"My lord, the guests at the Xiangtang Pavilion are all asking when they can return home?"
"Officer Yan, all guests soaking in the large communal baths can go home.
However, those in the private rooms on the second floor are to remain where they are and will be brought back to the yamen with you later!"
"Yes, my lord!"
Although Yan Tinghao didn't understand why they were being treated differently, let alone taken back to the yamen, he knew it was correct to follow his lord's orders.
"Madam Chen, I have other matters to attend to, so I must excuse myself."
Lin Qingge said, and strode out.
In the Great Xia Dynasty, while prostitution was not illegal, only registered brothels and other entertainment establishments could legally offer such services.
After all, if any industry could freely provide prostitution services without restraint, the country would likely be on the brink of collapse.
Xiangtang Pavilion, which had only become popular in recent years, was clearly not among the licensed establishments.
Therefore, not only was Xiangtang Pavilion operating a sex trade illegally, but patronizing it was also against the law.
In her previous life, those caught soliciting prostitution were only detained for ten to fifteen days and fined no more than five thousand yuan.
Therefore, here, a verbal warning was usually sufficient, directing those seeking such services to the nearby brothels and telling them not to come to places like this for thrills.
However, as the county magistrate, Lin Qingge could apprehend these scum who delighted in tormenting women and bring them to the yamen for a couple of days.
After all, they had committed an offense first, and as the magistrate, she had the right to impose a minor punishment on them.
Regardless of their status, even if they appealed to the prefectural yamen or the capital, they could not fault her.
As for these individuals inadvertently provoking death row inmates in prison, being slashed a few times, and losing a few body parts, that would be none of her concern…
Fearing that Yan Tinghao, with a burden in tow, might not be able to handle the scumbags on the second floor alone, Lin Qingge asked the waiter for a rope and headed upstairs.
Meanwhile.
After Lin Qingge left, Tang Wan'er did not rush off. Instead, she stared intently at Leng Ningyue for a long time before speaking softly,
"I would recognize these eyes even if they were turned to ash. So I haven't mistaken you at all, have I?"
…
Leng Ningyue remained silent.
Tang Wan'er did not seem angered by this. Instead, a self-deprecating chuckle escaped her lips:
"Heh~
Although your eyes haven't changed, your temperament has changed quite a bit.
If it were in the past, you would have at least slapped me hard when you saw me."
…
Leng Ningyue still said nothing.
Tang Wan'er seemed to have opened a floodgate and continued speaking to herself,
"Although I don't know why you are here or why you have become Madam Lin, I did indeed frame you back then.
I know any further explanation is futile, but I still want to say that I was only being used by someone back then.
I was indeed jealous of you, but I didn't want to harm you. I only wanted to embarrass you in front of everyone.
I never expected it to turn out that way…"
Tang Wan'er shook her head as she spoke, her expression dimming:
"Perhaps there is truly a divine will, and heavens are watching.
Not long after I committed my wrongdoing, our Tang family was annihilated.
And although I was fortunate enough to survive, after Lord Lin sent me out of the city, due to my naivety and trusting others, I soon fell into the hands of the Chen brothers.
To save my life and my last shred of dignity, I offered my ability to contact my father Tang Youwei's disciples as a bargaining chip. Chen Shu, the eldest Chen brother, used this to secure a position by the Fourth Prince's side, while I became the Chen family's pampered canary, essentially Chen Chong's principal wife.
Ultimately, I became the kind of person I once despised the most."
Glancing at the unmoving woman opposite her, Tang Wan'er suddenly smiled, "In this life, I truly hate you the most!
Even though time has passed and things have changed.
Despite both of us being far from home and marrying into Fengtian Prefecture, you still stepped on me.
I can only survive by selling myself to a lecherous scumbag like Chen Chong.
Yet you have become the wife of the distinguished and upright Lord Lin.
I can see that Lord Lin cherishes you deeply.
To avoid you being misunderstood by being alone with me, a widow who just lost her husband, he specifically asked you to come and listen.
To have such a husband, even if we have to eat coarse grains, I would be content…"
Seeing the undisguised envy on Tang Wan'er's face, Leng Ningyue said calmly,
"I am not interested in what you did to me before, nor am I interested in what you have experienced over the years.
But I don't want these useless ramblings to reach her ears."
Tang Wan'er, mistaking 'her' for 'him', rubbed the goosebumps on her skin that were raised by the chilling cold. A slight smile curled her lips, "I thought you were truly indifferent to everything?
Don't worry, I'm not that bored."
Having received assurance, Leng Ningyue stood up and walked towards the door.
Watching the straight back, Tang Wan'er, who instinctively curled herself into a ball, tightly gripped her arm. The upward curve of her lips was replaced by bitter unwillingness.
"No matter when, you are always this radiant.
You might never have taken me seriously.
From beginning to end, it was just me overestimating myself…
If only time could turn back…
But it's too late…"
On the other side.
Lin Qingge helped Yan Tinghao bundle up all the scumbags from the second floor, tied them together, and, ignoring their shouts, paraded them back to the yamen.
Because the women from the cellar still needed to be settled, Leng Ningyue stayed behind.
After sending the scumbags back to the yamen and instructing Ling Han to 'take good care' of them, Lin Qingge returned to Xiangtang Pavilion.
She happened to bump into Hua Jinrong, who had just arrived at the entrance.
"Tsk tsk, my lord, isn't your strategy a bit too ruthless?
If they are tied up and paraded back to the yamen like this, they probably won't be able to hold their heads up for the rest of their lives."
"Are you saying, Prefect Hua, that you want to go through that again with them?"
"No, no, no. Your student is praising you for being brilliant and resourceful, exceptionally wise, and for striking at people's weakest points, making me admire you to the fullest."
Lin Qingge rolled her eyes ungracefully at this and then got down to business:
"Didn't I ask you to follow Chen Rao?
Why did you come back so quickly?
Where is that Chen Rao?"
"My lord, your student is back precisely to tell you about this matter."
Hua Jinrong leaned closer to Lin Qingge and said mysteriously,
"My lord, guess where Chen Rao went?"
"Could it be Liu Jinhua's residence?"
Upon hearing this, Hua Jinrong's eyes widened in astonishment, and he couldn't help but give a thumbs-up, "My lord, you are simply divine! How did you know?"
Lin Qingge smiled enigmatically, offering no explanation. Instead, she instructed,
"Prefect Hua, I have something for you to do."
"Your student is eager to hear it."