Who is spreading rumors that my filial piety towards them has changed?

Chapter Ninety-Two: The Imperial Music Bureau (56/58)

Ceramics can be made in official kilns or private kilns, and so can places of pleasure, such as the Jiaofangsi, which was an official kiln within brothels.

The music academy had professional music teachers who provided instruction, and the women there were skilled in music... no, I mean music!

They can sing and dance, are proficient in multiple musical instruments, and some are even skilled in playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Their professional abilities far surpass those of the so-called idols Chu Mingkong had seen in his previous life.

Gu Jungui and Zhong Feihuang then decided to find an unregistered woman from the brothels in the capital to help Chu Mingkong calm down.

In the study of the West Mansion, Zhong Feihuang led strong men from the Imperial Music Bureau to carry in a large box.

"Just leave the box here. Go to the maid at the main gate and collect your reward and a cup of tea."

Gu Jungui soon came into the study as well, and she said:

"These are the portraits that were transported from the Imperial Music Bureau?"

Gu Jungui thought about Chu Mingkong's previous blunder and decided to help him vent his anger. Otherwise, it wouldn't do to keep it bottled up, so finding a professional was the best option.

However, given their backgrounds, it wouldn't look good for them to go to the brothel. Therefore, they had someone screen a range of girls and send over portraits of those who met the criteria, so they could find suitable candidates for them.

"So many!" This was the first time Gu Jun Gui had witnessed such a selection process. It was clearly not his responsibility, yet he felt uneasy. "Are these the candidates selected according to our requirements?"

Zhong Feihuang nodded, opened the box, and said:

"Yes, you've brought along all the women of suitable age who are skilled in martial arts, beautiful, and good at singing and dancing."

Gu Jungui took out a square black stone from the box, her eyebrows slightly furrowed:

"What is this? Wasn't it supposed to be a painting?"

Zhong Feihuang explained, "It's just a stone for storing images, the same kind of 'viewing stone' used by those spoiled brats who are afraid to hunt but love watching others hunt. But those viewing stones are too expensive; they're ruined after one use. Sister-in-law, why don't you try infusing it with spiritual energy? You've been learning to cultivate, but you haven't really used spiritual energy much yet!"

Gu Jun Gui's eyes were wide open. She awkwardly channeled her spiritual energy, slowly pouring it into the black stone. Sure enough, a life-size image of a woman appeared. She exclaimed in amazement:

"These things from the cultivation world are truly wondrous. But why are they called portraits?"

"It's just a common name. Actually, only the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau) in the capital has the financial resources to keep a portrait of all the women in the bureau. When they go down to the local areas, they are real portraits. But portraits are easy to draw wrong and are not accurate. These stones are much more convenient."

The two began to select, examining each stone one by one. After the first round of selection, they eliminated half the box, as some of the women were too young or their temperament was unsatisfactory.

The remaining half-box presented a dilemma for Gu Jungui and Zhong Feihuang. These women were all equally beautiful and capable, making it difficult to choose between them.

The most obvious difference lies in their background and age...

Yes, besides the usual slender young women, there are even unregistered married women here.

Some of these young women were forced into prostitution due to the decline of their families, while others were implicated in family crimes and the confiscation of their property. They might have originally been ladies of noble families, but life is unpredictable, and they could become prisoners overnight and be sent to the brothel.

After much deliberation, Gu Jungui finally narrowed down the candidates to less than ten.

Among them were young girls carefully trained by the brothel, as well as women who had committed crimes.

The young girl was a virgin, sixteen or seventeen years old, full of youthful energy, and very suitable.

Looking at these candidates, Gu Jun Gui inexplicably found himself comparing himself to them, muttering to himself:

"This young girl is much younger than me, eight or nine years younger than me, and about the same age as Mingkong... She's so much younger than me."

"This woman, who is a convict, comes from a local county town. Because of her good looks, she was forced into the brothel in the capital. She was implicated by the men in her family. It seems that she is still breastfeeding her child. It's really unfortunate... Although she has been pregnant, her family background is much more clean. She is about my age."

"No, what am I competing in? This is for Mingkong to choose from, why am I competing in it myself!"

Gu Jungui took a sip of cold water to calm herself down, and asked somewhat awkwardly:

"...Feihuang, do you think it's better to choose a young girl or an older woman?"

"You're young, aren't you? You're still a virgin."

"No, no, too young, she doesn't know how to serve Mingkong."

"..." How could women trained by the Jiaofangsi not know how to serve? Zhong Feihuang was speechless for a while, then followed Gu Jungui's suggestion and said, "Then let's choose some more mature women?"

Gu Jungui nodded: "Then let's do it your way, Feihuang."

Zhong Feihuang was speechless again. How did they come to say it was my idea?

“Sister-in-law, are you worried that those young girls are too clever and will deceive Mingkong? That’s possible. These young girls grow up in the brothel and are afraid of getting old and losing their way. They can’t wait to convince a customer to redeem them on their first day of listing, especially someone like Mingkong who has a wealthy background.”

Upon hearing this, Gu Jungui felt even more strongly that he shouldn't choose any young girls for Chu Mingkong. This child was soft-hearted and naive; what if he was deceived by the young girls from the brothel?

She moved the six stones representing young girls aside and put them back in the box, leaving only four stones, which were mostly women with good looks, temperament, and background.

"So how do we choose the remaining one?"

"Just these two, I think they're sisters. I wonder if one of them can keep up with Mingkong's burly physique. And these two women look like they married out of Xiling. What did this family do to get the whole family involved?"

Gu Jungui nodded: "Alright, women from Xiling shouldn't cause trouble for Mingkong..."

Zhong Feihuang confirmed again and again, "Then it's settled? The Jiaofangsi (a type of entertainment venue) doesn't allow women to go out and entertain guests. I'll find some time to talk to Mingkong and set a time for him to go to the Jiaofangsi."

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Early the next morning.

After a night of arduous cultivation, Chu Mingkong and Shangguan Rong returned to their residence for breakfast, while waiting for news from the authorities to see when they would escort the people to the execution ground.

Knowing the time, he would have to go to the prison the night before to guard it and thwart the Xiao family's plan to rescue people, preventing them from succeeding.

But before the news arrived, Chu Mingkong was greeted by Zhong Feihuang.

Zhong Feihuang came to his room mysteriously and stuffed two plaques into his hands.

"What does this mean?" Chu Mingkong recognized the sign as belonging to the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment institution), but... why would Sister-in-law Huang Er give him this thing?

"Given Keqing's physique, I can tell you've been putting up with her and suppressing your pent-up desires. Be careful not to let this get to you. Find some time today to vent your frustrations. Your aunt is worried that your superiors might be trying to harm the women in the family!"

Aunt Gu helped me find this?!

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PS: That's all for today's three updates. I need to work on the plot; I'm experiencing writer's block.

Chapter Ninety-Three: I Just Came to Take a Look

After Zhong Feihuang explained the situation, Chu Mingkong understood what was going on.

Could it be that Aunt Gu thinks he's being confused by sticking out his tongue because he didn't release his pent-up emotions with Sister-in-law Keqing and is feeling overwhelmed?

Chu Mingkong said:

"Second Sister-in-law Huang, the last time I went to a brothel was when I was a child, I went with my master to drink the apprenticeship wine. At that time, I only watched the dancing, and I didn't do anything else. You're telling me to go to the brothel for real right away?"

Going to a brothel for an apprenticeship ceremony? Zhong Feihuang was confused by his words, but she didn't care about that. She said:

"So you're going to keep holding back? Besides, we've already paid them, and this isn't even listed yet. We spent a lot of money to get these two people through the back channels!"

Zhong Feihuang pressed the plaque into his hand, not giving him a chance to return it, and then walked out of the room and went back to the Cui residence.

"Alright, that's settled then. Don't be a coward!"

Chu Mingkong watched Zhong Feihuang's departing figure, feeling an indescribable strangeness in his heart.

It would be one thing if male elders went to brothels in groups, but it's quite mysterious that female elders would pick out girls from the music and dance academy for him to enjoy.

Holding the plaque in his hand, Chu Mingkong deeply felt the care from his elders:

"Although I really didn't want to go, how could I refuse my elders' kind offer?"

However, Chu Mingkong really didn't have any intention of playing with girls right now. He was full of energy, but after spending the whole night cultivating with a girl as beautiful as Shangguan Rong, his spirit was already satisfied. He didn't want to fill his spirit with piston-like movements anymore, and he needed some more elegant spiritual and cultural activities.

"We agreed to go to a brothel with Zuo Qiuchi last time. I'll go check it out first. If she's pretty, I'll call her over to join us."

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The location of the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau) is quite close to the government office. I don't know what the principle behind this layout is. Don't the guests who come here feel psychological pressure of being arrested at any time?

When Chu Mingkong passed by the government office, he saw a large crowd of onlookers gathered at the notice board.

"What are all these people doing?"

He went closer and found that a new notice had been posted, saying that a group of prisoners were to be taken to the execution ground and that they would be transported the next morning.

The name of the Fifth Prince was prominently featured on the list.

"Tomorrow morning? Does that mean I have to act today? I might as well use my visit to the Jiaofangsi as an alibi and slip out in a bit."

The general public, curious and discussing:

"Why wasn't he taken to the marketplace to be beheaded? Why was he specifically taken to the execution ground outside the city?"

“The prisoners are of different statuses. Those insignificant thieves can be beheaded on the street, while those of higher status are naturally dragged to the execution ground outside the city. See the first name? That’s the Fifth Prince.”

"A prince? What crime did he commit? I haven't heard anything about it. Why is a prince being executed for no reason? By the way, who is the Fifth Prince?"

"I haven't heard why the Prince of Xiling failed to kill that guy last time, and he should be executed. It shouldn't be like that! Such a big thing, and not a word of it has leaked out? There must be something fishy going on!"

"I heard that Princess Jinyu was falsely accused of having an affair and losing her virginity, which forced her to be examined by the old women of the Imperial Clan Court in the court to see if she still had her virginity mark."

"Framed Princess Jinyu? Then there's no secret behind this, she truly deserves to die!"

“Indeed, I’ll go to the Hua Lai family’s pharmacy in a bit and store a bucket of the diluted medicine tonight, which I’ll pour for the Fifth Prince tomorrow.”

Chu Mingkong felt ashamed upon hearing this.

The news of the Fifth Prince framing Consort Wan was suppressed, but the matter of Jin Yu was vaguely revealed. Was it because framing one's own mother was too damaging to the royal family's reputation?

"I'm not going to pay attention to what they're saying anymore. I'll go to the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment district) and see for myself."

If Chu Mingkong needed an alibi, he naturally couldn't hide his face and wear a cloak.

He couldn't quite understand why these high-ranking officials and nobles could openly frequent such places of entertainment, or was it just that he was the one who was strange?

I always feel a little nervous when I come to the red-light district; this anxiety is no less than that of peeping at an old lady taking a bath.

The Jiaofangsi and the brothel seemed not much different; as soon as you entered, you could smell the strong scent of women's cosmetics.

The women here dress provocatively, wearing light gauze and strapless tops that reveal everything. Their seductive waists sway like water snakes, and even their walk is alluring. Their gazes are captivating and alluring. If you stare at a girl for a few seconds, she will quickly notice your gaze, then cast flirtatious glances at you, and then reveal a shy, girlish demeanor, alluring and seductive.

However, many of them were girls around fifteen or sixteen years old, their faces still showing signs of childhood innocence, but their hair was already styled with hairpins to signify adulthood.

Having visited the brothel several times and seen these young girls, Chu Mingkong felt uncomfortable at the thought of them entertaining customers, facing pot-bellied officials and nobles, and being bullied and harassed by petty officials.