Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

“Since we’ve settled things at this brothel, let’s check out the next one.”

Xu Yanmiao contemplated briefly, then planned out her itinerary for the evening.

The night was cloaked in a hazy moonlight, and the enchanting atmosphere of the brothel was intoxicating. Certain officials were already settling into another brothel, their hearts fluttering amidst the sights and sounds. Loosening their belts, they prepared to plunge headfirst into action.

[Wow! The pipa in this place sounds amazing!]

The words “Damn it!” nearly escaped someone’s lips, but they choked back the expletive halfway through.

The officials’ faces turned pale as they took a deep breath.

“Better to avoid trouble than invite it.”

So, they left and went to another brothel.

They admired flowers, the moon, and beauties, swaying and reciting poetry. The courtesans listened to their verses, danced gracefully, and turned back with sweet, radiant smiles.

[Wait a second! Why do I see a familiar face again? So not only do you frequent brothels daily, but you also switch them up every day?]

[Must be loaded! The soups and desserts here don’t come cheap, do they?]

“?!?”

The officials were so startled that they froze. The courtesans could barely maintain their elegant, seductive smiles as their clients suddenly lost their nerve.

“Darling…”

Before the courtesans could finish their coquettish teasing, their clients abruptly stood up, tightened their belts, and stammered out excuses that were strikingly similar: “I just remembered there’s some unfinished work. I have to go.”

This went on for a few days, leaving the officials visibly worn out.

—Who could withstand being repeatedly exposed like this? Constantly having their weaknesses broadcasted in front of their colleagues or announced publicly within the brothel?

Eventually, they convened at one official’s residence to discuss the matter.

In the dead of night, they sat around a square table under the dim glow of a bronze lamp. The expensive oil burned steadily as they wore grave expressions.

“Does anyone know what Little Baize is trying to do?!”

The group was losing their minds.

If it were anyone else, they’d have already issued warnings, taken shady measures, or, if desperate, simply silenced the person permanently and staged it as an animal attack. Even if the emperor disapproved, what could he do? The person would already be dead.

But… this Baize! It had a golden body!

One official stood up abruptly, pacing around the room and grinding his shoes against the floor.

“What’s with all this moral grandstanding?! Showing pity for courtesans now? Why not spare a thought for innocent officials like us who’ve fallen ill? What did we do? We’re just enjoying life! Did we build the brothels ourselves?”

Another official chuckled bitterly. “He doesn’t even disturb us directly; it’s us who can’t endure his presence.”

“Exactly! It’s unbearable! He keeps pointing out this illness or that weakness, or how this one is too short or that one too quick—”

The others glanced sideways at him, suddenly remembering. This was the poor soul who had been publicly called out by Xu Yanmiao: “Three breaths? Only three breaths? Shouldn’t you see a doctor for that?”

Rumor had it that the man had left that night in disgrace, not even paying his bill.

Oh, and Xu Yanmiao had loudly announced that he hadn’t paid, too.

[Unbelievable! It’s bad enough to be short, but not paying? Freeloading is shameful!]

According to the tearful victim, he simply forgot to pay that day. Besides, brothels often keep tabs for regular customers—he wasn’t freeloading!

Though the others sympathized with him, the nickname “Freeloading Censor” stuck to him like glue and wouldn’t go away.

“There might be a solution,” one official suggested, drumming his fingers on the table with a sly smile. “If he wants to shut down the brothels, let him. Close them all. Once they’re gone, let’s just leave it at that. Don’t intervene or suppress anything. Without the brothels, what can these women, steeped in rouge and powder, really do? Out of necessity, they’ll return to their patrons sooner or later. At that point, Xu Yanmiao will realize they’ve chosen this life themselves, and he’ll stop meddling.”@@novelbin@@

“Why not suppress them?” someone asked.

“Suppress them? Are you trying to give Little Baize more ammunition against us? Or are you worried about your household’s dirty laundry being aired?”

The question silenced the speaker, who chuckled awkwardly and said no more.

The group grew animated, discussing and finalizing their plans.

The very next day, Xu Yanmiao learned that all the brothels had been shut down, and the courtesans’ contracts destroyed. Yet, instead of joy, the women were deeply troubled, their faces clouded with worry.

“Isn’t this to be expected?”

Lian Hang rarely saw Xu Yanmiao so angry.

Xu Yanmiao, brimming with frustration, scolded the unknown culprit.

“Who’s the idiot nobleman with more money than sense, messing things up like this? If they wanted to help the courtesans, is this the way to do it? I was still gathering intel, and they just went ahead without thinking!”

[Let me find out which clueless fool is ruining everything!]