Chapter 55 – One Good News and One Bad News

The main hall of Xiaoqing Tower had been completely cleared out. In place of the usual extravagant furnishings stood neat rows of tables and benches.

Fifteen square tables were joined together in a long line, and the benches were the long, shared kind. If everyone squeezed a little, one row could seat over a hundred people.

There were four such rows in the hall, leaving a narrow passage in the middle where the dancing girls could perform.

A minor official from the Ministry of Rites looked around in surprise. “I didn’t expect the inside of a brothel to be this spacious.”

The Vice Minister of Rites gave a cold hum. “It’s the largest male brothel in the capital. How could it not be big?”

He had heard that when Young Lord Gong Xiurong bought the place years ago, he spent over a million taels of silver, and that was just for the land itself.

The price was high because Xiaoqing Tower stood in the inner city, the most bustling and prosperous area of the capital. With such a prime location, the place naturally enjoyed a steady stream of wealthy patrons.

The madam was quick to arrange seating for the guests. Lower-ranked officials were seated in the main hall, mid-ranked ones were assigned to the upper floor, and the remaining higher-ranking officials were placed in the rear courtyard.

Behind the main building stood a large residence where the courtesans normally entertained overnight guests. The madam had arranged for officials to sit in those rooms. Each room’s doors opened directly onto the courtyard, where singers and dancers were performing under lantern light.

The Minister of Rites gave a faint, sardonic chuckle. “Quite a thoughtful arrangement.”

Fortunately, everyone inside Xiaoqing Tower was properly dressed and behaving with decorum; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to stay without feeling utterly disgraced.

The madam smiled sweetly. “Since the honored lords are our guests, it’s only proper that you eat well and enjoy yourselves.”

After stepping outside to summon the servers to bring in the dishes and wine, she turned to Mu Nanjin and said gratefully, “Miss, you truly have a way with people, inviting so many officials to dine here. From now on, no one will dare look down on our Xiaoqing Tower again.”

Mu Nanjin instructed, “There are too many horses outside. Make sure they’re watched carefully. I don’t want any accidents while we’re eating.”

“Please rest assured, Miss. I’ve already arranged for our people to secure them, and I’ve assigned a few men to feed and watch them.”

The madam was a meticulous woman. Such minor details were always handled perfectly under her watch.

“Also,” Mu Nanjin added, “inform the owners of the other two establishments that from now on, Lord Zhou of the Ministry of Rites is to enjoy one complimentary visit to our brothel each month.”

Once everything was properly arranged, Mu Nanjin headed to join Kan Chaoyan and the others for dinner.

“Ah, little Mu, you came just in time! Sit here beside me.”

Kan Chaoyan beckoned her over warmly, placing a cup of wine in front of her.

Mu Nanjin frowned slightly. “I don’t drink.”

It wasn’t that she’d never drunk before. She would sometimes take a small sip or two, but never more than that.

Kan Chaoyan’s smile widened. “Even better.”

He chuckled. “You’re going to be working with a bunch of men from now on. How can you not drink with us? Isn’t that right, everyone?”

He nudged the cup closer. “Come on, just taste it.”

Mu Nanjin took a small sip.

“How is it?”

“Not bad.”

Kan Chaoyan stood up. “Come, everyone, let’s toast to Little Mu, to thank her for hosting us tonight!”

Deng Xingchao and the other Colonels all rose to their feet, raising their cups. “Mu Nanjin, we drink to you!”

Mu Nanjin clinked glasses with them.

Kan Chaoyan grinned. “Bottoms up!”

Mu Nanjin drained her cup in one go.

Kan Chaoyan refilled it immediately. “Congratulations on becoming the first female official in court. It’s not easy for a woman to hold office, and though His Majesty hasn’t formally ratified the position yet, you should treasure it well.”

Mu Nanjin said lightly, “Aren’t there also female officials in the harem?”

“They only serve within the palace and have no part in state affairs. You’re different. If you rise in rank, you’ll one day stand beside the Minister of Rites in Tai Jin Hall, debating with the Emperor himself. That’s what it means to be a real official.”

“Oh.”

“Come, another toast, to your future success!”

Mu Nanjin lifted her cup again and downed it neatly.

Kan Chaoyan refilled it yet again. “And this third cup, may your career climb ever higher.”

Mu Nanjin: “……”

【Let’s not. I just want to lie flat, live comfortably, not work myself to death, and definitely not end up bald like the Minister of Rites before I hit middle age.】

The officials from the Ministry of Rites sitting next door: “……”

Kan Chaoyan and the others burst into laughter. “Come on, one more!”

Mu Nanjin took another drink.

Kan Chaoyan eyed her curiously.

Didn’t she say she didn’t drink? How come after three cups she wasn’t even blushing?

Was she one of those people who never turned red, no matter how much they drank?

Kan Chaoyan shot a glance at Deng Xingchao.

Deng Xingchao understood instantly and raised his cup. “Mu Nanjin, thank you for helping us in the Right Division these past days. This one’s from me.”

“No need to thank me.”

Mu Nanjin drank again.

Deng Xingchao nudged Chen Liangli with his foot.

Chen Liangli stood and said, “Mu Nanjin, it’s been a pleasure working with you. Here’s to you!”

【Pleasure? You’ve spent more time scowling at me than smiling.】

Chen Liangli: “……”

That’s only because you keep making me angry!

After Mu Nanjin finished her drink, Jiang Buzhi raised his cup. “Mu Nanjin, you’re like a little sister to me. Let me toast you one.”

Mu Nanjin: “……”

【When men want to drink, they can come up with any excuse.】

Tang Jingrui frowned as he watched her take cup after cup. “Mu Nanjin, are you all right?”

Mu Nanjin blinked at him. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You’re not dizzy?”

“No.”

Tang Jingrui: “……”

Kan Chaoyan kicked him under the table, grinning. “Jingrui, shouldn’t you toast your cousin too?”

Chen Liangli chimed in, “Yeah, everyone else has, your turn!”

Under their collective gaze, Tang Jingrui reluctantly lifted his cup and toasted Mu Nanjin.

Then Jiang Buzhi said, “Mu Nanjin, if Tang Jingrui hadn’t brought you into the Jinyiwei, you wouldn’t have become an official, or met us. Don’t you think you owe him at least three cups for that?”

Mu Nanjin found that perfectly reasonable and immediately toasted Tang Jingrui three times.

The four other Colonels followed suit, each finding a flimsy excuse to toast her as well.

Before long, she had downed over ten cups, but she remained remarkably clear-headed and lively.

Eventually, Captain Liu arrived with reinforcements. Soon, hundreds of Jinyiwei lined up to toast Mu Nanjin in turn.

Strangely, even after hundreds of cups, she wasn’t tipsy, or even in need of a trip to the latrine.

It wasn’t until after what must have been a thousand cups that she suddenly stood up and announced, “I haven’t toasted the officials from the Ministry of Rites yet.”

Holding a jug and a cup, she marched straight into the next room.

Deng Xingchao watched her steady steps, bewildered. “She’s had so much, how is she not drunk?”

Chen Liangli muttered, “Blame Captain Liu and his cursed mouth.”

Kan Chaoyan rubbed his chin. “Maybe she is drunk, but we just can’t tell. Some people don’t act any different when they’re drunk. Mu Nanjin’s probably one of them.”

Deng Xingchao frowned. “How can you tell?”

“She’s going over there to toast the Ministry of Rites. That’s definitely not something she’d do sober.”

That did sound reasonable.

In the next room, Mu Nanjin raised her cup. “To the esteemed officials of the Ministry of Rites, I toast you all.”

The officials reluctantly picked up their cups.

They were happy enough to be treated to a meal, but the whole situation left a sour taste. No one liked being coerced into attending.

After drinking, Mu Nanjin said, “I have one good news and one bad news. Which would you like to hear first?”

The Minister of Rites frowned impatiently. “Say whichever you like.”

“Then I’ll start with the good news.” Mu Nanjin pointed at them. “You’ve all been poisoned by the Fifth Prince of the Beihan Kingdom.”

“What!?”

The Minister and his officials went pale; their hands shook so hard that chopsticks and wine cups nearly slipped.

Next door, Kan Chaoyan turned to Deng Xingchao. “Didn’t you notice they’d been poisoned?”

Deng Xingchao grimaced. “How could I? There are too many of them, I can’t watch every move they make. Besides, the Fifth Prince is a master of poisons in disguise. If he wanted to act, he could easily avoid my detection.”

Kan Chaoyan gestured toward the wall. “And you didn’t hear anything from her thoughts about it?”

Deng Xingchao looked even more miserable. “She’s spent the last few days thinking nonstop about Lord Zhou. She hasn’t mentioned anything else.”

Kan Chaoyan: “……”

In the next room, the Minister of Rites nearly exploded with fury. “We’ve been poisoned, and you call that good news!? Mu Nanjin, what do you mean by this?”

Mu Nanjin took another sip of wine. “The good news is, you’re not dead yet.”

The Minister of Rites looked as though he’d swallowed dung.

The Vice Minister’s face went pale. “Then does that mean we’re about to die?”

Mu Nanjin patted his shoulder reassuringly. “Not while I’m here.”

The officials: “……”

Well, that was somewhat comforting.

The Vice Minister exhaled shakily. “Then what’s the bad news?”

Mu Nanjin replied calmly, “When Lord Zhou invited the officials from the Court of Judicial Review and the Censorate for dinner, someone overheard that I was the one who hosted this meal. They’re sending people here to kill me. I don’t feel like moving right now, so my safety depends on all of you.”

As she spoke, her limbs suddenly went weak, and she slumped into the nearest chair.

The Vice Minister: “……”

He realized that the officials from the Court of Judicial Review and the Censorate were his personal friends, men he often visited brothels with. So when he’d invited them tonight, he hadn’t bothered to hide that Mu Nanjin was footing the bill.

That interested party likely thought only they and Mu Nanjin were present, never expecting her to have called so many Jinyiwei.

One of the officials blurted, “But we can’t fight!”

The Minister of Rites, however, remained calm and sipped his wine. “Why panic? There are plenty of Jinyiwei here. Even if we can’t defend ourselves, they can.”

“Oh. Right.” The official nodded and sat back down, resuming his meal. “The food here’s actually quite good.”

Next door, Kan Chaoyan said to Tang Jingrui, “Pass the order, tell everyone to stay on guard.”

“Yes, sir.”

Tang Jingrui immediately left to relay the command.

Deng Xingchao rose. “That girl’s definitely drunk. Otherwise, she’d never be spilling all this. I’ll go bring her back.”

Kan Chaoyan didn’t stop him.

Deng Xingchao entered the next room, exchanged a few polite words with the Ministry officials, then returned with Mu Nanjin in tow.

Kan Chaoyan smiled. “Little Mu, are you drunk?”

“No.”

Her tone was calm and serious enough to fool anyone, but a closer look at her eyes revealed a faint, hazy glimmer.

“Sit here. Let’s have another few rounds.”

Still unconvinced, Kan Chaoyan poured her several more cups. Once she seemed sufficiently dazed, he asked casually, “Little Mu, you’ve got impressive martial skills. Who did you learn from?”

Mu Nanjin blinked. “Who did I learn from? Hmm… did I learn martial arts? I don’t think so. I only learned swordsmanship.”

Everyone: “……”

Deng Xingchao muttered under his breath, “You overdid it, she’s gone stupid.”

Kan Chaoyan: “……”

He’d only kept pouring because he was afraid she hadn’t been drunk enough.

Kan Chaoyan tried again. “Then who taught you swordsmanship?”

Mu Nanjin shook her head. “No one taught me. I learned on my own.”

Deng Xingchao scoffed. “Nonsense. You can’t be this good from self-study.”

“I learned from a manual!” Mu Nanjin shot back, sulking. “You don’t believe me, fine. I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”

Then she slumped over the table, toying idly with a pair of chopsticks.

Deng Xingchao: “……”

Kan Chaoyan tried to coax her again. “Of course we believe you. Tell me, Little Mu, how do you know so many secrets?”

Mu Nanjin tilted her head. “What secrets?”

Kan Chaoyan pointed at Deng Xingchao. “For example, how did you know he’s afraid of his wife?”

Deng Xingchao’s face darkened. “Of all things to bring up, you had to choose that.”

Mu Nanjin ignored them both. “Not only that, I also know…”

Even drunk, her gossiping habit didn’t change. She blurted out another tidbit. “I know the Left Censorate Minister from the Censorate has secretly loved the Virtuous Consort in the palace since he was young.”

Chen Liangli’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”

Mu Nanjin nodded solemnly. “And also, ”

She suddenly swayed, her vision spinning. The people before her blurred into doubles. She shook her head and propped her chin on her hand.

“And also what? Come on, tell us.”

Mu Nanjin closed her eyes. She didn’t finish speaking aloud, but her inner voice emerged clearly:

【Prince Sheng promised the Left Censorate Minister that if his rebellion succeeds, he’ll grant him the Virtuous Consort as his wife. Tempted, the minister agreed to become his dog.】

Downstairs, the Right Censorate Deputy Minister, who happened to hear her thoughts, dropped his chopsticks in shock.

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review leaned over and said calmly, “She said Left Censorate Minister, not you. What are you afraid of?”

The man swallowed hard. “I’ve always been close with him. I’m just worried His Majesty might think I’m involved too.”

“That would indeed be troublesome,” the Minister nodded. “From tomorrow, stay far away from him.”

“That’s all I can do.”

Upstairs, Mu Nanjin continued drowsily, “Hehe, let me tell you about Kan Chaoyan…”

Kan Chaoyan, hearing his name, panicked. “Stop! Don’t think about it!”

Deng Xingchao grinned. “No, no, let her finish. I’d love to hear your dirty secrets.”

Kan Chaoyan panicked and shouted, “Mu Nanjin! Wake up!”

But Mu Nanjin had already passed out cold.