Seeing the anxious face of Luo Qingxue and the gloomy expression of Wang Canghai, Liang Qing’s face turned green.
“Um… Qingxue, Xiao’er, he, he went to Baichun Tower.”
As soon as Liang Qing said this, he wished he could chase after Liang Xiao to Baichun Tower and hang him up for a beating.
“Baichun Tower?!”
Luo Qingxue was first shocked, and then tears welled up.
“He told me to wait for him at home, and he went to a place of pleasure by himself? How can he do this! I’m going to bring him back!”
Liang Qing quickly tried to persuade her, but Luo Qingxue wouldn’t listen and rushed towards Baichun Tower with her people.
“Prime Minister…” Liang Qing looked at Wang Canghai, chuckling dryly.
Wang Canghai had a dark expression. After a long sigh, he said, “I still have to report to His Majesty truthfully tomorrow…”
Liang Qing’s heart immediately leaped into his throat.
Wang Canghai changed the subject and laughed, “General Liang need not worry. I’ve already seen the clues. It seems someone is trying to frame him. Most of the injuries on those two ruffians are fresh.”
Hearing Wang Canghai explain what he had seen, Liang Qing finally breathed a sigh of relief and was deeply grateful.
To avoid suspicion, Wang Canghai declined Liang Qing’s invitation to stay and quickly left the Liang mansion.
Liang Qing paced back and forth in the main hall, his face full of worry.
A quarter of an hour later, the steward reported, “Old Master, that Lord Qin is here to visit…”
Liang Qing’s expression changed. Xiao Qing had already brought Ning Xuejun into the hall.
“Where is he?” Xiao Qing asked with a smile.
The hand Liang Qing rested on the chair trembled slightly, his face tense.
This was bad!
Why were they all crowding together at once?
The moonlight was hazy as Liang Xiao arrived at Baichun Tower and stopped to observe.
This Baichun Tower was resplendent and ornate, with flowers and trees everywhere. However, in winter, only plum blossoms bloomed.
Even so, Baichun Tower was still decorated with all sorts of paper flowers, making it a riot of colors and extremely beautiful.
Inside, there was singing and dancing, with high-ranking officials and wealthy nobles enjoying fine wine and delicacies, spending money like water. The beauties of Baichun Tower came and went, composing poetry and keeping them company, presenting a scene of prosperity.
Baichun Tower had both courtesans and talented women who performed but did not sell themselves. They catered to the needs of the visiting officials and nobles.
Of course, if someone could pay a large sum, or win the heart of a talented woman with their charm, there was a chance to embrace their beauty.
However, it was truly hard to believe that those who entered Baichun Tower were unaware that the refugee camp was only a hundred zhang away, directly opposite Baichun Tower…
The guards, having received Liang Qing’s strict order to protect Liang Xiao at all costs, followed him closely, unwavering.
“Sir, you look like someone of extraordinary status. Please come in!” A red-clad “beauty” from Baichun Tower greeted him with a smile, her eyes twinkling, enough to make any ordinary man’s heart flutter.
Liang Xiao merely nodded slightly and said, “I am here to attend Baichun Tower’s ‘Dongfeng Gathering’.”
As he spoke, Liang Xiao took out a piece of broken silver and handed it to the beauty.
The beauty smiled obsequiously and immediately led the way for Liang Xiao.
“Sir has excellent taste. All the talented women and scholars, and officials of Baichun Tower are at the Dongfeng Gathering. Our courtesan, Miss Yirou, is also exceptionally talented and beautiful!”
Liang Xiao was here to make money and had no mind to listen to the beauty’s chatter. He merely urged her to walk faster.
The beauty agreed repeatedly and led Liang Xiao into the water pavilion deep within Baichun Tower before retreating. With a look of disdain, she said to a beauty beside her, “I thought he was a handsome young man, but I didn’t expect him to be just a superficial dandy!”
Entering the water pavilion, Liang Xiao surveyed the scene, a smile appearing on his face.
Ahead, hundreds of men and women were seated, listening to eighteen talented women play music on the other side.
In front was a vast river, shrouded in a dense white mist.
The place was brightly lit, warm as spring, and filled with fragrance. One could not feel the harsh cold of the outside world here.
After the guards at the entrance collected the ten taels of admission fee, they respectfully let Liang Xiao in.
Liang Xiao walked to the back of the crowd and saw a familiar figure.
Gu Shaoyan!
At this moment, Gu Shaoyan was chatting and laughing with a noble and elegant young talent, appearing at ease. The scholars and officials around them consciously sat around the two, not daring to get too close.
From a distance, the beauties of Baichun Tower looked at Gu Shaoyan and his companion with shy admiration.
Seeing this, Liang Xiao roughly guessed the identity of this young talent.
The eldest son of the Jingzhao Prefect, the brother of Mu Wanjun, and one of the three great talents of the capital, Mu Hong!
Liang Xiao’s eyes darted, and a plan formed in his mind.
How much extra money he could earn today depended on the performance of these two!
“Junior Brother Mu, I remember Miss Yirou bears some resemblance to Wanjun,” Gu Shaoyan said with a smile.
Mu Hong nodded with a smile, “That’s why I consider Miss Yirou my junior sister. It is a great honor! However, Miss Yirou truly favors Young Master Dugu.”
Gu Shaoyan sighed, “That is natural. Young Master Dugu is after all the foremost talent in the capital, and by extension, the foremost talent in the country. However…”
“However what?” Mu Hong stared at Gu Shaoyan curiously, but the latter merely shook his head with a smile.
The surrounding people watched with envy, their hearts filled with hope that through this Dongfeng Gathering, they could attract the attention of the talented women, led by Yirou.
These officials and nobles were already accustomed to courtesans and were even more eager for these talented women who seemed to be admired from afar but unattainable.
“Miss Yirou!”
A moment later, amidst cheers, Yirou, the protagonist of the Dongfeng Gathering, finally made her appearance.
This woman, dressed in green and holding a pipa, with a smile on her face and beautiful features, stood out among the talented women of Baichun Tower, dazzling everyone’s eyes.
Liang Xiao watched her, his expression unchanging, and thought, “She can’t compare to Yue Lian or Qingxue.”
In his eyes, those two were the most beautiful women in the world.
A light laugh came from afar. The crowd looked towards the sound, and everyone exclaimed, “Young Master Dugu!”
Under the gaze of the talented women, Dugu Xiao walked from backstage to the front and smiled and nodded at everyone, seating himself confidently between Mu Hong and Gu Shaoyan.
Gu Shaoyan pouted but ultimately suppressed his urge to speak.
Yirou finally spoke, her voice clear and melodious, “Young Master Dugu’s guidance on poetry has greatly benefited me. I shall now perform a pipa piece for everyone.”
The crowd cheered.
Yirou gently plucked and strummed the pipa, her pleasant music filling the hall, making one feel as if in a spring breeze.
Even Liang Xiao had to admit that she played quite well.
After the piece, Yirou looked down at the audience and said softly, “I am deeply honored by everyone’s participation in today’s Dongfeng Gathering.”
With that, Yirou bowed deeply to the audience. Some people could no longer contain themselves and let out wails, only to be reminded by their companions to quiet down.
The applause was thunderous!
After the applause, Dugu Xiao praised, “The Book of Songs says: ‘Guanguan cries the osprey, on the river islet. A fair and graceful lady, for our prince a good mate.’ Does this not describe Miss Yirou?”
Everyone echoed his sentiment.
A blush spread across Yirou’s face, and she said softly, “Young Master Dugu is indeed the foremost talent. Quoting classics is so effortless for you.”
More agreement followed, and the talented women were also entranced, gazing at the elegant Dugu Xiao with shy expressions.
Gu Shaoyan and Mu Hong exchanged glances, wanting to speak but hesitating.
Were these not the most overused lines from ancient times?
Just then, a light chuckle came from a corner.
Everyone looked towards the sound, wanting to see who this inappropriate person was.
It was Liang Xiao, who had chuckled uncontrollably.
“These are obviously famous lines from the Book of Songs that even a three-year-old child can recite. There’s no need to flatter them so much,” Liang Xiao sighed.
As soon as he spoke, Yirou frowned and glared at Liang Xiao.