Bai Zheng shook her head.
Zhu Ling was taken aback for a moment. Then, recalling the past, she smiled and said, "Right, right. Miss used to not care about such things, so it's natural that you don't know. But I've heard of her. This courtesan's name is so well - known. Not only in Yicui Pavilion but also in the entire Red - Lantern District, it's probably hard to find a more beautiful courtesan than her."
"Oh?" Bai Zheng rinsed her mouth. She felt refreshed between her lips and teeth, and her heart was also much lighter. She became interested and asked, "Then what's the name of this most beautiful courtesan?"
"People in the neighborhood call her Luo Niang."
"Luo Niang." Bai Zheng repeated these two words. Just pronouncing them made her mouth water. She thought Luo Niang must be a charming and alluring beauty. She looked at Zhu Ling and asked, "Does this big patron have any relation with Luo Niang?"
Zhu Ling gave a mischievous smile and then continued with the original topic. "The searching soldiers knocked on the door but no one answered. They thought there was a thief hiding inside, so they kicked the door open. Who would have thought..."
As Zhu Ling spoke, a blush appeared on her face. She was a bit embarrassed. "Who would have thought there were a group of half - dressed courtesans inside! A whole group! And in the middle of them was a naked young gentleman lying there. The scene was very erotic! The soldiers from the Metropolitan Magistrate's Office were all young lads. Where had they ever seen such a scene? They didn't know what to do."
Bai Zheng took the handkerchief and gently wiped the water stains from the corner of her lips. "So those patrons in the Red - Lantern District, whose fun was interrupted by the search, all gathered there to watch the show?"
Zhu Ling nodded like a chick pecking at rice. "Exactly! Everyone surrounded the place. The young gentleman seemed to be woken up by the noise outside. He cursed and said something like 'Who is so daring to disturb this young master's rest'. He was about to get up."
She glanced at Bai Zheng. "Luo Niang's early sleep was disturbed by those soldiers. She was about to go back. But when she passed by the door, she recognized the young gentleman at a glance. When he was cursing and no one else had reacted yet, she called out sweetly 'Young Master Li~' and walked in.
Luo Niang was born with fair skin and a beautiful face. She stretched out her delicate finger and touched the young gentleman's face that was about to be lifted, then turned his face away. The young gentleman was still cursing, but no one knew what Luo Niang whispered in his ear. Immediately, he fell silent and didn't turn back, still with his back to everyone.
Luo Niang swayed her willow - like waist and turned around. She gave a light smile to the stunned soldiers. Her smile melted the bones of those young lads. She said, 'Sir soldiers, Young Master Li is a big patron here. We mustn't offend him. In this room, except for the girls from Yicui Pavilion, there is only Young Master Li. There are no thieves hiding. Please give this humble woman a face. Search for the thieves, but don't affect the business of Yicui Pavilion.'
Luo Niang's voice was as pleasant as a golden oriole singing. How could those young lads be tough anymore? They kept saying 'Sorry for the offense' and were about to close the door. But a patron shouted, 'Isn't that Young Master Chu from the Prime Minister's Mansion? How could he be Young Master Li?' This attracted the attention of those men who were lustfully staring at Luo Niang back to the young gentleman standing behind Luo Niang with his back to everyone.
Luo Niang glared with her slender eyebrows, adding a bit more charm. She fanned her delicate round fan and seemed a bit unhappy. 'If this humble woman can misrecognize the big patron of Yicui Pavilion, I won't have the face to stay in the Red - Lantern District anymore.'"
Zhu Ling told the story vividly, which made Bai Zheng smile more and more. Bai Zheng poured her a cup of tea and said, "Have some water first. Don't get thirsty while talking."
Zhu Ling was in high spirits and didn't care. She directly picked up the tea and took a big sip, then continued, "That patron felt quite ashamed after being retorted like this. When the beauty got angry, the people around were all excited and stepped forward to support Luo Niang. The patron was scolded so badly that he fled in a hurry.
Luo Niang smiled again. Her charming and coquettish look made everyone drool. She stepped forward. Everyone was so focused on looking at her that they forgot to move. When they finally reacted, they found that she had already closed the door."
Bai Zheng picked up the wet handkerchief and gently wiped her cheeks. Hearing this, she said, "This Luo Niang is really an interesting woman."
"Although later, those who saw the young gentleman's back all thought he was very similar to Young Master Chu Feng. And the regular customers of Yicui Pavilion also said that they had never heard of a Young Master Li in Yicui Pavilion. So when this news spread, some people said that Young Master Chu from the Prime Minister's Mansion had spent the night in the Red - Lantern District and had fun with many courtesans. It was really absurd. But because of what Luo Niang said at that time and there was no solid evidence, the rumor didn't spread too wildly."
After Bai Zheng finished washing, she got up and started to get dressed. She casually picked a light blue long dress. Hearing Zhu Ling say this, she gave a faint smile.
"Miss," Zhu Ling quickly stepped forward to help Bai Zheng get dressed and asked, "Do you think the person who was having a wild time in Yicui Pavilion yesterday was really Young Master Chu?"
Bai Zheng didn't answer. She just glanced at Zhu Ling and asked rhetorically, "Is it a good thing to spend the night in the Red - Lantern District and have fun with many courtesans?"
"Of course not!" Zhu Ling quickly replied, "Going to the Red - Lantern District is already shameful, not to mention being with so many courtesans..." At this point, Zhu Ling couldn't help but feel nauseous and spat.
"Since that's the case, this Luo Niang, who claimed that she didn't dare to offend the patron, called that person Young Master Li so openly. Isn't she clearly making Young Master Li look bad?" Bai Zheng asked with a smile.
Zhu Ling's hand that was tying Bai Zheng's belt paused. Then her face changed greatly and she said, "Goodness! So it was really Young Master Chu?"
A cold look flashed in Bai Zheng's eyes. Yesterday, she had asked Feng Linyuan to throw Chu Feng into the Red - Lantern District with the intention of teaching him a good lesson. But now, it was ruined by this suddenly - appeared Luo Niang. She was a bit unhappy about it.
Chu Feng was not a smart person. He always acted impulsively. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been deceived by Feng Jingxuan and Bai Di.
If this plan had gone as Bai Zheng had thought, Chu Feng would have been locked up by Prime Minister Chu for at least a month and wouldn't have bothered her. But now, although there were rumors, they were just rumors...
Leaving Chu Feng, such a troublemaker, would sooner or later cause her more trouble!
Bai Zheng sighed softly.
Well, she would just face the trouble when it came. She, Bai Zheng, wasn't overly worried about the trouble caused by Chu Feng.
"Then why did Luo Niang help Young Master Chu?" Zhu Ling asked puzzledly.
Bai Zheng shook her head. "Your miss has never even heard of Luo Niang's name. How would I know the relationship between them?"
"Oh..." Zhu Ling lowered her head and then spat in dissatisfaction. "This Young Master Chu is really a brute in human form!"
Bai Zheng was amused by Zhu Ling's reaction. She patted Zhu Ling's shoulder indifferently and said, "We've already broken off the engagement. Whether he is a brute or not has nothing to do with us."