Chapter 55: Chen Qiluo's Extraordinary Adventure in the Pleasure House

Chen Qiluo had just been over at the county magistrate's office. Over a hundred people had been arrested there, and the magistrate had asserted with absolute confidence that at least half of them were members of the Association of Loyalists and Remnants or the Universal Alliance. However, one glance told her that these people were merely being used by the magistrate to make up the numbers.

After punching the magistrate in the jaw, she had returned.

Without answering Er-Mao's inquiry, Chen Qiluo simply continued to devour her noodles, her cheeks puffed out like a hamster's.

She felt as though she had immense strength but nowhere to apply it!

Tracking the case all the way here from the imperial palace, every suspect she arrested would fall apart under questioning, and every clue would vanish the moment it was touched. Every punch she threw felt like hitting a cotton ball.

Yesterday, the Chief Director had sent someone to pressure her again, saying that the emperor had flown into a rage during the morning court session and given a strict deadline of ten days to solve the case, failing which the investigation would be handed over to the Brocade Guard.

In recent years, backed by the emperor, the Brocade Guard had risen rapidly and could now rival the Divine Catch Bureau. If they were allowed to take over this case, the Divine Catch Bureau would likely face disbandment before long.

"How annoying!"

Sighing inwardly, Chen Qiluo picked up the large bowl and gulped down the noodle soup.

When she put the bowl down, she noticed quite a few people outside carrying things back and forth.

So she asked San-Hu, "Who are all these people?"

San-Hu replied, "They're from the Prince's Estate. Word is they are acting under the Prince's personal edict to confiscate Li Yuanwang's assets. Didn't Li Yuanwang live in the courtyard behind the magistrate's office? They're about to empty the whole place out."

Just as he was speaking, two attendants walked in, smiling as they looked at the chair Chen Qiluo was sitting on and the table in front of her.

One of them asked, "Esteemed officer, have you... finished eating?"

Chen Qiluo slightly furrowed her slender brows and asked, "Does your Prince want even this table and chairs?"

The man gave a cheeky grin and said, "Yes. Besides, is that bowl of yours taken from Li Yuanwang's backyard? Of course, there's no rush, take your time eating, we'll collect it after you're done!"

Chen Qiluo widened her apricot-like eyes and said in utter disbelief, "That idiot isn't even sparing the bowls?"

On second thought, it made sense—how else could he be such an idiot?

Just as this thought crossed her mind, a silly chuckle rang out.

"Heh, please excuse me, Lady Chen. The Prince's Estate is poorly managed and on the verge of bankruptcy, so aren't I just trying to increase revenue and reduce expenditure?"

Chen Qiluo looked up, and who else could it be if not the foolish Prince?

She reached out to take the handkerchief handed to her by the scholar, wiped her mouth, stood up, and said, "Your Highness, you've come at just the right time. I need to borrow your Prince of Ning's seal so I can issue an arrest warrant for a few suspects across the counties of Ningzhou."

Pausing for a moment, she pointed at the bowl and chopsticks and asked, "Should I wash these for you first?"

Xue Yuan burst out laughed and said, "Bowls and chopsticks are small business. Come, come, let's find a quiet place and talk about a big deal—a big deal guaranteed to make you a fortune!"

Hearing this, Da-Gou, Er-Mao, San-Hu, and the scholar all couldn't help shaking their heads.

The people of Ningzhou were truly cursed to have ended up with this foolish Prince!

Chen Qiluo couldn't help sighing either, saying, "Your Highness, I'm in a bad mood right now, you'd better go back. Otherwise, you won't find it worth it after I give you a beating."

Chen Qiluo was fully capable of doing such a thing, after all, it wasn't like she had never beaten up an imperial prince.

Xue Yuan immediately waved his hand grandly and said, "No rush, no rush! We can negotiate how much a beating costs, but let's take things one at a time!"

...

At night, Qingchun Pavilion.

As Xue Yuan, Jian Qi, and Chen Qiluo—disguised as a man—stepped into the building, someone inside immediately shouted at the top of their lungs:

"The Prince is here to burn down the building again!"

With a rustling commotion, more than half of the patrons fled.

The brothel attendant stamped his feet in despair!

"Hey, wait, you haven't paid yet!"

Following that, the madam rushed down the stairs, flanked by all the courtesans and staff of Qingchun Pavilion standing in a row, greeting Xue Yuan with a uniform display of dark scowls.

Chen Qiluo, standing behind Xue Yuan, softly asked Jian Qi, "What on earth did your Prince do to this brothel?"

Jian Qi thought for a moment and said, "That sword strike of yours from earlier—I've thought of at least eleven ways to counter it."

Chen Qiluo sighed.

She wondered why on earth she had trusted these two idiots and followed them here.

However, the atmosphere at the scene underwent a complete and utter reversal the moment Xue Yuan slapped down a ten-thousand-liang banknote.

"Don't be afraid, today this Prince is drinking normally!"

The madam, who had been tormented to the verge of tears, was so moved she nearly wept.

"Oh my, Your Highness, look at you... Quickly, please come inside! Wang Er, arrange a top-tier private booth for His Highness!"

The madam smiled as she tucked the money into her bosom—after all, the grand cause of restoring the dynasty really lacked funds!

She then asked, "So, Your Highness, which girl takes your fancy?"

"How could just one be enough!" Xue Yuan chuckled and said, "Call the girls to my private room. Have them wear as little clothing as possible, and when they come in, they must stand in a row, bow in unison, and shout 'Good day, Boss!'"

The madam was stunned. What kind of game was this? She had never heard of it!

Before long, however, inside the top-tier private room on the second floor, more than twenty girls stood in a neat row, baring their fair thighs and fragrant shoulders as they greeted Xue Yuan in unison.

"Good day, Boss!"

True enough, money can make the ghosts grind millet.

Xue Yuan was quite satisfied. He looked at Chen Qiluo and asked, "General Chen, do you see anyone who looks like your first love?"

Chen Qiluo sighed again, thinking to herself what kind of title "General Chen" was, and what on earth was inside this idiot's head.

She said, "This young master is feeling unwell today, so forget it."

"Then what about General Jian?" Xue Yuan looked at Jian Qi.

Jian Qi glanced at a girl at the very end, but quickly raised his head to look at the ceiling and said, "No need."

Xue Yuan gave a grand wave of his hand and said, "Keep them all! Reward each of them with thirty liang of silver first!"

Upon hearing this, the girls were overjoyed!

"Many thanks, Your Highness!"

With that, they immediately swarmed forward—some massaging shoulders, some kneading legs, and some feeding grapes. What a lively scene of fluttering sleeves and fragrance!

Xue Yuan laughed heartily, thinking that *this* was the true meaning of extravagance and dissipation!

In the spacious private room, the sound of singing soon rose, and the girls began to dance gracefully, each pulling out all the stops to win the Prince's favor.

Watching Xue Yuan thoroughly enjoying himself, Chen Qiluo felt a wave of inexplicable irritation.

Earlier, when she saw him playing the zither, she had thought he possessed a certain charm, but who would have thought he was just such a dissolute man!

Right at that moment, for reasons unknown, a rat suddenly darted into the room, startling the girls into a chorus of shrieks.

Upon seeing this, Xue Yuan immediately pushed away the girl in his arms and said with rare seriousness, "He's here!"

That rat had precisely been sent by Lin Shishi to deliver a message!

Without a second word, Chen Qiluo and Jian Qi transformed into lingering shadows and instantly rushed out the door!

Following that, the sounds of clashing weapons rang out with several metallic *clangs*, a fierce gale seemed to sweep across the roof, and finally, with a loud *boom*, the entire pavilion shuddered violently.

Yet very soon, everything returned to peace.

When Xue Yuan stepped out of the private room with an air of righteousness, he saw a massive hole torn in the roof of Qingchun Pavilion, with broken tiles and wood scattered everywhere.

Amidst the debris, a man in his fifties was curled up on the ground, his hands and feet tightly bound in iron chains by Chen Qiluo.

Needless to say, this was none other than Leader Zhou, the mastermind behind the assassination attempt on the Grand Empress Dowager!

Having finished her work, Chen Qiluo looked up at Xue Yuan, who stood gracefully in the corridor, her gaze complex.

Xue Yuan simply beckoned to her with a faint smile.

Official Chen, this favor is something you'll have to repay right away!