“Miss, it’s bad, it’s bad…”
Li Yaoqin, still fast asleep, heard the sound and her eyes shot open. She saw Lian Xin looking flustered and rubbed her temples, asking, "What happened to make you so rushed?"
Lian Xin, out of breath, finally managed to say, "Outside... outside everyone is spreading rumors about Miss... about Miss..."
Li Yaoqin’s expression turned slightly cold, "What are they saying about me?"
Lian Xin gulped hard, "They say... they say you are in love with Emperor Yun, and furthermore, you vow to remain unmarried for Emperor Yun..."
Upon hearing this, Li Yaoqin's expression softened considerably. "Isn't that the truth? What is there to be afraid of?"
"They... they also say you attempted to seduce Emperor Yun and failed, and were then banished from the palace by Emperor Yun..."
Li Yaoqin's face immediately soured. She stared coldly at Lian Xin and asked, "Where did this come from?"
"From... from Feng Yue Lou. They also say..."
"Say what?" Li Yaoqin looked visibly distressed.
Lian Xin secretly glanced at the displeased Li Yaoqin, contemplating whether to speak.
Li Yaoqin was growing angry, "Speak..."
"What they're saying is very unpleasant..."
Li Yaoqin narrowed her eyes and stood up, "Let's go to Feng Yue Lou."
Feng Yue Lou was the largest brothel in the capital, and even during the day, it wasn't short of visitors.
"Oh, two handsome young masters, please come in quickly." Two courtesans, spotting the two unfamiliar young gentlemen entering, quickly pulled them inside.
"Oh, Lotus Blossom sister, where did you drag these two young masters from?" Ming Yue leaned in, "Is this your first time here, young masters? Tell Big Sister what you like, and Big Sister will prepare it for you."
"My... my young master is just here to look around."
"Alright, alright, young master, please come further inside."
After escorting them in, Lotus Blossom leaned closer and whispered, "Sister Ming Yue, are these two ladies?"
Ming Yue smiled, "What are you afraid of? They are merely sheltered daughters of wealthy families who haven't experienced hardship. Serve them well, and such young ladies are very generous with their money."
Lotus Blossom nodded, "Yes, Sister Ming Yue."
"Miss, should we... should we leave first!" Lian Xin, looking at the indecent scenes everywhere, shrank her neck and couldn't help but say.
"If you're scared, you can go back first," Li Yaoqin replied.
How could Lian Xin dare to abandon her young miss? Moreover, this was a brothel. If she left and her young miss suffered any harm, she would truly be unable to bear the consequences.
"Young master, this is the new wine from Feng Yue Lou, why not try some?" Lotus Blossom brought over a pot of wine and poured a cup for Li Yaoqin.
"Leave it here. I'll pour it myself if I want to drink," Li Yaoqin said coldly.
"Oh dear, young master, why are you so formal with Big Sister? No need to be, you'll be familiar soon enough." As she spoke, Lotus Blossom reached out to touch Li Yaoqin's collar.
Li Yaoqin trembled and shoved Lotus Blossom's hand away, "Don't touch me."
Lotus Blossom giggled, "Young master doesn't drink, nor does he let your maid touch him. Why is the young master acting like a woman?"
Li Yaoqin's gaze faltered. She looked at Lotus Blossom and gave Lian Xin a look. Lian Xin quickly took out silver from her waist and threw it onto the table, saying, "My young master dislikes being touched by others. You may withdraw now."
Seeing the silver, Lotus Blossom smiled and stood up, collecting the money. "As the young master says, your maid will leave now and ensure no one else bothers you."
With that, Lotus Blossom retreated.
Li Yaoqin breathed a slight sigh of relief. She was sitting on the second floor, directly overlooking the stage on the first floor.
The stage was no longer featuring a dance. Instead, it had changed, with two women and one man coming onto it.
As soon as they appeared, the man shoved one of the women away and said angrily, "Miss Li, stop bothering me, or I will not be polite."
The woman, pushed by the man, fell to the ground. She asked resentfully, "Why? Why can she, and I cannot?"
The man looked at the woman on the ground with a cold expression. "Because you are not A Ning. In my life, the only person I love is A Ning, and no one else."
The woman sobbed on the ground.
Li Yaoqin on the upper floor trembled all over. The teacup in her hand was gripped tightly, so tightly that even Lian Xin noticed.
"Miss, what's wrong?" Lian Xin asked in a low voice. Li Yaoqin shook her head, "It's nothing."
But only she knew that the words the man had just said to the woman on the ground were exactly what Xue Jing Yun had said to her yesterday.
Those words were deeply etched in her mind.
"Go and call Lotus Blossom over," Li Yaoqin commanded.
Lian Xin nodded and went to find Lotus Blossom.
Li Yaoqin gripped the teacup tightly. She didn't need to think to know it was the Empress. It must have been her.
This was repayment for her previous actions.
Soon, Lotus Blossom arrived. Seeing Li Yaoqin, she smiled charmingly, "What does the young master need from your maid?"
"Can what's being performed downstairs be changed?" Li Yaoqin asked.
Lotus Blossom blinked, looking troubled. Li Yaoqin said, "I can give you money."
Lotus Blossom asked, "Are you sure, young master?"
Li Yaoqin nodded, "I never break my word."
Lotus Blossom thought for a moment, "Twenty gold ingots."
"Twenty? Are you robbing us?" Lian Xin couldn't help but exclaim.
Lotus Blossom chuckled, "Don't say that. If it weren't for my connection with you, young master, I wouldn't have said anything."
"I'll give it. Lian Xin..." Li Yaoqin looked at Lian Xin.
Seeing this, Lian Xin refused to take it out. Li Yaoqin's face darkened, "Take it out."
Lian Xin said, "Miss, I left in a hurry and didn't bring much money."
Twenty gold ingots were enough for a commoner to live out their days. The young miss truly didn't understand the value of money.
Li Yaoqin frowned. Suddenly, she remembered something. She untied a jade pendant from her waist and threw it to Lotus Blossom, "This should be worth that much."
Lotus Blossom carefully examined the jade pendant. Its color and texture were excellent, clearly indicating it was top-quality jade.
"I'll go ask the madam. If the madam agrees, I'll accept it." With that, Lotus Blossom left.
"Miss, why put yourself through this? Spending so much money?" Lian Xin felt a pang of heartache. That jade pendant was a gift from Miss's maternal grandmother before she passed away, and yet Miss gave it away so easily.
"Money is an external possession. If it's given, it's given. You are not to tell Father or Mother when we return," Li Yaoqin warned.
Soon, the performance downstairs changed to dancing. Li Yaoqin breathed a sigh of relief and stood up, "We're leaving."
"Young master, are you leaving already?" Lotus Blossom chased after them and asked.
Lian Xin stopped Lotus Blossom, saying, "My young master dislikes being followed."
After they left, Lotus Blossom, holding the jade pendant, went to a secluded spot on the second floor and knocked on a door. A voice came from inside, "Enter."
Lotus Blossom pushed the door open and entered. Inside sat a woman, alluring and charming. Lotus Blossom knelt and said, "Protector, this is Miss Li's jade pendant."
The woman took it, glanced at it, and sneered, "She really knows how to spend lavishly."