My Wife is Unbeatable in the Whole World, Touch Me If You Dare!

Jade Sound Pavilion.

On ordinary days, the Music Workshop was almost full, but today it appeared somewhat deserted, with only a few customers present.

"Pfft, what kind of shitty tea is this!"

"What kind of tea is this, is it swill?"

"Pah! The pastries are all stale too!"

"I spent money, and you give me this pig food, is there no law anymore?"

"What is this crap you're playing? I wouldn't listen to it even if it were free!"

"Refund!"

"Hurry up and refund!"

...

Two burly men, leaning back in their chairs with their legs up on the table, were loudly criticizing the tea and pastries served.

The few patrons inside the hall merely glanced at them; one of them suddenly slapped the table and angrily yelled, "What are you looking at, get lost now!"

Whoosh!

The customers who were looking at them scrambled up and ran out of Jade Sound Pavilion.

The other burly man turned toward two female customers, a sleazy smile forming on his face, as he said, "Girls, how about joining us for some tea?"

The two women, who had just come to listen to music, were so frightened by these ruffians that they screamed and left.

In an instant, even the few remaining customers had all run away.

The patrons who were driven out of Jade Sound Pavilion looked back and sighed.

In Chang'an, it's easy to start a small business.

But to grow a business without a strong backing is near impossible.

Especially in highly profitable industries.

No matter how well a shop is managed or how much silver it earns, it cannot outweigh the whims of a powerful figure's son saying, "Father, I want this..."

Top-tier brothels and Music Workshops are undeniably lucrative; just one day's operation brings in a continuous flow of silver.

How could those high and mighty not want such a cash cow?

Well-known brothels in Chang'an all have powerful backers.

Places like Happy Building and Heaven Sound Courtyard have heavenly connections.

Not just ordinary customers, but even officials and minor nobles from the court must act respectfully and very cautiously around the stewards of these venues.

Jade Sound Pavilion has been too prominent lately, even daring to get involved in things like the Oiran selection.

It was only a matter of time before it drew attention.

Previously, due to the son of the Minister of Justice, no one dared to make a move.

Who would dare oppose him, a man who had boldly killed the son of a first-class marquis for his lady?

Unexpectedly, the Jade Sound Pavilion Master had publicly refuted her connection with that powerful figure.

Wasn't that openly telling people that Jade Sound Pavilion actually had no backing?

After careful investigation, they discovered that Li Nuo hardly ever visited Jade Sound Pavilion.

Over the past month, he had not visited at all.

It was revealed through reliable information, the poems he supposedly sent to Miss Phoenix were actually bought by Miss Phoenix herself...

What was even more surprising was that Miss Phoenix was still a virgin.

All signs indicated that he had no connection with Jade Sound Pavilion.

Recently, they secretly probed by hiring ruffians to start trouble and poaching musicians from Jade Sound Pavilion.

The pavilion did not react at all to this.

This completely confirmed the matter.

After confirming this, there was no need for any more concerns.

In just a few days, both of Jade Sound Pavilion's Oirans were poached by Happy Building and Heaven Sound Courtyard.

Incidents of hooligans frequently causing trouble at Jade Sound Pavilion also started to occur.

Some customers were forcibly driven away as soon as they approached the entrance of Jade Sound Pavilion.

After these setbacks, the daily customer traffic at Jade Sound Pavilion plummeted.

It would not be long before the place changed hands.

This type of scenario had happened too many times already.

As for the Pavilion Master of Jade Sound Pavilion, the fate of such a renowned beauty was predictable.

Her chances of leaving Chang'an peacefully were almost impossible.

The number of nobles secretly scheming for such a beauty was countless.

That Li Nuo actually overlooked such a beauty.

It's a mystery what he likes...

Inside Jade Sound Pavilion.

One of the burly men pointed at the tea and pastry on the table and said, "We came here to spend money, and you serve us with this spoiled stuff. What are you going to do about it?"

Yuan Yang looked at the two men, apologetically saying, "Gentlemen, I'm sorry. We will refund you the full amount for your expenses today at Jade Sound Pavilion..."

The tea and pastries at Jade Sound Pavilion were, naturally, faultless.

They used top-grade tea leaves, and the pastries were freshly purchased every day.

But these two men, like those before them, were obviously here to cause trouble; arguing with them would only play into their hands.

However, the outcome didn't satisfy them.

Nor could it possibly satisfy them.

They had come to stir up trouble; how could they be content with just a little money?

"'Giving alms to beggars, you think this little money will send us away?'"

"'Shouldn't it be tenfold compensation at least?'"

Yuan Yang didn't get angry; she squeezed a smile onto her face and continued calmly, "Of course."

She pulled out two silver notes of one hundred taels each and handed them to the two men, saying, "We apologize for any oversight in our hospitality. Please calm your anger, gentlemen—the extra money is for you to have some drinks..."

One of the burly men, while taking the silver notes, tried to grab Yuan Yang's hand but she skillfully avoided him.

The two men exchanged glances, then suddenly flipped the table, scattering the tea and pastries all over the floor.

"Charging so much for these, and still serving guests with broken stuff—what a rip-off!"

"Smash this crooked place!"

Fury spread across their faces, and just as they were about to flip another table, their bodies suddenly froze.

Not only could they not move their bodies, but even opening their mouths to make a sound became extremely difficult.

They felt bone-piercing pain, as if someone was savagely whipping them, yet they could see no whip; this extreme pain, from the inside out, from body to soul, only took a few hits before the men passed out from the pain...

Jade Sound Pavilion, second floor.

A middle-aged woman sat on a chair, sipped her tea gently, and looking at Phoenix standing there, asked, "What's it going to be, have you decided?"

Phoenix, with coldness in her eyes, replied, "One thousand taels of silver; you might as well just rob me!"

Normally, the daily profits of Jade Sound Pavilion were far greater than one thousand taels.

The middle-aged woman smiled and said, "A thousand taels is not a small sum; spend it wisely and it should be enough for the rest of your life."

Phoenix remained silent, head down.

The middle-aged woman continued, "I've seen countless women like you. Do you know what became of them? No matter how tough or high-minded, don't they all end up entertaining clients obediently in the end?"

She looked at Phoenix and said, "If I were you, I'd just join our Happy Building. Within three months, I can make you the number one Oiran in not just Chang'an, but all of Daxia. Then, you'd even come into contact with those real nobles..."

Phoenix said, "What if I refuse?"

The middle-aged woman scoffed and asked, "This is Chang'an; do you think you have a choice?"

Phoenix lifted her head, biting her lip, and said, "Chang'an... doesn't it have laws?"

The middle-aged woman burst into laughter and said, "Laws? Here in Chang'an, we are the law. Don't tell me you think the Happy Building is just mine. Even if that man surnamed Li is backing you, he can't afford to provoke the Happy Building..."

Her words had just ended when a figure pushed the door open and asked, "Is that so?"

The middle-aged woman furrowed her brows and asked, "Who are you, and who let you in?"

The young man looked at her and said, "I am the 'surnamed Li' you mentioned."

The middle-aged woman was stunned. Was he Li Nuo, the son of the Minister of Justice?

It wasn't that she feared the identity of Li Nuo.

Before taking this action, she had specifically sought approval from above and had received permission.

She was just afraid he might go crazy like he did last time, acting impulsively and possibly killing her like he did Li Yuan.

With caution in her heart, she discreetly stepped back two paces and forced a stiff smile, asking, "Young Master Li, what brings you here?"

Li Nuo said, "Phoenix is my friend, and I came to visit her. Is that a problem?"

The middle-aged woman was shocked and said, "You, you are friends?"

Li Nuo glanced at her and said, "You people with filthy hearts see everything as tainted. Between a man and a woman, must it always be that kind of relationship?"

The middle-aged woman snapped back to reality, without further thought, bowed to Li Nuo and said, "I am the shopkeeper of Happy Building; I came to discuss some matters with Miss Phoenix. Since Young Master Li is here, I will take my leave..."

Li Nuo asked, "Leaving just like that?"

The middle-aged woman's eyelids twitched and said, "There are some matters at Happy Building; I must go back..."

She hurried away with her head down, and Li Nuo did not stop her.

He walked straight to Phoenix and asked, "With this happening, why didn't you tell me..."

Wow!

Phoenix said nothing, just threw herself onto Li Nuo's shoulder, crying pitifully.

Her crying was heart-wrenching, her body trembling uncontrollably, as if she needed to expel all the grievances she had suffered these days through her tears...

Although his shoulder quickly soaked with tears, this time, Li Nuo didn't push her away like before.

Having witnessed that entire scene, he finally understood why she had spread rumors to sully her own reputation.

The waters in this business were much deeper than he had imagined.

For a weak woman, leading a group of weak women, trying to establish a foothold in Chang'an was indeed not an easy task.

As for that matter, the last bit of displeasure in Li Nuo's heart completely vanished.

He even felt a bit guilty.

Had he been too harsh on Phoenix these past days?

Thinking about his attitude towards her recently...

Li Nuo sighed guiltily, gently patted Phoenix on the shoulder, and said, "I'm sorry, I was too harsh on you before. Don't worry, Jade Sound Pavilion won't have any problems, and I will take care of everything from now on..."