Before even approaching the flower boat, Song Chaoyu heard music drifting down from above.
Flower boats were different from ordinary entertainment establishments; they were mostly filled with musicians and singers.
This was why many scholarly gentlemen frequented flower boats. Flower boats were open all day, unlike entertainment establishments that only became lively at night.
Lin Zhaofeng, the second son of the Lin family, was a regular at the flower boat.
However, the women he sought there were those who would spend the night with him.
Seeing Song Chaoyu walk right up to the entrance of the flower boat without stopping, Xun Lu couldn't help but pull her back. "Miss, what are you doing? With your status, how can you enter a flower boat?"
Song Chaoyu turned back and asked Xun Lu in a low voice, "Do you know any way to prevent Lin Zhaofeng from marrying?"
Xun Lu counted on her fingers to list the ways for Song Chaoyu. "First, a death. But such things are beyond human control. Second, our family or their family disagrees. But from what I see, the Liang family's master doesn't seem to have any such intentions. With the second young lady's marriage about to be settled, if you could also be betrothed to the second young master, it would be a marriage between relatives. You could then help the second young lady after going to the Lin mansion!"
Song Chaoyu frowned. "What else?"
Xun Lu thought for a moment before saying, "Third, before this marriage, something could happen to that young master Lin. If he made a fool of himself or something occurred that caused the Lin family to lose face, and they felt the second young master was not good enough for you, or if our master disagreed with the marriage, it would naturally be called off."
Xun Lu was intelligent and knew Song Chaoyu's thoughts. "But Miss, I just can't understand. Why don't you want to marry the second young master? He might be a bit of a philanderer, but becoming the mistress of the Lin family's second household in the future is much better than your current status as an illegitimate daughter, isn't it?"
Others could call Song Chaoyu an illegitimate daughter, yet even the maid beside her said so.
Song Chaoyu began to understand why her grandmother was angry with her.
She glared at Xun Lu, then stood by the side entrance of the flower boat. "In this case, I can only use this last method. I must know who this Second Young Master Lin meets every day, what he does, and what could make my father firmly decide to cancel this marriage. Only then will I know how to proceed. If I don't come out myself and only listen to you, I fear nothing will be accomplished."
She knew that no matter what Lin Zhaofeng did outside, Xun Lu might not tell her the truth.
As long as his actions did not completely damage the Lin family's reputation, Song Yuan would not care about her life or death.
Xun Lu still did not approve of Song Chaoyu's actions. "Regardless, Miss, what you're doing is too risky!"
Song Chaoyu took a deep breath and stepped through the side door of the flower boat.
Instantly, the scent of cosmetics assailed her.
The inside and outside of the flower boat were two different worlds.
Song Chaoyu and Xun Lu, dressed as maids, were stopped by the doorman. "Whose maids are you? This is no place for women like you!"
Song Chaoyu lowered her head, preventing the doorman from seeing her face clearly. "We are maids from the Lin family, here to deliver something to our Second Young Master. Please let us through!"
She gave Xun Lu a look, and Xun Lu slipped some reward money to the doorman.
The doorman's face quickly broke into a smile. "Oh, you're from the Lin family? Go in. Your Second Young Master is on the second floor! However, he might be busy at the moment. You can leave your things at the door and then leave."
Song Chaoyu nodded repeatedly and then pulled Xun Lu into the flower boat.
It was still early, so there weren't many people in the flower boat.
They walked along the walls in the corners, keeping their heads down to avoid being seen by others.
Fortunately, they smoothly made their way to the second floor, which was even quieter.
"Ah—"
Just as they hesitated, unsure whether to find someone to ask, a woman's scream suddenly came from the room at the end of the second floor!
The scream made Song Chaoyu jump, and she pulled Xun Lu to hide behind a pillar.
However, the women in the flower boat seemed accustomed to such screams.
A woman by the pillar sighed and said to another, "This Second Young Master Lin tormented Miss Hua Hong for half the night yesterday, and he didn't return home this morning. Now he's at it again. Poor Miss Hua Hong, she'll likely have to shed her skin again this time!"
Heaven was helping her; it was so easy to get news about Lin Zhaofeng!
And it was precisely this kind of news. Song Chaoyu slowly moved forward again.
But Xun Lu grabbed her arm, truly terrified. "Miss, let's not go any further! Listen to the screams, they are too frightening! If something really happens, what will we do? Miss, let's go!"
Song Chaoyu's arm was held tightly, and the screams from ahead grew louder. "Young Master, please let me go! Please! I can't take it anymore, I really can't!"
"Hahaha!"
Lin Zhaofeng's arrogant laughter came from the room at the end. "Beg me! I love it when you beg me! I paid for you, where can you escape to? Hahaha, come on! Dance, dance for me!"
"Bang—"
The sound of something being knocked over could be heard from inside.
Then came Lin Zhaofeng's angry roar: "Bitch! It's your honor to be noticed by me! Since you're so ungrateful, let's see how I punish you today!"
After that, the screams from inside became even more intense.
The woman who had spoken earlier sighed again. "I'm afraid Hua Hong will become the next Xiao Yue. Tortured to death by this beast. Who knows if I'll be next?"
She sighed sadly and then turned to enter her own room.
On this vast second floor, only Hua Hong's miserable cries echoed in Song Chaoyu's ears, sending a chill down her spine.
Song Chaoyu was about to move forward again when she suddenly heard footsteps on the stairs.
She quickly pulled Xun Lu to hide aside and saw that it was Lin Mu Yang, the eldest son of the Lin family, hurrying up with a few servants.
He was followed by people from the flower boat, who led Lin Mu Yang towards Lin Zhaofeng's room. "Eldest Young Master, the Second Young Master is in that room!"
Lin Mu Yang had naturally heard Hua Hong's shrill screams. His brow furrowed, he quickened his pace, then personally knocked on the door. "Second Brother, are you in there? Father wants you to come home quickly. Your concubine is ill, and you should go and attend to her!"
Lin family's concubine was ill, and Lin Zhaofeng was still playing in the flower boat, which showed he was a dissolute fellow.
After a long while, the door at the end of the corridor was finally opened.