Chapter 94: The Pleasure House

Unlike the members of the Ye family, who were entangled in their own complications, Jiang Li led a far more relaxed existence. At least to the servants of the Ye household, this Second Miss Jiang displayed no signs of discomfort, as if she were not living in the Ye mansion for the very first time. The maids assigned to serve her had long been familiar with her past exploits—how years ago she had disdained having maternal relatives who were mere merchants, and later, how she had allegedly murdered her mother and brother, leading to her exile in a convent.

They had expected a vicious, unruly, and spoiled young lady who would be impossible to please. To their surprise, she was remarkably easy to accommodate. She made no unreasonable demands, and whenever a task could be handled by her own maids, Tong'er and Bai Xue, she refrained from troubling the Ye servants. If Jiang Li was a guest, she was certainly the easiest one to serve.

The Ye family maids breathed a sigh of relief. Within a few days, they grew familiar with Tong'er and Bai Xue. Tong'er was spirited and often shared snacks with them, while Bai Xue, having come from a rural background, was exceptionally approachable. The maids grew bolder and began sharing gossip and anecdotes with them.

However, even after five or six days had passed, the Ye family still had not taken the initiative to arrange a meeting between Jiang Li and the Old Madam.

When Tong'er brought this up with Jiang Li, she was quite indignant. "What exactly does the Ye family mean? They promised to let you see the Old Madam, but they haven't mentioned a word since. It’s truly anxiety-inducing."

Since the Ye family wouldn't bring it up, Jiang Li found it difficult to ask.

"You’ve been getting along quite well with those maids; didn't you find out anything?" Jiang Li asked with a smile. Unlike Tong'er, she was not in a hurry. She was not the real Second Miss Jiang; the Old Madam was merely a grandmother in name. As for genuine affection, there was little to speak of. To feign a desperate longing would feel far too contrived. Now that she had arrived in Xiangyang and secured a place in the Ye mansion, she had completed her first step—the rest had gone quite smoothly.

Tong'er shook her head. "I heard from the maids in the courtyard that the Old Madam's health is poor. Even getting out of bed has been difficult for her for years. The doctor says she needs quiet recuperation." She sighed. "Perhaps we can't blame the Ye family. If the Old Madam truly cannot handle excitement, then it is indeed not the time for you to meet her." She recalled something and added, "I heard that because of her poor health, the Third Master, who has been traveling, is rushing back to Xiangyang. He should be here in a few days."

The Old Madam had three sons and one daughter. Ye Minghui was the eldest, Ye Mingxuan the second. The Third Master, Ye Mingyu, was born at the same time as Ye Zhenzhen. While Ye Zhenzhen was simple and kind-hearted, Ye Mingyu had never been one to follow the rules. In his youth, he loved to travel as a wandering knight, but after getting a cold reception in the martial arts world, he decided to return home to do business. Even in business, Ye Mingyu insisted on being eccentric. Every year, he would accompany maritime trade fleets to remote, exotic small towns, spending silver on odd trinkets only to resell them later.

Sometimes he would find something valuable, but more often than not, his caravan didn't make much profit. Fortunately, the Ye family was wealthy, and with the eldest and second masters managing the core business, they allowed him to indulge his whims.

This time, likely because the Old Madam was truly unwell, Ye Mingyu was returning from his voyage before the end of the year to visit his mother.

Because Ye Zhenzhen and Ye Mingyu were fraternal twins, they had been very close since childhood. When Jiang Li had previously spoken cruel words that hurt the Old Madam, the Ye family had turned their hearts against her, with only the Third Master still thinking of her. It was only when Ye Minghui issued a strict order forbidding any mention of Jiang Li in the Ye house that Ye Mingyu finally stopped.

If one were to mend ties with the Ye family, the others—polite yet distant—would be difficult to approach. This Third Master, however, seemed like a perfect opening.

"The Third Master isn't returning to Xiangyang just because of the Old Madam, is he?" Bai Xue, who was wiping the table, remarked. "I heard that the Ye family’s business has run into some trouble. The maids outside say the Third Master is coming back to help."

"The business has trouble?" Jiang Li asked. "What kind of trouble?"

Bai Xue shook her head. "The servant girls didn't know the specifics, and I imagine they aren't very clear on it either. They only said it was a minor issue."

Jiang Li pondered. If it were a minor issue, there would be no need for Ye Mingyu to rush back to Xiangyang. As the rumors went, Ye Mingyu played no real role in the family business. If even someone as insignificant as him had to return, the Ye family's trouble was certainly not as trivial as it was made out to be.

But the Ye family did not trust her yet, and she had no way of knowing the truth.

She actually longed to return to Tongxiang, but Xiangyang was not close. To the people of Xiangyang, Tongxiang was merely a backwater. Even if she asked about Xue Huaiyuan, it was likely no one would know him.

However... Jiang Li’s eyes flickered. There was another way to gather news about Tongxiang from within Xiangyang. Here, besides the Ye family, she was not without acquaintances.

After all, she had been Xue Fangfei for so many years.

Jiang Li stood up. "It’s too stuffy in this room. Let’s go out for a walk."

Tong'er looked at her in surprise. "Where to?"

"Just a stroll," Jiang Li smiled. "This place is much smaller than Yanjing. Since it's my first time in Xiangyang, staying in the Ye mansion all day isn't a solution. Since there's nothing to do and the Ye family won't let me see the Old Madam, we might as well walk around, follow the local customs, and see what Xiangyang is like—how it differs from Yanjing."

Tong'er and Bai Xue were stunned at first, then nodded in agreement. Tong'er laughed, "That’s a good idea! We aren't short on silver. If you see anything you like, or anything they don't have in Yanjing, just buy it. We'll take it back with us."

Jiang Li laughed. "Of course."

...

As they were dressed and ready to head out, they happened to run into Ye Jia'er and Madam Zhuo.

The two women were also taken aback. Madam Zhuo looked a bit awkward and flustered for a moment before looking at Jiang Li. "Where are you going, A-Li?"

She called her "A-Li" with noticeable stiffness, which felt strange to Tong'er as well. Yet, to Jiang Li, the name sounded incredibly intimate, as if Xue Huaiyuan were calling her "A-Li" back in Tongxiang.

"It’s stifling in the room, so I thought I'd go out for a stroll," Jiang Li answered with a smile.

Madam Zhuo was stunned. For the past few days, Jiang Li had barely left her courtyard. Their few encounters were during meals, where the Ye family was extremely polite but nothing more. Jiang Li had also been exceptionally quiet. To have her suddenly propose going out for a walk left Madam Zhuo momentarily speechless.

"You... you're planning to go out alone?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yes," Jiang Li laughed. "It's my first time in Xiangyang; I'd like to see how it differs from Yanjing."

Madam Zhuo felt a flush of embarrassment. It was unbecoming to let a young lady from Yanjing wander around the unfamiliar streets of Xiangyang by herself. However, she was due to assist her sister-in-law, Madam Guan, with the account books and was truly tied up. Besides, she didn't know how to interact with Jiang Li if she were to accompany her. To be honest, their polite but distant relationship was uncomfortable for both of them.

The Ye family members were not people who liked to hide their feelings.

It was Ye Jia'er, who had been quietly listening, who spoke up softly. "It’s fine. I have to go to Lizheng Hall, so I'm heading out as well. I'll go with my cousin."

Jiang Li paused, smiling. "There is no need to trouble you, Cousin..."

Ye Jia'er laughed. "What trouble is it? It's on the way. Lizheng Hall is a shop owned by the Ye family. I’m going to check on it. If you don't mind, Cousin, you can come and see if there are any clothes you like. If you see something you fancy, I'll gift it to you."

With the offer laid out so clearly, further refusal would seem ungrateful. Moreover, Ye Jia'er was, so far, the friendliest person Jiang Li had met in the Ye mansion. Jiang Li replied, "In that case, I will respectfully accept."

Ye Jia'er beamed.

Madam Zhuo breathed a sigh of relief. Letting Jiang Li wander alone would reflect poorly on the Ye family's hospitality. Since they didn't know how to treat her, acting as a host to a guest was the safest path. Since Ye Jia'er had offered to accompany her, it no longer felt like a slight.

...

Soon, however, Madam Zhuo had another thought. Although Second Miss Jiang currently appeared docile and gentle, who knew what she was like underneath? If she deliberately made things difficult for her daughter, given Ye Jia'er's honest nature, she might suffer.

She worried, but couldn't think of a better solution. Plus, Ye Jia'er gave her a look that told her not to worry. Despite her lingering reluctance, she allowed the two of them to leave the mansion.

Jiang Li and her cousin walked out of the Ye family gates.

Ye Jia'er was a quintessential noble lady. Although from a merchant family, her demeanor, speech, and etiquette were elegant and refined. In comparison, while the noble ladies of Yanjing had prestigious backgrounds, they were often spoiled; Ye Jia'er possessed none of those bad habits.

She was very friendly toward Jiang Li. Unlike the cautious and distant attitude of the rest of the Ye family, Ye Jia'er treated Jiang Li as a cousin she hadn't seen in a long time—warm and curious. She asked about Yanjing, and Jiang Li didn't hide anything, sharing stories one by one.

When intelligent people interact, they often click. By the time they reached Lizheng Hall, they had grown much closer, establishing a tacit understanding that didn't need to be stated.

After walking for some time, Ye Jia'er stopped and gestured to Jiang Li. "Look, that is the Ye family’s shop, Lizheng Hall."

Not far away stood an exquisite building with red tiles. Nestled in the heart of the bustling market, the building occupied over ten acres, appearing quite grand.

"All of the Ye family's textiles are here. The tailor shops in Xiangyang get their fabrics from Lizheng Hall. We are most famous for our ancient silk satin. If you like it, Cousin, we can go in and pick a few bolts."

Jiang Li nodded.

The Ye family were wealthy merchants with a hand in many industries. After they withdrew from Yanjing, they treated their other ventures as hobbies, focusing primarily on their original textile business. Their fabrics were famous throughout the land, and the "ancient silk satin" Ye Jia'er mentioned was highly prized among the noble circles of Yanjing. It was no wonder the Ye family was so prosperous.

Though Ye Jia'er was humble, her tone betrayed a hint of pride when speaking of the family business. She turned to look at Jiang Li, only to see a calm expression without a trace of surprise.

This was not Jiang Li’s first time seeing Lizheng Hall. In the past, when she and Xue Zhao had come to Xiangyang, they would often see it while roaming the market. But they were not the sort of people who could afford such fine silk, so they had only ever looked from the outside, never entering.

Now, she was being invited as a guest of honor. Truly, the world is full of changes.

Ye Jia'er, unaware of the reason, assumed Jiang Li was truly a young lady from Yanjing who was accustomed to such things. She smiled, "Let's go in."

As they entered, the shop assistant spotted Ye Jia'er and immediately approached with a warm smile. "Miss Jia'er."

Ye Jia'er turned to Jiang Li. "Cousin, why don't you see if there is anything you fancy?"

Both the assistant and the shopkeeper looked at Jiang Li. Everyone in the shop knew about the Second Miss Jiang who had arrived in Xiangyang. Outsiders did not know that the rift between Jiang Li and the Ye family was due to her harsh words; they assumed it was simply because Jiang Yuanbai had remarried, leading to the cooling of relations between the two families. Even so, the rumors of her killing her mother and brother had reached Xiangyang. People had been speculating about this legendary, vicious Second Miss Jiang. Now, the person Ye Jia'er called "Cousin" was surely her.

But seeing the girl standing beside Ye Jia'er, she was not inferior in the slightest. Her features were clear and exquisite, her smile gentle and light—nothing like the cruel image they had imagined. If nothing else, those eyes—no one with a corrupted soul could possess such clear, limpid eyes.

While the shopkeeper and assistant were deep in thought, Jiang Li had already walked around the counter. The shopkeeper snapped to attention and immediately had the assistant pile up several new bolts of fabric in front of her. "Cousin-Miss, these are all the latest materials, and the patterns are very fashionable."

Jiang Li examined the silks. She had to admit, the Ye family deserved their reputation. These fabrics were even finer and more vibrant than those in Yanjing. When she touched them, they felt cool and smooth, as if emitting a faint, delicate fragrance.

"It seems there is no ancient silk satin here?" Jiang Li asked, tilting her head. She was genuinely curious. Since the Ye family was famous for it, why were only the latest fabrics on display? Surely they weren't withholding the good stuff from her, an outsider?

Ye Jia'er was stunned. She looked at the shopkeeper. "Manager Qian, why didn't you show my cousin the ancient silk satin?"

Manager Qian’s face immediately showed a flash of hesitation. "Miss Jia'er, it's not that I don't want to show it to the young lady, but..."

Before he could finish, his gaze suddenly froze. Jiang Li turned to look and saw two middle-aged men she didn't recognize.

"Uncle Zhuang, Uncle Zhao, why are you here?" Ye Jia'er asked.

The two men looked at Ye Jia'er. "Jia'er, are your father and uncle not here?"

"They aren't. Is something the matter?" Ye Jia'er asked cautiously.

The Ye family daughters were taught business from a young age. With Ye Shijie pursuing an official career, the family could not always rely on the older generation. Among the grandchildren, only Ye Rufeng and Ye Jia'er remained. However, the maids had said that Ye Rufeng was still too young and impulsive to handle matters as gracefully as Ye Jia'er. Currently, the Ye family had begun involving Ye Jia'er in some of the business at Lizheng Hall.

The two men exchanged glances and looked at Ye Jia'er. "There is indeed a matter. Since your father and the others aren't here, we will speak with you first."

They hadn't noticed Jiang Li, likely assuming she was just a friend of Ye Jia'er. Jiang Li, however, was observing them. Their tone was not light, as if they had encountered something difficult.

Ye Jia'er nodded. She gave Jiang Li an apologetic smile. "Cousin, I have a matter to discuss with Uncle Zhuang and Uncle Zhao. Would you mind waiting a moment..."

"It’s no trouble," Jiang Li interrupted gently. "You go ahead and discuss your business. I only came out for a walk today and was already pleasantly surprised to see Lizheng Hall. I will just walk around the area with Tong'er and Bai Xue. I won't go far, it's fine."

"You... alone..."

"It's alright," Jiang Li said. "There are city guards everywhere; I'm not afraid."

Seeing her persistence, Ye Jia'er couldn't say much more. Besides, she didn't know how long the discussion would take, and letting Jiang Li wait outside would be boring. She nodded and followed the two men inside. Jiang Li bid farewell to Manager Qian and left with Tong'er and Bai Xue.

On the road, Tong'er asked, "Miss, why didn't you wait for Cousin Jia'er? You didn't even get to see the ancient silk satin."

Jiang Li teased her, "It's not as if you haven't seen it in Yanjing. Why are you acting like it's your first time? Aren't you embarrassed to have forgotten what it looks like?"

"But the satin in Yanjing was shipped there. The Ye family's own stock might have more exquisite pieces!" Tong'er pouted, then pulled Bai Xue over. "And while I've seen it, Bai Xue hasn't, right?"

Bai Xue answered honestly, "I have. The second day after you were honored by the Emperor, the Old Madam sent over many fabrics, and there was ancient silk satin among them. You even let me touch it."

Tong'er: "..."

Jiang Li laughed. "Alright, I have my own matters to attend to, which are more important than silk." In truth, she had wanted to stay. The two men looked like they were dealing with something urgent, and Manager Qian’s hesitation suggested it was linked to the "small trouble" Tong'er had mentioned. She wanted to know what was going on, but realized Ye Jia'er might not tell her.

This young lady already possessed a sharp, methodical mind. She was honest and sincere, but not naive. In matters of the Ye family business, she would be even more cautious.

Since staying at Lizheng Hall wouldn't yield results, she might as well leave. Besides, she would find out what she needed to know eventually. She had more important things to do right now.

"Miss, where are we going now? Don't go too far. It's your first time in Xiangyang; if you get lost and don't know how to return, we didn't bring the carriage."

Xiangyang was different from Yanjing. Noble ladies in Yanjing never went out without a carriage, but in Xiangyang, it was a matter of preference. It was common for ladies to walk the streets—a testament to the simple, honest folk customs. While she would be mocked in Yanjing, Jiang Li quite enjoyed the feeling here.

It was very free.

"It's fine," Jiang Li smiled. "Let's just stroll along this street."

Tong'er didn't suspect anything, but Bai Xue felt something was off. Although Jiang Li said she was just wandering, her steps were firm, as if she had a destination in mind. Moreover, Bai Xue had a feeling that Jiang Li was very familiar with Xiangyang. Just like the crops they tended—knowing where the grain grew and where the fruits were planted—there was no confusion.

But Tong'er had said this was Jiang Li's first time back, and everyone else said the same, so it must be her own imagination. Bai Xue shook her head, casting the strange feeling away.

Her intuition, however, was soon confirmed.

After walking for a while, Jiang Li stopped.

"Miss?" Tong'er stopped as well, thinking Jiang Li was tired. "Are you tired? Should I help you rest your feet?"

"No need," Jiang Li said. "Let's go in."

"Go in?" Tong'er looked ahead in surprise. It looked like an ordinary courtyard gate, nothing special. "Miss, this is someone's home, isn't it? Where are we going? Do you know the people inside?" She thought, *How could she know anyone in Xiangyang? Besides the Ye family, she has no connection here.*

"It's not a home," Jiang Li replied unexpectedly. "This is the back door of the Xihua Pavilion."

"Xi-Xihua Pavilion?" Tong'er stammered. "What kind of place is that? A restaurant?" She vaguely felt the name didn't sound quite respectable.

Jiang Li smiled. "It is the most famous brothel in Xiangyang."

Tong'er and Bai Xue were completely stunned.

...

"My Lord, Second Miss Jiang went to the Xihua Pavilion."

As soon as these words were spoken, Lu Ji, sitting in the pavilion, couldn't swallow his tea and spat it out with a "pfft."

Opposite him, the beauty in red was quick-witted. With a "snap," he unfolded his fan, blowing all the tea Lu Ji had sprayed back onto his face, a look of disgust flashing in his eyes.

Poor Lu Ji—choked by his own spit and drenched by the tea fanned back by Ji Heng, he sat there, half his body soaked, looking utterly pathetic. The suave, elegant scholar had never been in such a state. If Kong Liu, that boor, were here, he would surely have had a good laugh.

But Lu Ji didn't care about his own disheveled state. He urged Wen Ji, "Are you sure? She went to the Xihua Pavilion?"

"Indeed," Wen Ji said steadily. "And Second Miss Jiang entered through the back door."

"Is there a difference between the back door and the front door?" Lu Ji asked, confused.

"The Xihua Pavilion is the most famous brothel in Xiangyang, and its patrons are the city's dignitaries. The men enter through the front door. When the wives of those dignitaries come to find their husbands, they enter through the back."

Lu Ji had a sudden realization. *Ah, I see.* Simply put, the men enter through the front, and the wives come through the back to preserve the men's dignity. The Xihua Pavilion was remarkably thoughtful, which was why it was the most popular brothel in Xiangyang.

"But how did she know about the back door?" Lu Ji asked. "Did the Ye family tell her? Don't they pride themselves on being clean and avoiding such places? And how would a noble lady discuss a brothel with them? Isn't her relationship with them still very strained?"

Lu Ji was completely baffled. It was no wonder—who could understand why the daughter of the Yanjing Chief Minister would make a brothel her first stop in Xiangyang, and even know the etiquette of using the back door? It seemed utterly impossible.

Ji Heng didn't pay attention to Lu Ji. He asked coldly, "Who is she with?"

"Second Miss Jiang is with her two maids. No one led the way."

Ji Heng: "Then observe—did she go there intentionally, or did she pass by by accident?"

"Reporting to My Lord, I believe she went there intentionally," Wen Ji hesitated before speaking his mind. "Second Miss Jiang does not seem unfamiliar with the roads of Xiangyang. The distance from Lizheng Hall to the Xihua Pavilion is not short, yet she found it. She didn't go anywhere else along the way; she went straight to the pavilion."

"This..." Lu Ji tried to find a suitable explanation. "Second Miss Jiang has always had an exceptional memory. During the Six Arts examinations, her 'Book of Rites' was top-tier. Even though she only studied in the capital for a few days, perhaps she has a photographic memory."

"No." The one who denied him was Wen Ji. "Even if she had a photographic memory, coming from Yanjing to an unfamiliar place like Xiangyang, one would naturally be vigilant and cautious. But Second Miss Jiang showed none of that. She was relaxed and bold; she seemed to be at ease in Xiangyang."

As Wen Ji spoke, he couldn't help but recall the scene from the shadows. Jiang Li wasn't alone, and it was precisely because of her two maids that she stood out even more. She seemed to blend into the streets of Xiangyang as if she had grown up there. This sense of familiarity and closeness was even more apparent than when she was in Yanjing.

"She even knows the rules of the back door of the Xihua Pavilion; she cannot be underestimated," Ji Heng smiled. "Jiang Li has been trying every possible way to return to Xiangyang; perhaps this is why. Wen Ji," he said calmly, "have your men keep a close watch on her. See what she does and who she meets in the Xihua Pavilion."

"I am very curious to see what other surprises this Second Miss Jiang can bring us," he said with a smile.