Zhao Chengxiao was startled again, and lowered his voice to Qiu Yizhi: "I have heard for a long time that you know some people in Tianzun Sect, but I didn't expect it to be true. What's the matter? Could it be that Tianzun Sect has opened a brothel in Luoyang City?"
Qiu Yizi nodded and said, "That's right. The power and depth of the Tianzun Sect are far beyond the imagination of outsiders. Therefore, if I want to rescue my foster father now, I'm afraid I can only rely on them."
"But it was Prince Youyan who sent troops south to Henan to quell the rebellion. It is said that the Tianzun Sect and the prince have an irreconcilable feud. How could they agree to help?" Zhao Chengxiao asked puzzled.
Qiu Yizi waved his hand and said confidently: "It's okay, I have my own way." After that, he strode towards Nuanxiang Pavilion.
When Qiu Yizi arrived at Nuanxiang Pavilion, it was already the evening hour, which should have been the busiest time for this flower street. After the death of the emperor, the capital city of Luoyang issued an order to stop all entertainment activities. The brothels on the street had removed their colorful silks and brocades and closed their doors to customers. Only a dozen people were walking sparsely on the neat and wide street.
When Qiu Yizi saw this, he thought "not good" but then he saw a faint light coming through the window paper from the Nuanxiang Pavilion, so he knew there must be someone in the pavilion. He then calmed down a little and stretched out his palm to knock heavily on the door of the Nuanxiang Pavilion a few times.
There was indeed someone guarding the door. When he heard the knock, he pushed the door open and asked, "Excuse me, sir, what can I do for you?"
Qiu Yizhi had never been asked this question before in the previous few times she had been to a brothel, so she was stunned when she heard it. She rolled her eyes and asked, "Why did you come to your Nuanxiang Pavilion?"
The one who greeted Qiu Yizhi was the tortoise in Nuanxiang Pavilion. He was very alert. He looked around and said, "Now that the emperor has passed away, no one in the capital is sad. We who work in brothels are the same. How can we have the heart to seek pleasure? If this guest is not looking for someone, please go back!"
The hint from this old man was very obvious. Qiu Yizi followed up and said, "I owed a debt of love here a month ago. Now I have enough money, so I just want to pay back the debt to my mother."
The old man heard Qiu Yizhi's words and seemed like a veteran in the romantic world. He also gave Gu Erniang's name, but after all, she was not a familiar face in Nuanxiang Pavilion. He was still unwilling to rest assured and asked, "Young Master said that you are here to pay off a debt, but do you have any proof?"
"Proof? I've only heard that the lender holds the IOU in his hand, but how can the payer hold the proof in his hand?" Qiu Yizi asked back.
"Then I'm sorry. To be honest with you, we are in the flesh trade. We may look lowly, but we are also afraid of the ruthless law. If we are caught by patrolling soldiers or the charity department while doing business privately, we will be charged with disrespect and sent to the market to be stabbed. We will never be able to grow a head again..."
The old man was still chattering on, Qiu Yizi turned around and took out an object from the bag that Zhao Chengxiao had helped him carry, handed it to the old man and said, "Take this and go find Mama Gu. If she still doesn't want to receive the guest after seeing it, I will leave immediately without your further nagging."
The old man took the thing, rubbed it up and down and played with it for a while, and without saying anything more, turned around and went back to Nuanxiang Pavilion, not forgetting to close the door when he left.
In the blink of an eye, the old man pushed the door open again, handed the things back to Qiu Yizi respectfully, and said with an apologetic smile: "Young Master is indeed an honored guest, I can tell at a glance. No, Madam Gu asked me to arrange to serve the guests first. I was blind and did not recognize the great man just now, please do not blame me..."
Qiu Yizi was feeling very confused, and after hearing him talking endlessly, she waved her hand and said, "Okay, stop talking and take me to see Mother Gu." As she spoke, she reached into the bag in Zhao Chengxiao's hand, took out a piece of gold the size of her little finger and handed it to him.
The old man took the gold and immediately shut up. He led Qiu Yizhi and Zhao Chengxiao to the second floor with a smile on his face, opened a door and said, "Young Master, please go in and rest first."
Qiu Yizi entered the room, and Zhao Chengxiao was about to follow him in, but was stopped by the old man, who said, "Sir, you can't go in. We don't have such a rule in Nuanxiang Pavilion. If you want to rest, please go to the next room."
Zhao Chengxiao listened, looked at Qiu Yizi, and asked, "My Lord... Master?"
Qiu Yizi nodded and said, "It's okay. Oh, by the way, leave your luggage behind and go out to gather your brothers. Meet up at Nuanxiang Pavilion immediately. Don't make any mistakes!"
Zhao Chengxiao knew that the situation was critical, so he did not hesitate any longer. He put the bag on the table in the room, turned around and left quickly.
Upon seeing this, the old man apologized with a smile: "Sir, you are considerate of me. Please take a good rest here." After saying that, he walked out.
Qiu Yizi saw that the room was simple and clean, so he calmed down and sat on a chair to rest his eyes. But as soon as he closed his eyes, the door was pushed open again.
Qiu Yizi opened her eyes and saw that the person who pushed the door open was not Gu Erniang, but a purple-dressed woman who was no more than 20 years old. She was holding a pipa in her hand, and she gently closed the door, turned around and stood in front of him, saying, "Sir, what song do you want to hear? Let Jiang Zi play it for you."
After hearing this, Qiu Yizi knew that she was sent by Gu Er Niang, so she asked, "Young lady, was she asked by Mama Gu to serve me?" In her heart, she still admired Gu Er Niang's meticulousness. She knew that she was in a brothel, and it would be a bit strange if there was no prostitute to accompany her, and her identity would be easily discovered.
The woman named Jiang Zi said, "Sir, please don't misunderstand me. I sell my art but not my body..."
Qiu Yizi nodded and said, "That's perfect. But the sound of the pipa is too loud. I'm tired and sleepy, so I can't enjoy it. Miss, you don't have to bother playing it. Just sit here." As he spoke, he took out a small gold bar the same size as the one he had just given to Gui Gong from the bag on the table and threw it to Jiang Zi.
Jiang Zi took the gold bar and her cheeks flushed instantly. She placed the reward and her pipa on the chair, but reached out to open her clothes and took off the veil she was wearing piece by piece.
Qiu Yizi was horrified when he saw this, and quickly turned away and asked, "Miss, what are you doing?"
The woman smiled softly and said, "In this Nuanxiang Pavilion, you and I are alone in a room, what else can we do?"
"Miss, aren't you selling your art but not your body?" Qiu Yizi glanced over and saw that Jiang Zi had taken off all her clothes except for a red bellyband.
Jiang Zi heard this and smiled: "Selling art but not body is just a gimmick to get more money. Sir, you are so generous, let alone my body, I will even sell my soul to you!"
Qiu Yizhi was stunned when she heard this, and said with her face turned away: "Miss, you misunderstood, you misunderstood..."
Jiang Zi still insisted: "Don't be shy, sir. I have served many literati and elegant guests. I guarantee that you will be satisfied!"
Qiu Yizi wanted to refuse, but she heard a woman's voice outside the door: "Is Mr. Qiu in the house? I'm coming in now!"
"Mom Gu, come and save me!" Qiu Yizi recognized the woman's voice and shouted almost for help.
Gu Erniang thought there was something dangerous in the room, so she kicked the door open, only to see her courtesan Jiang Zi standing half naked beside the bed, while Qiu Yizi was huddled in the corner. Gu Erniang was an expert in the brothel, and she saw the whole story at a glance. She smiled and said, "Since the young master doesn't have the taste, Jiang Zi, why don't you leave? The young master's reward will be yours, so why are you standing here like an idiot?"
After hearing what the madam said, Jiang Zi bit her lower lip, said "yes", then reached out and tightly grasped the small gold bar, picked up the pipa and the clothes she had taken off, covered her chest with them, and hurriedly retreated.
When Gu Erniang saw Jiang Zi leave the room, she laughed again and said, "I have seen so many men, but I still can't figure out your temper. That day in the palace, you were still chatting and laughing with the powerful eunuch Wang Zhonghai, but Jiang Zi, such a weak woman, actually scared you like this."
"Oh! I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, Madam Gu!" Qiu Yizi scratched his head.
"Hahahaha!" Gu Erniang said with a smile, "But it's rare to see a young master like you behave like this. No wonder my Saint Daughter..."
"What's wrong with Miss Wen?" Qiu Yizi asked hurriedly.
Gu Er Niang knew that she had let the cat out of the bag, and laughed again, "It's okay, it's just a rumor from me, don't take it to heart!"
Qiu Yizi sighed and said, "I am so distracted right now, how can I have the leisure time to do this?"
After hearing this, Gu Erniang said seriously, "Young Master, you are talking about Prince Youyan, right? The prince got into trouble this morning and was arrested on the street. I have also heard about this. No wonder you are worried."
When this matter was mentioned, Qiu Yizi frowned again and said, "I came here for this matter, and I would like to ask Mother Gu to help me with a few things."
Gu Er Niang smiled and replied, "I am just a brothel owner. How can I be capable? If you can't do it, how can I possibly do it?"
Qiu Yizhi said: "Mother Gu, you are too modest. Didn't you rely on your ability to visit the palace that day? The two things I asked of you, Mother Gu, may be difficult for others, but they are just a piece of cake for you."
"What's the matter?" Gu Er Niang was finally aroused by Qiu Yizi.
"Find two people." Qiu Yizi said, "One is my brother Yuchi Lianghong. Mother Gu is a well-known figure in the martial arts world, so she must be able to find my brother. The other one is even simpler, and that is Miss Wen, the saint of your sect!"
When Gu Erniang heard the names of these two people, she smiled and said, "Young Master, you are flattering me. This hero Yuchi comes and goes without a trace, how can I find him? And the Saint is also a noble person. Even if I meet her, she may not be willing to honor me!"
Qiu Yizhi listened and repeated, "I have already said that this matter is just a piece of cake for Madam Gu. Whether it can be done or not depends on your thoughts. I might as well say it clearly. I want to find these two people to find ways to rescue Prince Youyan from the Ministry of Justice. When the time comes, the court will definitely send troops to attack the Prince of Youyan's Mansion, and the Prince of Youyan will naturally not sit still and wait for death. At that time, the world will be in chaos, and your sect will definitely have an opportunity to take advantage of it. Madam Gu, please consider it carefully."
Qiu Yi's words revealed an undisguised murderous intent, which even made Gu Erniang, a master of hidden weapons and poison, gasp. After a long silence, she said, "This matter is of great importance, and it is not up to me alone to decide. Please be patient and take a rest here. I will discuss it with the Saint Girl and give you a reply later, okay?"
Qiu Yizi was a very smart man. After Gu Erniang only said the beginning of the sentence, he guessed that Wen Lingjiao was still in Luoyang City, so he put his heart at ease a little and said, "Mother Gu, please go and do your work. But I haven't had lunch yet. Is there anything I can eat here?"
Gu Er Niang laughed and said, "It would be a joke if the young master starved to death in our Nuanxiang Pavilion. I will order people to prepare delicious food right away!" After saying that, she turned around and walked out the door.
"Wait a minute!" Qiu Yizi suddenly said in a stern voice, "Mother Gu, I have another question for you. Excuse me, was it the eunuch Wang Zhonghai who was poisoned to death by Mother Gu that day?" (To be continued)