"Oho, who would've thought this girl has quite a background! She's actually a bandit leader's wife!"
The Seventh Young Master Zhou in the round-collared brocade robe said as he pinched the beauty in his arms and laughed, "Look at you. You've really wasted your time in the Elegant Jewel Pavilion. This girl managed to hook up with a bandit leader. How come you don't have this kind of ability?"
However, the beauty in his arms didn't act coquettishly as usual. Instead, she stared intently at the woman huddled in a ball in front and murmured, "Why does this person look a bit familiar?"
As soon as she said this, the woman visibly shrank back.
"Familiar?" Zhou burst out laughing, his mouth curling up. "Amazing! You even know a bandit leader's wife?"
"Oh, Young Master Zhou~" Hearing this, the beauty pouted and playfully slapped Zhou on the chest with her delicate hand. She said unhappily, "I just think she looks familiar. Am I not even allowed to mistake someone?"
"This young lady didn't mistake her," Bai Zheng said coolly. "You should indeed find her familiar."
The beauty in Zhou's arms was stunned. She pointed at herself with her slender finger and asked, "Why should I find her familiar?"
"Just now I heard Young Master Zhou say that you're from the Elegant Jewel Pavilion?" Bai Zheng didn't answer but asked instead.
The beauty nodded.
Bai Zheng lifted her chin and said, "Coincidentally, that woman is also from the Elegant Jewel Pavilion."
As soon as Bai Zheng said this, the woman trembled even more.
Everyone was stunned and immediately turned their gazes towards the woman.
But this time, unlike last time, there was a hint of exploration and scrutiny in everyone's gazes.
Before anyone could figure anything out, Bai Zheng's voice rang out again. "Although I don't know the rules of your Elegant Jewel Pavilion, this young lady's behavior really surprised me."
"What do you mean by that?" Song Yiqing asked obligingly.
"I originally thought that since she's hooked up with the bandit leader of the bandit mountain outside Yongding City, she should know better.
After all, bandits use ill-gotten gains. They should always be prepared for the day when the government raids them and they lose their heads.
If that day really comes, they can only use some silver to beg the government for leniency. After all, they know they've done something against the law. Even if they're caught, they don't have a leg to stand on.
But who would've thought that this girl's face is as thick as a city wall!
Her lover was captured by me, and she actually... she actually..."
"What did she actually do?" Song Yiqing asked curiously.
Bai Zheng pretended to be angry and pointed at the woman, her finger trembling slightly. "Do you know why this girl is standing in front of my Bai Mansion? And why are there so many commoners gathered here?"
The woman being pointed at had curled herself into a ball. Her head was deeply buried in her knees, making it impossible to recognize her face.
The beauty in Zhou's arms was still staring intently at the woman, trying to recognize her. Hearing this, she casually replied, "Isn't it because she came here to plead with Miss Bai to release the bandit leader?"
"If that were the case, it would be fine," Bai Zheng lowered her head slightly, looking full of grievances. "But she distorted the truth and said that the bandit accidentally bumped into my carriage, and I, Bai Zheng, was being unreasonable and arrested him. My Bai Mansion even detained an innocent person for no reason!
She even used her beauty to gain sympathy and attracted ignorant commoners to denounce my Bai Mansion and scold me, Bai Zheng.
It's really... too much!"
As Bai Zheng spoke, she buried her head even lower, looking like a girl who had been severely bullied and was extremely aggrieved.
Among the playboys brought by Song Yiqing, although they didn't have many good qualities, they always treated women with extra care, especially a girl like Bai Zheng, who was quite good-looking and looked so pitiful.
Immediately after hearing her accusation, they showed disdain for the woman.
"I've always heard that among the brothels, the girls in the Elegant Jewel Pavilion are the most talented and noble. I never thought there was such a despicable person hiding there. Not only did she hook up with a bandit, but she also had the audacity to slander Miss Bai."
"Oh~ Young Master, don't say that. How could such a filthy person come from our Elegant Jewel Pavilion? She must be making false accusations!"
"Anyway, I've been to the Elegant Jewel Pavilion several times. It's easy to tell if she's from there. Hey, that guy in black, lift her face up so I can take a good look!"
Someone shouted at the black-clothed man beside the woman.
The black-clothed man glanced at Bai Zheng imperceptibly. Bai Zheng blinked her eyes, and the man immediately reached out his hand and lifted the huddled woman up mercilessly, just like picking up a chick.
The woman immediately let out a scream.
But the black-clothed man didn't take pity on the fair. He seemed not to hear and instead tightened his grip. He pinched her chin and showed her face completely to everyone.
The woman was even more frightened, and tears immediately streamed down her face.
Normally, a weak woman being treated so roughly in public would surely attract some kind-hearted young masters to come to her rescue and fight for justice.
But today was different. These playboys had just heard Bai Zheng's accusation and were full of disgust for this woman. Naturally, they didn't feel the slightest bit of pity.
Even so, when they finally saw the woman's face clearly, they all froze without exception.
And at this moment, the beauties in their arms were even more shocked than them.
"Lian... Lian Yi?" The beauty in Zhou's arms was the first to cry out.
"Lian Yi?" Bai Zheng repeated the name but found no impression in her mind.
Seeing her look blank, Song Yiqing knew she didn't recognize the woman. He whispered in her ear, "If it weren't for Lady Luo, Lian Yi would surely be the top courtesan in the Elegant Jewel Pavilion."
"So that's how it is," Bai Zheng understood.
Based on the woman's beauty, Bai Zheng originally thought she was the top courtesan in the Elegant Jewel Pavilion.
It wasn't until Song Yiqing mentioned Lady Luo that Bai Zheng's memory was jogged.
Right, there was indeed a top courtesan in the Elegant Jewel Pavilion. That was Lady Luo, who suddenly appeared and saved Chu Feng.
Bai Zheng couldn't help but feel a bit emotional.
With Lian Yi's beauty, if she had stayed in the Elegant Jewel Pavilion, even if she didn't receive the same treatment as Lady Luo, she would surely have everything she wanted.
But obviously, she wasn't very smart. She was deceived by Bai Di and came to oppose Bai Zheng. With such a lack of intelligence, even if she was more beautiful, she probably wouldn't be able to become the top courtesan.
Bai Zheng coldly watched Lian Yi, whose face was gradually showing despair.
Now that she had chosen the wrong path, she could only bear the consequences herself.
"Lian Yi, huh? She really lives up to her name," Bai Zheng turned her head and looked at the wooden box in Zhu Ling's hand.
Lian Yi trembled violently.