Chapter 132

Chapter 132: An Amusing Incident

“Ahem…it’s a storybook,” Sheng Zhi Wan explained vaguely, suddenly recalling her plans for the day. “Fetch one of my male outfits. You and Liu Shang should change too—we’re heading somewhere interesting.”

“Male outfits? Princess, where are we going?” Ting Lan’s excitement overflowed.

These days, what she loved most was leaving the residence with her Princess.

For the past two years, they’d barely stepped outside. But now, this place no longer imprisoned her beloved Princess!

“You’ll see when we get there.”

Soon, Sheng Zhi Wan changed into men’s clothing and transformed herself, along with Ting Lan and Liu Shang.

Two handsome, youthful gentlemen appeared before them. Satisfied, Sheng Zhi Wan led the pair out of the mansion.

Hearing where they were headed, Zhang Da’s face flushed red.

“Young Master, are you really going…there?”

“Yes.”

Rouge Tower.

One of the four famous brothels in Capital City, a place where men threw away fortunes and women gritted their teeth in fury.

[Why would the Princess visit such a place?]

But since the Princess insisted, Zhang Da quietly stopped the carriage on a side street outside Rouge Tower.

Many officials and young masters did the same, so nobody found it unusual.

Stepping down from the carriage, Sheng Zhi Wan went straight into Rouge Tower.

This was her first visit. As soon as they entered, a woman’s scented sleeves fluttered toward them. With a playful grin, Sheng Zhi Wan pulled her gently into her arms.

Startled, the woman looked up, meeting a pair of charming eyes.

Her fingers trembled slightly, yet she smiled gracefully. “You young masters seem new here. Do you have any favorite Miss, or would you prefer my recommendation?”

Sheng Zhi Wan released her gently. “Then we’ll trouble Miss for introductions.”

The woman guided the trio upstairs to the finest room.

Once inside, the woman’s gaze remained fixed on Sheng Zhi Wan. Yet with others present, she didn’t dare speak first.

Sheng Zhi Wan broke the silence. “Hong Yan, it’s been so long.”

“Princess!” Tears welled in Hong Yan’s eyes as she knelt down. “Hong Yan thought Princess had forgotten her.”

“How could I?” Sheng Zhi Wan helped her up, listening to the lively noise downstairs. “You’ve done well managing Rouge Tower.”

“Hong Yan hasn’t disappointed Princess’s trust,” Hong Yan replied proudly.

Forced to leave the Princess years ago by faking her death, she later transformed herself and bought this brothel, renaming it Rouge Tower.

She’d been waiting all this time for the day her Princess would need her again.

Now, finally, the Princess had come.

“Princess, is there something you wish me to do?” Hong Yan asked eagerly.

“Yes, I indeed have a task for you.” Sheng Zhi Wan leaned in and whispered instructions.

Hong Yan nodded firmly. “Simple enough. That man is here today—I’ll have someone pose as a customer and speak loudly in the next room, ensuring he hears every word.”

“I trust you to handle it,” Sheng Zhi Wan replied with satisfaction.

Hong Yan quickly left, careful to avoid suspicion.

“Princess! You…actually know the Madam of Rouge Tower!” Ting Lan gasped, unable to conceal her shock.

A gentle, bitter smile touched Sheng Zhi Wan’s lips.

Hong Yan was a girl she’d found near the Detached Palace at age five. Back then, Sheng Zhi Wan was young, and although Hong Yan was two years older, starvation had left her looking barely three or four.

Seeing her pitiful state, Sheng Zhi Wan let her stay in the Detached Palace to help around.

Later, when Sheng Zhi Wan learned medicine and poison from her three Masters, Hong Yan quietly learned alongside her.

While Sheng Zhi Wan hid her true skills, Hong Yan didn’t need to.

Thus, many knew Sheng Zhi Wan had a servant skilled in medicine.

Eventually, Hong Yan faced several dangers, and Sheng Zhi Wan realized someone wanted to remove those useful to her.

After Hong Yan was severely injured one time, Sheng Zhi Wan finally decided to send her away.

Hong Yan “died” then—and the Madam named Rouge took her place.

Sheng Zhi Wan stayed awhile longer at Rouge Tower, calling several girls to dance before finally leaving.

That night, an amusing event stirred the Capital City.

A group of drunken young masters, stumbling home after drinking, spotted an attractive pregnant woman in Alley Gate Lane.

The woman was graceful and alluring despite her pregnancy, radiating charm.

Among these young masters was one notorious for his strange preference—married women, especially those expecting.

Driven by drunken lust, he boldly proclaimed his powerful sister’s identity and tossed out a few hundred silver notes, intent on kidnapping the woman on the street right in front of her frightened nanny.

Fortunately, at that moment, the woman’s husband, a wealthy merchant, arrived home from a day’s business.

Seeing his cherished wife almost abducted, how could he bear it?

The merchant’s men fought fiercely with the young master’s attendants, surprisingly defeating them and leaving the young master bruised and bleeding.

At Rouge Tower—

Censor Zhang Huan, leisurely listening to the amusing tale from the charming woman in his lap, murmured absently as his hand wandered beneath her clothes.

In vivid red, she laughed coquettishly, dodging him lightly. “My Lord, do you know who that shameless young master was?”

“Oh? Who?” Zhang Huan asked distractedly.

She whispered a name in his ear, and Zhang Huan’s hand froze abruptly.

The pleasant buzz from his wine vanished instantly.

“Are you certain?” he asked urgently.

“Of course, I saw it myself while buying rouge,” she assured him.

Zhang Huan’s playful mood vanished entirely.

Unaware, the woman nestled closer, lamenting, “What a pity for that merchant. He might not survive the night.”

“How so?” Zhang Huan asked, distracted.

“Think about it. He’s just a minor merchant, daring to offend Young Master Yang. Yang Jun Kang is the Empress’s younger brother and the Third Prince’s uncle. Isn’t it suicidal?”

“By morning, his family could be slaughtered, and his pregnant wife kidnapped,” she said sorrowfully.

Zhang Huan’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

If Shang Hang Yu and his friends were Capital City’s playboys, this Yang Jun Kang had been the city’s greatest scourge years ago.

Back then, he abused the power of his father, Minister Yang of the Ministry of War, and his favored sister, Noble Consort Qi, committing crimes throughout the capital.

But that was in the past.

Four years earlier, he had forcibly abducted a minor official’s wife, driving her to suicide. When the official petitioned the Emperor, Yang Jun Kang appeared remorseful and restrained himself, later even performing good deeds.

Now, most had forgotten his crimes.

Some even twisted the truth, accusing the poor official of trying to bribe Minister Yang with his wife and falsely accusing Yang Jun Kang instead.