Inside Luanfeng Yin, every pavilion and tower was adorned with carved beams and painted rafters. A pair of narrowed eyes swept over several beautiful women, yet there was none of the lustful greed that had once filled them.
“Her waist isn’t slim enough.”
“Her arms are that thick? If I were you, I wouldn’t even be able to eat.”
The woman being scolded shrank her neck and lowered her head, afraid to offend this noble young master of the Zhu family.
“Master, these are all famous courtesans you’ve collected from the major pleasure houses in the capital over the past few years. Weren’t you quite satisfied with them before?”
The manager of Luanfeng Yin looked troubled. “Not a single one catches your eye today?”
“Are these women for me?”
Zhu Wen snapped impatiently. “They’re for that brat Feng Che.”
The manager had heard that Prince Huai’an was attending a banquet tonight, but he was still puzzled. “Even if it’s Prince Huai’an, surely these ladies should be enough to move him.”
“What a filthy bumpkin who’s never seen the world.”
Zhu Wen spat. “The Gao family’s daughter is a peerless beauty. Put all these women together, and they still wouldn’t match half of her. How am I supposed to send them over?”
Just thinking about it made Zhu Wen furious. Feng Che had been purging corrupt officials and had traced the investigation all the way to the Zhu family. A few days ago, he had been beaten badly at the Prince’s residence. And now he had to obediently send beautiful women over to curry favor with that brat.
His liver ached with anger. He picked out a few girls who were at least passable and ordered the manager to send them over.
Luanfeng Yin was divided into three floors.
On the first floor, musicians played special performances while the powerful and wealthy drank and enjoyed themselves. It could be considered rather refined.
The second floor was another matter entirely. Each soundproof private room had been turned into a den of indulgence, with thick doors concealing the delicate moans and passionate pleasures within.
As for the third floor, there was little entertainment to speak of. They were proper private rooms, serving only extremely high-ranking officials or powerful nobles who could dominate the court with a single hand.
For example, Jiang Tou and Feng Zhao met on the third floor every fifteenth day of the month.
Likewise, Minister of Revenue Xiang Hou had arranged today’s banquet in the largest private room on the third floor. Musicians played, and incense was burned by attendants, making the room seem completely devoid of any sensual atmosphere.
Every guest seated there was a prominent figure.
And the most distinguished of them all was none other than Prince Huai’an, seated at the center of the banquet.
“Your Highness, this is medicinal wine I purchased from a foreign merchant. I heard you’re treating your leg, so I thought you might appreciate it. The wine isn’t strong, and it’s even beneficial to the body.”
Minister of Revenue Xiang Hou was already well past forty, yet before the barely twenty-year-old Feng Che, he bowed and scraped, acting like a loyal servant.
Many of the high-ranking officials at the table looked down on him inwardly, yet they had no choice but to rise and toast Feng Che just as Xiang Hou had done.
For the past few years, rumors had circulated that Feng Che had betrayed Da Feng and defected to the Liao people. After his return to the capital, the court officials had naturally treated him with indifference.
But Emperor Feng’s attitude toward him was intimate. He had even issued an imperial decree affirming Feng Che’s innocence and entrusted him with the investigation into corruption in Tanzhou.
That was a clear sign of favor.
Everyone seated here had spent years immersed in court politics. None of these old foxes could fail to understand the direction of things, and none dared slight this young prince.
“Your Highness, allow me to toast you.”
The middle-aged man was dressed simply and elegantly, with a small mustache beneath his nose, looking every bit like a scholar and man of letters. The admiration in his eyes seemed ready to overflow just like the wine in his cup.
“‘A great general marches south with heroic courage,
a wild-goose-feather saber hanging across his waist.’
“The people I admire most in this life are brave soldiers of iron and steel like Your Highness.
“It is a pity my family refuses to let me go to war. Otherwise, I truly wish to follow Your Highness, stain my sleeves with blood from my spear, and forget death in service of my country.”
Behind Feng Che, Cang Zhu couldn’t help turning his head and murmuring to Shang Lu, “Follow him? Who doesn’t know that when the rumor spread that our Master had defected to the Liao, the Zhuang family was the first to condemn him? Zhuang Lie, as an imperial censor, cursed our Master until he was covered in filth in open court.”
Shang Lu glanced at his master, whose expression remained unchanged, and lowered his voice.
“The Zhuang family is the foremost among the great aristocratic families. Consort Zhuang and her children are favored by His Majesty. Our Master hasn’t said anything, so don’t stick your nose into it.”
Cang Zhu clicked his tongue, hugged his sword, and turned his head away.
“Does Prince Huai’an still remember me?”
The person who had come with Zhuang Lie was his eldest son, Zhuang Yao. He had studied at the same academy as Feng Che and had once been one of Zhu Wen’s little followers.
Feng Che swept his gaze over him.
Feeling the pressure in the man’s eyes, Zhuang Yao couldn’t help swallowing. He remembered that when Zhu Wen and the others had been beaten by Feng Che, he had been the only one who hadn’t been hit. He forced a smile.
“We were classmates for several years. Of course I remember you.”
Feng Che accepted the wine Zhuang Yao offered. Zhuang Yao continued, “Back when we were at the academy, I always thought Your Highness and the Princess Consort had an excellent relationship. Now that you’ve finally become husband and wife, it truly is something worth celebrating.
“When Your Highness married some time ago, I even sent a wedding gift.”
Feng Che had no impression of the gift this man had sent. He only remembered the incident back at the academy. Among Zhu Wen’s group, this was the only one who had not taken part.
Otherwise, after Zhu Wen had nearly lost an eye, he ought to have lost a hand as well.
“His Highness has been purging corrupt officials lately and is exhausted from all the work. Those people are truly despicable—they actually embezzled disaster-relief funds.”
Seated on Feng Che’s other side was Chong Ji, the son of Duke Chong and Minister of War. His younger sister had entered the palace two years earlier and had just given birth this year to Emperor Feng’s youngest son.
Among the great aristocratic families, the Chong family ranked second, a step below the Zhuang family.
But now that Consort Chong had given birth to a prince and won Emperor Feng’s favor, Chong Ji, the Minister of War, was enjoying the benefits as well. Even in front of Zhuang Lie, his back was a little straighter than before.
With two ministers present at the same banquet, the conversation centered entirely on affairs of state. No one else dared interrupt. They could only eagerly watch the young prince.
“I wonder how much longer Your Highness will have to remain busy before this matter is settled.”
What Chong Ji said was exactly what the other officials wanted to ask.
This purge had left everyone on edge.
Even officials who had never embezzled disaster-relief funds were afraid that some other wrongdoing of theirs might be exposed.
“The investigation is still ongoing.”
Feng Che pressed his lips together, answering frankly. “Several officials have already been dismissed. I believe this purge… will be over soon.”
At those words, Chong Ji and Zhuang Lie exchanged a glance, both showing hints of delight.
“Yes. Before we know it, the Mid-Autumn Festival will be here. Once this matter is settled, Your Highness can spend the festival with the Princess Consort.”
The door creaked as someone pushed it open from outside.
Several graceful women entered, and the most beautiful among them was brought before Feng Che.
“This is Yanhong, the best singer at Luanfeng Yin. Our master instructed us to say that she offended Your Highness some time ago, so today he has sent her here to accompany you for some drinks and sing a few songs.”
Yanhong followed the manager of Luanfeng Yin forward. She had never expected the supposedly crippled Prince Huai’an to be such an incomparably handsome young man.
And Zhu Wen had specifically instructed her to spend the night with him.
At first, Yanhong had regarded it as nothing more than a task. But now that she had seen the man’s stunning appearance, her heart began to stir. She could hardly wait to tumble into bed with him right then and there.
Dry kindling meeting raging fire…
Seeing that Feng Che had not refused, the manager gave Yanhong a meaningful look.
The woman took graceful steps toward him and boldly slipped her arm around his strong, powerful arm.
“Your Highness, allow me to serve you.”t