Recently, Sheng Mingli had been very busy.
Sheng Mingli knew himself well. He owed his success in passing the provincial examination largely to his fourth brother.
His fourth brother was talented, quick to grasp things, and extremely hardworking.
Staying by the side of such a fourth brother, he did not dare slack off for even a moment in his studies, and whenever he did not understand something, he could ask for guidance…
If not for his fourth brother, Sheng Mingli knew he probably would not have passed this time.
But passing the provincial examination was likely his limit, at least for now.
So he held no expectations for the metropolitan examination at the end of the year. During this period, he only wanted to relax properly.
Perhaps because he had passed the provincial examination, no one looked down on him anymore, and suddenly he had many more friends and drinking gatherings.
Sheng Mingli did not like this kind of socializing.
But living in this world, there were too many things one could not avoid. In the future, after leaving the academy, he would still have to socialize.
This could also be considered one of his weaknesses, so getting used to it and training himself in advance was not a bad thing.
He could not always rely on his fourth brother. If only for his concubine mother’s sake, he had to make his own way with his own abilities.
Today, several classmates had dragged him out again. They first went to a restaurant for a meal, and he was forced to drink quite a lot…
By the time he left the restaurant, his head was already spinning. Those people said they would find another place to drink a few more cups. Sheng Mingli did not want to go, but he did not see Fengshou…
Dazed and confused, he was dragged away again…
“Your Highness, this servant saw the second young master of the Sheng family—
“He seems to have drunk too much. Two people are pulling him… toward a flower house…”
Yuanyuan had practiced martial arts since childhood, so her eyes were sharp.
From the upper floor of a tall building, she accidentally caught sight of a flower street diagonally opposite, where two men were dragging and pulling Sheng Mingli toward a flower house.
Duanmu Rui cared a great deal about Sheng Mingshu, and knowing that Sheng Mingshu was close with Sheng Mingli, she quickly walked to the window upon hearing this and looked in the direction Yuanyuan was pointing.
Because the distance was great, Duanmu Rui could not see very clearly.
But the person being dragged did resemble Sheng Mingli in height and build, and she trusted that Yuanyuan would not be mistaken.
It looked like Sheng Mingli did not want to enter the flower house, yet the two men beside him were forcefully pulling him.
The girls at the entrance also began helping to pull him, and Sheng Mingli was quickly dragged inside.
Duanmu Rui’s brows had already furrowed slightly.
“Your Highness, the second young master of the Sheng family has never visited a flower house before, and his personal servant is not to be seen either. Could something bad happen…”
Xiaopingguo also spoke up.
Duanmu Rui thought for a moment. If Sheng Mingli truly did not want to go to such a place, and the two people dragging him had ill intentions, then what?
She could not just stand by and do nothing.
“Yuanyuan, go to the Sheng residence and inform them. Hurry.”
Yuanyuan received the order and understood who “him” referred to. With a flip, she lightly leaped out the window, sped across the rooftops, and soon disappeared from sight.
Duanmu Rui and Xiaopingguo remained standing by the window.
Logically, they should wait there for Sheng Mingshu to rush to the flower house and check on the situation.
But before long, Duanmu Rui suddenly spoke.
“Let’s go. We will take a look too—”
As she spoke, she took out a handkerchief from her sleeve and covered the lower half of her face. Xiaopingguo’s mouth twitched.
If it were any other noble young lady, she would absolutely never do something like “visiting a flower house.”
But her princess was different from others…
And she also knew that the princess had always been curious about what a flower house was actually like.
Actually, she herself was a little curious too…
Xiaopingguo swiftly pulled out a handkerchief and covered the lower half of her own face.
Seeing that the princess was dressed very inconspicuously today, she likely would not be recognized. So she only tucked the hairpins and ornaments from the princess’s head into her bosom, and then they went downstairs.
The two took a slightly longer route before reaching that flower house.
At the entrance stood not only brightly dressed girls, but also two burly men.
Generally speaking, women who came to a flower house were there to cause trouble, so the two big men immediately blocked the door.
Several girls looked at Duanmu Rui and her servant with smiles.
One girl in red, dressed in a seductive and flirtatious manner, said with a delicate laugh.
“Little sister, this is not a place you should come to. This elder sister advises you: best go back…”
“Why can’t we?”
Xiaopingguo asked seriously.
Because her tone was so proper, it left the people across from her dumbfounded.
They froze for a moment, then burst out laughing one after another.
The two burly men laughed as well. Just as they were about to drive them away, they saw the little servant girl in front of them unhurriedly pull from her sleeve—a roll of silver notes.
And they were all large-denomination silver notes!
The little servant girl unfolded the silver notes and waved them in front of them, the bright red numbers drawing their eyes.
Then the little servant girl stuffed one into each of their hands…
“This is a reward from my mistress. Can we go in now?”
The men looked at the money in their hands and froze again.
For the first time in history, they had earned money this easily!
Could they really take this money?
“You… what are you here for…” the woman in red still asked.
“To spend money, of course—”
Xiaopingguo said, even raising the silver notes in her hand.
The people blocking the door looked at one another, exchanging glances.
“Your young lady… wants to go inside… to spend money?”
This time another girl spoke, hesitating as she did, her expression and gaze very complicated as she looked toward Duanmu Rui.
Duanmu Rui’s brows instantly knitted together. Xiaopingguo quickly stepped forward to block the other party’s line of sight to the princess.
Although Xiaopingguo’s martial arts were far inferior to Yuanyuan’s, dealing with two strong men was not difficult.
It was just that this building surely kept more than two burly guards at the door, and they also did not want to make a big scene and attract attention.
If their identities were exposed, the princess would be punished when she returned…
So Xiaopingguo could only rely more on talking.
She raised her voice and said to them.
“What?
“We have so much money we cannot spend it all, and we want to go in and give you money, yet you are unwilling?”
“Willing, willing—”
A woman who looked like a madam piled on a smile, pushed aside the people standing at the door, and came up to greet them.
“Miss, do not blame them. These few are fools—please come in quickly—”
The madam did not like those aggressive women who clearly came looking for trouble with a group of household servants.
But a young lady with a servant girl, two delicate young girls, what was there to fear?!
Moreover, these were two gods of wealth!
Only then did Duanmu Rui and Xiaopingguo enter the building.
As soon as they came in, the smell of alcohol mixed with rouge rushed at them. It really could not be called pleasant.
In the center of the main hall was a stage, where several dancing girls were performing, and their clothing was especially “cool”…
Below, many men were drinking with women on both sides, from time to time saying things too unpleasant to hear…
Xiaopingguo was thoroughly disappointed.
This?
Was it not said that many flower houses were decorated very elegantly?
And that there were many women of outstanding appearance and talent?
The air here was murky, the voices noisy, and even the lighting seemed greasy…
She quickly pulled out two silver notes for the madam.
“Take us to a clean, quiet room.”
The madam took the silver notes and practically bloomed with joy. She quickly led Duanmu Rui and Xiaopingguo upstairs.
“Honored guests, what kind do you like…
“In our building, we have girls of every kind. I guarantee you will be satisfied…”
Once in the room, the madam could not wait to say this, and even gave a meaningful wink.
That look was painful for Xiaopingguo to see. She quickly gave her two more silver notes.
“Find a girl who can play the qin—
“But do not have her play in this room. Have her play in the next room. Just have her play pieces she is good at—”
Although the madam found it strange, there were many people in this world with odd habits. As long as they paid, they were her gods of wealth.
After taking the money, she hurried off to arrange it.
On the other side, Sheng Mingshu was at home reading, but for some reason he could not settle down today. His heart kept feeling uneasy.
When Yuanyuan flipped down from his roof, Sheng Mingshu was greatly startled.
He naturally knew Yuanyuan. After Yuanyuan explained the matter, he quickly thanked her.
“Thank you, Princess, for informing me. I will rush over immediately—”
Yuanyuan nodded, then flipped back up onto the roof and disappeared with a few leaps.
Tonight, their worry was actually not unfounded.
Because Sheng Mingli had been drugged. His face was flushed red and his consciousness unclear as he lay on the bed, and Dong Bing entered the room…
