Chapter 17: Meeting Meng Hou at the Brothel

For three straight days, the Emperor hid away from everyone, the Embroidered Uniform Guard couldn't get in, and a pack of pure-stream officials went mad, with memorials from censors and chief officials across the realm pouring into the capital like snowflakes.

The Emperor remained vexed, the Empress stayed weary, and Zhu Xu had nowhere to roam, so every few days he slipped out of the palace.

Cuifang Tower.

Zhu Xu sat in a private room on the second floor, with Cao Huachun standing at his side. Zhu Xu's small face was fair and clean, his clothes resplendent—clearly a wealthy "noble" young master. Across from him, six heavily made-up beauties postured and flirted, casting seductive glances at Zhu Xu.

Zhu Xu looked at the girls—by his standards, they were simply unbearable to behold. Neither their figures nor their faces matched his aesthetic definition of "beautiful."

Still, he was full of curiosity about brothels of this era, and asked with keen interest: "Are there any prettier ones?"

The girls immediately feigned indignation, their every frown and smile all the more alluring.

"Oh my, little young master, these are the prettiest girls in our Cuifang Tower."

The one with the swaying barrel waist cooed as she stood before Zhu Xu. In her mind, this was just some noble young master sneaking out for novelty—he couldn't do much anyway—the key was to squeeze the silver from his belt.

Zhu Xu could see through her attitude at a glance. He tossed out a ingot of silver and said, "Forget it then. Bring some good food. Have these all leave."

The girls each gave a huff and turned to leave in a huff, while the madam happily took the silver, laughing repeatedly: "Then please wait a moment, little young master, it will be right up." With that, she swayed her barrel waist and left.

Zhu Xu pushed open the window of the private room and looked down at the main hall. At the edge, he spotted a middle-aged man wearing a black gauze hat and white long robe, drinking cup after cup with a troubled expression. Beside him, a seemingly gentle woman kept pouring his wine and whispering softly into his ear.

Zhu Xu's eyes narrowed slightly, and the corner of his mouth curled up unbidden. He suddenly turned to Cao Huachun and said: "Did you find that courtyard on the outskirts I asked for?"

Cao Huachun hurried over, suppressing his shrill voice to say: "Reporting to Your Highness, it's found—outside the city, halfway up a mountain, with no one for miles around. You can do whatever you wish there."

Zhu Xu nodded with satisfaction and said: "Send someone to my maternal uncle's place. Tell him I'll come by tonight."

Cao Huachun didn't know what Zhu Xu intended, but he was very obedient and said: "I'll send word to Lord Fu right away." He walked to the door and whispered to the two guards who had accompanied them out of the palace; one guard immediately hurried off.

Zhu Xu turned back and continued staring at the middle-aged man in the corner of the main hall.

The middle-aged man seemed nearly drunk, his face flushed red, yet his eyes burned with anger—the frustration of unfulfilled ambition.

The woman looked worried and gently consoled him: "Isn't the eunuch Wei being impeached now? Why are you still unhappy?"

"Impeached?" Anger surged across the middle-aged man's face, though he managed to restrain himself. He laughed coldly again and again: "Do you think the Emperor will deal with Wei Zhongxian? Even if he does, so what? They'll just replace him with another. They are inner courtiers—men like me, outer courtiers, will forever…" He was cut off by a sudden hiccup. It seemed his heart held too much anger; he set his face and said no more, raising his cup for another drink.

The woman's face showed a brief struggle, then she hesitated and said: "Now that you're about to give up your official post, I—I can redeem myself too. Why don't we…"

The middle-aged man's expression turned pained at her words, and he fell silent, unable to speak.

A bitter flash crossed the woman's lips, then she gently comforted him: "If you can't let go, then stay in the capital. I no longer need to show my face in public—if anything troubles you, just come find me."

The middle-aged man looked at her and said: "Qingqing, all these years…"

"Don't say any more of that," Yao Qingqing cut him off. She was now nearly thirty, but her face was still lovely and her bearing graceful. She smiled lightly: "These years I've fared far better than my sisters. Tell me what's weighing on your heart—I want to hear it."

The middle-aged man tilted his head back for another cup of wine, then looked up at the beams as if he could see the sky through them. He sighed deeply: "I am utterly disappointed in the court, yet I dare not forget my duty to the state. I've been researching firearms, and I've made some progress. In three to five years I could complete a treatise, but the court is so treacherous and unpredictable now that I truly dare not wade deeper into it."

Yao Qingqing smiled faintly and said: "After you resign, you can devote yourself even more fully. Find a place with beautiful mountains and waters, finish the work, and present it to the throne."

The middle-aged man's expression was bitter and troubled. He shook his head: "You don't understand. The court today is nothing but scheming and deceit, all for power—rotten to the core. Those who sincerely serve are constantly constrained. To accomplish anything is no easy matter."

Yao Qingqing didn't know much about court affairs. She simply kept comforting him, urging him to say more and stay with her a while longer.

The man drinking in dejection, the woman speaking in soft, gentle tones—the sight made Zhu Xu envious beyond measure.

"No—I must break them apart!" Zhu Xu burned with jealous resentment, a 'murderous gleam' flashing in his eyes.

"Your Highness, I've found out," Cao Huachun suddenly whispered at Zhu Xu's side.

"Found out what?" Zhu Xu was startled.

Cao Huachun said: "The woman sitting with Lord Bi is called Yao Qingqing. She was Cuifang Tower's former top courtesan. Several years ago she suddenly stopped receiving guests, and only comes out from the embroidered tower in back when Lord Bi visits."

Cao Wenzhao had already investigated all this before, but Zhu Xu still nodded in approval of Cao Huachun's diligence. After a moment's thought, he said: "Have your people withdraw from that courtyard on the mountain. Give them plenty of silver and send them back to their hometowns. As for the courtyard, make them keep their mouths shut."

"Yes, Your Highness." Cao Huachun didn't know much about Zhu Xu's affairs, but that didn't stop him from carrying out his duties conscientiously.

After another half hour or so, the middle-aged man downstairs rose in a half-drunk, half-sober state and walked toward the exit.

"Meng Hou!" Suddenly, Yao Qingqing stood up as well.

The middle-aged man turned his head, his face flushed, his body unsteady, looking at her through bleary, drunken eyes.

Yao Qingqing pressed her lips together and said softly: "You've drunk too much. Why not stay the night?"

The middle-aged man furrowed his brow and said: "Not tonight. Another day." With that, he staggered off.

Yao Qingqing stood in place. Her usually gentle expression turned somewhat forlorn. She watched the middle-aged man leave through the door, then let out a soft sigh and turned toward the back courtyard of Cuifang Tower, her silhouette desolate and lonely.

Zhu Xu was very interested in this Yao Qingqing. Watching her retreating figure, his heart stirred, and he said to Cao Huachun: "Go see this Yao Qingqing. Whatever means you must use, I want her as the female official steward of Jinghuan Palace."

Cao Huachun knew that Jinghuan Palace was short-staffed, but this woman's debased registry status… He hesitated and said: "Your Highness, bringing a courtesan into the palace—if Her Majesty the Empress were to learn of it, I fear…"

Zhu Xu waved his hand dismissively and said carelessly: "I'll handle my sister-in-law the Empress. You go handle it."

Seeing that Zhu Xu had made up his mind, Cao Huachun hastily said: "Yes, Your Highness."