Chapter 60 – My Brothel Will Never Fall

The envoys of the Great Chen Kingdom lost their smiles in an instant, someone had dared to ruin their grand scheme.

Their goal wasn’t merely to bewitch the Emperor of the Great Qian Empire. They sought to seduce the envoys of other nations as well, driving them to fight one another, all for the sake of a single woman.

The men seated in the hall snapped out of their trance, blinking in confusion at those beside them.

“What… what just happened to me?”

The wives of the ministers sat with darkened faces, too angry or embarrassed to speak.

Envoys from the other three nations shot cold, hostile glares toward the Great Chen envoys.

Feigning composure, the Great Chen envoy raised his cup and toasted them from afar.

The Great Chen Princess, calm and collected, stepped forward gracefully once she saw that everyone had regained their senses. With a soft motion, she lifted her delicate jade hand and removed her veil, revealing a face so stunning it could bring nations to ruin.

Her beauty was a weapon sharper than any blade. A single glance from her could enthrall men and women alike. Even the ladies in the hall found their gazes unconsciously drawn toward her.

The Great Chen Princess bowed to the Emperor, her cherry lips parting slightly as she spoke in a voice so tender and melodious it could melt stone.

“Your Majesty, this concubine greets you. May Your Majesty’s blessings be as vast as heaven, your longevity eternal.”

The Emperor regarded the Great Chen envoy and asked coldly, “So, this is the birthday tribute your Emperor offers to Me?”

A flicker of doubt crossed the envoy’s eyes. Why was the Great Qian Emperor not bewitched?

Little did he know, beneath the Emperor’s sleeves, his hands were clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. The sharp pain helped keep his mind clear, warding off the seductive aura radiating from the princess.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” replied the envoy smoothly. “She is our kingdom’s most beautiful woman, our princess. Our Emperor believes that the most noble man under heaven, the Emperor of Great Qian, should be matched with the most beautiful maiden. Thus, he sent her as a gift.”

The Emperor gave a low chuckle. “Your Emperor is… thoughtful indeed.”

He had overestimated his own willpower earlier, thinking himself immune to feminine charms, and paid for that arrogance.

Now, forewarned, he would not be deceived so easily. But he also knew he couldn’t maintain this resistance forever. Even if he guarded himself, what of the others? That princess’s allure could ensnare anyone, men, women, ministers, soldiers. As long as she remained in Great Qian, peace would be impossible.

【Old man Emperor, don’t you dare reject her!】

【Such a peerless beauty, letting her go would be a waste!】

【I’m telling you, if you put her in a brothel, she’d be a goldmine!】

The Emperor, Feng Sinan, Tian Yuan, and the others: “…”

Only Mu Nanjin could come up with the idea of putting a princess in a brothel.

【I even have names for her already, “Treasure Bringer,” “Wealth Caller,” or simply “Gold Magnet.” Hmm… “Gold Magnet” suits her perfectly!】

【I can already see it, she’ll become the top courtesan of Great Qian!】

【Didn’t the national treasury run short of silver recently? Don’t worry! With Gold Magnet here, I guarantee she’ll earn you five hundred thousand taels a year!】

【That’s enough to feed thousands of soldiers! With a strong army, Great Qian could conquer other nations easily. She’ll be a national heroine!】

【Hehe, Great Chen will regret this to death, handing over their money-making tool to us. A bunch of idiots!】

The Emperor: “…”

Her words were absurd, yet strangely tempting.

Mu Nanjin’s heart skipped a beat.

【Why am I so happy? The Emperor can’t even hear me! Hopefully, he’s not foolish enough to throw away such a gift.】

The Emperor noticed the Great Chen envoy still waiting for an answer. Clearing his throat, he said, “We accept your princess. Convey Our thanks to your Emperor for this generous gift.”

“Of course,” replied the envoy, bowing. “Our Emperor wishes you longevity and prosperity and hopes for everlasting friendship between our nations.”

The Emperor nodded. “Then, from this day forth, the Great Chen Princess shall be conferred the title of Concubine Chen and reside in Yixin Palace.”

The princess beamed. “Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace.”

“To not disrupt the banquet,” the Emperor added mildly, “Concubine Chen, would you be willing to withdraw for now?”

“Of course,” she said with a shy smile. “Tonight, this concubine shall await Your Majesty’s arrival.”

The Emperor laughed heartily. “Good! Mu Nanjin, escort Concubine Chen to Yixin Palace. Once you reach the courtyard, make sure she is well settled.”

He had emphasized the word “courtyard” for a reason.

【Why me, when there are plenty of eunuchs and palace maids?】

【Ah right, they’re all still dazed by her charm.】

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Mu Nanjin stepped forward and said, “Concubine Chen, please follow me.”

The Great Chen envoy’s eyes flickered with surprise when he realized Mu Nanjin was unaffected by the princess’s allure.

They had only resisted because the National Preceptor had given them talismans.

But Mu Nanjin?

Could it be… she possessed the strength of a Martial King?

The princess smiled faintly at her, but Mu Nanjin ignored her and strode toward the palace gates.

【Is there even a Yixin Palace in the palace complex?】

【Where exactly is it?】

【Why does the name sound so familiar… Wait, isn’t there a brothel called Yixin Courtyard under my Xiaoqing Tower? The palace has a place with the same name?】

The Emperor calmly sipped his wine.

Once the Great Chen Princess departed, the hall returned to normal.

Everyone looked bewildered.

“What happened just now? Why do I feel like I was frozen in place?”

“Me too… so strange!”

“I can’t recall a thing. Can you?”

Captain Liu rubbed his waist and winced. “Why does my back hurt so badly? What happened? Where’s Mu Nanjin…?”

By that time, Mu Nanjin had already escorted the Great Chen Princess deep into the inner palace.

No eunuch or maid could tell her where Yixin Palace was, no one had even heard of it.

Could the Emperor have misspoken?

“Guard Mu,” the princess suggested delicately, “perhaps we should return to ask the Emperor. Maybe he mixed up the name.”

Mu Nanjin was thinking the same, until the Emperor’s words echoed in her mind: “Once you reach the courtyard, make sure she is well settled.”

Courtyard, not palace…

A spark lit in her eyes. Could it be… the Emperor was thinking the same as she was?

Everyone knew she owned three brothels. The Emperor surely did too.

In other words, he never intended to keep this dangerous woman in the palace at all. He wanted Mu Nanjin to take her to the brothel.

It was worth a try. If she was wrong, she could always bring the woman back later.

Without warning, Mu Nanjin grabbed the princess by her collar and leapt into the night sky, soaring out of the palace in a few swift jumps.

“Ah!” The Great Chen Princess shrieked. “Guard Mu! Where are you taking me?”

Mu Nanjin did not answer.

Within half a cup of tea’s time, they arrived in the backyard of Xiaoqing Tower.

The madam hurried out, smiling brightly. “Ah, my dear girl, you’ve come.”

When her gaze fell upon the princess, her eyes lit up. “What a beauty! She’s simply… simply…”

Perfect for a brothel.

But before she could finish, she was struck dumb by the princess’s seductive aura.

Mu Nanjin pressed a finger between her brows, clearing her mind instantly. “Madam, tell her where she is.”

“This place?” The madam giggled behind her silk kerchief. “A brothel.”

The princess’s face turned pale. “Guard Mu, I am now His Majesty’s concubine! How dare you bring me here? Aren’t you afraid he’ll have your head?”

“C-Concubine of the Emperor?” The madam nearly stuttered her tongue off.

Mu Nanjin said calmly, “His Majesty instructed me to bring her here.”

“That’s impossible!” the princess snapped. “I’m the Princess of Great Chen! Would he risk war between our nations?”

Mu Nanjin raised a brow. “Your nation is crumbling. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be here to begin with, sent as bait to ensnare our Emperor. You think our Emperor is that gullible?”

The princess went pale.

“You have three choices,” Mu Nanjin continued evenly. “First, return to the palace, you might be imprisoned or silenced forever. Second, go back to Great Chen, but you won’t return as a princess, only as a defiled woman.”

The princess flinched, her expression ugly as she remembered the horror of her homeland. “And the third?”

“The third, stay here and earn money for me. You’ll have freedom, you can go anywhere you wish. Just don’t try to run.”

“Earn money? That’s still selling my body!” she said bitterly.

“No need,” Mu Nanjin replied.

The princess blinked. “No need?”

“You only need to draw in guests. You don’t have to touch anyone. If you wish, I can even seal away your seductive aura, make you an ordinary woman.”

The princess gasped. “You can do that?”

Mu Nanjin nodded, pressed a finger to the center of her brow, and said to the madam, “Take off your outer robe.”

The madam obeyed.

Mu Nanjin draped the robe over the princess’s head, covering her face except for her eyes. “Madam, take her for a walk outside.”

“Yes.” The madam smiled. “Miss, please follow me.”

The princess hesitated but followed.

At first, she was terrified, memories of soldiers losing control around her haunted her.

But when they walked through the main hall, none of the men pounced on her. They only glanced curiously.

Tentatively, she removed the robe. The men admired her beauty but did not lose control.

A guest laughed. “Madam, who’s this beauty?”

The madam chuckled. “Just a visitor.”

Back in the courtyard, the princess’s eyes shone. “They weren’t bewitched! I can walk freely, I can see the world again!”

Mu Nanjin nodded. “You have three days to decide.”

The princess fell silent.

Mu Nanjin turned to the madam. “Take care of her while I return to the palace.”

“Yes, miss.”

When they left together to stroll outside, Mu Nanjin had already reentered the palace.

By the time she returned to Tai Jin Hall, the envoy from Great Liao was presenting his gift, a rare wine called Longevity Brew, reserved for their emperor’s birthdays. The Great Qian Emperor was pleased.

After all the gifts were presented, officials began offering their tributes.

The Fifth Prince of Great Wei kept glancing subtly at the Minister of Rites, making the man tremble with fear, terrified of being manipulated into assassinating the Emperor.

His eyes darted toward Mu Nanjin, who was being scolded by Captain Liu.

“Where did you disappear to?” he demanded.

“The Emperor ordered me to escort Concubine Chen to Yixin Palace,” she replied.

Captain Liu frowned. “Yixin Palace? Is there such a palace?”

【Idiot, Yixin Palace is Yixin Courtyard! With Concubine Chen there, my brothel will never fall! Hehe, my goal is to make every man in the capital happily hand over his silver.】

The Emperor, the court officials, everyone: “…”