Chapter 257: then translation of title

Chen Wuji gladly accepted Qin Feng's pretentious act, gave a brief reply with two sentences, then forcibly sent the brothel madam away, maintaining an aloof persona.

"Lao Chen, how about this arrangement I set up for you? One versus three, take it slow tonight." Qin Feng, after the brothel madam left, gave Chen Wuji a series of suggestive looks.

Chen Wuji was somewhat speechless; this was his usual nightly routine, nothing to get excited about.

"What do you intend to do, sir?" Chen Wuji asked.

He had little interest in a one-versus-three situation here today.

Qin Feng chuckled lightly, "Naturally I'm here as Xiaofeng's guest of honor; what else could I do?"

"Sir, I file a complaint!"

At that moment, another shout came from downstairs.

"I, a commoner, accuse the son of tea merchant Wang Hengyuan, Wang Min, of forcibly taking a civilian woman and having the brothel madam issue a document, then arranging for her redemption. As far as I know, there are three such cases."

Although the Dayu Court is currently corrupt, if we examine it seriously, its laws are actually quite comprehensive.

Take human trafficking, for example—it has existed throughout dynasties and repeatedly been banned yet never eradicated.

The Dayu Dynasty has a relatively complete system for this.

For instance, Smoke Willow Alley, a long‑standing hotspot for human trafficking, has officials from the Court assigned to strict inspections, and the paperwork is so convoluted that it's nearly impossible to find loopholes.

Suppose a Nong Symbol Symbol Symbol family wants to send their daughter to work at Ji Yunxuan, which means selling her.

They need to first go to the Village Chief with Ji Yunxuan's people to sign the documents, then submit them to the Xianya; the Xianya will pick a day to bring all three parties there and send people to investigate the actual situation of the Nong Symbol Symbol Symbol households, approving only if they are truly destitute and unable to support themselves.

If the family has surplus grain, the Court will cut off this transaction and forcibly bind them with a red thread—this is the welfare policy Chen Wuji encountered when he first crossed into this world.

Moreover, at this stage it's not over; the Court imposes a mandatory term on those who sell themselves: after nine years of work they must retire, so as not to interfere with the Court's policy encouraging population growth.

Generally, any policy is carried out fairly smoothly at first, but later it loosens up, creating loopholes.

Ordinary commoner families are not allowed to buy; they can only hire.

Take Xue Hongdou, for example—her document is an employment contract.

However, she is somewhat different in that she was granted as a reward, so her status falls between that of a concubine and a maid—this is a loophole the Court's laws overlook.

However, many people are keen on outright purchases, but the Court imposes limits on this, so these people shift their focus to places like Smoke Willow Alley, collude with the Xianya, and thus establishing a dependent arrangement becomes a natural outcome.

Buying and selling—with a glamorous turn, it becomes redemption, instantly granting complete control over a woman's life, even her life and death.

Women who have been redeemed from brothels have almost no legal protection.

In the Court's view, this is their own choice; they reap what they sow.

Only those who have retired receive this, and the Court even helps them find spouses and settle down.

Nowadays, most brothels have good relations with the Xianya; for convenience, they usually obtain many pre‑stamped blank documents from the Xianya.

Thus, over time, this has become a black‑market industry.

"Wang Min, who are you? Come out and let this official have a look!" Qin Feng climbed onto the chair and took a calm sip of wine.

In the crowd, a richly dressed young master rose and shouted angrily, "Sir, this scoundrel spouts nonsense, talks rubbish, spouts slander, spews filth, recklessly defames... I, a commoner, am innocent!"

"You want to spout nonsense? Take him away and investigate thoroughly!" Qin Feng waved his hand.

Two yamen runners rushed forward, twisted and grabbed him, pulling the still‑defending Wang Min down.

Chen Wuji suddenly noticed something quite interesting.

The one accusing Wang Min was still that same servant boy from before.

He must be an actor, right?

"Sir, I... I also want to file a complaint—Old Master Zhou forces the Lou Li girls to hold dates, causing several deaths, and the brothel madam covered it up to please him." The servant boy continued shouting.

Chen Wuji's eyebrows jerked up.

This holding dates...

Probably what he imagined; otherwise it couldn't cause death.

"Someone, seize this Lao Zamao for this official! At your age, and you're still a County Three Elder, yet you commit such heinous acts—bah, disgusting!" Qin Feng flew into a rage, pointing at a richly dressed elder in the crowd and bellowed at the top of his lungs.

The elder, panicked and indignant, said, "Qin Feng, this is baseless. As a local parent‑official, how can you listen to petty gossip and decide on a single word?"

"Old Master Zhou, I've been at Ji Yunxuan for nearly six years—I know the shady deeds you lot have pulled aren't normal, right?" The servant boy sneered, "I can even swear on my parents' names that what I'm saying is true—do you dare?"

Old Master Zhou didn't have time to retort before the yamen runners forcibly dragged him out.

"Lao Zamao, you still dare to quibble—first give him twenty heavy blows!" Qin Feng ordered.

Chen Wuji thought, with that old man's frail body, taking twenty heavy blows would likely send him to meet his grandfather.

However, by this point Chen Wuji also roughly guessed what Qin Feng intended to do.

This setup is rather clever.

Xiaofeng tidied her hair; under Ji Yunxuan's operation, this is clearly an elegant gathering in Yunan City, attracting many prominent and wealthy people.

Qin Feng followed the momentum, setting up a trap to catch turtles in a jar—saving time and effort, with beautiful women and fine wine.

Best of all, the ones caught are all fat turtles.

Hope that after this round, this guy can scrape together the money and grain he needs.

Qin Feng's verdict is still ongoing.

The servant boy who kept filing complaints dropped the act and named everyone outright.

The brothel madam implicated in all these events turned green with fear, yet she could not quibble, dare not flee, and could only wait helplessly for her turn.

But she didn't want her life to end just like that; her eyes darted around, and after probing various aspects with Shìhòu, she quietly ordered a maid to bring a stack of land deeds, then cautiously went upstairs, stood at the entrance to Qin Feng and Chen Wuji's elegant chamber, and knelt with a plop.

"Sir, I know I deserve death; I am willing to donate all my property to repair the Xianya, only begging... only begging you to spare my life." The brothel madam said in a trembling voice.

After Qin Feng ordered the yamen runners to take away Old Master Zhou, the brothel madam sensed that things were going badly.

This newly appointed county magistrate has come today targeting all of them.

Among those present there are plenty of the wealthy and powerful, but here today, even if they have great authority and influence, they cannot exert it—no one can leave, and there is absolutely no room to wield power.

Perhaps most of them are not deserving of death, but the brothel madam knows she is doomed.

It's gotten too tangled.

Qin Feng looked over, "How much wealth do you have?"

"Eleven hundred thousand taels of silver, property deeds... about twenty or more," the madam said in a trembling voice.

She heard the sound of her own heart breaking; this was her savings of half a lifetime.