"Yan Zheng really has quite the temper, doesn't he?"
Song Yu remarked with a click of his tongue, feeling so pleased that he thought he could read half a book more today.
"Who would've thought? And all because the matron said a few words." A sly glint flashed in Song Shihuan's eyes. "Father kindly assigned him a matron who dotes on his every need, yet he didn’t appreciate the gesture at all."
Dotes on his every need...
Liuxi and Baoxia, standing by the doorway, exchanged a glance and shuddered.
That wasn’t doting—that was pure nagging.
She could stretch one matter into four and spend half a day lecturing on a single principle.
With the Crown Prince’s impatient temperament, how could he tolerate such a matron?
"Ah! My goodwill has been utterly wasted. Truly heartbreaking." Song Yu shook his head dramatically. "With this anger pent up inside me, tomorrow you shall accompany me to stake out the brothel. We’ll catch whichever blind-eyed official dares to sneak in for pleasure and vent our frustrations on them."
"Father is most wise."
Liuxi and Baoxia exchanged another glance.
As expected, just as Lord Shen had said—never cross the Prince or the Princess.
Meanwhile, word of the commotion at the Ping Prince's Mansion reached Emperor Yuanyou’s ears.
"The Qin Prince was right—the Ping Prince's household is in utter disarray."
The Emperor slammed his hand on the table. "As sons, they neither pay respects to their stepmother nor their birth mother. What are they trying to do? Rebel against the heavens?"
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger." Wu Qi, his face still bruised from the last punishment, dropped to his knees with a thud.
"Tell those six matrons to reform the disgraceful habits of the Ping Prince's household." Emperor Yuanyou fumed, his chest heaving. "And as for Yan Zheng’s temperament, someone must temper it properly."
With the Emperor’s decree, the six matrons took permanent residence in the Ping Prince's Mansion.
...
The next day, Shen Qingping arrived at the Qin Prince's Mansion after lunch to discuss official matters with Song Yu. Their meeting stretched until sunset.
"How much more is there to discuss?"
Song Yu couldn’t help but ask.
"Does Your Highness have other pressing matters?" Shen Qingping paused, spotting a familiar shadow outside the door.
"Indeed. I’m eager to take Ahuan out for tea."
Song Yu grinned and added, "We’ve already reserved a spot at the teahouse opposite the Spring Bliss Brothel."
"If Your Highness and the Princess don’t mind, I’d like to join you for a cup."
Shen Qingping promptly closed his memorandum. Official business? What was that compared to amusement?
To avoid drawing attention, the three didn’t even take the Qin Prince's distinctive carriage. Instead, they traveled in an ordinary one, weaving through the streets until they reached a private room in the teahouse.
"I’ve had people watching the Spring Bliss Brothel."
Shen Qingping took a sip of tea. "The night after Your Highness proposed the new law, not a single official dared to visit. For three days after, none were seen either."
"But by the fourth day, someone grew bold enough to return."
"So they thought my words were empty threats when I stopped posting guards?" Song Yu’s crude phrasing nearly made Song Shihuan choke on her tea, her face flushing red.
The words were rough, but the reasoning was sound.
Still… her father’s choice of words was truly uncouth.
"Teacher, my father suffered quite the insult at the Ping Prince's Mansion yesterday, so today he’s here to make an example of someone." Song Shihuan caught her breath. "We’re in for quite the spectacle soon."
"Your Highness… suffered an insult?"
Shen Qingping found that hard to believe.
By the time they were on their third cup of tea, night had fallen over the capital, and the Spring Bliss Brothel came alive with activity.
"Oh, Lord Zhuo! It’s been so long—this humble one has missed you terribly!"
"Lord Tian, please, come right in!"
Within an hour, several officials had been spotted entering.
"That makes four."
Song Shihuan leaned against the windowsill, counting. "All of them are lower-ranking officials, probably thinking that the law won’t punish so many—that Father wouldn’t go to such lengths."
"Only four?"
Song Yu’s stomach sloshed with tea. "Let’s wait longer. Four isn’t enough."
The spectacle wouldn’t be grand enough.
So they waited another hour.
"Father, nine now."
A roguish smirk curled on Song Yu’s lips.
"Liuxi, round them up."
...
The sound of rapid footsteps shattered the brothel’s decadent revelry as Liuxi and a group of armed guards stormed inside.
"By the laws of Great Qi, any official caught in a brothel shall receive fifty public lashes. A second offense warrants dismissal from office."
"Search every corner of this brothel! Leave no stone unturned!"
In less time than it took to burn an incense stick, the nine officials were dragged out and forced to kneel in the street.
"Didn’t expect this, did you? I’ve been waiting for you lot."
Song Yu’s voice rang out, striking terror into the kneeling men like the roar of the King of Hell himself.
"Your Highness, this humble official merely came to compose poetry with Lady Taohua! There was no impropriety—"
"At least pull your pants up before lying."
Shen Qingping’s dry remark turned the man’s face ashen.
"Bring the rods. I’ll have these nine lashed in public."
The crowd fell silent at Song Yu’s command.
The Qin Prince meant…
To have these lofty officials beaten before their very eyes?
In moments, the nine were pinned over benches.
"Your Highness, the law does not punish the masses!"
"Ridiculous. Tell that to the families wiped out by imperial decree." Song Yu scoffed. Since when did the law excuse collective wrongdoing?
"Begin the punishment!"
The rods fell again and again on the men’s backs, drawing howls of agony. Every man inside the brothel scrambled out and fled without looking back.
None wanted to be next.
By the twentieth strike, some had fainted, others collapsed.
"The law is no joke. Today is just the beginning." Song Yu declared loudly. "From now on, I’ll have men inspect brothels and pleasure houses at random. If you’re caught once, you’ll be lashed publicly like today."
"Twice, and you’re stripped of your position."
"I don’t negotiate with lawbreakers."
With that, Song Yu glanced at the nine men and addressed one still conscious. "Lord Zhuo, do you accept today’s judgment?"
"I accept, Your Highness. I accept."
What else could he say?
After being beaten half to death, did he have a choice?
