【Under the Great Tomorrow】(55)

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-23

【The Great Ming Dynasty】
Author: hui329
Published: 2017/5/1 First Release
Word Count: 13642
Chapter 55 One Night in Beijing
Ding Shou felt his eyes light up. This woman was dressed in a moon-white jacket and skirt, with beautiful features and a pair of eyes that shimmered like water
, like a jade beauty in a painting, indescribably beautiful.
Wang Chaoru seemed to have forgotten to wave his folding fan, just staring blankly. Liu Henian gently nudged
Han Shouyu with his shoulder and gave him a thumbs up from below the table. Han Shouyu nodded in agreement.
Jiao Huang murmured softly, "Gold and jade fill the hall, the walls shine, the name of Yu Tang Chun is truly well-deserved."
"Su San is unworthy of the young master's praise." Yu Tang Chun bowed three times to everyone.
Zhu Houzhao looked around. "Gentlemen, did this young lady win this round?"
Yang Shen chuckled and praised, "Using poetry to describe herself, every word is a double entendre. I am ashamed to admit my inferiority."
Everyone agreed. Zhu Houzhao didn't care; a bunch of grown men couldn't even beat a woman, so they deserved to
lose the bet. He picked up the jade pendant on the table and said, "In that case, this is the young lady's."
This jade pendant was obtained by Ding Shou from Korea. It was said to be an ancient artifact passed down from when Emperor Wu of Han established the four commanderies.
The jade was flawless, and the engraved dragon pattern was exquisite. Yi Chengjin was a connoisseur; his eyes lit up at the sight of it. He quickly
stepped forward and said, "This servant thanks you on behalf of my daughter, young master." He then reached out to take it.
Zhu Houzhao withdrew his hand and looked only at Yu Tangchun. Yi Chengjin understood and quickly pulled Yu Tangchun closer,
urging, "Daughter, why don't you thank the young master for his generous gift?"
Yu Tangchun glanced at the jade pendant but shook her head slightly, "It's too precious, I dare not accept it."
Yi Chengjin almost spat out a mouthful of blood. If it weren't in front of all the young masters, she would have slapped
her.
"This was a prize from the drinking game, not a gift. It's something the young lady deserves," Ding Shou chimed in
, secretly thinking that she should carry fewer valuables when she goes out in the future. After
some more urging from Yi Chengjin, Yu Tangchun finally put away the jade pendant.
"It's a great honor to meet you today, Miss Xue Tao," Yang Shen said with a smile.
"I am of limited talent and learning, and dare not compare myself to a talented lady like Xue Tao," Yu Tangchun said, a faint sadness in her expression.
Even someone as talented as Xue Tao was just a courtesan.
"Beating the drum to resist the Jin, Liang Hongyu; flowers in bloom, Du Qiuniang; throughout history, there has never been a shortage of extraordinary women in the world of courtesans," Yang Shen
, with his keen perception, noticed Yu Tangchun's melancholy and gently comforted her, "With such talent, why should the Third Miss feel sorry for herself and
be so sad?"
"Brother Yang is right," Ding Shou picked up Zhu Houzhao's dice and said to Yu Tangchun, "Just like
this dice, I am unfortunately tainted, but I have the will to be dignified and not throw it away lightly."
Yu Tangchun's body trembled upon hearing this, and she saw the strange look on Ding Shou's face. "Oh,
I didn't realize that you understood my feelings so well, you are such a considerate person." Yi Chengjin joked.
"Now that the Third Miss has arrived, please take a seat," Jiao Huangzhong said with a smile.
Liu Henian shook his head and said, "Wait a minute, the Third Miss is alone. Who would be suitable for her to sit next to?"
"This..." Jiao Huangzhong was a little embarrassed. He wanted Yu Tangchun to sit next to Ding Shou, but this
banquet was originally set up to welcome Wang Chaoru. He could tell that Wang San was also interested in Su San because he seemed indifferent on the surface but kept stealing glances at her.
He couldn't just cut this great beauty in two and give her to one of them.
Zhu Houzhao found it tedious to see these people arguing over who got closer to the courtesan, so he waved his hand and said, "This young lady
has legs of her own; she can sit wherever she wants. Why should you trouble yourselves?"
Though his words were impolite, they relieved the tension in Jiao Huang's room. "Yes, yes, Brother Zhu is right. Whoever catches the Third
Miss's eye, please make your own choice."
Yu Tangchun's beautiful eyes darted around, and seeing that everyone except the youngest young man was engrossed in drinking and eating, while the
others were staring at her expectantly, she covered her mouth and chuckled, "This humble servant dares not offend our honored guests.
How about I not join the feast, but simply play a tune to entertain them?"
The crowd looked disappointed, but could only agree. Yu Tangchun gracefully sat down, gently stroking the Qin zither on the table
. An ancient piece, "Lotus Emerging from Water," flowed effortlessly from her lips. The melody was simple and elegant, completely out of place with the decadent music of the brothel
. Even Zhu Houzhao stopped drinking and eating, listening intently.
As the piece ended, Yu Tangchun chuckled, "Su San has made a fool of herself."
Only then did everyone snap out of their reverie. Yang Shen, his eyes half-closed, was still savoring the sentiment of the music when he blurted out in praise:
"A new melody graces the ornate banquet, drawing forth the essence of jade flowers. Who would believe that Cui Shisi of Boling, who wished all his life to be a zither player in music?"
"Yongxiu also possessed such quick wit just now, and wouldn't have let the Third Miss win the prize and lose face," Liu Henian
teased.
Yang Shen scoffed, "Miss Su is exceptionally talented. I was completely convinced of my defeat just now, how could I possibly hope
to salvage my reputation with a meager piece?"
The group was about to continue
their banter when they suddenly heard a commotion outside. Yi Chengjin frowned, lifted the curtain, and went out, asking, "Who's making such a racket? Can you afford to offend our distinguished guests?"
A pimp approached, "Madam, an old man from Shanxi insists on seeing Miss Su."
Yi Chengjin glared at him, "Don't you know Miss Su has guests? Tell him to find someone else."
"I told him, but it was no use. He's stubborn," the pimp said aggrievedly.
Just then, someone downstairs shouted, "I want to see Miss Su San! Who wants to sit on this stool
?"
Yi Chengjin looked downstairs and saw a burly man in a gray silk robe shouting incessantly, his face plastered with a smile
. "Sir, calm down, let's talk things over slowly."
The burly man raised his head and said, "I am Fang Zheng, and I've come to the capital to make a living selling horses. I'm asking if you have a
beautiful woman here named Su San. I'm willing to pay a hundred taels of silver for a night of pleasure."
Upon hearing this, the whole building burst into laughter. Fang Zheng didn't know what they were laughing at and looked bewildered.
"Sir, the capital isn't Shanxi. A hundred taels of silver? That's just enough to catch a glimpse of my daughter through the curtain
," Yi Chengjin said lightly, covering her lips with her embroidered handkerchief.
"We women from Datong are well-known for our arrogance. Don't think I'm some country bumpkin, acting all high
and mighty," Fang Zheng retorted angrily.
"Mama Su," Wang Chaoru followed, taking out a silver note and saying to Yi Chengjin, "I was just
served tea by Miss Su San, and I didn't have time to thank her. This is the payment for the tea, a small token of my appreciation."
Yi Chengjin took the silver note and exclaimed, "Three hundred taels! I thank you on behalf of my daughter, young master!" The
patrons and prostitutes throughout the brothel whispered among themselves. Three hundred taels of silver for a cup of tea was astonishing even in the capital's brothels
.
"Young man, are you in cahoots with them?" Fang Zheng asked, suspiciously.
"My ancestral home is Taiyuan, and I am considered a fellow townsman with you, brother. How could I possibly collude with others to deceive you?" Wang Chaoru
said with a smile.
Fang Zheng felt his face burning as he saw everyone pointing and laughing at him. He stamped his foot and quickly left.
When Wang Chaoru returned to his seat, everyone raised their glasses in a toast. Han Shouyu said, "Shunqing's act of throwing gold to scare away the wealthy guest and his laughter to comfort the lady
is quite a story."
Wang Chaoru humbly declined, then smiled at Yu Tangchun and said, "I am but a humble merchant, yet
I dare to be so presumptuous towards such a beautiful lady. I hope I haven't disturbed the Third Miss's refined enjoyment."
Yu Tangchun gave a graceful bow and said, "Thank you, sir." Her expression was indifferent. Even if someone was showing off their wealth to Shi Chong, she
was still just someone to be fought over. What was there to be proud of?
Standing at the table, Wei Bin whispered to Ma Yongcheng, "Wang San just threw away three hundred taels of silver. How can he be so
generous?"
Ma Yongcheng looked at the smug Wang Chaoru and replied with a hint of envy, "Southern Zhili is
a major financial center. His father works in the Ministry of Revenue, so he must be making a lot of money." The
drinking atmosphere picked up again, and the group toasted each other. Before the wine even touched their lips, another commotion
erupted outside. Zhu Houzhao, feeling the effects of the alcohol, slammed his cup down on the table. "Is this ever going to end?"
Feeling the emperor's distress and the ministers' humiliation, Wei Bin and Ma Yongcheng immediately bowed and said: "I'll go out and check."
Yi Chengjin was downstairs trying to persuade a group of people. "Master Cao, how could I dare to lie to you? Xue Limei and Yu
Tangchun really have guests. The gentlemen have chosen them to keep you company."
The leader, a thin man, shouted, "What young masters? The young marquis has chosen them to leave the room. Which
little bastard dares to stop him?
If you keep bastarding, I'll smash your brothel!" The man was cursing when suddenly his vision blurred, a great force surged through him, and his body was involuntarily thrown into the air
, crashing into the thugs he had brought, who immediately fell to the ground.
The man, dizzy from the fall, was helped up. Shaking his head, he saw two servants, one fat and one thin, standing before him
. This was outrageous! How could he, the dignified Master Cao, be beaten by servants? He jumped up and cursed, "Where did
these two reckless brats come from? How dare they hit me, have they got a death wish?!"
Wei Bin and Ma Yongcheng sneered. Wei Bin said coldly, "Watch your mouth. My master is drinking upstairs. If you know what's good for you,
get lost."
Although Wei and Ma's positions weren't as powerful as Liu Jin's, they still held life and death power in the palace. They had only acted subserviently in front of Zhu Houzhao
, but now their domineering aura immediately startled the men.
But this momentary panic made the man surnamed Cao feel greatly humiliated. Who was he to be
intimidated by a mere servant? Pointing at the two men, he cursed, "Bah! Whose brat is wearing open-crotch pants, exposing your two old rabbits?
Ask around in Beijing, who is I, Cao Ding?" He waved his hands forward, "Men, teach them a lesson
!"
The thugs behind him echoed in unison, swarming forward. Cao Ding's vicious words had already made the two men tremble with anger.
Ma Yongcheng sneered, "Unfilial sons." He turned around, grabbed one of the thugs by the shoulder, and slapped him down
. With a "crack," the thug rolled on the ground, clutching his arm and howling.
Wei Bin crossed his arms, dodging the attacks of the surrounding thugs, and in a few steps, he was in front of Cao Ding, his nose almost
touching his face. Startled, Cao Ding immediately threw a punch. Wei Bin's upper body didn't move; instead, he suddenly floated backward
, landing outside the circle, as if he had never moved.
Cao Ding was pondering what the elusive old rabbit was up to when he suddenly felt a
sharp pain in his shinbone. He cried out and knelt on the ground. It turned out that Wei Bin had just kicked and broken both his legs. Wei Bin's movements
were too fast; he had already retreated before he felt the pain.
In the blink of an eye, the menacing crowd clutched their wrists and legs, groaning in pain. It was only because the two men were cautious that no one
was killed.
Those with still some agility helped Cao Ding up. Cao Ding was indeed not one to back down. Despite his broken legs, he was still
defiant: "We'll remember this. If you have the guts, don't leave. Wait for me to come back."
Wei Bin frowned and took a step forward, which frightened Cao Ding so much that he slapped the shoulder of the thug supporting him. "
Run! Run!" The group of men scrambled out of the Yichun Courtyard.
Yi Chengjin hurried forward, his face contorted with grief, and said, "My lords, you've caused a terrible disaster!"
Ma Yongcheng dismissed it, "A few vicious dogs and cunning servants. If it weren't for the fear of disturbing the young master's enjoyment, what difference would it make if we killed them
?"
Yi Chengjin, full of bitterness, said a few more words, and Wei and Ma's expressions immediately changed.
At this moment, the room was filled with the clinking of cups and the fluttering of wine glasses. Yu Tangchun and Xue Limei moved among the guests like butterflies, pouring wine and serving dishes . Their elegant presence
left a lingering fragrance, and even without wine, the atmosphere was intoxicating.
Wei and Ma entered the room, and Zhu Houzhao casually asked, "Is it all settled?"
"Young master, things are a bit troublesome." Ma Yongcheng glanced around at everyone present and said in a low voice.
"The people from the Marquis of Shouning's residence!" Zhu Houzhao's voice suddenly rose.
The atmosphere at the table suddenly turned cold, and the guests looked at each other in astonishment. The Marquis of Shouning was the current emperor's maternal uncle. Even when he was still the emperor's brother-in-law, he
was already domineering and arrogant. Now that Empress Zhang had become the Empress Dowager, he was even more unscrupulous.
"I have family matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first." Liu Henian cupped his hands in farewell. Among them, his uncle held the lowest official rank
. Officials in the Hanlin Academy could usually only speak, but they were also the easiest to deal with if someone really wanted to.
His father, Jiao Huangzhong, was a prime example of this. Han Shouyu looked fearful and stood up, saying, "Gentlemen, my father 　　offended the current
Empress Dowager during the late Emperor's reign by impeaching the Marquis of Shouning and the Marquis of Jianchang for illegal activities. I really dare not bring further trouble to my family. Please forgive me." 　　Yang Shen frowned and said, "Brother Jiao, you are the oldest here. Please come up with a plan. After all, Brother Zhu 　　has brought trouble upon himself because of us." 　　"This..." Jiao Huangzhong was also in a dilemma. His father wanted to maintain good relations with the palace, 　　but he had offended the most powerful and influential person in the palace. What could he do?

"Brother Jiao, you, Shunqing, and Yongxiu should also step aside. We'll handle things here." Ding Shou didn't take it seriously.
What was wrong with having the Emperor as his uncle? The Emperor was sitting right next to him. What was there to be afraid of? Only in turbulent times
can true heroes emerge. If you two shrug your shoulders, it will make the two ladies think that Second Master is unruly.
"Alright." Just as he was waiting for this, Jiao Huangzhong led the two to their feet. Yang Shen reminded him, "
Brother Ding, you should also find a way out."
"Why?" Ding Shou smiled confidently.
"According to the laws of the Ming Dynasty, officials are not allowed to frequent prostitutes."
Damn, he'd forgotten about that. It wasn't that Ding Shou was forgetful; it was just that some laws of the Ming Dynasty were practically
worthless by now. But even if he didn't take it seriously, it was still a violation of the law. Wei Bin and the other man were still trying to persuade Zhu Houzhao.
Zhu Houzhao didn't think there was anything to hide from. Let alone the servants of the Marquis of Shouning's mansion, even if the Marquis of Shouning himself came,
what was there to be afraid of?
"Cousin, if your family finds out you've been to this place, it won't look good. You should avoid it,
" Ding Shou advised.
"Young Master is right. If the Old Madam finds out, she'll be furious, and
we two brothers will be doomed. Please, Young Master, spare us this trouble," Ma Yongcheng pleaded, his face contorted with grief.
"Family? The Old Madam? Hurry, hurry!" Zhu Houzhao, startled, realized who they were talking about
, jumped to his feet, and urged them repeatedly.
Ding Shou said to Yu Tangchun and the other woman, "Ladies, we are very sorry for the trouble we have caused you today . We will
come to apologize another day."
The two women returned the greeting. Yu Tangchun smiled and said, "Don't worry, sir. This kind of jealousy and rivalry is common in this brothel
. We're used to it." Her
words were full of self-deprecation. Ding Shou didn't have time to comfort her at the moment. He clasped his hands in a fist salute and led his men out of the room
. Suddenly, the entire Yichun Courtyard was in an uproar as a large group of people rushed in.
"There are criminals committing violence here. Shuntian Prefecture is apprehending the criminals. Unauthorized personnel are advised to evade."
"The Five Cities Military Command is apprehending villains. Anyone who obstructs them will be considered an accomplice."
The prostitutes cried out, the customers shouted, and the pimps wailed. There were also
sounds of breaking porcelain and falling furniture. Men and women, their clothes disheveled, were chased out of the rooms.
"We can't get out of there," Ding Shou said to Wei Bin and the other eunuch, "You two, we absolutely cannot let the Emperor
's identity be revealed today."
Wei Bin nodded, anxiously rubbing his hands, "Lord Ding is right, but what do we do now?"
"I'll protect the Emperor and retreat from the back first. You two will cover the rear," Ding Shou said without batting an eye.
The bewildered Zhu Houzhao immediately agreed, "That's settled then. You two go and hold them off." He grabbed
Ding Shou and ran towards the backyard.
Leaving the two stunned men behind, Wei Bin
said bitterly, "Old Ma, how come this kid is even more shameless than us?"
The Yichun Courtyard didn't seem very deep, but its layout was clearly well-thought-out, with winding corridors and pink
gauze lanterns everywhere. The atmosphere was there, but finding a way out was difficult. Ding Shou and the other eunuch didn't know the way, and
they wandered around the backyard like headless flies until they bumped into Yi Chengjin, who was pale with fright.
"Mama Su, where's the back door?" Ding Shou grabbed Yi Chengjin and asked.
Yi Chengjin pointed in a direction, looking confused. Zhu Houzhao dashed off in one stride. Ding Shou tried to follow,
but Yi Chengjin grabbed him.
"Young Master, you've caused such a huge disaster today, you can't just leave like this! Have pity on me!
" Yi Chengjin cried out in despair.
"Shh—" Ding Shou, seeing Zhu Houzhao had disappeared, grew anxious and pulled out a silver note from his pocket
. "I'll compensate for today's losses. If it's not enough, come to my residence another day."
Yi Chengjin, seeing it was a five-hundred-tael silver note, beamed with joy. He didn't need that much silver to get rid of those ruffians
. As for that unlucky fellow Cao Ding, who in the capital didn't have a backer? With his master's approval, he could only accept
it. He waved his handkerchief. "This servant thanks you for the reward, Young Master."
With a wave of his hand, Yichengjin's fair and full breasts were exposed to Ding Shou's eyes. She reached out to take the silver note,
but Ding Shou pulled it back. Yichengjin was startled, seeing Ding Shou staring intently at her scarlet bodice, she couldn't
help but smile smugly, puffing out her chest and saying, "What are you looking at, young master?"
Ding Shou chuckled, pulling up her bodice and stuffing the silver note inside, while simultaneously giving her
nipples a firm squeeze, feeling the delicate, soft, and smooth skin.
"Ouch, young master, you're quite strong!" Yichengjin cried out in pain, feigning annoyance.
"I'm even stronger in other places, want to try?" Ding Shou playfully bumped the beautiful woman's full
shoulder. Yichengjin
rolled her eyes at him, "I'd like to, but your companion is probably in a hurry." Oh
right, he'd forgotten about that little devil. Ding Shou turned and darted out, leaving Yichengjin only with her handkerchief covering her lips,
giggling.
"Where is he?" There was only a narrow alleyway leading out of the back gate of Yichun Courtyard. Ding Shou ran all the way to the main street,
but there was no sign of the young emperor. He knew that the brat couldn't possibly outrun him, but where had he gone?
Tears welled in the Second Master's eyes.
He turned back to search, but suddenly saw lights blazing in the depths of the alley. A group of yamen runners and soldiers had already emerged
, and he was sure he'd run into them. Looking around, Ding Shou saw a dozen or so Imperial Guards, chests puffed out and bellies protruding,
walking out of a restaurant.
Second Master rushed forward and shouted, "Who's the leader?"
"Who's making such a racket?" A burly man with a thick beard, his face full of food, sauntered out
. Upon seeing Ding Shou, he laughed, "Isn't this Vice-Prefect Ding? What brings you here?"
Ding Shou, recognizing a familiar face—Zhang Biao, the Deputy Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard—disregarded the fact that this man was from Baili Ben and
immediately said, "The Shuntian Prefecture and the Five Cities Military Command are causing trouble in our brothel. You're coming with me to quell this."
What a big deal! He'd taught these bastards a lesson plenty of times before. Zhang Biao waved his hand, "
Kids, go digest your food."
The group followed Ding Shou into the alley. Not far ahead, they encountered the approaching yamen runners and soldiers. Seeing the Embroidered Uniform Guards in front of them
, they were terrified. The head of the group bowed and said, "The Shuntian Prefecture and the Five Cities Military Command are apprehending thieves
. Please, gentlemen, grant us your assistance."
The Imperial Guards lined up in two rows. Ding Shou stepped forward, looking at the bunch of scoundrels who had caused him so much trouble and expense late at night 　　. 　　His
anger flared, and he pointed across the way: "Give them a good beating 　　... 　　"
****************
... 　　"I don't know yet. I had the Qianqing Palace sealed off, only saying that His Majesty has retired for the night." 　　"That's good, that's good." Even Gu Dayong, whose face was always smiling, couldn't manage a smile now. "Eunuch Zhang 　　, it's not that I'm complaining, but you don't usually have to worry about anything else. I just need to protect His Majesty and prevent 　　those with ulterior motives from getting close. How did you manage to lose him?" 　　Zhang Yong raised his eyelids slightly. "Recently, Grand Secretary Liu Jian and Duke Zhang Mao of Yingguo have been advising His Majesty to stop his sightseeing tours. I 　　also think they have a point, so I added a few words of advice. These past 　　few days, His Majesty hasn't been very willing to let me serve him." "Oh dear, my Eunuch Zhang, just ignore what those people say! We servants 　　are just trying to please His Majesty..." 　　"Alright, enough of that," Liu Jin turned around. "Do you know where the Emperor is?" 　　Zhang Yong shook his head, then added, "But with Wei Bin and the others with him, there shouldn't be any mishaps, it 　　's just..." 　　A young eunuch rushed in, reporting, "Gentlemen, our spies in the palace have sent word that 　　Wang Yue from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs went to Renshou Palace." 　　Gu Dayong's expression changed. "What is Wang Yue doing at the Empress Dowager's place so late at night?" 　　"That old dog has probably already caught wind of it," Qiu Ju said hatefully. 　　Zhang Yong didn't speak, but looked up at Liu Jin. 　　"Someone come here," Liu Jin called out loudly. 　　"What are your orders, Eunuch?" Bai Shaochuan stepped into the corridor. 　　"Where is Shou'er? He's on duty today." Liu Jin was somewhat surprised to see only Bai Shaochuan. 　　Bai Shaochuan hesitated slightly before reporting, "Fourth Chief went out for a stroll this afternoon and hasn't returned yet." Qiu 　　Ju snorted coldly, and seeing Liu Jin's displeased gaze, he lowered his head and remained silent. 　　"All twelve foremen are to be dispatched. Tell Shi Wenyi that the Embroidered Uniform Guard is to conduct a full-scale search of the nine gates, 　　turning the entire capital upside down, until they find the Emperor." 　　"The nine gates are already locked. If we go out to search now, the commotion will be too great and we won't be able to keep it a secret," Gu Dayong 　　warned. 　　"If something happens to the Emperor, do you think you can cover it up?" Liu Jin sneered. "You few come with me into 　　the palace. I want to see what tricks the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs can pull." 　　Shi Wenyi received the order and dared not delay. In an instant, Embroidered Uniform Guards were dispatched everywhere, and the streets were filled with 　　Eastern Depot agents wearing pointed hats and Embroidered Uniform Guards in flying fish robes. 　　Having just escorted Yang Shen home, Jiao Huangzhong, riding in a carriage speeding home, lifted the curtain and glanced inside, 　　asking in confusion, "Such a grand display, could it be some major treason case? How come the Ministry of Personnel hasn't leaked a word?" 　　He didn't respond immediately, then turned to see Wang Chaoru lost in thought. Jiao Huangzhong raised his voice, 　　"Shunqing, what are you thinking about?" 　　"Ah? Brother Jiao," Wang Chaoru snapped out of his reverie and laughed, "I never imagined there were such beauties in the North. I'm completely 　　captivated. Please forgive my folly, brother." 　　Jiao Huangzhong smiled and pointed at Wang Chaoru, saying, "Shunqing, not to criticize you, but your approach is a bit off. 　　Three hundred taels today! Even in the Suzhou and Hangzhou area, that's enough to hire a courtesan. I'm afraid the madam will see you 　　as a sucker and rip you off." 　　"Brother, you're overthinking it. Nanjing, the land of six dynasties, I'm still unharmed," Wang Chaoru said 　　confidently. 　　Jiao Huangzhong shook his head and sighed, "Then you don't know how formidable the Yan concubines of the Northern Kingdom are." 　　"Please enlighten me, Brother Jiao." 　　"Gentlemen and scholars residing in the capital often purchase women from the city to alleviate their loneliness. But every time they buy a concubine, 　　her aunts, sisters, and cousins swarm to seduce her husband. Once bewitched, he spends all his time in bed. If he 　　doesn't exhaust himself, he'll be penniless, and then the women will scatter as he seeks another suitable partner." Jiao Huangzhong spoke with great conviction, nodding 　　his head. 　　"Those men don't know how to cherish themselves; it's their own fault," Wang Chaoru said, unmoved by Jiao Huangzhong's words. 　　Good advice is useless against a damned devil. Since it wasn't his own money being spent, Jiao Huangzhong was too lazy to persuade him further. Out of 　　respect for Wang Chaoli, he added, "That Su San is aloof and arrogant; it won't be so easy to get close to him. 　　" 　　Wang Chaoru closed his folding fan, confident, "I have my own way of advancing." 　　Meanwhile 　　, Zhu Houzhao ran out of the back gate of Yichun Courtyard, jogging along the alley. He saw a troop of soldiers 　　running past at the street corner in the distance. Feeling guilty, he dared not go forward. Seeing a small courtyard nearby with red lanterns hanging and 　　a red skirt swaying behind the door, he rushed inside. 　　Behind the door stood a woman in a red dress, barely past her prime, with bright eyes and white teeth, and a beautiful face. She 　　remained calm despite the sudden intrusion, as if recognizing a familiar face, and said softly, "Young master, you've arrived. Please come in." 　　Zhu Houzhao nodded, glancing back with lingering fear, before entering the house. The interior was small, 　　consisting of two rooms, an inner and an outer one, but both were clean. The main room contained several fruit platters and candied fruits—common snacks. 　　The inner room appeared to be a bedroom, with a half-heated kang (heated brick bed) and a blue cotton quilt. 　　Seeing Zhu Houzhao enter, the woman outside took down the lantern outside the door and gently closed it, 　　unaware that the moment she closed it, the impatient Ding Erye rushed out like a whirlwind. 　　The woman moved gracefully into the room, only to see Zhu Houzhao gulping down 　　cold tea from the teapot. She exclaimed in surprise, "Young master, the tea is cold! Let me get you a hot one." 　　Zhu Houzhao waved his hand, indicating it wasn't necessary. He downed half the tea in one go before catching his breath, then plopped down 　　on a stool, saying, "Thank you, sister." 　　"Young master, you've done me a favor by coming here. There's no need for thanks," the woman said with a smile, sitting down beside Zhu Houzhao. 　　Her breath sweetly fragrant, she asked, "What is your surname, young master?"

"My surname is Zhu, and what about you, sister?" The woman's fragrance made Zhu Houzhao blush and his heart race.
The woman smiled and said, "My surname is Liu."
The two chatted about everyday things. Zhu Houzhao's family background was simple; his father had died and his mother was estranged, leaving him a large
estate. His two uncles were always taking things from his house,
and the head steward bullied him because of his young age, often threatening to resign. After hearing this for a while, the young man began to shed tears.
The woman quickly took out a fragrant handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to Zhu Houzhao to wipe his tears. After wiping his eyes, Zhu Houzhao yawned
. He had drunk quite a bit of Dongyang wine earlier, and now the alcohol was making him drowsy
. "Sister, I'm sleepy."
The woman smiled, took his hand, and led him into the inner room. She helped him take off his clothes. Zhu Houzhao was used to being served in the palace
, and in his dazed state, he didn't pay attention. He got naked, put on the kang (heated brick bed), wrapped himself in the quilt, and lay down.
After the woman hung his clothes on the bamboo incense burner, seeing that he had already fallen into a deep sleep, she smiled
, removed her jacket and skirt, revealing only a large red bodice that accentuated her round, snowy buttocks and the dark hair between her legs
.
She lifted the quilt, lay down next to Zhu Houzhao, and stroked his delicate yet somewhat childlike face
, laughing, "What a handsome young master." Her lips rained
kisses on Zhu Houzhao's forehead, the corners of his eyes, and his lips.
Zhu Houzhao, half-asleep, felt himself against a soft, fragrant body. He slowly opened his eyes
, and was greeted by a face radiant with spring.
"Sister, you…"
"Don't speak, sister will make you feel good," the woman whispered, gently biting Zhu Houzhao's earlobe.
A delicate hand gently caressed Zhu Houzhao's firm chest, slowly moving down his abdomen. Suddenly, Zhu Houzhao felt
a warm, smooth hand grasp his penis under the quilt, causing him to tense up.
The woman's hand moved with the agility of a fish, teasing and exploring his abdomen, inner thighs, and groin
. In a few moments, his penis became erect.
Perhaps due to the good nutrition in the palace, Zhu Houzhao's penis was much larger than that of his peers, causing the woman to show surprise . She
then giggled seductively, her thumb and forefinger forming a ring as she quickened her movements, her smooth, white thighs rubbing
against the young emperor's legs.
Zhu Houzhao felt waves of pleasurable tingling and the urge to urinate growing stronger. "Sister...sister, I need...to...
pee." Before he could finish speaking, his body stiffened, and a stream of heat flowed from his penis, spraying onto the quilt.
"Sister, I...I didn't...I didn't mean to...I'll make it up to you." The little emperor's tears were streaming down his face.
Sleeping in someone else's bed and even wetting the bed, how embarrassing!
The woman, who had just wiped her hands clean, was first taken aback, then giggled, scratching Zhu Houzhao's cheek with her index finger and saying, "That
's not urine."
Zhu Houzhao asked awkwardly, "Then what is it?"
The woman adjusted her position, holding Zhu Houzhao's head, her jade hand reaching down again to grasp his penis, gently
kneading it, and slowly saying, "This thing a man has is called a yang root. Besides being used for urination, it can also make women happy
."
Zhu Houzhao rested his head on her ample breasts, smelling the faint scent of milk, feeling the continuous pleasure coming from his lower body, feeling indescribably
comfortable. "Then do you have this yang root, sister?"
With a giggle, the woman led Zhu Houzhao's hand to her genitals. "This part of a woman's body is called a vulva, also
known as a jade gate."
Zhu Houzhao didn't feel the familiar penis among the fuzzy hair, only two thick labia,
with a wet slit in the middle. Curious, he inserted his finger inside.
"This is a man's paradise, ouch, don't poke around, that's where I pee!" The woman
cried out in pain, her two plump thighs clamping down on Zhu Houzhao's probing hands.
After the woman's teasing, Zhu Houzhao's penis swelled and stood erect again, and he exclaimed in delight, "Sister, this
thing of mine is like Sun Wukong's golden cudgel, it can grow big and small."
The woman quickly stroked his penis a few times, and said with a coquettish hum, "No matter how great your abilities are, you can't escape the Buddha's palm.
"
"Sister isn't the Buddha, she's Guanyin Bodhisattva," Zhu Houzhao said with a silly smile.
The jade hand tapped the eager one-eyed dragon, "Then this Venerable One will sacrifice herself to save you, little monk.
"
"How will you save me?"
"Men are heaven, women are earth, men are yang, women are yin. If you want heaven and earth to be in harmony, yin and yang to be in fusion, how do you say you
will save me?" The jade-like finger tapped Zhu Houzhao's forehead and asked in return.
Zhu Houzhao immediately understood. He flipped over, pinning the woman beneath him, and thrust his long spear into her.
"Ouch!" "Ouch!" they both cried out in pain. How could he possibly hit the right spot with such recklessness?
Zhu Houzhao was burning with desire, and he thrust again without regard for anything else, but still failed to penetrate. The impact caused the woman's
brows to furrow slightly, and her mons pubis to ache.
"Sister, what should we do?" Zhu Houzhao asked anxiously, panting heavily.
"Lie down, I'll help you." The woman pushed Zhu Houzhao down, straightened her body, and slowly straddled him
, her legs spread apart. Between her round, plump buttocks, a patch of dark pubic hair was visible. Her private parts
were already overflowing with lustful fluid. She slowly lowered her waist, swallowing his throbbing penis completely into her vagina.
Zhu Houzhao felt as if his manhood was enveloped in a warm, slippery sheath, as if countless tiny hands were
constantly massaging him. The unprecedented pleasure made him cry out, "So comfortable, sister, I'm so happy
!"
"Ah...so good...sister is...um...happy too." The woman's two round, jade-like buttocks
swayed rapidly like a wave drum, her breath coming in short, heavy moans.
She could control the depth of her movements, but it was exhausting. After a while,
the speed of her buttocks swaying and lifting slowly decreased. "Sister is tired, how about you be on top?"
"Okay." Zhu Houzhao hugged the woman, rolled over, and pressed her beneath him, staring intently at her jade-like face. Their genitals were pressed tightly
together, yet they remained motionless.
The woman closed her eyes but didn't receive the expected storm of passion. Opening her eyes, she saw the boy staring at her with wide eyes.
She slapped his buttocks in embarrassment and anger, "Are you dead? Move something!"
"How do I move?" Zhu Houzhao asked innocently.
"Lift your butt up, slam it down hard, hiss—, yes… like that… harder… ah…"
"..." Under the woman's guidance, Zhu Houzhao thrust forward fiercely, the woman arching her hips to meet him, the sounds of their skin colliding growing louder and louder
, her moans growing louder as well.
"Ah...you little devil, um...so good...so powerful." Her fragrant tongue lightly licked her lips, the woman's legs
tightly crossed around Zhu Houzhao's lower back, drawing him deeper into her.
Zhu Houzhao felt the pleasure surging from his groin to his entire body growing stronger and stronger, "Sister...I'm going to pee again...
"
"Hold on...just hold on a little longer, come...touch sister's...breasts." The woman ripped off
the last piece of cloth covering her body, revealing a pair of round and large breasts, and cried out in a wanton voice.
Obeying her words, Zhu Houzhao felt the smooth, soft touch, intertwined with the warm, tight embrace between his groin.
"I can't take it anymore, sister, I need to pee... I can't hold it in."
"Pee, pee into... sister... flower heart, we... together... ah..." The woman
's alluring face flushed pink as she tightly embraced Zhu Houzhao, feeling the waves of heat from his body spraying
deep into her vagina.
Zhu Houzhao buried his head in her high, firm breasts, the fine sweat on his forehead mingling with the sweat on his white, smooth chest
.
The two were intimately intertwined, inseparable, completely unaware of the chaotic fight taking place not far away.
**********
Dozens of yamen runners and soldiers were whipped across the ground by a dozen Imperial Guards wielding embroidered spring-blade sheaths, scrambling and crawling
back towards the back gate of Yichun Courtyard.
Two richly dressed youths, surrounded by several thuggish servants, emerged from the back door. Upon seeing the scene, they flew into a rage.
The older youth grabbed a flag officer by the collar and yelled, "Dozens of you couldn't beat a dozen
? Are you all useless?"
The flag officer stammered, "Young Marquis, please calm down, they..." He swallowed hard, then added, "They're
all Imperial Guards." "
So what if they're Imperial Guards? Fight them back! I'll take responsibility if anyone dies!" This youth was Zhang Zongyue, son of Marquis Shouning
, Zhang Heling. Tonight, he had invited some friends to drink and carouse, but they hadn't brought any prostitutes
. His own men had their legs broken. Even when beating a dog, you have to consider its owner! This was disrespecting the Zhang family
! He had brought the military police to apprehend the culprit, but they managed to corner them, only for the perpetrator to escape. How
could the young marquis not be furious?
The boy beside him was Zhang Zongjian, son of Marquis Jianchang, Zhang Yanling. Being young and somewhat timid, he advised
, "Brother, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is the Emperor's personal army.
If someone dies, it'll be hard to explain." "What's there to be afraid of? The current Emperor is our cousin. What's wrong with my young master killing a few servants?" Zhang Zongjian
said, glaring fiercely at the captain. "As for the Five Cities Garrison, they can't catch criminals, and they're no match for humans in a fight
. Bah, they're not even worth keeping."
The captain's face flushed, and he shouted, "Brothers, the young Marquis has spoken! Fight back!"
"
The Five Cities Garrison is a sixth-rank government office, not a high-ranking official but with considerable power. It was in charge of security within and outside the capital, fire prevention
, and the dredging of ditches and streets—essentially a combined urban management, public security, and fire department. In its early days, it
was dedicated to public service, responding to any call for help from neighbors, big or small
, without charging a penny. But now it's practically a bandit gang, constantly extorting protection money from the Imperial Guards on the streets, harboring
a deep resentment. But the Imperial Guards' status as the emperor's personal troops meant they dared not speak out. Now that someone's backing them up, old and new
grudges are finally being unleashed—let's beat them up!"
These Imperial Guards, having just finished stretching their muscles and preparing to return to report to their superiors, suddenly heard a loud shout, and the
yamen runners and soldiers returned—the sun had truly risen in the west.
The first Imperial Guard spat twice on his fist, not satisfied with the beating, and then, in a fit of pique, delivered
a powerful punch to a constable coming from the opposite direction.
Unexpectedly, the constable didn't even flinch, letting the punch land on his face, instead grabbing the Imperial Guard around
the waist and forcefully twisting him to the ground. Before the Imperial Guard could even understand what had happened, another soldier pulled out
a brick from somewhere and smashed it down on his head, knocking the unfortunate man unconscious.
These Imperial Guards were supposed to be skilled in small-scale grappling, making them ideal for group combat in this alley. However,
the usually cowardly Five Cities Garrison and Shuntian Prefecture suddenly became "manly," their sudden "hardness" quite unsettling
. Before they could react, they were overwhelmed by the crowd, left only to be beaten.
"Useless," Zhang Biao cursed fiercely. "
Keep going," Ding Shou ordered from the side.
"Yes, sir, don't worry, I'll go get more men to take care of them." Zhang Biao clasped his hands in a salute, turned, and
ran off.
"Did I not explain myself clearly?" Ding Shou wondered, watching Zhang Biao disappear into the distance.
He then looked up at a group of red-eyed yamen runners and soldiers rushing towards him, sneered, and went straight to meet them…
************
The woman gently patted Zhu Houzhao, who was resting his head on her chest, and handed him a red paper package.
"What's this?" Zhu Houzhao opened the red paper; inside was a Yongle Tongbao coin.
"You're still a virgin, according to custom you should be given a proper wedding," the woman said, a hint of sorrow in her eyes
. "But business has been bad lately, so I'm afraid I'll have to make do with this."
Zhu Houzhao didn't understand why she wanted to give him a proper wedding, but he could tell the woman was short of money. He jumped off the bed naked, grabbed
his clothes, and pulled out a few ingots of silver that hadn't been given away in the brothel. There were only a few dozen taels left. He said apologetically
, "Sister, this is all I have. I'll bring you some more later."
"Too much, too much!" the woman exclaimed. Seeing Zhu Houzhao standing naked on the floor, she quickly threw back the covers
. "The floor is cold, come on up."
Zhu Houzhao smiled and prepared to get on the bed. Suddenly, he heard a knock at the door. Someone pushed the door open and
shouted, "It's home! I'm back!"
"Who is it?" Zhu Houzhao asked, surprised.
"My man," the woman said with a soft laugh.
"You have a husband?" Zhu Houzhao was terrified. Even if he was ignorant of worldly affairs, he knew that under the Ming Dynasty law, those caught committing adultery
could be executed without breaking the law. Besides, this man's mind was full of the story of Wu Song fighting and killing Ximen Qing in "Water Margin".
Qing, recalling the scene where Shi Xiu cleverly kills Pei Ruhai, scrambled to his feet and frantically tried to put on his clothes.
"What are you panicking about?" the woman asked, surprised, but still helping him dress.
How could he not panic? He was the adulterer, she was the adulteress; if they were caught in bed
together, he, the emperor, would be infamous for eternity. Ignoring his proper attire, Zhu Houzhao opened the window and leaped out. The seven-foot-high wall
was no challenge for this man, who had practiced martial arts since childhood. He jumped, grabbed the top of the wall, and flipped down.
A pale-faced man entered the room shortly after, and seeing his wife standing naked on the floor, asked in surprise,
"What are you doing?"
"I just saw off a guest," the woman replied with a strange expression.
"A guest?" the man turned to look. "I didn't see him."
"He left this way to avoid being caught in the act," the woman pointed to the window.
"Catching someone in the act?" The man chuckled. "Does he not know what you do for a living?"
"I doubt he does," the woman shook her head. "This is the money he gave me."
"So much!" The man's eyes lit up.
"Why are you back so late?" the woman asked as she slowly dressed.
"Don't even mention it. The Imperial Guards were setting up checkpoints everywhere, I don't know what serious incident happened," the man took a sip of water
and continued, "The Imperial Guards and the Shuntian Prefecture's military garrison were fighting like mad in this alley, people were lying all over it
. I only managed to run back when I had a chance."
"So chaotic?" the woman asked incredulously as she took out the food and placed it on the table.
The man nodded, patted the silver Zhu Houzhao had left behind, and said, "I thought it would be easy to make a living in the capital, but it's
not easy at all. Now that we have some travel money, let's go back to Datong 　　. 　　We know the way there well. We can play the zither and sing for money; it's better than this prostitution." The woman thought for a moment and nodded. Although 　　the 　　young
man 　　said 　　he would 　　return another day, who knew if that was just an excuse, or perhaps he was just a passerby . 　　********** ... 　　Covering his burning cheek, Zhang Zong said in disbelief, pointing at Ding Shou, "You...you dare...hit me 　　." 　　*Slap!* Another slap followed. The Emperor was gone, and he didn't even know if he could save his own life, all because 　　of this 　　little bastard. Ding Shou had made up his mind that unless 　　the Emperor descended from the heavens, he would beat this brat to death. 　　Rolling up his sleeves, Ding Shou prepared to unleash his power, but just as he was about to strike with both hands, he suddenly heard two sounds behind him: 　　"Thump!" and "Ouch!" He turned around, 　　his eyes widening in surprise… 　　********** 　　... 　　Bai Shaochuan glanced at him and said calmly, "The people in the capital are complex and deeply entrenched 　　. It's easier to handle things with the Embroidered Uniform Guard's identity." 　　"But the area outside the city is too vast, and the Eastern Depot doesn't have enough manpower," Ji Quan complained. 　　"Two people per group, disperse and separate. Use fireworks to communicate if needed." After giving the order, Bai Shaochuan disappeared 　　into the darkness. 　　In a dense forest, two beggars carrying a pile of firewood walked quickly. 　　One said, "Hurry up! We finally caught someone. If we're late, we won't even get a sip of soup 　　." 　　The other replied, "I know. If only Chief Qian had come sooner, we would be living 　　such a comfortable life." 　　As they walked and talked, they didn't notice Bai Shaochuan's sword-like eyebrows furrowing slightly above them, his hand resting on a tree branch. 　　In a dilapidated mountain god temple, several bonfires burned, and a hundred or so beggars gathered, howling and screaming. 　　Several more layers of beggars surrounded the weeds in the center, and through the gaps, glimpses of 　　pale, incongruous skin could be seen. 　　On the pedestal where the mountain god was originally enshrined, a dark-faced beggar sat with his head tilted, watching the shouting 　　beggars with a smug look on his face. 　　A beggar beside him slammed his bamboo cane on the ground, "Quiet down, let Brother Qian get the first prize." 　　The beggars split into two groups, revealing a naked girl bound in a spread-eagle position in the center. The girl struggled desperately, her 　　long, disheveled hair falling across her face, her mouth gagged with a dirty rag whose original color was unrecognizable, making muffled "ooh 　　" sounds. 　　Her once snow-white skin was now covered in mud and grime, her small breasts bearing bruises from pinching. Her two long, slender 　　legs kicked vigorously, outlining incredibly alluring muscle lines. The surrounding beggars stared, their mouths dry 　　, some with weak willpower already pulling out their foul-smelling penises to masturbate. 　　The dark-faced beggar slowly approached, grinning smugly, "Little girl, if you know what's good for you, you'll be kept here 　　to serve us men. Otherwise, we'll send you to a brothel after we're done." 　　The beggar behind him warned, "Brother Qian, this woman knows martial arts; she might be 　　restless in a brothel." 　　"Then we'll do it the way we did in western Zhejiang: gouge out her eyes, sever her tendons, and throw her out on the street to beg. This pitiful 　　look will surely earn us a lot of money," the dark-faced beggar sneered. 　　"That's great, perfect timing! I can keep the brothers entertained tonight." A skinny beggar leered 　　, then lunged forward, grabbed a delicate, white foot, and rubbed his penis against it 　　, panting, "Brother Qian, hurry up, I can't hold it in any longer!" 　　The beggars laughed, and suddenly a younger beggar cried out as a stream of white liquid 　　spurted from his genitals, arcing across the girl's still-writhing, flat stomach. 　　"Little one, you've missed out, you're out of luck tonight," the beggars mocked. 　　The younger beggar spat and walked towards the temple entrance. Just as he reached it, the temple door was suddenly flung open, and the younger beggar 　　was thrown back and knocked unconscious.

The beggars were shocked to see a tall, elegant young man in white standing before the temple gate, fanning himself with a folding fan.
Bai Shaochuan's cold eyes swept across the temple; the woman whose face he couldn't see was clearly not the
one he was looking for. Slightly disappointed, he turned to leave.
One beggar lewdly chuckled, "What a handsome young man! If he were sold to a brothel, he could become a top star
."
Another echoed, "That's right! Look at that face, that figure, and that skin—
more alluring than this woman on the ground! Chief Qian, this woman is yours tonight. I'm sleeping with this 'rabbit'!"
"Me too!" "Me too!" In an instant, more than half of the men seemed to have changed their sexual orientation.
The Qian branch leader didn't say much. The young man's skill upon entering showed
he was a formidable opponent, and he didn't want to needlessly make more enemies. However, if this man left and their actions today were leaked, Tu Dayong, that old devil,
would never forgive him. While he hesitated, he saw the young man suddenly stop, turn around, and smile. He had
never imagined a man could smile so charmingly, and was momentarily stunned. He quickly composed himself, "Qian
Guangjin, branch leader of the Beggars' Sect's Daxin branch, may I ask your name?"
Bai Shaochuan returned the greeting with a flourish, a slight smile playing on his lips, "Bai Shaochuan, the Third Head of the Eastern Depot, took your lives, please
forgive me..."

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