“Slap!”
“What are you doing?!” The madam smacked Wen Ningwan’s hand away in disgust, planting her hands on her hips as she glared at her angrily.
“How old are you, coming to a place like this? And touching my girls?”
The girl behind her lowered her head, covering her face with a giggle.
Wen Ningwan followed the madam’s gaze downward, eyeing her own flat chest before puffing it out. “The Dali Temple is investigating a case. Go call your top courtesan to my room, I need to question her privately!”
Upstairs, the Imperial Preceptor glanced back. Wen Ningwan strode up the steps with her hands behind her back, looking smug.
The madam, still scowling, hurried after her and blocked her path. “Investigate what? The Dali Temple? Ha!”
She gave Wen Ningwan a disdainful once-over. “You think I haven’t seen the world? My Beauties’ Pavilion has hosted every kind of big shot, you think I’d be scared of some Dali Temple official?”
“Fine, I’ll leave!” Without hesitation, Wen Ningwan turned to descend the stairs, deliberately raising her voice. “But just so you know, I’m under orders from the Imperial Preceptor to solve this case within three days. If I fail, I’ll tell him it was because you stopped me.”
The Imperial Preceptor turned back in surprise, watching as the madam downstairs hastily grabbed Wen Ningwan’s arm to stop her from leaving. Bowing obsequiously, the madam forced a smile. “My lord, my lord, no need to rush! I’ll fetch Cai’er for you right away.”
“Cai’er?” Wen Ningwan immediately recalled last night’s conversation in the woods outside the city. Cai’er, Sister Yun, what a coincidence!
Excited, she urged, “Hurry up, hurry! Bring her here now.”
“You really are an official from the Dali Temple?” The madam eyed her skeptically, unimpressed by her childish demeanor.
“Here!” Wen Ningwan proudly pulled out her waist token, holding it high and waving it twice in front of the madam’s face. “See it clearly now?”
“Vice-Minister Wen,” the madam read aloud, suddenly fawning. She turned and barked at a servant upstairs, “What are you waiting for? Go fetch Cai’er for Vice-Minister Wen!”
Grinning ear to ear, Wen Ningwan followed as the madam led the way. “Vice-Minister Wen, are you truly here on the Imperial Preceptor’s orders to investigate?”
“Of course!” Wen Ningwan chirped cheerfully.
Upstairs, You Ran scoffed. “Look at her, acting all high and mighty, even using your name. I bet she’s been waiting for this chance to summon the top courtesan all along!”
The Imperial Preceptor turned. “What have you found?”
“Oh, Zou Yun had connections big or small with nearly all the beauties here. It’ll take some time to sort through.”
The Imperial Preceptor frowned. “Focus on those closest to her recently.”
“Understood.” You Ran quickly retreated.
The Imperial Preceptor turned back, watching as Wen Ningwan entered the room across the way. Soon after, the top courtesan of Beauties’ Pavilion was escorted inside.
Intrigued, the Imperial Preceptor remained where he stood, observing the movements in the opposite room.
Wen Ningwan’s eyes sparkled as the beauty entered skin like polished jade, face like peach blossoms, a pair of enchanting eyes glancing at her cautiously. Wen Ningwan’s heart fluttered, her lips curling into an involuntary smile.
“Miss Cai’er.” Wen Ningwan rose with a lovestruck grin, pulling out a chair for her.
“Thank you, my lord.” Her voice was exceptionally gentle.
Wen Ningwan melted instantly, gazing at her dopily before sitting across from her.
This wasn’t just any top courtesan, she was the kind of peerless beauty who could outshine all others with a single appearance, the kind born into noble households. If circumstances allowed, I’d elope with her in a heartbeat.
“My lord.” Cai’er lowered her head with a soft laugh. “Don’t stare at me like that.”
“Ah? Oh, right.”
Wen Ningwan smiled apologetically, “What’s your relationship with Zou Yun?”
Caier froze momentarily, raising her eyes to look at the seemingly innocent, smiling girl before her. Then she smiled sadly, “I’m the top courtesan, she’s a customer. What kind of relationship do you think that is? A woman like me has no right to speak of relationships.”
“Of course you do. If not for the unexpected events, you two should have eloped by now.”
Caier frowned slightly, staring at Wen Ningwan’s still innocent smile, “My lord, don’t speak nonsense. I have no relationship with her.”
“If there was no relationship, why would you leave the city with her in the middle of the night?” Wen Ningwan looked puzzled at the woman who refused to admit anything.
“The city gates were already closed then. It’s easy to find out how you got out, no need for me to bring in witnesses, right?”
Caier suddenly clutched her head, grimacing, “My lord, I have a headache. Could you fetch me some water?”
“Oh.” Wen Ningwan hurriedly poured her a glass.
Caier took out a bottle of medicine from her sleeve, shook out a pill, and glanced at Wen Ningwan, “I suffer from headaches. This is my usual medication.”
Wen Ningwan nodded without suspicion.
After taking the medicine, Caier’s expression immediately returned to normal. She smiled gently, “I did go out with her last night, but what does that prove?”
“From what I know, abandoning one’s wife is a capital offense. She was willing to risk everything to elope with you, yet you haven’t even asked what happened to her?”
Caier froze momentarily before forcing a lighthearted smile, “If it’s serious enough to involve the Assistant Minister, it must be dire. Why should I ask and bring myself unnecessary grief?”
“Hmm…”
Wen Ningwan was momentarily speechless, then shrugged, “Alright, since I finally have a chance to be alone with you, Miss Caier, I’d rather not just talk about the case.”
Caier seemed taken aback, then laughed. She stood up and sat beside Wen Ningwan, pouring her a drink, “My lord truly has a straightforward nature. I like that.”
Wen Ningwan took the cup, sniffed it the alcohol wasn’t strong and took a small sip.
“Did her wife know about you?”
“Yes.”
Wen Ningwan smiled as she set down her cup, watching the woman who answered without hesitation, “Actually, I saw it last night. She said she would take you away. So why didn’t you leave in the end?”
“Ha! My lord, what could she do outside the capital? She was just a strategist who could offer some advice. Without the Grand Preceptor’s estate, she was nothing. All her wealth was with her wife, she had nothing. Did you expect me to earn money to support her?”
Wen Ningwan scratched her head, looking at Caier’s disdainful expression, “She’s dead.”
Caier said nothing, clearly already aware. Wen Ningwan took a deep breath. In the original story, the case of the brothel’s top courtesan murder was right before her, the killer was sitting across from her. She just didn’t have the evidence yet.
“If you confess yourself, I’ll try to spare your life.”
Caier laughed, leaning sideways with her elbow on the table, gazing at Wen Ningwan with a coquettish look. She leaned closer and said coyly, “My lord~ Confess what? How I killed her?”
As she spoke, she reached out and lightly tugged at Wen Ningwan’s collar. Wen Ningwan swallowed nervously and gently pushed her hand away, sniffing, there was a faint scent of milk tea.
Outside the door, a passerby covered their nose and hurried away, glancing back with a knowing smile, “Such a strong scent of pheromones. Is Assistant Minister Wen really here to investigate a case?”
The Imperial Preceptor overheard hushed whispers from people passing behind him. With a slight arch of his brow, he turned and strode toward the opposite room.
Wen Ningwan suddenly realized this was the scent of pheromones and hurriedly covered her nose. Cai’er pulled her hand away, leaning in even closer until their faces were mere inches apart. Her crimson lips parted slightly as she whispered, “I was the one who killed her but it wasn’t intentional. She insisted on dragging me away, and in the struggle, I lost control.”
Tears welled up in Cai’er’s eyes as she gazed at Wen Ningwan, who was frozen in shock by the sudden confession. She nestled lightly into Wen Ningwan’s arms, looking up with a pitiful expression. “Would you really have the heart to arrest me, my lord?”
Wen Ningwan stared down at the delicate beauty before her, swallowing nervously. Cai’er noticed and cupped her face, tilting her head up as if to kiss her.
BANG!
The door was kicked open as the Imperial Preceptor stormed in. He seized Wen Ningwan by the collar and yanked her back, his voice icy. “Fool! She used a powerful aphrodisiac to lure you in!”
“Huh?” Wen Ningwan stared blankly at Cai’er, who was now leaning against the table, her cheeks flushed and expression alluring.
It turned out the medicine she had taken earlier wasn’t for headaches, it was a potent aphrodisiac designed to maximize pheromone emission!
Cai’er had essentially become an overwhelming pheromone bomb, her intoxicating scent stimulating the nerves of every Alpha nearby. The Imperial Preceptor’s vision darkened, his body reacting violently.
“Get out of here, now!” His voice trembled slightly as his own pheromones, provoked by Cai’er’s, began to surge uncontrollably.
Wen Ningwan snapped back to her senses and quickly moved to support him, but Cai’er suddenly stood and slipped past them, slamming the door shut behind her.
Utterly confused, Wen Ningwan turned back just as the Imperial Preceptor’s legs gave way. She caught him in her arms.
He shoved her away in disgust, but the lingering traces of Cai’er’s scent in the room were swiftly overpowered by the Imperial Preceptor’s own pheromones a rich, intoxicating aroma of green tea that filled the air.
Watching as the man braced himself against the table, breathing heavily with his back to her, Wen Ningwan hesitated before stepping forward. “Are… are you alright?”
The Imperial Preceptor turned his head. His cheeks were flushed, his deep eyes hazy with desire. His lips parted slightly.
Wen Ningwan’s throat went dry. The overwhelming Alpha pheromones sent her blood boiling, her entire body burning with heat.
Then, the Imperial Preceptor reached out. Wen Ningwan looked down at the slender fingers wrapping around her wrist before she was abruptly yanked forward.
Her thigh slammed against the table, pain making her wince. The Imperial Preceptor leaned over her, hands braced on either side, his gaze unfocused yet intense as it locked onto her frozen form.
Wen Ningwan didn’t dare breathe, her body instinctively arching back in nervous tension.
The Imperial Preceptor studied her with a dazed expression before suddenly gripping the tablecloth and yanking it off shattering wine cups and porcelain in the process.
Wen Ningwan flinched at the noise, but before she could react, he wrapped an arm around her waist and hoisted her onto the table. In one rough motion, he tore open her collar.
Trembling violently, Wen Ningwan frantically pushed at his hands, her voice shaking. “N-no, wait!”
Then, an overpowering musk filled the room like a thousand flowers blooming at once. The scent was intricate, layered with deep woody and earthy undertones beneath the intoxicating floral richness.
The Imperial Preceptor’s expression faltered slightly. Her hand, which had been gripping Wen Ningwan’s clothes, paused as she gazed at the exposed snow-white shoulder. Clenching her back teeth tightly, she struggled to maintain her composure.
Yet Wen Ningwan’s pheromones disrupted her focus. The Imperial Preceptor stared at the dazed gaze directed at her, watching as those soft, delicate lips parted slightly. The hands that had been restraining her gradually loosened their grip.
Her breathing grew rapid. Wen Ningwan’s dark, innocent eyes stared up at her with anticipation. Frozen in place, the Imperial Preceptor leaned down, stopping just short of touching her lips.
Wen Ningwan’s rosy little mouth quivered, her brows knitting in a pout. The Imperial Preceptor’s heart trembled until suddenly, Wen Ningwan grabbed her collar and pulled her into a kiss.
The door was kicked open. A crowd stood in shock, staring at the two on the table. You Ran’s jaw trembled as he stammered, “W-W-Wen Shaoqing?!”
Wen Ningwan snapped back to reality at the sight of the onlookers and immediately released the Imperial Preceptor’s collar. The Imperial Preceptor raised her hand and swiftly knocked Wen Ningwan unconscious, catching her in her arms.
You Ran reacted quickly, stepping forward to shut the door and handing the Imperial Preceptor a medicine bottle.
Outside, the crowd exchanged bewildered glances, whispering in shock, “T-the Imperial Preceptor and W-Wen Shaoqing. Aren’t they both Alphas?”
“B-b-but, That musky scent, it’s clearly an Omega’s pheromones!”
“But Omegas aren’t allowed to serve as court officials! It must be Cai’er’s scent, right?”