Chapter 21: The Imperial Music Bureau

"Then how do you suggest we handle this matter?"

Yan Shuzhu smiled as she looked at Ye Liuyun, seemingly eager to know what he intended to do.

He cast a glance at both Yan Shuzhu and Lü Lan, his gaze finally resting on the token in Lü Lan’s hand.

"Leave the token behind. You can have it back once you bring the money."

"Do you even know what this token is?" Lü Lan frowned. If Ye Liuyun used it for something illicit, who would be held responsible?

"Very well!"

Before Lü Lan could continue, Yan Shuzhu spoke up and agreed directly.

After a moment of silence, Lü Lan tossed the token to Ye Liuyun. The token, made of solid gilded gold, looked far more prestigious than a standard Centurion’s badge. Ye Liuyun merely glanced at it before tucking it away.

"Come back to collect it whenever you have raised enough money."

With that, Ye Liuyun waved his hand and left with Si Nan and Shi Sheng in tow.

Yan Shuzhu watched his retreating figure for a long time before turning to head back.

"Yes! Your Maj—I mean, Young Master!"

Shi Sheng had expected Ye Liuyun to hold him accountable for the trouble he had caused. Instead, nothing happened; upon returning to the Brocade Guards, Ye Liuyun went about his business as if the matter were of no consequence.

"This..." Shi Sheng wanted to say something, but he found himself at a loss for words.

"What is it? Do you feel that Lord Ye is quite different?"

Shi Sheng did not respond, looking at Si Nan beside him with a strange expression.

"Just do your job," Si Nan said, patting Shi Sheng on the shoulder. "The Lord will certainly not treat us unfairly."

Although Si Nan had found it highly suspicious when Ye Liuyun first recruited Shi Sheng, there was no going back now. As Ye Liuyun’s subordinate, it was his duty to help his master win people over.

***

Night fell.

In the quiet palace, Yan Shuzhu had changed into her imperial robes, her hair left loose instead of tied up. Lü Lan stood guard beside her with a serious expression.

The palace was not without grandmaster-level martial artists, but Yan Shuzhu kept Lü Lan, who possessed innate-level cultivation, by her side primarily because they had been together since childhood, making her the person Yan Shuzhu trusted most.

"They say a prodigal who turns back is worth more than gold, but this is the first time I’ve actually seen it," Yan Shuzhu remarked.

In her hands were the dossiers detailing every aspect of Ye Liufeng’s life. As the Emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty, while much of her power was constrained, investigating one person was a simple task.

Reflecting on their meeting earlier that day, Yan Shuzhu had expected this Brocade Guard centurion to have a unique background. However, the intelligence reports described a vulgar, small-minded man full of petty schemes—someone completely different from the man she had met today.

Could it really be a case of a prodigal finding redemption? Yan Shuzhu felt it wasn't that simple.

The reports also mentioned that Ye Liufeng had a twin brother named Ye Liuyun who was a local ruffian, but Yan Shuzhu glossed over that detail, not paying it much mind.

"Interesting."

She had intended to leave the palace to find a way to break the current political deadlock, and she hadn't expected to encounter such an intriguing person.

Closing the dossier, Yan Shuzhu looked up. "Keep an eye on Ye Liufeng’s movements. I want to see if he has truly turned a new leaf."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Lü Lan replied earnestly. Inside the palace, there was no need for other forms of address to maintain their cover.

***

Ye Liuyun did not dwell much on Yan Shuzhu. He had taken the token, but he had no intention of using it; a token from the imperial palace was not something one could use lightly.

The next morning, when Ye Liuyun arrived at the Brocade Guards' office for roll call, he heard the voices of Shi Sheng and Si Nan.

"Are you serious? You're actually planning to treat us to the Jiaofang Division?" Si Nan looked at Shi Sheng in astonishment. He truly hadn't expected Shi Sheng to be the one offering a treat, let alone at a place like the Jiaofang Division.

Shi Sheng frowned at the exclamation and corrected him. "There is no 'us.' I wasn't planning on inviting you."

Shi Sheng only wanted to invite Ye Liuyun; he had no intention of bringing Si Nan along.

"Uh." Si Nan was momentarily choked by the response.

He quickly sidled up to Shi Sheng and threw an arm around his shoulder. "That’s a bit much, isn't it? We’re colleagues now, and I was there yesterday, wasn't I?"

"You were there yesterday?" Shi Sheng looked at him, surprised. He genuinely hadn't realized Si Nan was present.

"..." Was he really that invisible? "Who do you think went to report the news to the Lord?"

"Fine!" Shi Sheng was a straightforward person, and hearing this, he didn't doubt him. "Then let's all go together!"

"Now that’s a good brother!" Si Nan smiled with delight, though he asked curiously, "I didn't realize you were so wealthy, being able to treat us to the Jiaofang Division."

Before Shi Sheng could answer, he saw Ye Liuyun walk in.

"Lord! Thank you for what happened yesterday," Shi Sheng said, bowing his hands respectfully.

He had thought about it all night and decided that since Ye Liuyun had treated him with genuine kindness, continuing to be cold would be ungrateful. Moreover, he was truly grateful for Ye Liuyun’s support.

"It’s nothing. I heard you two talking—the Jiaofang Division, is it?" Ye Liuyun smiled and waved his hand.

He had heard of the Jiaofang Division; unlike ordinary brothels, the women there were mostly the female relatives of disgraced officials whose families had been confiscated. Before their downfall, these women had been highly educated ladies of noble families, possessing exceptional beauty.

Because of this, many people sought to visit the Jiaofang Division for a glimpse of them. Since transmigrating, Ye Liuyun had spent most of his time practicing martial arts and had forgotten that brothels were a unique feature of ancient times, especially since the women of this era were truly masters of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

Taking this opportunity to see it for himself wouldn't be a bad idea.

Shi Sheng didn't know all those details; he had simply heard from others that the Jiaofang Division was a good place, and thinking it was the best way to treat his superior, he had made the offer.

"In that case, Lord, please do us the honor of attending tonight."