Chapter 408: Chapter 407: So This Is the Joy of Being a Man!!
The darkness of night was at its deepest.
Cui Yun had stepped out for a bit, seemingly to deal with those knocked unconscious by Ying Yi.
With urgent matters at hand, Shen Hua didn’t stop him.
Ignoring the pout currently adorning her lips, the girl was, after all, gentle and virtuous.
The room fell silent once again, and it was as if Shen Hua could hear her own shallow breathing. She had to admit, the false alarm had settled her nerves.
After all, this was a brothel. The decorations in the room were tastelessly vulgar. With nothing else to do, Shen Hua began surveying her surroundings.
What she saw was truly scandalous.
The entire wall opposite was covered with paintings even more explicit than any erotic painting Shen Hua had previously seen.
There were more than a dozen positions, just in terms of postures.
Her knowledge of oddities grew.
The figures in the paintings were on couches, on chairs, and even positioned against the wall. Some were seated, some standing. The scenes varied, but they also shared similarities, all were engaging shamelessly and fervently with one another.
Especially the lower parts.
Joined together.
Shen Hua quickly averted her eyes.
She glanced out the window, her ears burning. Rubbing them, she thought of something, causing them to grow hotter, turning her whole small face a shade of red.
She cautiously peeked at the half-closed door. Judging by the situation, it seemed unlikely that Cui Yun would return anytime soon.
She pretended to fan herself again, trying to cool her face.
She didn’t know how much time had passed.
With a flickering gaze, Shen Hua took small steps towards the wall, her eyes locking onto the painting.
With her cheeks flushed, the girl tiptoed to get a better view.
The craftsmanship was excellent; the brushwork was detailed. Every hair on the girl in the painting was clear and distinct, and nothing was blurred.
So it could be done like this.
She was surprised and reflective, filled with a strong desire to learn and explore.
The body of the girl in the painting was nearly bent in two; her lower back pressed against her legs – a feat difficult without years of dance training.
Outside the room, Cui Yun rested a hand against his forehead.
Distractedly looking down at the people lying on the ground, he fell into a contemplative silence.
These individuals could potentially spoil the plan. Luo Chengdong might be of a lascivious nature, that’s true, but he’s also cautious. Otherwise, the officials in Hengzhou wouldn’t have sent him here.
"Drag them all away and replace them with our own people," he ordered.
In this way, perhaps a lot of information about Luo Chengdong could be obtained.
Ying Shi, who was skilled at this, could create masks from human skin indistinguishable from the real thing.
"Understood."
Cui Yun prepared to return to the room.
"My lord."
Jiqing Dusty rushed over, and when he saw Cui Yun was alone, he quickly handed over the items in his hands.
"The list you requested, sir. The circled officials are all more or less involved with the matters of the mines. It is an initial draft, and there could still be some who slipped through the net."
Cui Yun paused mid-step, accepting the list. He scanned it quickly, and after a brief review, he had an idea in his mind, which wasn’t too far from his initial suspicions.
Thinking of the person in the room, he prepared to enter.
"My lord."
Jiqing spoke respectfully: "Another matter requires your decision."
Yingwu, expressionless: ...
Ying Yi, silent: ...
Ying Shi, barely able to hide his disdain: ...
Jiqing, usually the epitome of composure, how could he fail to perceive even a single clue!
Cui Yun cast a cold glance over.
Though he was impatient, the matters concerning Jiqing were indeed urgent.
"Let’s go to the next room."
"Yes."
Jiqing complied.
He followed behind Cui Yun, pondering how to report the situation, then suddenly halted. He turned sharply to look at the person beside Ying Yi, feeling a sudden jolt in his heart.
If Yingwu was there, then the mistress must be as well.
Jiqing: ...
No wonder! From the moment he arrived, he sensed something off about the atmosphere but dismissed it!
Especially Ying Shi’s look — he seemed to view him as a fool. Jiqing initially thought Ying Shi was just being his usual difficult self.
Inside the room.
Shen Hua had finished examining every inch of the wall paintings and still, Cui Yun had not returned.
She furrowed her brows and stepped out with a patter of footsteps.
As she stepped out, she came face-to-face with Nanxiang.
Shen Hua lifted her chin slightly, her cold and noble beauty beckoning with a hook of her finger.
Nanxiang walked in trembling, and when she came out a moment later, she trembled even more fiercely.
Of course, no one paid her any attention.
Yingwu was munching on a chicken leg, while Xiaoqi played with the poison in her hands.
But half an incense stick later, Yingwu also began to tremble, and Xiaoqi looked panicked.
The instigator, however, was quite satisfied.
She leaned back in the rosewood chair, her eyes curving into crescents.
"Is everyone here?"
"Yes, the most beautiful prostitutes from the brothel have all been summoned for the lady."
Behind Nanxiang followed eight prostitutes, each beautiful in their own way.
As she spoke, she cast a warning glance at the women.
"Come forward and let the lady make her choice. If the lady is satisfied, you may stay and serve her."
The prostitutes looked at each other.
Before they came, Nanxiang hinted that they would be serving a person of high status.
Full of joy, they volunteered eagerly, thinking they would be serving Young Master Yang.
For this, they secretly adjusted their hairpins and pulled down their gauze skirts before entering the room to reveal their fragrant shoulders.
But to their surprise, the person sitting inside was a girl.
And one that seemed very delicate and dainty.
No way, she lacked that thing, so what did she want with them?
Their thoughts raced, yet they were adept at reading the room. One by one, they approached, offering greetings as fragrant as orchids with beguiling charm. With their approach wafted a fragrant breeze.
The prostitute closest to her had a bosom that was full and round, causing Shen Hua to glance down at her own chest unconsciously.
Hmph.
She wasn’t envious at all!
One day her chest would grow too!
Nanxiang spoke again: "Lady, look around and see whom you like. You can keep her to pour your wine and attend to your meals."
The prostitutes were all shrewd. Although they weren’t as clever as Nanxiang, they were still renowned prostitutes in the brothel, and although lacking in respectability, they weren’t short of gold and silver.
Rather than going back to serve those stinking men, they would prefer to accompany the delicate lady before them.
"Lady, this one wishes to stay and sing a little song for you."
"This one can dance."
"This one knows how to please the lady."
"This one..."
They all looked at Shen Hua with smiling eyes and tender gazes.
Ding!
Shen Hua was momentarily lost in thought.
It turns out that being surrounded left and right makes one lose their reason.
She took out a stack of silver notes from her pouch and slapped them onto the table. She was decisive and generous, without any hesitation: "I won’t choose anymore, keep them all."
"I don’t mind having more, I’ll take them all!"
She was surrounded and hugged by the crowd of prostitutes.
Seeing this, they tried even harder, spewing good words at no cost.
They thoroughly complimented the girl from head to toe, not repeating a single word.
All of which she loved to hear!!!
Shen Hua was completely elated.
This is what being a man felt like—pure joy!!
Shen Hua then turned her gaze to the most eye-catching Nanxiang.
Nanxiang had a bad feeling.
"You stay as well, come sit by my side!"
Nanxiang walked up feeling numb.
But Shen Hua changed her mind again.
The girl was very demure, and she held back her rising smile: "I heard that the officials from Qin Chu Pavilion are all handsome men."
"A few more gentlemen won’t matter, I’m not picky. Go and arrange for them quickly."
"Lady, the gentleman is still in the next room." Yingwu hinted discreetly.
"Oh."
Stars in her eyes, Shen Hua exclaimed with a beaming smile: "I want seven or eight young men to cheer me up!"
"I’m not short of money!!!"
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