The South Wind Pavilion.
As soon as they stepped in, the smell of perfume assailed their nostrils, and there were several half - naked men.
Yan Mingli was seething with anger, his eyebrows knitted tightly. He was about to protect Chen Miaochun but was afraid that his actions might delay her search for someone and displease her. For a moment, he was caught in a dilemma.
Just as those men were about to reach out, Chen Miaochun quickly pulled Yan Mingli behind her. She firmly protected him and shouted sternly, "Get out of the way!"
The people in the South Wind Pavilion were sensible. Seeing that Chen Miaochun didn't allow them to approach, they left.
Chen Miaochun pulled Yan Mingli and whispered, "Don't worry. I won't let them take advantage of you."
"Ah? Oh, okay." All Yan Mingli could think about was "Miaochun is holding my hand." His mind began to wander. Miaochun's palm was a bit rough. It should be calluses from practicing calligraphy. Although it hurt a little, Miaochun was holding his hand...
Chen Miaochun didn't know that Yan Mingli had misinterpreted the calluses from her hard work as those from practicing calligraphy. She held Yan Mingli's hand just as she would hold Shen Baozhu's and accurately found the owner of the South Wind Pavilion.
The owner was a woman in her late thirties, dressed flamboyantly. Although her youth had passed, every gesture exuded charm. Seeing Chen Miaochun leading Yan Mingli, she seemed to have imagined something and laughed, "Sir, you should take care of your own young man. You can't blame our South Wind Pavilion."
Although Yan Mingli was a bit dazed, he understood the meaning behind the owner's words. Angrily, he stepped forward and said, "What are you talking nonsense about! If you slander my innocence again, I'll report you to the authorities!"
"Sir, you're joking. Everything here is consensual. The government won't interfere in such matters... You're right. I was wrong." The owner waved her handkerchief indifferently. By chance, she caught a glimpse of the jade pendant on Yan Mingli's waist and immediately became serious.
The South Wind Pavilion was located on Wangyang Road. Although it was far from Yangguan Street, both streets belonged to the same person, and the jade pendant on Yan Mingli's waist was the token for collecting rent.
It was difficult to run a brothel, and it was even more challenging for the South Wind Pavilion.
There were always some pedantic people in the capital. They turned a blind eye to brothels but particularly disliked the South Wind Pavilion. The owner had opened shops in two different locations before but was forced out of business.
When Wangyang Road was first built, it was said to be privately constructed with the background of the government. The owner rented a two - story building with her last hope, and this was the prototype of the South Wind Pavilion.
Later, the South Wind Pavilion gradually expanded. Although the rent had increased a lot, the owner always regarded Yan Mingli as a benefactor. Seeing Yan Mingli today, she was extremely nervous, fearing that she might displease him and the South Wind Pavilion would have to close.
Yan Mingli didn't quite understand the sudden change in the owner's attitude. He shrank back behind Chen Miaochun and held her hand again.
Chen Miaochun was eager to see Wang Linchun and didn't notice Yan Mingli's little thoughts. She directly said, "I heard that Wang Linchun is here. I want to see him."
"Wang Linchun?" The owner repeated the name and looked at the maid behind her.
The maid reminded her, "He was sent here last month. He's of ordinary appearance and his body is useless. But someone paid money and specifically asked for him to suffer. You placed him in the backyard."
To say "placed" was actually to let him do rough work in the backyard. After all, the South Wind Pavilion had high requirements for appearance.
The owner also remembered Wang Linchun. She quickly said, "Don't worry. We never force anyone here. Everyone signs a contract. That Wang Linchun committed a capital crime, so..."
Chen Miaochun said indifferently, "I understand. Everyone is just trying to make a living. I'm here for revenge."
The owner breathed a sigh of relief and personally led Chen Miaochun and Yan Mingli to the backyard.
On the way, Yan Mingli still held Chen Miaochun's hand. After thinking for a while, he said hesitantly, "It's not easy for me to introduce the South Wind Pavilion in front of Baozhu. This place is..."
"I know." Chen Miaochun interrupted Yan Mingli.
When Chen Miaochun saw the owner, she knew what kind of place the South Wind Pavilion was. She knew the owner of the South Wind Pavilion.
Chen Miaochun was once abducted to a brothel. The madam of the brothel drugged her and tried to force her to receive guests. Fortunately, Chen Miaochun managed to escape and hid in the neighboring Elegant Building. The owner of the Elegant Building was kind - hearted. Seeing that she was a child, she helped her hide and gave her a few steamed buns.
Thanks to those steamed buns, Chen Miaochun was able to return to the Wang Mansion.
Chen Miaochun always remembered this kindness. She looked ahead and asked, "Owner, what about the Elegant Building?"
Mentioning the Elegant Building, the owner looked a bit absent - minded. She casually said, "It closed."
"What's the Elegant Building?" Yan Mingli whispered.
The owner patiently explained, "The Elegant Building was the first place I opened, but it closed soon because the madam of the neighboring brothel didn't like me."
"That madam is extremely vicious. She even forced an eight - year - old girl to receive guests. I once saved an eight - year - old girl."
Yan Mingli was shocked and said, "Eight years old? So young?"
"Exactly. That little girl was quite good - looking and had a tough life. After being drugged a lot, she still managed to escape and survived." The owner also said a lot of details, such as giving the little girl three steamed buns and asking the servant in the building to stop the neighboring madam and escort the little girl home.
As she spoke, the owner straightened her bent back slightly. She was very proud of this good deed she had done.
Yan Mingli thought the little girl was pitiful and the madam was hateful. Filled with indignation, he said, "What's the name of that brothel? Who's its backer and what's his rank?"
The owner named an official, a fifth - rank official.
Yan Mingli thought for a moment. His father was a second - rank official. It should be no problem to deal with a fifth - rank official.
So he firmly decided, "Okay. I'll find someone to help tomorrow and shut down that brothel!"
Chen Miaochun quietly listened to their conversation. When she heard that Yan Mingli would find someone to help, she lowered her eyes and said, "Aren't you afraid of getting into trouble?"
"Not at all. My backer is more powerful than his. What trouble could there be?" Yan Mingli looked at Chen Miaochun, and his gentle eyes only held Chen Miaochun.
He said seriously, "I don't think it's trouble to help more people within my ability."
"If I know about this matter and have the ability to solve it but do nothing, it will make me feel uncomfortable. That's the real trouble."
This was the first time Chen Miaochun seriously sized up Yan Mingli. She suddenly thought that apart from his family background and appearance, Yan Mingli was really a very good person, just as Chen Ruxia had said.
Yan Mingli noticed Chen Miaochun's gaze, and his face burned with embarrassment.
The owner in front led the way skillfully to the backyard. She pushed open the firewood shed, and there was a ragged man lying inside.
Chen Miaochun walked up to the man briskly. She squatted down, pushed aside the hair on the man's face, and smiled, "It's really you, Wang Linchun."
Hearing his name, Wang Linchun struggled to get up. But when he saw that it was Chen Miaochun, his eyes filled with extreme hatred.
Chen Miaochun smiled even more happily. "You're so miserable. I'm really happy."
"I regarded you as my elder brother, but you made my sisters fight against each other. Wang Linchun, you deserve this fate!"
Both Chen Miaochun and Chen Ruxia regarded Wang Linchun as their elder brother. If he had only concealed the truth of the bride - swapping for his own status, no one would have blamed him even if the truth was revealed.
But he shouldn't have incited Chen Miaochun and Chen Ruxia to be enemies and set fire to Chen Wanqiu.
Under Wang Linchun's murderous gaze, Chen Miaochun stepped on his wound and said, "I'm here today to tell you that Father has decided to hand over the Marquis Mansion to me. The Emperor has already agreed and issued an imperial edict."
"The Marquis Mansion you've always longed for is now mine."
"I should thank you for bringing me back to the Marquis Mansion."