bookandnovel Chapter 51 News about Gao Yunheng
Chapter 51 News about Gao Yunheng
Chen Ye met with Su Guang and Zuo Dongxi at the agreed time for drinks.
This time, instead of Fengqinglou, I went to Hongxiuzhao.
A brothel in the capital.
Hongxiuzhao wasn't considered top-tier in the brothel district, but it was still considerably better than the average brothel.
Zuo Dongxi knew that Chen Ye didn't like to show off, so the group didn't get carried away with their windfall and specifically chose this mid-range place.
A row of red lanterns hung in front of the Hongxiuzhao shop, with pictures of ladies painted on the lantern paper.
Each side is unique.
A night breeze swept by, and a row of red lanterns in front of the door creaked and turned gently. The paintings of ladies in various poses on the paper shimmered with light and shadow, and their skirts seemed to come alive as they fluttered.
The madam recognized Zuo Dongxi and greeted him with a smile as she saw him approaching with his men.
"Chief Zuo, it's been so long since you've been here. Bitao and Yun'er often talk about you. Come, come, the private room on the far east side of the second floor has always been reserved for you."
"Gui Jie'er is still as charming as ever. She looks even younger these days."
"Chief Zuo always makes fun of this middle-aged woman like me... Please come inside."
Zuo Dongxi put one arm around the madam's waist, slipped her a small piece of silver, and went upstairs without saying a word.
To be honest, this was Chen Ye's first time entering a brothel. He didn't know the ins and outs of it, so he just followed behind Zuo Dongxi and observed carefully.
Upon reaching the second floor, the madam personally led them into a private room: "Gentlemen, please wait a moment; the girls will be here shortly."
Zuo Dongxi grinned, pinched the madam's buttocks hard, then patted them and said, "Go on, pick some clever and pretty ones."
"I know, I'll definitely pick out some that you like." The madam gave Zuo Dongxi a playful glare and quietly closed the door.
The private room was small, with light blue floral brocade covering the walls and several gilded copper lamps placed in the corner, illuminating the entire room.
Compared to the restaurants I've been to before, this one is clearly more upscale.
A window was left at the back of the private room, half of which was separated by a bamboo curtain.
Looking down from the window, you can see the stage where operas are performed.
A man and a woman are playing and singing folk songs from Beijing on stage.
The man was a bit older, around thirty years old, wearing a dark blue robe, while the woman was younger, only eighteen or nineteen, wearing a thin gauze skirt, with half of her long legs exposed.
The sounds of string and wind instruments mingled with the clamor, creating a lively atmosphere resembling a bustling marketplace.
As soon as the three of them sat down, a servant brought them warm wine and several dishes of dried fruit and candied fruit.
"Brother Chen, I've found out about the person you were looking for."
Seeing that the girl hadn't arrived yet, Su Guang leaned over and whispered to Chen Ye.
Gao Yunheng?
Chen Ye's expression hardened.
Zuo Dongxi had originally promised to investigate this matter, but unexpectedly Su Guang got the news first.
But after a moment's thought, Chen Ye understood what was going on.
Su Guang had once stayed at the Feng family and associated mostly with aristocratic circles, while Zuo Dongxi mingled in gangs and his subordinates were mostly commoners.
Gao Yunheng was recruited by the Xie family, following the path of a prominent family.
Su Guang has a natural advantage in this regard, so it's normal that he was able to find out before Zuo Dongxi.
Unexpectedly, Su Guang acted quietly and was much more composed than Zuo Dongxi.
Tell me in detail.
"The person you inquired about was indeed recruited by the Xie family. After arriving in the capital, he was recommended by the Xie family and appointed as a Prefectural Attendant by the court. He is currently on his way to Danfeng County to deal with the Chongwu Tower matter and is not in the capital at the moment."
Chen Ye placed his hand on the table and tapped it habitually, thinking to himself, "In some ways, it's actually a good thing that Gao Yunheng isn't in the capital."
In unfamiliar territory, without the protection of the Xie family, he was more vulnerable to being harmed.
But if that's the case, killing him would mean leaving the capital, and I've only just established myself in the Cui family; leaving now would be a waste.
Chen Ye paused in his work and asked, "What's the background of this Chongwu Tower you're talking about?"
"A local martial arts sect, for some unknown reason, has suddenly gained great power in recent years. It has become defiant against local control, has gathered a lot of people, and is gradually becoming a force to be reckoned with."
"The imperial court intends to wipe them out. That young master Gao... I estimate he won't be back for at least a year or two."
Chen Ye knew that, according to the tradition of the Great Jing Kingdom, Gao Yunheng, with his prestigious family background, would definitely be recommended again if he made meritorious contributions, in addition to what he had done for the Xie family over the years.
Chongwu Tower.
This might be a good starting point.
Chen Ye silently kept an eye on things.
He only instructed Su Guang to continue keeping an eye on news about Gao Yunheng and Chongwulou.
Zuo Dongxi, who was standing to the side, looked ashamed upon hearing this.
He had made a promise on his own, but he had no clue what to do these past few days, and Su Guang had gotten there first.
He silently poured himself a drink and took a few sips alone, looking rather sullen.
Chen Ye noticed his mood, raised his glass and said, "Brother Zuo is also keeping an eye on things for me. The information we find in the aristocratic circles may not be complete."
Zuo Dongxi replied, "Okay. I'll keep an eye on things over there."
After a while, the madam led in three women.
The girl at the front was about seventeen or eighteen years old, wearing a light red gauze dress and carrying a pipa in her arms. As she entered, she slightly curtsied to Zuo Dongxi, clearly an old acquaintance.
The other two women, without waiting to be invited, each chose a seat and sat down, one next to Su Guang and the other next to Chen Ye.
"Chief Zuo, we've brought all the girls with us. Please treat them with care."
The madam smiled and closed the door for the group before leaving.
"Master Zuo hasn't been here for a long time. He must be busy with his great business and must be exhausted. Would you like Bitao to play a little tune to help him relax?"
The girl named Bitao noticed that Zuo Dongxi was in low spirits, so she nestled sweetly beside him, gazing at him with her peach blossom eyes full of affection.
Zuo Dongxi still couldn't muster the energy: "Let's play 'Ruyi Zhuan' first."
Bitao sat up straight in response, her fingers plucking the strings of the pipa to test the sound.
"Little Peach Blossom, let's play 'Passing the Flower While Playing the Piano.' You turn your back and play and sing, and we'll pass this peony. You can sing as you please, and stop whenever you want. Whoever has the flower when you stop has to drink a cup of wine as a penalty."
Zuo Dongxi then perked up: "That's a great idea, Bitao, play it quickly."
Bitao turned around with a smile, her fingertips moving gracefully, and the melody began to play.
The woman who had made the suggestion earlier took a peony from a vase on the nearby table, and the group began passing the flower around.
The girl next to Chen Ye, dressed in a moon-white shirt, was quite young. When passing the flower, she inadvertently brushed against the back of his hand with gentle movements and a hint of a smile in her eyes.
The singing suddenly stopped.
The peony happened to fall into Su Guang's hands.
Without saying a word, Su Guang raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp, and the people around him immediately applauded and cheered.
The woman next to him picked up a candied plum and handed it to him. He didn't know whether to take it or not.
I ate it in the end.
After several rounds of passing the flower, the atmosphere gradually became lively.
Chen Ye followed local custom and put his arm around the waist of the girl in the white dress.
The girl patted the back of his hand lightly, seemingly annoyed and reproachful, but then turned around to pour him wine and brought the rim of the glass to his lips.
The group drank and made merry, and the conversation gradually unfolded.
Zuo Dongxi couldn't help but sigh, "Speaking of which, I've been cultivating for over ten years, and I'm still stuck at the third stage of transformation. I just can't seem to advance any further. Sigh..."
Su Guang stood to the side, holding his wine glass, without saying a word.
He himself was also stuck on the three transformations, and he understood the difficulties involved even better than Zuo Dongxi.
He was younger and had a better foundation, but after three transformations, moving up the ranks was no longer something that could be achieved through hard work alone.
Chen Ye calmly poured Zuo Dongxi a glass of wine and followed up the conversation by asking, "Brother Zuo, what's the secret to advancing three times after each transformation?"
The women around him were also quite shrewd.
Seeing that the three had gotten down to business, he sat quietly, pouring wine and serving them.
Downstairs on the stage, a martial arts performance had been changed, and the deafening sound of gongs and drums drowned out the brief silence in the private room.
Zuo Dongxi pondered for a moment before replying, "The fourth transformation is different from the previous three. The first three were laying the foundation, while the fourth is when we truly break through the current situation."
"It's best to prepare a few doses of Yi Jin Duan Gu Tang and Jin Tang Yu Ye to replenish your blood and qi. This will increase your chances of a successful transformation."
Yi Jin Duan Gu Tang (a traditional Chinese medicine formula), a soup that nourishes tendons and bones, and is as rich as gold and jade
Chen Ye noted down the two prescriptions and then asked, "What changes will occur for a martial artist after the fourth transformation?"
Su Guang continued, "Some people have increased strength, some have become more intuitive, and some have experienced changes in the nature of their internal energy. Everyone is different."
"But what is certain is that the more external essence one absorbs before transformation, the more significant the changes will be after transformation."
"If you want to transform yourself, you'd better start preparing a year in advance."
A year?
I don't think I'll need it.