“There are thousands of people in this world, and countless professions. Everyone has their way of living. I don’t think courtesans are inferior to others, but society views them that way,” said Shen Miao. “Take my guard, Mo, for example. He is also a servant, yet no one looks down on him. Some people even envy my maids. That’s how society works—people are divided into different classes. Who doesn’t want to be at the top? Who wants to be criticized behind their back every day?”

“You!” Liuying was most offended when people mentioned her background in the pleasure quarters. Hearing these words made her furious.

Shen Miao said, “You might want to consider it carefully.”

“If Miss looks down on those who have fallen into the pleasure quarters, why bother saying all this to me?” Liuying responded with a cold smile.

“What I look down on are those who willingly remain in the pleasure quarters,” Shen Miao stood up and said, “In a few days, Guard Mo will come again. Miss Liuying, there’s no need to rush your answer. However… those who serve with their beauty rarely meet a good end.”

Shen Miao gave Mo Qing a look. Mo Qing hurriedly took out a silver ingot and placed it on the table. Liuying glanced at him with irritation on her face. Mo Qing also felt awkward. Shen Miao had no intention of staying longer, nodded to Liuying, and left. She didn’t know what expression Liuying had behind her.

After leaving the Baoxiang Tower, Jingzhe finally complained indignantly, “Young… young master is kindly offering to redeem her, yet she’s so ungrateful. This is truly a case of good intentions with no good returns.”

Mo Qing wanted to say something but ultimately held back.

Guyu asked, “Miss, are we going back now?”

Shen Miao didn’t answer and stood motionless. Guyu found it strange and followed Shen Miao’s gaze. She saw that Shen Miao was looking at the corner across the street where a man in green clothing stood, staring at Liuying’s quarters.

Before Guyu could speak, Shen Miao was already walking toward him.

Under the eaves, the man in green stood straight, his eyes fixed on Liuying’s residence. He was so absorbed that he didn’t notice when someone approached. A light cough interrupted his thoughts. He saw four people standing before him, led by a youth in moon-white robes with delicate features, like a finely carved jade figurine—clearly some family’s young master. The youth was looking at him with a faint smile.

Pei Lang was startled, feeling this young man looked familiar. The youth nodded to him: “Mr. Pei.”

“Shen Miao!” Pei Lang’s eyes widened slightly. He looked at the attendants and guards behind Shen Miao, then back at her, seemingly shocked. “You… why are you dressed like this?”

Women disguised as men weren’t uncommon. In Ming Qi, many young ladies occasionally wore men’s clothing for convenience when going out, which gave them a unique charm. But Shen Miao… Pei Lang looked at the jade-like youth before him, momentarily speechless.

“I just came out of Baoxiang Tower,” Shen Miao said.

Pei Lang suddenly coughed, his face reddening. While women disguised as men weren’t rare, women disguised as men visiting pleasure houses was something he’d never heard of. Yet Shen Miao appeared completely composed, without a trace of embarrassment.

Shen Miao suddenly stepped forward, moved closer to Pei Lang, and with a “snap” opened her folding fan to hide their faces. From behind the fan, she whispered, “Everyone says the ladies of Baoxiang Tower are the most beautiful in the world, so I specially went for a tour. They recently added many Persian dancing girls, each more enchanting than the last.”

Despite Pei Lang’s usual composure even when facing high officials, he was at a loss facing Shen Miao’s slightly ambiguous behavior. Moreover, the nonsensical things Shen Miao was saying gave him the illusion that he was facing some young master who frequented brothels, discussing which dancing girl was more beautiful.

“How absurd!” Remembering his position as a teacher, Pei Lang squeezed these words through his teeth.

Shen Miao smiled slightly, her eyes curving like crescent moons, her breath almost like orchids. She said, “But I reserved Miss Liuying.”

With these words, Pei Lang’s body stiffened.

Shen Miao put away her fan and smiled at him, “I saw Mr. Pei observing Miss Liuying’s quarters for a long time. Are you also yearning for Miss Liuying?”

Pei Lang stared at Shen Miao, his calm expression suddenly turning fierce.

But Shen Miao remained unmoved, still smiling cheerfully. She pointed to the nearby Kuaihuo Tower: “Since Mr. Pei is also interested in Miss Liuying, why not join me inside for a drink and talk about beauties?” Her gestures seemed somewhat frivolous, yet carried an irresistible authority. She held her folded fan across her chest and headed up to the tower first, calling back: “Drinking fine wine and talking about beautiful women—truly one of life’s greatest pleasures.”

Although Jingzhe, Guyu, and Mo Qing didn’t understand what Shen Miao meant, they never questioned her decisions and immediately followed.

Pei Lang stood alone for a moment, then, as if making up his mind, followed as well.

Upstairs by the window, Ji Yushu jumped up: “See! I told you Miss Shen admires Pei Lang. She went to all that trouble to reserve Miss Liuying just to have a chance to talk with Pei Lang today!”

Gaoyang ignored him and speculated: “What did she say to Pei Lang just now when she covered their faces with the fan? She deliberately used the fan to hide… could she know you can read lips?” As he said this, Gaoyang looked at Xie Jingxing.

Xie Jingxing shrugged, neither confirming nor denying.

“Speaking of which, when Miss Shen made that fan-waving gesture earlier, she was truly elegant and debonair, even more impressive than me,” Ji Yushu sighed. “Such a beautiful lady, why would she be interested in a poor scholar? Even following someone like me would be better than following a pretty boy who can’t even afford to visit a pleasure house.”

Xie Jingxing stood up, and Ji Yushu asked, “Where are you going?”

“To hear what they’re saying, of course,” Xie Jingxing smiled meaningfully. “I want to see exactly what kind of chess piece Pei Lang is.”

In the private room of Kuaihuo Tower, Mo Qing guarded the door while Jingzhe and Guyu stood on either side, heads lowered, as if they weren’t there.

At the table, Shen Miao was pouring wine.

The wine was from Lu region, amber-colored with a fresh fragrance. It wasn’t intoxicating; as long as one’s alcohol tolerance wasn’t too poor, drinking a little wouldn’t cause any problem.

Shen Miao poured two cups. Her wine-pouring posture was extremely graceful, her fingers holding the handle of the pot, the crystalline wine flowing into the small jade cups with a pleasant sound.

Pei Lang watched as Shen Miao pushed a cup of wine toward him and smiled, “Please, teacher.”

“Shen Miao,” Pei Lang addressed her directly, his expression remaining tense since he entered. “What exactly do you want?”

“Mr. Pei is so impatient, talking about beauties without enjoying the wine first. Isn’t that like a cow chewing on peonies?” Shen Miao looked at him calmly.

Pei Lang was momentarily at a loss for words. He had been at Guangwen Hall for several years, and everyone had always shown him respect. Even the most mischievous students wouldn’t speak to him in such a frivolous tone. If it were someone else, he might have let it pass, but it was Shen Miao. Pei Lang always felt that Shen Miao wasn’t a frivolous person, so this manner of speaking made it difficult for him to gauge her intentions.

Seeing Pei Lang remain silent, Shen Miao laughed lightly. She said, “I was just joking with Mr. Pei. Why are you so nervous?”

As she spoke, her eyes were clear, but her gaze seemed to carry a hint of mischief. Though she appeared to be an innocent young girl, there was a momentary unconscious charm and allure about her that made Pei Lang’s gaze briefly pause.

“This wine is from the Lu region,” Shen Miao raised her cup and gestured to Pei Lang from a distance. Pei Lang’s expression suddenly changed, but Shen Miao seemed not to notice and continued slowly, “The Qi-Lu area produces amber-colored wine. The Lu wine in Kuaihuo Tower must have been transported from Qi-Lu.”

Pei Lang looked at her, then suddenly picked up the wine cup on the table and drained it in one gulp.

“This wine isn’t intoxicating,” Shen Miao said with a pleasant smile. “Otherwise, people might think Mr. Pei is a wine jar.” Her tone was coquettish, but her words made Pei Lang’s palms damp. She continued, “People from Lu are known for their drinking abilities and often use jars for wine. Mr. Pei’s manner just now was somewhat like a person from Lu.”

Pei Lang pressed his lips together without speaking, his usually gentle appearance somewhat distorted.

Shen Miao propped her face with one hand. The wine had slightly flushed her face, and though not intoxicated, a faint blush appeared on her cheeks. When she narrowed her eyes, she looked like a sleeping crabapple flower. Yet because she was dressed as a man, beyond her fresh prettiness, a different kind of charm emerged. She said, “I recall that about ten years ago, there was a prefect in the Lu region who also had the surname Pei. Those who don’t know might think that Mr. Pei is related to him.”

Pei Lang slammed his wine cup on the table, and simultaneously, Mo Qing glared with tiger-like eyes, his right hand moving to the sword at his waist.

“Unfortunately, that Prefect Pei was involved in an old case from the previous dynasty and was executed along with his entire family by His Majesty. All the men in the household were killed, and the daughters were sent into exile as official courtesans.” Shen Miao’s smile grew uncontrollable. “I heard that Prefect Pei had a pair of outstanding children, still young, who also died in this turmoil.”

Pei Lang’s lips trembled slightly as he asked word by word, “Who exactly are you?”

“Shh.” Shen Miao made a hushing gesture, casually drank another cup of wine, and her snow-white face immediately flushed. She said, “Actually, I was fortunate enough to hear a secret. Since Mr. Pei shares the same surname, I might as well share it with you.”

“That Prefect Pei could have saved both his children from disaster. But the officials were in hot pursuit, so he could only save one. So… Prefect Pei saved his son, while his daughter was captured by the officials.” She shook her head regretfully. “Officials are like wolves and tigers; they never show mercy to the families of condemned officials. What good end could that little girl have once captured?” Shen Miao sighed. “In my opinion, that Prefect Pei knew his daughter would suffer a fate worse than death once captured, yet he still sacrificed her. That seems rather heartless.”

Pei Lang closed his eyes briefly, showing pain on his face.

“Mr. Pei seems so moved, as if you empathize deeply,” Shen Miao smiled, supporting her chin. “But I suppose this has nothing to do with Mr. Pei, since you’re not from the Lu region. Mr. Pei has always been from a merchant family in the capital. I mentioned all this just because this Lu wine is affecting me, making me sentimental.”

The gentleness on Pei Lang’s face suddenly disappeared, replaced by intense vigilance and wariness. He asked, “Is this General Shen’s idea?”

Shen Miao shook her head.

“My father loves me and gave me an embroidery workshop, which needs an embroiderer,” Shen Miao said in a drawn-out voice. “I heard that over ten years ago, Prefect Pei’s eldest daughter could do double-sided embroidery from a young age. Coincidentally, this Miss Liuying from Baoxiang Tower also knows double-sided embroidery. So I thought, both fallen into the pleasure quarters, both skilled in double-sided embroidery—perhaps Miss Liuying has some connection to that disgraced official’s daughter. I felt compassion and wanted to rescue her from the pleasure quarters.” Shen Miao looked at Pei Lang and asked, “Mr. Pei, do you think what I, your student, am doing is right or wrong?”

She referred to herself as “student,” with her black hair wrapped in a male-style official hat, smiling with the charm of a jade-like young man. But in those clear eyes, there were hidden depths and intentions that one couldn’t see through or guess. This deliberately coquettish vivacity perfectly executed the court official’s art of hiding daggers within smiles.

Dealing with her was like walking a tightrope over a cliff, with hidden meanings in every word, making it difficult to distinguish friend from foe.

Pei Lang turned his head: “What do you think?”

Shen Miao smiled, genuinely as if truly happy about doing a good deed. She said, “I think it’s excellent. Even if that Prefect Pei’s son discovered his sister’s whereabouts and personally came to redeem her, given Miss Pei’s resentment toward her father and her proud nature, she probably wouldn’t be willing. Instead, she would ruin her own life.”

Pei Lang remained silent.

“Some people in this world are like jade, but after mixing with stones for too long, they become stones themselves. But some people have their pride embedded in their bones—even if you crush them to powder, that inherent pride won’t change one bit. I heard that although Prefect Pei was guilty, he was once a proud man, so his children must be similarly proud. Tell me,” Shen Miao looked at Pei Lang, “would that girl prefer to live as a noblewoman fallen into the pleasure quarters, or as a famous courtesan who has washed away her past?”

“After saying so much,” Pei Lang gave a cold laugh, “what do you want me to do?”

“Mr. Pei is very intelligent; I knew I couldn’t hide anything from you. Seeing the small to understand the large, hearing the music to know the meaning—this is exactly it.” Shen Miao lavishly complimented Pei Lang before saying, “Mr. Pei possesses remarkable talent and profound knowledge. Why not enter government service?”

“Shen Miao!” Pei Lang suddenly shouted, something in her words having touched a nerve. He became agitated, even causing Jingzhe and Guyu to look over. Pei Lang angrily said, “Don’t even think about it!”

“Mr. Pei, don’t be hasty. Please listen to me calmly first,” Shen Miao smiled. “Perhaps Mr. Pei was frightened by the story I just told. You feel that in officialdom, one misstep could implicate your entire household, making it dangerous and complicated. Additionally, after entering government service, you generally wouldn’t be as free as you are now as a carefree teacher.”

Pei Lang’s expression gradually returned to calmness, seemingly back to the image of that refined, gentle teacher.

“But sir, you’re now alone, with neither a spouse nor family, so you don’t need to worry about implicating others. Moreover… in this world, the higher you stand, the farther you see, and the more you can accomplish. If you want to protect those who can be protected, being just a civilian teacher isn’t enough. Though you can have disciples all over the world, when real trouble comes…” Shen Miao raised her cup calmly, smiling yet with a moment of cold indifference. She said, “When real trouble comes, high-ranking families will avoid it at all costs. How would they exert themselves for others?”

“Only by becoming powerful yourself can you follow the right path,” Shen Miao’s voice seemed bewitching, more enticing than the sensual songs from Baoxiang Tower.

“Who taught you to say these things, and what’s the purpose? What benefit would my entering government service bring them?” Pei Lang asked.

Shen Miao smiled slightly. This man Pei Lang, though appearing gentle and indifferent, truly was a teacher focused on his work without concern for external matters. Yet whenever discussing affairs, he could always ask the key questions.

“Why does Mr. Pei ask what benefit it brings others, rather than what benefit it brings to yourself?” Shen Miao didn’t answer his question, cleverly avoiding it with a roundabout response. “Promotion, wealth, marriage—in the end, all these benefits go to you. In business, who asks how much others earn without mentioning how much they make?”

“How do I profit?” Pei Lang asked calmly.

“You may not profit, but Miss Liuying will,” Shen Miao looked at him with sparkling eyes. “A woman leaving the pleasure quarters, having a stable support for the rest of her life—this can save someone’s entire life.”

Pei Lang stared intently at Shen Miao. If by this point he still didn’t understand her intentions, he would truly be a fool.

“After entering government service, what would I need to do?” Pei Lang asked.

Shen Miao looked at him with satisfaction. Weighing advantages and disadvantages in the shortest time and making the most beneficial choice was Pei Lang’s consistent approach. But… she couldn’t help thinking of when Fu Xiuyi deposed the Crown Prince in her previous life. She had knelt to beg Pei Lang then, and his tone of discussion was just as rational and cold as now. Now, with the leverage in her hands, this once high and mighty Imperial Tutor could only be manipulated by her. Shen Miao felt a slight satisfaction in her heart, which manifested as joy on her face.

“Not much,” Shen Miao said. “Mr. Pei is talented; even without actively seeking government service, in a year, some noble will naturally recruit you. I only hope that when that time comes, Mr. Pei won’t refuse the noble’s offer. Find a way to accept on the surface, but work for me.”

“You want me to be your inside man?” Pei Lang looked at Shen Miao incredulously.

Shen Miao shook her head, “How can it be called an inside man? Mr. Pei can certainly get promoted and make a fortune. I guarantee your identity won’t be exposed. You only need to tell me some information at certain times.”

Pei Lang was silent for a moment, then looked at Shen Miao, “Who is this noble you speak of?”

Shen Miao smiled slightly, “Prince Ding, Fu Xiuyi.”

Pei Lang was startled and involuntarily looked at Shen Miao again. He knew that Shen Miao had once admired Prince Ding so much it became the talk of the town, and he also knew that someone as deeply hidden as Prince Ding disdained Shen Miao. Later, from some point on, Shen Miao seemed to become a different person. Pei Lang had always felt that Shen Miao must have someone guiding her from behind, but now he couldn’t help wondering if her actions were out of love turned to hatred, which was why she was now plotting against Prince Ding.

But could unrequited love alone lead to such actions?

Pei Lang was confused. The young woman before him was charming in men’s clothing, with a faint blush on her face from the wine, at the perfect age of youth. She was fair and lovely, with eyes as pure as a newborn fawn, yet in her every gesture, there was an unintentional frivolous charm. Pei Lang felt somewhat uncomfortable.

Talking to a girl of Shen Miao’s age should have been like an elder to a junior, or at worst like a brother to a sister, but now it felt as if he was at a disadvantage. Every move he made seemed to be led by her, yet he couldn’t resist.

“What exactly do you want to do?” Pei Lang had asked this question many times, and even now, he wasn’t sure if the person behind these actions was someone else or Shen Miao herself. It was as if his cards had been fully revealed to Shen Miao, yet he couldn’t even figure out her initial purpose.

Complete suppression.

“I don’t want to do anything special, just make a decision that benefits both of us,” Shen Miao smiled as she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, making her neck appear even more jade-like. She said, “Mr. Pei, will you agree or not?”

“Must I answer here?” Pei Lang asked.

“You have…” Shen Miao pointed to the wine pot, “The time it takes to finish this pot of wine. After it’s empty, tell me your answer.”

“No need,” Pei Lang interrupted her, “If you can fulfill your promise, I agree.”

The room fell silent for a moment. After a while, Shen Miao smiled. She picked up the wine pot, refilled both empty cups, then raised her cup as if to toast Pei Lang.

Pei Lang hesitated before raising his cup, a strange feeling rising in his heart. Drinking with his student in a tower… his heart felt somewhat warm.

“Wishing Mr. Pei a brilliant future and boundless prosperity,” Shen Miao smiled and drank the wine in one gulp. She drank so quickly that a trace of wine flowed from the corner of her mouth, down her slightly pointed chin, and disappeared into her white collar.

Pei Lang looked away. No matter how beautiful a girl in her youth might be, she was still innocent, especially someone like Shen Miao with gentle and delicate features, known for her dignity and restraint. Pei Lang wasn’t one to be attracted to beauty, yet for a moment his mind was slightly confused, feeling this was quite inappropriate and discordant.

A flash of satisfaction passed through Shen Miao’s eyes.

Perhaps it was the wine, but some emotions hidden in her heart grew like guilt. She remembered how Pei Lang was always proper and principled, most concerned with ethics and reason. In front of Pei Lang, she had perfectly embodied the four characters of “mother of the nation,” but in the end, she was still defeated by Pei Lang’s calculations of profit and loss.

In her previous life, he was the Imperial Tutor who could determine Fu Ming’s life or death, but now he was being controlled by her through his weakness. In front of Pei Lang, she couldn’t even cry for Princess Wanyu, who was sent for a political marriage. Now… she didn’t have the empress’s dignity or guarded virtue. Disguised as a man, visiting pleasure houses, a student drinking with her teacher, behaving frivolously and without restraint—what could Pei Lang do?

He couldn’t do anything to her.

However, that satisfaction lasted only a moment.

When Pei Lang agreed, she knew there was no need to continue.

The charm in her eyes from the wine completely faded, replaced by sobriety inch by inch. She stood up, slightly raised her chin, and returned to being that somewhat authoritative Shen Miao.

“After Miss Liuying is settled, you will be informed of the embroidery workshop’s location,” Shen Miao nodded. “The money has been paid. Please enjoy your wine at leisure, Mr. Pei. Wine from the Lu region is not something you can drink often.”

The last sentence, unclear whether it was sarcasm or courtesy, made Pei Lang frown slightly as he watched Shen Miao leave with her attendants.

He raised the wine to his lips and took a sip. What should have been rich and mellow tasted astringent in his mouth.

Outside, Jingzhe and Guyu dared not speak. They could see that Shen Miao was in a poor mood. They had listened to her conversation with Pei Lang but understood little, only sensing that this matter was no small affair, so they dared not speak lightly.

The cold wind outside dispersed the flush from her face. Shen Miao closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, they contained only coldness.

Toward Pei Lang, she still harbored resentment for his past indifference. No matter how well she concealed it, a tiny bit still leaked through.

But her purpose was achieved.

“Return to the mansion,” she walked toward her carriage.

…

In another hidden private room adjacent to the one they had just left, several people remained silent.

Having just witnessed an interesting scene, it seemed amusing at first, but now that the people had gone and the tea had cooled, upon careful thought, it was quite alarming.

Ji Yushu swallowed and seemed to want to break the heavy atmosphere. “It’s convenient having connections with this tower. When eavesdropping, you can not only hear but also see. Hehe, excellent.”

Behind the carved column was a huge piece of glass shielded by fine railings. It was said to be western glass—those on the other side couldn’t see this side, but this side could see that side. Combined with copper columns full of small holes, everything said could be heard clearly.

But after Ji Yushu’s comment, the other two people in the room didn’t respond. Gaoyang pressed his folding fan against his chin, which was his habitual posture when thinking. Xie Jingxing rested his elbow on the table, playing with his teacup while lowering his eyes in thought.

Unable to bear this atmosphere, Ji Yushu said, “You two, stop being so quiet. Isn’t it just about Prefect Pei from Lu Province? Pei Lang is just Prefect Pei’s son!”

Shen Miao’s story was told lightly because she trusted Pei Lang would understand, and the three men here weren’t fools either. With a little thought, they understood.

The disgraced Prefect Pei from Lu had two children—the elder sister was Liuying, and the younger brother was the current Pei Lang. During their escape, to save Pei Lang, the Pei family’s arranged people abandoned Liuying, who eventually fell into the pleasure quarters. Meanwhile, Pei Lang, following the retreat route already arranged by the Pei family, transformed into a resident of the capital, supposedly born to a merchant family, with parents who passed away a few years ago, now left alone.

A completely natural background that no one had discovered for many years.

However… Xie Jingxing lazily curled his lips and said, “So, how did she know what even the Omniscient couldn’t discover?”

As he finished speaking, his voice turned cold, and murderous intent filled his peach blossom eyes.