Chapter 30 (1/2)

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Why The Need For Proof?

The pimp rolled his eyes, frustrated that Chengfeng had meddled with his business. He wanted revenge. He ran up to Chengfeng and walked alongside him. He said with a forced smile, “This way, Master Li. That was a misunderstanding, let bygones be bygones.”

Chengfeng mulled over the pimp's words, but he remained silent. As they continued to stroll, Chengfeng saw a wide, s.p.a.cious garden behind the court. The garden had swings, gazebos, ponds, and even a little bridge.

Chengfeng remarked, “Who knew that Lady Sumei, a stoic-looking lady, enjoyed a little bit of fun?”

The pimp replied with a courteous laughter, “Our Lady may seem cold and unbothered, but she's quite the opposite. You'll get to know her better once you start talking to her.”

Qiu Liansheng quipped, “Oh yes, we'll get to know her very well.”

Although the pimp despised Chengfeng, his face made no indication of it. He coyly remarked, “I'll let you in on a little piece of information, ever since Miss Zhixin's cremation, our Lady has been constantly thinking about you.”

Liansheng laughed, with barely disguised horniness, “Oh brother, looks like you have a chance to really 'get to know' her tonight!”

Both Liansheng and the pimp laughed in response to Liansheng's joke. But the pimp stopped himself from laughing too heartily, for it hurt his injured ear.

The three of them made their way to the main hall. In the hall, a group of people can be seen drinking, conversing, and surrounded by entertainers and courtesans. One of them was a man, who was standing. The surrounding people were dressed simply, as if they were servants, but they looked as if they carried themselves highly and confidently. Some of the people also looked like scholars, who seemed as if they were there because they managed to curry favours with someone. It was at this moment, the man waved his glit jade folding fan and yelled, “One hundred and fifty taels!”

The entire hall roared and cheered.

Chengfeng was shocked. His eyes were wide and jaws dropped. 'One hundred and fifty for drinks and entertainment? Who the h.e.l.l is this?'

This was too much. Five silvers alone could sustain a small family's expenditures for a month. To spend one hundred and fifty on drinks and entertainment, it was unheard of.

The pimp said softly, as if he heard Chengfeng's thoughts, “The young master who's standing, the one with blue sleeves, that's Zhou Qingyang.”

Chengfeng's eyes darted towards the man as described by the pimp. Between two bodyguards who were built like towers, stood a young, slender man. He wore a fine, blue robe, with an expensive fan in hand. He looked handsome and princely, and carried an air of regalness around him.

Although Chengfeng was secretly fuming, he remained calm. He was plotting his next move.

The moment the young master barked his order, all the other masters in the hall were stunned. A normal day of drinking and entertainment wouldn't cost more than twenty or thirty silvers. For this idiot to yell out one hundred and fifty silvers, it was absurd. This person had too much money to spend!

The hall was thrown into an excited discussion. But it was quickly interrupted by a beautiful piano melody which came from the floor above. The crowd turned their attention towards the melody. They saw a window open, and perched on the window was a maiden of exquisite beauty. She was beautifully done up and dressed, but the most noticeable thing about her were her eyes which s.h.i.+ned like a pair of crystals. Her stare seemed to have a lingering effect among the crowd whom she scanned through.

The master with the fan roared with proud laughter, “Hah! I dare say there's no such woman who doesn't love money! Come to daddy and show me the way!”

The handmaiden above shot back, “Hmph, who cares about your money? I've seen better!”

“Then why did you open the window?”

The handmaiden was incensed, and shot back with hands on her hips, “I opened the window to see which toad would drool over the swan! Alas, it's just another toad: you!”

Those among the crowd who disdained the master's spending habits laughed at the handmaiden's remark.

Zhou Qingyang's face was red with embarra.s.sment. He stepped forward to shout, “You little wretch, watch your words! Do you know who I am?”

The handmaiden, whose name was Little Bell, took one look at Qingyang and replied, “Hmph, isn't it the young, dumb playboy, Master Zhou Qingyang? Now that Zhixin's dead, you can't wait to get yourself some fresh bosom?”

Qingyang was taken aback, “Zhixin and I were just friends, nothing else!”

Little Bell was enraged, “You can't fool me! Everyone else may not know what you've done, but I sure as h.e.l.l do!”

Qingyang laughed icily, “I, Zhou Qingyang, am an intelligent scholar who studied the texts of Confucius. A prodigy of the literature and arts by thirteen, a national scholar by seventeen! What have I done that is so despicable? Care to share?”

As Little Bell was about to say something, a hand reached out from behind and gave her a little tug. She turned to see who it was, and saw Liu Sumei, who shook her head ever so slightly. Little Bell had no choice but to swallow her words.

Across Daqi, cultivators are highly regarded. But the ones who manage the country's affairs aren't the high-ranking priests, it is the Circle of Scholars. They wield a large chunk of the world's resources and influence the leaders.h.i.+ps and teachings of countries!

Had Little Bell said what she was about to say, who knows what will happen to her if Qingyang reports this back to members of the Circle?

Little Bell usually got the final word in arguments. But this time, she would have to lose. She was very unhappy with it.