On the bustling avenue, two dashing young masters suddenly appeared, looking like wealthy young heirs who had never known a day of hardship.
These two were naturally Yan Yueming and Meng Liniang, who had disguised themselves in men's clothing.
They strolled along the prosperous street, their hands laden with various trinkets and small novelties—especially Yan Yueming, whose arms were full of countless parcels of food.
It was a mystery how her ten fingers managed to sort and hold so much stuff.
"Lady Yueming, won't people think this is a bit inappropriate for us?"
Meng Liniang followed behind Yan Yueming, holding a bag of preserved fruit, a look of complete bewilderment still on her face.
"What's inappropriate about it? Aren't you having fun, Liniang?"
"I am having fun."
"Well, there you go! Set your mind at ease. We'll just wander around for a bit first; it won't get in the way of business."
Yan Yueming patted Meng Liniang on the shoulder, her pace unwavering as she led the way down the street, heading straight into the most prosperous pleasure quarter.
The sky had grown dark, and only in that direction were lights still ablaze. Seductive lanterns stretched down the entire length of the street, and Yan Yueming spotted the liveliest spot at a single glance.
Qingyu Pavilion.
Greeting guests at the entrance was a woman in her thirties with delicate features, a slender waist, and a gaze remarkably similar to that of Mother Liu, casting a provocative charm that brought a lustful gleam to the eyes of every passing man.
Needless to say, this establishment was definitely harboring secrets.
Yan Yueming stowed away the items she was holding, stepped back slightly, and walked alongside Meng Liniang.
"Remember, once we go inside, we'll say we're looking for someone. Our identities are Cui Yiyang's fiancée and his younger sister. The moment we spot him whoring around in this brothel, go straight up and give him a fierce beating. Don't give him a single chance to speak. Understood?"
"Understood. But what about Master Kong Juefei?" Meng Liniang nodded, looking as though she only half-understood.
Yan Yueming replied, "Him? He definitely ran off the second he got here. Don't worry about him."
"Oh, right, Liniang, remember to hold back your strength a bit." Remembering something, Yan Yueming added as an afterthought, though a mischievous look of anticipation quickly surfaced on her face. "Actually, you don't even have to hold back. Liniang, just play it by ear. Don't worry, with me here, he won't die."
"Are we really going to do this? Is it... a good idea?" Meng Liniang still felt rather uneasy. This kind of place and the task ahead made a woman who practically never interacted with anyone feel entirely out of her element.
"It's a bit of a bad idea, true," Yan Yueming agreed, nodding. "Still, for the sake of those murdered, innocent women, we have to endure this little bit of trouble. You can do it, Liniang!"
"Alright, I understand."
Meng Liniang silently clenched her fists, fell in step beside Yan Yueming, and walked into Qingyu Pavilion.
The interior was even livelier than the outside. Beauties of every description moved to and fro, yet Yan Yueming could see it crystal clear: not a single one of these seemingly vibrant beauties was actually alive.
Strange. Since it's so obvious, how could a place like this have been allowed to exist for so long?
"Oh my, two young masters, your first time here? Would you like me to introduce you around? The maidens in our house are all extraordinarily talented, guaranteed to leave you completely satisfied."
The moment they stepped inside, someone hurried over to greet them. Catching the pungent scent on the woman, Yan Yueming frowned and stepped back to put some distance between them.
"We're here to look for someone."
"Looking for someone?" The woman swept her gaze up and down over Yan Yueming and Meng Liniang, a knowing look dawning on her face.
To some extent, disguises could never completely conceal a person's true traits, especially in a place like this—the staff naturally possessed that much discernment.
Two young lasses coming to a brothel together and claiming they were looking for someone—it was obvious they were hunting down some unruly men from their families.
Such incidents weren't terribly rare, as long as it didn't interfere with business.
"Then the two young masters had better keep your eyes open and avoid disturbing the other guests in our house." The woman leaned in close to Yan Yueming's ear with an ambiguous smile.
"If someone accidentally pulls one of the young masters away into a room, our Qingyu Pavilion won't be held responsible, you know."
With that, the woman waved a hand, signaling the others not to crowd around.
"That's it?" Meng Liniang asked in a low voice.
"What do you mean, 'that's it'?" Yan Yueming grabbed Meng Liniang's sleeve. After casting a sweeping glance over the entire lower floor, she lowered her head to mask her grim expression and headed straight up to the second floor.
"Are you ready? We're about to start the performance."
"I'm ready."
The moment the words fell, Yan Yueming raised her foot and kicked open a chamber door.
"You ungrateful wretch! Get out here!"
Meng Liniang's shout trembled slightly, but the volume was substantial, instantly drawing the attention of almost everyone on the first floor.
Unfortunately, inside the room there were only two figures locked in an embrace. Yan Yueming reacted swiftly, covering Meng Liniang's eyes with one hand while rapidly kicking open the next door.
Before the onlookers could react, Meng Liniang delivered another shout:
"You heartless bastard! You have the nerve to go whoring, but you don't have the guts to come out and face me!"
To the patrons downstairs, this sort of spectacle was sheer entertainment. Consequently, everyone remained in a spectator's mindset, and no one stepped forward to intervene.
Some gossipy onlookers even gathered at the top of the second-floor stairs to critique the scene.
"Tsk tsk tsk, two such gorgeous young lasses, and yet I have no idea which brother has the spine to forsake the blessings of a harmonious household and come to a brothel looking for wild flowers."
"Brother Feng, your perspective is too narrow. There are so many women in the world; naturally, the ones in a brothel possess charms that family members lack."
"Hehehe, Brother Qin is right."
Yan Yueming kept her expression neutral as she listened. As she passed the top of the stairs, her fingers twitched slightly within her sleeve, and the second-floor railing began to loosen.
Just as she kicked open the next door, the second-floor railing gave way as if unable to bear the weight of the crowd, collapsing entirely. The people leaning against it tumbled downward one after another, throwing the first floor into utter chaos.
Meanwhile, Meng Liniang's shouting had grown increasingly fluent, as she recited, without changing expression, every single line a jealous woman catching her cheating partner would say.
"Open the door! If you have the nerve to visit a brothel, you have the nerve to open the door!"
"Bang—!"
The door flew open to reveal an elderly gentleman trembling as he clutched a lovely maiden in his arms.
"Pardon the interruption."
Yan Yueming dragged Meng Liniang straight toward the next room.
What kind of utter madness was this? Downstairs, Yaoniang clenched her fists as she watched the two troublemakers wreaking havoc on the second floor, feeling speechless for the very first time.
The last time she had felt this speechless was when she met those two utterly tactless scoundrels.
No.
Yaoniang watched the figure on the second floor still kicking doors open with unconcerned abandon, her gaze turning profound. There couldn't possibly be so many eccentric people in this world that she would run into them multiple times in a single day.
Especially given that aura. Setting aside the little girl doing the shouting, the energy emanating from the one kicking down doors bore a striking resemblance to that sword-carrying fellow.
Her eyes narrowing slightly, Yaoniang crushed a wooden plaque in her hand, then called out instructions for her staff to politely escort all the guests downstairs and out of the building.
"Girls, we're closed for the day. Head back inside."
As Yaoniang's voice trailed off, the women of various appearances all wiped the expressions from their faces and bowed to her.
"Yes."
They then walked toward the very back of the main hall, descending all the way down, vanishing into the depths below.