I became the God Brother of the Regent King after Transmigration!-Chapter 172 - 117: The Day Brothels Were Abolished

Chapter 172: Chapter 117: The Day Brothels Were Abolished

In the early part of the original book, Rong Heng and the Dingyuan Marquis came to Yinzhou to lead troops, initially encountering the most troublesome of all, the elusive Qiangrong Light Cavalry.

The region where the Qiangrong are located is filled with snow-covered mountains and barren land, making farming impossible, so they can only continue to invade nearby countries, forming a fierce and combative culture over millennia.

The Wei Country, on the other hand, is a land of fish and rice, seemingly very prosperous, but weak in warfare.

When these two groups collaborated, with Wei Country providing logistical support to the Qiangrong people, it indeed caused the protagonist quite a bit of trouble in the short term.

Initially, for the Qiangrong people to traverse mountains and rivers from the Northern Territory to the Southern Border, who would believe that there was no insider in the Yan Country?

However, the original book did not specify the reasons and details of Prince Rui’s defeat, nor did it mention if the Qiangrong people had insiders in Yan Country when Rong Heng eventually defeated the Qiangrong Light Cavalry.

In Gu Lan’s view, treason is either nonexistent or happens countless times.

The Yan people who can cooperate with the Qiangrong to assassinate her now are very likely the same traitors who will shield the Qiangrong Light Cavalry heading to the Southern Border in the future.

She must find them in advance!

Before entering, Gu Lan patted Duoji on the shoulder and said in a low voice, "Whether you can save your brother’s life depends on whether you can find him first."

Duoji nodded, his brown eyes deep: "Uncle, I just hope you can keep your promise. If I find Jiang Qu and his helpers for you, you will spare his life."

After saying this, he silently slipped into the Drunk Flower House first, looking from private room to private room according to the method Jiang Qu had previously told him.

Gu Lan watched his back and asked in a low voice, "Brother Hang, how did you trace Jiang Qu’s whereabouts before?"

"Recently, the Capital City is under martial law; all inns are strictly checked. If hiding in civilians’ homes, their alien appearance can’t be concealed, so I guessed Jiang Qu must be hiding in a lively and prosperous place."

Gu Lan smiled: "Yes, there’s no place more bustling than a brothel."

"Exactly. So I had the Magpie Workshop check its own premises, and yesterday, we discovered a guest with a headscarf with red hair, but as soon as Nian Xia found them, the man disappeared, along with another man," Rong Heng recounted smoothly.

Gu Lan added, "Currently, apart from Duoji, there are no apparent Qiangrong people in the Capital City, which means the red-haired man is the subordinate hiding with Jiang Qu, and the one who disappeared with him is Jiang Qu."

Rong Heng: "Young Master Gu does have some intellect."

He looked toward the Drunk Flower House, his eyes carrying a touch of meaning:

"But today, Duoji brought us to the Drunk Flower House and said he could find his collaborator here."

Gu Lan’s smile deepened at the corners of her lips:

"It seems Jiang Qu and his subordinates are hiding from brothel to brothel; today they stay at the Magpie Workshop, tomorrow at the Drunk Flower House, and switch again the day after. Duoji brought us here, proving the Drunk Flower House is his base of operations."

"The Capital City is so large, yet there are only three brothels. Those operating here must be of considerable background, like Brother Hang’s Magpie Workshop, which is backed by the renowned Fifth Young Master Rong."

Rong Heng: "... No need to mention me, the Drunk Flower House is owned by the Qian Family."

The Qian Family.

They are relatives by marriage to the Second Prince, with Family Head Minister Qian being the brother of Consort Qian.

Besides the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, Prince Rui’s Mansion, and the Prime Minister’s Mansion, the Qian Family is the most influential and powerful in the Capital City.

Expected, yet surprising.

She narrowed her eyes and said indifferently:

"From today on, there is no more Drunk Flower House."

After saying that, Gu Lan stepped in.

Behind her, the soldiers from the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, each wielding steel blades, appeared at the end of the street, their steps stirring up a cloud of dust full of murderous intent.

As soon as Gu Lan entered, she was surrounded by a large group of enchanting and beautiful women.

"Oh, isn’t this Young Master Gu? What brings you to my humble place? What a rare guest."

"It’s been a long time, and Young Master Gu is still as handsome and extraordinary as ever."

"I wonder, Young Master, are you here to listen to songs or to hear the qin today?"

Rong Heng followed coldly behind her, and surprisingly, no one dared to approach him.

Only then did Gu Lan notice that Rong Heng not only wore a mask to cover his face but also donned a loose black robe, enveloping himself entirely, with four words written all over:

"Don’t touch me."

He seems quite experienced...

Gu Lan paused, thinking that Rong Heng’s intelligence agency, the Magpie Workshop, is itself a brothel, so naturally, he would have a wealth of experience.

She couldn’t help but bite her lip, chuckling, wondering how many times Rong Heng had visited brothels in the past.

Although he has the protagonist’s bizarre destined solitary life, no doubt Rong Heng has experienced many scenes of being surrounded by beauties.

Gu Lan whispered, "Brother Hang, I think the girls at Drunk Flower House are prettier than those at your Magpie Workshop."

Rong Heng: "Is that so? I hadn’t noticed."

Gu Lan was a bit stumped and then looked at a woman who was almost pressed against her, raising her eyebrows slightly in surprise, casually asking, "Do you know me?"

"Oh dear, who in the Capital City doesn’t know Young Master Gu? It’s been a long time, hasn’t it? Last year, didn’t you come to our Drunk Flower House with another young noble to listen to songs?"

Gu Lan: ... So, the original had been to brothels, just not to the Magpie Workshop.

Rong Heng’s eyes darkened, and he let out a mocking laugh, revealing a gaze that saw through everything: "Gu Lan, why pretend it’s your first time here?"

Gu Lan: "Brother Hang, it’s not what you think. I am someone who values decency..."

The woman, unaware of their conversation, continued, "Back then, you used to come here every day. But, your favorite was Miss Qiushui who played the zither. She redeemed herself and left last month. Would you like me to find you someone else?"

Gu Lan: "Shut up."

So she was the one who frequented the brothel daily.

The Young Master Gu took a deep breath, calmed himself, and faced the various gazes around him with his clear eyes.

Last time, she was too busy looking for Rong Heng and didn’t get a good look at an ancient brothel’s specifics.

The Drunk Flower House is somewhat larger than the Magpie Workshop, with many more patrons inside.

Quite a few were familiar faces from the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet.

And back at the banquet, those noblewomen were all enthusiastic and eager to please both her and Madam Zhou.

But what were their husbands doing? Allowing their wives to socialize and curry favor with the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion, while they themselves were drinking and toasting with colleagues and then arranging to meet at the brothel.

She recalled receiving several missions before, helping noblewomen in adulterous affairs to kill someone, and each time she found their husbands in places like this.

Gu Lan asked quietly, "Brother Hang, why do men come to brothels?"

Rong Heng appeared indifferent: "I don’t come here, but as for you, why did you come here before?"

Gu Lan: "Brother Hang, you know I am weak and I come here just to listen to the songs. But these people, despite having wives and concubines at home, are all high officials, so why do they still come to brothels? Also, Brother Hang, why did you open the Magpie Workshop back then?"

Rong Heng glanced subconsciously at Gu Lan’s hand. His weak constitution was something Gu Lan brought upon himself.

Now that he’s here, he’ll supervise Gu Lan to practice abstinence.

His gaze turned to the women in the Drunk Flower House, saying calmly, "Nian Xia wanted to open it. The Magpie Workshop only sells art unless there’s mutual consent or a price is agreed upon. As for these people with families who come to brothels... I don’t understand."

Gu Lan suddenly recalled a scene from the book and murmured softly, "After becoming the Emperor, you did abolish brothels." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Rong Heng didn’t catch what Gu Lan said, then saw her laugh unrestrained with a voice as cold and gentle:

"I am not here today to listen to songs or the zither."

"Oh, then what brings the Young Master to our Drunk Flower House?" The madam’s expression changed, and the enthusiasm in her eyes dimmed a bit.

Gu Lan looked around,

extended a hand,

and gently,

waved it twice.

"Catch them!"

With a single command, a team of Marquis Mansion soldiers clad in black armor surged in through the doors.

Leading them was Gu Changting clad in Mystic Armor.

Upon hearing that someone intended to harm Gu Lan at the Drunk Flower House, Gu Changting rushed over with a sword in hand.

The Dingyuan Marquis Mansion’s mansion soldiers, in total, numbered just two or three hundred.

After all, any more would be considered the private raising of troops, a punishable crime.

But two or three hundred men were more than enough to surround a brothel.

Before anyone could react, the Drunk Flower House was already surrounded.

Gu Changting wielded a long knife. With a "bang," he kicked open the door of the Sky Number One Private Room, surprising those inside...

Gu Changting saw what was going on inside and couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise, "Second Prince, what are you doing... in here."

Inside, Rong Qijun wrapped in a blanket shouted, "You get out of here!"

Today was his day off, he sneaked out of the palace to find some fun, how did he end up running into people from the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion here!

"No way, Second Prince, you better get dressed quickly. I need to search your private room," Gu Changting said righteously.

His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for everyone to hear, and the patrons present all widened their eyes in shock.

If Gu Lan didn’t know that Gu Changting was coming in a hurry, she would have suspected they had rehearsed this beforehand.

"What did Gu Changting just say? The Second Prince is inside?"

"The Second Prince sneaked out of the palace to the Drunk Flower House?"

"Gu Changting saw the Second Prince out of the palace at the brothel?"

"The Second Prince was seen by Gu Changting on the bed?"

"The Second Prince is only fifteen!"

Gu Changting: ...

He finished searching, closed the door awkwardly but politely.

Gu Lan said, "Continue."

Gu Changting swiftly kicked open the second door.