Chapter 145: No Next Time

The drum had sounded past the third watch; the night was cool as water.

The moonlight retreated into the clouds, and throughout the entire city of Beijing, save for a small number of restaurants where the sound of singing and music never ceased, most other places were already in deathly silence.

A biting, chilly wind swept through the empty, deserted streets and alleys.

In the distance, the shouts of two night watchmen, mingled with the sound of footsteps from patrolling soldiers, echoed through the lanes.

Hao Ren saw his guest to the door, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then turned to leave.

Qian Liang gave a lewd smile, hooked his arm around the warm jade beside him, and the two climbed into the warm sedan chair together. As soon as they were inside, Qian Liang shouted to the outside: "Move out, and all of you bastards walk steadily—don't you dare jostle our little beauty here."

Several sedan bearers exchanged knowing smiles, lifted the chair, and proceeded forward with steady steps.

Inside, Miaolan sat on Qian Liang's lap, the two pressed tightly against each other.

Inhaling the faint fragrance on the woman, Qian Liang felt a stir of interest and said with a wicked smile: "Miaolan, tell me, is it better to be with me, or with that Boss Hao?"

"Master, look at what you're saying; I'm your person now, why ask such things?" Miaolan's pretty face flushed, and she took the opportunity to rub against his chest.

This delicate, charming demeanor, combined with her voluptuous figure, instantly sent Qian Liang's soul soaring to the heavens.

He cursed her as a vixen under his breath, forced himself to stay calm, and glared, determined to get to the bottom of it: "Look at you, you were all proper just a moment ago, but as soon as there's no one around, you turn into this wanton thing. It seems Old Hao hasn't put little effort into you."

Miaolan was overcome with shame and hung her head without speaking.

Qian Liang laughed heartily, hooked his hand around Miaolan's soft, fair neck, and teased: "I just like how you know how to cater to a man's needs. Those young girls are so boring, not half as flavorful as you. Don't worry, I will certainly treat you well."

"Thank you, Master," Miaolan said in a soft, sweet voice.

For women like them, where was there any right to choose a man? They were nothing more than playthings among the powerful.

Yet she was also fortunate to have such a good skin.

With this skin, she was guaranteed fine clothes and food, with servants accompanying her wherever she went every day.

Qian Liang looked at Miaolan, who possessed both elegance and charm, and felt a surge of heat in his heart, wishing he could fly back to his mansion immediately to dally with the beauty.

Just as he was thinking this, a sudden, violent shout came from outside the sedan.

"Stop!"

Immediately after, the four sedan bearers lost their strength, and the chair dropped abruptly, landing on the ground.

Qian Liang and the beauty inside cried out in pain. Qian Liang shoved the beauty aside, burst out of the small sedan in a fit of rage, and barked: "Who is it? Which one of you bastards didn't zip up your trousers properly and let you lot of grunts out?"

Looking up and around, a dozen Embroidered Uniform Guards wearing round hats and black boots surrounded them.

Glancing at the arrogant-looking Qian Liang, Ai Neng took a step forward and delivered a heavy slap across his face: "What immense dog guts you have—don't you even recognize your military masters?"

"Good! Good, it's rebellion, you bastards are all rebelling!" Qian Liang had never suffered such humiliation; he immediately pointed at Ai Neng and hopped in anger, "Do you know who I am? Even your Thousand-Household has to keep a smiling face when he sees me, and you, a mere Flag Officer, dare to hit me?!"

"Oh, so it's Steward Qian. This little one truly had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai." Ai Neng decided to toy with him, so he blinked his eyes and carefully sized up the steward.

"As long as you know who I am, kneel down for me now and crawl through my crotch." Qian Liang straightened his back, swept a glance at Ai Neng with an arrogant look, and shouted coldly.

Before he could finish speaking, Ai Neng raised his foot and kicked Qian Liang.

Caught off guard, Qian Liang cried out in pain and fell backward; the sedan bearers caught him, or else he would have fallen flat on his face.

"Qian Liang has privately minted Silver Dollars and attacked an Embroidered Uniform Guard in the street. Men, bind him!"

Ai Neng roared with a tiger-like physique, and the strongmen behind him pounced like tigers and wolves. Qian Liang twisted his body frantically and screamed at the top of his lungs: "You dare! If you dare touch me, the Wuqing Marquis will skin you alive, and Han San will skin you alive too!"

"Plug his mouth and cover his head! Take him to the Imperial Prison of the Northern Suppressing Faction!"

Ai Neng waved his hand impatiently and was just about to turn and leave when a woman's delicate cry suddenly came from inside the sedan.

He turned back around, strode toward the warm sedan, and lifted the curtain to take a look; inside sat a beautiful young woman of exceptional appearance.

Their eyes met, and Ai Neng asked: "Are you Qian Liang's mistress?"

Miaolan first nodded, then shook her head.

"Is it or isn't it?" Ai Neng asked with a cold face.

"No... no, this slave only met Master Qian today." Miaolan shook her head repeatedly, her face full of terror.

"How did you meet?" "It was Master Hao who gave me to Master Qian."

"Master Hao, Hao Ren?"

"Yes, this little woman has been at his mansion for three years."

Upon hearing this, Ai Neng rubbed his chin in thought and chuckled: "Since Hao Ren gave you to Qian Liang, then you are Qian Liang's person now. This Qian Liang has committed a grave crime; if there is a reckoning later, you will be sent to the Jiaofangsi at best, or beheaded at worst."

"Ah?!" Miaolan covered her red lips and gasped.

"But, this military master sees that you are an honest person, so I could save your life—it's just that I don't know if you're willing or not." Ai Neng said with a grin, his eyes constantly scanning Miaolan's body.

"I beg the military master to speak quickly." Miaolan had already guessed it in her heart; her heart sank, and she said in a soft, sweet voice with a flushed face: "As long as the military master is willing to spare Miaolan and send Miaolan back to Master Hao's side, Miaolan... Miaolan is willing to repay the military master."

"Hehe, you can't go back to Hao Ren's side, but I can find you a new place." Ai Neng grinned.

"Military master..." There was already anger in Miaolan's eyes.

"Don't worry, it's not me." Ai Neng knew she had misunderstood, so he explained with a smile, "I intend to send you to Thousand-Household Han. He is a favorite of Young Master Zhang, and he is young and handsome—compared to that what's-his-name Fatty Hao, he's countless times better."

Thousand-Household Han? Miaolan was stunned, and she began to weigh the pros and cons in her heart.

She had heard Hao Ren mention this name often; he was also a ruthless character who licked blood from the edge of a blade and killed without blinking.

Given the current situation, Qian Liang could not be relied upon, and she could not go back to Hao Ren.

This new backer didn't seem bad either.

Thinking this, Miaolan hung her head and replied shyly: "Everything... everything is up to the military master."

"Hahaha, brothers, lift the sedan, go to Master Han's house!"

At midnight that day, Ai Neng and his party carried the sedan to the sedan hall at Han San's home. Because there was a major event tonight, Han San had not slept all night, waiting only for Ai Neng to arrive.

As soon as Ai Neng arrived, Han San ordered someone to invite him into the study.

After giving a few simple instructions, Ai Neng led Miaolan straight to the study.

Inside, Han San was wearing a black martial arts suit, sitting upright on a yellow pear-wood Grand Tutor chair.

Seeing Ai Neng enter with a delicate beauty following behind, Han San immediately knit his brows, stood up, and scolded: "Ai Neng, are you looking for a beating, you brat? I told you to go catch someone, why did you bring a young lady back here?!"

"Oh, Third Master, how would I dare to neglect the task you ordered? The person has already been caught; as you instructed, I'll lock him up for two days first." Ai Neng gave a fawning smile and took the opportunity to pull Miaolan forward two steps.

Hearing this, Han San's anger subsided slightly, but upon thinking of this flower-like woman, he couldn't help but grumble to himself: This guy has damn good luck with women; he even brings a woman along to handle a case, and she's so pretty, too.

However, that was his subordinate's woman, and he still possessed that much sense of morality.

Yawning, Han San shook his head with a smile and waved his hand, saying: "Alright, since the person has been caught, you go on down first. The brothers have all been tired for a day, so get a good rest tomorrow."

"It is indeed time for a good rest." Ai Neng smiled, pushed Miaolan forward, and said: "Third Master, this young lady admires your reputation and insisted on coming to serve you; I couldn't stop her no matter what."

"Go to hell, what kind of reputation do I have?" Han San looked completely unconvinced, then looked at Miaolan and comforted her, "Young lady, don't be nervous. Did this guy coerce you? Just speak up, and I will stand up for you."

Miaolan was deeply moved; she stared straight at Han San, shook her head, and said: "No, no, it is all this humble servant's own wish. I was given to Qian Liang, and now that he has committed a major crime, I have nowhere else to go. I beg you, Master, to take me in."

"What is your name?" Han San asked directly.

"Miaolan."

"Do you still have any relatives at home?"

"No. My hometown was hit by a flood, and I was the only one who survived. Later, I was bought by someone, raised until I was sixteen, and then bought by Master Hao, and I have lived in his manor ever since."

"A bitter life, indeed," Han San sighed.

Ai Neng, who hadn't spoken for a while, grinned and suddenly interjected: "Third Master, since she has no family left, why don't you take her in?"

"Don't let it happen again." Han San waved his hand at Ai Neng, and Ai Neng tactfully turned and left.

Afterwards, Han San took hold of Miaolan's jade-like hand; Miaolan's delicate body trembled, and a lovely flush appeared on her cheeks.

The previous chapter was censored.

(End of this chapter)