Chapter 116: The Number One Songstress of Dongguan Kingdom

The Wind and Moon Pavilion was destined not to find peace tonight.

Mu Liao hid in the shadows, never revealing himself.

“Reporting, sir! The girl from the portrait is not in the pavilion,” came the report.

Moon Lady sighed with relief but then grew flustered. How could that be? How could a young girl have escaped?

Steadying her nerves, Moon Lady cast a coquettish glance at the county magistrate. “I’ve told you, the Wind and Moon Pavilion doesn’t have who you’re looking for, sir. Look at the other establishments on this street—they’re all neighbors. If you keep this up, won’t there be a fight when you meet again?”

The county magistrate pondered. Naturally, he trusted his men; if they had searched and found nothing, then there was nothing. He said no more.

Matchmaker sensed the tension. “County magistrate, what if they have secret rooms?”

Moon Lady immediately puffed out her chest and retorted sharply, “Secret rooms? You really overestimate the Wind and Moon Pavilion! Building secret rooms in Dongguan is a grave crime. Under the emperor’s watchful eyes and the county magistrate’s authority here, the pavilion wouldn’t dare.”

“You—!”

“Enough!” The county magistrate silenced the two, warning that if they continued, dawn would break before they were done.

He had been sound asleep beside his wife when suddenly called to this case, and he came bearing a belly full of anger. Now the investigation was a mess—neither side could be trusted.

“Wait!” A deep, urgent male voice came from afar.

It was Gǔ Yǐng.

“Master of the pavilion!” Matchmaker’s face lit up.

Gǔ Yǐng nodded at Matchmaker, then bowed respectfully to the county magistrate, “County magistrate.”

The magistrate nodded back.

“My younger sister is naturally not in the Wind and Moon Pavilion, for I have already brought her away.”

Seeing the county magistrate’s expression shift, Gǔ Yǐng continued, “Though no witness is present now, once my sister wakes, she will be the best witness. If you doubt me, county magistrate, you may accompany me inside the pavilion. Even the most perfect plans will show their flaws.”

Moon Lady looked at the county magistrate and, unable to refuse, said, “Then you shall come in with me.”

Out of the magistrate’s sight, Moon Lady whispered to a nearby guard, covering her mouth, “Quick, tell the young master.”

One guard disappeared—nothing unusual—but Gǔ Yǐng noticed. He was curious to see what tricks the Wind and Moon Pavilion still had.

Inside the pavilion, darkness enveloped the loft.

“Master, they…”

“Throw Hu Hai out,” Mu Liao’s voice was weary, clearly troubled.

“Yes.”

Just as Gǔ Yǐng’s group took their seats, a disheveled man burst into the hall, his hands awkwardly clutching at his groin to pull up his trousers.

The regulars at the Wind and Moon Pavilion had seen all sorts of storms; this was nothing new. But this man was truly a pest, as sharp and irritating as a needle.

The county magistrate stared wide-eyed at the man, who had also noticed the magistrate. The two locked eyes in mutual surprise.

Hu Hai hastily draped a coat over himself and obediently sat aside.

The magistrate was embarrassed—who would have expected to run into this rogue nephew while on official business?

His position was owed to his cousin, the reigning imperial consort, yet Hu Hai was notorious for stirring up trouble. Every time, it was the family who cleaned up his messes.

At first glance, the magistrate’s instinct told him that this case was tangled with his nephew’s mischief.

Well, he thought, he’d figure out a way to toss this troublemaker back and let his mother teach him a lesson.

“Who is this? How can such disgrace happen in broad daylight?” Moon Lady, puzzled by the magistrate’s tone, replied respectfully, “This gentleman is a regular patron and esteemed guest of the Wind and Moon Pavilion. His sudden appearance tonight may have disturbed our honored guest.”

The magistrate smiled bitterly.

Esteemed guest?

If that was true, Hu Hai’s lifetime of lecherous deeds would have kept him well-fed and clothed by the pavilion’s generosity.

No one understood why his elder sister spoiled him so.

Hu Hai took a deep breath to calm himself. “Phew…” He was relieved it was his uncle. Thinking of his past misdeeds, he chuckled. Once this was over, he could return to the company of his little beauty.

Gǔ Yǐng frowned and produced a portrait—the suspect’s likeness was Hu Hai himself.

“County magistrate, I’ve inquired among the neighbors on this street. A skilled artist happened to witness some events and drew this portrait of the suspect. Please review it.”

The magistrate waved dismissively. “A single portrait proves nothing. Substantial evidence is needed.”

[Damn! The magistrate is clearly trying to cover for that man!] muttered the cheeky little voice, audible only to Gǔ Yǐng.

Gǔ Yǐng patted the little rascal’s head gently. The case was not over; the evidence was insufficient but just needed two more witnesses to be solid.

While the other establishments racked their brains for solutions, a newcomer arrived.

“Why is it so lively here?” the man in black clothes asked, his clean-shaven face sharp and alert, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Behind him followed attendants holding scrolls, dressed in dark ink robes, their expressions calm as still water. This was none other than Zhong Li.

The county magistrate’s face turned pale at the sight.

The man in black seemed to recognize the magistrate too, shaking his head to signal him to keep his true identity secret.

“Please continue, artists,” he said.

The magistrate wiped sweat from his brow and forced a smile. “Actually, I find this case full of doubts. Further examination is necessary before a verdict.”

[Lord Zhong Li truly is the master’s reliable ally, bringing reinforcements directly!] the little rascal was ecstatic, finally slipping from Gǔ Yǐng’s arms into Zhong Li’s embrace.

Zhong Li did not mind, letting the white-furred mouse nestle comfortably.

“Is this mouse raised by the artist?” the man in black inquired curiously.

Zhong Li smiled faintly. “It is my wife’s.”

“Your wife?”

“The courtesan Luo Yue.”

“Oh? Miss Luo Yue! Truly a perfect match of talent and beauty!”

Meanwhile, harmony reigned here, but elsewhere, everyone harbored their own schemes.

The Wind and Moon Pavilion refused to admit anything, while the magistrate kept up appearances.

“Sir! I want to file a complaint!” Matchmaker looked toward the voice, mouth opening and closing. “Nan, Nanyan…”

Now Nanyan was a shadow of her former self—thin to the point of skin and bones, her face sallow and spirit nearly gone.

Matchmaker’s anger flared. “Moon Lady! How did my girl end up like this at your pavilion? You owe me an explanation today!”

Beneath it all was reluctance. Matchmaker both loved and resented Nanyan—loved her for once being obedient and gentle; resented her for never sharing her inner pain, for growing up so wrong, and now tormenting herself into this wretched state.

“That’s because she volunteered…” Moon Lady’s confidence faltered.

Nanyan’s eyes blazed coldly. “Volunteered? Ha! Hahahaha, volunteered… so you even know what that word means…”

The magistrate, eager to divert attention from the other case at the neighboring establishment, tightened his face. “Speak your mind!”

Nanyan turned to the magistrate and bowed. “I am Nanyan. I was once a worker at the other establishment, lured here by the Wind and Moon Pavilion.”

“The pavilion promised only entertainment, no selling of bodies. But just yesterday, they colluded with those others!”

She pointed at each person present, causing their hearts to skip.

“They drugged me and allowed that greasy, piggish man to disgrace my purity!” Nanyan glared fiercely at Hu Hai.

Hu Hai panicked and argued, “Isn’t the brothel meant for our amusement? If you don’t sell yourself, just stay at the other place. What are you doing here?”

Moon Lady chimed in, but seeing Nanyan close her eyes in despair, she knew words were useless now—her innocence was lost, and with it, everything.

“Then why did you break the agreement? Without Nanyan’s consent, you drugged her?” Matchmaker’s voice remained warm.

Nanyan wept bitterly, sobbing uncontrollably. “Aunt Matchmaker, I’m sorry… and sorry to the other establishment…”