In the Court of Musicians, Miss Green Willow, who had won the title of oiran for the fourth consecutive time, was lazily dozing on a reclining chair by the window.
Last night the Court of Musicians held a celebration banquet for her, which went on until the early hours of the morning before she slept. Now she was still extremely sleepy.
Covering her mouth with a yawn, she was just thinking whether to go back to sleep when she heard thumping footsteps coming up the stairs outside.
The little maid serving her came rushing in, skirt in hand. As soon as she entered the door, she excitedly shouted, “Miss, miss, Xiao Bei from Chunfeng Building has hung up Madam Wei!”
“Which Madam Wei? The one who beat someone to death in Xiaoxiang Pavilion?”
Miss Green Willow frowned slightly.
“Yes, it’s her.”
“How did Tang Xiaobei offend her? Could it be that Lord Wei went to Chunfeng Building to find Tang Xiaobei? Tang Xiaobei is foolish. Even if she couldn’t participate in the oiran contest, she shouldn’t hook up with Lord Wei. Now she’s been hung up…”
Green Willow became a bit anxious upon hearing this.
She was just about to ask about Jin Feng’s reaction when the maid said, “Miss, you heard wrong. It’s not Madam Wei who hung up Tang Xiaobei, but Tang Xiaobei who hung up Madam Wei.”
“What did you say? How is that possible?”
Green Willow’s sleepiness vanished completely. She sprang to her feet.
“Tang Xiaobei is at the entrance of the lane right now. If miss doesn’t believe it, go and see!”
The maid was very satisfied with Green Willow’s surprise.
When she first heard about this, she also found it unbelievable.
“My clothes aren’t changed, my hair isn’t combed. How can I go out? Quickly tell me what happened.” Green Willow impatiently urged.
“This has to start from when Mr. Jin redeemed Tang Xiaobei…”
The maid detailed the sequence of events she had heard.
She even added some content she thought would make it more exciting.
“You mean after Mr. Jin redeemed Xiao Bei, he immediately sent someone to handle her removal from the registry?”
A flash of incredulity passed through Green Willow’s eyes.
To be redeemed by a young and talented scholar was already the most perfect dream for all brothel girls.
Yet Jin Feng not only redeemed Tang Xiaobei but also helped her with the removal from the registry.
For girls from brothels, this was simply something they dared not even imagine.
“Yes, Xiao Bei unluckily encountered Madam Wei on the way back from handling the removal, which led to what happened next.” The maid nodded in response.
“You say Mr. Jin is a noble, and even the prefect yielded to him?”
“Yes, many people saw it at the time. Mr. Jin discovered Xiao Bei was injured and was furious. He ordered his guards to beat all of Madam Wei’s household slaves to death.”
The maid turned into a storyteller, gesticulating animatedly. “Later the prefect brought a huge crowd of government soldiers, several hundred of them, to arrest Mr. Jin. Mr. Jin held a knife in one hand to protect Xiao Bei, and with the other took out a token. The prefect turned pale at the sight of the token…”
“Enough, you’re making it more and more outrageous.”
Green Willow gave the maid a white look. “Several hundred people? Why not say several thousand?”
Having been in the Court of Musicians for so many years, she could still tell truth from falsehood.
Although the maid’s words were somewhat exaggerated, Jin Feng redeeming Tang Xiaobei and confronting the prefect for her should be true.
Green Willow turned to look out the window, her eyes filled with envy and regret.
Envy that Tang Xiaobei met a perfect match like Jin Feng.
Regret that she too had some acquaintance with Jin Feng, yet ultimately had no such fate.
She didn’t aspire to be like Tang Xiaobei. She only hoped Jin Feng could take her out of the swamp of fate.
Discussions like those between Green Willow and the maid were happening in every corner of Fengyue Lane where there were people.
The tigress was the nightmare of the entire Fengyue Lane, yet now she was hung at the entrance by a former brothel girl. The impact on all the girls in Fengyue Lane was extremely shocking.
Which girl did not long for love? Especially brothel girls. They least believed in so-called love, yet yearned for it the most.
In an instant, Tang Xiaobei became a legend in Fengyue Lane, while Jin Feng became the object of all girls’ late-night fantasies.
And the protagonists Jin Feng and Tang Xiaobei had now returned to the inn.
Guan Xiaorou and Runniang had been waiting anxiously at the inn.
“Head of the household, you’re finally back. If you didn’t return soon, Dongdong was going to go find you.”
“How are Tiechui and Dongdong?”
Jin Feng handed the long knife to Da Liu, then called Runniang to help lift Tang Xiaobei down from the horse.
Tang Xiaobei lowered her head guiltily, not daring to look at Guan Xiaorou.
But Guan Xiaorou showed no sign of anger. Instead, she came over to help with Runniang.
“Tiechui was sent to the clinic and hasn’t returned. Dongdong refused to go to the clinic. Runniang and I applied medicine to her.”
Guan Xiaorou said with heartache, “There are many whip marks on both legs, and two of them are broken. She might have scars in the future.”
“No other injuries?” Jin Feng asked. “Did it hurt the bones or anything?”
“No, but her wrists are red and purple from the ropes, all swollen.” Guan Xiaorou said angrily, “That damned tigress. Dongdong didn’t provoke her, yet she struck so viciously. She’ll get her retribution sooner or later.”
“No need to wait. Xiaobei has already dealt with her.” Jin Feng said, “She’s still hanging at the entrance of Fengyue Lane. Xiaobei said to hang her for a full day and night before releasing.”
“Serves her right!”
The usually soft-hearted Guan Xiaorou not only felt no sympathy for the tigress this time but also found it satisfying.
She started to see Tang Xiaobei in a better light.
“Miss Xiaobei, Dongdong said you protected her all along and got beaten badly by the tigress. Come inside quickly. I’ll apply some medicine for you.”
Guan Xiaorou and Runniang together helped Tang Xiaobei into the inner room.
After the two left, Qing Muluan brought Ah Mei over, smiling as she said, “Sir, this Miss Xiaobei is capable. I can tell she actually doesn’t like publicly punishing that tigress but persisted anyway.”
Today she had watched the whole thing. If Jin Feng couldn’t handle the prefect, she would have stepped in.
She had also witnessed Tang Xiaobei’s actions throughout.
“Yes, if not for her today, I really wouldn’t know how to deal with a woman.”
Jin Feng nodded in agreement, then looked at Qing Muluan. “You were watching the excitement from the side the whole time. Weren’t you afraid of being recognised?”
“Xiaobei and Dongdong are Guangyuan people. Who recognised them? Xiaobei even participated in the oiran contest.”
Qing Muluan said, “In Guangyuan prefecture city, only Uncle Qin’s family has seen me. Who could recognise me?”
“That’s good.”
Jin Feng nodded in realisation.
After all, Da Kang was a feudal society. Women from great families rarely appeared in public. Many might know that the Governor of Xichuan had a sister, but those who had truly seen Qing Muluan could be counted on one hand.
After chatting a few more words with Qing Muluan, Jin Feng went to find a set of clothes and changed out of his in the veterans’ quarters.
Coming out of the veterans’ quarters, he ran into Guan Xiaorou who was searching the whole courtyard for him.
“Head of the household, Xiaobei’s skirt is stuck to her legs. What should we do?”
