The burlap sack naturally failed to land on Ye Chutang’s head.
She retrieved a dagger from her spatial storage and sliced the incoming sack clean in half.
Two masked men holding the sack were exposed.
One of them drew a knife from his boot and snarled, "Surrender quietly, or you’ll lose your life!"
"I doubt you have the skill to take it."
The moment the words left her lips, Ye Chutang’s dagger was already airborne.
It pierced straight through the man’s heart.
"Hel—"
He collapsed dead before he could finish.
The other man froze in terror, forgetting to flee.
He could only watch as Ye Chutang yanked the bloodied dagger from her victim’s chest and pressed it against his throat.
The blade, still warm and sticky, made his hair stand on end.
"P-please, spare me!"
His legs gave way as he begged, dropping to his knees.
The sharp edge nicked his carotid artery, sending blood spurting.
Ye Chutang: "..."
"Lucky I dodged fast, or I’d have ruined a perfectly good dress."
She crouched and sealed the stunned man’s pressure points to stop the bleeding.
Though less effective than acupuncture, it was enough to interrogate him.
"Who sent you?"
She already suspected the answer.
Xu Kang!
She’d made plenty of enemies, but they were all formidable. If they wanted her dead, they wouldn’t send idiots like these.
Sure enough, the lackey confirmed it.
"My master is Xu Kang, son of the Imperial Historian."
"And what were his orders?"
"Beat you half to death, break your legs, then dump you at… at Yingchun Court."
Yingchun Court was a moderately infamous brothel in the capital.
Ye Chutang’s lips curled into a cold smile.
"Then you die without innocence."
She snapped his neck, disguised herself as a man, and headed straight for Yingchun Court.
She was certain Xu Kang would be there, waiting to see her fall into the mud.
It wasn’t yet dusk.
The sun hung low, harsh and blinding.
At the brothel’s entrance, gaudily dressed women waved handkerchiefs, their heavy perfume thick in the air.
"Young master, come inside! Music, dance, and beauties to embrace—bliss like immortality!"
Ye Chutang slung an arm around one girl’s shoulders. "Let’s see just how blissful it gets."
"You won’t be disappointed."
Inside, the sound of strings and flutes mingled with the sight of slender dancers, a scene of decadence.
Still early, the place was nearly empty.
Ye Chutang spotted Xu Kang instantly, lounging in an upstairs private booth.
He’d surrounded himself with courtesans—each bearing some resemblance to Ye Anling when their faces were pieced together.
"Pathetic devotion."
Her mutter went unheard by the girl beside her.
"What was that, young master?"
Ye Chutang flicked the girl’s chin playfully. "I said I want that booth upstairs."
The madam scurried over, her ample hips swaying.
"First time here, young master? Our second floor requires a fee—ten taels."
Ye Chutang pulled out a hundred-tael note.
"Give me your finest wine, dishes, and women."
The madam snatched the silver, her silk scarf brushing Ye Chutang’s face.
"Right away! Hongluan, Yunyan, Ruxue, Ziwei—attend our guest!"
Four beauties, each alluring in her own way, escorted her upstairs.
As the madam barked orders for a lavish feast, her gaze lingered on Ye Chutang’s retreating figure.
She slipped into the wine cellar, where a hidden room served as a message hub.
Scrawling a note, she wrote: Master, the silhouette you seek—I may have found it. —Linglong
The message vanished into the hands of a courier.
Unaware of the scrutiny, Ye Chutang settled into the booth adjacent to Xu Kang’s.
Divided only by a screen, their conversations carried.
She struck first, lifting Hongluan’s chin. "Your eyes… they remind me of Anling’s."
Hongluan, oblivious, blushed. "To please you is an honor."
A crash came from next door—Xu Kang’s chair toppling as he lurched over, dragging Hongluan away.
"You’re coming with me."
Ye Chutang tripped him mid-stride.
As Hongluan stumbled, Ye Chutang caught her waist and seated her safely.
"Stay put. I’ll handle this."
Her foot ground into Xu Kang’s shin.
"Who taught you to steal what’s mine?"
Xu Kang howled, his leg near breaking.
"Stop! Or I’ll make your death painful!"
"Can’t even tell foot from hand—are you an imbecile?"
The madam intervened, sweating.
"Please, young master! This is Xu Kang, the Imperial Historian’s son. You can’t strike him!"
"And how do you know my father doesn’t outrank his?"
The madam faltered.
"Peace makes for better fun."
When Ye Chutang didn’t relent, the madam turned to Xu Kang, now pale.
"Young Master Xu, you ignored Hongluan earlier. Taking her now is… improper."
The unspoken demand: Apologize.
Xu Kang loathed yielding, but his leg screamed otherwise.
"My… apologies for the disturbance."
Ye Chutang scoffed. "You ruined my mood. Think an apology suffices?"
"I’ll cover your expenses tonight!"
She released his leg. "How generous."
To the madam, she extended a hand. "Return my silver. Charge him."
The madam complied—her profits unchanged.
Xu Kang paled further at the hundred-tael note.
That was his entire budget!
He usually spent half that here. If he paid now, he’d be broke.
Ye Chutang patted his shoulder, her scent oddly fragrant.
"No hard feelings. Next round’s on me."
Xu Kang recoiled. "There won’t be a next time!"
As he limped off with Hongluan, Ye Chutang ordered two jars of premium wine—another twenty taels on his tab.
Xu Kang’s eye twitched, but he bit his tongue.
Out of sight, out of mind.
He hauled Hongluan back, his injured leg dragging.
The moment he left, Ye Chutang "generously" summoned the star courtesan, Lanqing.
Between being fed delicacies by the women, she eavesdropped.
Soon, the drug she’d smeared on Xu Kang took effect.
