.”
Yu Wang nodded in agreement but sighed, “Unfortunately, the plan was ruined by a hairpin. We lost the trail.”
Su Yan shook his head. “I think someone’s already followed him.”
“Who?”
“…Miss Hong. That clean courtesan you two were just fighting over.”
“I wasn’t fighting,” Shen Qi and Yu Wang said in unison. They glared at each other, then both asked, “Who is she?”
Su Yan grinned mischievously. “I’m not telling.”
Shen Qi ground his teeth. Yu Wang, pretending to be gracious, said, “If she’s with you, I won’t ask—though Fuyin’s no pushover. I doubt a courtesan can handle him. Where is he? I’ll go.”
Su Yan said, “Still in this Linhua Pavilion. Why don’t we split up to search?”
Shen Qi said, “Splitting up’s fine, but not three ways. I’ll escort you to your carriage—go home. Leave the rest to me.”
Yu Wang said, “Leave it to me.”
Su Yan protested, “Why am I, the person directly involved, being left out?”
Shen Qi and Yu Wang answered in unison, “You can’t fight.”
Su Yan glared at them. “You two are the real comrades-in-boots—ugh! Filthy, the both of you! Either way, I’m not leaving. With all three of us here, how can I stay out of it?”
Shen Qi thought for a moment, then said, “Fine. It’s not like I can’t protect you. Stay close to me.”
Yu Wang reached out to stop him. “In terms of martial arts, Shen Qi’s far below me. It’s safer if Qinghe comes with me.”
Shen Qi sneered, “Let him choose.”
Su Yan immediately stood beside Shen Qi, throwing Yu Wang an apologetic look.
Yu Wang took it with grace and retracted his hand. “Then we’ll split up. How will we notify each other if we find him?”
Shen Qi pulled a special signal firework used by the Embroidered Guards from his robe and tossed it to him.
When Yu Wang saw Shen Qi and Su Yan heading toward the eastern side, he prepared to go west. As he tucked the fireworks into his robe, his fingers touched something hard. He pulled it out and saw—it was the jeweled hairpin he had picked up earlier.
This thing that everyone had been scrambling for… could it be that token from the so-called “Miss Hong”?
After the madam finished apologizing to the disappointed guests and returned to the hall, she saw Yu Wang holding the jeweled pin and immediately looked him up and down carefully. The madam had a sharp eye—she could tell this man in black was either rich or noble. At once, her face lit up with smiles as she stepped forward enthusiastically: “Oh my, so our honored guest is here tonight! Tsk tsk, just look at that bearing—truly a match made in heaven for our Miss Hong!”
“Xiao-jie—Wan Hongxiao—!” she shouted toward the second floor. When there was no sign of the girl, she grew annoyed. “Where the h*ll did that girl go? Don’t tell me she ran off? No way, I need to catch her right away!”
She turned and instructed two of the girls, “You two take good care of our guest—I’ll go fetch Miss Hong myself.” With that, she hurried off.
The two prostitutes moved in from both sides with smiles. Yu Wang frowned and tossed the jeweled pin into their hands. “I’m not interested in women.” With those words, he brushed past them and left.
The madam called for several strongmen to follow and search the premises for Little Hong.
As she passed a side room in the rear courtyard, she suddenly saw the old pimp opening a door and furtively signaling a young, handsome servant to come in.
The madam flew into a rage and rushed over, grabbing the pimp by the ear: “You old turtle! It barely even rains on this old woman’s side of the house, and here you are hiding some pretty boy in secret! You limp worm—who do you think you can please? Still have the face to drag people into your room? Have you no shame?”
The servant kept his head lowered, but a flash of killing intent passed through his eyes.
The pimp, head tilted in pain, begged for mercy while shooting a pleading look at the servant. Seeing the servant remain motionless, his gaze turned threatening.
The servant slowly restrained his murderous intent and stepped back, coldly watching from the side.
After letting out a full barrage of scolding and giving the pimp’s ear a satisfying twist, the madam kicked him into the room. She then barked at the servant: “What are you standing around for? He brought you in here, so now you follow my orders. Go fetch Miss Hong and take her to tonight’s honored guest!”
The servant bowed his head and replied, “I’ve only just arrived. I don’t know who Miss Hong is, nor who her guest might be.”
Just as the madam was about to give a description, she caught sight of Little Hong turning the corner down the corridor. “There you are, daughter! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
Little Hong swept over, skirt billowing, her eyes above the veil sharp and commanding. She fixed her gaze on the servant. “Found him.”
The servant sized her up, his expression showing doubt.
“Found him, found him,” the madam said cheerfully. “Go entertain the guest. Daughter, you have good eyes—just one throw of the jeweled pin and you landed yourself a major patron! Let me tell you, that guest is not only handsome but filthy rich. Just that black jade hairpin on his head—”
Little Hong flicked her finger.
The madam immediately fell silent and collapsed to the floor in a faint.
The pimp screamed in shock and rushed over, lifting the madam’s head onto his knee, trying to wake her.
Several of the madam’s thugs behind her lunged at Little Hong, but before they got close, they were blasted back by a surge of inner energy, scattering like rag dolls.
The servant straightened up, revealing a round, dimpled baby face, though his eyes were sharp and wary like facing a deadly foe: “It’s you… Senior Brother.”
“Little Hong” pulled off the veil, revealing a cold and clear male voice: “So this good-for-nothing pimp who lazes in bed all day is your contact? What secret is hidden in his room? Or rather—where does it lead?”
A crane-bone flute slid from his sleeve. Fuyin, knowing he was no match in swordplay, quickly retreated while lifting the flute to his lips.
