The situation behind the beaded curtain was nothing like what Xu Hengyi, Yue Lin, and the other two had imagined.
Xie Jiang had merely chatted with Lan Meng for a while.
Oh.
He had playfully pinched her once, only to be slapped by Lan Meng.
Chunse Manyuan, a place that welcomed and sent off all sorts, was the most well-informed about various news. Lan Meng always kept Xie Jiang updated on certain matters.
Chunse Manyuan was also one of Xie Jiang's many informants in the capital.
However, Lan Meng did not start managing Chunse Manyuan to help Xie Jiang gather information.
It just happened to serve that purpose.
Managing Chunse Manyuan was purely Lan Meng's personal hobby.
This hobby was rather unconventional, but Lan Meng was happy about it, which almost made Chen Shunhua slit her own throat out of anger.
But in the end, she didn't.
Because it would have been in vain.
At most, Lan Meng would have sighed at his grave, and then quickly thrown herself into the arms of another man.
Chen Shunhua had even sought Xie Jiang's help to persuade Lan Meng to change her mind, but Xie Jiang ended up becoming a major shareholder of Chunse Manyuan.
Chen Shunhua: "..."
What was Xie Jiang supposed to persuade her about?
Did it matter to her if Chen Shunhua's head was green?
Why should Lan Meng change her mind? Lan Meng was not a child who needed others to decide her life for her.
A moment later, the manager led people to bring in a new set of wine and dishes.
He also thoughtfully asked if Yue Lin and the other two needed company.
Yue Lin and the other three all turned their gaze to Xie Jiang.
Although they had come, they dared not be too presumptuous.
Their mission was to make Xie Jiang so delighted that he wouldn't want to leave.
Xie Jiang raised an eyebrow at the four and kindly suggested, "After eating and drinking your fill, it's a good time to think about... you know?"
Lu Yuqing was somewhat eager, but feared having his legs broken upon returning.
Xu Hengyi felt that watching singing and dancing was enough, and he had to suppress his inner desires.
Xu Shuo coughed lightly and said, "You don't need to mind us. Just entertain the Marquis of Nanhai well."
Upon hearing this, the manager waited for Xie Jiang's instructions.
However, before Xie Jiang could speak, the door to the private room was knocked.
A young maid, about twelve or thirteen years old, walked in. She didn't even glance at Yue Lin and the other three. She walked up to Xie Jiang, her little face set in a stern expression, "I've come to deliver a message from my two sisters."
"Who has upset your sisters?" Xie Jiang couldn't recall who this little girl was at first. Hearing her mention her two sisters, he knew she was referring to the sisters Hua Fu and Hua Jin.
The little girl's mouth was pouted so much that it could hang a lantern. It was clear she had encountered something unpleasant.
"Young Master, you promised that both sisters are under your protection. You can't go back on your word!"
Yue Lin, Lu Yuqing, and Xu Shuo exchanged a look simultaneously. The Marquis of Nanhai was indeed a frequent visitor here.
Judging by the way this little girl spoke to the Marquis of Nanhai, if she wasn't on very close terms with his two sisters, would she dare to be so presumptuous in front of the Marquis of Nanhai?
And it was two sisters at once.
Lu Yuqing looked at Xie Jiang with nothing but envy.
Xu Hengyi, who was engrossed in his second meal, let out a sound. He suddenly remembered the stunning dance he had seen by the twin sisters. He had known for a long time that Xie Jiang had a thing with the twin sisters!
Xie Jiang smiled and said, "Of course, I keep my word."
The little girl said aggrievedly, "It's good that Young Master keeps his word and hasn't forgotten about the two sisters. Lately, there have been more and more suitors flocking to the two sisters. Others were either sent away by the two sisters or helped by Sister Lan Meng. But Prince Yong'an, with a group of royal clansmen, is using his influence to bully them. Tonight, emboldened by alcohol, he insists that the two sisters, insists that the two sisters..."
"The two sisters said that since Young Master is here tonight, will you still look after them?"
Xu Hengyi immediately stopped eating, his mouth smeared with red oil. "Prince Yong'an has eaten the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard! Is he here to court death, daring to snatch women from Xie Jiang!"
Prince Yong'an was the Emperor's nephew.
However, in Xu Hengyi's eyes, let alone a prince, even a prince or a prince of the first rank, Xie Jiang would still dare to crush them.
The Third Prince was the Emperor's own son, wasn't he also bullied by Xie Jiang?
Although Xu Hengyi hadn't had the chance to confirm the truth of the rumors with Xie Jiang, he believed they were mostly true.
Xu Shuo's eyelids suddenly twitched, and a bad premonition arose in his heart.
The storm caused by Xie Jiang and Hao Wei over a courtesan had not truly subsided yet. He really hoped nothing else would stir up trouble tonight!
Lu Yuqing leaned over to Xu Hengyi and whispered, "Are they talking about the twin sisters Hua Fu and Hua Jin?"
Although it was Lu Yuqing's first time at Chunse Manyuan today, how could he not have heard of the twin sisters?
Xu Hengyi nodded. "It's them."
Lu Yuqing sighed, "The Marquis of Nanhai's good fortune is truly enviable."
Not only had he gained the favor of Lan Meng, but even the twin sisters, who could only be admired from afar, were firmly in his grasp!
Lu Yuqing asked the little girl, "Does Prince Yong'an know that your two sisters belong to the Marquis of Nanhai?"
The little girl nodded. "Prince Yong'an knows, but he doesn't take Young Master Xie seriously at all. He even spoke disrespectfully."
Xie Jiang looked at Lu Yuqing and the others. "Do you all recognize that Prince Yong'an? Is he perhaps very ugly?"
Xu Hengyi was surprised. "How did you know he's... he's not very handsome?"
What did Xie Jiang not know? As long as he was somewhat presentable, the twin sisters wouldn't have persisted in refusing.
Since the twin sisters had joined Chunse Manyuan, they hadn't intended to sell their skills but not their bodies.
However, given their status, wasn't it natural for them to have some demands?
Who could bring themselves to touch someone who was fat and had a rat-like face? Even if the other party was royalty, it wouldn't work. The twin sisters didn't plan to be concubines to some stinky man; it was just a consensual romantic affair.
If it were someone elegant and charming, the twin sisters would be overjoyed.
The little girl urged impatiently, "Prince Yong'an is currently leading a group of people, blocking the entrance to the two sisters' courtyard, and they might barge in at any moment."
It was common knowledge in the capital that Lan Meng and Chunse Manyuan were backed by the Cui Shan Sect, so generally, no one dared to cause trouble at Chunse Manyuan.
What was the point of visiting a brothel if not for mutual consent and physical pleasure? Why visit a brothel if you liked forced sales? But there were always some people whose brains were filled with water and came out to wander.
Xie Jiang stood up and said, "I'll go have a chat with Prince Yong'an."
Although these words carried no hint of anger, they somehow made one's heart pound with apprehension.
"Marquis Xie, please calm down. Perhaps there's some misunderstanding..." Xu Shuo quickly stood up to advise.
Yue Lin also stood up, intending to follow and see. If a conflict arose, they could at least try to mediate.
Xie Jiang said, "Whether it's a misunderstanding or not, we'll know if we ask face to face. You don't need to be so nervous. I won't do anything. After all, he's a prince, I have to consider that, don't I?"
"I'll be back soon, or perhaps not. Make yourselves at home, find some entertainment."
Xie Jiang waved goodbye to them潇洒ly and left.
Yue Lin and Xu Shuo exchanged a look. "Shouldn't we go and see? Won't it cause trouble again?"
Lu Yuqing said, "The Marquis of Nanhai said he might not be back. It's clear he's going to rescue the beauties. If we follow, wouldn't that be inappropriate?"
To ruin someone's good deed is to invite divine retribution.