Chapter 90: Money Must Be Spent Worthily

Arrived at the door of the private room on the third floor.

Jiangxue took a deep breath before pushing the door open to enter.

With a beaming smile, she performed a curtsy and said, "This servant Jiangxue greets Young Master Pei, and also greets Young Master Xu."

Following behind her were a group of young women holding musical instruments; these were the people specifically there to accompany her.

"Haha, it used to be difficult to even catch a glimpse of Miss Jiangxue, but this time I've benefited from Brother Pei's presence." Xu Jing laughed heartily and beckoned, "Hurry, come pour wine for Brother Pei."

Jiangxue cast a sidelong glance at Pei Shaoqing; he looked decent enough, but it was a pity his heart was so venomous.

She smiled and said, "How about this servant performs a dance first?"

She wanted to stall for time until Young Master Yan San came to save the day.

Having grown up in places of ill repute, she knew well that people like Pei Shaoqing would not care about any sense of decorum, nor would they care about her status as a top courtesan; in his eyes, she was just a prostitute, and it was entirely possible he might strip her bare and take her right there on the spot.

"Brother Pei?" Xu Jing looked toward Pei Shaoqing.

Pei Shaoqing toyed with his wine cup and smiled, "Very well."

Worthy of being a top courtesan, she was a good girl.

As the instruments began to play, Jiangxue danced gracefully.

Her body was ethereal, and the pearl hairpins and other ornaments on her head emitted crisp sounds; as she followed the light dance movements, the graceful curves of her body were fully revealed beneath the large sleeves and light gauze, and her heavy, ample bosom trembled and swayed as if it were about to burst forth.

Once the dance was finished, her face was flushed, and there was a thin layer of sweat on her forehead, making her look even more beautiful and moving.

"Come over and rest a while," Pei Shaoqing beckoned and said.

Jiangxue glanced at the woman beside him and said in a delicate voice, "Young Master Pei has someone to serve him, so this servant won't go over and get in the way. This servant will play the zither for the two of you."

"It's fine, having one more prostitute doesn't weigh me down, come here." Pei Shaoqing's tone was gentle, yet it carried a streak of forcefulness.

Jiangxue had no choice but to helplessly walk to his other empty side and kneel on the cushion, keeping as much distance as possible to avoid any physical contact with him.

"How can you pour wine for me from so far away?" As soon as Pei Shaoqing finished speaking, he grabbed her and pulled her toward his side.

"Ah!" Jiangxue's face turned pale with fright, and she said in a panic, "Young Master Pei, this servant does not sell her body."

Seeing this, Xu Jing's heart trembled, fearing that Jiangxue, who had only just come out to accompany them with great difficulty, would get angry and storm off.

"It's fine, if I finish playing and don't pay, then it doesn't count as selling, right?" Pei Shaoqing said jokingly.

Jiangxue forced a smile, "You really know how to joke."

"You think I'm joking?" Pei Shaoqing wantonly stroked her smooth thigh with his large hand and said with a half-smile, "How much silver does Brother Xu give you? You earn so much just by playing a tune and dancing, is that appropriate? It's so easy to earn, I'm tempted to come work at Furong Xuan myself."

"I ask that Young Master Pei please respect yourself." Jiangxue didn't know how to answer, so she could only flush red and urge him.

Meanwhile, Xu Jing at the side was already stunned.

He hadn't expected that Jiangxue, who usually would turn cold and storm off at the slightest provocation, would show such shyness and charm when faced with Pei Shaoqing's molestation, without the slightest intention of getting angry.

He hurriedly said, "Miss Jiangxue, as long as you serve Brother Pei well tonight, I will reward you heavily."

"Did you hear that, Miss Jiangxue?" Pei Shaoqing leisurely picked up his wine cup, drained it in one gulp, and said.

"Ah!" Jiangxue's brows were filled with shame and anger, but she dared not resist at all; biting her red lips, she said, "Young Master, you are forcing a good woman into prostitution."

"Pfft~" Pei Shaoqing was amused and slapped his thigh, saying, "The entire Furong Xuan is worthless; it's all prostitution, where would there be any 'good' women? Don't tell such jokes."

Money had been spent, so it had to be worth the price of admission; he didn't want to be one of those fools who spent money to drive up the price.

Although he hadn't spent a cent tonight, he couldn't treat the money his brother spent for him as if it were nothing, right?

Jiangxue was so angry her chest heaved up and down; who said Furong Xuan was worthless? At least she was still one!

"Bang!"

Just at this moment, the door to the private room was suddenly kicked open.

A young man in brocade clothes, not yet twenty, rushed in. Seeing Jiangxue disheveled and held in Pei Shaoqing's arms, his eyes instantly turned red, and he sternly rebuked, "Scoundrel! Let go of my Jiangxue this instant!"

"Young Master San, save me!" Jiangxue was overjoyed to see her savior, though on the surface she looked pitiful.

This person was her number one sycophant, specifically kept on a leash by her to drive away those who were determined to sleep with her.

"Jiangxue, don't be afraid, I'm here." Young Master San said in a soft, soothing voice, but when he looked at Pei Shaoqing, his expression turned into a glare, "Scoundrel! Are you deaf?"

"Do you know who I am?" Pei Shaoqing asked.

Young Master San said resoundingly, "This young master doesn't care who you are, but tonight you will remember who I am!"

"Brother Pei, don't lock horns with him. This person is called Yan Sidong, the third son of the Shu Prince, nicknamed the Little Tyrant of Jinguan City; he acts in a domineering manner." Xu Jing whispered a warning.

Upon hearing this, Pei Shaoqing narrowed his eyes slightly.

Seeing that Pei Shaoqing was still fumbling around inside Jiangxue's skirt while Jiangxue was flushed red and on the verge of tears, Yan Sidong was so angry his body trembled, "Drag that bastard out and chop off the claws he used to touch Jiangxue!"

Even he, having spent so much money.

Had only ever touched Jiangxue's hand!

"Yes!" The two burly guards behind him responded. One of them walked up to Pei Shaoqing first, reached across the table, and went to grab his collar.

"Clang!"

Accompanied by the sound of a sword leaving its scabbard, warm fresh blood splattered, and a severed hand fell into a dish on the table.

"Ahhh! My hand! My hand!"

The guard whose right hand had been severed screamed incessantly.

Seeing this, the other guard hurriedly retreated several steps.

"Ah!" Jiangxue was so frightened her face turned pale.

Xu Jing's face was equally deathly pale.

Yan Sidong at the door, the procuress, and the others were stunned.

Pei Shaoqing held his sword in one hand, while his other hand remained under Jiangxue's skirt, his expression emotionless: "Pour the wine."

"Ye... yes." Jiangxue was so startled she shuddered, and with trembling hands, she picked up the wine flagon to pour.

Pei Shaoqing stared at Yan Sidong, his gaze filled with mockery, as he picked up his wine cup and drained it in one gulp.

"You... you have such great audacity!" Yan Sidong regained his senses, fear mixed with anger, and shouted at a guard: "This person wants to attack me; why haven't you gone back to report to my father and mobilize the guard unit to come and arrest him!"

"Fourth Young Master, please calm your anger, it is all a misunderstanding..." The madam's expression changed, and she hurriedly stepped forward to persuade Yan Sidong.

If the matter blew up, it would do her no good.

"Slap!" Yan Sidong backhanded her across the face and roared: "Get lost! This person dared to defile my Jiangxue and dared to draw a sword on me; he must die!"

Pei Shaoqing took a Signal Arrow out of his Storage Ring and tossed it to Xu Jing, "Trouble you, Brother Xu, to go outside the window and fire it."

"Ah? Oh, oh, oh." Xu Jing blankly caught the Signal Arrow, walked to the window, and pulled the cord at the tail.

Whoosh!

A single Cloud-Piercing Arrow, and a thousand troops and ten thousand horses come to meet.

Gorgeous fireworks bloomed in the sky.

This was a signal arrow specifically for the Jing'an Guard; according to regulations, whenever a signal arrow was seen rising into the sky, nearby Jing'an Guards were to immediately gather at the source to provide assistance.

Pei Shaoqing had originally not intended to stir up the whole city over a prostitute; it wasn't worth it, and she wasn't worthy.

But after learning that Yan Sidong was the son of the Shu Prince.

He decided to blow the matter up.

It was a good chance to see Lu Dingchuan's attitude toward the Shu Prince.

After all, since he was going to move against the Shu Prince Mansion next, the stance of the Jingguan City Jing'an Guard Thousand-Household Office was very important.

What if the two had deep private connections?

"Hmph! What kind of wild dog from the pugilistic world dares to clamor in front of me." Yan Sidong watched this scene and mocked.

The madam, who had just been slapped, bit the bullet and said: "Young Master, he is the Baron of Pingyang, Pei Shaoqing."

Yan Sidong's expression changed slightly, but after meeting Pei Shaoqing's playful gaze, his anger burned again, "A mere county baron, and you dare to clamor at my Shu Prince Mansion? Don't say it's you, Pei Shaoqing, even if your father came, he wouldn't have the qualifications!"

"I hope you can stay that tough." Pei Shaoqing smiled slightly, took his hand out from under Jiangxue's skirt, and slowly rubbed it against her fair cheek.

Yan Sidong's eyes were bloodshot and ready to burst, "Stop that!"

"You are a guest and I am a guest; what you can do, I can do too." Pei Shaoqing laughed nonchalantly and patted Jiangxue's face: "Growing up in a brothel, even if you haven't done it, you should have seen and heard enough; you know what I want."

The development of the situation had already spiraled out of control; Jiangxue had long since been scared out of her wits and could only obediently comply.

Seeing this, Yan Sidong was furious.

Although he couldn't see clearly across the low table.

That didn't mean he couldn't imagine the scene.

A toy being snatched away by someone else was only secondary.

The key was that he felt he had lost face.

He roared: "Pei Shaoqing! I will kill you!"

Xu Jing, who was on the side, was stunned, dumbfounded.

Then, a surge of heroic spirit rose in his heart.

A real man should be like Brother Pei!

He was so excited that he fiercely tilted his head back and downed a cup of wine.

…………………………

The Jing'an Guard arrived first; the Hundred-Household Offices from the east, west, south, and north districts, plus people from the Thousand-Household Office, arrived one after another, numbering in the hundreds, and Lu Dingchuan also arrived in person.

Learning roughly what had happened upstairs from the people below, he guessed that the signal arrow had been fired by Pei Shaoqing.

Although he was somewhat speechless that he would make such a big scene over a petty rivalry, he also felt that this was consistent with the image of Pei Shaoqing he had heard of in the past: an arrogant and domineering playboy.

"Move! All of you move!"

Several Jing'an Guards walked in front, rudely clearing the way and driving away the people blocking the third-floor corridor.

Lu Dingchuan walked to the private room without obstruction.

"Thousand-Household Lu." Yan Sidong cupped his hands in greeting.

Lu Dingchuan ignored him and strode into the private room.

By this time, the commotion had ended, and Jiangxue, with a flushed face, was kneeling behind Pei Shaoqing, kneading his shoulders.

"Why did Brother Pei fire the signal arrow?" Lu Dingchuan asked, even though he knew the other party was doing it out of a petty rivalry.

But since he had come, he might as well play along.

Someone with a good father had the qualifications to be indulgent.

"I was originally here drinking and having fun, but this person suddenly broke in with people, ordered them to attack me, and after being repelled by me, he wanted to call for reinforcements to surround and kill me, so I had no choice but to call for reinforcements too!" Pei Shaoqing gently stroked Jiangxue's smooth hair and said with a helpless expression.

Lu Dingchuan turned his head to look at Yan Sidong and said coldly: "Does the Third Young Master know what the crime is for killing an official?"

"I didn't want to kill him!" Yan Sidong defended himself and then snorted coldly: "Don't try to scare me, dare to arrest me and see? See if my father will come to settle accounts with you!"

"This Prince really won't settle accounts with them!" The Shu Prince, with a gloomy face, arrived with a large group of people.

Yan Sidong was overjoyed and ran over, "Father!"

"Greetings, Your Highness the Shu Prince!" Everyone bowed.

"Slap!" The Shu Prince raised his hand and slapped Yan Sidong across the face, cursing, "You bastard!"

Guards had reported that Yan Sidong had gotten into a conflict with someone at Furong Xuan and had used weapons, and he took this very seriously.

Because there were few people in Jingguan City who dared to get into a conflict with his son, and almost none who dared to use weapons.

This meant the other party's identity was not simple.

To avoid the situation from escalating, he had originally wanted to ask Yan Sichen to come forward to handle it, but he hadn't expected that rebellious son to be absent.

And his second son had always been inept at handling these matters.

Sending a subordinate would make it seem like he didn't care.

So he had no choice but to come in person.

After arriving at Furong Xuan, he already knew who the person that had clashed with Yan Sidong was, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

He had also heard of Pei Shaoqing's arrogance.

But his status and standing were just so-so.

He would not dare to clamor against a dignified prince like him.

Therefore, in his view, stepping forward personally to settle this matter and win back face for his son was as easy as turning over one's hand.

(End of this chapter)